Volume Two: The Noble and the Base Chapter Nine: Gaining Both Wealth and Beauty

Huang Ming smiled with enigmatic profundity, making no haste to answer. Instead, he leisurely helped himself to a bite of food, chewing slowly, before turning the question back: “Are you not curious why Miss Ziyun and the others made such a choice earlier?”

His words piqued Xu Qingzhi’s curiosity as he glanced at the Red Oriole nestled in his arms. “Yes, why didn’t you choose Young Master Yang and his companions just now? What was your reasoning?”

“Of course, it’s because I am utterly devoted to you, Young Master.” Red Oriole replied with a cheerful smile, planting a kiss on him that delighted Xu, who laughed heartily and let his hand wander boldly into her open bodice.

Huang Ming stroked Ziyun’s waist as he smiled, “Is that what you would say as well?”

Ziyun wanted to nod and affirm, but at the sight of Huang Ming’s ambiguous smile, the words stuck in her throat. “I…”

Zhang Han immediately sensed something amiss. “Is there another reason?”

“She’s not entirely lying,” Huang Ming chuckled, “It’s true that the ladies prefer to stay with us rather than Young Master Yang. But it’s not because we are so much better—it’s that Young Master Yang fails to win their favor.”

“Why is that?”

“Yes, with his status and family, isn’t he exactly the sort you would want to attach yourselves to?” Xu and Zhang were even more curious now, paying no heed to whether their words might wound the pride of the beauties in their arms.

Huang Ming likewise showed no concern for Ziyun’s feelings, glancing down at her. “Beauty, would you rather explain, or shall I?”

“Master Huang, how can you be so unkind to a lady?” Ziyun immediately donned a look of heartbreak, so touching that it evoked pity.

“I suppose I’ll explain,” Huang Ming continued, ignoring her performance. “It’s actually quite simple. Precisely because Young Master Yang comes from such a background, he cannot win the ladies’ hearts.

“Consider Yang, the Elder Councilor—his status and upbringing mean he is tightly bound by propriety, and only rarely can he frequent such a place of pleasure.

“Even when he does, his purse is likely rather light, and he may not be able to reward Miss Ziyun much for her company. Am I wrong?”

Ziyun’s expression changed slightly, glancing at Huang Ming in startled, anxious surprise.

Such details were unknown even to Madam Chu or her closest sisters—how could he discern them?

This man’s insight was deep and somewhat frightening…

Huang Ming continued, “Of course, that alone would be tolerable. But with Young Master Yang’s temperament and position, I suspect he has often wrested Miss Ziyun away from other patrons, just as he did today.

“That not only costs you a considerable sum in rewards, but also deprives you of potential benefactors. Most would not dare compete with the son of the Elder Councilor, nor bear him a grudge, so their resentment falls upon you, Miss Ziyun.”

Ziyun gave a bitter smile, tacitly acknowledging the truth.

“If Young Master Yang were truly infatuated with you, it might not be such a bad thing. The issue is, however, that he has a father who sits on the council; even if you wished to become his concubine, to leave this life and marry him, it would never be permitted.”

At those words, Ziyun could not contain herself. “How—how do you know even this?”

It was as if he had watched her and Young Master Yang the whole time, even knowing the nuances of her thoughts—she had indeed, once, tentatively broached the subject with him.

But the answer had been disappointing: not only would he not pay to redeem her, even if she paid herself, Young Master Yang would not consent. From that moment, her hopes for him died, and their meetings became mere performance.

Huang Ming sighed softly, patting Ziyun’s trembling shoulder in consolation. “It is only natural. The world is not as in the stories, where a scholar and a courtesan escape together for a blissful life.

“Never mind the Yang family’s scholarly lineage and official rank—even for Young Masters Xu and Zhang, occasional visits here are harmless, but to truly bring home a woman of the dust would invite severe reprimand from their elders.”

The two men named gave awkward smiles; it was the undeniable truth.

With that, the mood in the room cooled rapidly, the couples drawing apart from their earlier intimacy and resorting to a few more cups to rekindle conviviality.

After a while, Qi Changfeng spoke with admiration, “I never imagined you could be so perceptive, grasping every detail. I am impressed!”

“Haha, half of it is observation, the rest deduction. A habit of many years…” Huang Ming waved his hand with a smile.

Perhaps he’d drunk a bit too much, for his words lost some of their usual caution.

Fortunately, the others were similarly affected and simply nodded, seeing nothing amiss.

Zhang Han seized the chance to shift the topic, “Young Master Huang, will you now tell us what you composed earlier? Was it truly a poem?”

This finally lifted the spirits in the room, all eyes settling on Huang Ming.

Huang Ming laughed, “Who said what I wrote just now was a poem? If I had the talent to compose a lengthy poem on the spot, I’d be off to the civil examinations seeking fame.

“True enough; you struggled even with books before, it’s unlikely you could produce a fine poem in a few months,” Xu Qingzhi said, ever more curious. “How did you manage it, then?”

“Who says you must defeat others’ poor verses with a better poem? I could just as well use something else to sway Manager Zhao, such as a way to help them profit more from this Flower Queen competition.”

Huang Ming stopped hiding his cards and revealed his true method.

It was a matter of necessity—being a traveler from another world, he had failed to outshine the natives with poetic prowess.

No help for it; after all, Huang Ming had landed in the Ming dynasty, where the works of the poets he knew were recited more fluently by locals than himself.

As for the tools of the time-traveling braggart, Nalan Rongruo and the many verses from ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’—apart from the line “If only life were as it was at first sight,” Huang Ming remembered none.

He could hardly rely on a single line to counter the many poems of his rivals.

Fortunately, as a traveler, Huang Ming possessed insights and ideas far beyond this era, which allowed him to devise a strategy the other party could not refuse.

“Is this for real?” Xu Qingzhi exclaimed. “You can help them run a better brothel business?”

Zhang Han was equally amazed, looking at Huang Ming as if seeing him for the first time.

Huang Ming nodded with a smile, “The proof is before your eyes—how could it be false? In fact, I may soon cooperate with them and earn a tidy sum. What do you say, will you two join me in making a little profit together?”

At that, both men perked up immediately. To collaborate with a brothel and make money, what better opportunity for both wealth and pleasure?

Without hesitation, they replied in unison, “If so, count me in!”