Female Master: Why doesn’t my wife love me yet?

"Raise your head." Gu Qingyuan ordered.

But the man just shrank back, covering his face with his tangled hair, and did not look up.

The more he did this, the more curious Gu Qingyuan became, because the cage was not very big, and she could see that when he squatted in the cage, he had to curl up his body to accommodate him.

Seeing that Gu Qingyuan was interested in this slave, the human trafficker came up behind the man and kicked him hard.

"The guest asked you to look up, slave, don't you have ears?"

The human trafficker kicked very hard, and the man's head hit the top of the cage. He let out a scream, and finally, he raised his head for Gu Qingyuan to see.

His eyes were emerald green, and his lips were dry and chapped due to lack of moisture. His appearance was not as gentle as the aesthetic of women in a matriarchal country, but rather looked tough.

His face had clear contours and distinct lines. Even though he was covered in dirt, he still caught Gu Qingyuan's eye.

The trafficker said, "This slave is ugly, but he has brute strength. He tried to escape many times. If I hadn't broken one of his legs, he would have escaped long ago."

Gu Qingyuan looked down at one of his legs which was in a strange posture and hung limply as if it had no bones.

Chunfen pulled her and reminded her: "Young Master, this slave can't work after we buy him. Let's wait and see."

Gu Qingyuan immediately said, "Who said I want to buy him back to work?"

There was a dead look in the man's eyes. When the human trafficker heard that Gu Qingyuan didn't buy him to work, he kicked him again behind the cage.

"Slave, why can't you sell it?"

Afterwards, the trafficker said to Gu Qingyuan with a smile on his face, "Sir, if you don't like him, I have some slaves here who are very skilled. They used to be from wealthy families and can read a few words."

Gu Qingyuan shook his head and said, "I want this slave."

The trafficker was a little surprised that she wanted him again, but for her, being able to sell this burden was a good thing. She quickly took out her indenture and gave it to Gu Qingyuan, saying, "This person, one tael of silver."

When the man in the cage heard that Gu Qingyuan wanted to buy him, there was finally some reaction on his face, which was fear.

Afterwards, Gu Qingyuan randomly picked a few slaves, and the human trafficker happily gave her the whip in his hand.

"I've smeared pepper and salt on this whip. If they don't obey, you can whip them..."

Gu Qingyuan frowned, ignored her, and did not take the whip from her hand.

Afterwards, she asked Chunfen to go to the mansion to drive out a carriage and let everyone get in the carriage and go back.

They looked malnourished, especially the green-eyed man, who had a broken leg and looked particularly difficult to walk.

Returned to the general's mansion.

Gu Qingyuan first asked General Gu for instructions.

When General Gu learned that she had also bought a man with a broken leg, he asked in confusion, "There are so many healthy people out there, why did you bring back a cripple?"

"Mom, he wasn't originally disabled. I'll find a doctor to treat his leg."

General Gu had no choice but to follow her.

After bringing all the slaves to the yard, Gu Qingyuan first had them take a bath. When the green-eyed man dragged his crippled leg to her, Gu Qingyuan asked him, "Do you want to walk normally?"

"Me?" He hesitated.

"Yes." Gu Qingyuan nodded and asked someone to arrange a separate room for him.

The green-eyed man had no name, and the human traffickers called him "lowly slave". After thinking about it, Gu Qingyuan gave him the name Lu Rui.

After that, the slaves were taught the rules and told to serve their masters well. If they were found to be neglecting their masters, they would be beaten to death.

Perhaps frightened by Gu Qingyuan, these slaves all knelt on the ground and promised to serve their master wholeheartedly. Only then was Gu Qingyuan satisfied.

Of course, she didn't just scare them verbally. Occasionally, when she came to Zhuyuan and saw someone slacking off, she would beat them mercilessly. Gradually, they became afraid of Gu Qingyuan and became more dedicated to Ji Mingzhao.

There was only one person staying in the house every day, and he seemed a little restless.

Ever since Lu Rui came to the general's mansion and learned of Gu Qingyuan's identity, he has been surprised and scared.

He thought that she would buy him and make him work like those people, but he never expected that not only did he not have to work, but someone came to bring him food and water every day, and also found a doctor to treat his legs.

The situation on Ji Mingzhao's side has temporarily stabilized, so Gu Qingyuan has reduced the number of times she visits him.

Originally, she had to go to him for the antidote because she was drugged, but who knew that this would lead to him being misunderstood as having an affair with an outsider. After bringing him to Zhuyuan, she could feel that the servants in the mansion were much more polite to him.

She knocked on the door of Lu Rui's room, waited for Lu Rui's voice to come from inside, and then stepped in.

Lu Rui was sitting by the window, lost in thought. When he saw Gu Qingyuan coming over, he wanted to stand up and salute her. Gu Qingyuan supported him and said, "No need to be polite. I just came to check on you."

"I'm sorry to have troubled you, young master." Lu Rui's emerald eyes finally showed some emotion.

Gu Qingyuan caressed his face and said regretfully, "He's such a good-looking guy, but they just don't know his worth."

Otherwise, she wouldn't have gotten such an opportunity. If it were in another time and space, Lu Rui's tough looks would have attracted countless women.

Hearing her praise her good looks, Lu Rui's mouth twitched and his head lowered involuntarily.

He had been called ugly since he was a child, but Gu Qingyuan was the first one to say that he was good-looking.

"Hey, I'm serious."

Gu Qingyuan was afraid that he would think she was deceiving him, so she quickly said, "It's because they don't know the value of things. It's not your fault."

Lu Rui smiled softly and asked her, "Young Master, is it worth it to buy back a useless person like me?"

"Who said you were useless?" Gu Qingyuan took his hand and promised, "Your leg will definitely be healed. If anyone looks down on you, I'll dig out their eyes!"

Lu Rui thought she was just trying to coax him, and said to her, "Young Master, I have no way of repaying your kindness to me..."

"In that case, then I'll pledge myself to you." Gu Qingyuan said without thinking.

She is not the type to be reserved. Moreover, if she continues to be shy, she will not be like someone from this world.

"Lu Rui is unworthy..."

"Who said you don't deserve it? If I say you do, then you deserve it!"

Lu Rui's eyes widened. She didn't expect that she would like someone as ugly as herself. She didn't know what to say for a moment.

"There happen to be two courtyards vacant. Which one do you want to live in? Orchid Garden or Chrysanthemum Garden?"

"I...I'll just live here."