Chapter 9: Dilemma

Before long, several beautiful maidservants entered from outside. However, these maidservants were all dressed rather lightly, with only a bit of silk fabric covering the crucial areas, while the rest of their bodies were merely draped in a layer of sheer gauze.

After a while, Wang Dong, who was growing impatient, suddenly knocked Xiaoman to the ground again, preparing to act violently. Just then, a voice from outside, belonging to Heizi, interrupted him, and Xiaoman seized the opportunity to struggle free and crawl up from under Wang Dong.

Su Jin herself said that someone had reported it? Wang Dong's expression changed almost immediately, as if he wanted to devour the person.

You have done an excellent job with this matter

At this moment, Wang Dong was indeed infuriated with Xiao Man to the utmost. Despite Xiao Man's seemingly obedient demeanor, Wang Dong had attempted to break through her defenses several times, but Xiao Man always had an excuse, whether it was a pressing matter or an interruption from someone else. He was already fed up with it.

Old Hu San was taken aback when he saw Lianxiang bringing over a set of chess pieces. After staring at her a few times with wide eyes, he seemed somewhat annoyed and said, "Well, you little enchantress, how dare you present such a peculiar challenge? Do you think this rough old man can't play chess? Hmph, just wait, there will be a time for you to cry later"

Suddenly, Hu Laosan stood up, his large hand swiftly slapping down on the soft couch, causing the entire couch to shake three times: "As a big man, how could I be afraid of you two little ladies? Even if two or three more gentlemen were to come, I would not be intimidated by you!"

"Damn it!" Wang Dong, still seething with anger, suddenly turned around and kicked the black piece to the ground: "His matters are of great importance, while mine are trivial? Moreover, those ledgers have already been burned clean, so how can there be any talk of delaying important matters?"

Did my father really say that

Although Qinghe had once advised that from this moment on, she should remain chaste for the future master, Lianxiang, at this moment, had her own thoughts—if everything went well, it would naturally be best to preserve her virtue; but if Qinghe truly encountered an accident, then not only would she be willing to sacrifice her own life, but she would also do everything possible to rescue Qinghe, even if it meant losing her own skin.

"Young Master, the important matters take precedence." Xiao Man managed to pull a slight smile, yet she did not dare to look at the anger on Wang Dong's face any longer. Previously, she had managed to maintain her purity even after being stripped bare by Wang Dong, and now, having only suffered some verbal humiliation, she diverted this young master's attention by bringing up Su Jin's matter.

Young Master? Hei Zi knelt on one knee on the ground with a humble expression, his head skillfully lowered as he continued to gaze at the floor

After walking around the house several times, Wang Dong gradually calmed down. Seeing that the prostrate Hei Zi was still kneeling with his head lowered, he instructed, "You go and call that brat Chun Er from the outer courtyard, and tell him that I have great use for him."

With a slap, Wang Dong indeed struck Xiaoman's face without a moment's hesitation

Old Hu's words were double-edged, yet Lianxiang pretended not to understand. She simply placed a black piece on the board and said, "Then the servant will wait for you to kill the servant, and the servant will cease all activities."

In fact, Hu Laosan is not afraid of anything else; he is merely concerned that if his own young master were to remain there, or even stay overnight at that inn, and he were to bring along this enchanting creature, he would not only face a scolding but would likely also receive some lessons.

At this moment, Wang Dong was too lazy to even put on his spring shirt, directly collapsing onto the soft couch. While calling for Hei Zi to come in, he kicked the oblivious girl, Xiao Man, to the ground, and then ordered the struggling Xiao Man, who was trying to get up, to fetch some hot water to cleanse him.

Ever since Qinghe went to find Su Jin, she has been in constant fear, worried that someone from the Wang family would come knocking, claiming that her sister had already been taken. Therefore, at this moment, Lianxiang's heart is truly filled with countless thoughts and concerns for that good sister Qinghe, who is seeking the only glimmer of hope for the future of the two sisters.

However, if one preserves their life, even in defeat, it will be easier to face others in the future, and there may still be a glimmer of hope for redemption

Although the man did not raise his head, Xiaoman felt as if his gaze had already roamed around her bare body, causing her to tremble all over

Only after kicking into the air did Wang Dong notice that Xiao Man was trembling and had fallen to the ground. He reluctantly retracted his foot and put on a friendly expression, saying: "Ah, Xiao Man, why did you personally bring this? Why didn't you call the maid outside? Someone, quickly help Xiao Man to the side room to rest."

However, even though Qinghe's words were simple before she left, Lianxiang still felt somewhat uneasy. Therefore, when the madam mentioned that a guest had offered one hundred taels of silver to request a flower, Lianxiang immediately refused without a second thought, not even inquiring about the guest's identity, which was completely unlike her usual behavior. However, when she inadvertently caught sight of the guest's waist token tucked into his belt, she promptly changed her mind and instructed the madam to bring the guest over.

