Chapter 238: Charm
In Mei Lan’s room, the procuress conveyed the message that Luo Erye and Young Master Ye wanted to see Mei Lan.
She originally thought she would receive a scolding from Young Master Jiang, but unexpectedly received his nod.
“It’s rare to meet like-minded friends, so please invite them in!”
“Young Master Jiang said it’s rare to meet friends who share his hobbies, so please go to the room for a meeting, you two young masters!”
The procuress couldn’t believe it; after all, which man in the world would be willing to share his kept favorite with others?
It seemed this Young Master Jiang was indeed as absurd as the rumors said!
The two followed behind the procuress into Mei Lan’s room, where she curiously glanced at them. “Mei Lan, entertain the young masters well!”
“Yes!”
The procuress then left.
Upon seeing the visitors, Young Master Jiang’s eyes flashed with a hint of amusement. Only after the procuress left did he come forward. “Young Master Ye, Brother Luo Er, how come you’re here?”
Of course, Young Master Jiang kept Mei Lan not for lust, but to use this time to train her.
Mei Lan stood gracefully to the side, secretly observing. So that’s how it is; they really are acquaintances.
“Hehe, Brother Shaoqing, you’re too unkind. I, Luo Er, have been so sincere to you, but lately you’ve been enjoying yourself everywhere without bringing your little brother along. I’m angry!” Luo Zhi’er said discontentedly.
Young Master Jiang shook his head helplessly. “Brother Luo Er, you’re still so playful…”
“Mei Lan, come over to pay respects. This is Young Master Ye, Luo Er.”
“Mei Lan has seen Young Master Ye Beiyao and Luo Erye.”
Luo Zhi’er’s eyes carefully scanned this Mei Lan; this young woman was very proper.
Knowledgeable and refined, fresh and elegant, exuding an air of book scrolls; she must have been raised immersed in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
This temperament seemed like that of an official’s daughter from the Jiangnan area.
“I wonder, Young Woman Mei Lan, were you born into an official family?”
Mei Lan kept her head lowered; when they entered earlier, she had already formed impressions of the two.
Upon seeing Luo Zhi’er sizing her up unabashedly, a trace of disdain appeared in her eyes, which was seen by Luo Zhi’er anyway.
At this moment, hearing her say where she came from, a trace of astonishment appeared on her face, and her back straightened rigidly.
“Luo Erye has sharp eyes.”
“Young Woman Mei Lan, since you’ve entered this Guixiang Garden, you’re not a good prostitute.”
“What?” Mei Lan’s face darkened. “Luo Erye, Mei Lan sincerely wants to befriend you, but you’re going too far…”
“Befriend? Hahaha, interesting. What qualification do you have to befriend me?” Luo Zhi’er stroked her beard and laughed heartily without shame.
Mei Lan immediately turned and bowed to Young Master Jiang. “Young Master Jiang, please ask this Luo Erye to leave. Mei Lan cannot entertain him.”
She was quite spirited; no wonder she wasn’t liked by the women in this Guixiang Garden.
Once in this brothel, everyone has the same status. Who looks down on whom?
So what if she was an official’s daughter before? Now she’s a criminal, sold into this brothel to work as a prostitute just like the others?
“Young Woman Mei Lan, this Luo Erye is this young master’s honored guest. Since you’ve been kept by me, shouldn’t you follow the rules of being kept? Or do you have silver to break the contract?”
Young Master Jiang smiled ambiguously.
“Young Master Jiang, you?”
Mei Lan’s eyes widened in anger, her fair face flushing red. These people were bullying her too much, but she had no money. She had wanted to end it all, but her younger brother was still young and missing!
Her aloof pride hadn’t changed even after entering Gui Xiang Lou; truly, a tiger fallen in the flatlands is bullied by dogs, and cats and dogs can humiliate her.
Tears streamed down Mei Lan’s face, evoking pity, but none of the three men present stepped forward to comfort her…
Back then, she was the daughter of the Yangzhou grain transport governor, fawned over and curried favor with wherever she went.
