The Courtesan's limpid eyes flashed with surprise.
She seemed not to have expected Shen Tang to be such a greenhorn. Of all the merchants who had come seeking connections before, which one had ever opened by asking how much they could borrow to guarantee a profit? Which one hadn't approached with a cautious smile? In the blink of an eye, the Courtesan's usual allure and composure returned.
"Your Ladyship must be joking. Business always involves profit and loss. What business in this world can guarantee a profit? The amount of principal you borrow depends on how much you need for your business. By the rules, once you borrow, you'll receive protection, no matter the amount."
Shen Tang wasn't led astray by her.
She smiled. "True, any amount will get you protection. But protection is not all the same; some people put their hearts into it, while others don't. It's like the maids and servants around Your Ladyship: there are first-, second-, and third-class attendants. What I'd like to know is, how much does one have to borrow to get first-class treatment?"
She spoke without the slightest hesitation.
The Courtesan extended her slender fingers and picked up her teacup, pretending to drink. She didn't answer Shen Tang's question directly. "I heard Your Ladyship wants to secure your family's estate from the clan elders by making this deal. As long as the deal goes through, that's enough. If so, why pursue first-class treatment? In my opinion, third-class—or even something worse—would suffice. You'd still be able to do business in Jinli Commandery under the protection, even if you only borrowed a little."
Faced with the Courtesan's probing, Shen Tang merely shook her head. "If that were my only goal, I wouldn't have come to see the top Courtesan today."
A top Courtesan's drinks