Chapter 77: Helping Others

Chapter 77

Helping Others

Upon hearing Da Shi’s report, Nie Shuang’s mind worked swiftly.

The Mu family, was it? From Da Shi’s account, the Mu family had been high-ranking officials for generations, with Mu Guifei wielding considerable influence in the inner palace. The fact that the young miss of the Mu family had been captured was certainly no ordinary occurrence. Given that Huangjing was far from the capital, it was unlikely the Mu family could send help in time. It seemed that there was only one course of action.

"Wang Dongpo, send a messenger pigeon to inform Princess An Le of the situation. Ask her to notify the Mu family that Young Miss Mu is in danger here in Huangjing. The Xiangyun Tea House will intervene to help her for now, but the Mu family should prepare themselves. They will be facing the Baihua Brothel."

Wang Dongpo agreed. He had always kept Princess An Le informed of the situation in Huangjing. She was often bored in the palace, eager to know how her only friend, Nie Shuang, was faring on her adventures. The stories Wang Dongpo told her, full of business growth and conflicts with the likes of Ding Tao and the Wang family, filled her with excitement. She always urged him to send updates quickly. The news of helping a young woman from the Mu family would certainly thrill her even more. With Nie Shuang’s orders in mind, Wang Dongpo hurried off to write the letter.

"Da Shi, you need to discreetly investigate the background of these two women. When did they enter the city, and who accompanied them? Also, notify Yan Zhan to prepare around a hundred men from the protection agency. Don’t send them out for protection jobs just yet. It’s near the end of the year, and the merchants are likely hiring fewer escorts anyway."

Da Shi received the orders and went off to carry them out.

As expected, Baihua Brothel sent an invitation to the beauty auction. Nie Shuang coordinated the plan with Da Shi, then waited at the mansion for news. When Da Shi arrived at Baihua Brothel, the madam personally came out to greet him. Everyone knew that this capable young man was the right-hand man of the Lady Boss, overseeing her tea business, so they had to show him respect. It was said that a butler of a powerful noble family was often treated with more respect than lower-ranked officials.

Huangjing was a large city, and whenever there was an auction, it always drew a crowd. Many wanted to witness the beauty of the women who would be put up for auction. Baihua Brothel was large, grand, and lavishly decorated. The air inside was filled with the scent of incense, along with the scent of cinnabar and perfumes for women. In the center of the spacious hall was a wide stage draped with layers of sheer curtains, giving it a delicate and beautiful appearance. Though it was nighttime, the hall was brightly lit by lanterns, and the sound of soft, melodic music added to the relaxing atmosphere. The place was bustling with excitement. Wealthy guests often bought entire tables to enjoy food and wine while waiting for the auction to begin. Da Shi, however, as a representative, was seated in a special front-row seat prepared by the madam. Nearby, men seeking entertainment were already lounging with young women as they awaited the show.

When the time came, the lanterns dimmed, and the lambs on the stage were lit brightly. A lively man with a sharp tongue jumped onto the stage, loudly announcing the start of the auction. All eyes focused intently on the stage. Soon, the sound of a zither filled the air, and the sheer curtains were drawn back. A young woman, her face full of fear, stepped onto the stage in a flowing white gown. Her large, bright eyes and delicate, pretty face marked her as true beauty. This was none other than the maid of Young Miss Mu.

A murmur of excitement rose from the crowd. Many rubbed their hands eagerly, hoping that tonight they would win the chance to take this beautiful girl home. Da Shi felt pity for the young woman on stage, who seemed like an object for others to evaluate and price. When the man on stage started the bidding, the crowd shouted their offers with fierce competition. The price quickly rose to three thousand taels, and fewer hands continued to rise. Several wealthy-looking young masters were present tonight. When Da Shi raised the bid to three thousand and five hundred taels, three or four others still competed, driving the price up to nine thousand taels.

"Nine thousand and five hundred!"

Da Shi gritted his teeth as he called out the bid.

No one else could match the offer, and the maid was sold under the name of the General.

Da Shi sighed in relief. The man on stage then announced the next round, and the sound of the zither filled the hall again, its sweet and delicate notes sending shivers through the audience. The sheer curtains parted once more, and this time, the woman who stepped out stunned the entire crowd with her beauty.

The hall fell silent, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Then, a roar of excitement burst forth, and the auction quickly regained its fevered energy. Everyone desired to claim this beauty. She had an oval face, almond-shaped eyes, and delicate features, like a woman from a painting. As the fierce bidding raged on, a voice suddenly rang out from among the crowd of bidders.

"Twenty thousand taels!"

A sudden silence filled the room once again. The bidding had been at eight thousand taels, but now it shot up to twenty thousand. Many glanced at each other, giving up. Young Miss Mu’s face turned pale. If Da Shi hadn’t bid for her, who knew what her fate might have been? Da Shi, seeing her pleading gaze, turned away. The madam leaned in to nudge him.

