How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

Lady Bamboo was truly charming and alluring; the captivating allure in her eyes was mesmerizing. It wasn't just her appearance, but also the natural grace she exuded through years of cultivation, making every gesture and movement imbued with a natural softness.

At that moment, Madam Zhu lit a water pipe, puffed on it for a while, then tapped off the ash and asked, "What's your name?"

Qingru looked up at Madam Zhu in alarm. Madam Zhu's eyes were smiling, but the lower half of her face was extremely cold. She was not someone to be trifled with.

Madam Zhu stared at Qingru for a long time, then suddenly chuckled, "Oh dear, it's my fault. I forgot you were still gagged. Ah Jian, take Miss downstairs to wash up. This human trafficker is so rude; he doesn't even know how to cherish such a beautiful woman."

Ah Jian laughed and said, "Sister is right. If he doesn't like women in the first place, why would he care about them?"

Madam Zhu frowned. "You're speaking very rudely. I've been teaching you for so long. If you keep this up, I won't take you out anymore."

Ah Jian immediately begged for mercy: "Sister, please don't abandon me. I listen to you the most. I'll do whatever you tell me to do. I misspoke just now. Please slap me to vent your anger."

Lady Zhu chuckled, seemingly amused by Ah Jian's humble attitude. "Alright, stop fooling around. If you delay our business, I'll hold you responsible."

Ah Jian stared intently at Madam Zhu for a long while before reluctantly pulling Qingru up. "That person just said your surname is Lü, right?"

Qingru nodded, but Madam Zhu exhaled another puff of smoke to conceal her expression. "This surname doesn't sound good. From now on, let's use Yu, Yu Meiren (the beautiful Yu).

Ah Jian clapped his hands suddenly, "Hurry up and thank your older sister for giving you such a beautiful name!"

Qingru shook her head in humiliation. So this is what the nickname means? She refused to accept it.

Lady Zhu's patience seemed to have run out, and her tone turned cold again, "Ah Jian, what's the point of wasting time?"

Ah Jian hurriedly said no, then dragged Qingru into a room. A panicked voice came from the bed, and then a woman came out wearing only a thin blanket. "Oh dear, Ah Jian, you're really being impolite, barging into my room in broad daylight."

Ah Jian ignored the woman's sweet, close embrace and pulled Qingru inside. The room was luxuriously and intimately furnished, with clothes scattered haphazardly on the floor and some suggestive items.

Even though Qingru had never seen it, she understood to some extent by considering the ship's purpose.

Ah Jian showed no mercy and reached out to tear Qingru's clothes. Qingru was shocked and then fought back desperately, using her head, elbows... everything she could to resist Ah Jian.

Ah Jian was jolted in the stomach and couldn't stand up for a moment. The woman sneered, "You're not going to let this girl get too big for her, are you? I'll be furious."

Ah Jian took a deep breath, his fierce expression instantly becoming impossible to conceal. Ignoring Qingru's resistance, he grabbed her hair and shoved her underwater, pulling her up briefly to let her breathe, only to shove her back down again as soon as she caught her breath. This repeated several times until Qingru was completely exhausted.

Ah Jian threw the exhausted Qingru into the water, saying, "Who do you think you are? You bought a prostitute, who are you pretending to be so high and mighty with? Damn it, you won't listen to reason, are you admitting your mistake this time?"

Qingru glared fiercely at Ajian, refusing to yield no matter what. Ajian sneered, "I love seeing your unyielding eyes. I'd like to see how long your pride can last before she washes it away."

At A-Jian's command, the woman dared not resist and obediently stepped forward to untie Qingru. Only then was A-Jian satisfied. "Don't untie her hands and feet, just give her a quick wash."

Qingru couldn't resist; the hemp rope on her hands tightened even more in the water, binding her skin more and more. Ajian just stood there watching, not leaving.

Feeling utterly hopeless, she realized today how insignificant her power was, and how utterly helpless she was under the absolute suppression of violence.

