[Wuxia] April in the Human World (Complete) - 15

Chapter 52 A Dream of the South China Sea

Mother wiped away the tears on her cheeks, tightened her grip on my hand again, and continued, "Mother doesn't want to talk to you about anything else today, just about all the difficulties you'll encounter if you can be with Master openly and honestly."

"Mother!" My face changed, not understanding what Mother meant.

Mother patted the back of my hand gently, "Don't rush, listen to me slowly. In this world, only the principal wife is considered a wife. Even that beautiful woman was abandoned by Master without a chance to correct her mistake simply because she offended him. You are young and delicate now, naturally pleasing Master, but have you ever thought about the time when your beauty fades? What will you do then? Master may have genuine feelings for you, but how many years can that sincerity last? Nothing in this world is eternally vibrant and beautiful, and people are the same; you too will lose your beauty." "One day... Besides, even if the master dotes on you, the only title he can give you is that of a concubine. You've seen how your mother lived under your stepmother's nose since you were little; you should know how miserable it is to be a concubine. My mother's life is already like this, and I don't want Shu'er to live the same life as her. ...Furthermore, your mother believes that the master doesn't truly care for you."

My mother gazed deeply into my eyes and said, "Although you and the master are father and daughter, I think if the master truly treated you as a daughter, he wouldn't have tempted you to do such an unforgivable thing."

My heart tightened, and I felt very sad. I couldn't deny that what my mother said made a lot of sense. Even if the master could hide the fact that we were father and daughter from the world, even if my father would dote on me in the future and elevate me to the status of a secondary wife, I would still ultimately live under the master's wife. Status is a heavy burden, and I don't think I can get used to that kind of life.

"Mother, what should I do now?" Tears welled up in my left eye without my realizing it.

"Shu'er, go, run away." My mother cupped my face and said to me.

"Mother, how can a woman survive outside?" I'm just a weak woman.

"Silly child, you can ask your brother for a few loyal subordinates to protect you as you leave."

"Brother?" I asked blankly.

"Your brother loves you so much, I think even if it goes against the master's wishes, he will help you."

"But wouldn't that implicate my brother? Would it make him lose the master's favor?"

"Silly child, your brother is your father's legitimate son, even if the master is really angry, it won't last long." My mother paused, a proud smile on her lips, and said, "Making crossbows, devising strategies. My daughter is no less capable than any man. I believe you will do better than men in your life outside."

"I'm not resilient enough, I don't know if I can handle it." Although I made crossbows and even devised strategies for Xiahou Xiao to defeat Feng Yu, it was ultimately based on the knowledge I learned in my previous life. When it comes to survival skills and ways of making a living, I'm like an infant, which is the most important reason why I still cling to my father.

"Besides, people's hearts are unpredictable, and I don't consider myself a master at winning people's hearts."

My mother's gaze was calm, and the smile on her lips became even more serene. "Shu'er, I see your abilities better than anyone else. You must believe in yourself and have the ability to survive on your own. Don't be timid, don't be pessimistic, and bravely step out."

"Mother..." It turns out that my mother has always been more decisive and courageous than me. I've always been proud of my extra lifetime of memories and looked down on women in ancient times. I really shouldn't have done that. "What will you do if I leave? Why don't you come with me, Mother?"

"Silly child, don't worry about me. I haven't been favored by Master for over ten years because of my beauty alone. I have my own methods."

I smiled. "Mother can't leave Father, can she?"

Mother paused, then smiled. "Yes. Master is the man I want to love for a lifetime. I can't live without him."

I nodded, understanding. Father is so outstanding; even I, his own daughter, would be unable to resist being bewitched, let alone Mother, a woman who can rightfully live in his life.

"Mother, if I leave like this, I don't know when I'll see you again?"

Mother smiled gently. "I don't ask to see you every day. As long as you're doing well, I'll be content."

Chapter 53: A Glimmer of Hope

To leave Father, walking was absolutely out of the question, so escape was the only option. But to escape, you need resources, and besides my brother, I had no one else to turn to for help. I gritted my teeth, and with no other option, I had to listen to my mother and drag my beloved brother down with me. Although his eyes were filled with anger and pain, he still unhesitatingly gave me a group of men to help me escape.

My brother was quite shrewd; his men led me out of the mansion and southwards through several cities. But we underestimated Father; his connections were terrifying, and our escape became increasingly difficult. Seeing that Father was about to catch up, I was gripped by extreme panic.

"Miss, have some water," Uncle Chen, with his beard, handed me a water bag.

"Hmm." I responded softly, suppressing my panic. I took the water bag, gulped down a large mouthful, and then looked at the thirteen burly men who had been leading me in hiding for the past few months. I said indifferently, "Father is coming soon. You'd better leave quickly." Knowing my father as I did, I knew very well that if I were caught and taken back, all those protecting me would be in danger.

"Miss, Master ordered us to protect you. We will follow you for life." Uncle Chen with the big beard was the first to kneel down and pledge his loyalty, followed by all the other burly men.

"Brother asked you to protect me 'for life' only on the condition that I wasn't caught by my father. The situation is different now! My father's men will be here soon. If you don't leave, you will only lose your lives in vain."

"Miss, Master ordered us to protect you until the last moment of our lives. We swore an oath to Master, so please don't make things difficult for us."

"Your lives are your own. If you don't cherish them, no one will pity you." I walked away coldly, mounted my horse, and rode off.

The burly men mounted their horses and followed, urgently calling out, "Miss, please calm down."