"Sir, with a beauty like her, shouldn’t you raise the bid a little more? If you win her, the General will be very pleased."

"But this price is far too high. No matter how beautiful she is, the General wouldn’t be pleased to spend twenty thousand taels."

In the end, Young Miss Mu was bought by that man for twenty thousand taels, while her maid was handed over to Da Shi. As he was about to settle the payment with the madam, the auctioneer rushed in, panic written across his face, and whispered something into her ear.

"What!? Are you sure?"

"Yes, it’s true!"

Their faces both turned pale. Meanwhile, the guests had started to scatter, seeking other pleasures or making their way home. The once-crowded hall gradually emptied. Then, commotion at the entrance drew the attention of those still dining downstairs. The madam quickly rushed out, forgetting to collect payment from Da Shi.

Outside, a group of towering, muscular men stood along the road, their number nearly a hundred. At their head was a man with a thick beard and a commanding, menacing voice. Upon seeing the madam, he barked at her,

"Where is she?! If you don’t hand her over, don’t expect any mercy from me!"

The madam forced a smile, approaching him with a fawning demeanor.

"Sir, let’s discuss this calmly. There’s no need for hostility..."

Before she could finish, he interrupted her.

"Don’t think I don’t know who backs you. My master is no ordinary man either. If this turns into a big incident, your master won’t keep you around. Be grateful that she’s still safe, or your Baihua Brothel would be nothing but rubble by now!"

The madam’s face turned pale at the threat, but she managed to keep her composure and asked,

"D...Do you have any proof of what you’re claiming? These women were sold to us legally. I bought them fair and square, breaking no law."

The large group of men was dressed entirely in black, all armed to the teeth. Even if she summoned every worker from Baihua Brothel, they wouldn’t stand a chance. Not to mention that these men seemed to be skilled fighters, whereas her people were mostly common thugs. The leader glared at her without answering. In truth, the madam had suspected that the women she was auctioning off came from a prominent family, but she hadn’t expected anyone to track them down so quickly. Usually, once a girl was sold, her responsibility ended. Now, all she could feel was bitter regret.

The leader of the men snorted.

"Bought them, you say? And where is the old man who was traveling with her? Or should I take this matter straight to the courts?"

The madam’s face turned ashen. This year, her master needed a lot of money, so each branch of the brothel was under pressure to increase their revenue. Lately, she hadn’t found any outstanding women to feature. In times of prosperity, no family would sell their daughters. So, when she saw two beautiful women traveling alone with an old man, a wicked thought had crossed her mind. She had assumed no one would notice, but it seemed that secrets never stayed hidden for long.

"Y...Yes, sir, please wait a moment. I’ll go fetch the women for you."

The madam hurried back into the hall, where Da Shi was waiting. He handed her the promissory notes.

"Here’s nine thousand and five hundred taels. Count it, and once everything’s settled, I’ll take the girl back."

The madam looked troubled.

"Butler, the thing is..."

As she hesitated, the man who had bid for Young Miss Mu walked in.

"Why is this taking so long? I’ve been waiting forever, and no one’s brought the girl to me yet. Does my twenty thousand taels mean nothing here?!"

The madam glanced between the two men, swallowed hard, and spoke.

"Please, both of you, don’t be upset. The truth is...the girls won’t be going with either of you...They...in truth, they were deceived and sold here. I only just found out. It’s best if you don’t take them, or you might risk facing legal troubles."

Da Shi frowned.

"How can that be? I’ve already paid the auction price. If I don’t bring the girl back, won’t I be blamed by my master?"

The other man also chimed in.

"Exactly. This is not how a business should be run. After winning the auction, you can’t just refuse to sell."

Even standing in the grand hall, the madam could feel the intense glares of the hundred or so men waiting outside.

"Please, gentlemen, stay calm. I won’t let you leave empty-handed. Here’s what I propose: I’ll compensate each of you five hundred taels for your trouble, and tonight, you may enjoy the pleasures of this establishment free of charge. How does that sound?"

The other man’s expression softened upon hearing this, and he quickly agreed to the offer. Da Shi, however, still looked hesitant.

"Five hundred taels means little to the General, but if I fail this task, I’ll surely be reprimanded. Besides, I don’t frequent places like this. I cannot accept your offer."

The madam dragged him by his arm and whispered in his ear.

"Butler, since you don’t wish to stay here, how about I increase the compensation to seven hundred taels?"Da Shi finally nodded in agreement. The madam, relieved, immediately ordered her staff to escort Young Miss Mu and her maid to the front door, ensuring they had veils to cover their faces. Once the women were handed over, the large group of men swiftly departed. Da Shi, too, hurried back to the mansion to report, with seven hundred taels in his pocket and another five hundred taels with his companion who had helped in this act.