Chapter 9, Gathering.

Nonsense, Yilan Garden is a place for men to spend money on leisure; in addition to singing and entertaining, they also sell their bodies

"Miss, do you mean to place them outside?" Yun'er is indeed clever, she understands immediately.

Everyone has a story that belongs to them

Everyone looked at each other in confusion, perhaps because this form of employment had never been encountered before, so no one dared to express their opinions

I set down the brush in my hand and asked, "Have they all been settled?"

Recognizing a few characters! That young lady exhibited a measured demeanor, and although somewhat nervous, she still endeavored to maintain an air of grace and composure

Sigh, I originally intended for them to rehearse during the day and return home at night. However, upon sympathizing with their circumstances, I allowed them to move in together with me.

The prince will not come over for the time being, and besides, the sooner this matter is resolved, the better! I truly do not know how Li Yu will view this matter; it is simply better to have one less issue than one more. We will keep it under wraps for as long as we can.

With the first one completed, the rest went much more smoothly. After a bustling morning, I was left with six people. Besides Lexuan, there were Yunjin, Mu'er, Ruizhu, Xing Wumei, and Xia He. After dismissing the others, the six remaining signed the contract, and I had them stay for lunch together

What are you thinking? With your appearance, if you were half as beautiful as the fragrant lotus girl, you wouldn't have to earn a living yourself

Use it sparingly, it is enough, but with so many more people all at once, it needs to be reported to the prince, and there may also be some trouble on the princess's side! Yun'er spoke subtly, and I knew I had caused another issue.

Now I have called them here, relying neither on physical strength nor on selling their looks. They rest one day every ten days and receive their wages once a month. They are all very willing, yet they do not know what is required of them, so they are all standing in the courtyard waiting for me to speak.

Would 200 taels be enough to buy a house outside? I think it would be better to settle them outside. Although it pains me to part with the money, considering that it could help avoid a storm of trouble, it would be worth it

Dazed, amidst the clamor of voices, I glanced at Yun'er. Yun'er understood and clapped her hands, addressing everyone: "Quiet down, let our young lady speak!"

My name is Le Xuan, I am nineteen years old. My parents passed away early, and I brought my younger sister to seek refuge with relatives. I am currently living at my aunt's house. I want to take this job so that I can support myself and my sister. " As Le Xuan said this, she lowered her head, her voice choked with emotion. I knew that there must be many stories behind a woman like her. "Alright, you can stay."

Among the six individuals, the youngest is Ruizhu, who is only fourteen years old. True to her name, she possesses delicate features and a petite figure, making her quite adorable. This charming girl, however, nearly ended up being sold to a brothel due to her father's gambling addiction. In the end, she managed to escape with her mother in secret, arriving in Chang'an, where they rely on each other for support

The consequences of a moment of weakness have left me somewhat troubled. Indeed, I can only blame myself for acting impulsively and not considering these matters. In this secluded corner, the tranquility of these past few days has almost made me forget my own identity. I am the legitimate wife of Li Yu, and that Cui, the niece of Yang Guifei, is the true mistress of the household. The tree wishes to be still, but the wind does not cease; here I am, a mere woman in the garden, nameless and without status, unable to keep myself in check. Suddenly, six more people have appeared out of nowhere; perhaps Lady Cui thinks I am arrogant and causing trouble due to my favored position. The tree wishes to be still, but the wind does not cease; here I am, a mere woman in the garden, nameless and without status, unable to keep myself in check. Suddenly, six more people have appeared out of nowhere; perhaps Lady Cui thinks I am arrogant and causing trouble due to my favored position. I should have anticipated this and found a residence for them outside.

"That's it, I will join too..." "I will join too!"

Looking at the people in the courtyard, they are of various shapes and sizes, all of whom are women. None are particularly beautiful, yet they all possess a dignified and graceful appearance. They are all daughters of poor families, without fathers or brothers to rely on. They usually engage in sewing, embroidery, or washing clothes for others, and some have even worked for wealthy families.

Alright, please face everyone and tell us your name, age, and introduce your family! This young lady's appearance and demeanor are generally acceptable; now it depends on her ability to express herself.

"Well, Sister An and Lingling are helping them with the arrangements. I see you are tired, so come over and serve me first." In front of the dressing table, Yun'er helped me take off the hairpin, "Miss, everything is arranged in the garden, how do you plan to explain it to the Prince?"

Alright, then you should retire early!" Yun'er lowered the curtain and stepped back.

