Chapter 139: The Bed-Warming Treasures

Miss Zhao saw Liu Liwa calmly drinking tea, looking completely harmless. She then gathered her courage and sat at the table next to him, keeping her small knife close at hand, always ready.

“What, can you make decisions for Intoxication Pavilion now?” Miss Zhao asked doubtfully.

“Of course.” Liu Liwa shrugged and stretched out his hand, showing her the small holes left by the brooch pricks on his fingers—the spots where the disease had festered. He said creepily, “I’ve worked wholeheartedly for Intoxication Pavilion, even continuing to work on the front lines despite catching a nasty illness. A promotion is only right.”

“Stay away from me!” Miss Zhao brandished her dagger and said, “I’m here to discuss serious business. Since you can make decisions, it’s fine to talk to you. I want to borrow a few girls from Intoxication Pavilion, just like last time, to help showcase my newly made dresses. You know, only when those clothes are worn by them will ladies and madams feel the desire to buy them.”

Liu Liwa nodded. This girl really was something—she immediately grasped how models could appeal to middle-aged women, especially their psychology. When looking at comfortable clothes, they often focused only on parts instead of the whole. They could ignore the model’s figure and appearance, thinking that those beautiful clothes would look good on anyone. With such garments, they believed they could be as stunning as the models.

“Miss, the girls are living people. You can’t just borrow them as you please,” Liu Liwa snorted. “Besides, it’s against the rules. They’ve all signed indentures with Intoxication Pavilion. Their work is confined to within Intoxication Pavilion, and the types of work are set by Intoxication Pavilion. Also, last time they helped you without permission and were severely punished upon returning—not only fined Silver Taels but also confined. If they help you again this time, they’ll only get no food and starve to death.”

“What? You’re too cruel!” Miss Zhao exclaimed.

“Not cruel, just rules,” Liu Liwa emphasized. “The state has its laws, the family has its rules. Not to mention Intoxication Pavilion, even in your family, Miss, if a male servant had an affair with the mistress, or a maid shared a bed with the master, you’d probably punish them too, right?”

“Is that the same thing?” The young lady was furious, feeling as if he was implying she had an affair with a servant. “So you’re saying you won’t lend them. That’s fine. There are at least thirty Pleasure Houses in Linyu County. If you won’t lend, that doesn’t mean others won’t.”

Miss Zhao used a tactic of retreating to advance, getting up to leave. She treated Liu Liwa like a roadside stall vendor, thinking he would call her back immediately to haggle. However, Liu Liwa only said lightly, “There may be many Pleasure Houses, but why would they lend their girls to you? Based on those flawed clothes you sent, or because you, Miss Zhao, are beautiful and dignified, with the potential to be a top courtesan?”

“I’ll pay!” the young lady said fiercely.

That was exactly what he was waiting for! In these times, who would work for free? There had to be some benefit. Liu Liwa’s expression changed instantly, like a public relations manager: “Willing to pay? Then we’ll lend—no, not lend, but rent.”

“Money-grubbing,” Miss Zhao snorted. “Now that you’re willing, I don’t want to anymore!”

“No problem. Compare goods and shops; even if the deal falls through, goodwill remains!” Liu Liwa said unhurriedly. “But in this Linyu County, there are many Pleasure Houses, yet our Intoxication Pavilion has the best business and is the most popular. Why? Because our girls are beautiful, our girls are charming, with big, talking eyes, tender, lovely little faces, and ample bosoms and long, jade-like legs…”

Liu Liwa spoke with extreme relish. Miss Zhao quickly interrupted, “Hold on. I’m borrowing girls to sell clothes, not picking girls to spend the night.”

“No matter the purpose, only good-looking girls are truly good,” Liu Liwa said. “Think about it: if you got a bunch of ugly ones to wear your clothes for the ladies and madams to see, wouldn’t your clothes be devalued? If beautiful girls wear them, it’s different…”

As he spoke, Liu Liwa clapped his hands forcefully. Immediately, a clear flute sound came from behind the stairs, its rhythm cheerful and melody melodious. Along with the rhythm came the sound of footsteps, and a gorgeous figure appeared—it was Qin Wan’er. She was wearing a goose-yellow gauze dress, the one Wen Jun had sent over, designed by Miss Zhao herself. Zhao Jiabi naturally recognized it at a glance, but worn on the stunningly beautiful Qin Wan’er, it appeared even more lovely and luxurious.

Qin Wan’er stepped to the cheerful flute music—left, right, left—swaying her hips, pushing out her chest, lifting her head, her gaze fixed at a forty-five-degree angle upward, appearing both haughty and coldly glamorous. Her steps followed the rhythm, swaying with each movement, like a cat walking a straight line, exuding charm and allure, pretty and graceful.

Behind her was Miss Liuyun, dressed in snow-white robes, peerlessly elegant. Her face slightly flushed, she held a vibrant green flute to her red lips, also walking with a cat-like gait, as if a celestial maiden had descended from the heavens.

The last one was Little Loli Meng Xinying. She was not tall but well-developed. Because of this, she specifically chose the two-piece dress that Miss Zhao had designed for herself: a short jacket on top and a knee-length skirt below. Looking at her full, perky Summit of the Maiden, it trembled with every step, as if the earth shook and mountains swayed. Below the hem of her skirt, a pair of fair, smooth calves showed invincible youthful vitality.

Accompanied by the cheerful music, the three women walked with cat-like steps. Qin Wan’er swayed and swayed, Miss Liuyun twisted and turned, and Little Loli trembled and trembled. Liu Liwa felt dazzled watching them, and even Miss Zhao was amazed. Wearing those clothes, they seemed like masterpieces from heaven—not only neat and fitting but also highlighting their different temperaments, adding to their beauty!

The three women walked a circle around the hall, striking a pose in front of Miss Zhao, each displaying their unique perfect figures and temperaments. Then, like beautiful night-blooming cereus flowers blossoming for a moment, before Miss Zhao could recover her wits, they had already returned to their little nests, going about their business as usual…

After Miss Zhao came to her senses, her first words were: “Her, them—I would never use them.”

Liu Liwa laughed heartily. Of course she wouldn’t use them. In terms of looks, temperament, and distinctive features, not one of these girls was worse than her. Having them promote dresses would make the ladies and madams in the audience turn and leave as soon as they appeared on stage. This wouldn’t be about making them buy clothes—it would be forcing them to get plastic surgery!

Liu Liwa looked smugly at Miss Zhao’s somewhat dejected face. Any woman encountering others more beautiful than herself would have her confidence shaken, especially a woman like Miss Zhao, whose confidence bordered on narcissism. Liu Liwa said calmly, “Miss, don’t get the wrong idea. These three are my bed-warming treasures, privately owned and not for loan. I just wanted to show you the quality and charm of the girls we train at Intoxication Pavilion. You won’t find ones like them in other Pleasure Houses…”