25：The Price of Fate

At this moment, Ji Dongge realized that she had been sold by her boss to the young man with short hair in front of her. She glanced at Shen Hao but said nothing, her expression unreadable, betraying no emotions.

"Shen Gongzi, what do you think?" Lai Yuejing asked, his voice tinged with nervousness.

Shen Hao was mostly satisfied with Ji Dongge's appearance and temperament, and he felt this transaction could go ahead. He nodded and said, "I'm willing to make the deal."

Upon hearing this, Ji Dongge's beautiful eyes momentarily flickered with sadness, but the emotion quickly disappeared. Though she now had a clear understanding of her fate, being traded like merchandise still stirred a faint sense of sorrow in her heart. Her fate was no longer in her hands.

Lai Yuejing, overjoyed, exclaimed, "Haha, Shen Gongzi, this is a pleasure. Bring me the contract of sale for Dongge, and also bring a thousand taels of gold!"

"Yes, master," one of the servants replied.

Once the deal was struck, Lai Yuejing was in high spirits. This transaction would earn him at least four or five times his initial investment. That bottle of wine had proven to be a valuable asset. Shen Hao was also quite pleased—he had sold a bottle of white wine worth less than 40 RMB for 20 million, plus a courtesan. What a bargain.

As they sat down, Lai Yuejing eagerly observed Shen Hao, watching as he held the white wine.

Seeing this, Shen Hao casually handed the bottle to him, saying, "From now on, this bottle of wine is yours."

"Thank you, Shen Gongzi. This is so important to me," Lai Yuejing said, his hands shaking as he took the wine bottle.

The bottle felt smooth and cool in his hands, its texture even better than silk. Lai Yuejing was convinced it was made of something special. The bottle was beautiful, and he was already thinking about how much it would be worth if given to someone important in the capital. His excitement only grew, and he quickly had it carefully stored away, fearful that Shen Hao might change his mind.

Shen Hao, on the other hand, didn't understand the need for Lai Yuejing to treat a bottle of wine with such reverence. To him, it was just a simple bottle of wine, but the fact that Lai Yuejing valued it so highly showed that it was truly extraordinary.

"It's just a bottle of wine," Shen Hao said with a smile. "The price you offered is fair, so we have made an honest transaction."

The profit margin from this deal was outrageous. To put it in perspective, this was far more lucrative than dealing in illicit substances. If drug dealers knew they could mark up something so cheaply by such an amount, they'd likely feel ashamed of themselves.

Just then, a maid entered, followed by two servants carrying a wooden box. The box wasn't large—only about 30 cm on each side—but it made a heavy thud when placed on the table.

Lai Yuejing opened the box, revealing twenty gold ingots and a contract of sale. He also handed Shen Hao a single gold ingot for inspection.

"Shen Gongzi, please inspect the goods. See if it's all in order."

Shen Hao took the gold ingot and weighed it in his hand. It was about five pounds. When he squeezed it gently, it felt soft and obviously real gold.

"I trust your word, Lai Gongzi. You wouldn't breach the deal," Shen Hao said, his tone calm.

"Shen Gongzi, you speak so plainly, truly a model for our generation," Lai Yuejing replied with a grin.

Looking down at the dancers below, Lai Yuejing suggested, "Shen Gongzi, would you like to have a couple of girls brought up to drink with us?"

Shen Hao shook his head, losing interest. He glanced outside, where it was already getting dark, and said, "It's getting late. I think I'll head back for the night."

Lai Yuejing, a bit disappointed, understood that Shen Hao was the type of man who likely wasn't interested in such low-tier pleasures. He wasn't going to push any further.

"Since that's the case, I won't keep you. Shen Gongzi is always welcome here," Lai Yuejing said, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect.

As Shen Hao prepared to leave, Lai Yuejing suggested, "Shen Gongzi, this box isn't light. I could have someone help you take it back. It's not safe on the roads."

Shen Hao immediately declined, feeling a bit insulted. It wasn't a large box—he could carry it himself. "No need. It's not heavy; I'll manage," he replied with ease.

Lai Yuejing, now understanding, was impressed. "I didn't realize you were such a skilled martial artist, Shen Gongzi. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to carry that much myself."

Shen Hao didn't respond. He glanced at Ji Dongge and said, "Alright, you're with me now. Let's go."

Seeing Ji Dongge remain silent, Lai Yuejing quickly warned her, "Your contract of sale is now in Shen Gongzi's hands. You better obey him from now on, or the consequences will be like what happened to Liuli."

At the mention of Liuli, Ji Dongge's face paled slightly. Liuli had been the top courtesan at Yi Hong Pavilion. She had refused to entertain Lai Yuejing's important guests and was suffocated to death by him.

Hearing this, Ji Dongge's heart grew heavy, filled with fear and uncertainty about her future.

"Answer me!" Lai Yuejing's voice grew colder when Ji Dongge remained silent.

"I understand," she said quietly.

Lai Yuejing nodded approvingly. "Good. Just remember what I said."

He then looked at Shen Hao and said, "Shen Gongzi, there's an unspoken rule at the brothel. For girls like Ji Dongge, who haven't been initiated yet, they aren't allowed to touch the ground. They must be carried on the necks of servants as they are brought to their client's residence. It's all for good luck. Would you like me to have a servant escort her safely?"

Shen Hao frowned. "No, I'm not one for such rules. Ji Dongge will walk with me."

He couldn't accept the idea of his woman being carried on another man's shoulders. No matter who it was, even if it were the emperor, he wouldn't tolerate it. Shen Hao was a man with a strong sense of possessiveness and traditional values.

"Understood," Lai Yuejing said indifferently. "As long as you're satisfied. I don't mind."

With that, Shen Hao left Yi Hong Pavilion with Ji Dongge.

As they stepped outside, Ji Dongge felt a shiver run through her body. The air seemed fresher, and she felt a sense of hope rising within her. She couldn't explain it, but something about being with Shen Hao felt different—perhaps for the first time, she had a glimpse of a different future.

But deep down, she also felt a sense of disbelief. She had never imagined that, just a day after practicing for the flower queen competition, she would be sold off like this. Life had changed too quickly for her to keep up with.

If it weren't for the warmth of the white cat she held in her arms, she would have thought she was dreaming.

As the moonlight bathed Shen Hao's tall silhouette, it cast a long shadow on the ground.