Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 605 - 603

Chapter 605: 603

Xiao’er and Yun’er are keeping accounts of the Mid-Autumn Festival promotion activities in the supermarket and the price increase of some products.

Hearing that the maid reported that Gu Rou’er requested a meeting, the two closed their account books and had her brought in.

Xiao’er looked at Gu Rou’er and asked: "Have you thought about it? Who sent you here? What is your purpose?"

Gu Rou’er was startled. How did the Lady of Rui’an County know for sure that she would speak the truth?

Seemingly guessing her thoughts, Xiao’er pointed to her own eyes: "Eyes do not deceive, I see a sense of resolve in yours."

Upon hearing this, Gu Rou’er looked at Xiao’er in shock. The Lady of Rui’an County was about her age, and she hadn’t expected such astute insight from her.

No wonder she had been exposed from the beginning. Perhaps life could be better if she sided with such a wise person.

"I was being trained as the soon-to-be-star prostitute at Zuichun Tower. I merely followed Madam’s orders and didn’t know who the real master was. Probably because I’ve never really served a client, they didn’t trust me, so the highest authority I had contact with was Madam. She commanded me to do everything I could to become a concubine in Marquis Shengping’s Mansion, and then collect information regarding the Imperial Court’s affairs and the Sixth Prince." She paused and looked at the Lady of Rui’an County as she said that.

Gu Rou’er didn’t say much. It was quite obvious after a bit of thought, and she wasn’t exactly betraying her master by revealing this.

Xiao’er was not surprised by this; she had guessed as much.

"So now you betray your former master, aren’t you afraid we will scorn you for your disloyalty?" Yun’er asked while looking at her.

People generally don’t like employing those who are disloyal, for if she could betray others today, she could betray them tomorrow. Hence, Yun’er didn’t hold a good opinion of Gu Rou’er.

Xiao’er also looked at her, waiting for her answer.

For the things Gu Rou’er did, she wasn’t exactly unforgivable. After all, she was just carrying out the orders of those behind the scenes, you could even say she was merely doing her job, a job, she must perform. And now that she’s offered a better job opportunity, it would seem normal for her to hop on it.

However, if she were to reveal the real master behind all this and their deeper objectives, Xiao’er would deem her unprofessional, since she carried with her the secrets of her former company when she jumped ship.

At the moment, the things she revealed were obvious to anyone, and as she had already done them the night before, there was no harm done.

Hearing these words, Gu Rou’er gave a wan smile. There was a pause, as though she were recalling something, before she said,

"In my heart, I never had an old master. I was abducted into Zuichun Tower when I was only five years old. Initially, I used to run away often. And every time I was caught and brought back, several Madams would jab me all over my body with needles, that pain was unbearable..." Recollecting her past, she couldn’t help but shudder.

Xiao’er and Yun’er exchanged glances, shocked by the horrific nature of her childhood.

"Eventually, I gave up, focused on learning all that they taught me, and stopped talking about my childhood. Gradually, Madam must have assumed I had forgotten about my past. She told me I was an abandoned baby, which she had found under a big banyan tree and raised... Ha, but I remember vaguely those people who took me away and how my mother kept calling for me."

Yun’er was touched by these words. After all, she had a similar past.

Human traffickers are the most heinous!

"I later overheard a conversation between two teaching Madams and found out that our training was intended for serving men when we grew up. I was extremely shocked and scared and stayed in a dazed state for a while, until I understood. If I wanted any choice in the future, my only option was to improve myself. That way, I might have a chance to escape that hellhole. When they were selecting people to go to Marquis Shengping’s Mansion, I finally saw an opportunity. I saw a chance for freedom! Thinking about becoming a concubine? Well, it’s better than..."

Xiao’er hadn’t expected Gu Rou’er’s real situation to be like this. She could feel the sincerity in her words. This woman had stayed true to her path, endured hardship, persevered, and waited for the day she could rise triumphant!

In her situation, she had made the choice that was most beneficial to her.

Perhaps her experiences had evoked emotional resonance in Yun’er, and her ill feelings towards Gu Rou’er seemed to dissipate, though caution remained.

"Therefore, in my heart, I don’t have an old master. I complied with all of Madam’s requests, just to survive, to gain freedom! They aren’t my masters, they are the ones who pushed me into this painful pit!" Speaking these words, a flash of hatred appeared in Gu Rou’er’s eyes.

Coming to the Marquis Shengping’s Mansion, she had also thought about wreaking vengeance once she received favor!

Occasionally, Madam would share some information about demoted officials with them.

Having analyzed this information, she believed that despite Marquis Shengping’s yet-to-be-established foundation, all of his children were outstanding, so the Mansion’s prosperity over the next fifty years could be foreseen.

If she were to receive favor from Marquis Shengping, finding her parents and seeking revenge should not be difficult.

However, she thought she was clever but forgot that others were not fools. Her petty tricks were plainly visible to them!

However, it was also nice not to have to be a concubine, she wasn’t too fond of that role anyway!

"Do you still remember who your parents are and where they come from?" Yun’er asked.

Gu Rou’er shook her head: "I don’t remember anymore. I only remember the scene of being taken away. That man tightly covered my mouth, not allowing me to answer my mother. I still remember that many people in my family called my mother ’madam’".

That must mean she remembers being addressed by the servants as ’madam’ in her family.

If there were many people in her house addressing her mother as ’madam’, it indicated that her family was well off. She was supposed to be a well-bred lady, but ended up as a prostitute, it’s no wonder she held resentment!

"What about your mother’s appearance? Do you remember it?" Yun’er inquired further.

"I vaguely remember some of it, it has been so many years, I’ve forgotten most of it."

Yun’er nodded, acknowledging that not everyone was as lucky as her, to return to their parents.

"Since you pledge allegiance, sign this labor contract. I don’t require you to sign a servitude contract."

Gu Rou’er was somewhat incredulous when she heard this. No need to enter into servitude?

But what was a labor contract?

Xiao’er passed a contract to her.

Girls being trained as star prostitutes in brothels would naturally be multifaceted, so it wasn’t surprising that she could read.

She took it, started reading it carefully.

Upon seeing her finish, Xiao’er said: "All I am doing is hiring you for work, and you simply have to pass on what I allow you to. On a regular day, you will continue to serve as a cleaning maid in my courtyard. If you are truly loyal, I can help you take revenge and bring down the Zuichun Tower."

Hearing these words, Gu Rou’er’s eyes lit up, bringing down the Zuichun Tower in flames was a dream she had every time she woke from a nightmare!

And just like that, the chess piece others had infiltrated broke ranks.