The grain transport governor was responsible for managing the grain routes of eight provinces, controlling thousands of miles of grain transport lines. In the sixteenth year of Tianqi, on the twelfth day of the sixth month—two years ago—Emperor Your Majesty handled a major corruption case that enraged him.
This grain transport governor Shi Xian was implicated. Considering his many years of service to the country, he was spared the death penalty, but his second-rank official position was revoked, his male descendants exiled to the frontier to fight in wars, never to return.
The women were all made slaves and servants; the young ladies became prostitutes. She was exiled from Yangzhou in the Jiangnan area to the northwest after many twists and turns, ending up here!
She had long lost the will to live, but news came that her father couldn’t bear the blow and took his own life! One misstep becomes eternal regret; she felt deep guilt.
The governor’s madam felt he would be lonely on the Yellow Springs road and followed him. Before passing, she entrusted her dying wish: finding her missing young brother was the belief that kept her alive.
Young Master Jiang took a liking to her, perhaps because she was also from the Jiangnan area.
That day, coming out of Di Feiya’s room, he happened to see her being beaten, scolded, bullied, and ridiculed in the side courtyard. Surrounded by a group of women, her spine was straight; suddenly, he felt this woman was admirable.
However, it was precisely this spirit that made her lack the charm to be a courtesan, which Luo Niangzi had noticed right away.
Young Master Jiang said to Mei Lan, “Mei Lan, step aside for now!”
“Yes.”
Mei Lan went into the inner room. This place was the best house that Young Master Jiang had specially booked, far from the front building of Guixiang Garden. In the quiet backyard, there was a small bedroom and a small hall.
Young Master Jiang told the two about Mei Lan’s past and her idea of finding her younger brother. She couldn’t hide this matter, and Young Master Jiang would definitely inquire about it.
Luo Zhi’er thought for a moment; earlier, she had clearly seen a pleading look toward Young Master Jiang and Ye Beiyao on her face.
“Call her out!”
Young Master Jiang and Ye Beiyao looked at her puzzledly. Mei Lan had no power or influence and had fallen to this point…
Previously, those who patronized her were either old men or disgusting lechers with strange fetishes. It was rare to meet two decent young masters.
Since she could seize the opportunity of the Flower God Festival, she must also want to grasp this lifesaving straw.
This is what Mei Lan thought, not expecting these two to be on Luo Zhi’er’s side.
Long-term benefits were worth far more than momentary beauty!
Mei Lan came out from the inner room with her face restored to normal. Luo Zhi’er spoke bluntly: “Mei Lan, believe that during your time in this Gui Xiang Lou, you’ve felt the consequences of your personality.”
“Facial skin rotting, gynecological diseases, starvation, being bullied—the only thing you have of value now is your appearance.”
“Tell me, if you lost it, how much longer do you think you could stay comfortably in this room receiving guests?”
“You would die in extreme pain, and you wouldn’t find your family.”
Mei Lan was slightly moved, knowing everything she said was true.
“Even if you’re sick, ugly, crippled, or blind, you can’t leave this Gui Xiang Lou. Life as a slave or servant wouldn’t be comfortable!”
“Because you’re the daughter of a criminal. Unless you die—but don’t you still need to find your younger brother?”
As a woman herself, she was certain this Mei Lan was extremely clever. That day when she was beaten and scolded, she must have seen Young Master Jiang go to the side courtyard, so she passed by. Those women saw her and definitely wanted to bully her.
Just based on Young Master Jiang’s reputation as a romantic talent from Jiangnan, Luo Zhi’er thought she probably knew who he was and deliberately drew his attention.
“What do you want to say?”
“Brother Jiang’s identity can protect you for a while, but what value do you have to make him keep you forever? Or how will you survive after he leaves?”
“So, that’s why I want to participate in the Flower God Festival.”
Her goal was to make Young Master Jiang develop feelings for her. This man was very wealthy; at least in Gui Xiang Lou, he could protect her. But it turned out he didn’t really like her; after spending so much time together, she was sure he just wanted a courtesan!
“If participating, then show your greatest sincerity!”
