One Tael More

Though Biluo lived in a brothel, his bearing and looks were both exceptional. His long, fair hands were especially beautiful.

His fingers plucked the strings, and the notes of the zither drifted out, lively as a gentle breeze and soothing as nourishing rain.

The leisurely notes of the guqin reached Bai Mo's ears, and she became engrossed. Young Master Biluo's skill with the zither was truly unparalleled, far beyond the ordinary.

When the piece ended, Biluo looked up at Bai Mo, a smile in his eyes. Just as he had expected, Eldest Miss Bai loved hearing him play the zither most of all.

Biluo straightened up, his every frown and smile seeming rehearsed a thousand times. He walked over to Bai Mo and naturally took the wine jug from Lixia's hand.

"You haven't come for several days. I've missed you terribly."

Biluo gazed at Bai Mo, his eyes brimming with tenderness. He sat down gently beside her and poured her a cup of wine, then poured one for himself.

"Did you come today because Yun Wu is making his debut?" Biluo asked, fixing Bai Mo with a lingering gaze.

Bai Mo accepted the cup and took a small sip.

"I only came to have a look. I didn't know Young Master Yunwu was making his debut."

After the two had shared a few cups, Biluo lowered his eyes slightly, struggling inwardly...

"May I ask a favor of you?"

"Oh? I'm afraid not."

Bai Mo was also wondering what to do. If this man asked to spend the night or something, how was she supposed to refuse? He was the original owner's old flame, and she had no desire to keep sleeping with a man the original owner had slept with...

Biluo rose, knelt down, and bowed low.

"I hope you'll help me this once, Eldest Miss Bai. Please bid for Yun Wu today. I know there's no hope for my ruined body, but Yun Wu is still young. He sold himself to the Hundred Herbs Pavilion to pay for his adoptive mother's treatment. Now medicine can no longer save her, and the papas set a trap to make him put himself up for bidding...

"Please save him. I'm willing to put up all my private savings. Please help buy his freedom. The price to redeem the Green Grass Pavilion's top courtesan is five thousand taels, and I've saved enough...

"We can't buy our own freedom. It's truly hard to have our names removed from the brothel register."

When Biluo raised his head again, tears were streaming down his face.

Before Bai Mo could refuse, he went on to explain the whole story...

Biluo and Yun Wu had known each other since they were young, and Yun Wu's father had once saved Biluo's life. Neither had ever imagined that when they met again, it would be in such a filthy place.

Yun Wu had once been a young master from a respectable family. His family dealt in hides and had been fairly well-off.

Because his father was a foreigner, he could sing and dance and was exceptionally beautiful, attracting the attention of a certain noble. Yun Wu's parents refused to comply, and in a single night, all thirty-two members of the family died in a fire.

Yun Wu's current adoptive mother had been a close friend of his mother's. That day, Yun Wu had happened to visit her house to play with her son. The two children had played too hard and stayed the night at her house, narrowly escaping the disaster.

Afterward, his adoptive mother wanted to protect the only surviving bloodline of her close friend, so she concealed his identity, adopted him as her own, and raised him.

Unfortunately, the good times did not last. Her son suffered from a hidden illness, and the family nearly lost everything trying to treat him, only for him to die despite their efforts. His adoptive father was depressed all day after losing his only child, and before long, he too passed away.

From then on, only Yun Wu and his adoptive mother depended on each other to survive. Three years ago, she too fell ill. With no other choice, Yun Wu sold himself to the Green Grass Pavilion to fetch a good price.

Bai Mo was astonished. In this peaceful and prosperous age, people could still commit murder and arson in broad daylight?

Watching Biluo weep as though his heart and bowels were breaking, she felt no great stir in her own heart. Without experiencing another's suffering, it really was hard to feel it as one's own...

"Why did you choose me to help you? There are plenty of powerful people in the capital. With your reputations, Young Master Biluo and Young Master Yunwu, I imagine many people would be willing to help you," Bai Mo asked directly.

