The Price of Insistence

So, they’re still taking people after all?!

Xia Qian had barely exhaled a sigh of relief when her nerves tightened once more.

She stared at Han Jue’s face, as rigid and unyielding as iron, frantically wondering if the word ‘compromise’ even existed in this female general’s vocabulary.

Around them, the male courtesans held their breath, silently watching the standoff between the young master and the female general.

Some clutched at their robes, others bit their lips until they bled. Even their breathing was deliberately softened, fearing any disturbance to this negotiation that held their fates in its balance.

As if sensing the fervent gazes upon him, Yan Bai’s eyes swept over the crowd before settling back on Han Jue.

His expression was serene, his tone calm.

“General Han Jue, must these people be taken away today?”

General Han Jue remained impassive, her face as cold as an ancient, unmelting glacier.

“By order of my superiors, I am merely to carry out my duty. The required number must be met; I ask no other questions.”

The male courtesans, held captive by the soldiers, once again turned their gazes, all hoping Young Master Yan would speak further, perhaps to gain some room for maneuver.

However, Yan Bai merely let out a soft sigh.

“Since it is a military matter, Yan Bai naturally has no reason to obstruct the General.”

The male courtesans, who had harbored a sliver of hope, saw their smiles instantly freeze, and the light in their eyes swiftly extinguished.

They exchanged glances, as if they had just plummeted from heaven into hell.

Perhaps his answer was unexpected, for a flicker of imperceptible surprise crossed Han Jue’s brow.

But since the young master before her said nothing more, she nodded, her tone still icy.

“Young Master, you are understanding. Thank you for your cooperation.”

The female general’s cold gaze then swept over the group of men, like ants, before she waved her hand, issuing a command.

The obedient soldiers immediately stepped forward to drag away the wailing male courtesans.

The clang of armor rubbing together mixed with their piteous cries, a soundtrack befitting a living hell.

But just as Han Jue turned to leave, Yan Bai suddenly spoke.

“However—”

Everyone’s movements froze. The air in the tent solidified once more.

“According to General Han Jue, those who need to be taken are chosen by number, not by status—is that correct?”

Han Jue paused, her foot mid-step, and turned to look at Yan Bai.

“Young Master, what is your meaning?”

Yan Bai adjusted his sleeves, his words light and casual.

“The young branches of Willow Lane are clumsy; I fear they won’t be able to serve the esteemed personages in the army well. How about—”

He raised his eyes and smiled, his features as exquisite as a painting.

“Count Yan Bai as one of them.”

Han Jue’s body stiffened abruptly, her face so dark it looked as if water could drip from it.

“Young Master, the army has no jests.”

“General should know, Yan Bai never jokes either.”

Yan Bai remained unperturbed, still speaking calmly.

“General should know, if the army takes five people today, ten tomorrow, Willow Lane does not have an endless supply of senior branches to offer. If this continues, sooner or later, only Yan Bai will be left sitting alone in an empty building. It’s merely a matter of time, so going now makes no difference.

“It would be a good opportunity for Yan Bai to make this trip and pay his respects to the grand general guarding Liangqu.”

General Han Jue was momentarily speechless. Behind her back, her fingertips unconsciously stroked the handle of her whip.

Having known Yan Bai for many years, she understood all too well the proud spirit hidden beneath that gentle exterior.

In the past, as the royal hostage sent from the Liangtang Kingdom to Xihuan, he had faced the assembled officials in the imperial court with unwavering dignity, despite his own country’s weakness and poverty.

Even now, having fallen into this life of ‘wind and dust’, his arrogance remained utterly unbroken.

“…Young Master, are you insistent?”

She found herself asking through gritted teeth.

“I hope the General will grant my wish.”

Yan Bai’s expression was composed, as if he were merely attending an ordinary banquet.

Han Jue closed her eyes, then finally took a deep breath.

“Granted.”

Leaving Willow Lane, the male courtesans who had been taken were herded onto a cart like livestock.

Xia Qian was, of course, among them.

The cart was crude but surprisingly spacious.

Although nine of them sat together, it wasn’t crowded, yet they looked like quail about to be taken to the slaughterhouse.

As it rumbled through the streets of Liangqu City, the wooden wheels creaked ceaselessly over the packed dirt road.

More suited for hauling goods than people, the cart lacked any form of suspension, jolting and swaying. Sitting inside felt no different from being rice on a winnowing basket, shaking one’s bones almost to pieces.

Then again, given their current predicament, the men from the pleasure quarter were not much different from cargo.

Xia Qian sat in a corner of the cart, watching the streetscape outside through a gap in the wooden window.

This was her first proper glimpse of the city outside the pleasure quarter.

It was slightly different from what she had imagined.

The simple streets lacked the charm of antiquity. In the twilight, the red poplar branches swayed gently, and the air flowing along the dusty horse path held an indescribable desolation.

Due to the curfew, merchants were busy packing up and closing their stalls, and pedestrians hurried home. Aside from the patrolling guards clearing the streets, the watchman could be heard striking his wooden clapper, calling out for each household to light their fires and lamps carefully.

In the distance, the straight street led directly to the vast, yellow desert beyond, where the round, hazy setting sun was already half-hidden below the horizon, painting Liangqu City’s earthen walls a dark, scab-like crimson.

After a while, under the escort of the soldiers, the cart drove into Liangqu City’s garrison camp.

Tall wooden fences enclosed the camp, and on the central flagpole, the ‘Tiger贲營’ banner, black with gold characters, flapped fiercely in the wind.

In the distance, the shouts of military roll calls could be heard, and the air was thick with the smell of sweat and rust.

Once the cart stopped, the soldiers roughly herded Xia Qian and the other male courtesans off.

However, Xia Qian noticed that Yan Bai was escorted separately by Han Jue’s personal guards.

Yan Bai’s solitary figure, led away in the twilight, appeared particularly lonely.

“Everyone, settle down!”

Amidst the stern shouts of several female soldiers, Xia Qian followed the other men through one tent camp after another.

Perhaps it was rest time, for they happened upon guards—all female, as expected—dispersing and returning to their tents.

What was unsettling, however, were the gazes from the female soldiers as they passed through the camp. There was a distinct feeling of lambs being thrown into a wolf pack; it was hard to say if they wouldn’t pounce at any moment.

It wasn’t until they were led into a shabby tent in a corner of the camp that the pressing sensation of being preyed upon finally eased slightly.

“Stay in here, and wait quietly!”

The severe female soldier finished, giving a warning glare before lifting the tent flap and leaving all the men inside.

Is this… temporary quarters?

Just as Xia Qian settled down, her rear barely touching the ground, a desolate sob echoed softly from behind her.

She turned to look inside the tent. Besides herself, there were seven other male courtesans.

Each of them looked dispirited, as if they had already accepted their fate.

The youngest few kept wiping away their incessant tears, muttering as they cried.

“W-we’re going to die here…”

“…I’m scared, I’m afraid of pain… I don’t want to die… I still haven’t found my parents…”

“Don’t cry. Crying is useless. Poor, delicate little darlings are exactly what they like best.”

A slightly older man sighed, a hint of helplessness in his voice.

“If you have tears on your faces then, those female soldiers will probably be even more excited… Haven’t you heard about that boy who was taken a few days ago? It was because he cried and screamed so loudly that, after he arrived at the military camp, the line outside the camp gate stretched for nearly a mile.”