I had long known that each of the thirteen men my brother had given me was fearless, but I couldn't understand why they would risk their lives to follow me. "Have your families been kidnapped by my brother?" I guessed, and this seemed the most likely explanation.

"Huh?" The men were clearly stunned.

I narrowed my eyes and coldly analyzed, "If your families weren't in my brother's hands, how could you be so foolish as to risk your own lives?"

Uncle Chen paused, then laughed heartily, saying, "Miss, you misunderstand. Master will help us take care of our families, but it's definitely not as despicable as you think."

I smiled coldly and glanced at him, "It's the same thing. Don't worry, I'll explain the situation to my brother when we get back, and I won't let him harm your families. You can go now." "

Miss, you really misunderstand. It's because Master has been kind to us that we are so loyal to him. We—"

I waved my hand, stopping Uncle Chen from speaking. "Whether you're blindly loyal or threatened by my brother, I don't care," she said wearily. "Just get away from me now, or it'll be too late. Go now."

"Miss, please don't try to persuade us. We won't leave you..."

☆☆

Although I felt there was no hope of escaping, I still chose to continue towards the next town. Success or failure was just an outcome; what mattered was the process of resistance. Only in this way could I lessen my guilt towards my mother.

"Miss, you've been traveling for days. Let's stop and rest for a while."

I glanced at the burly men beside me who wouldn't leave, understanding they were worried I couldn't handle it. I lowered my eyes, my heart warming. I touched my face, looked up, and gave a self-deprecating smile, feeling not only weak but also shameful. Rationally, I wanted them to leave me, to avoid being implicated, but emotionally, I was deeply moved by their unwavering loyalty and devotion. However, I secretly vowed that no matter their reasons for remaining loyal, I would never let my father harm these people.

"Let's go to an inn." Anyway, no matter where we hid, my father would find us. Rather than cautiously hiding in a place swarming with flies, it would be better to sit down openly in a large inn, enjoy a good meal, and realize that months of continuous travel had been too tiring and exhausting.

The horses clattered along the cobblestone path. In the distance, a large crowd had gathered, creating a lively scene. I sat on my horse, looking down at them, and thought the man registering people behind the table looked familiar, as if I'd seen him somewhere before. I blinked, shook my head, and thought I was overthinking it. How could I know someone in such a remote place?

Wait—

a memory flashed through my mind, and I turned to stare intently at the man. It was him! Mo Fei!! He was Yu Mu's trusted lieutenant. I'd spent some time in Ghost Leap Valley making crossbows, and I knew several of Yu Mu's people, Mo Fei being one of them.

Mo Fei being here meant Yu Mu was here too?

I quickly pulled on the reins, stopping the horse.

"What's wrong, Miss?" The burly men jumped off their horses after me.

I squinted and said to Uncle Chen, "Uncle Chen, go see what's going on over there."

"Yes, Miss." Uncle Chen obeyed and ran towards Mo Fei's direction. A while later, Uncle Chen returned, panting heavily. "Miss...the people up ahead...are recruiting...guards and maids."

My eyes lit up, my voice trembling slightly with excitement. "Great! Maybe we can escape this time." It turns out there really are unexpected opportunities in this world.

"Miss?" The burly men stared at me, puzzled.

"It's not convenient to talk here. Let's find an inn."

☆☆

Before I could finish speaking, Uncle Chen jumped up in protest. "No! Miss, you're of noble birth! How can you become someone else's maid?!"

I slowly stood up, my eyes fixed firmly on Uncle Chen. "Uncle Chen, this is the best way to escape right now." Yu Mu's ability to evade the combined pursuit of three countries is truly astonishing.

Uncle Chen hesitated, "But...Miss, how can you be so sure that's Yu Mu's subordinate? There are people in the world who look alike, what if you've mistaken him for someone else?"

"No. There are people in the world who look alike, but no two people have the exact same clothes and hairstyle."

"But...Miss, you have met him before, what if he recognizes you?"

"I was disguised when I met him, and besides, I've grown quite a bit taller now, it won't be easy for him to recognize me." Everyone grows before the age of eighteen, and my height and build are quite different now compared to then.

"But...what if..."

"Alright, Uncle Chen! You don't need to say 'but' anymore. We have no other way to escape Father...and Baili Qingxiao's pursuit except by using Yu Mu."

Chapter 54. A New Beginning

☆☆

Mo Fei was a sharp-eyed person. To avoid revealing any flaws, he had to be meticulous in his appearance, such as his clothes, complexion, and demeanor.

The complexion of a poor person is different from that of someone who is well-fed and clothed.

Although I had been on the run for months, my complexion was still rosy and healthy, not at all like the pale, sickly complexion of a poor person.

So I mixed some vegetable juice into face cream and applied it to my face. Looking in the mirror, my face turned very pale. Although it looked a bit awkward, at least I looked about 70-80% like a emaciated poor person.

Afterwards, we exchanged some patched, coarse cloth clothes with the poor family for brand-new clothes.

"Remember, poor people always act and speak with a timid and cautious demeanor. You've traveled all over the country, you should have seen this before."

They paused for a moment, then nodded knowingly.

I smiled with satisfaction, the first genuine smile since escaping my father, and said, "Then show me how." To ensure the success of our operation, I had to be careful.

They looked at each other awkwardly several times before finally bowing and replying, "Yes."

...

☆☆

But Uncle Chen was wrong; they weren't "recruiting" maids, they were "buying" maids!

