Chapter 142: The Courtesan Was Her After All
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Seeing the man’s almost frenzied state, Zhu Hao couldn’t help but shake his head slightly, inwardly scornful. “Does he really think he’s been chosen? For the first round of the courtesan selection? How utterly pathetic! Such disgrace to a refined man!”
Though Zhu Hao looked down on the man, as Autumn Melody continued to announce the numbers, each chosen candidate was visibly elated, dancing and jumping for joy. Even those with more self-control stepped lightly and smiled brightly. Compared to them, Zhu Hao gradually felt a creeping anxiety.
During this time, Zhu Hao discerned a certain trick in the selection process at the Courtesan Pavilion: every chosen candidate was dressed in luxurious attire—there wasn’t a single ordinary person among them. Among the selected were some Zhu Hao recognized: Cheng Millionaire, Hong Chengchou, and Qian Qianyi.
As time passed and Autumn Melody finished announcing nine numbers, only one remained. Although Zhu Hao felt a bit uneasy, he had nearly lost all hope, thinking, “It seems this system task is a complete failure!” With that, he was about to turn and leave the Courtesan Pavilion.
Just as Zhu Hao was about to turn, Autumn Melody spoke again, “The final chosen candidate is number seventeen. Congratulations to gentleman number seventeen…”
Before she finished, and before Zhu Hao could react, Wei Xiaobao excitedly grabbed Zhu Hao’s arm, saying, “Master, you’ve been chosen!”
Only then did Zhu Hao realize, and as he prepared to head upstairs, Autumn Melody smiled coquettishly and corrected herself, “Apologies, gentlemen, I misread. It is not seventeen, but one hundred seventy. Congratulations to gentleman number one hundred seventy! Please proceed to the second floor!”
Hearing this, Zhu Hao froze on the spot. Honestly, he hadn’t been overly anxious, but this felt like meat snatched from his lips. His heart sank deeply.
He knew the ten numbers had been called, and he had no chance left. Frustrated, he didn’t even acknowledge Wei Xiaobao and turned to leave the Courtesan Pavilion.
Just as Zhu Hao stepped out, on the second floor, Autumn Melody, smiling while announcing “The first round is over,” was whispered to by a maid. Then she smiled and addressed the crowd again, “Gentlemen, the courtesan just informed me that she heard someone knocked on the door of Ziyan Fairy’s room yesterday. She greatly admires this gentleman’s talent and has made an exception, allowing him to pass the first round. Therefore, may I invite the White Master from Room Number One of Yesterday’s Heavenly Quarters to proceed to the second floor and enter the second round!”
Zhu Hao hadn’t expected such a twist and stood stunned, unable to react for a long moment. While he was dazed, Autumn Melody continued, “May I ask if the White Master from Room Number One of Yesterday’s Heavenly Quarters is present? Please proceed to the second floor and enter the second round!”
At that moment, Wei Xiaobao, who had been following behind Zhu Hao, snapped back to reality first and hurriedly tugged on Zhu Hao’s arm, “Master, they’re calling you!”
Without waiting for Zhu Hao’s mood, Wei Xiaobao loudly declared, “White Master is here! Our Master is here!”
With Wei Xiaobao’s sharp voice, all eyes in the hall turned to Zhu Hao, some filled with envy, others with jealousy, though mostly jealousy of Zhu Hao’s good fortune.
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Under the gaze of the crowd, Zhu Hao ascended the stairs again. Upon reaching the second floor, a maid led him to an elegant chamber and said, “Master, please wait here. The courtesan will arrive soon.”
Zhu Hao asked, puzzled, “Where are the ten gentlemen who came up before?”
The maid quickly explained, “Master, the second round is about attraction. All the nobles are placed in different chambers. The courtesan will visit each in turn and select those she finds pleasing to advance to the third round. Please wait here a moment.”
Zhu Hao’s face clouded with displeasure, thinking, “This feels just like palace concubine selection. I’m no cabbage to be picked and tossed around! Attraction my foot—it’s probably just about who has the most money! Such a vulgar excuse! Once I bring you home, I’ll replace the governess of my camp with you and let you experience real hardship. Let’s see if you remain so haughty then!”
