Chapter 70: Falling for a Beautiful Lie (2)
Elsewhere.
Ye Xueyi shuddered involuntarily, instinctively hugging her blanket tighter.
Lying on her side, she felt utterly exhausted.
Chilled, weak, and sore, she could barely move.
Yet despite her fragile state, her flushed cheeks and alluring glow made her seem more radiant than ever.
At this moment, her mind was filled with a single concern.
What if… she ended up pregnant?
That damn villain hadn't even given her a chance to circulate her inner energy!
She clenched her teeth.
This debt—she would repay it in full!
Meanwhile, at Su Qing's residence, a familiar guest arrived.
Gu Qingzhou sat before Su Qing, looking as anxious as a criminal awaiting judgment.
Across from him, Su Qing tapped his fingers against the table, deep in thought.
He was skeptical.
Yesterday's request had already been absurd. And now, Gu Qingzhou was back with yet another ridiculous plea.
Brother, this isn't how your character is supposed to act in the game!
You're clearly the protagonist, even if you haven't displayed it yet.
But now… why are you delivering another woman to me?
Even Su Qing was taken aback.
Of course, the surprise wasn't just that his dear friend was requesting him to buy the freedom of a famous courtesan.
A kind-hearted fool like him doing something like this wasn't unexpected.
What truly caught Su Qing off guard was how early this plotline had arrived.
Wasn't this development supposed to take place much later?
The second major female lead of the "outcast husband" storyline was about to debut?
This wasn't supposed to happen so soon. Something had clearly shifted the timeline.
This moment was pivotal.
Today marked the transformation of Gu Qingzhou—the moment his destiny would take a turn for the better!
And along with that, the legendary technique, the Nine Lives Heavenly Silkworm Art—one of the Seven Great Legends—was about to surface.
Even for Su Qing, this was an opportunity he couldn't afford to ignore.
Yet, Gu Qingzhou's actions were simply baffling.
He really was a good man—first delivering a woman, and now bringing valuable information along with her.
The more Su Qing thought about it, the more he found himself liking this guy.
Meanwhile, Gu Qingzhou's heart was filled with unease.
He knew his request was bold, considering the prestigious status of the man before him.
And yet, here he was, asking Su Qing to help him buy the freedom of a courtesan—something that felt beyond audacious.
But what choice did he have?
If there was anyone capable of helping, it was Su Qing.
Of course, help never came for free. He understood that well.
The only price he could think of… was offering up his wife in return.
A dangerous thought.
After all, the two were already emotionally entangled—wasn't he merely facilitating their fate?
The realization made him shudder.
Why was he thinking like this?
"Fine. Since you've come to me, I'll help you. After all, you are my dear friend."
Su Qing pretended to hesitate before agreeing.
"If I am reborn as a woman in my next life, I will surely repay Su brother's kindness!"
Gu Qingzhou's eyes were filled with gratitude as he blurted out the vow.
Su Qing: "…"
He suddenly felt an actual headache forming.
Why this kind of repayment? This was a very dangerous way of thinking, bro!
---
Soon, the night of the famed songstress's debut arrived.
By dusk, the riverside was bustling with life.
As usual, this time of day saw many people gathered on the water, drinking and making merry.
But tonight was different. The crowd was larger than ever.
They had all come to witness the debut of the famed musician, Qin Yin.
In just two days, her haunting melodies had drawn the attention of true aristocracy.
Many powerful figures were hidden among the onlookers, waiting for a glimpse of her beauty.
The opulent pleasure boat glowed brightly, filled with distinguished guests who watched with anticipation.
Dressed in their finest garments, their expressions conveyed a singular thought—they must claim her for themselves.
After all, a courtesan as talented and renowned as Qin Yin was a rarity.
To own her would be a status symbol beyond compare.
In places like these, dignity and restraint were often mere illusions.
For example… Qin Yin's virginity was up for auction.
The bidding began at a hundred taels of silver.
In mere moments, it soared past a thousand, then ten thousand.
For reference, a hundred taels of silver was enough to feed a family of four for an entire year.
Yet here, it had become nothing more than a meaningless figure in a frenzied contest.
Among the crowd, two figures stood together.
Gu Qingzhou watched the scene unfold, his eyes filled with concern.
He had never witnessed such extravagance before.
This was a world he did not belong to.
Wealthy merchants, high-ranking officials—these were the men vying for Qin Yin.
Could Su Qing truly outbid them?
Though he was a favored subject of the Empress, surely he hadn't been granted limitless wealth?
Gu Qingzhou turned his head to glance at Su Qing, expecting him to be focused on the auction.
Instead, Su Qing's gaze was fixed beyond the ship, staring into the dark waters.
There was an unreadable emotion in his eyes.
Gu Qingzhou was deeply shaken.
What was he thinking?
"The rich feast while the poor starve in the streets…"
Su Qing murmured, his tone filled with deep contemplation.
Though he had always had access to wealth, he had never participated in an auction like this.
After all, anything he desired would naturally be delivered to him.
Yet tonight, he had witnessed firsthand the recklessness of the powerful.
His sigh was not just for show—it was a genuine sentiment.
The capital was undoubtedly more prosperous than other cities.
But elsewhere, many still struggled to survive.
And here, men with political influence were spending fortunes on a single night with a courtesan.
What an absurd display of wealth.
What made it worse was that many of these bidders were the sons of high-ranking officials.
While their fathers' salaries were generous, they weren't infinite.
So where did their sons acquire such vast sums?
Even if they had other sources of income, wasn't this level of extravagance excessive?
Gu Qingzhou heard Su Qing's words and was struck with guilt.
Even in this madness, Su Qing's thoughts remained on the common people.
And yet, he himself had been solely focused on rescuing a single woman.
Compared to Su Qing, his own perspective was far too narrow.
So many suffered in this world, yet all he could think about was saving one person.
If only this wealth could be used for something meaningful—disaster relief, for example—how many families could be saved?
Gu Qingzhou fell silent, his urgency fading into reflection.
Meanwhile, the auction had reached its climax.
The price had surpassed twenty thousand taels, breaking historical records.
Gu Qingzhou sighed, having already given up.
But then, Su Qing stood up.
"Su brother, if you have this much silver, why not use it for a greater cause?"
Gu Qingzhou whispered, hoping to dissuade him.
He wasn't against saving Qin Yin, but the cost was simply too great.
He didn't want Su Qing to pay such an exorbitant price for his selfish wish.
"Silver? Who said I was going to spend silver?"
Su Qing looked at him with genuine confusion.
Gu Qingzhou stared back blankly, unsure of what he meant.
"Let me teach you how to win without spending a single coin—
Close the doors. Shut this place down!"