A single word difference, yet the meaning was vastly different. "Recruiting" had a time limit, a three- to five-year term of servitude; "buying" had no time limit, a lifetime of servitude...

I hesitated. I had originally planned to hide with Yu Mu for two or three years, waiting for my father's search for me to subside before going out to live my own life. But if I sold myself into slavery, it wouldn't be so easy to escape.

"Miss, I think we should think of another way," Uncle Chen, standing behind me, said softly.

I shook my head, tilting my head slightly, and said to him, "We'll go separately, and we mustn't let Mo Fei know we know each other."

"Yes," Uncle Chen replied, then winked at the other burly men, signaling them to conduct the interviews separately.

The burly men dispersed silently, disappearing into the crowd…

Chapter 055. Welcoming the Unknown

☆☆

Good looks aren't always an advantage, but at least for now, Mo Fei only asked me a few questions before choosing me. I think he was partly attracted to my obedience, but mostly to my looks. (Advertisement break: Still relying on your hands? How can that be enjoyable? Forum reputation guaranteed! Healthy anti-premature ejaculation masturbation exerciser, real oral sex pleasure experience, hot recommendation! Maintain ejaculation sensation for 30 minutes, so pleasurable you'll faint! Fully automated masturbation with 12 different sex positions and vibration frequencies. Click to enter.)

However, the burly men protecting me weren't as "lucky" as I was. Excluding those on the left and right, only three of the thirteen burly men were selected, despite their relatively delicate features. But it wasn't bad; at least three people were chosen.

Next, we were separated and taken into a large mansion. I was very surprised and secretly astonished. How could Yu Mu be so bold as to live in this bustling town? I had assumed that to avoid his father and Feng Yu, he wouldn't be living so openly in the city, even if he wasn't hiding in some remote, uninhabited mountain forest. This Yu Yu is truly unfathomable.

Just as I was lost in thought, the man in blue leading the way suddenly stopped, and I immediately halted as well.

I glanced up quickly and saw an old woman standing ahead. The

man in blue said to the old woman, "Granny Zhu, this is the maid we bought today. Take her away."

"Yes," Granny Zhu replied respectfully. Judging from her attitude towards the man in blue, I guessed his status wasn't low. So I carefully observed his features and memorized his name.

"..." The man in blue nodded, said nothing more, and coldly turned to leave.

"Come with me," Granny Zhu glanced at me only once, then turned and walked away. I immediately followed.

Granny Zhu led me through several winding corridors and through several moon gates, until we entered a secluded courtyard.

"Granny Zhu," a maid standing at the courtyard gate greeted Granny Zhu, immediately curtsying.

Granny Zhu looked at the maid and asked, "Which room still has a bed?"

The maid replied, "The third room on the east side is short one person."

Granny Zhu nodded and led me to the east side of the courtyard. We stopped at the third room. I quickly glanced up and saw the door was open. Inside, three girls were sitting on the bed. Seeing Granny Zhu, they immediately rose and curtsied.

Granny Zhu nodded, then turned to me and said, "Go in."

"Yes," I replied, curtsying back, then lowering my head, clutching my bundle tightly, and carefully sitting down on the empty bed, looking every bit like a naive country girl who had never seen the world.

When I looked up again, Granny Zhu had already disappeared through the doorway.

Even after she left, the room remained silent; no one dared to speak.

After about several minutes, a young woman crouched down at the door, peeked out from behind the doorframe. Then she turned around excitedly and said, "Granny Zhu is gone!"

Hearing this, the two girls sitting on their respective beds beamed with joy. They stood up and walked towards me with smiles. One of them asked, "What's your name?"

I looked at them. Although all three of them were now pale and thin, their features and figures were extremely beautiful and captivating. If their skin tone were better, they would be even more beautiful.

I smiled and said, "My name is Xiao Shu. What about you?"

"My name is Li Zhu," the girl who had been peering out from behind the doorframe answered first.

"My name is Ling Xiu," said the girl who had asked my name.

"My name is Qing Wan," said the other, a woman who looked very gentle.

Lizhu lowered her head and murmured, "Xiaoshu, Lingxiu, Qingwan, Lizhu..." Then she raised her head and smiled, "Speaking of it this way, Qingwan's name sounds the best."

Lingxiu laughed and said, "Of course, Qingwan's father is a scholar, unlike my father, who can barely read a few characters."

A scholar? A scholar's status wasn't low in this era, so why would he sell his daughter? Perhaps she'd encountered some trouble.

I looked up at Qingwan with some emotion, only to find her smiling at them. Her face showed no sadness, but rather a hint of smugness, as if she considered herself superior.

I was stunned. It seemed I had guessed wrong. This girl showed no sign of distress.

At this moment, Lizhu sat down next to me, resting her arm on my shoulder, and asked, "By the way, Xiaoshu, were you sold by a broker, or bought by the steward himself?"

"I was bought by Steward Mo Fei." My heart sank, and I felt a vague unease. When I saw Mo Fei, all I thought about was using Yu Mu to escape my father, without considering why he didn't just buy people directly from the slave trader.

"Your parents must have gotten a lot of money, right?" Ling Xiu asked with a smile.

"Uh?" I looked completely bewildered.

"Qing Wan sold herself for one hundred taels, what about you?" Ling Xiu misunderstood my question and used Qing Wan as an example.

"I also sold myself for one hundred taels." After saying that, I lowered my head. A sense of unease crept into my heart.

