Chapter 424
In truth, other courtesans, whether they be top-tier courtesans or refined companions, could engage in deep conversations during their overnight stays.
But Hua Nongying was different; she had no price and truly did not sell her body.
Or rather... her body was at least not for sale.
Because of this, Hua Nongying became even more sought after.
...
**Chapter 470: So, I... will take my leave?**
"Since we can use money, let's spend a little, even if it's just a bit," Li Mo said, showing no interest in the vulgarity of pretentious poetry.
"That's not just a little money, and if spending money were useful..." Xie Xuan sighed, "I started as a guest too, but eventually, I pawned everything except my sword."
"......"
Li Mo had previously wondered how the young master of Tianshan Sword Manor had fallen to the level of a servant.
Turns out he had been drained dry.
"If you can think that way, it means..."
"Nongying is indeed noble and refined, not the kind of vulgar woman who loves money."
"...... The sycophants are really something."
At this moment, other guests had already begun to bid. The requirement for a 'word worth a thousand gold' was extremely high; it had to stir some waves in the literary circles of the imperial capital, otherwise, how could one talk about fame?
Most of the literati capable of writing such poetry were unlikely to be sitting here with money to spare.
The price soared.
From twelve hundred taels of gold, it climbed to five thousand.
Staying overnight was still ninety-nine point nine percent just for tea and conversation, which was absurd.
"Five thousand taels of gold, plus a sheep fat jade pendant!"
"How dare you bring out a broken jade pendant? I'll add a cat's eye ring from the Western Regions and a pair of Buddha light jade bracelets!"
The wealthy guests were throwing money around, some even took off their precious belongings and tossed them into the fray. In an instant, gold rained down, and treasures were treated like mere weeds.
They were flushed and panting, all just to earn a smile from the beauty.
Gold, treasures, beauty.
Everything in the Fengyue Xiaozhu seemed to strike at the nerves of the onlookers.
Hua Nongying sat on the stage, a sweet smile playing on her lips, but a hint of boredom flickered in her eyes.
She had seen too many scenes like this; her thoughts were entirely focused on the figure not far away.
He was truly special.
The maid said that Li Mo had once considered buying out the entire venue; his financial power was unquestionable, yet now he sat there, calm and collected, his expression mirroring her own feelings.
Both were somewhat helpless.
"Madam, isn't he going to buy out the place? Why is he so unmoved now?" the maid asked, puzzled.
"I guess he realized I'm not interested in gold and silver," Hua Nongying said, slightly lifting her chin.
She had to admit, her heart was racing a bit faster than usual.
Hua Nongying was used to the powerful and wealthy, who would lose themselves in her presence. But someone like him, who hadn’t even glanced her way since entering, was a first for her.
Han Xianzi... truly has an eye for talent.
However, she thought that Ying Bing surpassing her on the Hundred Flowers List was also due to her ranking in the Top Three of the Hidden Dragon List. After all, people tended to view a spirited heroine through rose-colored glasses, while no matter how much she refused to sell herself, she was still a woman of the night.
But, a woman of the night had her own advantages.
A heroine wouldn’t know how to deal with men like she did.
Hmm?
The man in the straw hat next to Li Mo looked somewhat familiar.
"Wasn't his name something like Xie... Xie Xuan?"
Hua Nongying barely recalled his name.
She remembered it because Xie Xuan was relatively well-known, and guests occasionally mentioned him.
In fact, during their first meeting, she had been somewhat interested in this second-ranked Hidden Dragon.
But Xie Xuan liked her too much, quickly becoming her devoted admirer, which was quite disappointing.
It was like hunting; you hear there's a fierce tiger on the mountain, so you prepare thoroughly, honing your skills and setting traps.
But when the tiger sees you, it runs into a tree and dies.
At this moment, she suddenly saw Li Mo nodding helplessly, whispering something in Xie Xuan's ear.
Xie Xuan's face lit up with joy as he stood up, calling out boldly:
"Pen and ink at your service!"
"Madam?"
Hua Nongying immediately understood, nodding, "Yes, send it over."
So, he wasn't playing hard to get.
He was genuinely helping Xie Xuan?
