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Soft rain trampled the stone paths, puddles forming under the eave returns and within the small dips in the road. A lithe woman dressed in regal red stood under a tall maidenhair tree, soggy yellow leaves falling off and landing at her feet.
She looked like some noble lady, clearly lost as her eyes wandered and she looked down at a piece of paper in her hand over and over again. Her eyes were a vibrant red, though it was hard to tell. They could easily be mistaken for a dark auburn with the context of her pale skin. Her eyes, framed by delicate lashes, were gazing downward at that sheet of parchment, no paler than her delicate fingers.
A bored pout decorated her countenance, a childish frown, until she came across an image.
“SHITTY MARKETING!”
Her yell echoed through the street, not as composed as a young mistress should be. The bustle of the streets halted as people turned, afraid she was after them. With a yell like that, it sounded like they were about to get beat.
A fat water droplet fell on the girl's head, soaking her side-swept bangs. She shook them out roughly with one hand, threading through. She then huffed, and swung out a crimson oilpaper umbrella, holding it overhead. She leaned against the tree behind as she observed the article closer, eyes frantic and shocked.
She stormed out into the rain, marching her way to a market stall. “Hey! Where's this establishment?” She shoved over the piece of paper.
An advertisement for a regionally famous pleasure house, known for being pricey. The stall-keeper was packing up for the day due to the downpour, and froze in his actions.
“U-um…” He stammered, losing his words as this young woman got closer and closer to him. Her intimidating glare continued to look less and less intimidating and more and more desperate “East of here. It's expensive, just warning you.”
The woman nodded, face darkening as she hurried East. Even in those shoes unfit for running and those un-dirtied red robes, she was fast as a brisk wind shooting by, Crimson sleeves fluttering.
Hua Cheng was in extreme distress mode. It had been 400 years since he'd last seen his highness Xie Lian-and that was when he killed himself! Now, the first sign of his Dianxia after so long was on a pleasure house's pamphlet!? What had his Dianxia been getting up to!? And, why hadn't that strange pamphlet been focusing on the wonderful drawing of him!? It had been focusing on the other services, with just a small image of him for marketing! What's up with that? He should be front and center, as the most stunning courtesan at that brothel!
On it, he saw a picture of a gorgeous woman, who had a soft, curvy figure with smooth pale skin, revealed sparingly for alluring marketing. Such a handsome face, how could he not recognize his beautiful god, even as a woman?
Though, to find him in such a place, disguised as a woman, it really was worrying. He hadn't been forced, had he!?
Hua Cheng was in a female form because, well, he had been forcing his way into a heavenly official’s conversation down in the mortal realm by hitting on them and acting like a junior official to find a good place for He Xuan, his fellow ghost king, to infiltrate so he could get revenge for his weird plan. Hua Cheng needed He Xuan indebted to him, for future favors like intel after getting him into the heavens.
Hua Cheng was currently going by the name Shen Feng, just an extra concealing procedure. She hurried down the street, rushing towards this pleasure house, mud splattering her tall boots. After running for a long while, eyes only flicking briefly at each sign on the road, she ended up in front of a tall establishment. Night had fallen amidst the afternoon rain, and Shen Yang had finally arrived. Soft golden lights shimmered outside the entrance. It reminded her of the Paradise Manor back in Ghost City, the wondrous red roof and delicate black accents, though white jade beads hung from the eaves and dangled, clinking at the lightest breeze.
Gentle beauties peered out the tall windows, winking at passersby. If Hua Cheng were any normal man, he may be tempted, but he was there for only one woman.
He couldn't change into a male form and pay so much money to see his beloved, he may worry that a man intends to sully him. So, she would stay as Shen Feng.
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“Xie-Jiejie! Do you need help taking out your hair?” A sweet young servant girl asked the courtesan she was dutifully assigned to. Her name was Sang Qiong, and the courtesan she had been assigned to was the house's pride and joy, Xie Nen. The wonderful, peerless beauty, like a blossoming flower.
This elegant courtesan had mastered many talents. Dancing, pipa playing, calligraphy, poetry, Go, and many many others. Sang Qiong felt herself lucky to have such a talented Jiejie, yet, she never would've expected, but her Xie-Jiejie was so informal! She would be startled at someone's entry, constantly fuss with her robes, and...she would treat everyone in the pleasure house the same. From the servant girls to the high ranking courtesans. There was no difference to her.
