The courtyard door burst open as a squad of guards rushed in.
“Make way, make way! Capturing fugitives…” The leader habitually waved his water and fire stick, shouting.
No one paid him any attention.
People were too busy squeezing in front of the stage, not bothering to turn around. Those at the back pounded on the backs of those in front, and those in front thumped on the stage. Faces turned red, necks thickened, and there was a cacophony of wild yelling and shouting, overlapping waves of sound that drowned out everything.
“What’s going on? Can’t you see the master? Make way, make way! We need to… Oh! What… what kind of dance is this?” The leader pushed through the crowd, laboriously parting the people. As soon as he caught sight of the dance on the stage, his eyes widened.
It looked peculiar at first glance, but on the second look, it was impossible to look away. On the third glance, he couldn’t resist standing still, leaning on the water and fire stick, watching with relish. After a while, the other guards noticed their comrade had disappeared somewhere. Upon searching, they found him lying in front of the stage, clapping along!
The singing ended with a long “Ah,” as if reaching the ultimate exhaustion and indulgent liberation. Unable to contain themselves, the audience also let out a collective “Ah…” releasing a long breath. On the stage, Jing Hengbo spun around with the wooden stick, the vivid red skirt creating neon-like trajectories, and the crowd erupted in applause, with the guards’ voices particularly loud.
The madam beamed with joy as she came on stage to express gratitude, introducing the newcomer as a new girl. Almost immediately, the audience below began to shout, competing for the right to spend the night with her.
Only at this moment did the guards remember their task of chasing fugitives. They pushed through the crowd, inquiring of the madam. They saw a young girl in a gray robe and pointed to Jing Hengbo, asking about her origin.
“The girl you’re talking about, I haven’t seen her. The courtyard door of Feng Lai Qi was only opened by you, sir, and no one else has entered. Everyone, young and old, in this courtyard, can testify. As for this one, she’s a girl purchased by Feng Lai Qi at a high price!” The madam laughed, her fat face trembling, and she flipped through the account book prepared just now, showing it to the guards. “You see, bought from Anzhou for thirty taels of silver a month ago. I kept her secretly practicing dancing in the building, and only today did I bring her out to meet the gentlemen. Look at her appearance, her figure, and her captivating charm all over her. If it weren’t for Feng Lai Qi, who else could train such an outstanding girl?”
The head of the guards scrutinized Jing Hengbo, who responded with a flirtatious glance as she balanced on the stick. The head of the guards rested his chin on his hand and couldn’t help but feel that this kind of charm was not something ordinary families would possess. If he hadn’t witnessed Jing Hengbo being trained at Feng Lai Qi for a few months, he wouldn’t have believed it himself.
“Do you think it looks like her?” he asked the pawnshop owner.
The pawnshop owner also appeared puzzled. Just now, Jing Hengbo was wearing a gown and had her head covered, and he was preoccupied with something, so he didn’t get a clear look at her face. At this moment, the woman before them exuded charm and innate allure. No matter how you looked at it, she seemed like a courtesan trained by Feng Lai Qi. The phrase “seems like” was hard to utter when he couldn’t be sure.
Moreover, even though the pawnshop was not far from Feng Lai Qi, it was still separated by three or four courtyards. Within the short span of an hour, the woman adorned with a grandmother-green gemstone couldn’t have possibly run all the way here and conspired with the madam to dance.
Feng Lai Qi’s old maid had always been fierce, and offending her could bring considerable trouble. After hesitating for a while, the pawnshop owner rubbed his hands and said, “…doesn’t seem like her.”
“Then let’s go, we need to check elsewhere!” The head of the guards forcefully stared at Jing Hengbo, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and waved his hand, leading his men to leave.
“Remember to come often, sir!” Jing Hengbo waved a handkerchief in a coquettish manner, playing her part well. The madam, who was sweating in anxiety, wished she could kick her.
As soon as the guards left, the men who were too afraid to show their faces moments ago rushed forward, holding their silver.
“I want this girl!”
“One hundred taels! She’s mine tonight!”
“I bid one hundred and fifty!”
“A beauty like this, are you guys ashamed to offer just a few hundred? One thousand taels!”
“Just you have money? I’ll crush you with my wealth! Two thousand!”
…..
The madam beamed with joy amid her frantic activities. In the midst of it all, she managed to turn around and whispered, “Miss, as we agreed, I’ll help you with the lie. You stay here at my establishment, Feng Lai Qu.”
Sitting on a chair with her legs crossed, leisurely munching on melon seeds, Jing Hengbo’s lips moved swiftly, spitting out a flurry of melon seed shells. She chuckled, “Sure thing.”
