Gu Yaoniang couldn't bear to see the miserable state of the Li family's daughter.
Knowing that Lu Zhaoan had also felt compassion, he quietly watched the situation unfold as the man knelt before him.
The man, with a forced smile, supported himself with his hands on the ground and looked up at Lu Zhaoan, saying:
"Young master, did you send someone to inquire earlier because you intend to buy my wife?"
The young guard who had just gone to gather information changed his expression drastically, fearing that Lu Zhaoan would misunderstand his incompetence. He stepped forward to speak, but Lu Zhaoan waved his hand and made him retreat.
She glared fiercely at the man.
The man, oblivious to everything, continued to fawn over Lu Zhao'an, saying, "Young master, is your household looking to buy someone?"
Seeing that Lu Zhaoan was just looking at him without answering, he assumed that Lu Zhaoan was interested but refused to speak, maintaining his aristocratic pride.
He continued, "I'm not bragging, but my wife is only in her early twenties now. When she was young, she was one of the most beautiful women in the village, and she knew how to serve people!"
She's skilled too; she can serve tea and water, and take care of people. She can serve people well while they're alive, so I guarantee she'll keep the master of the mansion comfortable even after she's gone.
He spoke frankly, as if he were selling ordinary goods, not a living person, a woman who once intended to marry him and manage the household affairs for him.
Gu Yaoniang was furious upon hearing this. She could see that the woman was still breathing, and thought that if she was treated in time, she might not die.
She couldn't help but ask, "How much? I'll buy it."
The burly man was taken aback by the sudden appearance of the woman in the carriage, not expecting there to be a woman inside.
However, he ignored Yao Niang and continued to pester Lu Zhao'an.
Bitao couldn't help but get angry: "You rude man! You're selling people, and when my wife asks you about it, you ignore her. Why do you have to bother that man's husband?"
The onlookers had already started discussing it, but the man showed no fear on his face.
Seeing Bitao helping Yaoniang carefully get off the Zhaocai, she glanced at them sideways and said, "I want to sell my wife for a ghost marriage. Your husbands will talk to me about it. What are you doing here?"
"You want to sell people, I want to buy people. What will I do with them? Why do you, the seller, ask so many questions? You're even willing to arrange a ghost marriage, so why can't you sell them to me?"
Gu Yaoniang spoke, her voice clear and crisp.
At this moment, a busybody in the crowd shouted, "Lady! The price for a ghost marriage is not the same as the price for buying maids and servants!"
The man, annoyed that someone had read his mind, glared at the crowd with a fierce look.
Unfortunately, his commotion was too great, and there were too many onlookers. The person who spoke was hidden in the crowd, so how could anyone see him?
Gu Yaoniang finally realized what was going on and secretly felt contempt.
Seeing the woman on the ground motionless, she was very worried and knew that she couldn't delay any longer. Not wanting to argue further, she said, "If that's the case, I'll give you the amount due for a ghost marriage. Name your price."
Lu Zhaoan, who had been ignoring the man, had already sent someone to the Jingzhao Prefecture to fetch an official. Upon hearing Yaoniang's words, he gave her a disapproving look.
However, with so many people around and so much chatter, and the two not being close enough, they knew that if they spoke, others would hear them. It was difficult to speak up and stop them.
The man, however, seemed to be a leech attracted to the scent of blood. His eyes lit up. This woman was clearly a kind-hearted but ignorant person, and judging from the carriage, she was obviously quite wealthy. Today, he was going to strike it rich!
But then she asked uncertainly, "Can a young woman like you make that decision? Don't you need to ask your husband first?"
He could see clearly that this young master was unwilling to spend the money.
Following his gaze, Gu Yaoniang saw Lu Zhaoan standing to the side. She said, "We are not family, I can make the decision."
Hearing her guarantee, the man's eyes darted around, and he said, "One thousand two hundred taels!"
The guard who had gone to inquire earlier was furious upon hearing this: "How dare you raise the price on the spot! Just now it was only 800 taels!"
The man disagreed: "Young man, what you're saying doesn't make sense! That was money for a ghost marriage. Your wife just wanted to buy my wife. How am I supposed to know what you're going to do with her?"
Even a day as husband and wife is worth a hundred days of kindness. Although I'm going to sell her, I still hope she can live a good life. You're only good to her because you're willing to spend a lot of money on her…”
She already felt immense sympathy for the woman and was now afraid she would die. She was anxious to take her to the doctor and didn't want to listen to the man's insincere words. She loudly interrupted him, "Bitao! Take her home to get some money!"
He then wanted to take the woman to the clinic.
Seeing that Gu Yaoniang agreed so readily, the man secretly regretted that he had quoted too low a price. He blocked the woman's path and refused to move aside, saying, "You want to take her away without paying? You rich people are bullying us common folk..."
Yao Niang was anxious and didn't want to get entangled with him, so she said angrily, "What do you intend to do?"
The man's face lit up with joy, and he held up one finger: "Wife, I'll let you pay on credit, an extra hundred taels."
He chuckled, which infuriated Gu Yaoniang.
Lu Zhaoan, who had been watching silently from the sidelines, stepped between the two and said to Yao Niang, "Madam Gu, leave this to me. You go first!"
After saying that, she pointed to two guards behind her.
Gu Yaoniang nodded, asking Bitao to stay and handle the situation with him. Lu Zhaoan, however, refused: "Madam Gu doesn't have enough manpower, so Miss Bitao should go with you."
Time was of the essence, so Gu Yaoniang thought for a moment and, without being polite, nodded and said, "Very well! I will deliver the silver to Boss Lu's residence tomorrow."
Lu Zhaoan nodded.
Gu Yaoniang instructed two guards to carefully carry the woman on the ground into Zhaocai Hospital, told the coachman to be careful, and then headed straight for the largest medical clinic in Shuojing City.
Fortunately, there was a thick velvet blanket inside the treasure chest. Gu Yaoniang placed the woman on the blanket, not caring at all that the woman's bloodstains had stained the snow-white blanket.
The journey was fast, but not too bumpy.
Looking at the woman, Bitao said with a pang of sympathy, "The Li family's wife is truly pitiful."
Gu Yaoniang remained silent. Yes... she was truly pitiful.
Married women are subjected to daily beatings and verbal abuse. Even if they are beaten to death, their husbands will sell them off to extract their last remaining value.
She suddenly remembered something and asked, "I remember Qiaoniang saying that the idler's surname was Li, so why does everyone call her Lady Li?"
Bitao was taken aback; she had never thought about this question before. She scratched her head and said, "This servant doesn't know, but everyone calls her Lady Li, so this servant just follows suit."
Gu Yaoniang nodded, not delving into the matter further.
Lady Li looked terrible. She was covered in filth, and when the guards carried her earlier, her legs were bent at an unnatural angle. Her face was covered in blood, whether from a nosebleed or some other injury, it was unclear. Her complexion was an unnatural paleness, a stark contrast to the dark red bloodstains.
I don't even know if I'll survive.
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