Plan A
The Days and Nights of the Courtesan 3
The Fortunate Woman
Master Fourteen, do you have that kind of ability that makes people feel completely powerless, along with chest tightness, shortness of breath, and maybe even spitting blood?
For some people, a direct threat is more intimidating than flowery words because they are afraid of death, very afraid of death.
【Yes.】
So cool?
Su Xin whistled inwardly. This system function sounds quite powerful. If she could always use this skill to threaten people, wouldn’t everything be easily within her grasp?
【But there are conditions.】
Fourteen continued slowly.
Su Xin sneered internally. She thought, there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and if it falls from the sky, it would be an iron bun.
Sure enough, the iron bun arrived immediately.
【Using it once costs 1/12 of your life.】
Swindler! Swindler!
She completed a task, let’s not even mention how much time and effort it took, and only got one year in return. Using this ability just once would deduct 1/12 of her lifespan. Su Xin felt like her heart was bleeding.
This is exploitation, this is vampire behavior! Is this worthy of socialism? This is the abhorrent capitalism! Doesn’t your conscience hurt?
【No, my conscience doesn’t hurt. Our system doesn’t need a conscience.】
Su Xin began to think of other feasible methods. If she couldn’t cheat using the system’s ability, she could rely on her own combat skills. Although her physical condition was not as good as before, far from it actually, her techniques were still there.
As a top-tier assassin, Su Xin didn’t know how to disguise herself with human skin masks or make poison with herbs. It’s not her fault; she used makeup to alter her appearance, but in this world, there’s no lipstick, eyebrow pencils, or eyeliner, let alone anything more advanced. What could she use to change her appearance?
And as for poison, if she could use it, it would be the latest bio-agents she researched. She wasn’t a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner; how could she know how to concoct something with herbs?
However, Su Xin was highly skilled with both hot and cold weapons. As long as she had a handy weapon, it would be easy to threaten someone with no combat skills.
Su Xin suddenly thought of a problem: since this was an ancient setting, and specifically ancient China, did the concept of Jianghu exist here? Like in TV shows, with people flying around and using inner strength.
【Yes, Host, I can responsibly tell you, it exists.】
Su Xin felt a twitch at her temple and raised her hand to rub it.
Master Fourteen, besides obtaining life points by completing tasks, is there any other way I can get things? You see, you deduct my points every time I use this ability, so isn’t there some method you can use to add them back?
【…Yes.】
The host is not dumb, Fourteen thought with a hint of regret. They preferred hosts who were not very smart but had a little bit of cleverness—those who always tried to exploit loopholes to gain advantages. However, if they were too stupid, they couldn’t complete the tasks, and normal communication would be impossible, severely affecting the progress.
What method?
【Trigger various side quests. If such tasks are triggered, I will definitely inform you. After all, this is a mutually beneficial situation; I have no reason to harm you.】
System Fourteen’s flat mechanical voice echoed in Su Xin’s mind.
Master Fourteen, since I have to use my life points to obtain these things, can you throw in a little extra item?
【What?】
A pill! One that looks like poison and tastes like poison; otherwise, what can I use to threaten people?
Su Xin’s palm revealed a small, round, red pill.
Thank you, Master Fourteen.
【You’re welcome.】
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Su Xin returned to the entrance of Ta Yan’s room and raised her hand to knock on the door.
“Who is it?”
Ta Yan’s mood was noticeably bad, and her words carried a hint of anger.
“Mother, it’s me, Xue Yao.”
“Come in.”
There was a moment of silence in the room before Ta Yan’s voice sounded again.
“What is it now? Don’t try to come up with any excuses. The day after tomorrow, you can’t avoid it. Don’t even think about it.”
“I want to show you something, Mother.”
“What?”
Su Xin slowly approached, and Ta Yan sat up straight, but was caught off guard when something was shoved into her mouth.
Produced by the system, guaranteed to be high quality.
The small red pill melted immediately upon entering her mouth. Ta Yan instinctively gagged, but couldn’t spit anything out. Her mouth was filled with a cloying sweetness, making her feel nauseated.
“What did you make me eat?”
“Since Mother wouldn’t agree with me, I had no choice but to resort to this.”
Although it wasn’t an honorable method, this kind of thing didn’t need to be done honorably. Su Xin didn’t consider herself righteous; she was simply using any means necessary to achieve her goals. Besides, it wasn’t really poison.
“Mother, this pill is quite special. Don’t even think about finding out its name or the antidote. I don’t need you to do anything for me or spend a fortune. I just need to remain a virgin.”
“Hmph, ungrateful wretch. Who knows what you’ve made me eat.”
Ta Yan wasn’t sure if it was real or just psychological, but she felt extremely uncomfortable in her mouth, nauseous and queasy, yet unable to spit anything out.
This could be considered the behavior of an ungrateful wretch. Su Xin smirked. After all, since she had come here, she had spent over a decade without any particularly harsh treatment, and she had never gone hungry. Although her life wasn’t luxurious, it was at least stable.
