Gu Fei smiled bitterly. "It's not up to me."
She leaned in and whispered in the Second Miss's ear, "I've hidden all your silver notes and golden hairpins. If I can get away, I'll find a way to get back to you."
After speaking, Gu Fei grabbed a handful of ash from the ground and smeared it on her face. Just as she struggled to stand, a jailer came over, unlocked the cell door, and shouted coldly, "All servants, get out! State your names, one by one."
A few of the older matrons stood up, looking somewhat pleased. At least they wouldn't have to stay in this godforsaken place any longer.
The four young maids also stood up, positioning themselves behind the older matrons.
Just then, an idea struck Gu Fei. She placed some fruit and a few steamed buns inside the bedding, then whispered to the Second Miss, "I've left something for you in the bedding. Hide it well and don't let anyone find it."
The Second Miss glanced back at the bedding and shook her head, her pleading eyes fixed on Gu Fei. She didn't want anything; she only wanted Jadeite!
The matrons and maids ahead of her quickly stated their names and walked out. Gu Fei kept her head down, walked to the doorway, and said, "Jadeite."
A jailer glanced at her. "Jadeite, the first-class maid?"
Gu Fei nodded. The jailer made a check mark in the book in his hand, and Gu Fei was quickly shoved along.
When Gu Fei looked back, the Second Miss was gripping the wooden bars, watching her with tear-filled eyes, looking just like an abandoned puppy.
"Take care—" Gu Fei mouthed the words, then turned and left.
Gu Fei and many other maids and matrons were strung together with a rope, led out of the Ministry of Justice Prison, and marched through the city streets.
All along the way, crowds of people pointed and stared at the procession.
After walking for nearly an hour, they arrived at the South Market.
Gu Fei and the others were quickly handed over to a human trafficker, who dragged them onto a platform and made them stand there, their expressions numb.
The Ya Zi leaped onto the platform and began to enthusiastically drum up business.
"Come and see, everyone! These are all servants from the Pingyang Marquis Mansion! They're well-trained and ready to work the moment you take them home."
The Ya Zi casually pulled over a young maid. "Look at this fresh, delicate young thing! Have her work for you during the day and warm your bed at night, all for just ten taels of silver!"
"You there, sir! I can tell you're a man of means. Go on, buy one! Ten taels, and you can take your pick of the young maids!"
A portly middle-aged man standing below the platform picked his teeth. "Too expensive. A maid like that is worth five taels of silver at most."
The Ya Zi grinned. "That's not expensive at all, sir! These are maids from the Pingyang Marquis Mansion. They can do everything—serve tea, fetch water, you name it."
The middle-aged man continued to shake his head. "She's too young. I'd have to raise her for two years before she's any use."
The Ya Zi glanced into the huddle of servants and yanked out the First Miss's head maid, Bi He. "Too young? Then buy this one! She's a senior maid, specially trained to serve the masters and misses. Twenty taels, and she's ready to work the moment you get her home!"
"Just look at her! That figure, that face! For twenty taels, you can't go wrong, you can't get swindled!"
The middle-aged man seemed tempted, his eyes glued to Bi He's chest. "Still too small."
As they were speaking, a flashily dressed, middle-aged woman walked over. She smiled at the human trafficker on the platform and said, "I'm not bothered by twenty taels. Let me take my pick first!"
Seeing the woman from her spot in the crowd, Gu Fei quickly retreated a few steps. 'Judging by her clothes, she's not from any respectable place.'
Just as she thought, Gu Fei heard someone in the crowd below mutter, "Isn't that the madam from the Chunxiang Building?"
Gu Fei lowered her head even further.
'If I get sold into a brothel, I'll be in serious trouble. With all these injuries, I wouldn't even be able to escape.'