Her delicate hands were like tender spring onions, her fair arms graceful and flawless as jade, and her long legs were free of any excess flesh.
The red-clad maid tremblingly lifted her sleeve, like a red lotus flower waiting to be plucked.
Although it was an unavoidable step in the selection process, she still felt an unspeakable shame, and her beautiful face showed unconcealable sadness, making her a pitiable sight.
Ning Yue watched for a long time before muttering to himself, "Cool undertones?"
Even if women from commoner families in ancient times didn't work outside, they still had to wash clothes, do needlework, chop wood, make fires, cook, and fill in for household chores.
There was no way her skin color could be so pure white, like suet jade.
"Do you still have any living relatives? What kind of work did you do before?" Ning Yue asked in a deep voice, his face hidden in the shadows, making him hard to see clearly.
The red-clad maid bowed again, and softly said, "Replying to the official, my mother passed away early, leaving only me, my younger brother, and my father. But my brother is often ill, and my father is addicted to gambling, so our once good family gradually declined, until that day... that day he lost his mind—"
"Alright, alright. Stop! Stop! Stop!"
Seeing two lines of clear tears welling up in her eyes, Ning Yue quickly interrupted her.
A gambling father, an early-deceased mother, a sick younger brother, and a broken her.
Ning Yue had heard these plotlines so many times in his previous life that his ears had calluses; he could predict the rest with his toes.
It's just that he was here to choose a maid, not to help the poor or lift them out of poverty, so he really couldn't be bothered.
In this world, which commoner family didn't have its own difficult story to tell?
Moreover, this woman's former family background was clearly not ordinary; it was just that the family head, who should have maintained the family's wealth, squandered it away.
"Tell me, what can you do? What kind of work are you good at?" Ning Yue asked.
Upon hearing this, the red-clad maid's eyes immediately dimmed.
She had been passed over many times before because she had no special skills and little strength; although she had some looks, she was not suitable for heavy work.
When a moderately wealthy family bought a maid, they first looked at whether she was practical, and second, whether her hips were wide enough for childbearing. Unfortunately, she didn't fit either criterion.
Moreover, she was also older, so becoming a child bride was out of the question, and being over twenty meant she couldn't serve nobles in those wealthy, influential families.
That's why she had lingered until now.
But since the guest asked, she had no choice but to answer: "This humble one is not... not... not good at housework. I only... only know some needlework. When I was young, I also studied the pipa for a few years and know some tunes. And..."
Ning Yue's eyes lit up, and he urged, "Keep going."
"I also studied dance for a few years, but my dancing skills are crude and not presentable," the red-clad woman finished, lowering her head in silence, not seeing that the guest's eyes had grown even brighter.
When she first arrived, Li Xiucai had suggested sending her to places like Baihua Tower or Hongxiu Pavilion to apply. With her beautiful figure and musical talent, even if she couldn't become a courtesan queen, she could at least make a living.
But she absolutely refused.
Becoming a low-status person was out of necessity, but willingly debasing oneself was another matter.
"Have you ever studied?" Ning Yue's voice showed no fluctuation.
The red-clad maid's eyes grew even dimmer, like a flickering distant star, "I only attended a private school for two years, and many words still... still can't be fully recognized."
Not only could she not recognize them all, but in fact, she barely knew any; she had never liked studying since childhood.
But Ning Yue's interest grew stronger and stronger.
Not knowing how to read was good.
If she couldn't read, he wouldn't have to worry about her seeing things she shouldn't or leaking military secrets when she served him closely later on.
And in the future, when busy, he would have a beautiful woman adding fragrance and a delicate hand grinding ink;
As for when he was idle, hehehe...
He also enjoyed listening to pipa music.
"Alright, stand to the side and wait," the red-clad maid's expression grew even more subdued upon hearing this.
But then she heard the guest say again, "You'll come with me later."
"Yes! At your command, Sir!" The red-clad maid instantly brightened.
Afterward, several more waves of maids came, with varying quality.
Ning Yue only took a liking to a young, innocent-faced girl who had just come of age. He noticed she had bound her chest, so he decided to keep her and raise her.
Later, before any more maids came on stage, Li Xiucai entered first.
