Lan Linxue secretly cheered. He was starting to admire the naked woman! She dared to openly embarrass Qin Kou'er. He wanted to see how this pile of money would handle this tricky situation.
Qin Kou'er stared at Zhao Ling'er and suddenly smiled, her smile as beautiful as the roses outside the window.
Turning her head, Qin Kou'er casually asked Hu Feifan, "Young Master Hu? Have you heard of smuggled salt in Yangzhou?"
Hu Feifan was taken aback.
The people below instantly realized what was happening and stood up indignantly, shouting all at once, "Yangzhou has no private salt, and that this slut is talking nonsense!"
The once-prominent courtesan, worth millions, fell from grace with just a few words from Qin Kou'er, becoming utterly worthless and trampled upon.
Qin Kou'er turned her head back without changing her expression, still looking at Zhao Ling'er calmly and quietly. However, no one could hide the contemptuous coldness between her brows.
Zhao Ling'er glanced around in horror, then collapsed to the ground. A wave of despair washed over her, completely overwhelming her.
She's gone mad! Completely insane! How could she bring up this taboo subject in front of everyone? Salt smuggling in Yangzhou—from the Emperor to the common people, no one in the world is unaware of it! And right here in this room, how many wealthy patrons are actually salt smugglers! How many people are desperately trying to cover up their secret accounts! Yet she so recklessly blurted it all out. Not only has she gone mad with suicidal thoughts, but this time, she can't even protect Lord Shi anymore! Zhao Ling'er raised her head again, her pale, desperate face filled with deep resentment and resolve towards Qin Kou'er. She would rather die than let this monstrous woman find Lord Shi. Thinking this, Zhao Ling'er glanced at Hu Feifan, moved her lips as if to say something. But Hu Feifan didn't see it clearly, because he was also secretly furious at Zhao Ling'er for saying something she shouldn't have. However, Qin Kou'er saw it clearly: "Lord Shi is at Anren Temple."
Zhao Ling'er then turned her gaze to Qin Kou'er, and gave a bleak smile, "I would rather die than submit to you!"
After saying that, Zhao Ling'er suddenly rushed towards the pillar opposite her, and it looked like she was about to be splattered with blood.
Qin Kou'er pursed her lips slightly, suddenly pulled the gauze curtain next to her, and leaped up, descending from the sky like a cloud. Not only did she instantly block Zhao Ling'er's rushing body, but she also pulled Zhao Ling'er around and tightly wrapped the gauze curtain around her.
Zhao Ling'er was a little dizzy from being spun around. When she finally stood up and opened her eyes again, she was met with Qin Kou'er's eyes, which seemed to be smiling but not smiling.
"The sky hasn't fallen, the earth hasn't caved in, why are you trying to kill yourself?" Qin Kou'er's insightful eyes gleamed with wisdom as she pulled the gauze curtain tighter around Ling'er. "Jealousy only makes you stupid; it does you no good at all. You're a smart girl; you know what's most important. Since I bought you today, you must live well. I didn't kill you, so you absolutely cannot die!"
Zhao Ling'er looked sadly at the stunningly beautiful face before her, a single tear welling up in her eye. She murmured, "What do you want? You've driven Lord Shi to the brink of despair. All I want is to die with him. Can't you even grant us that?"
Qin Kou'er smiled slightly, reached out and gently brushed Zhao Ling'er's disheveled hair behind her ear, and said softly, "Why do you entrust your life to someone else? Every penny Shi Mengjian takes is dirty money, yet you remain an innocent girl. Besides, Shi Mengjian sent you here today to deliver a message, precisely to have you die. Why do you constantly think about a man who would trade your life for his own?"
Zhao Ling'er's tears flowed even faster. She didn't sob, but smiled sadly: "This is what I owe him. This is my fate! No one can fight against fate!"
"Hahahaha!" Qin Kou'er suddenly burst into laughter, surprising everyone around her even more.
"Fate? If you believed in fate, you wouldn't be Qin Kou'er today!"
After saying this, Qin Kou'er suddenly stared at Zhao Ling'er with an extremely solemn expression and said, "Zhao Ling'er, today I've put ten thousand taels of gold here, and your life is mine! Shi Mengjian spent money to buy your vow to follow him to the death back then, and today I'm using money to buy your freedom. From now on, you're free. Whether you want to come with me to become a musician, or you want to find your soulmate, it's up to you! No one in this world can force you anymore!"
As she spoke, Qin Kou'er walked up to the madam, stretched out her jade-like finger, and said, "Mama, take that ten thousand taels of gold. Today, Zhao Ling'er is mine! A contract of servitude?"
The madam was stunned. She turned to look at the ten thousand taels of gold, her eyes gleaming like those of a hungry wolf. Unconsciously, she handed Zhao Ling'er's indenture to Qin Kou'er.
Qin Kou'er smiled contemptuously, holding the indenture between her fingers. She glanced around at everyone and said in a low voice, "From today onwards, Zhao Ling'er is free and has no further connection with Yuanyang Pavilion. If anyone dares to make things difficult for Miss Ling'er, they are going against my Qin Tian Pavilion and asking for my life! I advise you all to think carefully about the consequences!"
As she spoke, Qin Kou'er suddenly raised her hand, and the indenture flew lightly toward the candlelight, instantly turning into ashes.
Zhao Ling'er stared at the rising ashes, slowly squatted down on the ground, clutched her veil tightly, and burst into tears.
Qin Kou'er sighed softly, walked over and took the still frightened little girl's hand, gently placing her small hand in Zhao Ling'er's. "There's still a million taels of silver here, enough for you to live on. Go, live the life you want. Never set foot in a brothel again in this life!"
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