Qiao Mu’s forehead was covered in exasperated lines, but she paid the madam no mind.

“Where are we to meet the town chief?”

Qiao Mu took a step, arriving beside Feng Jiu’er, and took hold of her small hand.

“And, when will the thousand taels be paid?”

“No rush! No rush!” The madam looked at Qiao Mu, her face brimming with tender, doting smiles.

“As long as the town chief nods his approval, this thousand taels won’t be short by a single coin.”

“By the way, shall we head over first? I’ve already prepared the private room upstairs—the town chief and the city lord should have arrived by now.”

No sooner had the madam finished speaking than a servant boy came rushing over.

“Madam, the town chief and the city lord have arrived. The two of them are about to come upstairs.”

“Let’s go, let’s go.” The madam went to take Qiao Mu’s hand, but was stopped short by a single glance from her, not daring to approach further.

“Let’s go.” She smiled and waved a hand, prompting them again.

The goose-yellow-robed woman stood off to the side, watching Gong Xinyue and waiting quietly.

Gong Xinyue went over to retrieve her longsword, then came to Feng Jiu’er’s other side, and the group walked outside together.

From start to finish, she never looked again at that woman who’d been eyeing her so predatorily.

The three of them were shown up to the third floor, into a very large private room.

Men and women moved in and out of the room, busy serving dishes.

Before the madam could say anything, a stir arose from behind them.

Everyone turned to look at the entrance to the room.

“Boss, you’ve arrived.” The madam stepped forward with a graceful, swaying gait to welcome him.

Here, everyone addressed Mao Linye as “Boss”—no one would openly call him by his title as town chief.

“And this is…?” The madam looked at the man beside Mao Linye, her peach-blossom eyes brightening even further.

“Is this the city lord? City Lord, you’ve come as well.”

“Wonderful, the city lord is so wise and valiant—with the city lord’s arrival, our establishment is truly graced with glory…”

The madam’s flattery toward Mao Zhongcai went on endlessly. Feng Jiu’er, Qiao Mu, and Gong Xinyue didn’t know what others thought, but they themselves were on the verge of retching.

Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu had never crossed paths with Mao Zhongcai, but Mao Zhongcai had indeed met Gong Xinyue before.

Back then, if not for that meeting between the two of them, and Mao Zhongcai taking a liking to her, Gong Xinyue’s father wouldn’t have died.

Earlier, the three of them had discussed whether Mao Zhongcai would recognize Gong Xinyue if he saw her again.

After thinking it over, they’d concluded that Mao Zhongcai had taken a liking to countless women in his lifetime—one more or less wouldn’t matter.

Besides, Gong Xinyue’s skin was now so dark and sallow, and dressed as a man on top of that, Mao Zhongcai shouldn’t be able to recognize her.

Gong Xinyue looked at the man who’d killed her father, and her breathing instantly turned heavy.

Qiao Mu coughed lightly, and only then did she come back to herself, reining in her fury.

“City Lord, Boss, come, come, please, take the seats of honor!” Having finished flattering Mao Zhongcai, the madam led the two men to their seats.

“Quick! Serve them well. And, have Chunhua, Xiahua, Qiuhua, and Donghua come over, quick!”

Mao Zhongcai and Mao Linye took their seats, and both men’s gazes turned toward Feng Jiu’er.

Feng Jiu’er kept her head lowered the whole time, the very picture of a frightened little white rabbit.

“Boss.” The madam knew that this girl, no matter who saw her, would surely be loved.

She glanced at Feng Jiu’er, then went to Mao Linye’s side with a smile, lowering her head to whisper a few words in his ear.

“No matter, let her lift her head so I can see her,” Mao Linye said, the corner of his mouth curving slightly.

Unlike Mao Zhongcai, Mao Linye had preserved himself very well—though he was said to be Mao Zhongcai’s elder brother, he looked much younger.

He was taller than Mao Zhongcai by half a head; if Mao Zhongcai could be described as squat and portly, Mao Linye was tall and lean, with the bearing of a scholar.

Feng Jiu’er took a deep breath, her head lifting slightly, only to drop back down again immediately.

“Ahem…” Gong Xinyue gave a heavy, low cough to express her displeasure.

Feng Jiu’er startled, immediately lifting her head, even tilting it up slightly.

Her face was pale, her large, dark eyes blinking, and with some effort she finally fixed her gaze on Mao Linye.

Feng Jiu’er’s timid, cautious demeanor was pitiable enough to stir tenderness in anyone.

Qiao Mu and Gong Xinyue both couldn’t help but marvel inwardly—their Jiu’er really was capable of anything.

Acting this flawlessly—incredible!

Such a pitiful little beauty—even they, women themselves, felt an involuntary surge of tenderness looking at her, let alone any man.

Sure enough, the moment Feng Jiu’er lifted her head, the atmosphere in the private room shifted entirely.

Mao Linye’s expression barely changed, but the light in his eyes deepened all at once.

Mao Zhongcai’s reaction, compared to his elder brother’s, was worlds apart.

He stared intently at Feng Jiu’er for a moment, his face lighting up with delight, his gaze roaming up and down her figure.

That gaze, so gloomy and dark, was enough to send chills down one’s spine.

Feng Jiu’er, Qiao Mu, and Gong Xinyue showed no excess expression on their faces either, though inside, their hearts churned like stormy seas.

It wasn’t that they were afraid—they simply found it disgusting, especially Mao Zhongcai; one look at him was enough to turn anyone’s stomach.

Being ugly was one thing, but with an expression like that on top of it—how was anyone supposed to bear it?

“Boss, what do you think?” the madam asked, her smile blooming like a flower.

Whether or not the boss was interested, the city lord certainly was.

Many people knew that the city lord had been fighting long, drawn-out battles.

At a time when he was exhausted in body and spirit, if someone could offer him a woman to his liking, the city lord would happily spend a fortune without hesitation.

As a mere brothel woman who never concerned herself with politics, with eyes only for money, the madam didn’t think too much of it.

Besides, the news available in this small town rarely matched the actual state of affairs outside—why would they waste time worrying about that?

“Not bad!” Mao Linye raised an eyebrow, withdrawing his gaze.

“Then…” The madam looked at Feng Jiu’er, then at Mao Linye, her eyes flickering.

“Buy her.” Mao Linye lowered his head, picked up his teacup, then raised his eyes again, casting an appreciative glance at Feng Jiu’er.

He quickly shifted his gaze, looking over at Qiao Mu and Gong Xinyue beside Feng Jiu’er.

“The rest of you may leave!”

“Yes, Boss, I know what to do.” The madam nodded vigorously.

She looked at Qiao Mu, lowering her voice. “Elder Brother, you understand my boss’s meaning now, don’t you?”

“Please, this way!” She waved a hand. “I’ll go prepare the silver for you right now.”

“Fine!” Gong Xinyue tossed out a single cold word and started walking toward the exit.

Qiao Mu looked at Mao Linye, took a deep breath—she seemed to feel an urge to turn back, but in the end held herself in check, striding forward on her long legs.

“Elder Brother.” Feng Jiu’er, looking timid and frightened, rushed forward and grabbed hold of Qiao Mu’s hand.

She gripped Qiao Mu’s arm tightly, her knuckles turning white.

“Elder Brother, take me away with you. I’m willing to work like an ox or horse, to make up for my mother’s wrongdoing.”

“Don’t leave me here alone, Elder Brother, I’m scared, don’t leave me here alone.”