Chapter 16: Humiliation (2)

"Madam, please stop. If you continue, you'll ruin him!" The middle-aged woman named Xu Niang didn't know how many times she had pleaded for him, but was scared off by a single glare from Lady Zhang.

She said, "If you take one more step forward, I'll beat you too."

After saying that, she grabbed Jiang Qionglin's hair and placed a dog collar around his neck. Everyone in the room could only watch as this refined young man, who was like jade, lay naked on the large round table like a dog.

"Do you think you're so proud? Aren't you here to sell yourself for wealth and status? Then who are you trying to impress with your false pride?" Lady Zhang's string of questions were really just meant to tell him, in front of everyone, that: if I lift you up, you can be the noble Peony Master; if I want to crush you, it would be effortless.

"Someone come! Drag him outside and parade him around. Let everyone see just how beautiful the body of this Peony Master is!" As soon as Lady Zhang finished speaking, the servants standing by surrounded them.

"Hold on."

At this moment, a woman dressed in pale yellow gauze emerged from the crowd. She looked unfamiliar, and her attire suggested she wasn't from a wealthy family.

"Who are you?" Lady Zhang narrowed her eyes to scrutinize her.

"My name is Di Jiang. I'm a doctor." Di Jiang gave a faint smile, drawing everyone’s attention to her at that moment.

Several people already recognized her—she was the woman chosen by Jiang Qionglin on New Year's Day, and Lady Zhang was no exception.

"How dare a mere doctor interfere in my affairs? Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Lady Zhang barked.

"I value my life, but I'm not trying to meddle in your business. I'm trying to save your life!" Di Jiang grinned and said, "The Peony Master is highly valued, as everyone knows. He has always been priced openly and served those who could afford him. If you can pay, he's yours. If you can't, then naturally he won't serve you."

"Hmph! How much could he possibly be worth?" Lady Zhang snapped angrily, "For fifteen days after New Year's Night, I've booked him exclusively! At first, they said he was sick, and now they still claim he's unwell. But look at him—does he look sick to you?"

After finishing, Lady Zhang turned to Xu Niang and said, "I paid you the money early, and now you say you’re not selling? This is outrageous!"

"Please forgive me, Madam! Qionglin has already been booked by someone else, and I’ve already sent the money to your residence. Please overlook this small offense and let him go!" Xu Niang cried, seemingly genuinely distressed.

Jiang Qionglin, once pristine but now tarnished, evoked sympathy from everyone present.

Di Jiang then turned to Xu Niang and said, "Tell me, who booked Jiang Qionglin? Go fetch that person so they can explain things to Lady Zhang. That way, you and Jiang Qionglin won’t be caught in the middle, making things difficult for both of you."

"But I truly don’t know who it is!" Xu Niang panicked, but Lady Zhang didn’t believe her.

"Is there anyone you don’t know, Xu Niang? It seems you're deliberately trying to deceive me!" Lady Zhang shouted angrily, "What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and act!"

"Don’t lay a hand on him!" Di Jiang stepped in front of Jiang Qionglin and urgently said, "Xu Niang, even if you don’t know who the person is, surely they must have left some token with you? Perhaps they gave you a banknote or silver?"

As if waking from a dream, Xu Niang rushed back to her room and returned with a bag of southern pearls, presenting it to Lady Zhang, "Madam, look! These are the treasures brought by Lady Yuehua. They’re enough to buy my entire establishment! I’m not lying to you!"

Lady Zhang’s anger dissipated the moment she saw the southern pearls.

Her eyes filled with shock, and after a long pause, she said, "You...you say that person is called Yuehua?"

"Yes!" Xu Niang nodded vigorously.

Lady Zhang swallowed hard and asked, "Did she also bring a maid named Su Yun?"

Xu Niang nodded, "Do you know Lady Yuehua, Madam?"

Lady Zhang suddenly froze, as if struck by lightning. She immediately gestured for her servants to leave.

"Please, please don’t spread word of what happened today, Xu Niang. I was just joking with Master Jiang. I’ll leave now, I’ll leave!" Without waiting for Xu Niang’s response, Lady Zhang stumbled out.

The remaining crowd was left baffled.

Once they had all gone, Xu Niang quickly approached Jiang Qionglin, draping a coat over him and removing the leather collar from his neck.

"Are you alright?" Xu Niang asked with concern.

Jiang Qionglin shook his head, his expression lifeless.

"You few, help Master Jiang back to his room," Xu Niang instructed. Several people helped Jiang Qionglin up and escorted him to his room.

After finishing her tasks, Xu Niang went to thank Di Jiang but found that she had already left without a trace.

It was at this moment that Yuehua emerged from the corner, pretending to have just arrived at the pleasure house.

Upon seeing her, Xu Niang immediately surrounded her like a worshipper meeting a deity. "Lady Yuehua, you’ve arrived so early today?"

"Mm, I wasn’t as busy as I was the other days," Yuehua replied indifferently and began to walk upstairs.

Xu Niang hastily stopped her, "Master Qionglin isn’t feeling well today and may not be able to entertain you."

"Sick?"

