Chapter 118: Psychological Counseling

Miss Cuiping clung to his legs, weeping until she nearly fainted. Liu Liwa stayed silent, and as everyone watched, the nervous tension in the room slowly turned into a creeping sense of despair.

Liu Liwa was indeed unusual, but this situation was too sudden. They only had three days—it was urgent! Yet Liu Liwa was just a down-on-his-luck young master exiled here as a servant; he didn’t have 130 silver taels, a huge sum. Cuiping also didn’t have any regular, generous patrons at the Pleasure House she was close to; she couldn’t borrow money anywhere. What possible way was there in just three days to make the wealthy men who frequented the brothel and spent money freely notice Cuiping and willingly pay out silver taels?

Most crucially, Cuiping had to leave after three days. Even if she scrounged up the 500 taels to buy her freedom, changing her registered “Lowly Status Register” status to that of a commoner… What then? She was almost thirty—an ‘old woman’—with no money to her name and her history at the Pleasure House. How would she survive? Probably, once the harsh winter came, she’d just freeze to death in the snow like so many before her.

Liu Liwa knew he absolutely could not financially sponsor her himself. There were nineteen other girls here too! Five hundred taels each? Forget him, even Young Master Ye, that extravagant ultra-rich second-generation, couldn’t afford that all at once. Besides, why would he buy freedom for twenty-odd women?

But seeing Cuiping on the verge of collapse, her tears flowing like a river, softened Liu Liwa’s heart. Add to that the disdainful look and challenging words Wu Liniang had just thrown at him — it all stoked his fighting spirit. He bent down and helped the limp Miss Cuiping to her feet. When Cuiping saw the resolve shining in his eyes, her panicked heart instantly calmed. He felt like a great, immovable mountain standing before her. Like a willow catkin that finally settles after being tossed by the wind, she felt an unprecedented sense of safety and peace.

Looking at the frail Cuiping, Liu Liwa also felt a pang in his heart. He was holding her up right now; if he let go, he might be condemning a young life to end. He wasn’t some savior, not an emperor or a god, but he absolutely wouldn’t stand by and watch someone die. Though, if he saw an old person fall over? Heck no, he wouldn’t help them up either!

Liu Liwa helped Cuiping sit down. Her close sister-friends came over, wiping her tears and pouring her tea. In her bleak helplessness, she felt a sliver of genuine human warmth. Yet her desperate, helpless eyes remained fixed on Liu Liwa.

Liu Liwa gave her a reassuring smile. “Miss Cuiping,” he said gently, “don’t worry. I will help you.”

Hearing this, Cuiping was overjoyed. Liu Liwa was her last lifeline now; without him, only death awaited. Seeing his smile, she instinctively started to kneel again. Liu Liwa quickly held her up. The confident look on his face only brightened. Although the other girls were still somewhat doubtful, they were momentarily swept up by the confidence he projected.

The girls chatted together, venting their anger by quietly cursing Wu Liniang and her allies for being so heartless. This helped them blow off steam, and Cuiping’s mood improved a bit. When everyone went to comfort the other girl whose “deadline” was up, Miss Xiuzhu, they realized she had disappeared! Someone said she had just gone back to her room. Worried she might be suicidal, one of her sisters stayed to keep her company. She should be physically safe, but her spirits were rock bottom.

Liu Liwa shook his head. He had an idea for helping Cuiping, but it wouldn’t work for everyone. He’d also seen Miss Xiuzhu—fairly average looks, no special talents, quiet to the point of never speaking during the whole ordeal. Maybe she had her own solution.

No time to ponder that now. Cuiping’s urgent problem came first. Liu Liwa’s plan was actually simple: make the money come from somewhere else! Since girls in a Pleasure House earned silver from guests… well, the guests would have to pay!

They chatted for a while longer until Miss Cuiping calmed down completely and even managed a tentative smile. Only then did Liu Liwa speak up. “Miss Cuiping, I have an idea for tonight, but it requires a small sacrifice from you,” he said. “Your skin is so fair, tender, and crystal-like. Tonight, could you show a little more of it? Would that be alright?”

The girls all looked shocked and confused. But Cuiping was backed against a wall. She didn’t even pause to think. “Brother Xiaoqi, you jest,” she said directly. “Cuiping is a woman of dubious repute. This is the work I’ve done for over a decade. How can you speak of ‘sacrifice’? I know everything you do is to help me. Whatever you command, Cuiping will obey!”

“Great!” Liu Liu laughed heartily, projecting powerful confidence again. He glanced at the sky. It was still early, not even noon yet—never mind the evening opening time. Patting his stomach, he realized the beef chunks he’d brought from behind the Pleasure House were probably already in the bellies of those three women. With free time now, he might as well fill his own stomach. “Ah, Miss Cuiping,” he smiled cheerfully, “before you said you only needed another 130 taels to buy your freedom. Does that mean you already have 370 taels?”

Cuiping nodded briskly. Liu Liwa rubbed his hands together. “Perfect! Look at all your sisters here worrying about you,” he gestured around. “It’s nearly lunchtime now, so what do you say to treating everyone to a nice meal? After all, it’s to celebrate over a decade of sisterhood!”

Whispers of shock rippled through the room. Yanhong jumped forward, scowling and jabbing Liu Liwa’s arm indignantly. “Hey, Brother Xiaoqi! You know Sister Cuiping needs money to buy her freedom, and yet you ask her to treat everyone? Are you actually helping her or leading her to ruin?”

Liu Liwa spread his hands, still smiling. “She can’t buy her freedom with what she has now anyway. Losing a little more isn’t a big deal. Besides, no amount of silver can buy the kind of sisterhood you all share, right? In a few days, you might never see each other again.”

Liu Liwa maintained an inscrutable smile, but the girls looked gloomy. Only Cuiping seemed determined. She hurried to her room and returned with seventy silver ingots. They gleamed enticingly, reminding everyone that there were still countless things in this world that even piles of silver couldn’t buy.

Liu Liwa snapped his fingers. Leftover Warrior sprang to attention instantly. Without ceremony, Liu Liwa tossed him the silver. “Go to the best restaurant in town. Order their finest spread—only meat dishes, no vegetables. And the wine must be top-notch—none of that watery stuff!”

Leftover Warrior accepted the order and scurried off. The girls still seemed doubtful, but Liu Liwa didn’t care. He pulled Cui Ping aside, chatting and joking animatedly. He rambled on about how vast and wonderful the outside world was, how life was just beginning at twenty-eight, how the long road ahead was filled with endless possibilities and color. His aim was simple: show Cuiping that even after leaving Intoxication Pavilion, even with the stain of her past, she shouldn’t give up on herself or lose hope. Human determination could change fate and conquer the heavens.

Miss Cuiping listened intently, gradually getting lost in the possibilities he painted. The other girls sat down too, clustering around Liu Liwa as he began his session of what could only be called psychological counseling…