Black Myth: Starting from the Destined One
Chapter 370 - 255: Doing Business_2

Chapter 370: Chapter 255: Doing Business_2

"I just left in such a hurry today that I didn’t bring so much money,"

The maid laughed, "A mere five thousand taels, madam can send it over when she has the time."

A mere?

Madame Zheng found this even more shocking.

She had thought that the Red Mansion was all about making money.

But now it felt...

Like they didn’t care about money at all.

The five thousand taels were merely an admission ticket.

Then the maid took out a transparent token, handing it over to Madame Zheng with both hands:

"This is the membership token of the Red Mansion, please keep it safe, madam."

Madame Zheng received the token and couldn’t help but be dazzled by it.

She didn’t know what material the token was made from, resembling jade yet not jade, like stone yet not stone.

It was ice-cold to the touch, and as crystal clear like a block of ice.

Madame Zheng felt that just the token alone might be worth more than a thousand taels.

This place truly is opulent!

"It’s said that this object is called glazed glass, each one is a unique piece in the world," the maid explained timely.

"Hmm."

Madame Zheng nodded, knowing the rarer something is, the more valuable it is. This unheard-of object was definitely a treasure.

It seemed the Red Mansion was indeed no simple place.

After a deep glance at the maid’s exposed thigh, Madame Zheng stepped inside.

As soon as she entered, a melodious and graceful song started to play.

Madame Zheng shivered slightly; this was unlike any song from the Great Song.

The melody was easy to understand, and the lyrics were astonishingly exquisite.

A few simple lines of the song were enough to mesmerize Madame Zheng.

[What kind of place is this really?]

[Who exactly is behind this Red Mansion?]

"Madam, look,"

Ling’er whispered softly, pointing ahead.

Madame Zheng came back to her senses and was even more stunned as she followed the direction of the gaze.

In front of her was the grand hall of the Red Mansion.

In the center, a stage was set up where several extremely beautiful women were dancing gracefully.

Familiar faces sat all around.

Prime Minister Cai Jing, Intendants of the Secretariat Tong Guan, Liang Shicheng, Wang Fu...

[No wonder that maid was so confident.]

[Just as Zhou Yanbang said, this place truly is elegant.]

[These senior officials are sitting and drinking, periodically clapping in approval, unlike the debauchery of other places.]

Aside from her shock, Madame Zheng felt even more anxious.

All these high officials gathered in one place; this was not a good sign.

With that in mind,

Madame Zheng hurriedly moved to one side and spoke in a low voice:

"Miss, please take me to see your shopkeeper."

"Please wait a moment, madam."

The hosting girl was not surprised; nearly every visitor to the elegant dwelling wanted to meet her employer—this had become the norm.

In not too long a time, Madame Zheng pushed the door open and entered.

She was taken aback by the sight of a man and a woman in the room.

This woman was even more alluring than those in the imperial palace.

And the young man was also exceptionally handsome.

It was evident that he was the one in charge.

"You are actually a man?!"

Li Ping’an heard this and laughed, "Should I not be a man?"

Madame Zheng did not speak.

In her mind, the owner of the Red Mansion, who could produce such enticing clothes and was skilled in matters of the bedroom, ought to have been a woman.

That’s why she had wanted to come and discuss matters.

Seeing Li Ping’an now, she inevitably thought of retreating.

Especially with Li Ping’an’s teasing smile, which startled Madame Zheng somewhat.

"Does the madam have any business with me?" Li Ping’an asked with a smile.

"You, you really are the shopkeeper of this Red Mansion?"

Madame Zheng still found it hard to believe.

She couldn’t understand how a previously unknown young man could have the financial means to manage all this.

"Guaranteed genuine!"

"Then..."

Madame Zheng still couldn’t bring herself to speak to a man about it.

Yet Li Ping’an seemed to have guessed her intention, waving his hand and saying, "You all leave first."

Ling’er looked at Madame Zheng for instructions.

"You go ahead as well."

When only the two of them were left in the room, Li Ping’an got straight to the point:

"Madam has come here, perhaps concerning a matter of favoritism?"

How could that be answered?

Madame Zheng was unwilling to discuss this issue with a man.

