nashuaworldcup Chapter 28: Turning against guests
Chapter 28: Turning against guests
Many people come to Gaowu Street to buy servants; servants are everywhere.
This place was dirty and chaotic, and was a no-man's-land in the Great Yanjing.
Her eyes held an ambiguous expression as her gaze swept across the entire Gaowu Street.
The scene was chaotic. People were covered in wounds, barely alive, and were left to beg on both sides of the street. Even if they died, no one cared.
In her previous life, she had only heard of Gaowu Street, but had never been there.
Seeing this scene now, I understand the vicissitudes of life, the impermanence of the world, and that misfortune is a blessing in disguise.
"Your Highness, if you are afraid, leave it to me. I am not afraid, I will do it for you." When Wu Shi said this, the corners of her mouth were trembling.
But she still instinctively protected Jiang Zhi.
Jiang Zhi smiled and took a step forward. "Now that I'm here, there's no reason for me to go back."
“I remember there was a place on Gaowu Street where most of the servants came from prominent families in Yanjing. After their families were destroyed, they were sold here.”
Wu Shi nodded. "Yes, and I know this place. I'll take the princess there."
"Ah."
Jiang Zhi was led by Wu Shi to continue walking into Gaowu Street. Along the way, they could see servants hawking their wares on both sides of the street.
They were tightly chained, their eyes filled with despair and emptiness, at the mercy of others.
This reminded her of the days she was imprisoned in the dark dungeon, where she was also unable to live or die.
The two walked along Gaowu Street and finally stopped at an attic.
"Your Highness, it's inside. The servants here aren't as easy to manage as ordinary servants; they're kept in a cell in the attic."
"Moreover, they are several times more expensive than other servants."
Jiang Zhi stared at the plaque on the upper floor, a hint of joy on his face, but a cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.
"Looks like we didn't go to the wrong place."
The two walked straight into the attic, where they were greeted by a portly man who appeared to be in his forties or fifties.
That must be the owner of this attic.
When the boss saw that the two girls who came in were veiled and dressed in rich and expensive clothes, he immediately walked up to them with a smile.
"Ladies, are you here to buy servants?"
"Whatever kind of servant you want, I have it all. If you can't even imagine it, we have it."
He lowered his head and chuckled, "But as you may have heard, our servants come from noble families."
“Unlike the servants who shout in the streets, the servants here all know the rules and etiquette.”
"They are well-mannered and have some talents; it depends on what kind of girl they want."
Seeing the boss's fawning gaze, Jiang Zhi's eyes sharpened. "Boss, the servants here, although they know the rules and are learned, are still more difficult to manage than other servants."
"Before these servants came to Gaowu Street, they were either young ladies from noble families or young masters from prominent families. They were educated, literate, and had their own ideas."
"If you could lower the price today, I'll definitely buy another one from you next time I come."
The boss was slightly taken aback, squinted his eyes, and looked Jiang Zhi and the other person up and down.
Seeing that the two women were dressed in fine clothes, they must be girls from wealthy families in Yanjing.
He laughed and said, "What kind of girl would you like? If you find something you like, a lower price is not out of the question."
Jiang Zhi spoke up: "Boss, could you let me see them?"
The boss nodded repeatedly: "Of course, ladies, please come with me."
After the boss finished speaking, he led Jiang Zhi and the other person down to the basement of the attic.
The candlelight on both sides cast a dim glow, and looking down along the dimly lit corridor, one could see one iron cage after another. The servants locked in the cages became restless upon hearing the sounds outside.
Jiang Zhi's gaze swept over the servants in the iron cages.
Some servants stood in a dark corner, their eyes fixed on the few people outside the prison.
After scanning the area, Jiang Zhi still couldn't find the person she was looking for, so she simply asked, "Boss, is there a handsome man in this prison?"
"If I'm not mistaken, his surname should be Wen Gu. He's from Wen Gu in Luozhou."
"There is the Wen family's mark on the back of his neck."
The boss frowned slightly and looked up at Jiang Zhi.
"Young lady, are you perhaps here to see this young master?"
Jiang Zhi nodded: "Yes."
The boss looked somewhat troubled: "Yes, there are, but as the young lady said, they are very difficult to manage."
"I'm also having a headache. If I kill him, I feel it's a waste of his appearance. If I use some methods, I'm afraid he might do something drastic. But I can't just keep him around for nothing."
"The servant the young lady mentioned only came to Gaowu Street half a year ago. His ancestors were once very powerful."
"You've come to Gaowu Street, yet you refuse to accept reality, constantly threatening suicide. It's quite a dilemma. If you truly desire this, young lady, you can take it with you for a little extra money."
Jiang Zhi nodded, "Alright, then please lead the way, boss."
The boss smiled slightly, "Alright, then please come with me, young lady."
Soon, Jiang Zhi and his companion followed the boss to another prison.
The boss opened the prison gate and saw a stunningly handsome young man of about twenty leaning against the wall.
The man's eyes were vacant and his gaze unfocused as he glanced at the two girls who walked in.
The dim candlelight flickered on the wall, casting his shadow on the stone wall, thin yet with a touch of nobility.
However, he was only wearing a white undergarment, which had some marks on it, like bloodstains left from being whipped.
Her pale, jade-like face was now stained with some dirt, a few strands of hair fell across her forehead, and there was no light in her eyes. Against the extreme backdrop of the dim prison, her exquisite features revealed a touch of desolation.
If you don't look closely, who would guess that the Wen family is a literary family, and that he is the talented scholar from Luozhou, Wen Guzhuyu, who is loved by many young ladies?
People say that Wen Gujia offended the Imperial Noble Consort, which is why he has fallen to this state.
Some say that it was because Wen Guzhu's uncle had met the Imperial Noble Consort before she entered the palace in Luozhou before he became an official, and knew the secrets of the current Imperial Noble Consort, which is why he suffered this calamity.
Upon seeing Jiang Zhi and the others enter, Wen Guzhu's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he revealed a cold smile.
His cold gaze fell on Jiang Zhi, a woman wearing a light-colored, narrow-sleeved gauze dress, revealing her slender waist.
Although her face was covered by a veil, it could not conceal her stunning beauty. At first glance, she was clearly a young lady from a noble family, of high status.
Seeing Wen Guzhu looking him up and down, Jiang Zhi slowly said, "Young Master Wen Gu."
Upon hearing that the unfamiliar girl knew his surname was Wen Gu, Wen Gu Zhu Yu was slightly taken aback, his gaze suddenly sharpened, and he became wary.
Just as Jiang Zhi was about to take a step forward, Wu Shi beside her pulled her back, saying, "Your Highness, he looks somewhat dangerous; you cannot go forward."
Jiang Zhi stopped and looked back at the boss behind her. "Why don't you wait in the cell while I talk to him?"
The boss was pleased to see that someone was willing to buy this proud and arrogant servant.
"Alright, you two can talk at your leisure. As long as the money is there, that's fine."
As he spoke, he walked out, closing the prison door behind him.
This young master is not easy to deal with; Jiang Zhi will have to use a lot of words to handle him.