"I want to sleep," the young man said suddenly. He had been subjected to too many emotional shocks in a single day, and he wanted to take the time to digest them.
"All right."
Lou Yun agreed to practically anything Pei Qing said. She led him to the bed and turned to blow out the candle, but the young man lying on the bed suddenly asked, "Could you wait until I fall asleep before leaving?"
He knew his request was willful, like a child who had never grown up, but now unease was flooding over him from every direction. He wanted Lou Yun to keep him company, even just for a little while.
Afraid Lou Yun would refuse, he even acted a little spoiled, holding on to her hand and refusing to let go.
Lou Yun extinguished the light as he asked, then sat beside the bed and waited until he fell asleep before leaving.
As for how she had come to eavesdrop on Lin Bian and Pei Qing's conversation, that story began when she and the young man parted.
After the attendants took her away, they covered her eyes and led her through a secret passage in the prefect's residence. Lou Yun only felt the light brighten before her eyes before the two attendants handed her over to another group.
"Didn't the higher-ups tell us not to take anyone in?" Cui Hao, who had opened the door after exchanging the password, sounded impatient. But upon seeing Lou Yun, whose beauty could not be concealed even with half her face covered, she changed her tune. "Oh my, what a true beauty in the making! Come, come, my precious darling, come with me-"
Cui Hao laid her hand over the back of Lou Yun's and took hold of it, leading her inside. The two attendants were long accustomed to this reaction from Cui Hao. They cupped their hands together and said, "We've delivered her, Madam Cui. We'll be leaving now."
"Go, go, go. Let me spend some time with my little nugget of gold." Cui Hao impatiently waved the two away.
With both hands clasped around Lou Yun's, she led her farther inside in a show of affection.
Lou Yun deliberately exerted some strength, but could not pull free, so she settled down to listen to Cui Hao's footsteps and tone of voice.
"Now, now, miss, since you've entered this temple and boarded this boat, stop thinking about escaping. The girls here might all be unwilling at first, but which of them doesn't end up earning pots and bowls overflowing with money..."
Cui Hao's steps were steady and strong. If Lou Yun's guess was right, this Madam Cui knew some martial arts.
Cui Hao chattered all the way, offering Lou Yun the same old persuasions. "Let me tell you, you're the prettiest one I've ever seen. With me, Cui Hao, teaching you, you'll have more wealth and splendor than you can ever enjoy. Miss, what's your name?"
As her last word fell, Cui Hao removed Lou Yun's blindfold. The first thing Lou Yun saw was a group of women with vacant eyes, utterly lifeless.
They were packed shoulder to shoulder into the small room, remaining unmoved even when someone new arrived.
The sight of them like this angered Cui Hao. Planting a hand on her hip, she waved her handkerchief and circled in front of them, scolding, "You little hussies! All you do every day is spend my money, and you can't learn a thing. At this rate, when will I ever earn back what I spent on you? Keep this up, and I'll send you to the main hall!"
Only when Cui Hao threatened them with the main hall did a faint trace of fear appear in their eyes, but an instant later, they were lifeless again.
These people had already lost hope in life, or perhaps they were nothing but walking corpses.
Lou Yun looked away and asked, "Will I be staying with them from now on?"
"Oh, my little sweetheart!" Seeing Lou Yun take the initiative to ask a question, Cui Hao immediately beamed like a flower in bloom. The satisfaction on her face and gratification in her eyes were genuine. "Though I'm very fond of you, once you enter my Pleasant Breeze Courtyard, you have to earn your food, clothing, and everything else with your own abilities."
Cui Hao stepped back half a pace and looked Lou Yun over from head to toe, up and down. The more she looked, the more satisfied she was. That figure, that face-both were the best she had ever seen. She was going to make a fortune!
According to Cui Hao, she would have to squeeze in with these women today. In that case, getting out tonight might prove difficult.
The thought had barely surfaced in Lou Yun's mind when a servant boy hurried up to Cui Hao and whispered something to her.
After listening, Cui Hao angrily flicked the handkerchief in her hand. "What the hell! Nothing but trouble for me!" Her gaze swept around, and the moment she saw Lou Yun, an idea suddenly rose in her mind. Wasn't this the timely rain she needed?
Her face filled with smiles instead. "Sweetheart, would you like a room of your own?"
Lou Yun lifted her phoenix eyes and asked with a smile, "What do you mean, Madam Cui?"
"As luck would have it, someone missed out on her good fortune today. Madam Cui feels for you, sweetheart. Will you come?" Cui Hao leaned softly against Lou Yun, resting a hand on her as she asked.
Lou Yun lowered her eyes, putting on an uneasy expression. "Ling'er doesn't ask for great wealth or status, only enough food and clothing, and a stable life."
"Hahaha, don't worry about that. No one under my care has ever starved to death," Cui Hao said in satisfaction.
Lou Yun stroked the ends of her hair and dipped in a slight bow. "Sorry for the trouble, Madam."
Chapter 25
Afterward, Lou Yun was taken to a small room. Cui Hao also assigned a maid to stay with her, ostensibly to look after her, but in truth to keep watch.
That night, after knocking the maid out, Lou Yun slipped out in secret to find Pei Qing. As soon as she climbed into the Lin residence, she saw someone leading Pei Qing outside. She followed them the whole way, leading to this series of events.
