I never knew it was so troublesome to find a rental house for students….stressed for almost a week but thankfully I’m done with it. This story may looks boring at first because it’s mostly world-building at the moment and also due to my English, I may need to change the way I translate.
[Previous] [Table of Content] [Next]
Chapter 3 – The Rare Commodity Worth Hoarding
When the physician applied the medicine, Jiang Xiao Lou was in such pain that her body twitched acutely and gasped for breath.
The physician’s heart quivered. Just as he about to turn about to wash the medical cloth, a bloody hand unexpectedly caught his wrist. He was so surprised he jumped a little, “You……you……what do you want?”
Jiang Xiao Lou quietly stared at him. Her long, black hair fell down from her shoulders and her face due to excessive blood loss was so pale it looked bloodless. She softly asked, “The one who sent me here, who is he?”
The physician went silent for a moment. It was when that hand grabbing his wrist trembled further that he hastily answered, “I don’t know too. They only left some money before leaving! Don’t move about, you need to nurse your wounds!” While talking, he said to himself, “With this heavy injuries and yet still live, really a miracle.”
Jiang Xiao Lou didn’t say anything. She had the strength to climb down because she couldn’t die, she needed to keep on living.
Unconsciously she gulped with her slightly dry throat. The physician pondered before applying medicine on Jiang Xiao Lou carefully.
When the medicine came in contact with the wounds, the sharp pain made her gasped strongly. That pair of eyes instantly turned watery, the tears wanting to come down yet can’t.
This was a human natural reaction. It was really not Jiang Xiao Lou’s intention. The old physician had lived for seventy years but he had never see a person’s eyes could be this mesmerising. His heart thumped by reflex. The remaining words stayed inside the throat. He quickly turned his eyes away from her. After applying the medicine, the physician immediately said, “You should rest in here. That person who saved you said he will come visit again in a few days.”
Jiang Xiao Lou wanted to nod her head but the excruciating pain all over her body stopped her. She could only blinked her eyes. The physician then pulled the stupefied boy servant into the inner room.
Jiang Xiao Lou lightly closed her eyes. Since Heavens told her not to die, she would surely find ways to live meaningfully; those people didn’t treat her as a human so she would be the human above others!
Jiang Xiao Lou was heavily injured. For ten days, no medicines were given since she had high fever nonstop. However, against the far worse situation, she remained calm. Not even a complaint was voiced out, making people felt how vastly different she was from others.
Probably due to her tenacious strength to live that not even Yama could handle, on the eleventh day her fever finally retreated.
Physician Wang had years of experience but he never seen a tenacious patient like Jiang Xiao Lou. After her fever subsided, she started to talk. Two days later, she already could rise up from the bed. On the fifth days, she could walk around. Although her whole body was full of pinch marks, burn scars and wounds from beatings that it didn’t seem to have any normal area, she was very relaxed as if she didn’t know pain at all.
This……can she still be considered a human? Physician Wang quietly watched Jiang Xiao Lou’s movements and shook his head.
Jiang Xiao Lou was waiting, waiting for her saviour to appear.
Those who harmed her, she wanted to take revenge. Those who saved her, she wanted to repay the gratitude.
Unfortunately she waited for a month. Jiang Xiao Lou didn’t get to see Xie Lian Cheng, instead she was visited by the old madam of the Divine Fragrance House, Jin Yu[1].
Divine Fragrance House was the highest quality of brothel in the Great Zhou, the one and only. Jin Yu was the main culprit who forced Jiang Xiao Lou to serve, also the person who ordered the extreme beating. By logic, when meeting enemy one would surely have their eyes turned red but Jin Yu cried when she saw Jiang Xiao Lou, “My good little sister, how did you get injured this bad?!”
Patients entered and left the Hall of Spring Return every day. The more the people, the more the talking. It was very easy that the news the clinic had accommodated a heavily injured beauty spread around, what more when the Divine Fragrance House was a top tier money-squandering den. To find out Jiang Xiao Lou’s location was as easy as turning a palm. Hence Jin Yu immediately came over. Although she was nearing thirty, she looked beautiful. Adding the amorous air she carried and bewitching smile, she naturally had a lot of information resources.
Physician Wang uneasily looked at Jiang Xiao Lou. His mouth moved as if he was about to say something but when he saw the beaming smile on Jin Yu’s face, in the end he held himself. Divine Fragrance House was not a common place. Jin Yu might have countless officials and nobles at her back. Who would dare to disobey Jin Yu?
Jiang Xiao Lou stared at Jin Yu, without a word. That pale white face had not an ounce of expression.
Jin Yu didn’t think much about it. Instead, she asked the physician with a smile, “Has she recovers from the illness?”
