The Snow Lotus’ Favor

The Jade Lotus House pulsed with a decadent fervor, its crimson lanterns casting a sultry glow over the sea of nobles and merchants still reeling from Han Jin's audacious 300,000-tael bid.

The scent of plum wine and incense clung heavily to the air, yet it was the lingering shock of Han Jin's triumph over Gao Shun that weighed upon the crowd. From his private balcony, Han Jin reclined lazily, one arm draped over the edge, his eyes gleaming with a predatory satisfaction as he observed the aftermath of his spectacle.

Prince Chen lounged beside him, swirling his goblet with a wolfish grin. "I must say, Han Jin," he drawled, tipping his glass, "if you were aiming to become the most hated man in the capital, you've outdone yourself."

Luo Ping, pale and trembling, clutched his cup with both hands as if afraid he might spill its contents—or himself.

"Brother Han… three hundred thousand taels…" His voice cracked, barely above a whisper. "The guild will skin us alive. My father—he'll disown me just for sitting next to you!"

Han Jin smirked, unfazed by the trembling boy's dramatics. He traced the rim of his goblet with a leisurely finger, his tone casual.

"Your father's already disowned your spine, Luo Ping. You might as well enjoy yourself before he claims the rest."

The young noble paled further, but Prince Chen chuckled darkly. "Let the old men bark. Tonight, the city belongs to Han Jin."

Across the table sat Lian Xue, a vision of cold, untouchable beauty. Her face remained veiled, but her poise—graceful and deliberate—commanded the attention of every eye in the house.

The subtle tilt of her head, the barest movement of her fingers against the stem of her goblet, seemed to stir a ripple of longing through the room. Even in stillness, she was a tempest waiting to break.

Her voice, cool and melodic, cut through the low hum of murmurs. "Young Master Han," she mused softly, "you've painted the Jade Lotus House in gold tonight. I've been bid for before, but never with such… extravagance."

Han Jin leaned forward slightly, his eyes catching the glimmer of candlelight in hers. "Extravagance?" he repeated, feigning mock surprise. "You wound me, Snow Lotus. I was aiming for unforgettable."

Her lips curved faintly beneath her veil, but before she could respond, Prince Chen's laughter cut in. "Oh, you're unforgettable, all right. I'd wager Mu Qing is already marching this way with a sword in one hand and your severed head in the other."

At the mention of the warlord's name, Luo Ping nearly spilled his drink. His voice rose an octave in panic. "Brother Han, please! If she hears you've thrown away 300,000 taels on a courtesan, she'll burn the entire house to the ground!"

Han Jin chuckled, but inwardly, he relished the thought. The Resonance System hummed softly in his mind, its notification flashing:

[Resonance System Notification: Mu Qing's anger intensifies. +400 points.]

That's right, Mu Qing, he mused, keep fuming. I'll bleed you for every point you're worth.

Before he could drift further into his thoughts, Lian Xue gracefully rose from her seat, drawing the attention of the entire room. The swell of voices fell to an expectant hush. With a slow, deliberate turn, she faced the gathered patrons, her slender hand resting lightly on the edge of the table.

"Tonight," she declared, her voice ringing clear and measured, "Young Master Han's bid stands uncontested. But he has more to offer."

A murmur rippled through the crowd, confused at first—then curious. Han Jin arched a brow, caught off guard but amused by the game she was playing. Without missing a beat, he reached into his sleeve and drew out a small lacquered box.

With a flick of his wrist, he snapped it open. The crowd's collective breath hitched as the artifact hairpin was revealed—a silver lotus petal, etched with runes that glimmered faintly with traces of qi.

The murmurs turned to gasps.

Han Jin's lips curled into a slow grin. "This," he announced, holding the hairpin between his fingers so the candlelight caught the silver's gleam, "is a spirit artifact. Worth twenty thousand taels. But tonight…" He slid the box across the table toward Lian Xue, his eyes daring her. "It's yours."

The hall erupted. Nobles bolted from their seats, craning for a better look, while merchants whispered furiously, tallying the artifact's worth in hushed disbelief. A drunken noble at the far end bellowed, "The fool's giving away treasures now!"

[Resonance System Notification: Mass reaction detected. +2,500 points.]

Lian Xue's gloved fingers hovered over the box. For the first time that evening, her breath caught, ever so slightly. Her eyes—sharp, calculating—met Han Jin's, searching for the trap behind his magnanimity.

"Young Master Han," she said quietly, her voice steady but threaded with subtle curiosity, "this is no simple gift. Why offer something so rare… for me?"

Han Jin leaned back in his chair, letting the corner of his mouth tug upward in a lazy, disarming smirk. "Because the finest flower in the Jade Lotus House deserves more than just gold."

Prince Chen snorted into his wine. "Gods, you're shameless."

Luo Ping, on the verge of fainting, stammered, "Brother Han, are you insane? The entire treasury couldn't cover this!"

But Han Jin's attention never left Lian Xue. With deliberate grace, she plucked the hairpin from the box and lifted it into the candlelight. Its faint runes pulsed softly, illuminating the delicate lines of her fingers. She turned back to the crowd, her voice calm but cutting through the din like a blade.

"Tonight, with this gift, there will be no third round of bidding." She smiled faintly beneath her veil, her eyes gleaming like winter frost. "Young Master Han has claimed my time—and my redemption price is now set."

She paused for effect, letting the tension stretch.

"Eight million taels."

The hall exploded into chaos. Nobles shouted over one another, merchants roared in disbelief, and drunken patrons slammed their cups onto tables. The sheer absurdity of the figure left even the most decadent nobles gaping.

[Resonance System Notification: Mass reaction detected. +3,000 points.]

Prince Chen howled with laughter, pounding the table. "Eight million taels? You've outdone every lunatic in the capital, Han Jin!"

Luo Ping, on the verge of tears, slumped over the table. "We're ruined… we're absolutely ruined…"

Han Jin merely smiled, his eyes locked with Lian Xue's, unconcerned by the chaos he had wrought. He stood and extended his hand. "Shall we?"

She accepted without hesitation. With fluid grace, she led him past the gaping crowd and through a curtained archway into a smaller, more secluded chamber. The walls were adorned with painted screens of snow-covered lotuses, and a low table held a lute and a steaming pot of tea.

Once the door slid shut, muffling the distant roar of the crowd, Lian Xue turned and, with a fluid motion, removed her veil. Her face, pale and serene, was hauntingly beautiful—sharp eyes like a winter's blade, lips tinted faintly with rouge.

"You're not like the others," she murmured, her voice softer now, no longer performing for the masses. "They bid to own me. You… bid to change the game."

Han Jin's grin softened slightly. "I'm here to make the game mine, Snow Lotus."

She picked up the lute and plucked a soft, melancholy note, her eyes never leaving his. "Then sit, Young Master Han. Let me play for you."

As her voice filled the room with a haunting, ethereal melody, the system chimed once more.

[Resonance System Notification: Lian Xue's gratitude: +200. Mu Qing's fury intensifies: +500. Total: 29,765.]

Han Jin closed his eyes, savoring the music and the sweet, rising numbers. Let the capital burn with my name.

When her song ended, she met his gaze, her eyes unreadable. "Was it worth it?"

He smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. "Every tael," he murmured. "And more."