Lou Yun looked at Pei Qing sleeping peacefully on the bed and gently tucked the young man's hand beneath the covers. The hand signal she had made before they parted had only meant that she wanted to check on his condition and the situation's progress. As for anything else, she would play it by ear.
It was getting late. Lou Yun returned to the Pleasant Breeze Courtyard and quietly waited for dawn.
The women Lin Shuo had gathered from various places had presumably all been sent to this brothel. But since Lin Bian had already told Lin Shuo to keep a low profile for the next few days, how could there still be an occasion to "do business"?
Early the next morning, Cuiying woke Lou Yun. "Miss, miss, wake up. It's time for morning lessons."
Lou Yun let Cuiying attend to her with practiced ease. At Cuiying's words, she asked, "Morning lessons?"
"They're lessons specifically for learning how to serve honored guests. As for the rest, you can see for yourself, miss." Cuiying respectfully led Lou Yun downstairs.
Fifteen girls stood scattered around the hall. Each had her own merits, displaying a different charm.
But from their conversations and movements, it was possible to discern that the woman standing in the very center was the head of this gathering of dragons.
"Wan'er, Wan'er, lead your younger sisters through their morning lessons. You'll be meeting the honored guests tomorrow. What happened yesterday must not happen again!" Twirling her handkerchief, Cui Hao called for the guards to bring her a chair, then sat to one side, drinking tea and watching everyone take their morning lessons.
Setting down her teacup, she waved her handkerchief in Lou Yun's direction. "Oh, right, that's Ling'er. She's new and hasn't learned anything. Wan'er, make sure you teach her well."
"Yes." The woman at their head wore flowing red robes, with a lifelike peony ornament between her brows. Her slender, curved willow-leaf eyebrows were paired with peach-blossom eyes brimming with allure. As her gaze shifted, a single glance was enough to draw someone into those eyes.
Newcomers attracted attention wherever they went, especially one who had come to replace the younger sister who had jumped to her death just yesterday.
Wan'er gazed quietly at Lou Yun. The floor where the woman stood was as clean as new. Who could tell that someone had lain there covered in blood yesterday?
She studied Lou Yun for a long time. The gentleness in her eyes could not conceal the pity and heartache deep within them. Such a beautiful person had fallen into the abyss just like them.
"Little sister, have you learned any instruments?" Wan'er also laid her hand on Lou Yun's, but the feeling she gave was completely different from Cui Hao yesterday. Her movements carried her own distinctive fragrance, every gesture gentle and soothing, like an eldest sister looking after her youngest sister, putting one at ease.
"I've learned the qin," Lou Yun answered truthfully.
"The qin? Then would you play a piece for me, little sister?"
The hall had a fairly complete selection of instruments. Lou Yun raised her hands, and lilting qin notes rose, the song of its strings flowing without end.
A glimmer of delight flashed in Wan'er's eyes. Taking Lou Yun's hand, she asked, "You've studied before, little sister?"
"My family used to be cloth merchants. Later, our fortunes declined, and I haven't touched one in a long time." Lou Yun fabricated the story with a perfectly straight face.
Cui Hao was even more delighted. She came straight over from her chair, exclaiming "Good!" three times in succession before sighing in admiration. "You really are my precious darling!"
Someone who neither made a fuss nor caused trouble, who was obedient and already possessed talent, was truly hard to find even for a thousand gold pieces. She chuckled and said, "You truly are my lucky star!"
"In that case, you can simply play the qin during the performance. Sisters, come practice." Wan'er called the other girls over.
Lou Yun was naturally pleased not to have to learn anything else strange. She joined the group as instructed. For her, keeping up with a piece at this level was fairly easy.
It was just a little boring to practice for so long.
The only thing she had not expected was how dazzling and seductive Wan'er would be when she danced, ensnaring souls and stealing spirits. No wonder she had been chosen as the focus among all these women.
Perhaps Lou Yun had given Cui Hao too many pleasant surprises. Cui Hao was no longer content merely to have her fill a vacancy; she truly wanted to put her to some use.
"Why don't we have Ling'er dance in the center instead? Wan'er can play the qin too, can't she? You two switch places," Cui Hao said.
Before Lou Yun could speak, Wan'er stepped in front of her. She dipped in a bow and said, "Madam Cui, quite apart from whether Ling'er can dance, she only just arrived, and we'll be meeting the honored guests the day after tomorrow. If Ling'er cannot coordinate with the other sisters and ends up offending an honored guest, none of us can bear the consequences."
Cui Hao's eyes shifted, and she slapped her thigh. "All right, we'll do as you say."
If Lou Yun could barely accept the morning lessons, the lessons that followed made her want to flip the table and leave.
Leafing through the erotic picture book in her hands and looking at the little figures in their various poses, Lou Yun felt nothing but disdain. Have me serve men? Not in this lifetime, or for all eternity. Holding it irritated her. Quite a few people beside her had already begun practicing with implements. She was about to toss it aside when a warm hand stopped her.
"This must be your first time seeing this, little sister. It's only natural to feel shy. Let me teach you." Wan'er walked over to Lou Yun with easy composure, took the book from her hands, and exchanged it for the one she held. Its contents were clearly much better than those of the previous book.