An Unexpected Patron

Madam Li’s plump figure quivered abruptly.

She was clearly taken aback by the unexpected arrival.

Releasing Xia Qian’s wrist, she spun around clumsily.

She had intended to voice her displeasure.

However, upon a closer look at the newcomer, the rolls of flesh on her face twitched twice, forcing her to swallow the curses brewing on her tongue.

Instead, she plastered on a stiff, insincere smile.

“My dear young lady,” she began, “even when indulging in courtesans, there’s a proper order to things, wouldn’t you agree?”

The woman in black offered a faint smile.

Her emerald eyes, deep as ancient pools, held no hint of mirth.

She approached with unhurried steps, her dark velvet cloak swaying gently, as if stirring an unseen tide.

The wolf-hair collar, woven with meticulous care, shimmered with a subdued luster under the candlelight.

Her long, soft silver hair, like a waterfall descending from the celestial river, was elegantly secured by a simple white jade hairpin.

Like an elegant alpha wolf surveying its territory, her gaze briefly paused on Xia Qian before turning to Madam Li.

Her tone was calm.

“Madam Li jests,” she said.

“Just the other day, Daddy Liu mentioned this matter, promising that once the new arrival was here, he would be sent to me first, for my pleasure.”

Madam Li’s face instantly darkened.

Her plump fingers tightened around the grapes in her hand, the juice dripping onto the carpet between her knuckles.

Naturally, she was unwilling to yield so easily.

Why would she allow someone else to snatch a duck already at her beak? Everyone was here for the same purpose; there was no need for anyone to defer.

Yet, the jade-patterned waist token half-hidden, yet undeniably present, at the other woman’s waist, spoke volumes.

Even the most obtuse person would recognize it as a sign of formidable influence.

Even Madam Li, accustomed to her own domineering ways, dared not act rashly for a moment.

Just as the atmosphere grew tense, Daddy Liu hurried over, calling out from half a corridor away:

“Oh my, oh my, Boss Jiang has graced us with her presence! What an unexpected delight!”

“Heh, Daddy Liu, do you mean to imply that I shouldn’t be here?”

The woman nodded calmly, accustomed to such reactions, and paid it little mind.

Upon hearing the other party’s name, Madam Li couldn’t help but tremble once more.

I’d long heard of a merchant named Jiang from the northern frontier, a person of vast connections and influence, involved in everything from civilian trade, escort services, and rare minerals, to even dealings with the Northern Frontier Army’s supplies and imperial merchants’ tributes. Could it be…

Madam Li frowned and stared intently, secretly scrutinizing the woman before her for a long moment.

At the same time, she silently thanked her stars for not having chosen to stubbornly force the issue, a lingering sense of having narrowly escaped danger washing over her.

“No, no, not at all!”

Daddy Liu’s face was wreathed in smiles, as he gently fanned himself with a round fan.

“Boss Jiang honoring our humble brothel is a blessing our little ones will benefit from for lifetimes!”

“I merely never imagined that the illustrious Boss Jiang Buwei would possess such refined taste as to personally visit the brothel to listen to ballads. With your esteemed status, a mere summons would have the entertainment sent directly to your mansion, wouldn’t that be far more comfortable?”

“Daddy Liu jests.”

Jiang Buwei replied, “Occasionally frequenting these pleasure quarters, becoming a transient guest of the mortal world, holds a unique charm. However—”

Jiang Buwei paused, her eyes conveying her unspoken meaning, as the jade thumb ring on her finger glowed faintly with each turn.

Without needing to be told explicitly, Daddy Liu naturally understood the situation before them.

His face immediately contorted into an apologetic, fawning smile.

“Oh, tut-tut-tut, noble ladies, I am truly sorry, so very sorry! It’s my poor memory! Boss Jiang did indeed give advance notice a few days ago; it was my momentary confusion, I misremembered!”

Madam Li, of course, was far from convinced by Daddy Liu’s explanation.

Yet, constrained by the other party’s identity and the power behind her, she knew it was futile to fight against a stronger force.

She glanced at Jiang Buwei again, then at Xia Qian, a flicker of greed and unwillingness in her eyes.