"Not exactly..." Xu Niang hesitated, "Master Qionglin just told me he doesn’t want to be seen in this condition. He specifically asked me not to let you upstairs. I... I’m caught between a rock and a hard place!"

"I’ll go check on him," Yuehua said and brushed past Xu Niang despite her protests.

Xu Niang tried to follow but was held back by Su Yun, unable to break free.

Only then did she realize that the seemingly delicate maid possessed great strength, as if trained in martial arts.

Thinking about Lady Zhang’s behavior earlier, Xu Niang grew suspicious, pondering who these two mysterious figures might be.

...

Knock, knock, knock—

After Yuehua ascended the stairs, she knocked three times on Jiang Qionglin’s door. The attendant inside assumed it was Xu Niang and opened the door without asking.

"You..." The attendant was surprised, but Yuehua made a 'shh' gesture, signaling him to stay quiet.

Yuehua casually removed a jade ring from her finger and handed it to him, then waved her hand. The attendant immediately understood, happily taking the jade ring and bowing as he backed out.

Yuehua turned and locked the door behind her. The room now contained only her and Jiang Qionglin, who sat with his back to her in the bath.

Soft, measured footsteps approached from behind, like those of a gentle woman.

"Is that Mother Xu?" Jiang Qionglin asked weakly.

Yuehua didn’t answer. Instead, she crouched down, her fingers touching his back and tracing the slave mark on his body.

Jiang Qionglin stiffened all over, turning his head—and their lips met.

Taking advantage of his momentary daze, Yuehua seized the opportunity to slide her tongue into his mouth, kissing him fiercely.

Jiang Qionglin was initially stunned but then began to struggle. However, Yuehua held him tightly.

Sitting in the bath, Jiang Qionglin couldn’t muster any strength and eventually gave up resisting, allowing her to take what she wanted.

Feeling his cold detachment, Yuehua stopped and rested her head on his shoulder, saying, "I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have forced you."

"There’s nothing to apologize for. I’m just a male courtesan who serves others with my looks—it’s what I’m supposed to do," Jiang Qionglin’s expression darkened. "But today, I’m filthy and don’t wish to soil your body."

"I don’t find you dirty," Yuehua raised her head, staring into his eyes, and said, "In others’ eyes, you may be a dazzling peony, radiant and captivating. But in my heart, you’re a white lotus—pure amidst the muck, gracefully upright, unstained by the mud."

"Is that so...thank you," Jiang Qionglin lowered his gaze, avoiding her eyes.

Yuehua lifted his chin, forcing him to look at her, and said, "Now I’ll ask you something, and you’ll answer me honestly."

"Lady, please speak," Jiang Qionglin said indifferently.

"Are you content? Being reduced to this life, are you truly content?"

"..." Jiang Qionglin remained silent.

"Answer me," Yuehua pinched his cheek, looking straight into his eyes, leaving him no room to evade.

"I saw everything that happened earlier. Those in power treat you like crushing an ant beneath their feet. Are you content to remain like this?" Yuehua’s words were firm and resolute.

Jiang Qionglin’s eyes began to redden. Though Yuehua felt pity, she pressed on, pouring salt into his wound, "Today, Lady Zhang can strip you naked and parade you through the streets. Tomorrow, Lady Li can force you to beg in the streets. The day after, Lady Zhao can drag you out and feed you to the dogs. Your life is as worthless as grass. Are you...content?"

"Of course I’m not content!" Jiang Qionglin shouted, "How could I possibly be content!"

Tears streamed down his cheeks as he mocked himself, "My parents raised me with care, teaching me poetry, literature, and statecraft. They never taught me how to become a male courtesan! How could I possibly be content?!"

Yuehua’s lips curved into a smile as she released him, her brows furrowing slightly as she said, "Good. I was afraid you’d lost your fighting spirit."

Jiang Qionglin sighed, his voice heavy with defeat, "But what does it matter if I’m not content? I’ve reached this point. This slave mark on my shoulder will stay with me until I carry it to my grave. Perhaps only when I turn to dust will it fade."

Yuehua shifted her tone, "You were once a scholar during the Tianhe era? So young—you were the first."

"That was the past. Lowly people aren’t allowed to take the imperial examinations. Now, I’m just an official’s slave, a male courtesan." Jiang Qionglin leaned against the edge of the bath, self-deprecating, his eyes full of helplessness.

He hadn’t stopped struggling. He had tried to escape but was captured and brought back. He had thought about death, fasting for nearly half a month.

But every time, he remembered that his wretched life was bought with his parents’ deaths. Afraid of facing them in the afterlife with shame, he ultimately chose to cling to life.

Deep down, perhaps it was still discontent. He felt that having come to this world, he should at least witness its beauty before departing.

"If that’s what you want, leave the rest to me. From now on, you just need to rest and read more books. One day...there may still be a chance for you to gain fame in the imperial court." As Yuehua spoke, she picked up a towel and began to wash his body.

He stared blankly at her, letting her hands roam over his body.

He didn’t resist her touch at all.

At that moment, neither of them harbored lust. There was only a sense o mutual understanding, like old friends who had known each other for years, or family members who had lived together for a lifetime.

She pitied him.

He relied on her.