…
“Miss Bo, Master Yao from the south of the city sent word. He’s coming over tonight and asks that you don’t entertain other guests.”
“Alrighty.” Jing Hengbo casually spat out a melon seed shell, smiling as she agreed. She glanced at a girl not far away, who promptly stood up with a delighted expression and headed upstairs.
The servant attentively served Jing Hengbo a pot of premium jasmine tea, the highest-priced variety on the market.
Currently, Jing Hengbo was the leading courtesan at Feng Lai Qu, a heroine in the revival of the establishment. Her eccentric iron rod dance had quickly become a sensation in the small town, drawing a constant stream of admirers. This unexpected success propelled Feng Lai Qu to surpass its competitors and claim the top spot among the city’s courtesan houses.
As the unrivaled figure in the brothel, Jing Hengbo now enjoyed the privilege of dictating her terms within the establishment. Everyone fawned over her, fearing to displease their esteemed mistress.
She said she was going to live in the penthouse, so be it.
She chose the stage name “Miss Bo” despite its unflattering sound, it was her choice.
She does not wait for guests in her room; she likes to wander around the building, looking here and there. She also enjoys holding the chins of the girls and examining them, as she pleases.
Feng Laiqi’s madam welcomes guests at the door, watching the bustling scene with a satisfied smile.
Truly a stroke of good luck! Since this girl mysteriously fell onto the stage, Feng Laiqi’s fortunes have turned. Not only has business improved, but the atmosphere in the building has also become harmonious. The other girls no longer seem to harbor jealousy and conflicts, and each of them appears content and happy every day. It’s a joyful sight that adds to the flourishing business.
Under normal circumstances, the leading performer is often prone to jealousy, leading to numerous disputes. However, this old pattern seems to not affect Jing Hengbo. She is extremely popular, and the madam repeatedly warns the girls not to reveal Jing Hengbo’s background. Yet, the girls don’t need her reminder at all; they willingly flatter Jing Hengbo. Sometimes, the madam feels that their attitude towards Jing Hengbo is not just affectionate but also reverent. At times, the looks they give her even carry a hint of gratitude.
Of course, this is a bit strange, but the madam doesn’t intend to delve deeper. Why question the good fortune that has come their way?
Jing Hengbo returned to her attic to freshen up. As she passed by the door of a room on the second floor, she called out, “Jingyun, feeling better today?”
The voice from inside the room was low and timid, tinged with a hint of weakness, “I took some ginseng, feeling much better today, but the money…”
“Don’t worry about the money. I’ll have Dr. Yao settle the bill at my place later,” Jing Hengbo waved her hand dismissively. Ignoring the thankful expressions from inside the room, she turned to the birdcage hanging on the door frame, making an S-shape with her body. “Er Gou, am I beautiful?”
“Pah,” replied the energetic red parrot inside the cage.
“Hush!” Jing Hengbo whistled.
Er Gou shuddered all over, wings spread wide, eyes wide open. After a brief trembling, a splat sounded as a blob of bird droppings fell.
Jing Hengbo had already giggled and leaped away.
“Phew, feels good,” Er Gou rubbed its belly, contentedly taking a few steps.
“Miss Bo, don’t call it Er Gou. Its name is Qingjin…” the voice inside the room sounded feeble and helpless, “meaning green collar, lingering in my heart…”
“Inadvertently, a person loses all their dignity,” Jing Hengbo quirked her mouth, plucked a bird feather from Er Gou, and sauntered off. “Stop reciting your cheesy poem, keep it to yourself!”
“Go to hell, wicked spirit!” Er Gou angrily cursed while jumping around.
“Qingjin!” came a mournful cry from inside the room, “I’ve been teaching you poetry and literary skills for so long, and you can’t learn them. How come you pick up these vulgar slang words so quickly…”
Jing Hengbo stuck the bird feather in her hair and had already gone far. Passing by a room on the third floor, she listened for any sounds. Just as she was about to lean against the doorframe and knock, a hand suddenly reached out from behind the door and pulled her inside.
Jing Hengbo stumbled forward, startled, “You’re sneaky! What are you doing lurking around!”
“I got the information you wanted. I went to great lengths to find it, so pay up!” A pair of immaculate hands spread out in front, the index and middle fingers forming a circle, “Twenty taels!”
“How is it? Did the person leave? Where’s my box? Did you retrieve it?” Jing Hengbo’s eyes gleamed as she gripped the snowy white hand and casually smoothed out the circle.
“Cut the nonsense, money!” The fingers jabbed directly into her palm, leaving imprints with unreserved force.
