Wang San Niang looked at Hong Shi and stretched out her hands. Hong Shi was taken aback and exclaimed, "Ten thousand taels! You actually want ten thousand taels for a prostitute!"
Hongshi hesitated. Spending 100,000 taels for a prostitute seemed a bit excessive; 100,000 taels could buy a hundred prostitutes. This madam was asking for too much.
Seeing Hongshi hesitate, Wang Sanniang chuckled and said, "Miss Ruan is a famous courtesan here. How could she be compared to those ordinary prostitutes? If you can't afford it, please leave! I have many things to attend to, so I won't keep you company any longer." Then she had the pimp escort Hongshi and the others out.
Hearing Wang Sanniang's words, Hongshi knew she was mocking him for not having money, and shouted, "Wait a minute! Do you know who I am!"
Wang San Niang was intimidated by his imposing manner. She looked Hong Shi up and down and saw that he was definitely not an ordinary person. He also had an air of nobility about him, but she really couldn't tell whose family he came from.
Wang San Niang composed herself. Over the years, she had weathered many storms and seen all sorts of high-ranking officials and nobles. Moreover, she had powerful backers, so ordinary people couldn't do anything to her.
She quickly regained her composure and asked in a gentle tone, "May I ask what this gentleman's identity is? This humble servant is not able to discern which family's son you belong to."
Hongshi put his hands behind his back and said with an air of arrogance, "Open your dog eyes and see clearly! I am Hongshi, the second prince of the current emperor! Do you think I can't afford a mere prostitute like you?!"
Wang San Niang was stunned. Although she knew that Hong Shi was of extraordinary status, she only thought he was a dissolute young master from some high-ranking official's family, who was bullying others by taking advantage of his father's power. But she never expected that he was actually a prince! If she offended him, not only would she not get the money, but she would also lose her head.
But as the saying goes, "Man dies for wealth, birds die for food." Although Wang San Niang was mindful of Hong Shi's status, she still wanted to squeeze more money out of him. She figured Hong Shi couldn't do anything to her, so even though she was afraid, she still pretended to be unwilling to compromise.
Hongshi was furious, but he couldn't really do anything to Wang Sanniang. After all, he had left the palace to provide disaster relief and was doing so as an imperial envoy. If this matter became public and the emperor found out that he had been bewitched by a prostitute, all his previous efforts would be in vain.
Hongshi gritted his teeth: "Fifty thousand taels, no more than that, or I'll have someone deal with you!"
Hearing his words, the madam was tempted. Ruan Meiying was indeed a top courtesan, but she had been out in the business for several years and was no longer a young virgin. In a few more years, when she was old and her beauty faded, she wouldn't even be worth 30,000 taels. Although some regular customers came specifically for Ruan Meiying, they didn't need her. If they trained a new one, those men would forget about her completely.
She was tempted, but in order to keep Hongshi interested, Wang Sanniang made her request.
"Could you please allow me a day to consider this matter? This is a big deal, and I need to think it through. It also depends on Ruan Meiying's opinion. Could Your Highness please come again tomorrow? I will give you a satisfactory answer then."
Hongshi nodded: "I doubt you'd dare to play any tricks!" He then said to the servant, "Let's go!"
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