With a captivating smile.
She even threw Jiang Feng a suggestive look.
It had to be said, the charm of a mature woman was indeed exaggerated, with curves above and below, the inadvertent flash of white skin and the silhouette tracing down her waist alone was enough to make one's body heat up.
That pure natural allure was something those teenage girls couldn't compare with, as symbolized by Liu Xianzi's well-known saying.
"Kids don't understand the appeal of an older sister."
However, Mr. Jiang now seemed noticeably frightened, his legs shaking, looking as if he was on the verge of running away.
Timid as a mouse, Mr. Jiang.
"Am I really this unlucky? Getting caught red-handed in a murder revenge during a torrential rain, is that it? What happened to the transmigrator's luck?"
"What background does this woman have? How much does she know? Does she want me dead or does she want to help me? Can't she be straightforward?"
"Stop being so cryptic, my dear sister, or rather, my ancestor, or even my mother, just tell me straightforwardly what you want."
Speechless and suffocated.
He truly didn't know what to do now.
Looking at Su Yi's smiling demeanor, one could surmise she wanted to help him, but they were complete strangers; why would someone falsify testimony and cover up a manslaughter for him out of boredom?
On the other hand, if she meant to harm him, he couldn't sense any malice from her, instead, she kept luring him by suggesting he bring a girl inside for fun, but he was completely unable to see through or guess what Su Yi was thinking.
Seeing the young man's expression, the woman smiled even more cheerily.
This poor fellow had undergone so much in such a short time and his violent secret was pried open, naturally making him fearful and distrusting of anyone.
So, she reached out to gently grab the collar of the young man's shirt, her ample bosom pressing directly against his arm, but this time Jiang Feng complied more obediently, letting himself be slowly pulled over by her hand.
Pressing her rosy lips close to the young man's ear.
"A while ago, the Peak Master came to Qingshui County on business, and given her personality, she naturally wouldn't want to stay in our brothel, so… it troubled Young Master Jiang for three months."
A single sentence instantly stabilized the nearly frantic Jiang Feng, his heart rate flattening like a tranquilizer had taken effect.
His whole body relaxed, his brain began functioning again, and all the previous anxiety seemed as if it had never happened.
Scared half to death, so it turns out they are allies after all.
"Su Yi's mother, who is this young master, for you to entertain in person, he looks somewhat unfamiliar, could it be that today Madam Su Yi is planning to indulge?"
Terrified and clutching his chest, he felt as if he was about to have a heart attack, when suddenly, an ill-timed voice from above interrupted their actions.
Looking up, about a dozen young and beautiful girls were on the second floor chattering about something, occasionally giggling amongst themselves.
Usually, as the madam here and also the Pavilion Master, Su Yi only managed the basic reception of guests, leading the way or making casual conversation, never indulging in too much physical intimacy with clients, but today, Su Yi was noticeably behaving oddly.
Talking for such a long time, not to mention pulling him close to whisper, these actions undoubtedly fueled the gossip amongst the idle girls, speculating if Su Yi had a taste for this.
Fancying young pretty boys?
"Are you asking for a whipping, girl?"
A single sentence made the leading girl obediently shut her mouth and retreat into the crowd, eliciting boisterous laughter from the sisters on the second floor.
However, Jiang Feng's expression suddenly became strange, especially upon hearing the title "Mother Su Yi," but he quickly recalled that this was probably the common term used in brothels for madams.
In most brothels, the madams belong to the managerial layer, and some are both the madam and the proprietor, which is also the case at Ethereal Violet Pavilion.
Whether they are entertaining guests, chatting on the second floor due to a lack of patrons, or playing musical instruments, they all call Su Yi "Mother."
In this era where slavery has not yet been abolished, most of these girls were actively purchased by Ethereal Violet Pavilion, or their families sold them for a good price, so these showy girls are considered Su Yi's private property.
In other words, on a day when she is in a bad mood, she could pick a few to kill to vent her anger, and the authorities wouldn't have the right to interfere, a truly bad custom in this feudal society.
But clearly, Su Yi does not have such a temperament; amid her scolding, there was an unmistakable trace of affection in her eyes, showing her apparent fondness for the young girl.
This affection seemed odd to Jiang Feng, as in his eyes Su Yi wasn't old at all, even younger than himself who had been constantly pressured to marry in his previous life, and was at a most charming age.
Yet in this era, her age would indeed generally be over a decade older than the fluttering young girls in the brothel, so being called "Mother" was normal.
However, her conversation was interrupted, Su Yi chose to stand up; she wasn't as leisurely as the girls upstairs waiting for clients, as she had work to do and other guests to attend to.
"Sir, Su Yi needs to attend to other guests, please excuse me."
With a slightly apologetic bow, Jiang Feng had intended to ask something else, but the other party simply gave him a reproachful glance.
Understood.
She was telling him to wait until she was off duty.
The music played on, dancers continued to perform on stage, and just looking at the main hall there seemed to be dozens of people, probably a hundred when including those in the rooms and backyard.
"Business is booming even on a stormy day."
He muttered.
With his good eyesight, he could see the wall near the counter covered with densely packed wooden boards about the size of a palm, hanging on the wall, with the names of the girls written on them.
Those flipped over indicated girls currently with clients; those not flipped meant they were waiting, just like the chattering group upstairs.
Following the names downward... he almost bit his tongue!
"Hiss!"
"Three silvers? Five silvers? These must be charged by the day, right?"
The prices made Jiang Feng's eyes pop.
In those days, earning a few silvers a year meant one wouldn't starve; for ordinary households, three silvers a month was about right, but five a day? That's a month's salary...Hmm?
He counted on his fingers, then suddenly it seemed reasonable, wasn't it the same in his world? Regular workers visiting high-end clubs could easily spend a month's salary.
Watching Su Yi bustling at the front desk, whenever a guest called out to her as they took a girl upstairs or to the backyard, she would smilingly flip over a wooden board on that wall.
But from Jiang Feng's current demeanor, upon knowing that Su Yi was acquainted with Liu Xianzi, he seemed more relaxed.
He began to speculate about their relationship in his heart, their tone seemed to suggest a hierarchical relationship, and he remembered Liu Xianzi mentioning she was, what was it... Swordmaster Peak?
As he was muttering, a rather strong fragrance wafted towards him, and before the young man could see clearly, someone boldly sat down next to him.
"Young master, may Peony also sit here?"