What had the little tyrant just told Xie Xuan?
At the table, Xie Xuan picked up the brush, his strokes elegant, as if a swordsman’s writing was never lacking.
He quickly wrote down the line of poetry that Little Li had just recited in his ear and handed it to the maid to take away.
"Brother Li, I can't thank you enough, but why is there only one line?"
Xie Xuan was curious about the complete poem.
"One line is enough," Li Mo said, covering his face and waving his hand.
He had no desire for the thrill of showing off in front of others; instead, he felt awkward, wanting to dig his toes into the ground.
He wasn't really a refined person, and calling this poetry was a stretch; it was more like plagiarism, and to use it to show off was just ridiculous.
Suddenly, he felt a small hand slip away from his palm.
"What’s wrong?"
Han Bing, expressionless, smiled and said, "A single line of verse can carry someone's name; it's quite well-written."
"!"
The maid approached with the rice paper and placed it on the table.
"What he wrote is..."
Hua Nongying's gaze fell on the paper, and she suddenly froze.
"To dance and play with the clear shadows, how is it like in the mortal realm?"
At this moment, the 'thousand gold' segment had already produced a final winner.
A wealthy merchant from the imperial capital, having spent a fortune, revealed a victorious smile, turning back to invite the beauty to join him.
But he found Hua Nongying sitting there, dazed, her eyes sparkling, her cheeks flushed.
She was still smiling, but instead of the demeanor of a top courtesan, she resembled a young girl:
"Young Master Li, a single word is worth more than a thousand gold; I am willing to talk with you all night long."
"Haha, I knew it... huh?"
Xie Xuan had just jumped up, but something felt off, and he choked on his words.
Everyone else: "?"
Why not?
A word worth a thousand gold sounds nice, but what word could compare to real gold and silver?
Could it be that they were impressed by his youth and fame?
The wealthy merchant who had just won the bid loudly asked, "May I ask what kind of masterpiece is more precious than my box of jewels?"
"I think... there's no need to read it out loud."
Little Li really couldn't hold it in anymore; a feeling called social death was spreading wildly in his heart...
The wealthy merchant looked at him with suspicion.
At this moment, under Hua Nongying's signal, the maid brought the rice paper before the merchant.
"Just one line?"
He frowned and glanced at it, his expression gradually solidifying, turning somewhat dejected.
He cupped his hands toward Li Mo and sat down without saying anything.
"Then please, Young Master Li, stay; I shall take my leave."
Hua Nongying's clothing shifted slightly, revealing a hint of her fragrant shoulder, though it was unclear if it was intentional or accidental.
Her words hinted at sending off the guests.
The other guests began to rise, preparing to leave.
"....."
Han Bing, with a half-smile, also stood up, her eyes saying:
"So, I... will take my leave too?"
"Wait a moment!"
...
**Chapter 471: The Dimensional Strike of Han Xianzi**
The night in the imperial capital was vibrant and colorful.
Hua Nongying looked at the young man standing there, still wearing a face of propriety, and her heart raced uncontrollably.
This was the first time in her life she felt this way.
She felt like the prey.
To dance and play with the clear shadows, how is it like in the mortal realm?
Just from these two lines, one could glimpse the extraordinary nature of the entire poem.
Yet, the young man had not written the full poem; he had deliberately presented a line that connected the previous and the next, one that bore her name, making her heart feel like it was being clawed by a cat.
If she had the complete poem, her name would spread across the world, and perhaps she could return to the top three of the Hundred Flowers List...
Hua Nongying's enchanting gaze flitted between Xie Xuan and Li Mo as she chuckled, "Young Master Li, please don’t say this poem was written by Xie Xuan; I’ve experienced his literary talent firsthand."
"?"
Li Mo looked at Xie Xuan, realizing he had also written poetry at Fengyue Xiaozhu before, and asked, "What did you write?"
"I... I..."
Xie Xuan's face turned red, stammering for a long time before finally saying, "I once visited the Hengyun Sword City in Yunzhou and heard that a former elder was quite talented, so I secretly noted down one of his masterpieces..."
"..... Why didn’t you say so earlier?"
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