His face was wrinkled like a chrysanthemum, and his triangular eyes narrowed into slits.
Upon entering, he bowed and said, "Sir, your taste is truly too high. Out of so many maids, only two have managed to catch your eye even slightly."
"It's just that my humble establishment has only been in business for a short time, and there are no more people for you to choose from."
Ning Yue saw his eyes flicker and asked with a smile, "Are there really none left? Or are you, Old Li, hiding good goods and unwilling to bring them out?"
"If you deceive me today, I will go to your master and report you thoroughly."
Li Xiucai was startled and shivered, then gritted his teeth and insisted, "There really aren't any left, Sir. The remaining few have already been reserved by various brothels, and the reservation prices are quite high. If I promise them to you, it might be difficult to explain to the other side."
"I hope you will be lenient, Sir, and not make things difficult for this humble one."
Ning Yue heard this and chuckled inwardly. If Li Xiucai were truly in a difficult position, he would never have told him about the few people.
The fact that he mentioned it now was simply because he feared Ning Yue couldn't afford the price and was using the opportunity to probe, and also to take the chance to raise the price.
After all, he wasn't wearing the gold-threaded silver robe of a Deputy Centurion. Commoners in the market didn't recognize the goods and dared not offend a noble, so this was all he could do.
Ning Yue feigned anger and his face darkened, "What? Old Li, do you think I can't afford this much silver?! You're just using these words to fob me off."
"Just call them in. If they are truly outstanding, this official will not shortchange you a single copper coin!"
So, Li Xiucai's already bitter face became even more so, "Then, Sir, please don't make things difficult for this humble one. Among the remaining people, you can at most choose two. Any more and this humble one truly cannot explain it."
It was true that they were reserved for brothels, and it was also true that he wanted to sell them for a higher price. He could handle the difference of one or two people.
Now that he had finally met a customer who wasn't short on money, Li Xiucai sharpened his knife, eager to make a killing!
So he retreated, feigning helplessness, but his steps were quick.
Liu Song reminded him from the side, "Brother Yue, I think this person is very sly. You must not be deceived by him."
Ning Yue smiled slightly and said mysteriously, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Before long, several young women in colorful dresses came onto the stage, each with eyes full of emotion, looking forward eagerly.
Some even pretended to gather their hair, posing and preening, hoping to gain favor.
Only one woman in a white dress, her skirt flowing like an immortal, stood out from the rest.
She merely stood silently, without any particular movement, yet she seemed to steal all the light on the stage, making the other beautiful and charming maids appear dim in comparison.
Moreover, she possessed a broad mind, capable of encompassing all things.
Even standing in the corner, she drew the eyes of the two men in the shadows unconsciously.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, what a pity. If not for those three red scars on her forehead, even that courtesan queen Xi Xiang would probably feel inferior!" Liu Song, uncharacteristically, used an idiom.
The white-clad maiden's beauty and figure were indeed beyond reproach. Her face was like a bright moon, her eyes like cold stars, her nose delicate, and her mouth clever. Her white dress further enhanced her noble and cold demeanor, like a fairy from the moon who had descended to earth, untouched by worldly affairs.
Any man in a brothel who saw her would feel his blood rush and a strong desire to conquer her.
And in this Great Yuan country, where he had no one to rely on, Ning Yue, who had always longed for a sincere relationship, also felt a stir in his heart.
What did it matter to give up this small forest for one tree?!
"It's you! Everyone else, leave." Ning Yue said without a second thought.
The several alluring maids, who were quite beautiful, were momentarily stunned.
What was happening?! They were instantly eliminated the moment they appeared?!
I haven't even unleashed my ultimate move yet?
Who among them, if they could be taken in as a maid by a wealthy family, would willingly expose themselves and cater to a different 'groom' every day?
So, the women turned around, their gazes, some affectionate, some softly pleading, all directed below the high platform.
Liu Song, who was clueless about such subtleties, pointed a finger and angrily shouted, "Why aren't you leaving? What are you waiting for? You're wasting time dawdling."
So, the women departed, leaving only the white-clad woman alone on the stage.
"Are you willing... to work in my residence?" Ning Yue asked, eager for talent.
"No!" The white-clad woman replied without hesitation.