My rules are quite simple. There are two options to choose from; may I ask which one you would like to select?

"How could I dare to deceive you, my lord?" Lianxiang feigned a look of grievance, yet her heart was growing anxious: "My sister, named Qinghe, and I refer to each other as sisters, and we are indeed closer than biological sisters. Here in Nanjing, we are even called the twin blue lotuses by others." As she spoke, Lianxiang's slender, green-like index finger precisely tapped on Hu Laosan's head: "You, my lord, are also someone who undertakes great matters; could it be that you lack even this little bit of confidence, to the point that you are not as good as the two of us?"

Watching Heizi gradually fade into the distance, Wang Dong's eyes flashed with a few cold glimmers: "Supervision? Proctor? What does it matter if someone is protecting them? I, Wang Dong, refuse to believe that there is anyone in Nanjing who I cannot handle! Not only Tan Zong, but also those few who dare to defy me, who deserve to be trampled to death. Once I finish this matter, I will ensure that you all cannot seek life nor find death!"

"Perhaps you are overthinking it, sister." Su Jin's smile flickered briefly at the corners of her mouth, only to be replaced by a lazy expression: "Moreover, everyone has their own fate. If Sister Lianxiang is truly destined to face this calamity, it is likely beyond our control. If Sister Lianxiang is blessed by heaven, even if something unfortunate occurs, there will naturally be noble people to assist her, turning misfortune into fortune"

In the room, Wang was listening to Heizi's report, and as he listened, his anger grew. By the end, he kicked the soft couch behind him. According to later descriptions, this soft couch was merely a thicker cotton quilt, covered with a layer of fine silk, making it appear somewhat exquisite, yet it was not heavy at all.

Just as she stepped out of the door, Xiaoman suddenly felt a chill run through her body, and an overwhelming sense of sorrow surged within her. Then, a sharp pain twisted in her abdomen, and a trickle of fresh blood slowly dripped from the corner of her mouth, a result of being injured internally by a kick from Wang Dong moments earlier

Wang Dong, clad only in a thin spring shirt, lay on a soft couch. Beside him, the petite Xiao Man, despite her small frame trembling slightly in the night breeze, meticulously peeled the small seeds from the yellowish gourd in her hand, while recounting an incident that had occurred over an hour ago at an inn.

In the dim light of the candle, Su Jin had changed into a new emerald green long dress, with a jade-colored ribbon loosely tied around her waist, accentuating her slender waist that could be grasped with a single hand. Her long hair, seemingly just washed, cascaded down her back, while two red strings, made from an unknown number of threads, draped over a few strands of hair at her temples and fell gently along her curves onto the soft couch, giving Su Jin an allure reminiscent of a foreign land.

It is indeed better this way. Qing He said with a hint of worry: "But it's almost curfew now, and I'm afraid if the notice reaches my sister, she won't be able to make it in time. If she were to be caught by the patrolling soldiers, it wouldn't be much of a problem, just a bit of extra silver. After all, she is a young lady and cannot be treated as a common prisoner. However, if she were to be taken by the Wang residence, I fear..."

At this moment, Wang Dong's behavior could be considered somewhat appropriate, yet it unexpectedly stirred an unpleasant feeling within Xiao Man. Suddenly, Su Jin's words emerged from the depths of Xiao Man's heart. However, the unwillingness within her compelled Xiao Man to forcefully suppress all these feelings deep inside: "Is the young master worried that something might change?"

However, Hu Laosan over there did not notice Lianxiang's unusual behavior and thought that Lianxiang's tender face was merely shy. Therefore, he reached out with a large hand, intending to embrace Lianxiang's waist, but unexpectedly, Lianxiang seemed to have sensed it in advance and lightly dodged to the side.

The delicious juice from the melon slowly flowed out along the gourd, gradually drowning the faint sweat stains on the soft couch—previously, Xiaoman had been pinned down here by Wang Dong, unable to struggle free. Had it not been for Xiaoman mentioning that someone had reported a potential disaster, it is likely that her safety would have already been compromised.

At this moment, she once again disrupted Wang Dong's mood under the pretext of having something to attend to, fully aware that it would surely provoke his anger. However, in Xiaoman's heart, her intentions were very clear: no matter what, before the matter was resolved, she absolutely could not relinquish her body; otherwise, even if she won, she would likely fall into an irretrievable abyss.

Oh? Hu Laosan's eyes suddenly lit up, and he couldn't help but let a drool escape from the corner of his mouth: "Are you serious about what you just said?"

"Nunu is going now." At this moment, Xiaoman dared not go and put on her clothes, and could only endure the shame in her heart as she brushed past Heizi, who had just entered.

