Chapter 1-3

No matter how young Bai Shixuan was, there was no way he could be unbothered by the smell and filth coming from his own body. In particular, whenever he saw the women grimace as they washed him, he could barely bring himself to raise his head. But if he wanted to fill his starving stomach, he had to endure this humiliation. After all, he was not the one suffering—the courtesans were.

“Oh my? This child…….”

“A Semu? No, is he mixed?”

After washing him for one sikgyeong, the women noticed the snow-white skin and brown-tinged hair that had emerged and began whispering among themselves.

“Still, he’s pretty.”

“Here.”

Just as the women were admiring Bai Shixuan’s appearance, the girl of around ten whom he had seen earlier handed them some clothes. The women took the garments from her and immediately began dressing Bai Shixuan in them.

“Oh my, they suit you.”

“They really do.”

The woman said that while looking at Bai Shixuan with a pleased smile, but his expression gradually stiffened. The clothes the women had put on him were garments worn by women. Looking at Bai Shixuan dressed in the light, flowing clothes, the women struggled to hold back their laughter.

“It can’t be helped. We don’t have anything that fits you. At least it’s fortunate you’re about the same size as Xuelan.”

Bai Shixuan turned his head toward the girl called Xuelan. She had silky hair, skin like white jade, and delicately arranged, adorable features. Though still young, her beauty was already extraordinary. Judging by the qin she carried, she seemed to be a courtesan who sold her music rather than her body. She was still too young for the latter, after all.

“Come now, you should thank Xuelan for lending you her clothes. Go on.”

“I-I’m Xuelan. N-Nice to meet you.”

When the women placed Bai Shixuan in front of Xuelan, she bowed her head deeply in greeting. Perhaps she was still uncomfortable speaking with boys, because she even stammered. Watching her, Bai Shixuan opened his mouth.

“Bai Shixuan.”

When Bai Shixuan answered briefly, Xuelan raised her head. She saw Bai Shixuan looking at her with an utterly emotionless expression. He was clearly younger than she was, yet his gaze somehow intimidated her, and Xuelan lowered her head again. The women watching the two of them sighed, then led Bai Shixuan and Xuelan away once more.

“You’re hungry, aren’t you? Shall we get you something to eat first?”

When the women brought Bai Shixuan to their quarters, all but one woman and Xuelan soon returned to their own rooms. The woman who remained took Bai Shixuan into her room, and Xuelan followed behind them.

“Why did you come too?”

“Th-This is my room. I share it with Sister Choryeong.”

At Xuelan’s words, Bai Shixuan looked at the woman named Choryeong, and she nodded with a smile.

“Wait here. I’ll bring something to eat right away. You have time for a meal, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

Bai Shixuan answered Choryeong’s question briefly. Choryeong smiled and nodded at his reply, then soon left the room. Bai Shixuan sat down in a chair that had been prepared inside, while Xuelan, despite being the actual owner of the room, began fidgeting awkwardly, unsure what to do.

“What are you doing? Isn’t that heavy?”

“I-It is.”

“Then put it down. Why are you still holding it?”

When Bai Shixuan pointed at the qin Xuelan was holding and asked, she lowered her head deeply as she answered. Xuelan soon placed her qin down in one corner of the room and sat across from Bai Shixuan.

“Um, how old are you?”

“Eight.”

“I-I’m twelve.”

“So?”

When Xuelan said she was twelve, Bai Shixuan looked at her and asked back indifferently. Xuelan immediately lowered her head again.

“E-Even so, I’m older than you.”

She muttered it very quietly, but the room was so silent that Bai Shixuan heard every word clearly. At Xuelan’s remark, he could not stop himself from laughing. It had been a long time since he had laughed. His days had been too difficult for laughter. Ever since he could remember, he had been beaten by beggars, and after that he became a wandering swordsman’s sword attendant and continued living through hardship. He could not even remember how long it had been since he last laughed. The sight of this quite adorable girl—no, a girl who would become an extraordinary beauty once she grew up—being so flustered by someone four years younger than herself was rather endearing.

“Why are you here?”

“I came with my master.”

“Your master? Are you a slave?”

“Something like that. A sword attendant.”

Bai Shixuan answered Xuelan’s questions briefly. Well, if one wanted to call a sword attendant a slave, then it was close enough. At Bai Shixuan’s answer, Xuelan nodded and fell silent again, and soon the room was once more wrapped in silence.

“What about you?”

“Me? I’m a courtesan here.”

“I know. But you’re young. I meant why you’re here.”

“I’m an orphan……. The madam raised me.”

So she had been raised from childhood to become a courtesan. The madam probably treasured Xuelan quite a bit. Her beauty alone was exceptional. She was still young, but there was no doubt she would grow into a breathtaking beauty. She would probably be worth a great deal. Once her beauty fully blossomed, countless men would likely visit this pleasure house simply to see her, even if she never sold her body. And men of high status would undoubtedly demand her body from her. Bai Shixuan had the distinct feeling that was exactly what would happen.

“You’re having a hard life at such a young age.”

“I-I’m still your older sister, you know.”

When Bai Shixuan muttered softly, Xuelan heard him and snapped back indignantly. Bai Shixuan glanced at her, sighed, and then noticed Choryeong peeking through the slightly opened door with a smile. When their eyes met, Choryeong smiled awkwardly, opened the door fully, and came inside.

“You waited a long time, didn’t you? It was hard sneaking this away without the cooks noticing. Here, eat.”

“Thank you.”

Choryeong placed the food on the table. There was meat. Roast duck, perhaps. There were also several fairly elaborate dishes. Judging from the small portions, however, they appeared to be leftovers from the guests. But what did that matter? As Bai Shixuan hurriedly reached for the food, Choryeong and Xuelan also began eating. Before long, however, the two of them quietly stopped and simply watched Bai Shixuan devour the meal ravenously.

“Was it good?”

Choryeong asked as she watched Bai Shixuan looking satisfied after eating rich food for the first time in ages. Bai Shixuan nodded at her question. How long had it been since he had eaten a proper meal? Cao Zhenshi had always eaten the food himself and given Bai Shixuan little more than scraps that could barely even be called food. So even though this was merely food left behind by guests, eating a proper meal put Bai Shixuan in an undeniably good mood.

“Then wait here. I’ll bring some tea.”

After speaking to the satisfied Bai Shixuan, Choryeong gathered the dishes and rose from her seat.