Chapter 17: Helpless

Miss Liuyun stopped walking and slowly turned around. She was in a pleasure house, and even as the most popular performer, she had to follow the rules. When the hall manager personally called her name, she had no choice but to turn back and give a slight bow to Young Master Shilang to show her thanks.

Liu Liwa secretly watched the others. There were all kinds of people here—merchants, landlords, small vendors, and even hidden government officials’ children. But under the aura of this directly central government official’s son, everyone else seemed dim.

Yang Xiaosi quietly walked over to Liu Liwa and warned him like an elder. Although Linyu County was not far from the Capital City and was a necessary route from east to west to the Capital City, it was still not the Capital City itself. Very few high officials or nobles, or even playboys, visited. But as for Intoxication Pavilion, it most wanted to curry favor with the powerful to ensure good business. That was why Shen Zuijin was so proactive in flattering him. At the same time, Yang Xiaosi told him that in the past, any child of an official from the Capital City, even if unknown, received VIP treatment at Intoxication Pavilion.

This, Liu Liwa could not understand. It was fine to want to curry favor with the powerful, but in business, one should not show too much favoritism. There was no need to act as deliberately as Shen Zuijin was doing now; they could have just privately given him a VIP card! But then again, this kind of public display and different treatment was exactly what made these playboys feel superior.

“Young Master Ye, please sit quickly. Cuier, bring the best wine.” Shen Zuijin personally helped Young Master Ye sit down. “Young Master Ye, your presence at our humble village shop brings us great honor. How about I call two more girls to accompany you?”

Young Master Ye waved his hand and said, “Wait. I have long heard of Miss Liuyun from Intoxication Pavilion’s fame. Today, I came specifically for Miss Liuyun.”

When everyone heard this, the atmosphere suddenly changed. Miss Liuyun was like a superstar in their hearts. His words were like a scandal about a superstar, which faithful fans could not accept. Miss Liuyun on the stage also changed her expression, cold as an immortal, not speaking a word.

Shen Zuijin carefully said, “Young Master Ye, our Liuyun is a pure courtesan. She only sells her talents, not her body.”

A pure courtesan? Liu Liwa snorted inwardly. So-called pure courtesans were like KTV song requesters and drinking companions. They all claimed to sell talents, not their bodies, but that was only because there was no suitable price. However, pure courtesans had more specialties—they were skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, reciting poetry, and wordplay. They could be considered technical experts.

Liu Liwa guessed that Young Master Ye would not fall for this. Just as he was about to curse, thinking that beautiful women could not escape the fate of being pursued by the unworthy, he suddenly heard Young Master Ye say, “I have long heard of Miss Liuyun’s purity. This time, I came first to see the lady’s beautiful face, and second, I have long heard that her musical skills are unparalleled and her songs are enchanting. But the previous song was too rushed, and I did not have time to savor it. I only wish the lady could play one more song to comfort my heart.”

His actions puzzled Liu Liwa greatly. It felt like encountering a crazy fan from later times, who knew that the female star he worshiped often actively sought under-the-table deals and had a decadent private life. Even though this crazy fan had a chance to get close, he did not want it. Instead, he still regarded her as a goddess in his heart. This could only show that human thinking was too strange.

After Young Master Ye finished speaking, he took a pouch from his waist and pulled out two larger gold ingots. Combined with the previous one, it was a full hundred taels. Liu Liwa had no real concept of this but knew it was very valuable. Yang Xiaosi beside him almost cried out in surprise, muttering, “My heavens, a hundred taels of gold! That’s enough to buy a large three-section courtyard in the city, plus a hundred acres of farmland, enough to live carefree for a lifetime!”

Liu Liwa was shocked. This hundred taels of gold actually had such great value. A hundred acres of farmland—if given to developers for auction in later times, even if not in a prime location, it would probably be worth tens of millions.

Young Master Ye actually used real estate development funds to listen to a girl sing. His level of foolishness was immeasurable. Also, his father was the newly appointed Vice Minister of War. The high official position had not been held for long, and as a son, he spent so extravagantly. Wasn’t he just waiting for the disciplinary committee to investigate the source of his huge wealth? This was clearly an act of harming his father!

However, not far from them, the local rich merchants Lord Zeng and Brother Chun were whispering. They were also super fans of Miss Liuyun. They had generously rewarded earlier, but now they were completely overshadowed. But they knew the principle that the poor should not fight the rich, and the rich should not contend with officials. At this moment, they could only complain and gossip. Brother Chun said, “This Young Master Ye’s father, Vice Minister Ye, came from a poor scholar background. He relied entirely on his wife’s family for support. Later, he passed the imperial exams and entered officialdom. In recent years, he has been rising step by step. He is a student of the current prime minister. Young Master Ye’s mother’s family is the richest in neighboring Ningyuan County, wealthy enough to rival a nation.”

Liu Liwa suddenly understood. So it was a marriage between an official and a merchant. No wonder he spent money so recklessly, with clear sources for the huge funds.

At this moment, the atmosphere in Intoxication Pavilion was strange. Most of Miss Liuyun’s fans did not like their idol to bow to money. Some hoped to break Miss Liuyun’s rule of singing only one song per appearance to enjoy more of her music. Miss Liuyun herself stood on the high stage, unsure whether to leave or stay, feeling somewhat awkward.

At this time, Shen Zuijin had already put away the two gold ingots. This meant she agreed to Young Master Ye’s request. Miss Liuyun’s face immediately showed a trace of annoyance and helplessness. Then Shen Zuijin said, “Since Young Master Ye has come from afar and is so sincere, our Intoxication Pavilion naturally must entertain him well. Please, Miss Liuyun, sing one more song to amuse Young Master Ye.”

Young Master Ye drank a cup of wine handed to him by a girl and nodded in satisfaction. The others also took their seats. Although some were unwilling in their hearts, being able to hear their idol sing another song was not a bad thing.

Liu Liwa could tell that Miss Liuyun was extremely unwilling. In the past, she only sang one song per show, maintaining her mystery and always keeping people wanting more. This had created an image of her being aloof and hard to obtain, worth a fortune. This sudden change made it hard for her and her fans to accept.

Just as Miss Liuyun hesitated, Shen Zuijin suddenly stepped forward and looked up directly at Miss Liuyun. Those behind could not see her expression, but Liu Liwa beside her could see her profile. Her eyes were icy, her expression fierce, and she looked murderous.

Miss Liuyun’s gaze froze, and her body trembled slightly—a fear that came from deep within. Liu Liwa was also puzzled. Shen Zuijin seemed greedy and fawning, but he did not expect her to have such a domineering side. This must be the unique authority of a pleasure house Madam!

Under her intimidating stare, Liuyun eventually trembled and walked down. Some fans below cheered, while others buried their heads and drank heavily. Young Master Ye sat with his legs crossed, smiling. It was not so much about making Liuyun sing as it was about showing off his uniqueness.