Oh, it's quite similar to Yilan Garden

At this moment, a young woman in a blue shirt stepped out from the crowd. She appeared very young, yet her face bore the marks of hardship: "You say how to take the exam, I am willing to give it a try"

I do this simply to enable us women to be self-reliant in the world. While men can be relied upon, depending on oneself is always the safest option. Regarding the concerns everyone has, we can draft a contract that will not force anyone to do what they are unwilling to do. Those who pass the examination and are selected will be able to stay. For those who remain, everyone will receive the same monthly payment, which is one or two silver coins. After the official performance, additional rewards will be given based on the amount of roles played. How does that sound

Miss! Yun'er brought a basin of water for washing the face, saying, "After a long day, let's wash up first"

Will we be as popular as Miss Xianghe in the future

After hearing their stories, I felt a heavy weight on my heart. I was originally contemplating whether to stage "Du Shiniang" or "Qin Xianglian" first. Now, I need not worry, as any of their stories, when performed, would surely evoke tears from the audience. Since middle school, I have been the leader of the school club, and writing, directing, and acting in plays has been my forte, as well as a brilliant idea I devised to earn money.

Yunjin's father was originally a local minor official, and the family was relatively well-off. However, after being convicted, her father died in prison. She and her brother became official slaves. Later, the local governor took a liking to Yunjin and made her his ninth concubine. But not long after, the old governor passed away. The first wife seized the family assets and drove her out. She journeyed to the capital in search of her lost brother, and during this time of loneliness and despair, she came before me

A plump woman immediately spoke up, her face filled with anxiety: "Surely we are not being asked to sell smiles and sing like the girls in Yilan Garden?" As soon as she finished speaking, the crowd below began to chatter even more noisily.

"Stop it," I said immediately, "The activities I have asked everyone to participate in are neither indecent nor inappropriate. We are simply putting together some stories to perform for others in the tea house. You could say it is about entertaining, but it is both right and wrong; when the story calls for laughter, we laugh, and when it calls for tears, we cry. However, we are performing for women."

"Miss, should we wait for the prince to return before discussing it?" Yun'er hesitated slightly

Who knows if this will be the same as that

Yun'er, do you still have any of the silver you took out last time? I keep thinking about it and still feel uneasy

The plight of Xia He and Yun Jin is even more tragic. Xia He married her childhood betrothed from the same village, but just a month after the wedding, her husband died from coughing up blood. Her in-laws could not tolerate her, and pitifully, she returned home, only to be looked down upon by her brother and sister-in-law. They intended to arrange another marriage for her, but unfortunately, she was already pregnant and was determined to remain loyal to her deceased husband, unwilling to remarry. She endured until the child was born, a boy, and when her in-laws learned of this, they sent someone to seize the child. Upon receiving the news, she fled with her baby and arrived in Chang'an. Xia He thought that under the emperor's feet, there must be a way to survive, so she became a wet nurse for a family. Little did she know that the male head of the household developed an interest in her, and it was out of desperation that she sought refuge there.

Yun'er is truly a great helper; I only mentioned the general idea to her, and within a few days, she found candidates for me.

Mu Er and Xing Wu Mei are both daughters of farmers from the outskirts of Chang'an, making a living by growing vegetables. They often deliver vegetables to a restaurant in the capital. Due to having many siblings at home, they initially intended to stay and work as helpers at the restaurant together. However, they frequently encountered the harassment of frivolous men, which caused them distress. At this moment, upon hearing that Yun Er had spread the news that I was looking to hire people, they came together. The two farmer girls, Xing Wu Mei and Mu Er, behaved in a generous and straightforward manner, showing no signs of shyness, which I greatly appreciated.

"There are still two hundred taels!"

"Dear sisters, I have invited you all here to discuss a matter, a matter that can enable us to be self-sufficient and earn a living..." I left them in suspense, and sure enough, before I could finish my sentence, some began to murmur quietly. So I decided to pause and said, "If anyone has any questions, please feel free to voice them."

Good! The first person to speak out is commendable for their courage. "Can you read?" I asked.

Yun'er, do our current monthly allowances suffice for these people's food, clothing, and other needs? I was silently calculating in my heart

Well, I thought it over and realized that I was careless. It may be somewhat inappropriate to place them here. Therefore, since our location is rather remote, could you check around the Qingxin Teahouse in the East Market for a suitable courtyard? The house doesn't need to be large, just clean and safe would suffice, preferably with a courtyard for our rehearsals. Please check the prices, and if the money is insufficient, we can pawn some jewelry.