“Mother, I won’t hurt you. This is just a desperate measure. When I succeed someday, I will repay you a hundredfold, and repay this Zhaoxiu Tower.”
Su Xin bowed slightly to Ta Yan.
“Do you think I would believe you? Foolish.”
Ta Yan scolded with a frown.
“Mother, are you feeling dizzy now, with chest tightness and nausea? Soon, you’ll feel weak all over.”
Su Xin quickly urged the system to act, and Ta Yan indeed started to experience the symptoms Su Xin described.
Ta Yan was greatly alarmed, clutching her chest.
“Mother, I hope you can cancel the plan for that day according to my wishes.”
Su Xin closed the door and left, her faint perfume lingering in the room.
Ta Yan sat thinking for a long time, sighing in frustration.
“Miss! Miss! What did you do to provoke Mother? Mother wants to punish you!”
Shujuan knocked on the door anxiously.
“What happened?”
Su Xin, who was looking out the window, turned her gaze back.
“Mother wants to send you to the second floor. Oh my God, how could she do that?”
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In this brothel, those with some status stayed on the third floor, and Su Xin lived in the best room on the third floor. The second floor was very mediocre, serving those who had little money.
Su Xin being sent from the third floor to the second floor would surely make many people gloat over her misfortune.
“It’s fine, I’ll go. I have my own plans.”
Su Xin comforted Shujuan, giving her a gentle smile.
“Miss, how can I not be anxious? Miss, in just a few days… you will…”
Shujuan stammered, unable to continue.
“I have a plan, little girl. Why are you crying?”
Su Xin felt a bit helpless; this girl cried so easily.
“I’m worried about you, Miss.”
After all, being on the second floor was not a good fate.
“Shujuan, I want to participate in the Four Kingdoms Banquet.”
“What?”
Shujuan’s lips parted slightly, her eyes widened in surprise.
The Four Kingdoms Banquet, they didn’t even dare to think about it, why did Miss suddenly have such an idea?
“Even if I fail, I must try, Shujuan, I am not content.”
Su Xin used a handkerchief to wipe away Shujuan’s tears, looking into her eyes.
Shujuan stopped crying and instead gave Su Xin a big smile.
“Yes, Miss, you are the best in Shujuan’s heart. Shujuan will support you no matter what, even if it means life or death, Shujuan will follow you!”
No matter what decision Miss makes, she is the one Shujuan loves the most and will follow for the rest of her life, Shu Juan thought.
“Silly girl.”
Su Xin turned to look out the window again, unintentionally meeting the same gaze.
Su Xin immediately saw through the disguise; it was a woman dressed as a man, and the disguise was not very clever. The little girl next to her was also disguised.
【Host, friendly reminder, a person from another world has appeared nearby, she is the Daughter of Fortune. Befriending her would be beneficial for the mission.】
Oh? Is it her?
Su Xin looked at the girl dressed as a man who was still looking at her.
【Yes.】
Su Xin gave her a bright smile, then retracted her gaze and turned away, disappearing from the window.
“Miss, what are you looking at? Let’s go back, this is too strange.”
Hong’er tugged at He Yunshu’s sleeve.
Who knows what happened, the previously foolish and crazy young lady suddenly regained her sanity, then unleashed her power to deal with the wicked servants. Today, she even enthusiastically dressed as a man to wander the streets, saying she wanted to visit a brothel.
Visit a brothel? Is that a place for respectable young ladies?
He Yunshu ignored her and seemed a bit dazed.
It was just a fleeting glance, but their gazes met. The owner of those eyes had a strikingly beautiful face, her eyebrows and eyes full of unspoken allure. Then she smiled at her.
Like a stone falling into a calm lake, causing ripples.
So beautiful, an indescribable kind of beauty. So this is what ancient beauties looked like, He Yunshu thought with great admiration.
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Speaking of which, this should be a brothel, right? So that very beautiful woman just now is someone from the world of dust, He Yunshu felt a bit regretful.
“Alright, Hong’er, stop nagging.”
He Yunshu helplessly stopped her maid’s incessant chatter.
“Miss, let’s go back quickly.”
“Hong’er, do you know who lives in that room?”
He Yunshu tugged at Hong’er’s sleeve.
“The one on the third floor… it’s Miss Xue Yao.”
“Hong’er, didn’t you say that respectable young ladies shouldn’t discuss such things? How do you know who lives in that room?”
He Yunshu made a funny face.
“No, Miss, Miss Xue Yao is a very good person. She has helped many people and is a pure courtesan. But I’ve heard that in a few days, Miss Xue Yao is going to… I’m not sure either. Anyway, Miss, let’s hurry back to the manor.”
“Alright, alright, let’s go back.”
Visiting the past, how could one not visit a brothel? However, He Yunshu thought, brothels are more interesting at night.
Xue Yao… this name lingered in He Yunshu’s mouth, intriguing.