Li Ping’an smiled and said, "Don’t be nervous, a guest once they step through the door."

"Originally, the famous courtesan Li Shishi, she was more open-minded than madam."

Upon hearing this,

Madame Zheng’s heart tightened fiercely, and she couldn’t wait to ask:

"Did Li Shishi really come here?"

"What did she buy?"

Women over thirty need most is to regain their confidence.

Once she was assured, Madame Zheng had no time to worry about bashfulness.

[Indeed, she must be from the palace!]

Li Ping’an confirmed his guess, it seemed the lady before him came here to vie for favor.

"Please take a look, madam."

Li Ping’an displayed a row of bizarre objects.

Madame Zheng looked curiously; besides a cheongsam, there were also two semi-circular black covers.

Beneath was a triangular lacy intimate...

Plus a pair of fox ears, and a fluffy tail!

They looked indescribably seductive and provocative.

"What are these things?"

Li Ping’an chuckled and said, "This little thing is called lingerie, worn close to the body, these ears are to be worn on the head, and as for the tail, well, you can figure that out yourself."

Madame Zheng was not slow, and his words made her instantly understand the use.

Her face instantly turned crimson, and she said through gritted teeth:

"What kind of demon and ghost clothing is this!"

"Take it away, quickly take it away!"

Despite her words,

Madame Zheng’s eyes kept scanning over it.

"Madam is mistaken!"

Li Ping’an solemnly said, "They say food and sex are natural, and matters of men and women are but norms of human relationships. Where do demons and ghosts come into it?"

"Madam, judge for yourself, how is this garment?"

"It looks not bad, but how could one wear this outside..."

"Isn’t that settled then?"

Li Ping’an rolled his eyes and said, "The joy of the bedroom is indeed a private matter."

"As long as madam and her husband are happy, that’s good. Who cares what others say?"

This speech was very seductive, and Madame Zheng felt somewhat tempted.

Li Ping’an struck while the iron was hot, saying, "Look at that Li Shishi, she could put aside her pride, that’s why she has her status today."

"I hear she’s coming again these days to buy some new items."

"As long as you can win Official Zhao’s favor, becoming an Imperial Concubine in the future is not out of the question."

This remark deeply stabbed Madame Zheng’s sore spot.

What she feared most was her position as Empress being undermined.

Without hesitation at this moment, she looked at Li Ping’an and said, "Did Li Shishi buy the same thing?"

"This is a new model, Li Shishi’s set isn’t as good as this one."

"Then... then give me a set of this clothing."

Indeed,

No woman can resist the temptation of comparison.

Li Ping’an smiled and said, "That will be eleven thousand taels of silver!"

"How much?!"

Madame Zheng incredulously widened her eyes.

"You dare charge ten thousand taels for just a bit of fabric, have you shopkeepers lost your minds wanting money?!"

Li Ping’an, unconcerned, corrected, "Not ten thousand taels, eleven thousand taels!"

"A thousand taels for the clothes, ten thousand for the beast ears and tail."

"This pair of ears and tail are the essence of this outfit."

Madame Zheng did not wish to argue further, quickly saying: "I don’t need the tail, it looks eerily disturbing."

"I’ll only take the two pieces of clothing and that long dress outside."

A set of lingerie and a cheongsam are worth how much?

A bit of haggling to earn a thousand taels would be a disappointment to Li Ping’an.

"Madam might not know, but this tail is of paramount importance!"

"How so?"

"If I’m not mistaken, madam must have come from the palace, right?"

Madame Zheng lightly nodded, neither denying nor confirming.

Li Ping’an continued earnestly, saying, "Then you must know, the current Official Zhao is a man who enjoys romantic affairs, frequently visiting Li Shishi, Zhao Yuannu."

"What he seeks is the thrill of taming beasts."

"This desire to conquer is a man’s lifelong pursuit!"

"Imagine, madam transforming into a white fox..."

"Stop stop stop! Say no more!"

"I’ll buy it already!"

Madame Zheng hurriedly stopped Li Ping’an’s words, as images had already begun to form in her mind.

Forget the Emperor; just the thought was making her restless!

Quickly make the purchase!