Chapter Eighty-One

A day passed quickly.

Inside the brothel, Su Yang heard many rumors: that the Emperor of Great Qian was still wallowing in unchecked debauchery, that a great number of maidens had just been summoned from the common folk into the palace to be chosen as consorts, that the Empress Dowager had been caught in an affair with a false eunuch, who was then beheaded and displayed to the public, and that the Empress Dowager was now confined within the palace, forbidden even a single step beyond its gates.

Great Qian was in grave peril.

The court had originally intended to send a large number of marriageable women to the Xiongnu for a political union, but the plan was obstructed at every turn and never came to fruition. The Xiongnu had long since torn away the pretense of friendship, no longer believing in reconciliation, and had led their troops south.

Great Qian did not have long to live.

Across the nation, rebellions had also broken out in many places, and one-third of Great Qian's territory had already fallen under rebel control.

All the news told the same tale.

Great Qian was finished.

Yet these rumors were a mixture of truth and falsehood. Take, for instance, the alleged affair between the Empress Dowager and the false eunuch: if such a scandal had truly occurred, it would surely have been smothered within the palace long ago. How could it ever have leaked out?

Of course, there was also a very slight chance that it was true, and that someone wished to add more fuel to the fire on Great Qian's road to ruin.

That day, Su Yang did not know how many ninth-rank martial artists he had met. It was likely that half of the idle ninth-rank fighters in Yanggu County had come to inquire, after all the reward was enticing, and ninth-rank martial artists each had their own small circles; once the circles were connected, any good opportunity would spread to everyone's ears at once.

Over the next few days, there would likely be more idle ninth-rank martial artists arriving, as well as some who were already serving in the households of various masters but hoped to obtain old medicinal treasure to break through their realm, coming to try their luck.

In all, four martial artists were willing to accept any terms. Su Yang told them to go back and think it over for another night; if they were truly willing, they could come seek him out here tomorrow.

...

Tonight, five Heart-Controlling Insects would ripen. He did not know how many could be put to use tomorrow, and he hoped at least three people would still be willing to come. If so, his family progression would be considered complete.

"Will you still choose me if you come again tomorrow, young master?"

As Su Yang prepared to leave, the courtesan who had been playing the qin looked at him with eyes full of tender feeling and asked.

"You play well."

Su Yang said no more. He left with the madam outside and went up to the third floor, where the courtesan in the room was smiling with amusement.

In her heart, she knew that the man she had set her sights on would choose her again tomorrow.

That night, the courtesan hugged her zither and slept soundly, dreaming up all kinds of little stories in which she and Su Yang were the leads. She felt thoroughly content. The only trouble was that she might have to change the bedsheets tomorrow.

As for Su Yang, he felt somewhat sorry for Silver Lotus. Today, he decided not to go back and torment her; he might as well stay on the third floor of the Green Azure Brothel for the night.

The night deepened, and more and more people came up to the third floor.

Yet Su Yang suddenly remembered his own special trait. At this rate, she would likely conceive within a day. If the women in this brothel still had to receive clients afterward, would he not end up wearing countless green hats?

At that thought, Su Yang decisively sent the woman in the room away, then told the brothel attendant to bring in today's courtesan. That young woman was at least pleasing to the eye, and most importantly, she was still untouched.

If she turned out to have a spiritual root above the fourth grade, he could spend the night with her and then pay to buy her out.

...

The brothel servant hurried out the door, reached the courtesan's room, and knocked. From within came the pleasant voice of the courtesan: "Who is it so late at night?"

"Miss Green Zither, a guest has asked for you. I wonder whether you would be willing to come over?" the servant at the door called.

"How can you be so lacking in manners? I am a courtesan of the Green Azure Brothel; I do not serve men in bed. If someone wants a woman for the night, go find one of those girls. Why come looking for me?" Soon, an unhappy voice answered from inside.

"Miss, I will go and refuse that Master Su at once!" the servant quickly apologized.

"Wait, wait!"

A woman's anxious voice came from within. The door opened, and a woman who had already washed up, her hair loose and lending her a touch more allure, stood outside. Perhaps because she had been too hurried, she had merely draped a cloak over herself and asked, "Who did you say it was?"

"It's Master Su, the one who booked you for the whole day today!" The servant stared at the flustered courtesan in bewilderment.

"Quickly, quickly find a maid to help me dress. I need to change clothes." The courtesan, Miss Green Zither, showed excitement on her face.

...

Inside the room.

Today, Miss Green Zither had chosen the finest dress she owned. Embroidered upon it was a gentle white deer, specially stitched by a master artisan at considerable expense, perfectly accentuating her figure.

Within the room, looking at the handsome man dressed in a white inner robe, broad-shouldered and imposing, Miss Green Zither was in such disarray that for a moment she did not know what to do or say.

"Miss Green Zither, may I borrow your hand for a moment?" Su Yang asked when he saw her enter.

"Ah... Master Su, if you wish, there is no need to only... to only use this young woman's hand...!" Miss Green Zither lowered her head, speaking shyly in a voice as faint as a mosquito's hum.

"You misunderstand, miss. I truly only need to borrow your hand."

"I understand."

Having said this, Miss Green Zither stepped toward Su Yang, her eyes shimmering with moisture. Though courtesans did not need to serve guests at night, living in such an environment had taught her much through exposure and experience.

Her slender body slowly bent down, and she knelt before Su Yang. Just as she was about to proceed to the next step, Su Yang caught her small hand with one hand. The Root-Testing Art began to operate, and a surge of vital energy and blood power drilled into Miss Green Zither's body.

Bone and root talent: third grade.

A flash of brilliance gleamed in Su Yang's eyes. Over these past two days, his luck had been absurdly good; one after another, he had encountered girls with exceptionally fine talent. The girl he had rescued yesterday from the constable's men, and the courtesan before him now, were both of third-grade bone and root aptitude.

Even a fourth-grade bone and root talent appeared only once in dozens of people, and third-grade talent was rarer still.

Good heavens, he'd really struck gold.

"Ma-Master Su, what are you...!"

Seeing Su Yang keep holding her hand without making any further move, a trace of confusion appeared on her face.

"Miss Green Zither, I can redeem your contract and return your freedom. You need not become my concubine. You would only need to come to my residence twice a month to play the zither. Would you be willing?" Su Yang asked.

"Master... do you dislike Green Zither?" As soon as Su Yang spoke, the courtesan's eyes filled with tears. She gripped his wrist nervously, and within her gaze, besides bashfulness and pitifulness, there was also a hint of anticipation.

"Then you wish to become my concubine?"

"Mm. The moment Green Zither saw Master... I-I was willing to become your concubine, to serve you day and night...!"

"The last person who said that is still lying down recovering his strength right now...!"

"Huh? What...?"

"Oh, nothing... How much is your redemption fee? Go and call the owner of the Green Azure Brothel in here!"

"Don't waste any more time...!"

Seeing that it was already late, Su Yang spoke up.

"Yes, Master... this little woman will go at once...!" Miss Green Zither coyly adjusted her fine figure and walked toward the door.

...

P.S. There is another chapter later tonight. I was delayed today because I went to meet a prospective marriage match.