Little Widower, Beauty’s House
“Now that you don’t even have your life, what else do you have!”
The woman revealed a twisted smile, snatching the sword from the man beside her and pointing it at her chest, already flowing with blood.
Blood rained down, flames soaring.
She awoke from her dream, drenched in cold sweat, her hand pressed against her chest, pain piercing her heart.
She remembered the man’s hopeful words, “Mu Xi, if there is a next life, will you still let me stay by your side?”
Heartache, even colder.
A painful groan sounded beside her, then fell silent again.
Jin Yu glanced sideways; the man’s weak, pale face had a few strands of hair and lay motionless.
Last night, he had indulged excessively again. Every month, there was a night when she had to have intercourse with him to release the intense surges within her body. This had been the routine since she came back to life.
Jin Yu picked up scattered clothes and dressed casually, leaving some silver coins on the bedside.
Opening the door, Jin Yu saw a frail figure crouching in the courtyard, wrapped in a thin garment, with swollen red eyes staring at the doorway.
As soon as he saw Jin Yu, the thin body trembled and ran into the room.
Soon, suppressed sobbing came from inside.
Jin Yu paid no attention.
Early morning, the flower street and willow alleys were empty.
Jin Yu brushed her skirt and headed towards Smoke Flower Intoxication. The autumn wind carried a chill and swept up withered leaves, making passersby wrap themselves tightly.
Upon entering Smoke Flower Intoxication, several women cleaning the room greeted her, “Owner.”
Jin Yu nodded and instructed, “Finish cleaning and then rest. The weather is getting colder; take care of yourselves.”
“Thank you for your concern, Owner,” they replied.
Jin Yu acknowledged them and was about to go upstairs when a voice called from behind, “Owner, please wait.”
She turned to see a woman in coarse cloth, looking honest and holding cleaning tools.
Jin Yu frowned, “Is there something?”
The woman spoke nervously, “Owner, can I advance this month’s wages? My husband is pregnant.”
Jin Yu looked at her and said, “Okay, go to the accounting room.”
Ning Zhi slightly tidied Jin Yu’s clothes and said, “I’ve lived for over twenty years and still can’t understand you. You ignore the beautiful courtesans and the favors of the young gentlemen from Shili Town, and you have a neglected husband at home.”
You look down on everyone, yet you keep running to the little widower at the beauty house. I can’t believe he has bewitched you, making you neglect the husband you worked so hard to marry, who was cast aside right after the wedding.”
Ning Zhi sighed and continued, “A husband is not as good as a concubine, and a concubine is not as good as a lover. That little widower is quite pitiful. The Chen family originally wanted to marry him for good luck, but instead, they ended up ruining his life. He was nearly beaten to death right after getting married and then cast out with a sickly body. At a young age, he had to care for his brother, who was also expelled by their parents. They ended up in the red-light district, forced into a life they never chose. If it weren’t for you, who knows what would have happened to them. Living in a place like the beauty house makes it difficult for them to find a future.”
Jin Yu paid no attention to Ning Zhi’s words, instead gazing at a corner of the second floor, where a door was tightly closed.
Noticing this, Ning Zhi fell silent, also looking at the shut door. “Shen Bi was entertaining clients last night and is covered in injuries,” she remarked.
He’ll probably be bedridden for several days.”
Ning Zhi sighed inwardly, noting Jin Yu’s unchanged expression. “His health is deteriorating day by day. I don’t know how much longer he can hold on. If only the owner could help Shen Bi, he wouldn’t have to suffer so much. Although Shen Bi did almost unforgivable things in the past, he has endured enough in these past two years.”
“Did you burn the desire-inducing grass in the incense burner last night?” Jin Yu asked, a complex emotion flashing in her calm eyes.
Ning Zhi’s eyes dimmed slightly. “As you instructed, I burned the desire-inducing grass in the incense burner as usual.”
Jin Yu could tell Ning Zhi was hopeful she would assist Su Shen Bi. She lowered her eyes, melancholic, before raising them again toward the closed door in the corner of the second floor.
At that moment, the door opened, and a fat woman emerged.
Seeing Jin Yu, she smiled broadly, her small eyes squinting mischievously. “I’ve seen Boss Jin early today. I must be lucky. Boss Jin, could you reduce the interest of the gambling house? Business hasn’t been good lately.”
Jin Yu’s deep black eyes remained inscrutable but grew cold.
Ning Zhi, seeing Jin Yu silent, laughed and said, “Boss Qian, my master never discusses business at Smoky Intoxication. Please refrain from mentioning gambling matters today.”
Boss Qian’s face stiffened briefly before she smiled, “Last night’s companion was delightful. That Su family’s wench was indeed tasty. My money was well spent.”
Ning Zhi’s eyes shifted to Jin Yu, who remained a cold observer. He simply responded, “As long as Boss Qian enjoyed herself. We hope you’ll visit Smoky Intoxication often.”
“Of course,” Boss Qian waved her fan, her small eyes fixed on Ning Zhi, “The beauties here are more delicate than elsewhere, even Ning Zhi remains so charming.”
Though over twenty, Ning Zhi’s beauty remained unchanged.
“Doesn’t the boss already know? In Ten Li Town, who doesn’t know that Smoke and Flowers is the famous brothel? Ke He, that honest man, would not have come here if not for life’s hardships.”
Jin Yu looked through the bed curtains at the slender figure, “I know this. Tell me something I don’t know.”
Ning Zhi’s tone turned serious, “About ten days ago, Ke He brought a pregnant man to Ten Li Town, couldn’t find any work, and finally came to Smoke and Flowers.”
I felt sorry for her, especially with her pregnant partner, so I kept her. She can always do some work here. If the boss complains, deduct it from my monthly pay. Please let her stay.
Jinyu listened, furrowing her brow. An honest man unable to find work in Ten Li Town, bringing a pregnant partner to work in this famous brothel?
In the simple room, Su Xi placed silver coins into a wooden box, locked it, and put it away.
Xiao Lian, with swollen red eyes, choked, “Brother.”
Su Xi wiped away his tears, “Xiao Lian, don’t be like this. She gave more silver coins this time. We can save some for your dowry and buy household items.”
“She’s a bad woman,” Xiao Lian grumbled about Jinyu, a complaint he had repeated that morning.
Su Xi’s face showed anger as he held Xiao Lian’s hand, “Don’t say that. Thanks to her, we’ve survived these past two years. We can’t repay her, but at least we shouldn’t resent her.”
“But she makes your body suffer such serious injuries,” he said indignantly.
“This is my choice. She saved us and cared for us. Without her, I don’t know how many would have touched me. Now, only she has, and I’m lucky. I’m grateful to her. Don’t blame her.”
Xiao Lian lowered his head, hugging Su Xi. “I understand. But you’ve given her your innocence; your body belongs only to her. Why can’t she marry you?”
Su Xi, still feeling bodily pain, smiled bitterly, “As long as you can marry into a good family, I’ll be satisfied.”
“I only want to be with you. I don’t want to marry,” Xiao Lian lay in Su Xi’s arms.
Su Xi patted Xiao Lian’s back, sighing, “You must marry into a good family. You must be happy!”
