Chapter 77: More Help, More Trouble

Third Miss Zhao crisply scolded Liu Liwa, but he smiled. This little girl had a unique way of thinking—she was straightforward and adorable, completely different from those delicate young ladies who pretended to be weak and complained without reason. No wonder Young Master Ye was so infatuated with her.

Liu Liwa followed her outside. Besides her own carriage, there was another wagon carrying two chests—one large and one small. The driver jumped down and opened the chests one by one. Third Miss Zhao explained beside him, “The large chest contains the young lady’s dresses—seventy-two pieces in total, for all four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The small chest holds brushes for calligraphy and painting, pigments, and paper.”

So it was these things! Liu Liwa immediately felt as deflated as frostbitten eggplants; he could not muster any enthusiasm at all. However, this Wen Jun had really invested in his Photobook Series. Liu Liwa walked over listlessly and rummaged through the items haphazardly. Suddenly, he discovered that there were not only women’s dresses but also all kinds of embroidered silk bodices in various colors—red as fire, pink as clouds, white as snow, some with spaghetti straps, some with back ties, and many more types. Liu Liwa could not take his eyes off them.

“Are you done looking?” Third Miss Zhao suddenly spoke, interrupting Liu Liwa’s admiration. She simply could not stand the sight of his drooling expression any longer.

Liu Liwa nodded and unabashedly tucked a bright red embroidered silk bodice into his robe right in front of her. Third Miss Zhao felt nauseated and quickly said, “Alright, take them inside now.”

The delivery driver acknowledged and began carrying the items into Intoxication Pavilion. As for that bodice Liu Liwa had pocketed, he planned to save it for later to give to a girl as an engagement token.

Watching as all the chests were moved inside, Third Miss Zhao clapped her hands and said, “Well, the main task is finished. Ye Zecong, shouldn’t you come out now, too?”

Huh? Liu Liwa was so startled he almost cried out. Young Master Ye even knocked over tables and chairs in his panic, bumping his head all over and looking utterly disgraced. Third Miss Zhao had a very independent mind, quite unconventional for these times. She surely despised men who visited pleasure houses, and Young Master Ye was still in the wooing stage—this was likely the end for him.

“Th-th-third…” Young Master Ye stumbled over to her, unable to form a complete sentence. Third Miss Zhao said impatiently, “What ‘third, third’? Do you want me to slap you?”

“N-no, no…” Young Master Ye continued to stutter.

“Hmph,” Third Miss Zhao snorted. “Well, Ye Zecong, I originally thought you were a well-educated and self-disciplined scholar, different from those useless rich playboys. Now it seems there’s no difference after all. Since you’re already wallowing in tender embraces, don’t bother coming to find me anymore!”

The young lady snorted coldly, turned angrily, and was about to leave. Young Master Ye panicked, unsure what to do, sweating profusely like rain. Many girls in the main hall were watching and giggling secretly. Young Master Ye’s face flushed crimson, as if about to explode. Being scolded so harshly by a woman, and in front of so many girls—any man would feel humiliated and furious. However, Young Master Ye knew that if he lost his temper now, it would truly be over between him and Third Miss Zhao. But if he stayed quiet, where would his dignity go…

For a moment, he was caught in a dilemma. Suddenly, he saw Liu Liwa nearby, watching with a half-smile as if enjoying the show. In his desperation, a clever idea struck him: “Third Miss, don’t misunderstand! I didn’t come here for pleasure—I came to find someone. Look, it’s him!”

In his haste, Young Master Ye pointed a middle finger right at Liu Liwa’s nose, making Liu Liwa want to kick him. Third Miss Zhao wore an even more disgusted expression, looking as if she might throw up. A grown man coming to a pleasure house not for women but to find another man—either he was lying or had shocking preferences. In any case, Third Miss Zhao wanted to leave immediately.

Young Master Ye rushed forward to block her. As he passed Liu Liwa, he whispered quickly, “Save me!”

