Spring was waning, with plum blossoms fading and peach blossoms blooming—March had arrived in the blink of an eye.
It was not yet time to open for business, but a carriage stood parked outside the Fragrant Pavilion.
A man of average stature stepped down, impeccably dressed, with an air of shrewd efficiency in his brow.
A Hetian green jade pixiu pendant hung at his waist.
Mama Yue led Cai Wei out joyfully, accepting the final banknote for her redemption.
Su Tan stood quietly behind the door, her eyes meeting Cai Wei’s.
Now redeemed, the girl had finally changed into dignified, proper attire befitting a respectable woman. The peony hairpin nestled in her dark hair was vivid and lifelike, beautiful yet gentle and refined.
Su Tan silently curved the corners of her lips and said to her, “May you have peace and smooth sailing from now on, sister.”
Cai Wei’s nose tingled, her eyes growing warm as she nodded heavily.
“Take care, A Wu.”
Watching the carriage turn the street corner and disappear completely from sight, Su Tan felt an emptiness in her heart.
The moonlight that had once saved her from the abyss—she must be happy from now on.
She was relieved that Cai Wei had finally escaped the fiery pit, yet she also worried about the difficult road ahead for her.
Even though she herself had yet to know what her own future held.
The girls in the pavilion gathered in the main hall to watch the excitement, chattering among themselves.
“Wasn’t that the wealthy merchant Meng Yuan from the west of the city? Cai Wei is truly fortunate—he redeemed her after just two visits!”
“Whether she’s fortunate or not is another matter. Everyone knows that Meng family’s legal wife is as fierce as a tiger.”
A few of them huddled together and laughed.
Su Tan glared coldly at them and was about to step forward to argue.
Mama Yue, having finished counting the banknotes, caught sight of her and beckoned, “Mei Wu, come with me to my room.”
Su Tan halted her steps, clenching her fingers inside her sleeves. “Yes.”
The red-dressed girl who had led the mockery of Cai Wei earlier rolled her eyes at Su Tan’s retreating back and scoffed disdainfully, “Does she really think she’s some precious young lady?”
“Relying on Military Governor Shen spending a fortune to buy her first night, she keeps making excuses and refusing to entertain clients, claiming illness.”
Another chimed in, “But the bracelet Military Governor Shen gifted her isn’t fake. When it comes to hooking men, she certainly has her tricks.”
“Pfft, can a bracelet compare to all the silver those men will bring in the future? Mama Yue isn’t the head of a charity hall.”
“Besides, Military Governor Shen hasn’t redeemed her.”
Yet another added gleefully, “I reckon Military Governor Shen has probably grown tired of her already.”
“It’s all about the same thing in bed—men always get bored, especially nobles from marquis’s mansions.”
…
In Mama Yue’s room.
The madam poured a full cup of tea and pushed it toward Su Tan, her smile not reaching her eyes. “Five days for your monthly courses, seven days for a cold—your health must be fully recovered by now.”
She let out a long sigh. “Prepare to entertain clients tonight. Young Master Yang has sought me out repeatedly.”
Su Tan’s heart sank.
What was bound to come had finally arrived.
She reached out to take the teacup, the vibrant red coral bracelet on her fair wrist exquisite and delicate.
Suppressing the discomfort in her heart, she looked up at the madam and said, “Mama Yue, Military Governor Shen has been occupied with official matters lately, but he will surely return.”
She paused. “As you know, he dislikes nothing more than others touching what belongs to him.”
“It’s not that Mei Wu refuses to entertain clients—it’s simply that I cannot afford to offend Military Governor Shen. Don’t you agree?”
Having anticipated this response, Mama Yue immediately withdrew her feigned smile and retorted with displeasure.
“Mei Wu, you’re mistaken. The girls of our Fragrant Pavilion welcome all guests with open doors. If someone truly favors and cherishes one exclusively, they can redeem her and take her home.”
“No one from the Marquis’s Mansion has sent any silver since that day.”