The physician coughed, “At first she was badly injured. Excessive blood loss, her heart, lungs, spleen, kidney, everywhere were riddled with injuries. It was a sure death with no cure but thankfully she’s strong. She tenaciously endured it. As long as she take good care of her health from now on, she will not be in mortal danger.”
Jin Yu didn’t care about all these. She only wanted to know whether Jiang Xiao Lou in front of her would die or not. As for whether there would be permanent illness it was not important. She seductively grinned, “Since it’s like that, I’ll bring back Xiao Lou today.”
The physician was shocked, “This……I’m afraid this is not proper. Also, I received a person’s request to take care of her. If you take her away just like that, how am I supposed to explain to them?!”
Jin Yu’s peach blossom lips parted ways, “Physician Wang, Jiang Xiao Lou is a member of our Divine Fragrance House. Her contract has yet to end, no matter what she can’t remain in here.”
The physician was about to say something when he suddenly heard a light voice, “Physician Wang, many thanks for saving me. I should return now.”
These words were spoken by Jiang Xiao Lou. Even Jin Yu looked at her in surprise. When she had just entered the brothel, Jiang Xiao Lou was very stubborn. Not matter soft or hard persuasions, she would never yield. Jin Yu could just let someone force her but sadly this lass was still a virgin. If she really forced her, she would become worthless. It was due to this that she abused her nonstop. However, she was too unyielding. No matter how she was beaten she wouldn’t agree. Under a moment of anger, she ordered people to beat her to death and throw her into the common graveyard. She didn’t expect her to be still alive.
To say Jiang Xiao Lou was still a virgin, no one believed it. However, it was the truth. Qin Si treated her as an object for profiteering, Marquis Zi Yi didn’t spare her a glance and Pei Xuan was on guard against her at all times. Up until now, she was still of complete body and hence Jin Yu planned to use this to raise her status.
Jiang Xiao Lou was very clear that every girls in the Divine Fragrance House had a record. Their slavery documents were in Jin Yu’s hands. It was nothing if the girl died. If the girl was still alive, she shouldn’t think of escaping the brothel for her lifetime.
Jin Yu’s eyes spun around. Mixed in her coquettish air was three parts astonishment, as if she was surprised an unyielding person could suddenly change, becoming so understanding. She even thought she had to get rough but she didn’t expect Jiang Xiao Lou would instantly agree. Could it be that after a person return from death they became smarter?
Jiang Xiao Lou smiled slightly, her eyes as graceful as ever, “Sister Jin Yu, let’s go.”
The physician watching Jiang Xiao Lou leaving with Jin Yu was clearly anxious. He rushed outside yet saw Xiao Lou turned around and on her pale face was a solemn look, “Physician, if you have a chance please pass my message to that young master. It is hard to forget the life-saving gratitude. Jiang Xiao Lou will make a grass knot in order to repay the kindness[2] and insist on doing so.”
She a mere weak girl who couldn’t even protect herself actually wished to repay the gratitude? Physician Wang looked at her with mixed feelings. He didn’t know what to say. He watched how Jiang Xiao Lou rode the carriage without hesitation, how the curtain fell down and the horse carriage quickly disappeared.
Inside the carriage, Jin Yu was resting against a brilliant as brocade back cushion. Inside her smile was three parts inquiring, “Xiao Lou, do you really understand?”
“Sister Jin Yu, don’t worry. I already died once. How can I still not understand?” Jiang Xiao Lou only smiled lightly and calmly.
Jin Yu suspiciously glanced at her. Jiang Xiao Lou however pushed the curtain aside to look outside the window.
Looking from the window, throughout the journey there were only teahouses and wine shops as well as shops and stores. They were tightly close to each other. Mixed in the air was tea fragrance, wine smell and the smell of rouges and cosmetic powders. Jiang Xiao Lou understood. That amazingly flourish and richness in the Great Zhou was getting closer and closer to her……
Taking everything into her eyes, she lowered her eyelashes, covering the thoughts in her eyes: Jin Yu, oh Jin Yu. It’s fine if you had beaten me to death. To not beat the snake to death, how can you live happily? Since Jiang Xiao Lou had sworn to take revenge, the first one to sharpen my blade will be you. So this Divine Fragrance House……even if you didn’t find me, I will return anyway.
Author’s notes:
Everyone said this work is too heavy. Nonsense, this is really just a little freshie! Who can be more fresh than me?!
[1] Literally, golden jade….
[2] A Chinese idiom. Means to pay the debt of gratitude.
[Previous] [Table of Content] [Next]
Geniusly Plain 
I’m guessing, taking the title into account, her goal is to take over the brothel…. o.o Interesting, altho I am wondering how she will go about doing that… Thanks for the chapter!
LikeLike