Young Master Ye truly adored Third Miss Zhao and was nearly mad with love. If he lost this chance, he might even consider suicide. Liu Liwa knew that helping him now could bring many benefits later. But how could anyone explain the situation clearly—a grown man being caught by the woman he was courting in a pleasure house?

Young Master Ye clung desperately to Third Miss Zhao, almost on the verge of kneeling, stammering and unable to say anything coherent. It was clear that Third Miss Zhao had initially thought well of him and even considered him a potential partner, which was why she was so angry now.

Third Miss Zhao stood by the carriage, while the loyal old driver blocked Young Master Ye. Young Master Ye was so frantic he seemed about to have a fit, repeatedly pointing his middle finger at Liu Liwa, urging him to quickly think of a solution. Liu Liwa was also sweating anxiously. This was the best opportunity to get closer to Young Master Ye. If he could help this “God of Wealth”… Wait, God of Wealth?

Liu Liwa’s eyes lit up as an idea struck him. He let out a sudden, loud wail—so abrupt it scared everyone inside and out, even startling the horse hitched to Third Miss Zhao’s carriage. After two earth-shaking howls, Liu Liwa rushed up to Young Master Ye, tightly grasped his hand, and shook with excitement, tears streaming down his face as he said, “Young Master Ye, you great benefactor, you great savior!”

Huh? Third Miss Zhao froze. Young Master Ye was also startled and instinctively glanced down at his lower body—”Great castrator”? Was he being insulted?

Liu Liwa turned his tearful gaze toward Third Miss Zhao and said with deep emotion, “Young Lady, I believe you’ve misunderstood Young Master Ye. I can prove that he didn’t come here for pleasure but rather to perform his daily good deed. Young Master Ye is truly a great philanthropist!”

“Huh? What exactly is going on here?” Third Miss Zhao became curious and looked at Young Master Ye, who was naturally bewildered—but in Third Miss Zhao’s eyes, it looked like deliberate feigned ignorance.

Liu Liwa immediately answered for him: “Young Lady, you may not know this, but Young Master Ye is the kindest person in the world. He never thinks of himself, only of helping others. Wherever he goes, good deeds follow. Performing one good deed a day is his principle; planting good causes to reap good results is his eternal belief; doing good without seeking recognition is his noble spirit; and selfless dedication is his creed. Please, for such a good person, don’t misunderstand him!”

Third Miss Zhao scratched her head, puzzled. “Visiting a pleasure house makes him a good person?”

“Of course!” Liu Liwa declared confidently, making Young Master Ye want to strangle him. But then Liu Liwa changed his tone: “Other people come to pleasure houses seeking pleasure, but not Young Master Ye. He comes to help others and perform acts of kindness. Miss, may I ask—how much silver did these two chests of clothes and Brush, Ink, Paper, and Inkstone cost, and who was it that purchased them and asked you to deliver them here?”

Third Miss Zhao paused briefly and said, “These two chests of clothes cost three hundred and eighty Silver Taels in total. The person who paid was a ragged, filthy drunkard.”

“Exactly!” Liu Liwa chuckled inwardly. From the time Wen Jun left until Third Miss Zhao arrived with the delivery, only about the time of one meal had passed. Wen Jun certainly had no time to change clothes, and he probably would not have anyway—a dignified Supervisory Commander, a military district commander, buying clothes for pleasure house girls would damage his image. Seizing on this point, Liu Liwa said, “Miss, just think—how could a ragged, filthy drunkard afford over three hundred Silver Taels, enough to support him for half a lifetime, to buy clothes for pleasure house girls? All of this was arranged behind the scenes by Young Master Ye; the silver was provided by him…”

Liu Liwa spoke seriously and earnestly, but Third Miss Zhao’s comprehension was limited. She immediately widened her eyes and scolded Young Master Ye angrily: “Well, Ye Zecong! You actually bought seventy-two dresses for young ladies all at once? Exactly how many sweethearts do you have here!?”