Eight Hundred Taels of Gold

Bai Mo looked at the older woman with a beaming smile. "I meant nothing of the sort. I just thought it was fun. No matter how much you bid, I'll add another tael."

"Isn't that the Eldest Miss of the House of the Earl Who Protects the Nation?"

"That's the wastrel. Sister Huang, I'd let it go. This one's not to be trifled with. Her mother indulges her terribly."

"Wasn't Young Master Biluo the one she bought at auction back then?"

"Yes, that was her. Yun Wu may be lovely, but a top courtesan's first night is worth two thousand taels at most. There's no point bidding any higher."

"Exactly. Come back another day and it'll cost fifty taels at most. You can still have whatever fun you want."

The crowd downstairs broke into discussion. Sister Huang glared up at the second floor, but could only give up.

"Oh, congratulations, Eldest Miss Bai! I'll bring Yun Wu over right away."

The madam was all smiles as she took Yun Wu by the hand and led him upstairs.

"You'd better serve her well, or I'll skin you."

"Understood."

Yun Wu stumbled as he was pulled along, listening to a scolding all the way up to the second floor.

The madam opened the private room's door and pushed Yun Wu inside. As she shoved him toward Bai Mo, she rubbed her hands together and offered her ingratiating flattery.

Seeing this, Bai Mo put on the full airs of a wastrel, pulling Yun Wu onto her lap. He was so slender that he seemed to weigh almost nothing as he sat there, his body stiff, not daring to move.

"Young Master Yunwu, you truly live up to your reputation. Such beauty."

Holding Yun Wu, Bai Mo raised an eyebrow at the madam. "I'll open the skylight and speak plainly."

"I'm very fond of Young Master Yunwu. Would you let me have him?"

Yun Wu looked sharply at Bai Mo, wondering if he had misheard. Was she going to redeem him?

Bai Mo gave him a reassuring look.

The madam was just as shocked. Why did this little ancestor want to redeem someone? She had been so infatuated with Biluo back then, yet she had never asked the madam to let him go...

The madam said awkwardly, "Aren't you putting me in a difficult position? Young Master Yunwu is a top courtesan we at the Hundred Herbs Pavilion spent a fortune training. He only made his debut today, and this..."

"So you're unwilling?"

Bai Mo looked unconcerned, a smile on her lips.

"Have you thought this through? I've been coming to your Green Grass Pavilion for more than a day or two. I come more than half the days in a month, and you won't even do me this favor?"

"Five thousand taels, plus the two thousand and more from just now, would be enough for you to train ten more like Yun Wu."

The madam lowered her head and calculated. This patron really was not someone she could afford to offend. Gritting her teeth, she said, "Ten thousand taels, and I'll part with him for you."

"Do I look like a fool to you?"

"Eight thousand taels, and I'll take him away today. Otherwise, I could always go and discuss things with the top courtesan of the Adding Fragrance House. My friends and I might become regulars there from now on."

Bai Mo toyed with Yun Wu's long hair, looking in no hurry at all. "If it really is so difficult for you, then forget it. Yun Wu can just spend tonight having fun with me."

The two went back and forth...

Watching Bai Mo's manner, the madam felt that she really did seem hard to deal with this time and grew anxious.

After weighing her options, she finally agreed. "All right. Who made you my ancestor? I can see you truly like Yun Wu, and it's a good thing for my young master to have a good place to go."

Lixia's expression, however, changed. She had brought only a little over five hundred taels today. Even with Young Master Biluo's five thousand, they were still twenty-five hundred taels short!!

If they went back and asked the family head for money just to redeem a man from a brothel, she feared...

Just as Lixia was fretting, Bai Mo said to the madam with great generosity, "I'll pay you in gold. Calculate how many taels that comes to."

"Eight hundred taels," the madam answered, bobbing her head and bowing.

"Come with me alone."

Bai Mo took the madam to the carriage, where she took gold bars out of her space and pretended to take them from inside the carriage.