"Sigh, you two are lucky. Li Zhu and I were only sold for ten taels." Ling Xiu said dejectedly, her head bowed.

Ten taels?! Compared to that, it was a world of difference. Thinking about it carefully, it suddenly dawned on me. One hundred taels of silver was more than a poor family could earn in a lifetime. No wonder there were still so many people crowding the place, even though they were selling their children.

I sighed, rubbing my forehead. It seemed I was preoccupied with my own thoughts; such an obvious thing had only just become clear to me.

Chapter 56: Dragon's Den and Tiger's Lair

In the evening, an old woman called out while banging a gong in the courtyard, "Dinner's ready...dinner's ready..."

"Xiao Shu, we can go out to eat now." Li Zhu pulled my hand, lifting me from the bed.

I couldn't help but chuckle; Li Zhu was so naturally friendly. I'd only been here for less than half a day, but she acted as if we'd known each other for ages.

The four of us walked out of the house and saw the girls from the twenty-odd rooms on the east and west sides coming out.

I turned to Li Zhu and asked, "Where are we going to eat?"

Li Zhu excitedly took my arm, jumping and skipping, "Of course, we'll eat in the dining hall! Xiao Shu, let me tell you, the rice here is so white and plump, so fragrant and soft when you bite into it, it's so delicious!"

I was stunned. I'd never heard anyone praise rice like that before; it seemed she must have had a very hard life back home.

"Xiao Shu, why are you staring at me like that?" Li Zhu was getting a little annoyed that I'd been staring at her for too long.

I quickly laughed and said, "Li Zhu, you're absolutely right. Hearing you say that makes my stomach rumble."

Ling Xiu said with a smile, "We'll be eating soon, and you're just in time to be hungry."

Qing Wan turned to look at us and smiled, "Compared to rice, I think the dishes in the canteen are quite exquisite; I've never seen anything like them before."

Hearing her say that, I realized she was living a better life at home than Li Zhu. At least she had white rice to eat. But looking at her pale and thin face, she probably wasn't eating very well either.

Li Zhu whispered in my ear, "Xiao Shu, you can only eat one bowl of rice per person in the canteen, but we have to scoop it ourselves. You should pat the rice down firmly and pile it up into a cone shape later."

I smiled at her but didn't say anything. Actually, I only ate a little rice during the meal; the rest was all sorts of dishes. I wonder if I could change this habit all at once.

Lizhu assumed I understood and happily pulled me out of the courtyard.

We

walked along the winding path paved with smooth tiles for several minutes until we finally reached the so-called dining hall.

The dining hall was spacious, with over twenty tables. Each table was laden with several dishes, including fish and meat. Although the preparation was rough, it was a welcome meal for the poor family who rarely ate meat.

Five large, round wooden buckets were placed in the center of the dining hall, and an old woman stood by the side watching. The maids lined up in five rows to get their food. Lizhu, just as she had said, piled the white rice into a high heap in her bowl. After she finished, she turned back and winked at me, indicating that I should do the same.

I smiled at her and picked up a rice scoop, but I noticed the old woman beside me frown. Besides being surprised, I instinctively felt I had scooped up two large extra scoops.

How strange! I thought the old woman was over there supervising the maids to make sure they didn't take too much rice, but the actual situation seemed to be the opposite of what I imagined…

Lizhu, Lingxiu, and Qingwan stood to one side waiting for me. Seeing that I had finished, Lingxiu said to me, “Let’s go, let’s go to that table.”

Lizhu frowned at my bowl, “Xiaoshu, why didn’t you scoop the rice into a high peak?”

I looked up and saw that every girl had scooped their rice into a high peak, like a small mountain. I was so focused on observing the old woman that I forgot to watch the girls scooping the rice.

But I probably couldn’t even finish what I had in my bowl, so how could I dare to pile the rice into a high peak like them?

I racked my brains for a moment and came up with an explanation, "I can't eat too much rice, otherwise my stomach will feel uncomfortable."

Qingwan exclaimed in surprise, "Ah, I've seen people with this kind of illness before, but how come you, at such a young age, have such an illness?"

I lowered my head and shook my head.

Because of Qingwan's "previous" experience, Lizhu and Lingxiu believed I had this "illness" without any doubt. Their gazes towards me were filled with pity. I chuckled; what a group of simple-minded people, trusting someone so much after knowing them for less than half a day.

☆☆

The four of us found a table and sat down. I discreetly observed the maids coming and going around us. But the more I looked, the more alarmed I became. The maids Yumu had bought this time, apart from being a bit pale and thin, were all extremely beautiful, practically breathtaking. Any one of these maids would be of exceptional beauty.

I frowned. Was Yumu choosing maids or beauties?

My uneasy premonition grew stronger; I felt like I'd escaped one danger only to fall into another…

Chapter 57 Beautiful Poison

Over the next few days, more girls moved into the courtyard until all twenty-five rooms were full…

☆☆

Twenty-five rooms, four people per room, meaning a total of one hundred girls lived in the courtyard.

Buying one hundred maids at once wasn't strange; what was strange was that these maids were all stunning beauties with pale complexions.

This wasn't a time of war and chaos; people's lives were relatively comfortable. Where could you find girls in the same place who were struggling to make ends meet and yet all so beautiful? Therefore, I was certain that these one hundred girls must have been carefully collected from various places.

What exactly was Yu Mu trying to do?

Before I could figure it out, the sound of a gong rang out in the courtyard.

“? It's not mealtime yet, why is there a gong outside?” Lizhu jumped out of bed, grabbed my hand, and ran outside.

