Verdigris Hall was well-established even within the royal capital's pleasure district. It holds a selection of middle to the highest-class courtesans.
While she was here, she had often helped the local doctor who was a friend of her father's with patients. Most of her patients where either patron of the establishment or the courtesans themselves.
When they passed through the magnificent gate, a world covered in rich colors spread out. It was still daytime. Few people were walking about, but courtesans with free time waved their hands over the handrails on the second floor.
The horse carriage stopped in front of the Hall with a large, conspicuous gate. Yen walked over to the old woman standing by the entrance the moment she lightly descended from the horse carriage.
"It's been a while, Madam." She said to the skinny woman who was biting on a pipe. Who had A long time ago, been a courtesan said to have tears of pearl. Nowadays, she became wizened like a dead tree – her tears had dried up completely. She also refused her redeeming and continued to work even after her term of service ended. Now, she became a madam who everyone was afraid of. Time was cruel.
"What is this? It has been a while. You foolish girl," the crone said. The crone punched a fist through the pit of her stomach.
Bai, who was a right person at heart, stroked Yen's back while not understanding what was going on. His face said, "The hell is this hag?"
"Hmm, is this the honored guest?" The crone appraised Bai with her eyes.
The carriage was entrusted to the shop's manservant.
"Good physique. Looks are also handsome. Doesn't he look like the promotion stock that people are talking about?" the crone said.
"Madam, what are you trying by saying that in front of the person?" Yen asked.
The madam feigned ignorance and called for the young girls who had been sweeping before the gate. "Call for Hua. She is grinding tea today."
"Hua…." Bai swallowed audibly. That was the courtesan whose name was known as a talented dancer.
For the sake of Hua's honor, it should be said that this wasn't a pure lust for a simple courtesan, but rather, thoughts of longing. It was an honor for him, even if it's just sitting together for tea, to meet the idol from above the clouds with his own eyes.
"Bai-sama." Yen nudged the large man who was engrossed in his thoughts. "Do you have confidence in your biceps?"
"I train my body, but I'm not too sure?" he said.
"Is that so. Please do well," she said. The large man, his head tilted, left following Yen. She was grateful that he brought her along up to this point. Of course, she meant to give back something suitable in return. That dream of one night would become the memory of a lifetime.
"Yen," the women's voice made a terrifying smile. "You disappeared without contact for ten months."
"It can't be helped. I was working at the inner palace," she said. The general explanation was written on the wooden slip.
"Although I'll reject at a glance, I'll look after him just this time."
"I know already." Yen took out a bag from her bosom. It was half of the wages she earned from the inner palace up until now.
"This much, wouldn't be enough," the crone said.
"Of course not, I didn't think you would call out Hua-san."
She had brought enough money expecting a night of blissful dream with a high-class courtesan for him. Even Bai would be satisfied with just a glance of the Three Princesses.
"Wouldn't that just barely be insufficient for a seat for tea?" she said.
"Fool. With that physical strength, there's no way Hua would do nothing." Though it can be said that the top-class courtesans don't sell their body, it doesn't mean that they won't fall in love.
"That would be what they call an act of god…." Yen said.
"Don't be silly. I'll put it properly on your tab." The crone replied.
"I said I couldn't pay for it." Yen was deep in thought. No matter she looked at it, it was a commitment.
"What are you saying? At worse you can just use your body to pay for it. You'll just be transferred from the emperor to a brothel – it won't be any different. There are dilettantes who are fond of even defective goods like you."
Ever since the crone had seen her real face, she has been excessively recommending Yen to become a courtesan. She, who had devoted her entire life to the pleasure district, had never thought that prostitution was a career of misfortune.
"I still have one year left to my term of service though," Yen said.
"In that case, steadily send forth the honored guests. Not old geezers, but those we can moderately exploit for a long time like the one just then." The greedy hag only thinks about money. The idea of selling her body was already passed, so she must moderately send in sacrifices hereafter.
"Yen, the geezer should be home right now, so hurry up and go," the crone said.
"Ahh, I will."
In the narrow house which only had two rooms of dirt floor, there was a person hunched over using the mortar. Carved with deep wrinkles, soft features, a man who like an old woman.
"I'm back," Yen said.
"Hey, you're late."
He greeted her normally and stumbled off to prepare tea as if nothing happened. She accepted the tea that had been prepared in a worn teacup. She told him bits and pieces of everything that had happened until now, and he only replied with sounds of listening.
After she had porridge, which had an enormously increased portion of medicinal herbs and potatoes, for dinner, she decided to sleep. She will take a bath from the hot water she will receive from the Hall tomorrow. She curled up in a simple bed that was just a straw mat laid out on the dirt floor.
Her dad piled clothes on her and grounded the mortar tirelessly like a stove fire.
"The inner palace huh. It must be fate." The words the old man muttered faded away amid her sleepiness.