Thinking of the small snake he had found in his great-grandfather's tomb, he deeply regretted not carrying it with him. If he had, these people would never have been able to touch him.

The woman dared not waste any time, so she quickly let Qingru's hair down, applied perfume, and washed her face and hair.

Then it was time to wash her body, but Qingru absolutely refused to let her touch her. Perhaps it was that expression that touched the woman, making her feel a sense of shared suffering, and she couldn't help but turn her head and giggle, "Brother Ajian, do you still want to see?"

Ah Jian snapped, "Enough with the nonsense, hurry up and wash!"

The woman covered her mouth and smiled, "Well, don't say I didn't warn you, with this sister's looks, I'm definitely grooming her to be the top courtesan. You know what a top courtesan is like, right? I have my own ideas on how to train her. If you offend her now, oh dear, you'll have a hard time explaining yourself when you meet her later. There have been examples before, and in the end, who suffered the most? It was you guys."

Ah Jian frowned, then kicked the screen hard. "Hurry up."

After thinking for a while, A-Jian went out, but he stood at the door, separated from Qing-Ru only by a screen.

The woman said apologetically, "Sister, there's nothing we can do. He can't just leave. Let me wash you up quickly so you don't suffer too much."

Qingru could only weep silently. Fortunately, the woman felt some pity for her and covered Qingru with her own body while undressing her, so that no one else could see. After a moment, the woman wrapped Qingru in a bath towel and changed her into a light dress.

Her hands and feet were still bound, her long, wet hair hung down her shoulders, and droplets of water trickled down her skin, seeping into the deep creases of her skin...

Ah Jian was immediately captivated, his attitude changing completely. "My goodness, this is incredible! Sister has such good taste!"

Ah Jian excitedly took Qingru to see Madam Zhu, only to find that Madam Zhu merely glanced at her up and down and said, "Untie the ropes on her feet and take her downstairs for a walk."

Ah Jian was confused. "Sister, she hasn't been trained yet."

Lady Zhu replied, "I know the way well, why are you asking so many questions?"

Ah Jian retreated dejectedly, then used his dagger to untie the ropes binding Qingru's feet. As soon as the ropes were removed, Qingru's legs, engorged with blood, momentarily lost their footing. Ah Jian, blinded by lust, pulled her into his arms.

Madam Zhu said unhappily, "A-Jian, don't break the rules."

Ah Jian immediately woke up and said with a grin, "You've damaged Sister's goods, you should feel bad about it."

Lady Zhu chuckled lightly, then pointed to two thugs, "You two go with her, and point your guns at Yu Meiren. Don't let her fall into the hands of any other guests. Bring her back to me safe and sound."

Ah Jian responded, his eyes darting around, and he instantly understood what Madam Zhu meant. She was announcing to all the customers that they had new stock.

A-Jian suddenly pulled the burlap out of Qingru's mouth, then took a plain white handkerchief and covered the lower half of her face, asking for praise: "Sister, do you think this is okay?"

Lady Zhu raised an eyebrow and smiled, saying with satisfaction, "You're quite good at this. Cold and stubborn, pitiful and proud, that's what they like. Men all have their quirks; when they see such a pitiful woman, they want to be the hero."

Ah Jian laughed and said, "We make our money off these heroes."

Lady Bamboo waved her hand, "Go ahead, there's no need to wait until tonight. A reputation needs to spread from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred, before more and more people will become curious."

Ah Jian gave a thumbs up, "Sister, you're really tall."

After saying this, he and two thugs pushed Qing downstairs, one on each side. Qing's legs, still recovering from the shock, were a little unsteady on their feet, but A-Jian was increasingly satisfied. The more realistic it was, the more pity it would evoke from the customers.

A painted boat sails on the river, its interior shrouded in decadent luxury unknown to all.

A dilapidated fishing boat drifted across the river, and Jiang Shen lay in Liu Wu's cabin. He gazed into the distance, unable to fathom where Qingru was.