Xiao Yu was also sizing up Lin's mother.
This madam was different from what I had imagined; she wasn't the vulgar, obese shrew, but a beautiful woman with a graceful and alluring figure.
Lin's mother is very beautiful. Every gesture she makes exudes mature charm. Her eyes are captivating, and she looks incredibly alluring in her brightly colored, narrow-sleeved dress.
Xiao Yu thought of Shen Youyu's words... "The waters of Baoyue Tower run deep!"
With such alluring beauty, Lin's mother must be the mistress of some powerful figure behind Baoyue Tower.
Shen Youyu knew it wouldn't be that easy. After being rejected, she still said, "Mother Lin, I must redeem myself today. Please name a price."
"I've told you the price, but I'm afraid you can't afford it."
Lin's mother snorted, then picked up her paw and tapped another sunflower seed shell, spitting the shell at Xiao Yu. "Pah... all for this silly boy? Who is he?"
"I am Xiao Yu."
Xiao Yu said calmly.
"Xiao Yu... Xiao Shilang of the Xiao Prince's Mansion?"
Lin's mother was slightly taken aback, her beautiful eyes scanning Xiao Yu closely. She said, "He does have a handsome appearance, but I've heard that Xiao Shilang of the Xiao Prince's Mansion is mentally impaired... Although mental impairment doesn't mean he's completely stupid, he is still mentally deficient."
After saying this, Lin's mother's gaze fell on Shen Youyu again, and she snorted, "Just because of a fool, you'd give up mountains of gold and silver?"
"I just want to buy my freedom."
Shen Youyu's tone was firm.
"you……"
Seeing that Shen Youyu was unmoved by either soft or hard tactics, Madam Lin also lost her temper and snorted coldly: "If you want to redeem yourself, you can take out all the silver you earned at Baoyue Tower! Then, give me another 100,000 taels of silver, and I will allow you to redeem yourself."
Trying to make exorbitant demands?!
Xiao Yu frowned and decided to reason with Lin's mother.
If the theory doesn't work, you can talk about physics.
"Shiro, goodbye."
Shen Youyu saw through Xiao Yu's thoughts, shook her head at him, then walked up to Lin's mother and said softly, "Lin's mother, please name a reasonable number, and I will do my best to raise it!"
"If... you are truly determined to trap me for life, I would rather bang my head against a pillar and die than stay in Baoyue Tower forever!"
Shen Youyu was not joking.
Seeing the determination and resolve in her eyes, Lin's mother frowned.
But she was still unwilling to let Shen Youyu leave like that.
In Lin's mother's eyes, Shen Youyu was a goose that laid golden eggs. Whether she let Shen Youyu redeem herself or kill herself, it would be a foolish thing to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs!
But Lin's mother also knew very well that Shen Youyu was very stubborn, and she would do what she said she would do.
If she were to actually die here, that would truly be a complete loss.
Beside him, Xiao Yu's fists were already clenched tightly.
He wouldn't let Shen Youyu commit suicide. If Lin Mama didn't budge, he dared to demolish the Baoyue Tower immediately.
The atmosphere froze instantly.
After a few breaths, Lin's mother finally gave in.
"It's not impossible to redeem myself, but I have one condition..."
Lin's mother decided to squeeze every last bit of value out of the young fish.
"Please speak."
Shen Youyu knew things weren't that simple. When she heard that she could be redeemed, her face showed no joy, but rather a heavy expression.
"The ransom is one million taels of silver."
Lin's mother made an outrageous demand, saying, "Besides that, you also have to participate in tonight's poetry competition and help me earn one last sum of money!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Youyu fell silent.
She could manage to come up with a million taels of silver if she gritted her teeth.
But she didn't want to participate in this poetry competition.
The poetry competition is also a form of bidding, but the competition is not for money, but for poetic talent.
If a talented scholar writes a good poem, he will have the opportunity to drink, play the zither, write calligraphy, and play chess with Shen Youyu.
Shen Youyu was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and naturally admired cultured people with poetic talent... But at that time, her status was merely that of the most beautiful courtesan in the capital.
Now that she has promised to marry Xiao Yu, she also has the status of Xiao Yu's fiancée.
How could she, as Xiao Yu's fiancée, possibly participate in the poetry competition again?!
"Mrs. Lin, I can pay more..."
Shen Youyu said, biting her lip.
"no!"
Madam Lin interrupted her directly, and said in an unyielding tone, "If you agree, I will allow you to redeem yourself. Otherwise, even if you die here, I won't care! Shen Youyu, you should know a little about the background of Baoyue Tower, so don't try to bargain with me anymore."
"..."
Shen Youyu bit her lip, and for a moment she knew what to do.
"I have a question..."
Xiao Yu suddenly spoke up and asked, "What is the significance of holding this poetry competition?"
It's just a brothel, why hold such a fancy poetry competition... Wouldn't it be better to just collect money directly?
"He really is an idiot, humph."
Lin's mother glared coldly at Xiao Yu, too lazy to answer.
"Juro, it's like this..."
Shen Youyu walked over to Xiao Yu and explained in a low voice.
In fact, the purpose of holding the poetry competition was to make a profit. Baoyuelou, as an entertainment venue that integrates singing, dancing, poetry, music and human body art, was deeply loved by literati and scholars.
Therefore, cultural exchanges are frequently held to attract these talented and romantic men.
Such poetry competitions cost tens of taels of silver just for the entrance fee, and are usually hosted by the most beautiful young ladies from Baoyue Tower.
Then, the most talented men would compete in poetry, and whoever won would have the chance to spend time alone with the stunningly beautiful young woman…
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