Shen Yuan looked up at herself in the mirror. Her lips were red and her teeth were white. Her eyes were full of affection. Two peony buds were pinned in her hair. She looked pure, beautiful and delicate.

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly. Mama Hua really knows what kind of women men like.

She pulled her thin gauze dress tighter around herself. Although there was a charcoal fire burning inside, it wasn't too cold, but the clothes her mother-in-law had given her exposed her neck and shoulders, which made Shen Yuan very uncomfortable. She kept subconsciously tugging at the collar.

Mama Hua slapped Shen Yuan's hand, "Don't touch it! I went to great lengths to dress you up like this. With your jade-like neck and fragrant shoulders exposed, I guarantee those men will be itching to get their way!"

As she spoke, Hua's mother pulled Shen Yuan's collar down a little more.

Shen Yuan pursed her lips. She had only been at Zuichunlou for a day and was already being arranged to serve customers. This madam was really obsessed with making money. Wasn't she worried that she had other intentions?

Thinking of this, Shen Yuan shrank back, feigning unease. "Mom, I only want to perform, not sell myself. You promised me, Mom, don't lie to me!"

"Don't worry, don't worry, you're just going to have a drink with Young Master Li tonight. He likes to listen to music, so just play a few pieces for him!"

Mama Hua perfunctorily straightened Shen Yuan's clothes, thinking to herself that this girl was also a fool.

Once you enter this Drunken Spring Pavilion, how could you find a girl who only sells her art and not her body? It's just that the customers aren't offering high enough prices!

If someone could afford a fortune, even the most beautiful courtesan in the brothel would be willing to give her a medicinal soup and send her to bed.

This girl bumped into her at the market yesterday, heard that she had a way to make money, and foolishly followed her here.

She had only taken her into the building and had someone cook her a bowl of braised pork noodles, and she burst into tears, thanking her profusely.

She cried and said, "Mom, you are such a good person. Before, I was always hungry and cold. What I ate was either half a burnt sesame seed cake that others gave me or some bitter and astringent vegetable leaves."

"Before coming to Zuichunlou, Peony was starving for three whole days, and almost fainted from hunger. It was only because I bumped into you, Mother Flower, that I was able to have meat to eat! Mother Flower is truly Peony's great benefactor!"

When she heard that, she almost burst out laughing.

"Peony will listen to Mother Flower and will definitely play the zither well tonight so as not to spoil Young Master Li's fun!"

Shen Yuan's voice pulled Hua's mother out of her thoughts. She looked down at Shen Yuan, a satisfied smile appearing on her lips.

If all the girls she kidnapped were as silly as this girl, she wouldn't need to bother training them, beating and scolding them; they could just start taking customers right away.

"You're so well-behaved and obedient, Young Master Li will definitely like you. Drink this bowl of tea and then go!"

Mama Hua picked up the teacup from the maid's hand and handed it to Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan did not hesitate, took the teacup and drank it all in one gulp.

Madam Hua smiled with satisfaction. From the first time she met Shen Yuan yesterday, she knew that this girl was silly and simple-minded. Sure enough, her judgment was always accurate.

This girl didn't even notice that the tea had been spiked.

Without even asking, he drank it straight away.

Madam Hua chuckled inwardly. She didn't believe in the loyalty of the girls in the building; only after they drank this bowl of tea would she be able to trust them.

“I’ll take you to see Young Master Li!” Madam Hua turned around and gestured for Shen Yuan to follow.

Shen Yuan put down her teacup, her gaze sweeping over the inside of the bowl. She lifted her long, trailing skirt, took light, graceful steps, and carefully followed Mama Hua.

Mother Hua held a silk fan in her hand, and as she walked, her hips swayed with the rhythm of the fan, twisting and turning with a myriad of charms.

The two quickly arrived at Mr. Li's private room.

Madam Hua pushed open the door, her face beaming with smiles. "I'm so sorry to have kept Young Master Li waiting!"

Shen Yuan followed Mama Hua into the house. Mama Hua first approached Young Master Li and tossed a handkerchief in a flattering manner, then introduced Shen Yuan to Young Master Li.

"This is a new girl in the building, named Shaoyao. She is sixteen years old and skilled at playing the pipa. Tonight, she will serve you, young master!"

As she spoke, Madam Hua turned to Shen Yuan and said, "Hurry up and greet Young Master Li!"

Shen Yuan, holding her pipa, gave a perfunctory bow and said in a soft, high-pitched voice, "This humble servant, Shaoyao, greets Young Master Li!"

Young Master Li stroked his chin and silently sized up Shen Yuan, his gaze lingering on her shoulders and chest. Shen Yuan felt a wave of nausea, but she endured it.

After a long while, Young Master Li winked at Mama Hua, "New stock?"

"Newer than a flower that hasn't even opened its bud yet!"

Upon hearing this, a hint of satisfaction appeared in Young Master Li's eyes. He waved his hand, signaling that Mama Hua could leave.

Madam Hua wisely withdrew, closing the door behind her. She instructed the maid outside not to disturb Young Master Li's enjoyment, no matter what commotion occurred inside, unless he called for her.

The maid nodded in agreement.

After Mama Hua left, only Shen Yuan and Young Master Li remained in the room.

Shen Yuan, holding her pipa, walked to the window and opened it. A cold wind instantly rushed into the room, carrying snowflakes with it. Young Master Li frowned, somewhat displeased.

Shen Yuan sat down by the window and said softly, "The snow scene outside is very beautiful. I didn't want you to miss the beautiful scenery, so I opened the window."

As she spoke, snowflakes fell into Shen Yuan's hair, her long black strands swaying in the wind. The already beautiful woman appeared even more pure and ethereal, like a fairy who had fallen to earth.

Young Master Li approached Shen Yuan, reached out and grabbed a strand of her hair, held it to his nose and smelled it. A unique fragrance lingered around his nose, even more intoxicating than the scent of cosmetics.

Young Master Li chuckled, “Snowflakes are falling outside the window, and a beautiful woman is playing the zither inside—how wonderful! How wonderful!”

A middle-aged man in his thirties, his hair slicked back with oil, his head shiny and greasy, approached Shen Yuan, making her stomach churn.

Shen Yuan couldn't help but raise her hand and gently push the man in front of her. "Young master, please sit down first. Let me play a piece for you on the zither."

"Okay! Okay!"

Young Master Li smiled and sat down in front of Shen Yuan.

Although he couldn't wait to pin the person in front of him down, he felt that always going straight to the point was too boring. If the girl wanted to play the piano, he would let her play; it was just a little trick to add some fun.

Young Master Li, holding a wine cup, leaned over the table in front of Shen Yuan, staring at her with blatant disregard.

Shen Yuan's lips curled slightly, a faint smile appearing on her face. She raised her hand and touched the strings of the zither, saying, "This humble servant will play a piece called 'High Mountains and Flowing Water' for you, my lord."

As she finished speaking, her slender fingers plucked the strings.

"Boom——"

The strings, which should have been playing beautiful and moving music, suddenly produced several piercing sounds from friction.

This caused Young Master Li in front of Shen Yuan to burst into laughter: "Hahaha, Miss Peony, your zither music is truly unique. Others play like pearls falling onto a jade plate, but you play like stones being fried in an iron pot."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan lowered her head in embarrassment.

Seeing her blushing cheeks, Young Master Li felt an irresistible urge and couldn't help but reach out his hand—