Chapter 30: You Cannot Control It at All
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The small courtyard where Bai Shuxuan resided was called the Jadeite Pavilion.
The owner of Myriad Blossoms Tower was well aware that most patrons came solely for Bai Shuxuan, so her Jadeite Pavilion was exceptionally spacious.
In fact, her Jadeite Pavilion, if set outside the Myriad Blossoms Tower, could stand alone as a brothel of its own.
Cheng Guang stepped into the Jadeite Pavilion. As soon as he entered, a red-clad maid with a gentle and refined appearance greeted him.
“Greetings, Your Grace.”
She spoke softly, then greeted Qiao Zhongshan, who stood behind Cheng Guang.
Cheng Guang raised his brows slightly. “You know who I am?”
The red-clad maid smiled politely. “Your Grace must be jesting. Who in the capital doesn’t know Your Grace? My mistress, upon hearing of your arrival, has already prepared a superior chamber for you, so you may be closer to Miss Bai.”
“Oh? Your mistress is quite swift in her arrangements. Lead the way.”
The maid replied gently, “My mistress pays little mind to others, but Your Grace is, after all, in a league of your own.”
With that, she promptly led Cheng Guang up the stairs to a refined seat on the top floor.
After sitting down, Cheng Guang glanced around at his leisure and noticed that the Jadeite Pavilion bore little resemblance to a traditional brothel; it was more akin to an open-air stage.
Apart from several rooms on the top floor, most people sat in the open, without any private, enclosed boxes.
It seemed the purpose of the Jadeite Pavilion’s design was simply to let as many people as possible behold Bai Shuxuan’s beauty; if one truly became an honored guest, most likely the real business would not be conducted here.
So Cheng Guang mused inwardly.
Qiao Zhongshan, having followed Cheng Guang to their seats, gazed about with excitement.
“Boss, look at this place today—there must be at least ten thousand people! It’s packed downstairs. This Bai Shuxuan must be truly something.”
“I wonder what it takes to become one of Bai Shuxuan’s privileged guests.”
As Qiao Zhongshan spoke, a hint of worry crept into his face.
“Boss, you know how famous Bai Shuxuan is. She handpicks her guests herself; it’s not something money alone can buy.”
“If it were a contest of wealth or martial skill, I might be able to help you, Boss. But if it’s poetry and the arts, I’m at a loss.”
“Look down there—many are students from the Great Zhou Academy. If it’s poetry, few could stand against them.”
Cheng Guang smiled faintly. “What’s there to fear? We’re here today just to enjoy the spectacle. Whether or not I’m chosen as her guest doesn’t matter.”
Qiao Zhongshan nodded vigorously. “You’re right, Boss. Though Bai Shuxuan is said to be stunning, she always appears veiled in white. Few have truly seen her face.”
“For all we know, she could be plain-looking, and it’s just Myriad Blossoms Tower boasting her up.”
“If that’s the case, both Bai Shuxuan and the Tower would be scorned by the masses.”
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Cheng Guang couldn’t help but chuckle at this.
Indeed, clickbaiters are despised in any era.
No matter how much something is hyped, if reality falls short, even the most mild-tempered would be enraged by the disappointment.
After all, so many people, including dignitaries and nobles, had squeezed into Myriad Blossoms Tower, only to be shown an ugly woman?
No doubt, the furious aristocrats would tear the entire tower apart.
As these thoughts flitted through Cheng Guang’s mind, a bold idea suddenly emerged.
That’s right.
His system’s task required him to take revenge on Bai Shuxuan. If, after seeing her, he spread word that she was merely average in looks—
With his authority as a noble, many would believe him without question.
No matter how beautiful Bai Shuxuan truly was, once that rumor spread, her image would be ruined in most people’s eyes.
Unless she was willing to remove her veil before the masses and let everyone see her face, her reputation would never recover.
Even if, eventually, her image was restored, Cheng Guang would have achieved his goal.
To force the saintess of the Fox Clan to unveil herself before countless people, to become a spectacle for all—such humiliation might be worse than death for her.
Wasn’t this the perfect revenge?
Not only would he complete the system’s task, he would lose nothing in the process.
The more Cheng Guang thought about his plan, the more ingenious it seemed.
The only challenge was how to become Bai Shuxuan’s honored guest.
Only by being chosen would people believe he’d truly seen her face, and believe his words.
Thoughts whirled in Cheng Guang’s mind before he quickly arrived at an answer.
“Bai Shuxuan appears at Myriad Blossoms Tower as the courtesan queen—not for fame, nor to actually take a patron, but to select a high-quality man, a wealthy fool, to exploit for money and resources.”
“In this crowd, no one holds more power than I do.”
“According to history, even without my arrival, the real young lord would have come to Myriad Blossoms Tower to witness Bai Shuxuan’s beauty.”
“Afterwards, he would be ensnared, chosen as her guest, and fall hopelessly in love—becoming her devoted follower without ever touching her hand.”
Cheng Guang muttered inwardly, “If that’s the case, even if I do nothing, Bai Shuxuan would try every means to make me her guest.”
At this thought, Cheng Guang’s expression grew peculiar.
He looked at the hopeful, anxious faces below, all yearning to be chosen by Bai Shuxuan, and couldn’t help but pity them.
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Bai Shuxuan was merely searching for a wealthy patron like himself.
A woman of her caliber—she was far too shrewd and cunning for them to handle.
Cheng Guang scoffed, his mind already forming suspicions, though he hadn’t confirmed them yet. He would need to observe further.
He wondered if Bai Shuxuan would secretly pave the way for him.
If she didn’t, and made him compete with the others, all he could say was that her methods were even more sophisticated than he’d imagined.
The classic bait—only those willing will bite the hook.
Cheng Guang wasn’t in a hurry. He sipped his tea calmly, surveying his surroundings with poise.
He seemed entirely at ease, but Qiao Songshan beside him was quite the opposite—nervous and fidgety.
Glancing at the sea of people below, Qiao Songshan wiped the sweat from his brow.
“So many people—the competition is fierce.”
“Boss may say we’re just here for fun, but you never know. What if we really get the chance?”
“Boss is so calm, but my palms are sweating. With so many people, the pressure is immense.”
“I can afford to lose face, but Boss can’t.”
“If there’s a chance, I must help Boss win Bai Shuxuan’s favor.”
He muttered on to himself.
Cheng Guang drank his tea, unfazed, letting Qiao Songshan’s chatter fade into the background.
After a while, an exclamation from Qiao Songshan startled him.
Cheng Guang turned, bewildered, to see Qiao Songshan pointing angrily at someone below.
“What the hell, Boss, Wen Qing and that little rascal are here too?”
…