"How many times have you been taken advantage of by the Shen family? If I hadn't helped you, you don't know how many times you would have been bitten back!" Gu Yanqing punched Gu Zhixing on the shoulder and teased, "What? Instead of thanking me, you want to come and interrogate me?"
He paused, a hint of mockery in his eyes, "Could it be that you've taken a fancy to that Miss Shen, but can't bring yourself to harm her?"
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Gu Zhixing seemed to have been hit where it hurt, instantly bristling and raising his voice several decibels, "Who would want that bean sprout?"
"These documents have to be processed sooner or later. Those Shen family members dare to bully me. If I don't teach them a lesson, I'll have lived in vain!"
As Gu Zhixing spoke, he carefully put the document away, only to realize that he was only wearing his nightgown and had nowhere to put it, so he could only hold it in his hand.
This scene caught Gu Yanqing's eye, and a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes. He glanced around the room and teased, "Didn't you always say you weren't interested in women? What's wrong today? There's suddenly a woman in the room?"
Gu Yanqing rushed in, only vaguely seeing the figure of a woman in the room, but not her face.
“What woman…” Gu Zhixing was about to retort when he realized he was referring to Shen Jintang, and waved his hand irritably, “That bean sprout is…”
Why are you asking so many questions?
He wanted to explain, but felt it was superfluous; the more he explained, the worse it would get, as if he really cared that much.
"Alright, I won't ask anymore." Seeing this, Gu Yanqing stopped asking and said in a relaxed tone, "I have something else to do today. Tomorrow, Qingzhou and I will host a banquet for you at Chunfeng Tower to get rid of the bad luck you've had these past few days. Don't miss it."
After saying that, he didn't wait for Gu Zhixing's reply, turned around and left through the back door, leaving Gu Zhixing standing there, holding the burning document in his hand, feeling helpless.
Gu Zhixing watched Gu Yanqing's departing figure, his gaze falling on the voucher in his hand, his eyes gradually dimming.
For men, there was still a glimmer of hope in freeing slaves; they might earn their freedom through meritorious service. However, the path for women was much more difficult. Unless they married into a family of meritorious officials and obtained an imperial title, they might not be able to escape slavery.
However, how precious is an imperial title? Why would anyone be willing to marry a convicted slave and seek this honor for her?
She would likely spend her entire life as a slave. If she were to have a kind-hearted master, perhaps her life would be a little easier; but if she were to be assigned a short-tempered one, her life would truly be over.
Gu Zhixing felt a slight pang of guilt, but quickly dismissed the thought.
Shen Jintang was originally a slave; he bought her out of a moment of pity.
Instead of being grateful, she wanted to climb over him to get ahead.
Now, he has simply exposed her true colors; it just shows her schemes weren't clever enough. What has he to feel guilty about?
Gu Zhixing stepped into the room, his gaze falling on Shen Jintang.
She sat obediently on the stool by the table, wearing the scarlet coat he had casually tossed to her.
The clothes were too big, hanging loosely on her body as if they were about to slip off. Her hair was half-dry, with water droplets still dripping from the ends, making her look exceptionally delicate.
When he came in, Shen Jintang stared at him with her clear black and white eyes, her gaze filled with a hint of grievance that made her look pitiful.
"I've already told you, don't act so innocent and try to seduce me. I'm not interested in you!" Gu Zhixing strode in and slammed the voucher in his hand onto the table with a "bang".
“I didn’t…” Shen Jintang frowned, genuinely wondering why he said that.
But before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Gu Zhixing's actions.
He gently pulled up Shen Jintang's arm and bent down to straighten her large, scarlet coat.
Shen Jintang lowered her head slightly, her eyes filled with a hint of helplessness.
She knew that if she went against him, she would only suffer, so she simply let him do as he pleased.
However, the clothes didn't fit properly, hanging loosely on her thin shoulders, and no matter how she adjusted them, they didn't look right.
Gu Zhixing's movements seemed a bit clumsy. He tried to straighten his collar and roll up his sleeves, but the clothes seemed to be deliberately working against him, and no matter how he did it, it didn't look right.
"Has Your Highness finished getting ready?" Shen Jintang asked softly when she saw that his movements had slowed down.
Gu Zhixing looked the clothes up and down and found that after all his efforts, they were even less suitable for him.
He was slightly embarrassed, so he made a fist and coughed twice to cover it up, saying, "That's fine."
Shen Jintang stared quietly at Gu Zhixing's movements, her eyes seemingly hiding something, yet she remained silent.
Gu Zhixing was still immersed in the awkwardness of the moment and did not say anything.
For a moment, the air in the room froze, leaving only silence.
After a long silence, Shen Jintang finally spoke, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible: "Your Highness, when can I go home? Today is my first day back home, and I was supposed to visit my aunt tomorrow. If someone finds out I'm missing, it will be hard to explain."
Upon hearing the word "go home," Gu Zhixing instantly recalled all the ways Shen Jintang had used him before, and anger surged within him. He sneered, "Go home? You still want to go home?"
He grabbed the book of contracts from the table, opened it, and shoved it in front of Shen Jintang, his tone cold and harsh: "You are now my servant, your life and death are in my hands. What right do you have to make demands of me?"
Shen Jintang's fingers trembled slightly as she picked up the voucher book, her gaze lingering on it for a long time.
The words "death contract" and "sinful slave" were like a knife, piercing her eyes painfully.
She could hardly believe it; her fingers gripped the edge of the voucher tightly, her knuckles turning slightly white.
How could he do this?
She originally thought Gu Zhixing was just a spoiled child, somewhat willful, but not ruthless enough to kill someone.
But now it seems that his leniency towards Grand Tutor Shen was simply because Grand Tutor Shen held a high position and wielded considerable power, still possessing the ability to retaliate. Yet, towards someone like her, powerless and without influence, he struck with deadly force, seemingly determined to drive her to her doom.
Slave?
What a sinful slave!
Her previous sale of herself was merely a stopgap measure, a gamble for an opportunity; even so, it was only a contract of convenience. But Gu Zhixing used his power to turn that contract of convenience into a contract of invulnerability, pushing her into a desperate situation.
That's a really ruthless tactic!
She cursed herself inwardly for being foolish and misjudging the situation.
But now that the die is cast, no amount of struggle can change the outcome.
Provoking him will do her no good. His current behavior clearly indicates that he wants to take revenge on her and make her grovel. No matter how unwilling or embarrassed she is, she can't go against him.
Rather than suffering humiliation and then begging for mercy, it's better to give in as soon as possible to avoid further torment.
Shen Jintang slowly clenched her fist, her nails digging deep into her palm, as if she were struggling.
A moment later, she suddenly knelt on the ground, respectfully presented the voucher to Gu Zhixing, and bowed down.
Yu Guangzhong, only the tips of his boots, are cold and proud.
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