Chapter 368: Will Not Rest

Zhenzhu spent over a month in a tender, loving affair with him as she recovered from her injuries. Once she was fully healed, the thief had completely let his guard down around her. One day, while he was out, she took all his silver and ran off.

Zhenzhu knew she was now an escaped servant and couldn’t stay in Lin City.

She had been abducted as a child and sold to the Pingyang Marquis Mansion, so she had no idea where her parents or family were. Lin City was close to West Mountain County, so she fled in that direction.

But the journey grew increasingly difficult. Not only was there no food to be found, but the roads were also teeming with refugees. After traveling for some time, Zhenzhu gave herself to a refugee leader and continued on with his group.

She endured unimaginable hardships along the way, eating tree bark, grass roots, snakes, insects, and rats. She had even eaten human flesh.

Just as she was about to reach Huainan County, she thought she had finally found a path to survival. But as it turned out, without silver or a household registration, she couldn’t even enter the city.

Gritting her teeth, Zhenzhu found a human trafficker and sold herself.

The trafficker had connections to get inside the city. He brought her into Huainan County and sold her to a rich merchant.

The rich merchant was originally from Ping’an City and had come to Huainan County to purchase a shipment of goods. His business took longer than expected, and he had only brought two servants with him, which made his daily life rather inconvenient. Seeing that women were sold in droves here and for cheap, he spent five taels of silver to buy a maid to serve him tea and warm his bed.

Zhenzhu had always been clever. Otherwise, with no connections to speak of, she never would have managed to become the Second Miss’s head maid in the Pingyang Marquis Mansion.

She deliberately fawned over the rich merchant, currying his favor and keeping him wreathed in smiles.

Later, the rich merchant brought her back to Ping’an City and made her his Ninth Concubine.

The novelty of their relationship hadn’t yet worn off for the rich merchant, which was why she had the silver to go out and buy jewelry today.

She had been quite pleased with herself, having finally achieved a life of wearing gold and silver, being waited on by maids, and never having to lift a finger for anything.

But then, she saw Gu Fei today.

There’s nothing people fear more than comparison.

The moment the frame of reference changed, her happiness soured into misery.

They had both been maids of the same rank. She could never understand why the Second Miss had favored Jadeite, and now Jadeite was actually the owner of a silver building.

And several other shops!

’Just how much silver did Jadeite have?’

’And I, just to buy a single golden hairpin, not only have to wash the rich merchant’s feet and massage his back every day, but also endure his perverted torments.’

’And every single golden hairpin in that silver building belongs to Jadeite!’

’By what right!’

’Why is Heaven so unfair!’

’She must have stolen the Second Miss’s silver for herself!’

’Besides, if Jadeite hadn’t set me up, I wouldn’t have nearly lost my life!’

Hatred sprouted in her heart, growing as wildly as weeds.

Zhenzhu had left the house in high spirits, only to return with a stomach full of resentment.

As soon as she got back, she threw herself onto the bed, her mind racing. ’No, I can’t just stand by and watch that bitch live a good life. I won’t rest until she’s ruined!’

Gu Fei had no idea that she was now a target of someone’s resentment.

As she left the silver building, she walked slowly back to the inn, contemplating what other items she needed to add to her dowry.

A carriage was parked at the inn’s entrance. As Gu Fei walked past it, the carriage curtain was suddenly lifted, and a voice called out from within, "Miss Gu—"

Gu Fei turned to see Qin Ying sitting inside the carriage, giving her a nod.

Gu Fei nodded slightly. "Miss Qin."

Qin Ying stepped out of the carriage and gave Gu Fei a small smile. "Miss Gu, I need to speak with you."

Gu Fei didn’t know what her intentions were, but she nodded. "If you don’t mind, Miss Qin, shall we go talk in the lobby?"