A graceful figure in red emerged from the boudoir, her curvaceous form captivating.
Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall over her shoulders, her stunning face exuding a blend of cold elegance and inherent allure.
Isla Qin walked gracefully, her red dress trailing behind her like a fairy stepping out of a painting.
“Hurry up, my dear! Don’t keep the two gentlemen waiting,” the brothel keeper urged anxiously as she watched Isla’s unhurried pace.
This courtesan, rumored to have come from the capital, arrived at Misty Willow House a month ago and quickly became the top attraction. Her unparalleled beauty and exquisite dance moves had bewitched countless noblemen in River West County.
Some were willing to spend ten thousand gold for a night with her, but all were refused.
The brothel keeper led Isla to the private room where Magistrate Chen and Oliver Sheng were waiting.
“Honored guests, Miss Isla has arrived.”
“Isla, my dear, make sure to entertain our esteemed guests well,” the brothel keeper said with a smile before leaving the room to them.
“This is the famous Fairy Isla. Seeing her in person, I realize her beauty is indeed unmatched. If I had known she was this beautiful, I would have come sooner,” Magistrate Chen praised, his eyes shining as he stared at Isla.
Oliver glanced at Magistrate Chen, surprised to see the scholar, who usually appeared so upright, acting like a superficial admirer.
Magistrate Chen, dressed in white, exuded an air of scholarly elegance. His fair face usually radiated righteousness, but Oliver saw through him now.
This guy was pretending. Faced with a peerless beauty, his true nature was revealed.
“Greetings, Magistrate, General. I am Isla Qin. Thank you for your kind words,” Isla said with a graceful bow, a slight smile on her stunning face, her eyes holding a captivating charm.
Her enchanting gaze seemed to have a soul-stealing light, and Magistrate Chen was momentarily entranced. How could such a beautiful woman exist in this world?
“Ahem!”
Oliver couldn’t stand it any longer and coughed twice, pulling Magistrate Chen back to reality.
Staring at someone like that was embarrassing, Oliver thought. Aren’t we all scholars? Can’t you maintain some dignity?
Magistrate Chen, realizing his rudeness, awkwardly took a sip of his wine to cover his embarrassment.
“Please, Miss Isla, have a seat,” Oliver said, looking at her openly.
He found Isla incredibly beautiful, almost unreal. Though he couldn’t help but glance at her several times, he swore it was only a few more than necessary.
He definitely didn’t stare too long; Oliver could vouch for that with his honor.
“Yes, yes, Fairy Isla, please sit,” Magistrate Chen echoed enthusiastically.
He even changed her title to “Fairy.”
“Thank you, gentlemen,” Isla said, sitting opposite Oliver, studying him.
The strong, masculine aura emanating from Oliver made her hesitant to get too close, yet she was deeply attracted to him.
Isla felt conflicted. This young man before her was deeply alluring, yet he also gave her a sense of danger.
“Heh, it seems our Magistrate has taken a liking to Miss Isla,” Oliver teased.
Finn Chen’s gaze at Isla was almost tangible.
Could this be love at first sight?
“Nonsense, I haven’t. General Sheng, please don’t misunderstand,” Magistrate Chen quickly explained.
“General, you’re joking. How could someone as esteemed as the Magistrate be interested in someone like me?” Isla said, pouring wine for Magistrate Chen.
“Miss Isla, you are no ordinary woman. You are like a fairy descended to the mortal world,” Oliver smiled.
This woman, with her cold yet seductive demeanor, was worthy of being the top courtesan. No wonder she could captivate so many men.
Even Magistrate Chen, a man of integrity, was somewhat enchanted upon their first meeting.
“Thank you for the compliment, General. I toast to you,” Isla said, her delicate fingers holding a wine cup, her gaze soft as water as she looked at Oliver.
Oliver raised his cup as well, thinking to himself that she might be a demon. Her tender gaze could easily enchant anyone.
“General Sheng, I’ve heard you are quite talented in poetry. Could you compose a poem for me?” Isla asked, her eyes filled with affection as she looked at Oliver.