Though disgruntled, Zhu Hao kept quiet for the sake of completing the system’s task and simply nodded to the maid.
About fifteen minutes later, someone pushed open the door and entered. Zhu Hao rose quickly, and upon seeing the visitor, was stunned—it was none other than Ziyan, whom he had met just yesterday. He stared at her in silence.
Ziyan still wore a veil covering her face. Through it, Zhu Hao saw her smile softly. Then she spoke, “White Master, it seems our fates are deeply entwined. We meet again today!”
Surprised, Zhu Hao asked, “Ziyan, why are you here? Are you the courtesan? But you’ve already debuted, so how is there a courtesan selection happening again?”
Ziyan smiled again and said, “Master, please be patient. Whether Ziyan is the courtesan, you’ll find out soon enough. Do you hope Ziyan is the courtesan?”
Zhu Hao was at a loss for words. He was only focused on completing the task, indifferent to who the courtesan might be. If it was this woman, all the better, since they had shared life-and-death experiences and were at least friends, if not close confidants, so he would not resist.
Seeing Zhu Hao’s silence, Ziyan continued, “White Master, you hesitate because you don’t want Ziyan to be the courtesan, right? What about me displeases you so much that you reject me?” Tears glistened in her eyes.
Zhu Hao thought, “What is this woman made of? Crying just like that? Such a headache!”
Though inwardly annoyed, Zhu Hao hurried to comfort her, “Ziyan, you’re overthinking. If you are the courtesan, I’d be lucky to marry a woman like you. How could I not want that?”
In truth, Zhu Hao’s words were merely polite reassurance. Yet to his surprise, Ziyan’s tears immediately turned to smiles, and she asked eagerly, “Is what you say truly sincere?”
Seeing her smile, Zhu Hao, fearing she might cry again, quickly replied, “Of course it’s sincere!”
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Ziyan smiled and nodded, then said, “Very well, Master. You need not compete in the courtesan selection. Today, Ziyan shall marry you, shall she not?”
Zhu Hao hesitated, unsure how to respond. He thought, “Am I just incredibly lucky? This Ziyan, who may or may not be the courtesan, wants to marry me already. But all I want right now is to win the courtesan title to complete the system’s task. How can I answer her without deeply hurting this woman who has shared life and death with me?”
Lost in thought, Zhu Hao remained silent. Ziyan, seeing his hesitation, pouted, “Master, you lied just now. You don’t want to marry Ziyan, do you? If so, I was just imagining things! Ziyan takes her leave!”
Though she spoke thus, Ziyan did not turn away but stood there with tears streaming down her face. There’s a saying: a woman’s tears are the best weapon to defeat a man. Zhu Hao, seeing her tear-streaked face, went blank and lost the ability to think. Knowing his true feelings himself, he blurted out, “Ziyan, you’ve misunderstood. I do want to marry you!”
After saying this, Zhu Hao snapped back to reality but it was too late—his words were out, and he could not go back on them. Regretting his impulsiveness, he thought, “Xiaobao, I’m sorry! Looks like this task is doomed to fail!” Despite his frustration at agreeing so inexplicably, the die was cast. Zhu Hao nodded to Ziyan, assuring her he wouldn’t renege.
Ziyan’s smile grew even brighter. Then she called outside, “Juan’er, go inform the ten gentlemen that they did not pass the second round!”
An attendant outside replied, “Yes, Miss! But the third round—”
Ziyan immediately interrupted, “There will be no third round. I have made my choice. My husband is White Master! You may go and inform Aunt Qiu!”
Afterward, the attendant answered, “Yes, Miss! Congratulations, Miss! Congratulations, Master!”
Listening to their exchange, Zhu Hao understood Ziyan’s true identity and mused to himself, “A blessing in disguise indeed! Ziyan is the courtesan after all—what a pleasant surprise!”
What Zhu Hao never suspected was that this courtesan’s groom selection was actually an elaborate scheme aimed solely at him—a grand deception. His rollercoaster of loss, gain, loss, and regain had all been orchestrated by others.