She Holds the World After Being Reborn
Chapter 108: The Fish Has Taken the Bait

Chapter 108: Chapter 108: The Fish Has Taken the Bait

After a swirl of smoke and mist, the sound of silk and bamboo instruments rose from nowhere, and the enthusiasm of the audience was quickly ignited.

Through the haze, a group of masked women carrying pipas ran onto the stage, circling the center; after another puff of smoke, Yun Ge descended from the heavens like an ethereal celestial maiden. Her gentle chanting soared through the air, and she flitted about as if she truly were an immortal descending to the mortal realm...

Such a scene caused Yan Wanqing to slightly raise an eyebrow; she beckoned for Mama Tan.

"Who thought of this?" It couldn’t possibly be Lin Yanran.

Did that vase-empty-headed girl really come up with such an idea?

Mentioning this, Mama Tan couldn’t help saying, "Some time ago, we saved someone in the river. Seeing that she had a fair appearance, we let her into Fireworks Lane. She insisted on selling arts, not her body. This is what she came up with for Lin Yanran, calling it ’stage effects’."

"Judging by the look of these men in the audience, as if they haven’t seen much of the world, the effects must be quite good." Mama Tan looked at the young masters frantically throwing silver coins onto the stage, feeling very pleased, knowing all that money would eventually end up in her pocket.

Seeing Yan Wanqing’s interest, Mama Tan then suggested, "Shall I have someone call her up?"

"Alright, there will be a reward." Yan Wanqing sat down, and Mama Tan went to summon the woman.

The woman, who was still holding a fan, was suddenly called upon, told that an important person upstairs was requesting her presence.

With a heart full of trepidation, the woman covered her face in charcoal dust as she went upstairs, and when Mama Tan saw her, she exclaimed in shock, "How did your face get so dirty!"

The woman bowed her head, as docile as a little lamb.

Although her face was smeared with charcoal, Yan Wanqing recognized her at a glance—it was none other than Li Chengxiang, the young Miss of the Li Family.

She frowned slightly, "Come closer."

The woman, upon hearing the man’s voice, flinched, wishing she could curl up into a ball.

Yan Wanqing couldn’t help but suppress a chuckle, thinking of Mama Tan’s earlier remark that she had adamantly refused to sell her body, only her art. He found it somewhat amusing.

Li Chengxiang moved closer.

Yan Wanqing took a good look and confirmed it was indeed Li Chengxiang.

But why had she, forsaking her rightful place as the young Miss of the Li Family, chosen to stay in Fireworks Lane?

Yan Wanqing was somewhat puzzled.

The Li Residence was only a few streets away from Fireworks Lane; she could easily have gone home if she wished.

Could it be that some misfortune had befallen the Li Family?

In an instant, many thoughts flashed through Yan Wanqing’s mind.

"You’ve done well, there is a reward," he said, since Li Chengxiang didn’t wish to speak, he decided to act as if he knew nothing.

Once the rewarded person had left, the shrewd Mama Tan leaned in: "Does the master know this person?"

"We’ve met once," Yan Wanqing didn’t intend to hide it: "She’s the young Miss of the Li Residence; tell your people to show some discretion."

Mama Tan naturally had heard of Li Chengxiang’s reputation: "No wonder, so capable in making money. She’s the god of wealth from the Li Family."

She understood and didn’t ask why Li Chengxiang was staying there; Mama Tan rather hoped this god of wealth would stay forever, so she could earn more treasure.

The performance had ended, and Lin Yanran descended like a goddess from the heavens, captivating the young masters present, who could hardly wait to write poems and verses in her honor right on the spot.

After an overwhelming round of praise, the emcee moved on to the main event of the evening.

It was the first night with the Oiran.

"The starting bid, ten taels of gold!"

The emcee began without changing his expression.

Hearing that the starting bid was ten taels of gold, many of the young masters instantly felt disheartened.

Mama Tan was also taken aback at the ten taels of gold: "Who set such a high price for her? How can the bidding go any higher?" She said, about to go down, but was pulled back by Yan Wanqing: "Wait, let’s see what happens."