She had thought it through. She had plenty of gold in her space. Everyone said gold was hard currency, and she had gotten quite a lot through zero-yuan shopping during the apocalypse. Later, others had also given her some as payment for saving their lives...

At the sight of the gleaming gold bars, the madam bit them to test them, her face blossoming into a chrysanthemum of a smile. "Oh, I'll fetch Yun Wu's contract of sale right away. Tomorrow you can take him to change his registration."

"Eldest Miss Bai, you truly are generous. Yun Wu has really found a good place to go."

Bai Mo could not be bothered to pay him any attention. She waved him off to see to it, then turned and returned to the private room.

Yun Wu was still dazed. He looked up and met Bai Mo's eyes, opening his mouth without knowing what to say.

Biluo, meanwhile, began to shed tears again and was about to thank her.

Bai Mo pointed to a stool, gesturing for Yun Wu to sit, then pushed the five thousand taels in silver notes back to Biluo.

"Take this money back. I helped you this once for the sake of the bond you formed keeping Bai Mo company this past year. Take good care of yourself from now on."

Biluo naturally understood what she meant. His lips turned slightly pale. He knew Bai Mo had already done all she could for him, and though he was reluctant to part, he did not refuse in the least.

He hurriedly turned and took out two five-hundred-tael silver notes, offering them to Yun Wu. "Yun Wu, your mother... spend some time with her. Never mind the ginseng. Take this money and find yourself a good family to join, with your name clear."

Yun Wu was no fool either. He finally understood what lay behind it all. He had been hopeful, thinking this beautiful woman wanted to take him home, but it turned out she had done it for the sake of her bond with Brother Biluo.

Yun Wu accepted only five hundred taels and pushed the other note back into Biluo's hand. "Thank you for saving me, Brother Biluo. Let me count these five hundred taels as a loan."

He rose and bowed deeply to Bai Mo.

He said softly, "I will remember your kindness today in my heart. Once my mother is in better health, I will surely repay you. I owe you these eight thousand taels as well."

Bai Mo hastily waved her hands, saying nothing at all about the money.

Then she pointed at Biluo. "Don't repay me. If you want to repay someone, repay him."

Yun Wu smiled and sat down quietly again.

By then, Lixia and the madam had finished the handover, and Lixia placed the contract of sale in Bai Mo's hands.

Bai Mo acted decisively, handing the contract straight to Yun Wu.

Yun Wu took the contract of sale, his hands trembling badly.

"Xiaohan, tell the waiter to bring some of the Green Grass Pavilion's signature dishes, and two more jugs of wine. We'll celebrate for Young Master Yunwu."

"All right, Miss, I'll go right away. Miss, could you let us have a taste too? I hear the food and wine at the Green Grass Pavilion are every bit as good as what they have in the palace."

Xiaohan gazed at Bai Mo with stars in her eyes as she headed for the door.

Lixia scolded her. "Don't talk nonsense."

Bai Mo laughed freely and heartily. "Granted, granted! Have them set up a small table and bring the three of you the same dishes. We'll all try them together."

Fine wine, good food, and beauties for company. What bliss, what bliss.

After eating and drinking her fill, Bai Mo was pleasantly tipsy. As soon as she returned to the residence, she let Lixia and the others attend to her bath and change of clothes, then fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

"Knock, knock, knock. The night is deep and all is quiet. Beware of fire and candles."

"My lord, it's already the third watch. Please get some rest."

Xiaotian was on night duty in Shen Qing's room today. He felt as though he had already dozed off twice on the little couch in the outer room, yet his young master was still sitting motionless by the window.

Shen Qing glanced at the moonlight, then went to bed.

"Put out the lamp."

A deep sense of disappointment spread through Shen Qing. She really could not come after all...

As though trying to persuade himself, he thought that the Grand Preceptor's Residence was heavily guarded. Perhaps she could not get in?

Besides, she did not know where he lived.