“Damn Jie Cui, don’t pinch me. If you pinch it and it affects the beauty of my skin, I’ll strangle you to death.” Jing Hengbo pulled out a small banknote and slapped it into the palm of those hands. Only then did the hand retract.
“The person is not where he was, and the box is gone.” Jie Cui took the silver note and tucked it into her bosom, speaking concisely.
Jie Cui, the third-tier girl from Feng Laiqi, had an average appearance. Along with Jingyun, the second-tier girl who just composed poetry for the parrot, they were the two top-notch girls at Feng Laiqi. They were also the two girls with the worst business. Jingyun, of noble origin, used to be the pampered daughter of a wealthy family. After her family fell from grace, her unscrupulous elder brother deceived and sold her into the establishment. She was delicate and fell sick eight out of ten days, with one day spent coughing up blood and the remaining day composing miserable poems under the moon, coughing seventy or eighty times. Every time a guest walked in, Jingyun would faint. Men came for the tender, charming flowers that spoke softly and exuded a fragrant charm. Who would want a sickly-looking girl with a mournful face? Over time, she lost her business and became a guileless entertainer, chatting with a few old literati who loved her “timid and delicate appearance, tears brimming as she plucked flowers.” They covered themselves with quilts purely for conversation.
Life is miserable, and only a parrot, who is also elegant and timid, only a similarly refined and timid parrot comforts her. However, watching the parrot slowly succumb to the influence of Jing Hengbo, it turned its elegance and timidity into a violent rainstorm, causing Jingyun to cough a few more times recently.
Jie Cui, on the other hand, hailed from a street performance background. She had performed on the streets with her father and brother. However, both her father and brother were killed when a wealthy young man startled their horse, causing them fatal accidents. The wealthy young man fled after causing the deaths, and when Jie Cui arrived, all she saw was his retreating figure. Penniless and desperate, she turned to selling her body on the streets to bury her father, eventually selling herself into Feng Laiqi.
Despite her seemingly simple nature, Jie Cui took on rough tasks after joining Feng Laiqi but refused to entertain clients. Without accepting clients, she had no income, and Jie Cui always appeared impoverished. She developed a love for money, adding to her miseries. However, despite her hardships, she never thought of leaving Feng Laiqi. Some speculated that she stayed with the hope of encountering the person responsible for her father’s death. After all, the chances of encountering a wealthy playboy in the brothel were not small.
Jing Hengbo initially hadn’t paid much attention to her, but one night, not long after her arrival, while sneaking a snack in the kitchen, she encountered Jie, who had climbed over the wall, covered in blood. Jing Hengbo was startled but kept quiet. Immediately, she dragged Jie Cui into her room and secretly arranged for a doctor to treat her injuries. Jie Cui accepted her help in silence, and when she left, she casually took one of Jing Hengbo’s thin enamel porcelain bowls. Jing Hengbo just smiled.
Later, Jing Hengbo learned that Jie Cui had some martial arts skills. She paid her to check on the group of people from Dahuang and see if they had left and if her box had been taken. She hoped to retrieve her box, which held many precious items brought from the modern world, including her wonderful collection of tight-fitting lingerie. Without them, she felt life would be less exciting.
Upon hearing the disappointing news, she now relied on the hope that Master Zuo and his group wouldn’t be able to open her combination lock.
“Help me find out where they went,” she said, feeling a bit uneasy, instructing Jie Cui.
Jie Cui glanced at her, spreading her hands.
“I already paid you!” Jing Hengbo reminded.
“That was for the previous task. This is a new job,” Jie Cui, always quick-witted when money was involved, said, “Another twenty taels.”
Jing Hengbo slapped a small banknote on Jie Cui’s forehead, “Go and find out for me! Now! Immediately!”
Jie Cui tore off the banknote from her forehead and stuffed it into her arms, “Alright. I can tell you right away. He is no longer where he was, but it seems they’re in Sanshui County.”
“What?” Jing Hengbo was startled. Has the handsome royal master arrived? Found the location? What should she do?
“After running dozens of miles in one night, I need some rest. I’m going out,” Jie Cui pushed the dazed Jing Hengbo out of the room, casually plucking the leek leaf gold ring that Jing Hengbo had recently put on her finger. With a bang, she closed the door.
Jing Hengbo, still immersed in the bad news, remained oblivious. Like a wandering soul, she roamed through several doors, giving some silver coins here, exchanging a few words there, and rescuing a severely beaten little girl as she passed by another door. After completing almost all the everyday people’s tasks, she returned to her room and began to pack up her belongings.
Getting ready to run away!