Although Hu Laosan had some interest in Lianxiang, such interest was ultimately just that—interest, and could not compare to genuine affection. At this moment, seeing Lianxiang act in such a manner, his expression inevitably darkened, and the wine cup he had just lifted was slammed down onto the low table with a bang, splattering wine all over the table.

Although there was a maid carrying a large red lantern to guide the way, Xiaoman felt that the path was an unspoken pitch black. Looking up at the direction of the inn, Xiaoman ultimately shed two tears: "Miss, Xiaoman already feels regret. But, can Xiaoman still go back..."

Seeing the commotion at the door, Wang Dong instinctively kicked out, simultaneously shouting, "Bastard! How do you conduct your work!"

Behind Xiaoman, Wang Dong's gaze towards her clearly revealed a hint of frenzied murderous intent

Wang Dong casually praised the woman beside him, yet there was not a trace of joy on his face or in his heart; instead, he revealed a sense of anxiety.

Old Hu San chuckled, genuinely intrigued by the little sprite, Lianxiang, who had just started to speak.

It is essential to know that when Su Jin entered, she was undoubtedly in a state of innocence, yet Xiao Man could not allow herself to be overshadowed by Su Jin at that moment.

"Wait, what place are you talking about?" Hu Laosan was taken aback for a moment, then he shook off Lianxiang's hand, his eyes wide open like copper bells.

"Why make it so complicated? You just pose the question," Hu Laosan disregarded Lianxiang, appearing rather impatient.

As the son of Wang Ren, the governor of Nanjing, he is the young master of this Nanjing prefecture. This woman is not someone to be taken lightly, so how could he possibly feel disappointed in this manner

At that moment, Xiaoman, carrying a basin full of hot water, was struggling to step into the room. Upon hearing the hatred in Wang Dong's words, Xiaoman instinctively tensed up, causing the entire basin of hot water to spill over, soaking the door thoroughly

Wangfu Courtyard

Having made up her mind, Lianxiang, regardless of Hu Laosan's displeased expression, merely smiled gracefully and lightly shook her index finger, presenting an alluring demeanor: "My lord, please do not act this way. Although I am a woman from a pleasure house, I am not one who can be easily dismissed with just a few silver coins. If you wish for my company, there may be some tests to undergo."

"Then Nunu must thank you first, my lord." Lianxiang felt a surge of joy in her heart, yet she did not notice that she had already been embraced by Hu Laosan. When she finally realized it, she found that she could not break free. Helpless, she could only quietly turn her body to minimize the advantage Hu Laosan took of her.

In the night breeze, a plaque engraved with "Cheng Wang Fu" had unknowingly slipped out from Hu Laosan's belt, swaying gently with the gusts of the night wind.

Having said that, Lianxiang suddenly added innocently, "My sister understands you foul men even better than I do."

"It is just an inn on the neighboring street. Why are you so startled?" A sense of unease suddenly arose in Lianxiang's heart, and her eyes involuntarily dimmed.

There is an inn

She had never imagined that the gentlemanly Young Master Wang, who once appeared refined in her eyes, could just now behave like a wild beast, far more crude than those patrons seeking pleasure in the brothels, showing not a trace of the demeanor of a wealthy young master

Lotus Fragrance observed that Old Hu San was impulsive, and could not help but feel a surge of joy in her heart. With a clever smile, she turned around to fetch a set of chess pieces, arranged the chessboard on the low table, and sorted the black and white pieces. Then, in a soft Wu dialect, she said: "Since you are so impatient, I shall choose a simple game for you, which is this Five-in-a-Row. Best of five games, and if you win against me, I shall be willing to accompany you to the ends of the earth."

Upon hearing Su Jin's words, Qing He suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to cry, her heart aching even more. However, she still had to maintain an expression of feigned understanding as she said, "It seems that this is the only way."

Seeing that Old Hu San seemed genuinely angry, Lianxiang couldn't help but feel a tremor in her heart, and she was indeed somewhat afraid that Old Hu San would just walk away.

Black pieces, black pieces

"Yes, Miss said so, but despite my numerous attempts, I could not uncover this person's background. I also felt that this matter might be extremely important to you, Young Master, so I hurried over." Xiao Man replied timidly, and the half-peeled melon seed in her hand slipped and fell onto the soft couch.

The master indeed instructed me to inform the young master that although that reckless individual has now been imprisoned, there are personnel from the Inspection Department coordinating with several examiners, making it truly inadvisable to take any rash actions. I kindly ask the young master to remain calm and not jeopardize the important matter at hand

Gazing at the night sky gradually covered by dark clouds, leaning against the strong hand outside her soft waist, Lianxiang looked up at the night sky, her heart continuously praying: "Sister, you must wait for me, wait for this younger sister to bring the noble ones of the capital to assist you!"

