Chapter 11 - Indenture Contract?
As they watched Lady Chen Shuang"s door in the east building close, the silent customers began breaking out into a flurry of discussion.
"Qin Manor? Qin Yun? That"s silver-badge constable, Lord Qin"s residence. I know that his second son, Qin Yun, had attained the state of being one with the sword and reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement at thirteen. He was a very talented young man. Now, it has been eight years and who would have expected that he is already one of the immortals." A fat landlord shook his head. "That casual shot from his finger is already that impressive. If he had conjured all sorts of Dharmic spells, hehe…"
"Look, the Liu family"s Liu Qi has already run away in fright."
"Young Master Qin had shown mercy because he is from Grand Dominance City. If it were any cultivator that wandered the world, void of any constraints, they might have exterminated him with a finger."
"Now, Lady Chen Shuang will enjoy a different treatment. With Young Master Qin backing her, who in Grand Dominance County will dare bully her?"
The customers continued their discussion.
Inside the room.
Lady Chen Shuang"s eyes were s.h.i.+mmering like crystal. "Brother Yun, thank you." She knew that Qin Yun had deliberately professed it publicly in order to shock and awe everyone. He wanted to make every customer know that the renowned courtesan, Lady Chen Shuang was protected by Qin Yun.
"It"s nothing. I was planning on making an example out of others anyway. Since that Fatty Liu came, I took the opportunity to establish my authority," said Qin Yun. "Besides, his mouth stank."
"The Liu family is one of the three largest family clans of Grand Dominance County. Will it bring you any trouble?" asked Lady Chen Shuang worriedly.
Qin Yun smiled and said, "Those with true strength in this world are either in the government where they control ma.s.sive amounts of power or they are cultivators. The rest is not worth mentioning!"
There were few in Grand Dominance County that could make Qin Yun feel any fear.
One of them would be the county governor. The county governor was in control of both military and political power. As a result of demons and monsters wreaking havoc, he had the authority to persecute any official under the seventh grade without permission from his superiors! As such, all the political powers of Grand Dominance County did not dare defy him. An order for him and his enemy would become the enemy of the entire government juggernaut.
The power wielded by the government was still enough to make cultivators apprehensive.
Even for powerful figures at the Congenital Golden Core realm, an order from the government as a retaliatory response would only leave them running like a fugitive.
Thankfully, the county governor"s term only lasted three years. Only two consecutive terms were allowed before they had to be transferred elsewhere.
"By the way, let me settle the indenture contract you have with Swallow Phoenix Brothel. Prepare to leave with me tonight," Qin Yun said directly.
Lady Chen Shuang was taken aback.
Auntie Xue, who was by the side, also looked at Qin Yun in shock.
"Indenture contract?" Lady Chen Shuang asked hesitantly.
"Why?" Qin Yun was puzzled.
"About the indenture contract, actually…" Lady Chen Shuang continued hesitantly, "there"s no such thing!"
Qin Yun was surprised. "Didn"t you sell yourself to Swallow Phoenix Brothel? Tian Bo even said that you sold yourself for twenty thousand taels. With such a huge sum of money, it"s impossible that Swallow Phoenix Brothel did not force you to sign an indenture contract."
Lady Chen Shuang smiled helplessly as she said, "Brother Yun, I entered Swallow Phoenix Brothel with an ordinary contract. You can ask Auntie Xue if you have any doubts."
Qin Yun turned to look at Auntie Xue.
Auntie Xue was part of the Xie family. She was Xie Lei and Xie Shuang"s aunt! As the siblings" mother died early and their father was bedridden, Auntie Xue was the one that took care of them.
"It"s only an ordinary contract and not an indenture contract." Auntie Xue nodded. "I would absolutely forbid Little Shuang from really selling herself as well."
"Then, why is their news that she had signed an indenture contract?" asked Qin Yun.
"Brother Yun." Lady Chen Shuang said, "Back when my brother was out doing the escort mission, he lost his life along with many people from the company. My Xie family had to go bankrupt to compensate the pitiful families that had lost their men. That is, of course, the truth! Later on, the mysterious customer that hired us for the armed escort learned of the great difficulties our Xie family encountered and did not ask for any compensation. Although I wanted to make the compensation on account of our Xie family"s reputation, the mysterious customer only took one tael of silver before leaving."
"The Xie family only had me, a sixteen-year-old girl left. My Xie family had been in the escort services industry for years and lived our lives on the edge of a blade. Indeed, we had quite a few debts of blood." Lady Chen Shuang continued, "Without anyone to rely on, our enemies would quickly hunt me down if I tried to maintain the Xie family business. I would probably have lost my life. Therefore, I entered Swallow Phoenix Brothel on my own accord."
"The contract was also an ordinary one. It was only communicated to others that I had sold myself to enter Swallow Phoenix Brothel." Lady Chen Shuang said, "It made my enemies know that the Swallow Phoenix Brothel had spent a great deal of money on me. If they were to harm me, it would be equivalent to being at odds with Swallow Phoenix Brothel!"
"Swallow Phoenix Brothel was also very willing to do so! By letting the outside world know that they had spent nearly twenty thousand taels of silver on me, it can also greatly enhance their reputation. It would allow Swallow Phoenix Brothel to earn more money." Lady Chen Shuang said, "As for the enemies of the Xie family, they were easily frightened back when my brother was around. As for the Swallow Phoenix Brothel, it thought nothing of them."
Qin Yun nodded.
Swallow Phoenix Brothel was the most famous brothel in Grand Dominance County. Silver would flow in like water on a daily basis. It was where government officials and the rich gathered. It was a force to be reckoned by itself. Furthermore, for a brothel to be run to its present state, it definitely had a powerful backer!
