Watching the Madam walk off, her steps unsteady, Feng Jiu’er really wanted to give Qiao Mu a hundred rounds of applause.

So it turned out that their own Qiao Qiao was the one who could charm both men and women alike.

“It’ll definitely work out. Please, wait just a moment.”

The Madam tossed off that line and, walking unsteadily, turned and left.

After she left, the three of them inside could still clearly sense people keeping watch outside.

“Come sit.”

Qiao Mu patted the spot beside her lazily.

Feng Jiu’er took small, mincing steps over.

“Don’t be upset anymore.”

Qiao Mu picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and held it out to her.

Feng Jiu’er looked up at the cup, then reached out with both hands to take it.

“Th—thank you, Elder Brother.”

Inside the room, the faint sound of tea being sipped could be heard, followed by the sound of the cup being set down on the table.

“Elder Brother.”

Feng Jiu’er looked up at Qiao Mu. “Do you think this ‘boss’ she spoke of is a good person?”

“If the boss really has taken a liking to me, will I really be able to live a good life from now on?”

“The owner of this brothel is the Town Lord — the City Lord’s elder brother.”

Qiao Mu explained, showing what could be called patience.

“I asked around earlier. The boss is quite wealthy and runs many businesses. If you become his concubine, you’ll never lack for riches and glory.”

“The silver’s already been accepted, and he’s agreed to give you seven days to adjust. Don’t cause me any trouble!”

Gong Xinyue gave a cold snort.

Inside the room, the sound of silver coins clinking together rang out again, as if whoever had spoken afterward was counting the money.

“Second Brother, I understand.”

The girl replied softly.

Outside, extremely faint footsteps sounded suddenly, someone leaving, followed by the last person departing as well.

Feng Jiu’er lightly tapped the table, signaling that it was now safe to speak.

Her internal energy was the strongest of the three of them — even she could barely sense anyone else’s presence. It could be said that there was no one left in front, behind, or to either side of this building.

Both Feng Jiu’er’s and Qiao Mu’s internal energy had been suppressed; even skilled masters couldn’t detect any trace of energy from Feng Jiu’er.

As for Qiao Mu, only those with somewhat greater martial skill could sense a faint trace of hers — others couldn’t detect it at all.

Gong Xinyue made no attempt to hide hers; anyone who’d practiced martial arts could tell she had some skill.

As far as the people here were concerned, only Gong Xinyue’s martial skill seemed notable. Of the other two, the “elder brother” could fight a little, while the “little sister” appeared to know nothing of martial arts at all.

“What do you plan to do now?”

Qiao Mu turned her head to look at Feng Jiu’er, asking in a low voice.

“Adapt as things come!”

Feng Jiu’er replied softly.

Her voice wasn’t loud, but both Qiao Mu and Gong Xinyue could hear it clearly.

Qiao Mu frowned. Had her intention from the very start also been simply to adapt as things came?

Was she not worried they might leave her behind on her own?

Feng Jiu’er read the meaning in Qiao Mu’s eyes and gently patted her hand.

“Don’t we have seven days now?

I think that boss will agree to it.”

“If he doesn’t agree, we leave.”

Gong Xinyue said in a deep voice.

“We won’t leave empty-handed.”

Feng Jiu’er spoke with full confidence. “Trust me — even if you can’t see me, I can protect myself just fine.”

“Even so, we still can’t let you face this alone.”

Qiao Mu glanced outward.

“Then shouldn’t I thank you?”

Feng Jiu’er gently patted Qiao Mu’s shoulder.

Qiao Mu frowned and withdrew her gaze, looking at her.

“Don’t joke with me. I’m being serious.”

“I’m being serious too.”

Feng Jiu’er’s lips curved slightly.

“Qiao Qiao is sacrificing so much for my sake — how could I possibly let myself get hurt?”

Gong Xinyue nodded and said, “Either way, for these seven days, we have to stay together.”

Feng Jiu’er coughed lightly, bent at the waist, lowered her head, and returned to her ostrich-like posture once more.

Qiao Mu and Gong Xinyue immediately understood from Feng Jiu’er’s cough that someone was approaching.

The two of them wiped the inappropriate expressions from their faces and straightened their backs.

In the blink of an eye, the Madam returned, followed once more by that woman in the goose-yellow dress.

“Elder Brother, Second Brother, good news, good news — my boss has agreed.”

“He said that for now he’ll treat your little sister as a younger sister, so he’ll have the chance to properly get to know her.”

“Now you can rest easy, can’t you?”

The Madam looked at the three of them, her smile growing even more delighted.

Soon, the room filled with the Madam’s laughter once more.

Upstairs, however, the situation seemed to have taken a turn for the worse.

“Get out!”

Suddenly, Mao Zhongcai smashed a wine jug against the table.

The “crash” was loud — loud enough that even downstairs, in the room where Feng Jiu’er and the others were, they could hear it.

Feng Jiu’er flinched in fright and instinctively grabbed hold of the hem of Qiao Mu’s clothes.

The Madam’s laughter abruptly cut off.

“Lit—little sister.”

She quickly recovered herself. “Why don’t you go up now and serve our boss his meal?”

“Elder Brother, Second Brother, you’re now part of our establishment too. These next few days, why don’t you two serve me instead for now?”

“Just stay by my side at all times and keep me safe.”

These two lines from the Madam were entirely sincere.

Among her bodyguards, there had never been such handsome men before, and as their boss, she certainly didn’t want to miss out.

Seeing Qiao Mu give no reaction, the Madam grew a little anxious and immediately explained, “Actually, this arrangement of mine is all for your sake.”

“I’ll be keeping watch over your little sister — if you two watch over me, won’t you also be able to see her at all times?”

“I know that these next few days, if you can’t see your little sister, you’ll worry, so that’s why I…”

“Fine!”

Qiao Mu was the first to stand.

Gong Xinyue also stood, gripping her longsword.

Feng Jiu’er stood up as well. She wanted very much to know what was going on upstairs.

She also wanted to know why Mao Linye had agreed so readily.

If things turned out as she suspected, this would get even more interesting.

“Sister, thank you.”

Feng Jiu’er looked at the Madam and said softly.

“No need, no need at all!”

The Madam waved her hands vigorously.

In truth, what she wanted to say was: you don’t need to call me “sister” — just call me sister-in-law instead. But the words wouldn’t come out when she looked at Qiao Mu.

After all, a woman ought to be somewhat reserved, so as to win a man’s favor.

On the third floor, in the giant private room, after smashing the cup, Mao Zhongcai gave a cold snort. “Get out!”

Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter — the four flowers — were startled and retreated at once, kneeling on the ground.

“City—City Lord, are we four sisters not attending to you properly somewhere?”

The “Four Golden Blossoms” were the establishment’s top attractions — not only did they have fine figures and lovely faces, but they also knew how to attend to men.

Like today, with all four of them serving a single man and still being found lacking — this was the first time such a thing had ever happened.

“Go on down.”

Mao Linye waved his hand.

“Yes.”

The four blossoms nodded in unison, stood, bowed and backed away several steps before turning to leave.

Mao Linye waved his hand again, and the other three men standing guard also left.

In the room, only the two of them remained — so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

—