She looked up at Pu Yunshan, her handkerchief crumpled from being crumpled by his fingers.
"You come from Mount Qingcheng; your sword should protect those who are important to you, not be tainted by this kind of scum."
Pu Yunshan's hand froze in mid-air.
Qin Hongxiu lowered her head, her voice even softer. "I'll bear the debts my brother owes myself. At worst... at worst, I'll just have a few drinks with them. Young master, please don't cause trouble for me."
Master Ma, standing to the side, chuckled impatiently, "Miss Hongxiu, just keeping you company with drinks isn't enough. All the brothers in our Caoyun Gang are thinking of you. Why don't we take turns—"
Before he could finish speaking, Pu Yunshan pulled out a silver note from his pocket and slapped it across his face.
The silver note slid down his scarred face and landed at his feet.
"Take the money and get out."
Master Ma paused for a moment, bent down to pick up the silver note, looked at it against the light, and the fat on his face twitched.
"It really is five hundred taels."
Are you going to leave or not?
Pu Yunshan's sword was half-drawn from its sheath, causing the warm wine in the room to sway.
Master Ma pocketed the silver notes and spat at Qin Hongxiu: "Consider yourself lucky, you found a sucker willing to pay up. Let's go."
Several men grumbled and cursed as they went downstairs, with the madam following behind, shouting not to damage the stairs, and walking faster than anyone else.
The hallway became quiet.
Pu Yunshan looked at Qin Hongxiu, still angry, and was about to ask her where her brother was when Qin Hongxiu raised her hand to wipe the corner of her eye.
" Young Master Pu."
She took a step forward, her fingertips lightly hooking his sleeve, pausing before letting go.
"I'm afraid I can never repay this kindness."
Pu Yunshan's throat went dry. "You don't need to pay me back."
"You're always like this." Qin Hongxiu looked at him. "If Hongxiu cause you to get involved with the Caoyun Gang, and that implicates Mount Qingcheng in the future, I will not rest in peace even in death."
Pu Yunshan frowned. "Don't say such things."
Qin Hongxiu lowered her eyes and forced a smile.
"I am too ashamed to face anyone today. Please go back first, young master. I will cook you noodles after I have calmed down."
After she finished speaking, she retreated back into the music room, closing the door in front of Pu Yunshan.
Pu Yunshan stood still, gripping his sword.
The red rope, which was attached to the hilt of the sword, swayed slightly.
His chest felt intensely hot, Fourth Rank internal energy surged wildly through his meridians, causing even his hand holding the sword to become unsteady.
what to do?
This girl must be feeling terrible, having been humiliated.
How can I help her?
After Qin Hongxiu closed her door, Pu Yunshan stood outside for a long time.
The girls downstairs kept their voices down as they walked. The madam glanced at him from the stairwell and, seeing that he hadn't left yet, deliberately sighed.
"In this world, which girl doesn't have a troublesome relative? Hongxiu has probably spent all the money she's earned over the years on this."
Pu Yunshan turned to her and asked, "Where is her younger brother?"
The madam waved her hand. "Who knows? That boy started out studying diligently, but then he started gambling and drinking. After accumulating debts, he ran away faster than a rabbit. Hongxiu, she's already struggling herself, yet she still longs for her only son at home."
Pu Yunshan didn't ask any more questions.
He walked to the window and heard faint piano music through the paper window. The music was intermittent and stopped halfway through.
Qin Hongxiu did not come out.
Pu Yunshan placed his toolbox in the corner, sat down by the door, and the jade pendant at his waist tapped softly on the floor.
Five hundred taels.
That was the resettlement money that Gu Moran had advanced to him.
He had originally planned to get a bigger pen for the piglets and buy Qin Hongxiu a decent box of rouge.
Now he only has a few copper coins left in his pocket.
But thinking about how Master Ma had blocked the door with the IOU, and how Qin Hongxiu, dressed so thinly, had to force herself to worry about him, Pu Yunshan felt that the money was well spent.
Qin Hongxiu's voice came from inside the room.
" Young Master Pu, are you still there?"
Pu Yunshan immediately stood up. "Yes."
"You should go back now," Qin Hongxiu said through the doorway. "I'm fine."
"Alright, if those people come again, send someone to find me in the south of the city."
There was a moment of silence inside the door.
"Good."
Pu Yunshan raised his hand to knock on the door, but pulled it back after hitting the door panel.
"I'll find a way to deal with your brother's debts from now on."
"Young master, please don't spend any more money on me." Qin Hongxiu's voice was hoarse from crying. "That five hundred taels today is enough to make me lose face."
Pu Yunshan remained silent for a while.
Money can be earned again.
There was no further response from inside.
As Pu Yunshan went downstairs, the sound of a zither began to play again from Qin Hongxiu's room, its low notes lingering in the corridor. He even turned back to look at her as he reached the door.
In the beaded curtained private room opposite on the second floor.
Gu Moran sat on the soft couch with his legs crossed, a plate of melon seeds beside him, while Liu Ruyan slowly peeled the melon seeds.
Uncle Fu stood to the side, suppressing a laugh as he finished explaining the matter.
Gu Moran popped a melon seed into his mouth and remained silent for a long while.
Liu Ruyan glanced at him. "Your Highness, all five hundred taels are gone."
"I saw it."
"When he collected the silver notes this morning, he even asked Uncle Fu what girls liked, afraid that dressing too flashy would make them laugh." Liu Ruyan put the melon seeds into a small dish. "He came to this Flower-Between Pavilion in just a short while, and his clothes are still there, but his silver is gone."
Gu Moran picked up his teacup and took a sip.
" Qin Hongxiu's move of feigning retreat to advance was truly beautiful."
"Beautiful?" Liu Ruyan raised an eyebrow. " With Pu Yunshan's brains, he'll probably be going to fight the Caoyun Gang to the death tomorrow."
Gu Moran coughed and raised his hand to rub his chest.
"Won't."
"Is Your Highness so certain?"
"This kid may not have experienced the hardships of being with a woman, but he's not stupid."
Liu Ruyan stared at the tightly closed door across the room.
"That's right, Master Ma was hired by the Flower-Between Pavilion, and the IOU was newly written."
Gu Moran looked up.
"That's more interesting."
Uncle Fu asked in a low voice, "Should we have someone keep an eye on Young Master Pu?"
"Keep an eye on it," Gu Moran.
Liu Ruyan pushed the peeled melon seeds in front of Gu Moran.
What about Hongxiu?
"She knows her limits."
After Gu Moran finished speaking, she saw Pu Yunshan downstairs leave Flower-Between Pavilion. He walked very slowly, but his back was straight.
He tried to hold it in, but eventually burst out laughing.
" Uncle Fu."
"This old servant is here."
"Submit another urgent order tomorrow."
What urgent order?
"They said the timber for the Flower-Between Pavilion needs to be replenished, and specifically requested Pu Excellent."
The sunflower seed shell in Liu Ruyan's hand cracked open with a snap.
"Does Your Highness think he hasn't suffered enough?"
Gu Moran raised his teacup.
"Young man, suffering a loss is a blessing."