The coachman and maidservants following behind her suddenly stepped forward, gripping her on either side. Before she could react, they were escorting her onto the flower boat ahead.
As she cried out in alarm, several burly men descended from the flower boat to assist. Soon, she was dragged inside.
"What do you want?" Even the original host, despite her naivety, sensed something was amiss. She hadn't yet grasped their intentions, her eyes filled with terror.
Alas, no one in the room answered her question. Everyone was accustomed to such scenes and unfazed.
The madam appraised her from head to toe, a look of satisfaction gradually appearing on her face. She slowly extended her hand. The maidservant, understanding immediately, produced the host's deed of sale from her embrace.
Watching them complete the transaction right before her eyes, selling her for a good price, the original host's heart turned to ice. She finally understood that this was a trap they had specifically set for her, their sole intention being to sell her off.
She suspected this was no ordinary place. She suddenly recalled childhood stories of women living year-round on flower boats, drifting on the lake with their madam. Her heart leaped, her face turning pale. Could it be what she imagined?
Sometimes, what you fear most comes to pass. Fate did not favor her. After being taken to the flower boat, she was indeed despondent for a time. But after her despair, she rallied again, thinking that dying was easy – a jump from the boat would be a fish's meal. However, living well was difficult. Since heaven had not favored her, she would strive to live a brilliant life and earn everyone's respect.
To the madam's surprise, she discovered that for the first time, a girl sold to the flower boat neither cried nor made a fuss but actively learned various skills. Although the madam didn't know why she had come to her senses, it was a good thing for her. With her looks and innate talents, she was bound to become famous throughout Lan City.
Liu Baishi, if he intended to sell his daughter, would not sell her in Yang City, allowing his own daughter to fall into disrepute, which would be a laughingstock. He had occasionally heard friends mention that a flower boat from Lan City had arrived in Yang City. Because the madam had important matters to attend to, she was also doing business, and would soon return. Whether there would be another chance to visit Yang City was uncertain. He wanted to accompany his friend to broaden his horizons and see the difference between girls from Lan City and their own.
He was intrigued. He followed his friend to visit the flower boat and then quietly pulled the madam aside. They chatted and laughed, settling the matter. He then made an excuse to leave.
Two years later, the original host, now renamed Furong, was presented. She immediately attracted everyone's attention. When her veil was removed and she spoke eloquently, the crowd was captivated by her literary talent. However, she insisted on performing her art but not selling her body. Even so, there were those who would spend a fortune just to spend time with her.
In just three years, Furong had saved a considerable sum of silver. Of course, she dared not let the madam know about this money, much of which was given to her privately by guests. She had no intention of spending her life in such a place, but she didn't know how she would support herself if she left. Moreover, a beautiful young woman traveling alone was bound to attract unwanted attention. It was possible that the next place she was sold to would be even worse than this one. Fearing this, she didn't act rashly, always waiting for an opportunity.
One evening, with no guests to attend to, she took her personal maidservant out for some fresh air. As they left the back door of the brothel, they saw a man lying unconscious on the ground. Judging by his attire, she knew he was a scholar on his way to the capital for the imperial examinations. She instructed the male servants in the brothel's backyard to carry him inside and summoned a doctor. The doctor said he had fainted from exhaustion and severe hunger due to his long journey. As soon as he woke, the servants brought him porridge.
A melodramatic story unfolded. The young scholar fell in love with her. Under his persistent pursuit, the original host agreed to consider it. In the end, she gave him two hundred taels of silver to fund his journey to the capital for the examinations.
The following year, news arrived that he had passed the imperial examinations and was appointed an official. The original host felt both anxious and somewhat excited. Anxious, because she didn't know if he would keep his promise to marry her. Excited, because his efforts had finally yielded results.
Amidst her fervent anticipation, it took a full three months for him to visit her. It turned out that as soon as he passed the imperial examinations, he had returned to his hometown to visit his parents. After all, given the family's poverty for so many years, it was thanks to his family's farming and embroidery that he could afford to study. Seeing that Furong had come to thank him, he said that without the two hundred taels she had given him, he wouldn't have even had the travel expenses to reach the capital.
However, when the matter of their marriage was brought up, he lowered his head. Although she had been mentally prepared for this, it was impossible not to feel hurt and disappointed when her fears came true. Yet, she didn't blame him; in her lifetime, her status was not worthy of him.
"Wait for me, will you? You know, my heart belongs to you. The reason I agreed to the marriage in the capital was that I realized that as a poor farmer's son, even if I passed the imperial examinations, without money for connections and without a patron to rely on, I wouldn't get a position. I might even have to wait in the capital for years. You know, I didn't even have the money for the travel expenses to the capital. How could I afford to wait?
I privately agreed to marry you, but when my future father-in-law asked me, I vehemently denied it. I truly had no other choice. Wait for me for a few years, and I'll work hard to climb the official ladder. When my future wife and future father-in-law can no longer control me, I will take you as a concubine."
He had once naively believed that as long as two people were in love, they could overcome all obstacles. However, an incident in the capital made him tremble with fear.
He vividly remembered seeing a man in official robes walking down the street that day. The crowd cast disdainful glances at him, and even his classmates said he was out of his mind, utterly foolish.
At that time, he had just arrived in the capital and knew nothing about its affairs but was very curious. After all, he planned to be an official in the future, and it was better to understand things and take fewer detours. He immediately asked the person beside him what had happened.
He learned that the man, from a scholarly family, had married a woman from a brothel. Not only had he been disowned by his family, but his official rank had also been demoted by three levels. Walking down the street, he was scorned by everyone. He usually avoided people whenever possible. His face suddenly turned pale.
"Do you think he's out of his mind? A woman from a brothel! That's a woman from a brothel. She must have slept with countless men. He has already been cuckolded, yet he unhesitatingly married her. Doesn't he know that even if you take a concubine, you wouldn't take a woman from a brothel, let alone marry one? Being ostracized by everyone is what he deserves..."
The other person said more, but the man didn't listen carefully. His mind buzzed, and his vision went blank. He and that man were so alike. However, he had reason. Since witnessing this event, he had secretly sworn that although he was devoted to Li Shiyun, he did not want to end up in such a predicament.
He came from a scholarly family and had money from birth, allowing him to survive. He, on the other hand, was from the countryside, and the hopes of many rested on him. He couldn't imagine how heartbroken and disappointed his parents would be if he married a woman from a brothel. He didn't know if they could withstand the gossip.