Chapter 98: The Beauty Scroll

"It's just a bit expensive."

He Zixuan reminded.

Lu Fang took the Beauty Scroll, glanced at it, and nodded: "All three are quite good; the middle one even has the aura of Nie Xiaoqian. Don’t worry about the price—just find someone suitable. I’ll go meet them sometime."

At first, finding someone suitable won’t be easy.

Besides, from portraits alone, you can’t tell much—I still think I should see them in person.

He Zixuan nodded: "Tomorrow I’ll take you to meet them. All three are daughters of once-wealthy families who’ve fallen on hard times. One is about to become a courtesan, another is to be bought as a concubine—I happened upon them and stopped it."

The next day.

A two-story pavilion on the left bank of Nanyunhe.

Wang Huachu sat listlessly by the window, staring at the frozen river, her heart uneasy—even the maid reading her favorite "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" failed to reach her.

To be sold into servitude—how could one not feel heartbroken?

Knock knock knock!

A knock sounded at the door.

"Is Miss Wang inside?"

A sweet female voice rang out.

Wang Huachu answered, gestured for her maid Huan’er to open the door, then rose with a smile to greet her.

The door opened, and in stepped a young girl, about sixteen or seventeen, with a round face and lively eyes, giving off a mischievous charm.

Huan’er laughed: "Miss Tong, if our mistress were as cheerful as you, she’d be happy."

"You’re spoiled rotten—go pour tea for Miss Tong," Wang Huachu scolded Huan’er, then took Tong Wanyi’s hand: "It’s freezing out—don’t you feel cold in that thin dress?"

Tong Wanyi puckered her nose cutely and smiled: "I’m not cold—I just hate being cooped up alone."

"Cough cough cough!"

A cough came from the doorway.

A girl of eighteen or nineteen, with curled bangs, leaned against the door, cracking sunflower seeds:

"That’s right—we don’t even have a maid, not a soul to talk to, unlike you, Miss Wang, so wealthy!"

Wang Huachu smiled bitterly: "Miss Zhong, you’re teasing."

Zhong Xin stepped into the room, picked up the embroidery on the table, and shook her head: "Don’t say I’m harsh, but that fat man the other day? Clearly a playboy. Embroidery won’t win his heart."

"Those little eyes of his—I know exactly what he’s thinking. He wants to take us as concubines."

"I don’t mind, but it’s a pity for you, Miss Wang. I wonder how much the matchmaker took to break her promise—she swore you’d be sold to Hongxiu Dance House, then changed her mind."

Tong Wanyi shook her head: "Yesterday I asked Master He—he said he’s not taking us as concubines, but offering something better than becoming a courtesan."

"Pfft!" Zhong Xin pinched Tong Wanyi’s chin with a flirtatious smirk: "You believe men’s words?"

Tong Wanyi frowned, swatted her hand away: "So you know so much, Miss Zhong?"

Zhong Xin chuckled: "I haven’t eaten pork, but I’ve seen pigs run. Just wait—you’ll see. Yesterday the matchmaker said to dress up, that today we’d meet someone important. You’ll understand then."

"We don’t have any choice left."

"If we meet someone decent, maybe we can live decently. If we meet someone terrible, it’ll be awful."

"This is so annoying," Tong Wanyi stamped her foot. "I thought I’d become a courtesan—maybe even meet Lord Wenguan."

Zhong Xin had just lifted her teacup and sipped—she spat it straight into Tong Wanyi’s face. She winced and hurriedly wiped her: "Sorry, I couldn’t help it."

Tong Wanyi fumed: "Miss Zhong, you’re too cruel!"

Wang Huachu burst into giggles: "Sis, you’re the one being excessive. So many top courtesans day and night declare their love for Lord Wenguan—and still never get to see him."

Zhong Xin teased: "I’m not that bold. Just seeing Lord Wenguan once would make me smile—I’d never dare dream of being his concubine."

"I never said that!" Tong Wanyi’s face turned bright red.

Zhong Xin smiled: "You didn’t say it, but you thought it—what’s the difference?"

"I’ll get you for this—you keep teasing me!" Tong Wanyi lunged to tickle Zhong Xin.

"Stop! I’m ticklish… hahaha… don’t… okay, little sister, I’m sorry… hahaha…"

After a while, Zhong Xin straightened her disheveled dress and panted: "You little brat—I told you I’m ticklish!"

"Nyah nyah nyah!" Tong Wanyi stuck out her tongue.

Quick footsteps approached, and a matchmaker with a mole on her cheek came up:

"Oh my, my three little darlings—the noble guest has arrived. Hurry and fix your makeup, come down quickly, or you’ll make him angry."

Wang Huachu said: "Auntie, we’re ready."

Tong Wanyi wrinkled her nose: "I don’t need to fix my makeup—if he doesn’t like me, fine."

Zhong Xin smiled: "Auntie, don’t worry. Last time Master He looked at us—he’s got this all figured out. By the way, how old is this nobleman? Fat or thin?"

The matchmaker glared at her: "Full of freckles, looks rich—probably a merchant. Oh, now you’re picky? Do you even get to choose?"

Under the matchmaker’s urging, the three finally fixed their makeup and went down one after another.

"So many freckles."

Though Tong Wanyi was lively, she wasn’t reckless—she didn’t say it aloud, only thought it.

"Master He!"

Zhong Xin curtsied.

Wang Huachu followed with a bow.

She disliked being stared at like merchandise—she glanced at He Zixuan and the middle-aged man covered in freckles, then lowered her head.

The matchmaker pulled Zhong Xin aside:

"Gentlemen, what do you think? These three are rare beauties. Expensive, yes—but worth every tael. I even turned down the manager of Hongxiu Dance House for this."

"Look at their looks, their figures."

He Zixuan looked at Lu Fang: "Good?"

Lu Fang didn’t answer directly—he said: "Each of you, introduce yourselves in one sentence. Let me hear."

Tong Wanyi, standing behind, stamped her foot and pouted: "How am I supposed to introduce myself?"

Zhong Xin smiled: "Forgive us, Master—Miss Tong is young, not good with words."

Lu Fang raised his hand to stop her: "Enough. You two don’t need to speak. Last one."

Wang Huachu curtsied and gave a proper, measured self-introduction.

Lu Fang nodded in satisfaction: "Three different personalities—all representative. Good. Buy them. Purchase a house and let them settle in."

After speaking, he left directly.

The matchmaker turned to He Zixuan: "But… the price hasn’t been settled."

He Zixuan pulled out several silver notes and handed them to her: "As you said before. Done. I’m taking them. You two, pack up—I’ll take you to your new home."