“You were giggling foolishly to yourself non-stop—everyone could hear it. Do I need to look to know?” Murong Liu said, swinging his fan to tap her again, “Walking down the street in just your inner garments, giggling like an idiot. Do you have some illness?”

Suzhen choked. You’re the one carrying a fan in winter, she glared, and indeed saw the whole world looking back at her. She immediately felt ashamed, only now realizing she had given away her outer robe. Murong Jiu made faces at her and burst into loud laughter.

Her eyes habitually glanced toward Li Zhaoting. Like the others, Li Zhaoting was looking at her, the corners of his mouth also lifting slightly, though there was no mirth in his eyes.

“Mochou, you dead girl, don’t you think about how many years I’ve raised you? Now you’re leaving like this—can you face me!”

A sharp, piercing cry reached her ears. Suzhen couldn’t help but be startled, but it successfully drew everyone’s attention away.

It turned out they were now walking past a place of romance and pleasure.

In front of the brightly lit brothel entrance, a middle-aged woman with scarlet eye makeup was staring coldly at a couple ahead.

The woman wore red clothing with a golden phoenix-carved hairpin, her eyes beautifully alluring yet carrying hints of ice and snow—truly eye-catching.

The man beside her was dressed as a scholar, handsome in appearance, though his clothing showed slight signs of washing and age.

The two held hands as the woman smiled resolutely, “Mochou is grateful to Mother, but since Mochou scattered a fortune tonight, she has no more connection with Guixiang House. This doesn’t waste Mother’s kindness over these years.”

“If you want to leave, I’ll let you, but only… after tonight passes.”

“From the moment Mochou decided on Master Xie, she said she would never receive clients again. Mother shouldn’t have accepted that deposit. Now, return it.”

“Return it? How can I return it? Do you know what kind of person he is? Even many of our high officials dare not offend him. Now even if I were willing to return double the silver, I couldn’t. Mochou, you’re the star courtesan of my house. He’s seen you and specifically requested you. Consider it Mother begging you.”

The woman had been speaking harshly, but now her tone softened.

“Mother, how can you say such things in front of my husband? Since I’ve followed him, how could I… serve another?”

“Husband? Mochou, the silver for your freedom was paid by yourself. What can this poor scholar give you? Did he take the imperial examinations? Did he pass and gain official rank? You must be blind to follow him! Besides, your body… does it really matter one night more or less?”

“Those who understand my heart call me sorrowful; those who don’t ask what I seek. If Mother wants Mochou to care for you in old age, Mochou will do so without question. For now, Mochou and Master Xie bid farewell.”

“You can leave, but you must pay another hundred taels. Consider that ten thousand taels compensation for all the training in beauty and arts the house gave you over the years. You nearly starved to death in the streets back then—who saved you? You still owe me a life. You are heartless, but I am righteous. In front of all my girls, my word counts. As long as you produce the money, I’ll let you and this poor scholar go!”

“Aren’t you forcing people too far? You know perfectly well that what I gave just now was everything I owned…”

“That’s because you were foolish to follow a man who can’t even produce a hundred taels! A pair of jade arms as a pillow for ten thousand men—do you think he’ll truly treat you well? In a few years, when you’re old and your beauty faded, will he still want you? Since you can’t produce the money, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

The old woman sneered coldly, crooking her finger. Several burly guards at the door rushed over like wolves and tigers, grabbing Mochou’s arms.

The delicate, tender Scholar Xie, who had been silently keeping his head down, now flashed a fierce, pained look in his eyes. He clenched his fist, but was immediately knocked to the ground.

At this point, the onlookers who had stopped to watch could clearly see what was happening.