[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou":3,"chapter-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-98":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Ink Saint of Great Zhou",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2292061,4481,"Chapter 98: The Beauty Scroll","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-98",98,"\u003Cp>\"It's just a bit expensive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Zixuan reminded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, finding someone suitable won’t be easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, from portraits alone, you can’t tell much—I still think I should see them in person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A two-story pavilion on the left bank of Nanyunhe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be sold into servitude—how could one not feel heartbroken?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knock knock knock!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A knock sounded at the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is Miss Wang inside?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sweet female voice rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Huachu answered, gestured for her maid Huan’er to open the door, then rose with a smile to greet her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huan’er laughed: \"Miss Tong, if our mistress were as cheerful as you, she’d be happy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Wanyi puckered her nose cutely and smiled: \"I’m not cold—I just hate being cooped up alone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cough cough cough!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cough came from the doorway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A girl of eighteen or nineteen, with curled bangs, leaned against the door, cracking sunflower seeds:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s right—we don’t even have a maid, not a soul to talk to, unlike you, Miss Wang, so wealthy!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Huachu smiled bitterly: \"Miss Zhong, you’re teasing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Those little eyes of his—I know exactly what he’s thinking. He wants to take us as concubines.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pfft!\" Zhong Xin pinched Tong Wanyi’s chin with a flirtatious smirk: \"You believe men’s words?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Wanyi frowned, swatted her hand away: \"So you know so much, Miss Zhong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We don’t have any choice left.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we meet someone decent, maybe we can live decently. If we meet someone terrible, it’ll be awful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is so annoying,\" Tong Wanyi stamped her foot. \"I thought I’d become a courtesan—maybe even meet Lord Wenguan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Wanyi fumed: \"Miss Zhong, you’re too cruel!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I never said that!\" Tong Wanyi’s face turned bright red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Xin smiled: \"You didn’t say it, but you thought it—what’s the difference?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll get you for this—you keep teasing me!\" Tong Wanyi lunged to tickle Zhong Xin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop! I’m ticklish… hahaha… don’t… okay, little sister, I’m sorry… hahaha…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, Zhong Xin straightened her disheveled dress and panted: \"You little brat—I told you I’m ticklish!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nyah nyah nyah!\" Tong Wanyi stuck out her tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quick footsteps approached, and a matchmaker with a mole on her cheek came up:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Huachu said: \"Auntie, we’re ready.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Wanyi wrinkled her nose: \"I don’t need to fix my makeup—if he doesn’t like me, fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The matchmaker glared at her: \"Full of freckles, looks rich—probably a merchant. Oh, now you’re picky? Do you even get to choose?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the matchmaker’s urging, the three finally fixed their makeup and went down one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So many freckles.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Tong Wanyi was lively, she wasn’t reckless—she didn’t say it aloud, only thought it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master He!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Xin curtsied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Huachu followed with a bow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She disliked being stared at like merchandise—she glanced at He Zixuan and the middle-aged man covered in freckles, then lowered her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The matchmaker pulled Zhong Xin aside:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look at their looks, their figures.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Zixuan looked at Lu Fang: \"Good?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang didn’t answer directly—he said: \"Each of you, introduce yourselves in one sentence. Let me hear.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Wanyi, standing behind, stamped her foot and pouted: \"How am I supposed to introduce myself?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Xin smiled: \"Forgive us, Master—Miss Tong is young, not good with words.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang raised his hand to stop her: \"Enough. You two don’t need to speak. Last one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Huachu curtsied and gave a proper, measured self-introduction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang nodded in satisfaction: \"Three different personalities—all representative. Good. Buy them. Purchase a house and let them settle in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, he left directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The matchmaker turned to He Zixuan: \"But… the price hasn’t been settled.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1082,"2026-06-20T03:56:21.568Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","82c85f370bd84e9c9db52cc7754682bd8e24410e7daf664aeb3e7309cfca4f43","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-99","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-97",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]