She lifted Su Tan’s chin with a single finger, her crimson-lacquered nail tracing the girl’s delicate cheek.
Her ferocity fully revealed: “The brothel has its rules. I’ve already given you so many extra days out of great respect for Military Governor Shen. No matter what you say, tonight you must take a client!”
Su Tan clenched her fists inside her sleeves, biting her lower lip until it nearly bled.
She knew all too well what would follow after the initial courtesy.
Gazing into Mama Yue’s greedy, murky eyes, the girl spoke softly: “I dare not hide it from you, Mama. It’s just that Mei Wu has foolishly set her heart on Military Governor Shen, and so she wishes to keep herself pure.”
“Mei Wu knows Mama would never do business at a loss. A few days ago, the Military Governor rewarded me with a sum of silver. I offer it all to you, hoping Mama will take pity on my foolish devotion and grant me just two more days, please?”
Tears welled in the girl’s eyes, her demeanor fragile and helpless: “The Military Governor has always been generous. Once he returns, Mei Wu will surely ensure Mama does not lose a single coin.”
Her words were both pitiful and precisely targeted.
Mama Yue’s rigid stance softened slightly as she lowered her eyes in thought.
Reasonably speaking, Military Governor Shen was indeed a golden Buddha. She had kept Mei Wu all this time precisely to earn a fortune.
But the client on the other side was pressing urgently. She didn’t want to offend either party—she wanted silver from both!
After all, Mei Wu was no longer a virgin. Even if she took a client, Military Governor Shen would likely notice nothing.
The madam’s lips twitched twice before she released her grip, her smile returning: “Oh, what’s there to cry about?”
“Mama Yue couldn’t bear to ruin this pretty little face of yours. Fine then, two more days it is.”
She grabbed a perfumed handkerchief and clumsily wiped Su Tan’s tears. “But you must give me that silver. Look at all these fine clothes you wear—Mama’s life is the hard one!”
Su Tan nodded obediently, responding in a sweet, submissive tone.
Returning to her room and closing the door, Su Tan’s knees gave way as she slumped weakly, her slender back leaning against the doorframe.
Her long lashes fluttered, and the soft, vulnerable look in her eyes vanished completely, replaced by sharp clarity.
The girl lifted her gaze to the withered crabapple flower on the windowsill table, a chill settling in her heart.
On the second day after Shen Xiuwang left, when no silver arrived from the Marquis’s Mansion, she had already sensed trouble.
So she had washed herself with cold water in the middle of the night, refusing blankets, successfully catching a chill.
Then she ate cold, stale food for days, disrupting her monthly cycle.
She couldn’t determine whether Shen Xiuwang had truly broken their agreement or if some other complication had arisen.
But she absolutely could not sit idle and wait for doom.
Even if Mama Yue accepted the silver, she might not grant her two more days. Taking a client was imminent.
They said losing one’s chastity was a small matter, but life and death were paramount.
Yet the thought of being pressed beneath filthy, despicable men, humiliated one after another—Su Tan’s long-hardened heart finally began to crack.
The girl slowly crouched down, wrapping her arms around her shoulders.
Qin Huai had been dismissed from the brothel days ago, and Cai Wei had already redeemed herself and left. She had exhausted every trick to barely delay until now—what else could she do?
The carved wooden window was half-open, allowing clear sunlight to stream in. Countless dust particles danced in the air like wandering spirits.
Outside the window, the long street bustled with people—peddlers hawking their wares, children playing with kites after school, laughing in small groups.
Noble young ladies stepped down from carriages and sedan chairs to shop, surrounded by attendants as burly servants cleared the way.
The sunlight slowly shifted, falling upon the frail, slender figure of the girl inside the room.
Though surrounded by bustling prosperity, she remained isolated behind an invisible net.
The girl was small and huddled, like a cat forced into a dark alley.
Su Tan could not feel the warmth of spring, only the sensation of falling once more into a deep well filled with shattered ice.