3 Yao Zhu

The Bai Family had generations and generations of generals and empresses. They were the most famous clan and most powerful in the empire. It was unknown since when the family started becoming integrated with the royal family, but it was rumored that the family had been with the empire when it was just a tiny state.

Every generation of males from the family was toughened into brave soldiers and warriors that sought to protect the emperor and the nation, and every generation of females was taught to be as elegant and serene as possible in preparation for becoming the next empress. With their strict style of teaching, the bloodline of the family was regarded as sacred. Throughout the country, it was easy to find a commoner saying that the Bai family was the only place with too much talent and too little time.

Though there were a few times where the females from the family did not become the empress, they were still powerful figures in the royal family. Some became the emperor's four noble consorts and others became one of the two imperial consorts. It was important to realize that the Bai family had power not only in the military but also in royalty itself.

It was famous throughout the empire that a woman could not hold onto the emperor's heart. However, the Bai family was the only exception. Every woman had and has always been able to keep the monarch's attention on them until death parted them. Some of them didn't even take any consort in their harem.

Continuing with the history of the Bai family, Bai Shuixian's mother was not a noble-born woman. She was a commoner that went to work for the Red Light District. It was not hard to tell how she met Young Master Bai.

Working in the district for a few years, Yao Zhu met her fair share of customers. Most of them were either ugly or fat or both altogether. Not a good experience on the sexual level for her. However, it changed when she met her first handsome man that even had prestige attached to him.

Young Master Bai was like an angel for her when he walked into the building for the first time. The way his legs moved, each step filled with such raw power and the atmosphere around him was so out-of-place it caught her attention the moment he walked in.

Yao Zhu thought that Young Master Bai was her only way out of this hellhole. The Red Light District was a place where entering was easy, but leaving was hard with the mob controlling everything in the back. None of the women that worked there came voluntarily.

They all came due to circumstances whether it be debt or financial issues within their previous household. Others just didn't have anywhere else to go. After a few years of working with the district, the women became used to living there and working with lustful men.

There's barely any women that leave on their own. Those who left won favor over one of their customers but the best option when leaving is to be bought by a master since the women will have to carry the reputation of an unclean and tainted woman once back in society.

Wanting nothing more than to leave this place, Yao Zhu thought about the best way to attract Young Master Bai's attention. Thinking through all the strategies she had, the best method was to talk to the young master straightforwardly. In anticipation, she confidently walked up to him and talked with a calm and cool voice.

"This young master seems to not be used to the district?" Yao Zhu asked.

Hearing her voice, Young Master Bai replied with a flat tone, "A friend of mine is drunk. I'm here to get him."

"Ah, I see… Please tell me the young master's name. I'll help you find him," Yao Zhu said with a calm facade but she was disappointed inside.

"Young Master Chen," he responded again with a monotone voice.

Calling over one of the errand girls, Yao Zhu told them to get her the check-in list. This list held the names of all the people who had attended that night, the ladies they were with, and the room they were in. If they were a highly-esteemed guest or customer, their names would be on another list.

The list in her hand right now was the golden list. There was no one who did not recognize Young Master Bai. He was famous throughout for becoming a general at such a young age and winning many wars alongside his father.

The Bai family was second only to the royal family, so anyone associated with the family must be of high esteem also. In other words, this Young Master Chen's name could only be found on the golden list. That night, Yao Zhu thought she was lucky for being trusted by the mother of the house.

If she was not trusted, the mother would not let her order the errand girls around and to see the golden list. Everyone could get their hands on the normal list, but the golden list could only be shown to a few people. The number of people that had the power to see the list can even be counted on one hand.

Skimming through the list, Yao Zhu saw that Young Master Chen was in the Moon Pavilion. Checking the time, he had been in the pavilion for two days now. She wondered why no one had come to get the young master.

Emptying her thoughts, she headed back to Young Master Bai and said, "Young Master Bai, please follow me. Young Master Chen is in the Moon Pavilion with Lady Chang."

Leading Young Master Bai to the Moon Pavilion, she took a few sneaky glances at him. During the period that they walked together, he didn't utter a single word at all. She had thought that it would be that way until the end, but just before he entered the pavilion, he gave her words of thanks.

Dumbstruck by his words, Yao Zhu stood frozen in place as she looked at the Young Master.

Looking at his features in more detail, she blushed. The rumors could not bring justice to his appearance. This man, she thought, looked like the reincarnation of Pan An.

A little dumbstruck by his appearance, she stuttered when she heard him asking, "What is your name?"

"Huh? Ah-Uh… M-my name is Yao Zhu," she answered nervously.

Giving her a tiny smile, he said, "Thank you, Lady Yao. I hope we'll meet again."