Ex-Wife is a Big Villainess
Chapter 102 - 89: The Hand Behind the Curtain (Extra for Alliance Hierarch A Little Bit Delicious)

Chapter 102: Chapter 89: The Hand Behind the Curtain (Extra for Alliance Hierarch A Little Bit Delicious)

Lu Renjia’s facial muscles twisted slightly, as if they were frozen in wax.

The next moment, his gaunt, shoehorn-like face swelled up like a red persimmon, glaring at the graceful young girl before him in annoyance,

"I do not agree to this marriage!"

On what grounds?

We both have two nostrils and two ears, so why should I have to wait for my next life when he can enjoy this one?

Just because he’s a little bit handsomer than me?

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

Compared to a good-looking shell, a soul as fun as mine is definitely what girls like the most.

Jia was very confident in this regard.

The girl ignored him, her eyes glancing towards Jiang Shouzhong, opening a superior sandalwood long box.

Inside lay nothing but jewels and jades, along with a stack of silver notes.

The seductive young girl spoke softly, "Although Shier cannot compare with those high-status Oiran, I have saved up some worldly possessions over the years. Apart from buying my freedom, the rest of my savings should be enough to make ends meet, and I definitely wouldn’t dare to trouble Jiang with the burden of earning money to take care of me. I only hope that Jiang would not despise Shier for coming from the dust of the world, and I do not seek to carry on the family line as a wife. It would be enough for me to stay by your side as a humble concubine and attend to you."

The room fell into an eerie silence.

The glitter of the jewels in the box shone brightly in the small room.

Lu Renjia felt completely numb; the sweet potato he had just eaten now left a bitter taste in his mouth, not sweet at all.

Jiang Shouzhong was also speechless.

He did remember the identity of the woman.

Qin Shier, a famous courtesan from the Capital, of mixed Western Regions descent, ranked seventh on the rouge list of the pleasure district, adept at playing the pipa, and also skilled at blowing the flute with outstanding artistic talent.

She was one of the two most beloved courtesans of the Xichu Pavilion.

Such a renowned beauty, coveted by the young masters of the Capital, now wished to throw herself at him, a minor figure in the Jianghu just starting to make a name?

Absurd, preposterous, ridiculous.

Jiang Shouzhong did not believe in such nonsense as "committing one’s body to repay a life-saving debt"; inexplicably, he was reminded of the bottle of Demon Energy on Zhang’s body, and the cat demon that inhabited Zhang Yue’er, his handsome eyes narrowing slightly.

What a coincidence indeed.

With this thought in mind, Jiang Shouzhong warmly smiled and said, "Miss Qin’s fame has reached my ears long ago, with pipa skills known far and wide, possessing both the elegance of the Nanhu Faction and the powerful momentum of the Bei Qiang Faction. The saying ’no string untouched, no pillar unpressed, no tune unsung’ must describe your artistry. To be favored by Miss Qin is a three-lifetime fortune for Jiang, and I wouldn’t dare to aspire to such heights."

The renowned courtesan, praised for producing enchanting melodies with her graceful fingers, did not take offense at the man’s rejection. Instead, she smiled charmingly, her seductive allure flowing through her movements.

"Saving one’s life is like gaining a second set of parents; my life was saved by Jiang, and so I belong to Jiang in this life."

After giving it some thought, Jiang Shouzhong said, "Since Miss Qin puts it that way, why not acknowledge me as your father? Saving a life is like gaining new parents, after all."

"Pfft—"

Jia, who had just gloomily picked up his tea, hadn’t even swallowed a sip when he sprayed it out.

Qin Shier was also stunned.

In her regular dealings with many types of patrons – the noble youths, the impoverished scholars, the gentle students, the arrogant rich kids, and the chivalrous heroes of the Jianghu, among others – most interactions were in the roles of confidants, friends, or intimate companions.

But never before had she encountered someone wanting to be her father.

Even for someone as adept as she was at handling various situations, she was at a loss for words.

Jiang Shouzhong didn’t wait for her to continue, and with an apologetic tone, said, "I’m sorry, Miss Qin, I have official duties to attend to. If I find some free time, I shall visit Xichu Pavilion to show my support. Of course, that kind of place is a bit beyond my means to frequent."

"Then I won’t disturb you any further, Jiang."

With a complex expression and a slight bow, Qin Shier made her curtsey and turned to leave.

Jiang Shouzhong, looking at Jia’s lingering gaze, chuckled, "Instead of craving for Qing Niang, you might as well crave this. Although it’s all in vain like trying to scoop water with a bamboo basket, at least it doesn’t devalue you."

Lu Renjia gave him a dirty look, grumbling resentfully, "Craving my ass, I ain’t no bootlicker!"

"What do you think her motive is?"

Jiang Shouzhong asked.

The dejected Lu Renjia replied irritably, "Isn’t it obvious? Offering herself to repay a debt of life-saving grace."

With a faint smile, Jiang Shouzhong looked up at the azure sky, murmuring, "A scholar’s midnight encounter with a seductive fox spirit in an ancient temple, now a destitute home sees a fox spirit offer a lifetime commitment. This is no fortuitous encounter; it’s an ominous sign."

——

Within the nightlife of the Capital, there were three elites: Xichu Pavilion, Red Makeup Pavilion, and Biyun Fang.

And places like the Spring Rain Building, where common folk chatter, could only be considered as the foliage. It was a mere competition of who had the greener and lusher leaves, yet they could never compare with the three superior blossoms above.

Compared to Biyun Fang and Red Makeup Pavilion, which somewhat sold both talents and flesh, Xichu Pavilion genuinely lived up to the saying of selling artistry, not one’s body.

For an entertainment venue to establish itself, it requires not only wealth but also the allure of the courtesans, and most importantly, a powerful backer.

Especially in a place like the Capital, teeming with nobility and royalty; it’s not a matter of simply deciding not to sell one’s body.

Once, a strikingly beautiful top courtesan from Biyun Fang declared she would never physically serve clients, bearing an air of aloofness. Yet in the end, she was subdued by a high-status and overbearing young master who did business with her flesh right in front of a window.

The young master even had the window opened, sharing his joy in a liberal spirit so that onlookers who usually found it difficult to catch even a glimpse of the beauty could feast their eyes on the scene.

The madam could only watch in grief, as her new star, cultivated with an extravagant amount of gold and effort, was so carelessly ruined.

On the contrary, Xichu Pavilion had never had an incident where someone was forced into such a transaction.

This goes to show how solid its backing was.

Walking through the corridor, Qin Shier arrived at her private and tasteful courtyard. She paused on purpose by the lakeside railing and waited for a while. Seeing her personal maid carrying a plate of fruits down from the second floor, she could not help but curl her lips upward and proceeded towards a room upstairs.

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