But, she felt sorry. Her Xie-Jiejie had risen so fast in popularity due to her prettiness that she never got a chance to meet all the cute young masters who stopped by to visit other courtesans! This Xie-Jiejie was too expensive, so she was always lonely, left in her room all day. She could often be found staring out the window, a longing expression on her face, a sigh leaving her lips and clouding the reflective surface.
“I'm, well…some water first, perhaps? I'm feeling quite hot under all these layers.” Xie Lian spoke. He had drank so much tea in the last week, he felt like he might choke. He didn't know why he was so dehydrated, wasn't tea mostly water, in the first place? Yet, no tea satiated his thirst.
It was a complete accident that he'd ended up here, anyway! He had accidentally discovered a scroll on transformation magic. He figured he might as well try it, to practice the motion in case for some reason he needed to change forms. There were a set of words omitted from the scroll, so he had no clue what he was getting himself into.
He used the technique.
And accidentally transformed into a woman! And an undeniably beautiful one, too. She had coated every bit of skin, including her hands, in cloth, her face masked using Ruoye and her bamboo hat.
Even despite these safety measures, she was found by a brothel and the old miss of the brothel begged her to serve as a courtesan. She couldn't bear to make a woman beg before her, it was improper, having been raised as a gentleman. She accepted, and ended up in this lofty room without escape.
She had even heard rumors of spirits haunting nearby establishments, and she couldn't travel for even a short period to go take care of them!
Sang Qiong nodded, and hurried off to retrieve some water for her Xie-Jiejie. Xie Lian, who chose the name Xie Nen, sighed once she left. She really felt that these robes were too tight, like her chest was spilling out the top. Having lived as a man her whole life, it was really quite the adjustment.
In her agreement with the old miss, they agreed that she would not provide sexual services so that she may adhere to her Daoist vow of chastity. Her beauty was so valuable, the old woman would sacrifice the money influx from such a service and settle for anything but that.
Xie Nen had found herself quite good at tricks. Since busking after her descent for a short time, she had gained many talents. She had both street-smarts and elegance. She was well-versed in literature and could entertain scholars with money to spend, but she also knew exactly what kind of praise men enjoyed hearing from pretty women.
Coos of “wow, so strong!” and “oh, i bet you could lift me easily, with one arm, even!” left her mouth constantly when faced with soldiers on vacation who had just received their paychecks.
She could write perfectly, talk perfectly, read perfectly, and looked perfectly goddess-like! She really was just perfect. And yet, there were so few visitors due to her high prices. Xie Nen was thankful for this. She needed to get back on the road soon, anyway.
“Xie-Jiejie, I'm back!” Sang Qiong announced as she walked into the room carrying a full glass of cold water. Xie Nen took it with a soft nod of her head, drinking with one hand under the glass. Sang Qiong made her way behind Xie Nen and helped take her hair down. She grabbed a comb and brushed through those long Inky locks. Xie Nen's hair had gotten long, down to mid-thigh when she was standing.
Xie Nen relaxed in her chair, her head no longer feeling so heavy. She slipped her outer robes off, relieving her shoulders of yet another weight. Her revealing inner robes barely covered a thing. She sighed, feeling embarrassed by her own vulnerability. Sang Qiong turned away and quickly retrieved her night robes that she wore for night service.
For courtesans who didn't provide sexual favors, nights were usually dim and boring, so they slept. Their prices would go down at night. If someone did purchase their services, the customer could expect an unprepared, tired beauty, and therefore they wouldn't be as dolled up, so their price would be lower.
Xie Nen dressed herself in the simpler night robes, enjoying the warmth. “Sang Qiong, I'm going to sleep now. Won't you be a dear and inform me of any customers?” Xie Nen stood and walked leisurely to her bed. Sang Qiong nodded, blowing out the candle as she exited. Xie Nen curled up under the covers, completely content.
Only a few minutes later did the door open, “Xie-Jiejie! You have a customer, get up!” The servant re-lit the candle, tugging Xie Nen out of bed. The courtesan groaned, yet got up.
“What sort of man has come to receive my services tonight…?” Xie Nen asked with a yawn. Sang Qiong paused, debating how to reveal this important fact about the customer.
“Um, it's actually a woman,”
“Hm?”