“My cousin likes Keqing. If I drive her out of the house, she will despise me. Even my aunt will think I am jealous.”

When Zhen Hua entered the palace earlier, the Concubine Dowager told them to live in harmony with each other. If they drove Keqing out of the palace, it would be difficult to explain to her cousin, not to mention to Concubine Dowager Beijing.

Jingzhe came forward and said, “Miss, I’m not talking about driving you away now. Wait until you become the princess. I can drive you away if you are just a concubine. Can the princess dowager and the prince still blame you? You can’t keep that vixen and ruin the relationship between you and the prince.”

Zhen Hua was stunned when she heard this and bit her lips tightly with her pearly teeth. She would not allow anyone to ruin the relationship between her and her cousin.

Chapter 32 What is this implying?

In Fengming Courtyard, Du Yuejiao’s small courtyard, in a private room, Shui Rong sat at the table, sipping fragrant tea, feeling leisurely and contented.

About half a cup of tea later, Du Yuejiao came in after lifting the curtain. Seeing the young master sitting there, she smiled and said, “Young master, you are here. I have been thinking about you day and night. Finally, you are here.”

Shui Rong raised his eyebrows slightly when he heard that. Didn’t I tell him not to call him “Little Young Master”? Why was he calling him that again?

However, Shui Rong was too lazy to argue with Du Yuejiao. He put down the teacup in his hand, looked at the beauty, and said, “Miss Du, I am sure you have guessed why I came here this time.”

Upon hearing this, Du Yuejiao put away her charming smile and nodded slightly. Shui Rong had said earlier that he would come to redeem her, and this time he came must be for this matter.

Although Du Yuejiao trusted Shui Rong at first, she couldn’t help but feel anxious. She was afraid that it was just an illusion and that her joy was in vain. Especially when Shui Rong disappeared for several days, Du Yuejiao felt even more uneasy.

Seeing Shui Rong’s attitude now, he couldn’t help but feel relieved, so he called out, “Lian’er, go call mom over.”

Shui Rong didn’t say much when he saw this. With Du Yuejiao’s intelligence, she naturally understood his purpose. Instead, she admired Du Yuejiao’s efficiency.

After Du Yuejiao finished giving the instructions, she walked lightly to the table and sat down with a bow. However, today the beauty was wearing a hibiscus tassel skirt with a pink tube top, which showed off her full breasts. When she sat down, she inevitably bent over. Shui Rong, who was sitting opposite her, could see a bottomless ravine and wanted people to take a look inside.

There is a saying that goes, when you stare into the abyss, the abyss is also staring back at you. Du Yuejiao noticed Shui Rong’s gaze, and a faint blush appeared on her bright cheeks. She reached out to push the black hair from her forehead behind her ears, and sat up pretending to be calm.

Shui Rong picked up the fragrant tea and took a sip, suppressing the strangeness in his heart. The two of them said nothing more, as if what had just happened had not happened.

After a while, a coquettishly dressed middle-aged woman came in through the curtains, looked at the two of them, and asked with a smile on her face, “Daughter, what happened?”

Du Yuejiao looked back and said with a smile, “Mom, this gentleman wants to redeem his daughter, so he asked you to come.”

The brothel owner was stunned when she heard this, and looked at Shui Rong with sharp eyes. All those who came to the brothel to spend money were high-ranking officials, wealthy people, and merchants. As the saying goes, one should respect the clothes first and then the person. Shui Rong’s luxurious temperament made it clear at a glance that he was a person of high status, far from being comparable to a merchant. So she greeted him with a smile and said, “Sir, do you want to redeem your daughter?”

Shui Rong nodded and looked at the middle-aged woman. Unlike the sharp-tongued madam in TV dramas, she looked much more beautiful in a red dress. Although her gorgeous face was marked with traces of time, she still had charm. It was obvious that she must have been very good-looking when she was young, especially her posture, which was magnificent and even deeper than that of a young girl, which attracted Shui Rong’s attention.

The plumpness of a young woman is far beyond the comparison of a young girl. Of course, Shui Rong was just appreciating her and had no other intentions. He was not an experienced person. He came to Fengming Court to redeem Du Yuejiao, so he didn’t waste any words and said bluntly: “That’s right, I’m here to redeem Miss Du. Name a price!!!”

The brothel owner did not answer immediately, but looked at Du Yuejiao who was sipping the fragrant tea. It should be known that the Du Yue family was not enthusiastic about redeeming her body. Seeing that she did not say a word at this time, it seemed that she had some intention in her heart. After thinking for a moment, she smiled and stretched out two white jade fingers, and said: “If you want to redeem my daughter, it will be 20,000 taels of silver.”

For those who work in brothels, redeeming a woman’s body is a common thing, and as long as the price can be paid, it won’t be too difficult.

