The woman waved her hand, “Chen Daren wrote a letter. How could Lord Lei still charge redemption fees? Wouldn’t that mean he no longer wants to be an official?”
Yu Yi naturally understood this, but she couldn’t accept such a favor silently. She took out a small piece of silver to thank the woman and asked her to convey her gratitude to Chen Daren, promising to personally thank him later.
After the woman left, Yu Yi rented an additional room next to her original one, took Yu Xin and Yu Yue upstairs, and helped them bathe and eat. She then went out to find her mother, Yu Song-shi, hoping they could reunite as a family that very night.
The Song-surnamed merchant who had employed Yu Song-shi was quite reluctant to let her go. However, the merchant didn’t make things difficult for them. After learning they would still be in the capital, he proposed hiring Yu Song-shi as a female tutor to continue teaching his daughters.
Yu Yi, not wanting her mother to work too hard, was about to politely decline when Yu Song-shi agreed first, saying she would come once every other day, for half a day each time.
Leaving the family, Yu Yi walked arm-in-arm with her mother down the street, advising, “Mother, I now have some silver, which can help you and my sisters live comfortably. You don’t need to rush about earning money anymore. Why not find an excuse to resign? We’ll stay in the inn for now, and once we find an empty house to buy, we can move in. The sisters still need your care.”
Yu Song-shi was shocked, “Buy a house? Hui’er, how much silver do you have?”
“Several hundred taels,” Yu Yi said vaguely.
“Several hundred taels? How is that possible?”
“Yes, all from customer tips.”
Yu Song-shi looked suspicious, “You earned this much in half a year at the Jiaofa House? How could anyone give so much money just to hear you play the qin and sing?”
Yu Yi saw her mother suspecting the source of the money and hurriedly explained: “Truly, I swear to heaven that these silver coins are all earned by me, obtained completely legitimately, without the slightest bit of crooked means.”
From her heart, Yu Yi did not want to hide from her mother what she was doing, but Bo Shi had instructed her that she must not disclose to anyone that she could traverse various time and space realms, not even to her closest relatives.
Yu Song knew her daughter’s temperament and believed her when she swore, but thinking about how these silver coins were earned by selling her art in the courtesan house, she still had to carefully please them and make them happy to receive tips. Yu Song couldn’t help but feel heartache, and said with tears in her eyes: “Yi’er, these silver coins were not easily earned. Don’t spend them all, save some. If you meet someone who treats you well, these can be your dowry, giving you confidence when you go to your husband’s home.”
Yu Yi blushed and said: “Mother, why talk about marriage?”
Yu Song said: “You are seventeen this year and cannot delay any longer. If it weren’t for the family’s troubles… alas…”
In her heart, Yu Yi thought that having been in the courtesan house, even though she had redeemed herself, who would believe she was still pure? What man would be willing to marry her? From the day she entered the courtesan house, she had actually never thought about marriage. Moreover, she had seen many instances of mutual betrayal and distrust between couples, which truly gave her no beautiful expectations of marriage.
But to avoid making her mother sad, Yu Yi did not voice her inner thoughts, and just smiled: “Now, my only desire is to live with you and my sisters. First, to honor you, and second, to take care of my sisters.”
So I won’t marry, or I’ll bring a son-in-law home for you.”
Yu Song shook her head and smiled softly: “What nonsense. Can the Yu family still bring in a son-in-law?”
She actually understood Yu Yi’s real concerns. After walking a few steps, she suddenly remembered something: “Yi’er, does that rich merchant know you have redeemed yourself?”
“Huh?” Yu Yi was stunned by her mother’s question. Which rich merchant?
“Didn’t you say yesterday that a rich merchant often comes to listen to you play the qin and sing, and always gives you a lot of silver?” Yu Song looked at Yu Yi reproachfully.
Yu Yi suddenly remembered that when explaining the source of her money yesterday, she had casually mentioned a rich merchant. She quickly shook her head: “I have not told him. He should not know.”
Yu Song seemed a bit regretful: “If he goes to the courtesan house, he will find out. What a pity…”
Yu Yi said: “What’s there to be pitiful about!”
“What does he look like? What is his character? What business does he run?”
Yu Yi was greatly troubled by her mother’s inquiries about the “rich merchant”. When asked about his business, she suddenly thought of Bo Shi, but she had never seen Bo Shi’s appearance. How could she fabricate his looks out of thin air? To make her mother give up asking about “that merchant”, she said: “He already has a wife.”
“
Unexpectedly, Yu Song said: “Although you have kept yourself pure, having been in the courtesan house, it’s not easy to marry a man of suitable background who will treat you well. If that merchant truly dotes on you, even being a concubine would be good.”
Yu Yi quickly said: “That merchant is very old. He truly only comes to listen to me play the qin.”
Yu Song sighed and finally stopped asking.
Two sisters walked to the table. Yu Yi poured a glass of water and handed it to Yu Xin, but noticed she wasn’t drinking. Sensing Yu Xin had something to say, she lit the lamp, sat down next to her, and asked, “Xin’er, do you have something to tell your sister?”
Yu Xin held the cup for a while before whispering, “Yi Jie, your teaching house… is it… is it…”
Yu Yi, guessing what she wanted to ask, said, “No. My teaching house is about playing the qin and singing to earn silver.”
“Then… will those guests touch you… or kiss you… do you have to take off all your clothes?” Yu Xin’s face turned deep red, her head hanging down to her chest.
Yu Yi also felt embarrassed and denied, “None of that.”
In fact, most guests at the teaching house came in groups, and they were relatively restrained while drinking and listening to music in the hall. “
However, as a pleasure house, there were times when guests, drunk and excited, would forcefully encourage the courtesans to drink and take liberties. During such instances, Yu Yi would make excuses about breaking out in a rash when drinking, and if a guest persisted, she would claim illness and leave, preferring to lose a night’s earnings rather than submit.
Even so, Yu Yi had experienced forced embraces and unwanted advances. She learned to dress and make herself up to look as unattractive as possible. Because of this, Madam Wang often gave her a hard time and reduced her share of earnings.
Yu Yi asked curiously, “Xin’er, why are you asking about these things? You…”
Yu Xin suddenly began to cry softly.
Yu Yi’s heart sank. She grabbed Yu Xin and asked, “Did someone treat you this way in the Lei household?”
Yu Xin didn’t answer, only crying. Yu Yi, feeling heartbroken, held her tightly. After Yu Xin calmed down slightly, Yu Yi asked, “Xin’er, was it Master Lei?”
Yu Xin nodded.
“Tell me exactly what he did to you.”
Yu Xin began to recount the events haltingly.
Since most personal maids in wealthy households were either dowry servants or born in the household, Yu Xin and Yu Yue worked as miscellaneous helpers in the Lei household. About half a month ago, while delivering washed clothes to Concubine Liu, Yu Xin was unexpectedly noticed by Lei Yuanhe.
Yu Xin was already beautiful, purchased by the Lei household at thirteen and now fourteen. Her slender body was developing delicate curves.