Lizhu pulled me out of the house, where I saw Granny Zhu leading a group of maids dressed in blue, standing neatly in the courtyard. I carefully observed their faces and found that although these maids were pretty, they were far less beautiful than the girls living in this courtyard.

"Why are there so many people? Hmm? What are they carrying?" Lingxiu followed us out of the house and stood to my left.

"It's clothes, isn't it?" Qingwan, standing to Lingxiu's left, said.

"Are they for us?" Lizhu, standing to my right, turned to look at Lingxiu and Qingwan with bright eyes.

"I don't know." Lingxiu shook her head and added, "But I hope they're for us."

"They're probably for us." Qingwan glanced down at her clothes, her eyes full of disdain.

Seeing that the girls from each room had come out, Granny Zhu called out, "Girls, come here quickly."

As soon as Granny Zhu finished speaking, all the girls happily went to stand in the courtyard, and Lizhu quickly pulled me over as well.

Granny Zhu pointed to the clothes the maid was holding and said, "Wear these clothes after you bathe. Tomorrow you will officially begin your training in etiquette. Those who learn well will become high-ranking officials, serving noble masters in the future; those who don't will only be lowly maids. Do you understand?"

"Understood!" The ninety-nine girls responded in unison, their voices extremely loud, indicating their excitement.

Granny Zhu nodded in satisfaction and said, "Alright, girls, now take your clothes one by one in order."

A commotion erupted as everyone excitedly lined up and received their clothes one by one.

"Xiao Shu, did you see that? Those clothes are so beautiful... I love them so much! Almost there, almost there, almost our turn!" Li Zhu, standing behind me, was so excited

she almost jumped up. I responded with a faint smile, without saying a word.

After a while, it was our turn to receive our clothes.

Lizhu couldn't suppress her high-pitched scream any longer, "Wow, so smooth! I've never touched such fine fabric before!"

"This is top-grade fabric, of course it feels good." Lingxiu smiled, clutching the clothes in her hands with obvious delight.

I glanced at the maids carrying the finished garments and saw that the fabric of their clothes was much inferior to the ones in my hands.

Entering the room, Qingwan whispered, "These clothes are made of such fine fabric, they're definitely not for maids. I think the master of this mansion is going to choose concubines." Qingwan's eyes shone with longing.

"Yes, such fine clothes are not for maids! Qingwan, you're so clever! -- The daughter of a scholar is indeed different." Lingxiu said with a mixture of envy and jealousy.

Qingwan lowered her eyes and said, "But there are a hundred people in this courtyard. Where does the mansion need so many concubines? I think a large portion of them will be eliminated and made into maids." After a long silence

, Lingxiu suddenly asked. "Aren't we best sisters?"

"Of course!" Lizhu responded loudly.

I nodded.

Qingwan smiled slightly, neither nodding nor answering.

Lingxiu laughed, "Since we're best sisters, let's make a deal: whoever becomes rich or powerful in the future, don't forget the others."

"Mm," Lizhu nodded vigorously.

I laughed, "I'm a bit slow, I can't compete with so many people, so you'll have to take care of me in the future."

Qingwan came over and took one of my hands, laughing, "Of course, we should help each other." Qingwan's words sounded like an agreement at first glance, but upon closer examination, they were quite intriguing.

Lizhu grabbed my other hand and exclaimed, "Oh, Xiaoshu, don't underestimate yourself. You're so beautiful..."

I shook my head and said, "There are plenty of beautiful people in this courtyard. Surrounded by such beauties, I'm not outstanding." Although I was talking about myself, I was also subtly reminding them. The road ahead is fraught with danger; not competing is actually a good thing.

Lingxiu put her arm around my shoulder and laughed, "So, we need to study hard tomorrow to learn the rules and strive to be among the best."

Qingwan chuckled and said, "Being among the best isn't that easy. We know how to work hard, and they certainly do too. We should be even more diligent and hardworking than them."

"Yes! Qingwan is absolutely right. We should be even more diligent and hardworking than them." Lingxiu now practically followed Qingwan's lead.

☆☆

The next day, Granny Zhu came and led us to a spacious hall.

Pink gauze draped over the carved window frames, and the soft winter sunlight cast a dreamy pink glow over the room.

Beside a vermilion pillar on the left side of the hall, there was a bronze incense burner shaped like a crane, from which pale white smoke rose gently, filling the air with a sweet fragrance.

Stepping into the room, the sky-blue floor tiles reflected our images like a giant mirror.

I turned my head and saw all the girls staring in disbelief.

Lizhu whispered in my ear, "Xiaoshu, it's so beautiful here."

"Girls, line up!" Granny Zhu's loud voice seemed even louder in the room.

Less than a minute after Granny Zhu finished speaking, the girls were lined up neatly. Their speed was astonishing; it seemed each of them was putting in their best effort to be the best.

Granny Zhu nodded in satisfaction and said, "Today you will learn how to bow, greet, and walk."

...

"Now, follow me and do it once. -- Gently fold your hands and place them on your lower abdomen, straighten your upper body, and slightly bend your knees... Good. Hold this position without moving."

Next, Granny Zhu descended the three stone steps and slowly walked among us, observing my knees.

"Your knees shouldn't be bent like that! This posture looks terrible! Straighten them up a bit more." Granny Zhu found one that didn't meet her standards and scolded it aloud.

The girl responded in a barely audible voice, "Yes."

"Too straight! Bend it a little more."

