Chapter 24: Ten Thousand Taels

Southside Street.

Sun Yan’er and Huang Zhaodi, along with a few other women, were chatting as they strolled down the street.

Sun Yan’er’s mood was rather sour.

That’s why Huang Zhaodi and the others had specially invited her out for some fun this evening.

“Yan’er, you’re not still worried about that person, are you?”

“Anyway, you’ve already rejected him, and Zhaodi warned him too. He shouldn’t bother you anymore.”

A woman named Zhang Liyan noticed her distracted air and tried to comfort her.

Huang Zhaodi immediately added, “Yan’er, if that guy dares to pester you again, just tell me. I’ll go settle the score with him! Hmph, how shameless can someone be? Clearly, she doesn’t like him, yet he keeps pestering her! Does having a marriage contract make him so great? Passing the scholar’s exam so impressive? Without even a marriage certificate, we simply won’t acknowledge it. Let’s see what he can do!”

Sun Yan’er smiled faintly. “It’s not because of him; I never really put him in my heart.”

“Then why do you look so unhappy?” Zhang Liyan asked.

Sun Yan’er fell silent for a moment, about to answer, when Huang Zhaodi suddenly pointed toward the stone bridge ahead. “Hey, isn’t that Liu Songjin? What’s he doing standing there?”

The group looked up.

On the stone bridge stood a young man with disheveled hair and tattered clothes, his face bruised and swollen, staring blankly at the river below.

It looked like… he might be about to jump.

“Let’s go, quickly! He seems to have been beaten!”

Their expressions changed, and they hurried over.

As they approached, they heard him muttering to himself while gazing into the water: “Damn you all… damn you all…”

Sun Yan’er and the others were speechless.

“Liu Songjin! What are you doing?” Huang Zhaodi strode forward and firmly patted his shoulder.

Startled, Liu Songjin trembled and turned around in panic, clutching his head, his voice trembling: “Don’t, don’t hit me. I was wrong…”

Huang Zhaodi paused, then waved her hand in front of his eyes. “Liu Songjin, it’s us! No one’s hitting you anymore. What’s wrong? Do you want to see a doctor?”

Liu Songjin blinked and stared at her blankly, then glanced at Sun Yan’er and the others behind her. After a moment, he gradually came to his senses.

“I… I’m fine, really…”

He looked ashamed and was about to leave.

Huang Zhaodi quickly blocked his path. “What happened? Who beat you? Tell me, and I’ll find someone to get even!”

Liu Songjin shook his head hurriedly. “No need, no need…”

There were so many people and fists in the brothel that he couldn’t even distinguish who had hit him. Besides, confessing this would only bring humiliation and ridicule.

He absolutely dared not say a word.

At that moment, Sun Yan’er stepped forward and spoke gently, “Young Master Liu, if something happened, you can tell us. We’ll find a way to help.”

Liu Songjin liked her, of course she knew, so she came to persuade him.

He glanced at her, a mix of guilt and another emotion flickering in his eyes.

Suddenly, Huang Zhaodi put on a serious face. “Even if you don’t tell me, I’ll find out tomorrow! Were you with Yang Qian and the others tonight?”

Liu Songjin’s expression changed drastically.

After struggling internally for a moment, he lifted his head and looked at Sun Yan’er. “Miss Yan’er, that… that Luo Zijun, he really is just… just an apprentice at the pharmacy, born into poverty, with nothing at all?”

The group was stunned, confused.

Why bring him up all of a sudden?

Sun Yan’er hesitated, then replied, “Yes. My family has known his ancestors. His parents passed away, and he lives with his sister and brother-in-law. His brother-in-law is just an ordinary constable, and his sister sent him to work as an apprentice at the pharmacy. Young Master Liu, why mention him now? Did he hit you tonight?”

Liu Songjin’s gaze was dazed as he said, “I think… Miss Yan’er, you might be mistaken…”

“Mistaken about what?” Sun Yan’er grew even more puzzled.

He fell silent briefly, then lowered his head. “Tonight, Yang Qian and a few others and I went to the Tianxian Brothel to drink. Yang Qian brought a thousand taels of silver, hoping to see that ‘First Encounter’ lady, but was rejected. Everyone was turned away. Then… then that ‘First Encounter’ lady actually invited Luo Zijun… upstairs to meet…”

Sun Yan’er was taken aback. “The ‘First Encounter’ lady? The same one from last night’s literary gathering, the one who wrote ‘Life as if meeting for the first time’?”

Liu Songjin nodded. “Yes, her.”

Zhang Liyan said, “If it’s that lady, a thousand taels won’t be enough. The poem she recited last night has spread throughout the academy. Everyone wants to visit the Tianxian Brothel to see her. Even teachers Yuan and He are planning to disguise themselves as men to go.”

Sun Yan’er seemed to realize something. “Young Master Liu, you mean that ‘First Encounter’ lady didn’t see anyone else at all, but took the initiative to invite Luo Zijun upstairs?”

Liu Songjin looked at her. “Yes.”

Sun Yan’er furrowed her brow, a trace of doubt crossing her face.

“Why would she do that?”

Zhang Liyan asked curiously.

Huang Zhaodi was also puzzled. “That guy is quite good looking, but that lady has already become the top star at the Tianxian Brothel. How could she invite someone upstairs on the very first day? Didn’t the madam stop her?”

Liu Songjin said bitterly, “The madam personally took him by the hand and led him upstairs.”

The group was speechless.

Liu Songjin raised his head and looked at Sun Yan’er again. “The maids said that Luo Zijun came early last night to make a reservation and even gave the Tianxian Brothel ten thousand taels of silver.”

“What! Ten… ten thousand taels?” Huang Zhaodi’s mouth dropped open.

Zhang Liyan and the others were equally shocked, their faces filled with disbelief.

“Ten thousand taels? Impossible!”

“Ten thousand taels just to see someone once?”

“No way! Where did that guy get so much money?”

Sun Yan’er’s heart jolted, and after a few seconds of dazed silence, she asked, “Is that true?”

Liu Songjin gave a bitter laugh. “There were many people in the main hall — Yang Qian, Wang Bao, Su Bie — they were all there. If you don’t believe me, you can ask them. The maid really said ten thousand taels.”

Sun Yan’er’s mind buzzed, her expression blank.

“So, Miss Yan’er, are you sure you truly understand his family situation?”

Liu Songjin looked at her with suspicion.

Last night on the pleasure boat, this young woman had insisted that the man was merely a pharmacy apprentice, not a student. Yet…

“I… I don’t know…” Sun Yan’er was stunned, beginning to doubt herself.

“If he casually took out ten thousand taels just to see someone, he can’t be ordinary. Could he be a hidden scion of a noble family?” Zhang Liyan’s eyes flickered.

Huang Zhaodi snorted coldly. “Whoever he is or whatever money he has, what does it have to do with us? We don’t eat or drink his! Come on, Yan’er already rejected him. If he dares to bother you again, hmph! We won’t be polite!”

Sun Yan’er looked dazed, as if she hadn’t heard her words.

“I’m leaving,” Liu Songjin said, knowing he was battered and embarrassed, daring not to linger. He bowed his head and walked away.

Silence fell.

Huang Zhaodi remained carefree. “No matter how rich he is, what’s that to us? Let’s keep shopping.”

“Yan’er, what’s wrong?” Zhang Liyan asked.

Snapping back to reality, Sun Yan’er shook her head. “Nothing.”

Suddenly, she involuntarily glanced down at their feet beneath their skirts, hesitated, then couldn’t help but ask, “Liyan, Zhaodi, what size shoes do you wear?”

Zhang Liyan and the others looked at her in confusion.