A kind-hearted person in the crowd called out, "Hey, Ya Zi, you spend your days in this dirty business of buying and selling people. You should do a good deed once in a while. Just let this young man go home to get the silver; it won't be much of a delay."
"They look so pitiful."
"That's right. Just do a good deed; it's good for your karma."
The crowd chimed in, all talking at once.
The human trafficker was in an awkward position. Looking at the madam, he said, "Ma'am, what do you think? How about we just forget this girl? You can pick one of the others."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qing's eyes filled with hope as he looked toward the madam.
The madam sneered. "Absolutely not. Today, I'm determined to have this girl!"
It would have been better if they hadn't mentioned they were siblings. The moment they did, the madam recalled how her own brother and sister-in-law had sold her all those years ago. 'Pah! So much for the false bonds of kinship!'
The madam turned to the Ya Zi and said, "What I've picked today is enough. Settle the bill!"
Gu Qing stared at the madam, utterly hopeless. 'If I stand by and watch my sister get sold into a brothel, I might as well be dead. My family will never forgive me.'
Gu Fei stood on the stage, momentarily at a loss for what to do.
'If only I had a little more time, this wouldn't be an issue. This madam is just too despicable!'
In her anxiety, Gu Fei's eyes darted around. Suddenly, she spotted a servant below the stage holding the reins of a horse. The servant was looking at her and wiping away tears.
Next to the servant stood a young nobleman with sharp brows and bright, star-like eyes. A single glance was enough to tell he came from a prominent family. He wore a golden crown and a Kesi silk robe woven with gold thread, his expression impassive.
Gu Fei's heart stirred. 'Kesi silk isn't something an ordinary person can wear. It's a tribute item. Apart from the Imperial Family, only high-ranking officials of the third rank or above are qualified to wear it.'
'The Marchioness had two Kesi silk jackets that she treasured beyond measure, only bearing to wear them when she was a guest in someone's home.'
'This young nobleman is no simple character!'
'In ancient times, what was most useful? Not money, but status!'
'No matter how rich merchants are, they still have to kneel before officials! The scholar-farmer-artisan-merchant hierarchy is no joke.'
'As for the likes of madams and human traffickers, they're the lowest of the low—not even on par with the most inferior merchant.'
Gu Fei pulled her sleeves together, and a small knife suddenly appeared in her hand. This knife could slice through iron as if it were mud. With just a light cut, the ropes broke.
Gu Fei threw caution to the wind and leaped off the stage. She dashed toward the young nobleman and dropped to her knees with a THUD.
"Young Master, seeing that you are so distinguished, so elegant, so handsome and dashing, you must also be a great and benevolent man with a chivalrous heart! Please, I beg you to lend me twenty taels of silver so my brother can buy me back. I promise I will return the silver to you as soon as I'm home."
Xiao Yu paused, then broke into a grin. "You've got a good eye, girl."
"This heir—I mean, I am just as you say. Not only handsome and dashing, but also chivalrous!"
Hearing the young nobleman's words, the people around him showed a variety of expressions. It was certainly a rare sight to see someone praise himself so openly in public.
The Ya Zi on the stage snapped to his senses, frowning as he shouted, "Go and drag that girl back to me!"
Just then, Gu Qing also ran over. He knelt beside Gu Fei and kowtowed to Xiao Yu. "I beg you, Young Master, please be so kind as to lend me twenty taels of silver."
Xiao Yu waved his hand. "What's the big deal? Stone, give him twenty taels of silver!"
He turned to look at Stone and saw his servant wiping away tears.
Xiao Yu gave him a light kick. "What are you crying for? Hurry up and get the silver."