"Yes." The girl responded again.

"Too bent, straighten it a little more!"

"Yes."

"Too straight again, bend it a little more!"

"Yes." The girl's voice trembled slightly.

“What a fool!” Granny Zhu had lost patience and could no longer teach. “Stand aside and watch how everyone else bends their knees.”

“Yes.” The girl was almost in tears.

…

After walking among us, Granny Zhu returned to the stone steps, looking down at us from her high vantage point. “Stand up.”

“Yes.” The girls responded in unison.

“I’ll emphasize again, when you greet someone, the movement of bending your knees should be soft and slow. Don’t be too hasty. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” The girls responded in unison.

“Hmm.” Granny Zhu nodded in satisfaction, then said, “Hmm, since you understand, I’m going to test you now. You four, come here and greet me.”

“Yes.” The girls responded again in unison.

"...

Hmm. Everyone's learning well. Now let's learn how to walk..."

"Your upper body must be straight, left hand on your lower abdomen, right hand holding a handkerchief folded over your left hand. Eyes focused straight ahead. Take small steps, the toes of your back foot should only reach the heel of your front foot..."

...

☆☆

After a long day, we were exhausted, our backs aching. After dinner and a bath, we lay motionless on the bed, no one speaking.

After a long silence, Lizhu suddenly sat up and turned to ask, "What do you think of that girl who didn't learn the manners well?"

I glanced at her and shook my head; Lizhu really had boundless energy.

Lingxiu also sat up and said, "What can Zhu Mama do if she keeps her here to practice? Of course, it's all practice and more practice. If she practices well, Zhu Mama should let her go soon."

"But she's destined not to eat tonight," Qingwan added. For poor families, food is the most important thing.

Seeing that I didn't respond, Lizhu pulled back the covers and ran to my bed to squeeze in with me. "Xiaoshu, why aren't you saying anything?"

"I was thinking... if that girl hasn't learned the rules by tomorrow, will she really be assigned to be a lowly maid by Granny Zhu?" If that could get me out of this predicament, then I'd consider it.

The rules Granny Zhu taught me today are definitely not for maids, which makes me even more certain that Yumu doesn't want these hundred beauties as maids. However, I don't think Yumu wants them all for himself either, because a hundred beauties are far too many for him to manage alone. Could it be that he's going to share them with his subordinates?!

Qingwan said, "It's hard to say. But we'll know tomorrow."

Lingxiu said, "If that's the case, there's nothing we can do. Who told her she couldn't even learn such easy rules?"

Hearing this, Lizhu said worriedly, "I wonder how difficult the rules will be in the future?"

Qingwan comforted her, "Don't worry, as long as you study hard, you'll naturally learn."

Chapter 058 Wealth and Prosperity

The events that happened in the following days proved that the reality was far less optimistic than I had hoped. Those one or two girls who couldn't learn the rules were taught by Granny Zhu again and again. I don't know if it was because the girls were hardworking and eager to learn, or because Granny Zhu was a skilled teacher.

Seeing this, I decided not to take action yet, but to observe them secretly and figure out what they were up to before devising a strategy.

☆☆

After learning perfect manners, Granny Zhu sent four more people to teach us music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

These things were purely for enjoyment. Where had these girls, who couldn't even get enough to eat three meals a day, ever seen such things before? So when they saw these things, they were extremely excited. People, once they develop an interest in something, learn with exceptional focus and speed. Sure enough, in less than half a year, the girls had mastered music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

One day, Lizhu and I were sharing a bed again. She turned and hugged me, sighing, "Xiaoshu, you know, I feel incredibly happy right now. Not only do I eat delicious food every day, but I've also learned music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. These are things I never dared to dream of before, but now I have them all. And I've met you three good sisters, Xiaoshu, Lingxiu, and Qingwan… Xiaoshu, tell me, am I dreaming? When I wake up, will everything be gone…?"

Lizhu's words saddened me, but all I could say was a laugh and a scolding of "silly girl."

After

we learned all the things ancient young ladies were supposed to learn, Granny Zhu let us play freely. In the mansion, we could go wherever we wanted.

The girls ate well, dressed beautifully, and were as happy as birds.

After walking around the mansion, I realized that there was no one else in this huge house besides the maids and servants. Yu Mu wasn't even in this mansion.

I was puzzled. Was my previous guess wrong?

Yu Mu not only didn't want to use these girls, but also didn't want his subordinates to use them...

Then what was the point of all the girls they painstakingly trained, who were proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting?

☆☆

A few days later, Granny Zhu divided us one hundred people into ten groups, taking us to visit the various rooms of the mansion in groups of ten.

With Li Zhu, Ling Xiu, and Qing Wan looking forward to it, it was finally our group's turn to visit...

...

After the visit, their faces and eyes were bright, and they looked very longing and happy.

"I never knew there were such beautiful houses in the world, like a fairyland..." Lizhu said dreamily.

Lingxiu cupped her face and said, "If I could live in a house like that, I would die of happiness."

Qingwan lowered her head, her face flushed with excitement, and remained silent.

My heart skipped a beat. Could this be the legendary brainwashing...?!

☆☆

The day after the tour of the house, Granny Zhu spoke again, "I've painstakingly taught you manners, and also taught you music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, all so you could enjoy the ultimate in worldly wealth and luxury." As

soon as Granny Zhu finished speaking, the girls erupted in a clamor. Some were shocked, some were delighted, and some looked on with longing.

