When the young master of the Xie family went to guard the northern border, some well-behaved noble families in the royal city thought they would have to cower in their shells again. However, the Xie family, which was surrounded like an iron barrel, suddenly announced that the old lord had awakened.

Many powerful families who were on good terms with the Xie family, and who, though not subservient, had never dared to offend the Xie family, breathed a sigh of relief.

With two members of the Xie family, one suppressing the central capital of Xiliang and the other supporting the invasions of foreign countries in the north and south, at least these peaceful days can continue.

These families, who frequent the central circles of the major clans in Xiliang, may appear to be detached from worldly affairs and uninvolved in conflicts, but in reality, they always stay on the front lines of information.

Otherwise, how could they remain uninvolved between the Xie family, who ruled Xiliang, and the Qin family, which was increasingly showing its strength?

Inside the dance studio, Yanran was applying makeup in front of the mirror, carefully drawing her eyebrows and applying bright red rouge to her lips.

Bright and beautiful eyes, gentle and charming.

The madam looked at her top courtesan with some worry, clutching a handkerchief tightly in her hand, the once smooth handkerchief now twisted and crumpled.

After a long silence, the madam spoke up, "Yanran, you don't actually have to go to this banquet today. If you don't want to go, I'll find a way to get you off."

Yanran looked at herself in the bronze mirror on the dressing table, and after confirming that her makeup was perfect, she began to choose jewelry to match her dress.

She lowered her eyes and rummaged through the makeup box. "The Qin family is hosting a grand banquet, inviting all the noble families in the Western Liang capital. With such a grand occasion, all those young masters and ladies from those noble families are going. If I, a mere dancer, don't go, do you think Wu Xiu Fang can continue to operate safely?"

“That’s what they say,” the madam said anxiously, but she lowered her voice, “The old Marquis of the Xie family has already woken up, and the whole of Xiliang knows about it. What do you mean by the Qin family suddenly holding such a grand banquet at this time?”

Yanran picked out a pair of jade earrings, which a young master had bought for her from a merchant in the Central Plains at a high price.

Today's dance dress is a light blue long dress, covered with a thin layer of tulle. As the dancer moves to the music, the tulle billows and dances, creating a very graceful effect.

The madam continued to analyze the situation of today's banquet with Yanran. Even though these women of the night had fallen into prostitution, they still dealt with the young masters of the Xiliang high-ranking officials every day, and they had plenty of inside information.

"I had already heard from the young masters of other aristocratic families that the Qin family had done a lot of shady deals behind the scenes, and that they were even said to be colluding with the Southern Barbarians."

The madam couldn't resist stepping forward and pressing down on Yanran's hand, which was adorned with an earring. She said earnestly, "Yanran, although I always urge you to come out and dance, this time is different. Who knows what will happen at the banquet? How will you, a dancer, protect yourself?"

“Don’t be fooled by how much those young masters dote on you and make all those vows of eternal love,” the madam tugged at the exquisite earrings hanging from her ears. “But look, has anyone actually redeemed you? Because of that, if anything unexpected happens at the banquet, they’ll either run away or, if they’re really heartless, use you as a scapegoat.”

Yanran's ears ached from being pulled, but she knew that these were among the few words the madam had genuinely spoken for her sake over the years.

She pulled the madam's hand away. "It's not as serious as you say. I heard that the Xie family was also invited to this banquet. If the Xie family sends someone, they won't just let it go unchecked."

The madam, exasperated, poked Yanran's forehead. "Do you think the Xie family are philanthropists? Huh? Just because you have the Xie family's heir in your heart, you think the entire Xie family are good people? What kind of good people can someone who can be a lord of our Xiliang be!"

Yanran pushed the madam away, got up and put on her dance dress. "It's too late to say whether you're willing or not now. From the beginning, people of our status have no choice."

She knew all too well that the Qin family's grand gesture meant that tonight's banquet was destined to be extraordinary, and that she was merely a decorative element needed by those with their own ulterior motives.

No one cares whether this ornament lives or dies; this ornament has no choice.

The madam gazed at Yanran's ever-calm expression, her powdered face revealing a hint of sadness.

Yanran draped a thick cloak over herself. In this world, women are like rootless duckweed, drifting aimlessly.

Her father used to be her and her mother's support. After he died, they were exiled to Xiliang. As the family of a disgraced official, they were reduced to making a living by performing.

If a woman is married, her husband becomes the head of the household. If she loses her husband's favor, wouldn't the sky fall down?

These courtesans all tried their best to win the favor of the sons of wealthy families, so that they could live a better life, or at least appear glamorous on the surface.

Beauty fades and love wanes. Whether the sisters were redeemed by men or redeemed themselves to follow the men they loved, I have never seen a single one with a good ending.

"Miss Yanran."

The Qin family's carriage had been waiting for a long time.

After Yanran went up, she discovered that there were two other people sitting in the carriage.

Chen Xiaoxiao of Huanhua Tower and Miaoyi Niangzi of Miaoyin Pavilion.

Upon seeing Yanran enter, Chen Xiaoxiao from Huanhualou, who was holding a zither, sighed silently in her heart.

The three most famous courtesans in Xiliang all looked unwell.

All three knew that this was different from the banquet that Wan Jia and Wan Ming had held last time, and they all harbored deep worries and fears.

Meanwhile, Shu Yun, who was also in the northern border of Xiliang with Xie Fu, received a letter from the new Demon Lord of the Demon Realm.

Shu Yun read the entire letter with a cold expression.

Golden light swirled around Shu Yun's sleeves before suddenly shooting into the sky, flying towards the Demon Realm and Penglai.

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