Zora smiled brightly at the woman in front of her. "I really don't mean anything by it. I just find it fun. No matter how much you raise the price, I'll add one more tael."
"Isn't that Mr. Bo's eldest daughter?"
"Yes, that's her, the spoiled one. Sister Huang, I think we better let this go. She's not someone easy to deal with. Her mother spoils her endlessly."
"I heard she even bought Cloud back then?"
"Exactly, that was her. Even though June is good, at most he's worth about two thousand taels. There's no need to go any higher."
"Right. Normally, it only costs around fifty taels to have fun with anyone here. You can enjoy however you want."
The crowd downstairs started whispering. Sister Huang glared up at the second floor but didn't dare say more and gave up.
"Oh my, congratulations to our young Miss Zora!" the brothel madam laughed happily, pulling June along as she headed upstairs.
"You must take good care of her, or else you'll suffer," the madam warned.
"I understand," June answered.
Dragged roughly, June stumbled as he was lectured all the way upstairs.
The private room door opened. The madam pushed June inside, shoving him toward Zora while rubbing her hands together, trying to please her.
Seeing this, Zora played up her spoiled, rich-girl act. She pulled June onto her lap. He was so thin that he hardly weighed anything. His body was stiff and didn't dare move.
"June really lives up to his reputation. So beautiful," Zora said while holding him.
She raised an eyebrow and turned to the madam. "Uncle Li, let's be direct."
"I like June very much. Can you give him to me?"
June suddenly looked at her, thinking he must have heard wrong. Was she talking about buying his freedom?
Zora gave him a reassuring glance.
The madam was also shocked. This little ancestor had never asked to redeem anyone before, not even when she was obsessed with Cloud.
The madam said hesitantly, "Miss, you're putting me in a tough spot. June is our Baicao Pavilion's new top performer. We spent a lot of money training him, and today is the first time he's being presented..."
"So Uncle Li won't agree?" Zora smiled lightly, looking unconcerned.
"Uncle Li, you should think carefully. I've been visiting Baicao Pavilion for quite a long time—half the month, every month. If you don't give me this favor..."
"Five thousand taels, plus the two thousand I just offered. That's enough for you to train ten more Junes," she said calmly.
The madam lowered his head, calculating. Zora was not someone easy to offend. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, "Ten thousand taels, and he's yours."
"Uncle Li, do you take me for a fool?"
"Eight thousand taels. I'll take June today. If not, I'll simply head over to the Tixiang Pavilion and talk to their top performer instead. Maybe my friends and I will become regulars there," Zora said, twirling June's long hair around her fingers, not looking rushed at all.
"If Uncle Li really finds it so hard, then forget it. June can just accompany me for fun today," she said casually.
They continued negotiating back and forth.
The madam saw her attitude and realized she wasn't bluffing. He became anxious. After weighing it carefully, he finally agreed, "Fine! You're my ancestor! You truly like June, and it's good for him to find a good place."
Lisa, standing nearby, had a strange expression. They only had about five hundred taels with them. Even adding the five thousand taels from Cloud's price earlier, they were still short by about two thousand five hundred taels!
If they had to go home and ask for money just to redeem a man from a brothel, the consequences would be...
As Lisa was worrying, Zora said generously, "I'll give you gold instead. Eight hundred taels' worth of gold, alright?"
"Of course, of course!" the madam said, nodding quickly, rubbing his hands together.
Zora pretended to pull out two gold bars from her sleeve, though she actually took them from her storage space.
She had plenty of gold in her space, but no time to weigh out smaller amounts. So she pulled out one gold bar weighing about two catties, letting the madam calculate it herself.
The madam took the bright gold bar, bit it with his teeth to check, and grinned widely. "I'll find two thousand taels' worth of silver notes for you and get June's deed of sale ready. Tomorrow you can officially clear his record."
Zora waved her hand lazily, signaling Lisa to go handle the transaction.
June was still stunned, looking up at Zora, wanting to say something but not knowing where to start.
Cloud, nearby, started crying again, wanting to thank Zora.
But Zora quickly let go of June, pointed at a stool, and motioned for him to sit down. Then she pushed five thousand taels' worth of silver notes toward Cloud.
"Take the money. Helping you this time is in repayment for your companionship this past year. Take care of yourself from now on."
Cloud understood her meaning immediately. His lips turned pale. He knew Zora had already done more than enough. Even though he was reluctant, he said no more.
He quickly turned around, pulled out two five-hundred-tael notes, and handed them to June. "June, take care of Madam Bai well. Keep this money and find a good family when you're free again."
June wasn't foolish. He finally understood the real situation.
He had some hopes earlier, thinking maybe this beautiful woman would be his new owner. But now he realized she had only helped him because of her debt to Cloud.
June accepted one five-hundred-tael note and pushed the other one back to Cloud.
"Thank you, Brother Cloud, for saving me. I'll consider this five hundred taels a loan. I still need to buy medicine for my mother..."
He stood up and bowed deeply to Zora.
In a quiet, solemn voice, he said, "I will remember your kindness today. Once my mother's health improves, I'll surely repay you. The eight thousand taels too—I will not forget."
Zora quickly waved her hand, not wanting to talk about money.
She pointed at Cloud. "Don't repay me. Repay him."
June smiled gently and quietly sat back down.
Soon after, Lisa returned, handing over the deed of sale and two thousand taels in silver notes to Zora.
Zora directly handed the deed to June.
June trembled as he took it, swearing silently that he would repay this kindness even if he had to work like a slave.
One day in the future, Zora would be thankful for this small act of kindness today.
"Ana, tell the waiter to bring out Baicao Pavilion's best dishes. Also, get two more pots of wine. Let's celebrate for June," Zora said with a wide smile.
"Alright, Miss! By the way, can we have some too?" Ana asked with sparkling eyes as she walked toward the door. "I heard the braised lion's head meatballs here are even better than those in the palace!"
Lisa pretended to scold, "Don't talk nonsense."
Zora laughed carelessly. "Sure, let's all enjoy! Get a small table and let everyone have a taste. Your lady is not stingy."
With good food, fine wine, and a handsome young man at her side, life was indeed wonderful.
After they were full and slightly drunk, Zora returned to the mansion, letting Lisa and the others help her bathe and change clothes before falling straight into bed and sleeping soundly.
Knock knock knock.
In the deep of night, a voice reminded softly, "Be careful with the candles."
"Sir, it's already the third watch. Please go to bed."
Tonight, Sean was on night duty in the outer room. He felt like he had already dozed off twice, but the young master was still sitting by the window, unmoving.
"Mm," Sean answered quietly.
"Put out the light,"
A deep sense of disappointment spread through Sean's body.
As expected, she didn't keep her word.
He tried to convince himself: maybe the Tai Shi mansion is too heavily guarded, and she couldn't get in.
Besides, she might not even know where I'm staying...