Shui Rong frowned when he heard this. Twenty thousand taels of silver was completely beyond his expectations. You know, although Du Yuejiao was pretty, she was not a virgin, and her age was considered relatively old in this era. She had entered the so-called “old and ugly” stage. Even if she was still beautiful at this time, she would not be able to sustain it for long.

This damn brothel owner clearly wanted to slaughter him as a fat sheep. As expected, all brothel owners were black-hearted. When he got angry, he revealed his identity and robbed Fengming Courtyard. He believed that with his identity, he could take the person away even without spending a penny, but there was no need for that.

Du Yuejiao glanced at the brothel owner but didn’t say anything. She had long guessed that the brothel owner would definitely ask for a high price, but would the young man be willing to do so?

Seeing this, the madam smiled and said, “Sir, my daughter is a famous girl in the capital. There are countless dignitaries who come here because of her fame. I refused even when someone offered 30,000 taels privately. If it weren’t for my daughter’s interest, I wouldn’t have been willing to give it up. Now only 20,000 taels is a fair price.”

Fairness, stop talking nonsense. If someone really offered 30,000 taels, would she be reluctant to give it up? Do you really think that calling her a daughter means she is really a daughter? She is just bragging and wants to sell it at a high price.

Shui Rong glanced at Du Yuejiao who was sitting opposite him, and seeing that she looked relaxed, he simply stopped talking and said, “Okay, bring Miss Du’s indenture.”

Given Shui Rong’s status, there was no need to bargain with the brothel owner. If the matter got out of hand, it would be bad. Moreover, bargaining in front of Du Yuejiao, regardless of whether it was fair or not, would show that in Shui Rong’s heart, she was not worth the price.

The brothel owner smiled happily upon hearing this, and went to get the bond. At this time, Du Yuejiao said, “Mom, please bring Lian’er’s bond. I want to take Lian’er away with me. The money for redemption will be given to you.”

Lian’er, who was standing aside, brightened her eyes and looked at the brothel owner hopefully.

The brothel owner didn’t care. This business was very profitable. How much silver could a little maid be worth? So she said generously, “What’s the matter with silver? You want to take Lian’er with you.”

After saying that, he went down with a smile to get the indenture.

Du Yuejiao looked at Shui Rong with her eyes, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, and said with a smile: “My young master is really willing to give, I thank you for this.”

No matter what, Shui Rong’s move represents sincerity.

Shui Rong didn’t take it seriously and replied with a smile, “Miss Du, there’s no need to be so polite. I can just deduct the redemption money from Miss Du’s salary. I won’t lose anything.”

It was stated earlier that Shui Rong could pay the redemption money, but the required silver would be deducted from Du Yuejiao’s remuneration in the end. Generally speaking, Du Yuejiao had to redeem herself, which showed Shui Rong’s importance. Secondly, in the end it was not Shui Rong who paid, so he would not feel bad even if it cost 20,000 taels of silver.

Du Yuejiao was stunned when she heard that, then she burst into laughter. She didn’t mind at all, instead she felt more comfortable. She liked getting along with the young man, it was easy, comfortable, fair and just.

In a short while, the brothel owner brought the indenture, and Shui Rong paid the banknote. After receiving the indenture, Shui Rong handed it to Du Yuejiao without hesitation and said, “Miss Du, I will be your boss from now on. This is your indenture, please keep it.”

Du Yuejiao looked at the bond handed over by Shui Rong with a lingering look, and said seriously: “Let’s talk business. Since the money for redemption is paid by the boss, my bond naturally belongs to the boss. When I pay off the money in the future, the boss will return the bond to me.”

Upon hearing this, Shui Rong looked at the beauty in front of him with a little interest. It should be noted that the indenture is extremely important for a prostitute’s daughter. Unexpectedly, Du Yuejiao actually turned a blind eye to it. At this moment, Du Yuejiao seemed to exude a sense of confidence, which was quite charming.

After taking back the indenture, Shui Rong said jokingly, “That’s good. With the indenture in hand, if Miss Du doesn’t do well, don’t blame me for being rude.”

Although Shui Rong felt that Du Yuejiao was good at business, there was no such thing as a guaranteed profit in business. Du Yuejiao had to work harder and run the business with all her heart so that she wouldn’t slack off.

Du Yuejiao’s eyes lit up when she heard that, as if she didn’t hear Shui Rong’s smile. She supported her white chin with her hand and said jokingly, “How can you be so rude, young master? I’d like to try it out.”

Shui Rong raised his eyebrows, what was this hinting at?

Chapter 33: Location of the Guildhall

A pavilion-style carriage came out from Fengming Courtyard. Inside the carriage, there was a table with fruits and tea on it. Shui Rong and Du Yuejiao sat opposite each other.