Biluo looked at Bai Mo and slowly said, "Would you like the truth, or a lie?"

Bai Mo looked at the eager expressions on the faces of the three spectators beside her!!

"The truth."

"Because I think you're the best of the bad people."

After saying it, Biluo could not help feeling uneasy. He had thought long and hard while playing the zither just now. Among those who had come today were two people more powerful than the Residence of the Earl Who Protects the State, but those ladies were all greedy and lecherous, with countless beautiful concubines at home. If Yun Wu went to them, wouldn't he be leaping out of a wolf's pit only to enter a tiger's den? At least the Earl Who Protects the State's eldest miss had a clean bedchamber...

Huh? Bai Mo was shattered.

What the hell did he mean, the best of the bad people?

Biluo could not tell what Bai Mo was thinking.

He was about to bow again when Bai Mo reached out and helped him up.

"Get up first. Let me think it over."

Just then, wisps of smoke curled up from downstairs, and strains of music drifted out. The noisy crowd fell silent and turned as one toward the center of the stage.

Bai Mo and the others were drawn to look as well. Although they were seated on the second floor, the room afforded an excellent view.

Yun Wu wore a robe of smoky-blue gauze, his graceful figure visible through it. His head was buried in his long flowing sleeves. As the music played, he suddenly flung them aside, revealing his bewitching face to the crowd: deep-set features, rosy red lips, and above all, a pair of deep blue eyes that seemed capable of stealing souls.

Well, well, he was mixed-race! He really was beautiful!

His slender waist bent as he took delicate steps, his eyes rippling like spring water as he glanced around. His flowing sleeves danced with him, and his skirts fluttered. Like a flower veiled in mist, he seemed at once immortal and illusory, entrancing everyone present.

When the dance ended, the venue was so quiet a falling needle could be heard. Then the first cry of approval rang out, and the crowd came to their senses, clapping and cheering.

At this point, the madam took the stage, pinching her voice. "Thank you all for honoring the Green Grass Pavilion with your presence. Today is Young Master Yunwu's great day. Which honored guest will be the first to enter his curtains?"

"The usual rules: bidding starts at five hundred taels. The highest bidder wins."

As soon as the madam finished speaking, Bai Mo thought it was outrageously expensive. Brothels really were money-devouring dens for women! Before she could voice her thoughts, the bidding had already begun downstairs.

Before long, the price had climbed to a lofty two thousand taels.

Biluo was beside himself with worry. He hurriedly pulled out a stack of banknotes and pressed them into Bai Mo's hand. "Eldest Miss Bai, this is five thousand taels. Please bid for Yun Wu and buy his freedom. I'm begging you...

"If the silver isn't enough, I'll owe you the rest. I'll repay you however you want."

Hmm? However I want?

Bai Mo considered it. "I can help you, but after this, whatever bond there was between us will be settled. Are you willing?"

Tears glistened in Biluo's eyes. "Yes. As long as you help Yun Wu leave the lowly register, I agree."

Neither said anything more. Bai Mo rose and walked to the window.

Down below, no one had bid against the woman who had called two thousand taels. She was already looking triumphant, certain she had won, and had begun cupping her fists in thanks to the people around her.

"Two thousand and one taels."

The crowd froze for a moment, then looked up at the second-floor window.

Yun Wu looked over as well.

The three maids beside Bai Mo and Biluo all turned to look at her too.

The woman who had bid two thousand taels looked displeased. Was this person here to cause trouble?

"Two thousand one hundred taels."

"Two thousand one hundred and one taels."

"Two thousand two hundred taels."

"Two thousand two hundred and one taels."

"Two thousand three hundred taels."

"Two thousand three hundred and one taels."

The woman lost her patience and shouted at Bai Mo, "Hey, miss, what do you mean by this? If you're going to bid, then bid properly. Are you adding that one tael because you look down on me, Huang?"