Magistrate Chen, feeling jealous, thought to himself that he was also handsome and good at poetry. Why was Isla only looking at Oliver?
“Miss Isla, you flatter me. I only know a little,” Oliver said modestly, feeling a bit embarrassed. He was just a copyist; those poems were the wisdom of the ancestors.
“Miss Isla, I want to see Miss Isla. Let her drink with me,” a loud voice shouted.
“Master Zhang, please don’t shout. Miss Isla is with honored guests. We can’t afford to disturb them,” the brothel keeper quickly pulled Master Zhang aside.
Afraid that Master Zhang would offend the important guests.
“Honored guests? How important could they be? Am I not an honored guest?” Master Zhang shouted.
“Master Zhang must be drunk to shout like this. Doesn’t he know Miss Isla is with the Magistrate and General?” someone said.
“Look at his face, red as a monkey’s butt. He’s definitely drunk.”
“If he ruins the Magistrate and General’s evening, the Zhang family might not be able to stay in River West County,” someone watching the commotion said.
“Master Zhang, Miss Isla is drinking with the Magistrate and General. Are you sure you want to make a scene?” the brothel keeper said, her face darkening.
“What?”
Master Zhang sobered up instantly, not daring to shout anymore.
Though the Zhang family was wealthy in River West County, they were nothing compared to the two most important people in the county.
Magistrate Chen was the chief official, governing the county, and Oliver Sheng was the city-guarding general, commanding two thousand elite soldiers. Who would dare offend them?
Realizing Miss Isla was with the Magistrate and General, Master Zhang slunk away.
Oliver and Magistrate Chen, watching from behind the second-floor screen, saw what happened downstairs but didn’t bother with it.
“General Sheng, a beauty’s request. You should compose a poem. If a beauty asked me, I’d write ten poems on the spot,” Magistrate Chen said.
Oliver looked at Magistrate Chen, thinking he had turned into a simp.
This Isla had such charm, making Magistrate Chen fall for her after just one meeting.
“Come on, Chen. I’m sure Fairy Isla appreciates your talent. What’s ten poems? You should write a hundred,” Oliver teased.
Goodness, he thought, this guy had turned into a simp so quickly. Didn’t he know simps never win?
“Well, I don’t have any inspiration today,” Magistrate Chen said awkwardly.
Oliver rolled his eyes at Finn. What a presumptuous guy.
“General, doesn’t my figure deserve a poem? If you write one for me, I’ll spend the night with you,” Isla said, biting her lip seductively.
Magistrate Chen felt envious, jealous, and resentful.
Looking at Isla’s unparalleled beauty, Oliver felt his blood boil, hard to suppress.
Was this woman a fox spirit? She knew how to enchant so well.
“Alright, since the fairy requests, I shall compose a poem,” Oliver said, suspecting that if he didn’t agree, this demoness might throw herself into his arms to seduce him.
Seeing Oliver agree, Isla quickly brought out the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
“I’ll grind the ink for General Sheng,” Magistrate Chen offered eagerly.
“Thank you,” Isla handed the inkstone to Magistrate Chen and personally laid out the paper for Oliver.
Oliver, seeing Magistrate Chen grinding the ink, wished he could kick him away. Why was he being so eager?
With the brush, ink, and paper ready, Oliver began to write.
No, he was copying a poem. How could a scholar’s work be called copying?
“Clouds think of clothes, flowers think of looks, the spring breeze brushes the threshold, the dew is thick.
If not seen on the Jade Mountain, it must be met under the moon at the Jade Terrace.”
Magistrate Chen was entranced, his eyes dreamy. He seemed to see a goddess, the goddess transforming into Isla, as beautiful as a peony fairy in the spring breeze, or a fairy under the moon at the Jade Terrace.
Isla softly recited the poem, her beautiful eyes rippling. Was this describing her as a peerless fairy under the moon at the Jade Terrace?
“Clouds think of clothes, flowers think of looks, the spring breeze brushes the threshold, the dew is thick…”
“Where is that poetry coming from?”
“It seems to be from the second floor.”
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