Originally, if Shui Rong was alone, he wouldn’t need a carriage, but since Du Yuejiao was added to the mix, he had to take care of her, so Shui Rong rented a carriage.

Du Yuejiao lifted the curtain and looked at Fengming Courtyard which was gradually moving away. She was overwhelmed with mixed feelings and her clear eyes were sparkling with stars.

Shui Rong took a sip of the fragrant tea on the table, then glanced at the beauty. Her hibiscus tassel skirt was wrapped tightly because she was sitting sideways. Her round and plump breasts were suspended in the air like a crescent moon. She had big breasts and a big butt, and she was very pretty.

With a light cough, Shui Rong suppressed the strange feeling in his heart and jokingly asked, “Miss Du, are you reluctant to part with it?”

Du Yuejiao turned her pretty face and looked at Shui Rong. She didn’t notice someone’s inquiry and said leisurely, “What’s there to be reluctant about in that place?”

What was there for them to be reluctant about leaving brothels? They had just stayed there for several years, and once they left, they would feel an indescribable feeling in their hearts.

Shui Rong was silent for a moment, then said softly: “Miss Du, the future is a new beginning. I am not a demanding boss. Everything will be fine. Maybe Miss Du can even become a well-known curator in Beijing!!!”

Outside the brothel, there is a different scene. Shui Rong is not a human trafficker. As long as Du Yuejiao runs the business with all her heart, he will not treat her unfairly. It is better than staying in a brothel.

Du Yuejiao smiled when she heard that, looked at Shui Rong expectantly, and said, “Thank you for your good words, young master. I will do my best in the future and will not let you down.”

Shui Rong nodded slightly, what he wanted was for Du Yuejiao to do her job wholeheartedly.

The carriage sped along, and half an hour later, they arrived at a mansion. The two walked on the veranda. Du Yuejiao looked around and saw screen walls, moon-wave waterside pavilions, and strange rocks and rockery.

“Boss, is this the chosen location for the guild hall?” Since Shui Rong brought him here, it was obvious that this was the chosen location for the guild hall. He couldn’t be planning to hide a mistress in a golden house!!!

Shui Rong nodded upon hearing this and said, “Yes, this house was originally owned by a wealthy businessman. It has three courtyards, a total of 56 rooms, and a back garden that imitates the Jiangnan gardens. It is quite elegant.”

Shui Rong originally planned to use a shop as the site for the guild hall, but it seemed too small, so he bought a mansion as the site for the guild hall.

Du Yuejiao nodded slightly upon hearing this and said, “Not bad, it won’t be a problem as long as it is slightly improved.”

To convert the mansion into a clubhouse, one only needs to decorate and partition it. His purpose in buying the mansion was also for its convenience, without the need to rebuild it.

Seeing that the discussion was about serious matters, Shui Rong began to act like a boss, and said in a serious tone: “Miss Du, I have bought the two houses next door. I will build a wall around the three houses and connect them together. These matters are left to you to handle. With your experience, you should know a lot about men’s preferences. You can decide how to decorate the partitions of the guild hall, but you must not be greedy for cheapness. Let people do what is needed, and I will be responsible for all the expenses. Here is 50,000 taels of silver notes, Miss Du, keep it.”

It is not convenient for Shui Rong to get involved in the affairs of the guild, and as the host, he does not need to worry about everything. There is a saying that goes, if you can’t lead a team, you can only work hard until you die. Since he has recruited the other party, he naturally trusts her. Therefore, Shui Rong plans to hand over all the affairs of the guild to Du Yuejiao. Shui Rong has prepared the money, and the rest is to let Du Yuejiao do whatever she wants, and he can also take this opportunity to check out Du Yuejiao’s ability.

Du Yuejiao looked at the stack of banknotes in Shui Rong’s hand, looking a little surprised. Fifty thousand taels of silver was given just like that? It seemed like Shui Rong meant to let her be responsible for everything, which was more thorough than being a hands-off manager. But she had to admit that Shui Rong’s trust touched her heart.

After a while, Du Yuejiao came back to her senses and said leisurely, “Master, you are so bold and courageous. I am grateful for your guidance.”

Shui Rong disagreed with what he said, and said in a clear voice: “Miss Du, if you don’t sacrifice your child, you can’t catch the wolf. If you don’t invest a lot, how can you stand out in the capital? Don’t think I’m just in a momentary mood.”

Since they want to do business, they naturally want to do it on a big scale. Don’t think Shui Rong is thinking of keeping hundreds of girls for fun, he wants to build a proper entertainment venue.

Du Yuejiao raised her eyes to look at Shui Rong, her clear eyes flashed with a glimmer, she reached out to put the banknote away, and said seriously: “Since the boss trusts you so much, I will live up to your expectations and build the best club in the capital for you.”