"Don"t lie to me. An indenture contract isn"t something minor," said Qin Yun.
"Why would I lie to you? You can ask the east building"s manager if you don"t believe me," said Lady Chen Shuang. "She knows about the matter."
"Let me ask." Qin Yun didn"t mind the trouble as he went out.
He opened the door and standing not far from the entrance was the female attendant and manager. Qin Yun immediately asked, "You must be the manager, right? I have something to ask you."
The female manager immediately responded, "Young Master Qin, how may I help you?"
"Had Little Shuang not sold herself to Swallow Phoenix Brothel and that she only has an ordinary contract?" asked Qin Yun.
The female manager hesitated for a moment.
"You are a manager, do not lie to me." Qin Yun glanced at her. For some unknown reason, she could not help but feel a sense of trepidation. She did not dare lie and instead said politely, "Second Young Master, it"s only an ordinary contract. We only made it known publicly that it was about twenty thousand taels of silver but it was empty talk. As such, Lady Chen Shuang can stay in the east building the moment she entered Swallow Phoenix Brothel."
Qin Yun nodded.
Being able to live in the east building made her join the accolades of being a renowned courtesan.
By saying that they had spent nearly twenty thousand taels of silver on her, it also elevated her status. If not, how could a rookie become a renowned courtesan immediately? Of course, Lady Chen Shuang herself had excellent factors in her favor. Her fingers were not sullied by household ch.o.r.es and she was well-educated. Her lute and sword dancing was also impressive. She had exceptional looks and with all of these factors, it was possible to lavish and sing praises of her.
If not, it was also impossible for them to elevate mud any higher.
"If not, how long will it take for a rookie to slowly rise up?" The female manager immediately gave an obsequious smile.
"Alright, you may leave," instructed Qin Yun.
"Yes."
The female manager quickly left.
Only then did Qin Yun return to the room.
"There"s actually no indenture contract." Qin Yun had also not expected it. He said with a smile, "Rumors in the outside world really cannot be treated as the truth."
"Brother Yun." Lady Chen Shuang held Qin Yun"s arm and gently rocked it. She said, "I really had no other options back then."
"Since you didn"t sign an indenture contract and I"m back, you can ignore your enemies. Leave with me. You can stay in Qin Manor. It"s even easier to end an ordinary contract," said Qin Yun.
Lady Chen Shuang hesitated.
"Why?" Qin Yun was puzzled.
Lady Chen Shuang looked at Qin Yun and said, "Brother Qin, although you want me to return with you and I know you are doing it for my own good, will I have to live my days out in Qin Manor?"
"You can leave this place and find someone you like in the future. You can marry and have a family," said Qin Yun.
"Marry?"
Lady Chen Shuang shook her head. "I have already become a courtesan. It"s something that cannot be ignored the rest of my life so how am I to marry anyone?"
Qin Yun was taken aback.
"You mention marrying someone but who? If you are talking about rich family clans, it"s impossible that I will be married in as a wife. At most, I"ll be a concubine! I"d rather remained unmarried my entire life than be a concubine of someone." Lady Chen Shuang"s eyes were filled with determination under her sword-like brows.
Qin Yun nodded slightly. Yes, the position of a concubine was just a little higher than a maidservant. With Little Shuang"s pride, how could she be willing to be a concubine?
As for being the princ.i.p.al wife? True wealthy family clans would never take in a renowned courtesan as a princ.i.p.al wife.
"The ones that are willing to take me in as a wife are probably those from families of little significance." Lady Chen Shuang shook her head. "I have been in Swallow Phoenix Brothel for more than two years. The number of people courting me is uncountable. It"s fine when I"m in Swallow Phoenix Brothel but if I were to be married to an insignificant family, I will only bring disaster on them."
"Ever since I became a courtesan, I was destined never to marry." Lady Chen Shuang shook her head. "As for leaving, am I to live alone in that huge manor? Brother Yun, do you want me to lead such a life?"
Qin Yun was deep in thought.
"As for Swallow Phoenix Brothel, I have my sisters to accompany me. I can learn dancing, musical instruments, sword techniques, and be courted by countless guests," said Lady Chen Shuang. "In my opinion, I"ll be happier leading such a life."
"Since I have entered a brothel, I will never wash clean my taintedness." Lady Chen Shuang smiled faintly. "I might as well lead a happier life. Furthermore, my contract with Swallow Phoenix Brothel is only an ordinary one. I can leave by paying them a small amount of money. I have already saved up three thousand taels of silver over the past two or more years with them. I can leave at any time!"
"I can stay or leave. As such, I will be freer. Furthermore, I"m already accustomed to it. I have a rich and colorful life here."
Lady Chen Shuang looked at Qin Yun and said, "Brother Yun, can you understand my thoughts?"
Qin Yun sighed inwardly.
The young girl from his memories had grown up! Previously, he was afraid that she would be mentally affected after losing her loved ones and entering a brothel. Since she was happy, it was good.
"I"m quite enjoying the days of being a renowned courtesan." Lady Chen Shuang smiled at Qin Yun. "Why, Brother Yun, do you look down on renowned courtesans? Do you find it shameful that you have a renowned courtesan as a younger sister?"
"Haha, humans in this world lead a life like the fleeting snow. Life is short, to begin with. Living a happy life is what matters!" Qin Yun nodded. "Little Shuang, if you like this lifestyle of yours, then there"s no need to bother about how others view you. Remember, regardless of when it is, you still have an elder brother watching your back. If you have any grievances or trouble, tell me. Don"t hold it in yourself."
Qin Yun was a cultivator. He had seen too much life and death so he naturally did not care how the secular world thought of him.