Granny Zhu nodded in satisfaction and continued, "However, whether you can truly enjoy such wealth and luxury depends on your individual abilities."

Hearing this, everyone quieted down.

"Next, we'll have a test. If you pass, you can live in the best rooms."

"Granny Zhu, what will you test us on?" a lively girl immediately asked, voicing everyone's thoughts.

"It's simple, I'll test what you've learned in the past six months."

Hearing this, the girls' faces lit up with excitement, looking eager to try.

Lizhu tugged at my sleeve, jumping and skipping with excitement. "Xiaoshu, this is great! This is great! After the exams, we can live in a house like paradise!"

I forced a smile, but couldn't manage it. At this point, I vaguely understood Yumu's purpose. I finally understood why they had gone to such lengths to find these girls—all of them thin, poor daughters.

There's a saying that goes, "Without comparison, there's no distinction between high and low, good and bad."

Some things, because people have never had them before, are cherished more once they acquire them, and they're less likely to let go easily. This principle applies equally to relationships and material possessions.

People don't yearn for what they don't have, but once they have it, they can't bear to lose it.

I took a deep breath. I thought, from now on, no matter what Yu Mu wants these girls to do, they will obediently listen. It's not that these girls have been corrupted, but after enjoying such a period of wealth and luxury, none of them can go back, can go back to those days of not having enough to eat or wear...

Chapter 59 Personal Cultivation

"Dinner's ready...dinner's ready..." An old woman knocked on the gong again in the small courtyard.

"Lizhu, Lingxiu, Qingwan, come out to eat." Before, they would drag me out to eat as soon as it was time to eat, but now I was the one calling them out to eat.

"Mm." Lizhu responded softly, stood up from her chair, put her pen on the table, washed her hands in the basin of water, and then slowly walked towards me.

"Lingxiu, Qingwan?" Seeing that they were still reading without moving, I called again.

Qingwan looked up and said, "We haven't figured out this chess manual yet, we're not eating, you guys go ahead."

I lowered my eyes and sighed softly. Half a year of luxurious life had already transformed them; they were no longer as enthusiastic about food as they were when they first arrived.

I added, "Then Lizhu and I will go out."

"Okay." Qingwan and Lingxiu nodded.

☆☆

Lizhu and I lined up, scooped our rice, and then found a table to sit down.

"Ugh... the food today is really awful." Lizhu took a bite and spat out a piece of shrimp.

Over the past six months, the food in the canteen had become more and more refined each day. But the girls' appetites had become increasingly discerning.

I don't know when it started, but Lizhu no longer piled her rice into a high cone. She no longer ate as casually as she did when she first arrived; she now knew how to distinguish between refined and coarse dishes. She couldn't eat dishes that weren't prepared well. I didn't know if this transformation was good or bad. Seeing them like this now, I felt a pang of sadness.

I picked up a shrimp, peeled it, and ate it. The taste was a bit off, but still edible.

"You should eat something else."

"If I'd known it would be this bad, I wouldn't have come," Lizhu complained.

I chuckled and shook my head, offering no response.

☆☆

After finishing my meal, I left the dining hall and smiled at Lizhu, saying, "Lizhu, I want to take a walk in the garden. You haven't finished your painting yet, so you should go back first."

"Okay, I'll go back then," Lizhu said, smiling before turning and leaving.

I lifted my skirt and strolled leisurely through the garden.

Now was the time to figure out how to escape. I couldn't delay any longer; if I waited any longer, my only chance of getting away would be death.

Because if I waited any longer, I would find out what Yumu was up to. It was a secret. Since it's a secret, Yu Mu naturally wouldn't want anyone to know. And the only thing that can keep someone from ever revealing a secret is death.

Mo Fei chose me simply because I have a beautiful face. If my beautiful face were no longer beautiful, then I could naturally escape. However, every woman loves beauty, and I'm no exception. It's incredibly difficult for me to bring myself to scar my face.

I walked to a shady spot and stopped in front of a branch as tall as my face. I stared blankly at the branch, hesitating whether to actually do it…

Or should I call Uncle Chen and the others to take me out?

No, that's absolutely impossible. If Uncle Chen takes me out and I leave Yu Mu's territory, my father will find me quickly, and all my hiding over the past six months will have been for nothing. That would be so unfair to my mother…

I took a deep breath, mustered my courage, and reached out to grab the branch…

Since I chose to escape my father, I must learn to face the difficulties that come with leaving him. If this beautiful face will bring me trouble, then let it be ruined…

There are many kinds of disfigurement. If the scar is on the cheek, then the face is completely ruined. If the scar is on the forehead, then it can only be said to be half-ruined.

I choose half-ruined. Women in this era are allowed to have bangs. If the scar is on the forehead, and I want a pretty scar, I just need to cut my bangs…

I need to use force; the branch must break through the dermis, otherwise even if I am injured, I may not leave a scar…

☆☆

“Granny Zhu! Granny Zhu! It’s terrible, it’s terrible! Xiao Shu’s face has been scratched by a branch, and she’s bleeding a lot! Quickly, get a doctor!” Li Zhu shouted the same sentence as she ran. Listening to her voice fading into the distance, my eyes welled up with tears. Li Zhu truly cared for me.

“Xiao Shu, how could you be so careless? What if you have a scar on your face—” Qing Wan’s words stopped there; she couldn’t bear to continue.

Lingxiu bit her lip and said, "The wound is shallow, it shouldn't leave a scar."