Shui Rong nodded in satisfaction when he saw this. What he wanted was a motivated spirit. Hesitation was disliked. Seeing this, Shui Rong reminded him, “Don’t save any manpower or material resources on the affairs of the guild hall. Get it done as soon as possible.”

The better to deal with the guild hall sooner rather than later, the sooner it opens, the quicker money can be made. Du Yuejiao has redeemed herself and has a lot of free time, so she can focus on the construction of the guild hall. Twenty thousand taels of silver cannot be wasted.

Du Yuejiao nodded slightly when she heard this, and replied, “Master, don’t worry, I will supervise it.”

Shui Rong said nothing more upon seeing this. After discussing for a while, he left the house. Du Yuejiao leaned against the carved windowsill, gazing at the green bamboo outside the window with full eyes. She felt inexplicably that this would be her home from now on.

The maid Lian’er brought a cup of fragrant tea and said, “Miss, you must be thirsty after talking for so long. Have a cup of tea to moisten your throat.”

Du Yuejiao took the teacup, her expression relaxed and happy, the smile between her brows unable to be concealed.

Lian Er smiled and said, “Miss, the boss is really generous. He gave you 50,000 taels of silver without even frowning. He also trusts you very much and lets you do everything.”

Du Yuejiao nodded slightly when she heard that. It was just as Lian’er said. She worked in a place of entertainment and had seen many different kinds of people, but there was only one person as bold as Shui Rong. And the most important thing was Shui Rong’s attitude towards her. There was no trace of superiority in his attitude. He just treated her business as business. This kind of respect made her heart ripple.

Du Yuejiao walked to the table and put the teacup on it. She looked at the excited Lian’er and said sternly, “It’s not that I trust you. The boss is a noble man. How could he care about a prostitute like me? If I can’t do anything but cause trouble, it’s not easy to blame me.”

Trust is trust, but Du Yuejiao knows in her heart that it is because Shui Rong is sure that she dare not have any other thoughts. Don’t think that you can do whatever you want just because of this trust.

Lian’er nodded when she heard this. This was her young lady reminding her to do her duty. If she didn’t do things well, she would definitely be blamed.

Seeing Lian’er’s serious expression, Du Yuejiao smiled and said jokingly: “Don’t worry, the young master is a reasonable person. As long as we do our best, even if things go wrong, it won’t be blamed on us.”

Business is full of unpredictable risks. Even if you put your best efforts, you cannot be 100% sure of making money.

Lian’er responded and looked at the safe Du Yuejiao. She had been serving Du Yuejiao since she entered Fengming Courtyard. She knew Du Yuejiao better than anyone else. Her young lady always greeted the guests with a smile, but was always sad when she was alone. But now, her dimples were visible on her face, and it was obvious that she was in a very good mood.

Moreover, the girls in her family never dress up carefully, but Shui Rong comes dressed beautifully and always calls him “young master”.

Thinking of this, Lian Er hesitated a little, thought for a moment, and asked: “Miss, what do you think of our new boss?”

Du Yuejiao was stunned when she heard this, and glanced at Lian’er who looked strange. She thought Lian’er was worried about being punished, so she laughed and scolded: “What are you thinking about? The young master is humble and polite, not a harsh person.”

Although Du Yuejiao didn’t have much contact with Shui Rong, she was able to respect her as a woman of the world, so she knew she was not a harsh person. It was easy and comfortable to be with her, which was a feeling no one else could give her. It made her feel an inexplicable feeling in her heart.

Lian Er knew that the young lady had misunderstood her meaning when she heard this, and hurriedly said, “Young lady, I’m not worried about this. What I want to ask is whether the young lady has any other ideas.”

“Other ideas?” Du Yuejiao was stunned, and suddenly she understood.

Lian’er observed Du Yuejiao carefully, and when she saw that she did not refute immediately, she understood in her heart that her young lady had always been disdainful.

If you think about it carefully, that young man has a romantic temperament and treats people kindly. No girl would not be attracted to him.

Thinking of this, Lian Er encouraged: “Since Miss is interested, why don’t you take the initiative?”

Du Yuejiao looked up at Lian’er and saw that she was sincere. She knew that Lian’er was doing this for her own good and did not blame her. However, she was not sure whether this was “intentional” or not. Perhaps she just liked being with the young man…that’s all.

Besides, she didn’t want to be abandoned again. All men are the same, sweet-mouthed but treacherous. The young man might be an exception.

“Don’t let your imagination run wild. The young master and I are just doing business. We have no other intentions. Besides, the young master is of noble status. How could he be interested in a worthless woman like me?”

If it was in the prime of life, it would not be impossible for her to serve tea and water and have a beautiful lady with red sleeves, but now…