"It must be this brat; this morning, the people down there were saying she wanted to cause a scene. So she was waiting here for Mama Tan," Mama Tan was seething with anger.

Ten taels of gold would filter out a lot of the low-tier young masters who couldn’t afford it.

Anyone who could afford that sum was surely worthy of a night with Lin Yanran.

She lightly played with the sheer fabric on her shoulder, revealing her enticingly semi-concealed shoulders. She puckered her red lips slightly, setting the men below aboil with passion. Soon enough, one impatient fool eagerly drove the bidding up against another, reaching a hundred taels of gold.

"One hundred taels of gold!" Madam Tan couldn’t help but laugh out loud as she covered her mouth.

Oh my, this was all her money.

Yan Wanqing couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight, "If you like money so much, why not go to Money Leopard and be an accountant? There is a lot more money there than here."

"This is called fun," Madam Tan would not go to Money Leopard.

The bidding had reached one hundred taels of gold; it was becoming difficult for the price to rise any further.

But just then, a fat and burly gentleman pushed through the crowd and shouted toward Yun Ge on the stage, "Five hundred taels of gold!"

At these words, the crowd fell silent.

Five hundred taels of gold!

Who could compete with such an offer?

Yun Ge’s face turned pale the moment she saw the man.

Cursing internally, she thought, "Damn fat pig!"

Her eyes desperately searched through the other gentlemen seated around.

She didn’t want to hand herself over to this ugly, fat pig at all!

Just as she was frantic, a gentle voice suddenly offered, "Six hundred taels of gold!"

Yan Wanqing peered through a gap and saw the bidder clearly, a cold light flickered in her eyes.

The person calling out was Wa Chengnan.

Once Wa Chengnan made his offer, Lin Yanran’s complexion obviously improved a lot. However, the wealthy commoner wouldn’t back down and continued to bid. After reaching eight hundred taels, they could go no higher. Wa Chengnan shook his head with regret. That’s when a deep voice rang out.

"One thousand taels of gold!"

The newcomer was shrouded in a black robe.

Yet Yan Wanqing felt a surge of dark fire in her eyes at the sight of the person.

She had finally waited for him to arrive.

She curled her lips and closed the window.

The fish was hooked.

"I’ll leave the rest to you," Yan Wanqing, no longer interested, decided to leave.

In the end, Yun Ge’s first night was taken by the mysterious person with a bid of one thousand taels of gold.

Madam Tan personally cleaned Yun Ge up and sent her into the man’s private room.

Yun Ge looked at the man sitting on the Imperial Consort’s couch with trepidation. As she stepped forward, she saw him turn around, revealing a face she was familiar with.

"Seventh, Seventh Prince..." Yun Ge was stunned.

Xiao Hongshen looked at her affectionately, "Long time no see, Miss Lin."

Yun Ge never expected that the person who had bid for her would be Prince Xiao Hongshen.

She stepped back in fear, "I, I don’t know anything..."

"Why does Miss Lin seem so afraid on seeing me?" Xiao Hongshen smiled gently, "Do I look that frightening?"

Of course not, Xiao Hongshen had always been handsome, which was why Yun Ge had a deep-seated love for him before.

But she remembered that night, a woman with a long sword had rummaged through the Lin Family home seeking something on the Prince’s order, then killed many servants and maids, which now caused her to feel fear from the depths of her bones whenever she saw Xiao Hongshen.

Xiao Hongshen had also only recently heard the news that Lin Yanran, the young Miss of the Lin Family who should have died on the exile journey, was to auction her first night in Fireworks Lane tonight.

Whether the account books in Minister Lin’s hands were real or fake was unknown, but Lin Yanran absolutely could not fall into someone else’s hands.

Fortunately, he had finished his duties and come over; otherwise, she would have been taken by the Crown Prince’s men.

The Crown Prince would surely find various reasons to suppress him in front of the Emperor!

Xiao Hongshen looked at Lin Yanran in front of him, extending his hand to gently caress her cheek, "Don’t be afraid, didn’t you used to like me..."

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