Ultimately, she conceded, waving her plump fingers, taking the easy way out.

“Fine, fine, since Boss Jiang has a prior arrangement, I won’t spoil her enjoyment. However, old man Liu, mark my words: next time there’s a new arrival, don’t make me wait too long!”

Daddy Liu nodded repeatedly, fawning, “Yes, yes, Madam Li, rest assured, next time I’ll definitely reserve them for you first!”

Only then did Madam Li let out a satisfied huff, turning her ample figure to waddle away down the corridor.

I escaped… by luck?

Just as Xia Qian let out a breath of relief, Madam Li unexpectedly glanced back, nearly startling yesterday’s breakfast out of her.

Before she could fully recover, a round fan landed with a sharp pat on the back of her head, causing Xia Qian to involuntarily duck her neck.

“Tsk-tsk-tsk, why are you still standing there? Hurry and greet Boss Jiang!”

After scolding Xia Qian, Daddy Liu quickly turned back to apologize to Jiang Buwei, muttering about ‘the newcomer not knowing the rules’ and such.

Jiang Buwei, of course, recognized these as the well-worn pleasantries of the male madam and paid them no mind.

Her gaze settled solely on Xia Qian, a hint of scrutiny in her eyes.

She then gently waved her hand, signaling the noisy Daddy Liu to withdraw.

Turning her back slightly, she left a soft instruction.

“Follow me.”

Xia Qian paused in a daze for a moment, then followed Jiang Buwei’s footsteps.

The two entered her private room, one after the other.

The room’s decor was understated yet luxurious.

Dark curtains draped gracefully, and tendrils of fragrant smoke rose from a sandalwood incense burner, filling the air with a cool, clean scent.

Xia Qian stared at the bronze taotie paperweight on the curio shelf, feeling as if its beastly eyes were following her.

The door hinge creaked softly as Jiang Buwei unfastened her cloak and casually tossed it.

She instinctively caught it.

Goodness, this wolf-hair cloak was heavier than her dorm’s down comforter; she truly wondered how the woman wore it as if it weighed nothing.

“Daddy Liu certainly spares no expense.”

Jiang Buwei settled into her seat, and without the cloak covering her, her proud, elegant curves emerged distinctly.

Beneath her pale moonlight-colored ruqun, a hint of white silk was visible, so soft and thin that it was hard to tell if it was silk or the natural color of her skin.

Xia Qian stood in the center of the room, clutching the cloak, feeling a little awkward.

What is this lady talking about? Is she another riddler?

“Um… thank you, esteemed Boss Jiang, for your help?”

“If you wish to thank someone, thank your brothel’s old daddy.”

Jiang Buwei picked up a gilded wine pot, sending an amber stream arching through the air.

“I merely acted upon his request, going with the flow.”

Xia Qian was not so obtuse as to misunderstand her words.

Her heart stirred, and she immediately grasped the situation.

It seemed this seemingly sudden appearance of a prominent merchant was, in fact, Daddy Liu’s specially arranged rescue.

Recalling the words of the young man in the bathhouse, the current situation, though unexpected, was certainly within the realm of reason.

However, she also realized something else—when Jiang Buwei said ‘going with the flow,’ it likely meant she had her own agenda.

Hmm… although she looks much better than a ‘tank,’ one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. The richer and more powerful people are, the more elaborate their tastes. Who knows what strange fetishes she might have privately?

Xia Qian couldn’t help but feel a secret sense of caution, though she maintained a respectful demeanor on the surface.

Unfortunately, this slight disguise was nothing but a clumsy pretense in the eyes of a seasoned merchant who had dealt with countless people.

However, Jiang Buwei did not expose her, a barely perceptible smile gracing the corner of her lips, her gaze lingering on Xia Qian for a moment longer.

She harbored a certain degree of interest in the man before her.

After all, the male madam of Willow Lane was notoriously shrewd, never incurring a loss, and would never easily owe a favor unless absolutely necessary.

Since that notoriously stingy “iron rooster” was willing to break tradition and ask for help, it implied that this newcomer possessed at least some unique qualities.