Madam Chen raised her head to glance at Xin He cautiously, seeing that she looked indifferent, not angry or intending to interrupt her, she continued: "She said that the young master of Sun family treated her poorly, and there was a concubine in the Sun family who was always against her. She felt like she was walking on thin ice, now that the concubine has slandered her about something and wants to put her in a desperate position. Now she has nowhere to go, she is asking if our Flower Man House can take her in once more, she even said she was willing to stay in Flower Man House for the rest of her life."
A touch of faint mockery hung at the corner of Xin He’s lips: "She may be willing, but Flower Man House isn’t a place where anyone can come and go as they please. Her position has long been taken over by Jinghua. As the saying goes, one mountain cannot contain two tigers, we are hardly short of people here."
Upon hearing this, Madam Chen understood Xin He’s meaning. She should’ve known earlier, although the owner was kind-hearted generally, once her bottom line was crossed, she would not show you any mercy, not mentioning giving you a chance to regret.
She had crossed the line by asking this today.
"I understand, I’ll send her away right now," Madam Chen said promptly.
"Yes, you should focus more on Flower Man House," Xin He instructed, "Shulan, please see Madam Chen out."
After leaving Xin He’s mansion, Madam Chen did not go straight back to the Flower Man House. Instead, she went to a teahouse opposite the Flower Man House, where Yi Ling had been waiting for a long time.
She was dressed in a jade green pleated skirt made from brocade. Though it was an older style and showed obvious signs of being worn, it was something she had bought when she was still the star of the Flower Man House. The accessory she wore was simple and obviously cheap – something she wouldn’t have cared for when she was in the Flower Man House.
Seeing Madam Chen come in, Yi Ling hurriedly took a few steps toward her to pull at her hand. She looked utterly pitiful and wretched, "Madam Chen, how did it go? What did the owner say?"
Madam Chen gave her a cold look, calmly withdrawing her hand: "The old master has spoken. Our Flower Man House is not a place where one can come and go as they please, and it’s not a place where just anyone can be admitted. Especially now since Miss Jinghua has made such achievements in Flower Man House, there’s really no need for Miss Yi Ling."
Madam Chen said with a faint smile to Yi Ling: " After all, it was the performer you personally trained who took your place. You should know her abilities, she truly is an example of ’the pupil surpassing the master’. The owner is very satisfied with her."
Yi Ling’s face turned several shades paler, and hatred flashed in her eyes.
But what good did hatred do? The person was one she had personally trained.
Madam Chen snorted coldly, what did it mean to ’shoot oneself in the foot’? Wasn’t this a perfect example? Initially, to pursue personal profit, she betrayed the Flower Man House, hoping to use her skills to secure a lifetime of luxury, and marry into a wealthy family. But now, her own student had sealed off her path of return!
Yi Ling’s eyes filled with tears as she tugged at the sleeve of Madam Chen’s clothes, falling to her knees on the spot: "Madam Chen, I grew up under your care, I was just momentarily blinded back then, now that I have seen the error of my ways, please give me one more chance, I will not dare to do it again!"
Madam Chen shook her head: "Enough, don’t say it. What I could for you, I have done, I have talked to the owner about this matter, the words I say now are the owner’s thoughts. Yi Ling, it was you who betrayed us first, don’t blame the owner for being heartless."
With that, she took a purse from her waist and shoved it into Yi Ling’s hands: "Here is a hundred taels of silver, if the Sun family really pushes you to the edge, take the money and run. This is all I can give you for raising you."
"Madam Chen, Madam Chen!" Yi Ling cried, looking terribly wronged.
But Madam Chen had already decisively turned around and left, disappearing from sight.
Yi Ling, her eyes red from crying, gritted her teeth in fury, threw the silver on the floor, and let out a bitter laugh: "A hundred taels of silver? Is she trying to dismiss me like a beggar?!"
"Concubine," a young maid immediately came in from outside, helping Yi Ling up.
Furious, Yi Ling cursed: "Indeed, a bunch of cold-hearted creatures, since they see that I’m no longer of use, they don’t consider the old feelings at all!"
The little maid lowered her head, daring not to speak.
Yi Ling, irritation evident, took off the cheap accessories from her head, and threw them onto the floor: "What junk, get rid of it!"
Her situation was indeed challenging, but she was still used to living a life of luxury. With her skills, how could she let Ji Xiulan control her completely? She willfully made herself look miserable today, for nothing but to gain sympathy. Only if she was pitiful enough, would Madam Chen soften and give her a chance to return. Little did she expect Madam Chen would soften, but the owner’s heart would only harden!
The mean woman!" Yi Ling cursed.
"Concubine, I’m afraid this route will not work, it’s better to give it up," the little maid was naturally timid.
"Give up?" Yi Ling’s voice became several octaves higher: "She has caused me to be in this situation, and I should just let it go?"
She knew it better than anyone that she was in this situation due to Xin He! Back then Xin He had used her to deceive Yihong Courtyard and even completely ruined it. Later, Ji Xiulan, a naturally foolish woman somehow became smart overnight. Most likely, Xin He was behind that!
The thought of her life being nearly ruined by this person made Yi Ling’s teeth grind in anger!
This time she came to Flower Man House in order to seek revenge and help Sun Yaowen rebuild the family business.
A man relying on a woman to revitalise the family business, it’s laughable.
However, Yi Ling had no choice. Her only shortcut was Flower Man House. After all, the two most famous businesses in Lian’an Town were Flower Man House and Winding Pavilion. They were connected, and likely to be Xin He’s assets. Her aim this time was naturally to take over these businesses.
As for becoming poor? Ha! She, Yi Ling, would never see a day of poverty in her life!
A sudden commotion broke out from outside, people in the teahouse started shouting: "Hey, come look, isn’t that Qiaoqiao and Qing Lei?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
Beneath the teahouse, an exquisite and luxurious carriage stopped on the opposite side of the door of the Flower Man House. A few maids were helping the girls get out of the carriage, they were Qiaoqiao and Qing Lei.
Both were dressed in the latest spring attire from the Winding Pavilion, even their fragments and accessories were from there! Yi Ling sharply noticed that Qiaoqiao had a jade peony hairpin on her head, it was such a limited edition that even with money, it was hard to acquire.
Such an exquisite hairpin could easily appear on the head of a courtesan from the Flower Man House!
So it seemed, Winding Pavilion was just a wardrobe for the courtesans of the Flower Man House!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
