Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Slave Market

While muffling Qingyu’s mouth, the steward dragged her out of the Gu Estate and handed her to two other servants.

“Head steward,” Qingyu pled.

“That’s Her Royal Highness the eldest princess,” the steward had watched Qingyu grow up too. Despite his reluctance, he still couldn’t help but ask, “As a servant why did you think Old Madam could protect you?”

Qingyu opened and closed her mouth. All the doctors in the capital had said that third young master’s legs were hopeless. Just because the eldest princess cut him a few times, he was good to go? Even now, she refused to believe that was possible. How could a girl who fought know how to heal, too?

“Take her away and sell her off directly,” the steward said as he handed over Qinyu’s indenture agreement. Refusing to hear another plea, he turned to enter the estate.

Lady Sun personally paid a visit to Wang momo to inform her of Qingyu’s banishment after the steward reported the results. Wang momo treated this eldest grandson’s wife with due courtesy. Last night, nothing had happened to her princess on account of Eldest Young Master Gu taking all the blame. She thanked Lady Sun and told her, “Now this servant can be at east. I haven’t told Her Royal Highness about that servant girl yet. What do you think, eldest ladyship?”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Lady Sun replied, “If Old Madam doesn’t bring it up, no one will tell Her Royal Highness. I’ll tell the servants of the estate to keep their mouths shut.”

Wang momo looked askance at her. Although Lady Sun had done nothing last night expect silently support her husband, her heard was quite clear. Nobody’s words counted in this case except for the old woman’s. Meanwhile, Yu Xiaoxiao emerged from the bridal chambers with two mantou in her hands. When she saw the pair chatting in the covered walkway, she called out, “Eldest sister-in-law.”

Lady Sun hadn’t even replied before Wang momo stared at her. “Princess, you’re hungry again?” You just finished breakfast, ah. How much can that little body eat before it’s full? And where did she get those hot, steaming mantou in the first place?

“This is Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Wei’s breakfast,” Yu Xiaoxiao said as she devoured half a mantou in one bite. “I saw that they couldn’t finish, so I’m helping them eat.”

In a corner, Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Wei stood silently munching on their mantou. Her Royal Highness took the mantou herself without giving us a chance to speak, alright?! Guys like us can eat all the mantou in the world!

“Let’s go,” Yu Xiaoxiao said while descending the steps. “Aren’t we supposed to pay respects with tea? Momo, what’s that anyways?”

“No, well,” Wang momo hurried over to pull Yu Xiaoxiao aside so she wasn’t so close to Lady Sun. How could an outsider hear her ask such an ignorant question? Lady Sun’s mouth twitched. She didn’t know whether to smile or cough. Who would believe it if they heard the eldest princess has no idea what “paying respects with tea” entails?

After a hasty lesson from Wang momo, Yu Xiaoxiao finished paying her respects with tea without making any mistakes. However, the smile she wore after receiving red envelopes from her three elders and gifts from her two sister-in-laws hurt the Gu Clan’s eyes. In their opinion, Her Royal Highness was much more of a beauty without such a foolish, gaping grin whose teeth eclipsed her eyes. This was too much for them to take in!

Gu Xingyan had to seek confirmation from Yu Xiaoxiao. “Your Royal Highness, is Xinglang’s injuries really going to heal?”

“They can,” Yu Xiaoxiao said as she carefully put away the red envelopes and presents.

Gu Xingyan cupped his hands, overjoyed. “That’s wonderful. Our Xinglang was blessed with good fortune!”

“Mm,” Yu Xiaoxiao agreed. “Don’t worry, second brother, he has me.” Now that she was Yu Linglong, she would never see Gu Xinglang skinned to death again.

“Then Qingyu…” Gu Xingyan began.

“Cough, cough!” Both Gu Chen and Gu Xingnuo coughed. Lady Lin only glared at her husband. If you don’t know how to talk, then stay quiet! Even Old Madam’s grown docile, so why are you bringing up that Qingyu again?

Yu Xiaoxiao tried her best to recall the name. “Qinyu? I feel like I’ve heard that somewhere. Who’s that again?”

Supreme Commander Gu hastened to say, “Nobody important. Your Royal Highness has no need to know that person.”

“Oh, then forget it,” Yu Xiaoxiao didn’t think twice. In any case, she’d never heard of some enemy named Qingyu in the cruel female emperor’s life. Why would she care who that was?

Lady Sun and Lady Lin exchanged glances. Alright, Qingyu did all that scheming, but her target isn’t even interested in who she is. If Qingyu herself heard this, would she choke to death in rage?

Gu Xingyan only gave Yu Xiaoxiao a thumbs’ up. Here was the attitude of an imperial princess! Old Supreme Commander nodded in approval as well. He liked having such a magnanimous granddaughter-in-law.

“Speaking of which, is Consort Zhao dead yet?” Yu Xiaoxiao only assumed the two men were praising her surgery skills as she changed the subject.

Supreme Commander Gu said, “I’ve heard that she’d seriously injured.”

“She’s not dead?” Yu Xiaoxiao was astonished. Consort Zhao had survived two lightning strikes by now. Was her life stronger than that of zombies?

As everyone present was part of the Gu Clan, old Supreme Commander Gu had no reservations expressing his regrets. “Her heavy injuries include a few more fractured bones. But the imperial physicians said her life wasn’t in danger.”

Yu Xiaoxiao grew gloomy. “How can that human survive so well?”

Human? The Gu Clan exchanged looks, then turned as one to Wang momo. Can you explain what she means? Wang momo only stood solemn with her lips sealed shut. How could a servant like her have any right to disseminate her master’s words?

While the Gu Clan fretted over their difficulties in communicating with the princess, Qingyu had already been towed to the slave market by two other servants. They casually sold her off to a human trafficker on the street without even stopping to negotiate a price.

“Her looks aren’t bad,” the trafficker was quite happy to gain a beauty with his first deal of the day. Once the two Gu servants took their money and left, he squatted down to pinch Qingyu’s cheek with a smile. “Seeing you like this, I’m even reluctant to sell you off.”

Qingyu had been gagged with a piece of cloth and couldn’t speak. All she did was cry.

“This beauty should fetch a high price,” a few more traffickers approached to examine her.

After some struggle, they were able to partially strip her and reveal the snowy white skin beneath. The men around Qingyu grew dizzy and hotblooded at the sight, leaving her in despair. She knocked aside the man fondling her chest and ran headfirst towards the first stone wall she saw.

“Cheap hussy!” the trafficker roared. If she kills herself, then I’d have wasted my money!

Abruptly, one of the traffickers hauled her back, preventing her from ramming into the wall. She collapsed to the ground and heard the sound of ripping cloth. All of the men sucked in a breath. Beneath the beauty’s dress was a slim waist and white undergarments.

“You still want to die after spending this old man’s money?” the trafficker cursed as he kicked Qingyu multiple times in the back.

“How much for this woman?” someone spoke up from his left just as Qingyu was in for a beating.