That evening, Tian Yu appeared in front of Yan Yu Lou again, dressed as a man. Looking at the dilapidated Yan Yu Lou, Tian Yu later learned that the place had been raided by soldiers that night. Although she had someone behind her, she was still investigated and dealt with. Tian Yu was somewhat emotional. She learned that the girls here had also regained their freedom. She even inquired about Mu Dan's whereabouts, but when she heard that she had reformed, Tian Yu was relieved.
"Tian Yu, what brings you here again?" Prince Wu suddenly appeared and patted Tian Yu's shoulder with his fan from behind.
Tian Yu was startled and turned around to see him, then smiled and said, "Your Highness, if you can come, why can't I?"
"I heard you and the Marquis have separated. How about you consider coming to my place?"
"Your Highness is joking. I can't even serve a Marquis properly, let alone a Prince. Please let me stay in this mortal world."
"Good! Good! You can come find me anytime you come to see me if you ever change your mind," Prince Wu said with a smile.
"Why is Your Highness alone today? Where is Huang Xuan?"
"He had something to take care of today, and I was just wandering around when I ran into you."
"Oh, is that so? Then please proceed, Your Highness. I have other matters to attend to and will not disturb you any longer."
"Since we've run into each other, why don't we go in and have a couple of drinks?" Prince Wu said, pointing to the brothel next door.
"Let's forget it. I have something to do at home, so I'll take my leave now." Tian Yu shook her head, remembering Zhao Moyan's warning, and prepared to bow and leave.
Prince Wu smiled and said nothing more, following Tian Yu's footsteps. When they passed the brothel, Tian Yu stopped. She turned around blankly, her face full of disbelief, because she saw Peony. Wasn't she supposed to have regained her freedom? No wonder Zhao Moyan lied to her, but he shouldn't have done that.
"What's wrong? Have you changed your mind? Let's go inside and take a look."
As Prince Wu spoke, he pulled Tian Yu into the brothel and ordered a private room upstairs. Tian Yu chose Peony, and when Peony entered, Tian Yu could tell she was very different from when he first saw her. Tian Yu couldn't quite put his finger on it—was she more womanly, or more worldly? In any case, she was no longer the same Peony. Peony was also taken aback when she saw Tian Yu, but quickly smiled and walked up to him, pouring him a cup of wine and bringing it to his lips, saying, "Young master, let Peony feed you a cup."
Tian Yu felt sad looking at the peony. She opened her mouth and drank the wine that was handed to her, but whether it was because the wine was too strong or because Tian Yu was too sad, her eyes reddened. Tian Yu quickly lowered her head and coughed a few times to cover up her loss of composure.
"What's wrong, young master? It's all my fault for not serving you well. Don't you like drinking?" Peony said, patting Tian Yu on the back.
"Peony, what are you doing here? Didn't you already redeem your indenture?" Tian Yu asked, taking a deep breath.
"Young master, if Peony isn't here, where could she have gone?"
"You can go anywhere, why stay in a brothel?"
"What's wrong with this place? Doesn't the young master like to come here too?"
"Me?! I'm here to do something."
"What business does the young master have here? This place is full of women, and everyone who comes here is just looking for pleasure."
"Peony, you!"
"Oh dear, now that you're here, young master, let Peony serve you well. Don't think about those things anymore. Come on, young master, open your mouth!" Peony said, picking up a pastry from the table and feeding it to Tian Yu.
Tian Yu took a bite and found it too sweet, then turned around and spat it onto the table. Looking at Mudan seriously, she said, "Are you really willing to stay here for the rest of your life?"
"Young master, how could anyone possibly marry someone like us once we're in here? If we don't stay here, we'll only be able to beg on the streets. Do you want to see Peony as a beggar?"
"That's not how it is. There are many ways to live. You don't have to get married or rely on others to survive."
"Then tell me, young master, what other options are there for women in this world besides marriage? Could it be that you intend for Peony to become a nun?"
No!
"Then you'll have no choice but to stay in this brothel."
No!
"Young master, please don't be sad. This is Peony's fate. Peony blames no one. If you miss Peony in the future, please come and see her. Peony will definitely take good care of you."
"Peony, I am not a young master, but a woman," Tian Yu said solemnly.
"Young master is joking again. If you are a woman, then I am the young master." As he spoke, he reached out and touched Tian Yu's chest, then froze.
Tian Yu looked at Mudan, who stared blankly for a long time before pulling her hand back with a bitter smile. Mudan was about to get up and leave when Tian Yu reached out and grabbed her arm. Tian Yu lowered her head and said, "Are the other girls in Yanyu Tower like you?"
"Yes! What else could it be? The Marquis has granted us our freedom, but there is nowhere for us to go in this vast world. There was one who thought he had met a good man, but he went mad the next day and is still locked up in the backyard."
"Okay! I understand."
“Young master, it shouldn’t be ‘Miss.’ Not everyone is as lucky as you. Women from poor families like us can only live like this.” Peony said coldly. Tian Yu did not let go, but she did not know how to answer her. As a modern woman, she did not have their traditional concepts. Whether she got married or not, she was still herself.
"Her life might not even be as good as yours," Prince Wu said leisurely, sipping his wine.
Peony turned around and looked at Tian Yu in disbelief. Tian Yu smiled wryly and said, "Just call me Tian Yu. I'm not some kind of young lady."
"Then who are you?"
"Like you, a refugee, an orphan, a trafficked woman, a wife who was divorced less than a year after marriage, or someone who was abandoned by her groom the night before her remarriage."
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