The Legend of the Concubine in the Harem

"Why do we need to involve others in our affairs?!" Bai Queci saw that he couldn't get away, so he threw the bag in his hand to the door, "I want to leave because I want to leave, not because I was kidnapped by some bastard man!"

"Ah?!" The brothel owner's eyes widened. She glanced at the "shit man" Lin Qiao, whose face was calm but a little embarrassed, and then looked at her adopted daughter. "Where can you go as a girl by yourself?"

"The marriage your mother found for you is between a man of noble status and a kind and generous woman. With your background, you are extremely lucky to be able to marry into such a family. But you refuse to marry. If it weren't for the fact that you have a lover outside, what other reason could there be?!" While the brothel owner was speaking, she was still glancing at Lin Qiao beside her with a very vigilant look.

Although this man's skin was darker than other young men in the capital, he was indeed good-looking and tall. Judging from the way the brothel owner had judged people over the years, this scholar must have muscles and strength. Her daughter disliked the weak young men who used to roam in the alleys, so it would not be surprising if she fell in love with a man like this.

But... the madam took a quick and subtle look at Lin Qiao's clothes - the materials were not fashionable in the capital, nor were they very expensive. There was no other decoration on her body except for a sachet embroidered with bamboo branches. She tied her hair with a Confucian scarf made of the same material as her clothes, which was very ordinary. The boots on her feet looked like a good pair of shoes, but unfortunately there were no patterns on them. If he was not good-looking, he would be lost in a crowd with such an outfit.

The more the brothel owner looked at Lin Qiao, the more she felt that Lin Qiao looked like a poor scholar who used two sour poems to deceive the feelings of a young maid who was inexperienced in the world.

She was a prostitute of low status. Having lived in the red-light district until this age, she was accustomed to the ways in which men teased prostitutes. She cared more about practical benefits than so-called love.

She immediately reached out and pulled Bai Queci inside the door, shouting, "You little bitch, you've even learned to talk back at me. I'm going to teach you a lesson now!"

After yelling this, the madam turned around and smiled at the stern-looking nanny: "Please wait a moment, I will talk to my daughter for a few words, I will definitely be able to convince her, and I won't delay your business!"

She dragged Bai Queci into the courtyard, and immediately twisted her adopted daughter's arm and lowered her voice: "Why are you running! That's the Duke's residence! He's one of the most noble people in the capital! Even if your sisters and brothers want to, they don't have the chance to be chosen as concubines!"

"Don't be confused. You can just read those books about scholars and talented men, young ladies and beautiful women, but don't believe them! There is no such a good thing in the world..." The brothel owner looked at Bai Queci with a look of disappointment, "Speak up!"

Bai Queci raised his head and glanced at her quickly, then quickly lowered it again: "Mom won't listen to anything I say."

"Ancestor! It's obvious that you are unwilling to listen to your mother!" the brothel owner said angrily.

He raised his hand and poked Bai Queci's head: "Why are you so stubborn? The lady of that family is of extraordinary birth. She is the only one in her husband's room. They have been married for many years before they had a son. This time they want to take a concubine, most likely because the lady was injured during childbirth and can't give birth... If you go into the mansion, no matter it's a boy or a girl, and give birth to a child, your rest of life will be secure!"

"You also know that they are from wealthy and powerful families. With my background, if I go in, I'm afraid my life and death will be controlled by others. How can I have a peaceful life for the rest of my life?" Bai Queci said calmly.

The madam paused and said, "I have inquired about it. The lady is from the Chen family. The Chen family is famous for its good family tradition. And the lady has also agreed. As long as you enter the mansion as a concubine and abide by the rules of being a concubine, she will personally support you. You don't have to be afraid..."

Bai Queci suddenly raised her head and looked at the brothel owner: "Mom always says that men's mouths can't be trusted, but I think women's mouths can't be trusted either. You don't have to say more. Even if I die here today, I will not be willing to be a concubine in such a noble family!"

"You..." The brothel owner was speechless. "You know that although you are a good citizen, this good name is linked to a place like ours, and you have a foster mother like me... You are born with a good appearance. If you go out, someone with bad intentions will bribe the government and easily make you my household registration. At that time, can the scholar protect you? It is safer to stay in the government house. Even if you have to bow down and fawn on the wife of the principal house, it is better than becoming a slave!"

"Although I don't want to say such hurtful words, but with your background, you are a piece of fat meat outside, and in the mansion, you are the easiest to control and the least guarded by the wives of the first house... You may think I am snobbish, but..."

"I know my mother also hopes for my well-being." Bai Queci interrupted the brothel owner in a dull voice.

Seeing her face getting more gloomy, the madam thought about it and suddenly had an idea. She asked, "Do you think that the lady of that house said that she didn't mind you putting up a sign to receive customers, which was an insult to you?"

Bai Queci suddenly clenched his fists.

The madam thought she had found the crux of the matter, so she advised, "Don't think like that. It's just meeting a few men. With your mother here, she can naturally do something to keep you intact and fool others. When the day comes for you to enter the mansion, you can tell the truth to the young master, and he will love you even more!"

"And with that lady's guarantee, even if you are banned, you will still be a good person, and you don't have to be reduced to a lowly person. Good people can't just pick up girls in the brothel. At most, you can sing some songs, dance, and serve drinks... If that lady asks about it, you'll have something to explain."

"The most important thing is that you must not be fooled by what is written in the books. What kind of chastity and innocence are you talking about? Compared with being able to live a good life for the rest of your life, whoever wants this damn reputation can do so. For us, innocence and cleanliness are the least important!"

"Don't think that relying on men's favor to get away is something shameful. Those men want women to be as noble as fairies, and they also want fairies to descend to earth and voluntarily become their sluts. They have to fight for their favor, but they can't rely on their favor to go higher and further than them... But do you want me to tell you, don't those young masters have a good ancestor?"

"Even if you have a good ancestor, don't you have to compete for the favor of the superior like a woman?"

"They all rely on men. They only allow themselves to be noble, and women who rely on men are lowly. Bah! It's just that there are only so many favors and opportunities. If we snatch them away, they can't touch anything."

"My daughter, it's good to be proud, but if you are too proud, your bones will be too hard and it will hurt more when you break them!"