I lay quietly on the bed, smiling gratefully at them, but didn't speak. Because at a time like this, anything I said would be inappropriate.

After a while, Lizhu, Granny Zhu, and a doctor carrying a medicine box rushed in.

Lizhu said with tears in her eyes, "Xiaoshu, the doctor is here."

I smiled and said, "Thank you, Lizhu."

Lizhu said, "We're good sisters, why do you say such things to me?"

I smiled, but before I could speak, Granny Zhu spoke first, "Doctor, quickly take a look at her."

The doctor opened the medicine box, took out cotton and disinfectant powder, and cleaned the wound on my forehead.

Granny Zhu asked, "Doctor, will she have a scar on her forehead?"

After bandaging the wound on my forehead, the doctor stood up from the embroidered stool beside the bed, shook his head, and said, "The wound is too deep. This young lady will probably have a very deep scar on her forehead."

Hearing this, Lizhu, Qingwan, and Lingxiu all gasped.

"I'll take my leave," the doctor said.

Granny Zhu smiled and said, "Take care, sir."

The doctor nodded, picked up his medicine box, and left.

Seeing that Granny Zhu didn't see the doctor out, we knew that Granny Zhu had something to say to me.

Qingwan said to Granny Zhu, "Let's go out and wash some fruit." After saying that, she took Lizhu and Lingxiu and left together.

I got out of bed, curtsied to Granny Zhu, and softly called out, "Granny Zhu."

Granny Zhu looked at my face with pity and said, "Take your bundle and come with me."

I sneered inwardly. She was so eager to get rid of me now that she saw I was no longer of any "use," was she?

I replied "Yes," packed my usual clothes, and followed Granny Zhu out of the house, without even a chance to say goodbye to Lizhu and the others. Granny

Zhu

whispered a few words in the ear of a guard and then handed me over to him.

"Miss, let's go," the guard said.

I nodded and followed him out of the house where I had lived for almost half a year.

We turned a corner and arrived at a restaurant. The guard led me directly up the stairs to the second floor. He knocked on a door. A male voice came from inside, "Who is it?"

The guard bowed and said, "This servant is Zhang Mao."

"Come in," the voice inside said again.

"Yes," the guard replied, and pushed open the door. Seeing that I didn't follow, he frowned and turned to glare at me. I hurriedly followed him inside.

The man in the room was sitting with his legs crossed, looking down at an account book.

The guard bowed and said, "Steward Mo. Granny Zhu instructed me to bring this maid over."

He glanced back at my forehead, which was wrapped in white cloth, then turned back to the account book, saying indifferently, "Hmm. You may leave."

"Yes," the guard replied, bowing and backing out of the room, closing the door behind him.

☆☆

I stood there quietly, head down, motionless.

I recognized the man in the room; it was Mo Fei.

Granny Zhu had brought me to Mo Fei, so the person who could decide my fate was this Mo Fei.

The room was eerily quiet; apart from the occasional sound of Mo Fei flipping through the account book, there was no other sound in the air.

After a long time, Mo Fei had probably finished reading the account book in his hands. Only then did he speak, "Raise your head."

"Yes," I replied softly, slowly raising my head and quietly looking at him.

He paused, then narrowed his eyes and said, "Is this how Granny Zhu taught you manners?"

"?" I was taken aback, not understanding what he meant.

Mo Fei chuckled softly, teasingly saying, "Didn't Granny Zhu teach you that a young lady shouldn't stare at a man so directly?"

Different people require different communication methods to win their favor. Seeing his teasing, I smiled and said, "It was Master who told me to raise my head."

Mo Fei stroked his chin, narrowing his eyes as he looked me up and down. "Even at a time like this, you can still laugh?"

Seeing the interest in his charming eyes, I knew this man was curious about me. I sighed inwardly; this was not a good sign.

I countered, "Why would you think I wouldn't be able to laugh at a moment like this?"

Mo Fei was taken aback by my question, staring intently into my eyes for a long time before bursting into laughter. He slapped his thigh, stood up, and walked towards me, casually lifting my chin. With his peach blossom eyes narrowed, he said seriously, "You're really interesting. I've been staring at you for so long, and you're not even blushing. This is the first time I've ever seen a girl like you."

I was stunned again, never expecting that Mo Fei, one of Yu Mu's capable confidants, would have such a personality. I thought for a moment, then replied seriously, "I have no other thoughts about you, so naturally I won't blush."

Mo Fei paused again, released my chin, and chuckled, "What an interesting girl."

I lowered my eyebrows and said, "Little Shu is so foolish, making you a laughingstock."

He stroked his chin, narrowing his peach blossom eyes again, and said, "Am I laughing at you?"

I just kept my head down; at this moment, I didn't need to answer him.

Mo Fei lifted his robe, sat back in his chair, crossed his legs, propped his chin on his hand, and tapped the table lightly with his fingers, his eyes still fixed on me. "Tell me," he said, "what happened to your forehead?"

I replied, "After dinner today, I went for a walk in the garden and accidentally got scratched by a branch."

Mo Fei stopped tapping the table and sighed, "What a pity. Now that your face is ruined, you can only work as a lowly maid from now on."

I lowered my eyes and replied, "Xiao Shu understands."

URL 1:http://localhost:909/htmlBlog/1679.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=1679&aspx=1

Previous Page : [Wuxia] April in the Human World (Complete) - 14

Next Page : [Wuxia] April in the Human World (Complete) - 16

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

[Wuxia] April in the Human World (Complete) - 15

comment Open a new window to view comments