After much contemplation, Old Hu finally made up his mind. Without saying a word, he stood up abruptly, his strong left arm tightly wrapping around Lianxiang's slender waist: "I will take you to find your sister. If you sisters serve me well, I might just take you back to the capital to enjoy a life of luxury!"

However, the sorrow in Lianxiang's eyes made Hu Laosan feel quite uncomfortable. For someone like him, who prides himself on being a hero, the last thing he could tolerate was seeing the woman he liked in such a distressed state, especially when it was not a matter of life and death, but merely enduring a scolding.

I indeed spoke out of turn just now. Su Jin leaned against the soft couch, a few slender fingers peeking out from her sleeve, firmly holding a green plum: "Fortunately, Sister Qinghe, you have already sent someone to fetch Lianxiang, so it should be in time."

Go and take my sign, then check inside the residence to see how things are being handled over at Wenyuan Courtyard?" Wang Dong took a few steps, then called back Heizi, who was bowing his head to leave, and continued to instruct, "Regardless of the outcome, report back immediately.

"You are quite a clever girl. Even though I am accustomed to the brothels in the capital, it is rare to encounter a fairy like you." Hu Laosan smiled as he looked at the woman beside him, who was offering him a green plum with her delicate hand. He suddenly opened his mouth wide and quickly drew both the green plum and the fingers holding it into his mouth.

With the support of the arms of two maidservants, Xiaoman managed to stand up. Glancing at Wang Dong, who had once again embraced a beautiful maidservant without her noticing, Xiaoman suppressed the sorrow in her heart and forced a smile, saying: "This humble servant thanks the young master for his kindness and the favor of the library."

After bidding farewell to the maid who had seen her off and having communicated clearly with the doorkeeper, the already quietly dressed Lianxiang finally took Hu Laosan's arm and walked out.

Although Lianxiang's chess skills are quite good, she still lost after five games. Seeing Hu Laosan anxiously sweep the chessboard and pieces to the ground, Lianxiang felt flustered inside, yet maintained a calm demeanor on the surface, saying: "I have a sister who is fond of me at the inn. Why not have you go to the inn to fetch her? With your chess skills, I believe my sister would not be your match either"

You truly are a real man, and I, Nunu, like a hero like you the most, far surpassing those scholars and runners by a hundredfold. Lianxiang stood up with a face full of surprise, grabbing Old Hu's hand that had just patted the soft couch, showering him with concern. After seeing Old Hu's contented expression, she then said: "Sir, please take me to a inn to find my sister; it will be too late, and we might miss the curfew."

Although a strange woman's pleas for mercy had previously echoed through the house and Hei Zi had seen Xiao Man's arrival, he showed no signs of curiosity, as if all of this were nothing out of the ordinary.

Lianxiang, you must not get into any trouble, otherwise, I fear that my sister will find it difficult to have peace in this life.

There is no need to worry about that. Su Jin, however, waved her hand with a very relaxed expression, as if she were fully prepared, saying: "Even if Xiao Man goes to report the news at the first opportunity, she has no horse or carriage, so it will take at least half an hour."

Hmph, it's just a few more twists and turns; I doubt that arrogant fellow can stir up much of a storm. Wang Dong let out a light snort, feeling irritated, and with a sudden motion, he smashed the plate filled with the foreign melons against the distant wall, scattering shards all over the ground

Xiao Man's tears were on the verge of spilling over, yet at this moment, she dared not move at all. She could only kneel beside Wang Dong's feet, quietly waiting for the judgment of this young master.

Old Hu San pondered for a moment, feeling that this matter was somewhat difficult to gauge with his intellect, and thus found himself at a loss for what to do.

You mischievous spirit, what do you want now! Hu Laosan, being accustomed to the pleasures of the world, naturally understands that the leading courtesans in these establishments often have their own rules. Therefore, upon noticing that Lianxiang seemed to have something to say, he naturally paused. However, his pair of eyes, resembling bronze bells, continuously scanned the woman's ample bosom, slender waist, and delicate, smooth hands.

"What I fear most is the occurrence of some unforeseen event." Qinghe shook her head and said, "I don't know why, but my sister always has a feeling of trepidation, as if Lianxiang is about to encounter trouble."

Thus, Wang Dong's kick sent the soft couch flying, clearly indicating that he was now in a state of rage

"Sir, you are so wicked." Lianxiang cast a glance at the man behind her, her smile charming yet elusive. Only Lianxiang herself knew that while she appeared to bow her head and smile lightly, a trace of disdain flickered in her eyes—if it were not for her concerns, why would she endure such humiliation? It is worth noting that since Lianxiang rose to fame, there have been very few in this vast Nanjing city who could make her, Lianxiang, resort to using her beauty to please others; she could count them on one hand.