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As the Poison King emerged from the room, despite having seen him several times before, Gu Xiruo couldn’t help but feel a sense of fear when she laid eyes on him.
The Poison King was truly terrifying, his age a mystery, his appearance resembling a skeleton draped in skin. His large eyes seemed to bulge when he fixed his gaze on someone.
Avoiding direct eye contact with the Poison King to prevent herself from feeling further intimidated, Gu Xiruo spoke up, “I can provide you with medicine people or find poisons for you. However, I need you to help me accomplish what I desire, and you cannot go back on your word.”
This time, Gu Xiruo showed her shrewdness, understanding how to proceed.
The Poison King coldly observed Gu Xiruo, impressed by her ruthless nature and cunning mind. He wasn’t afraid of this young girl, as long as she had her backers and his enemies.
Having made too many enemies, many sought his life, yet he managed to survive each attempt. For now, he stayed close to Gu Xiruo to escape his pursuers, mainly because she could bring valuable resources.
“No problem, I can agree to your terms. Just ensure you fulfill your end of the deal, or you’ll regret it,” he warned sternly. He wasn’t easily deceived and wouldn’t be frightened by just anyone she brought along. Such tactics didn’t work with him.
“I understand,” having spent a significant amount of time with the Poison King, Gu Xiruo could easily grasp his intentions.
If Gu Xiruo dared to carry out such actions, once the Poison King found out, she would undoubtedly face severe consequences – a fate so complete that nothing would remain of her.
Satisfied with Gu Xiruo’s answer, the Poison King allowed her to leave.
After leaving the Poison King’s residence, Gu Xiruo felt physically weak. She never wanted to see that repugnant face unless absolutely necessary.
Every time she met with the Poison King, it ruined her appetite, reminding her of his grotesque visage.
If it were anyone else, Gu Xiruo would have quit long ago. Unfortunately, this was someone she couldn’t afford to provoke.
As Gu Xiruo departed, the Poison King didn’t mind her ambitions. However, should her ambitions cause trouble for him, he wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate Gu Xiruo.
These were all things Gu Xiruo remained unaware of.
Alone after dismissing those around her, she sat on a chair, pondering the things Gu Yanqi had mentioned. Though reluctant, she knew some aspects were worth considering.
She indeed needed to leave herself a way out, not exposing all her possessions upfront, as it wouldn’t benefit her once others knew about them. She was genuinely grateful for Gu Yanqi’s reminder.
It seemed clear now that she couldn’t touch her dowry or the betrothal gifts from the Qing family. It was essential to reserve some silver for herself.
Gu Xiruo pondered what else she needed to retain for the future. While contemplating, a maid’s voice interrupted, “Miss, there are two people outside urgently looking for you.”
Urgent matter?
Upon stepping outside, she frowned upon seeing a raggedy man and woman at the door. The man appeared somewhat apprehensive upon seeing Gu Xiruo.
The woman, however, seemed delighted, exclaiming, “Xiruo… Miss.”
The maid by Gu Xiruo’s side looked puzzled, wondering how her mistress knew such beggars.
Seeing the maid’s puzzled expression, Gu Xiruo felt like she had been slapped hard across the face.
How could these two suddenly appear here without any prior notice?
“Have them clean up and eat first.” Despite trying her best to hide her disgust, Gu Xiruo couldn’t stand the odor emanating from them. They seemed like they hadn’t bathed in a long time, making her feel uncomfortable, wondering if they carried lice.
Just the thought made Gu Xiruo’s scalp tingle.
The couple happily followed the maid to freshen up, change clothes, and then have a meal.
Watching them devour their food greedily, Gu Xiruo couldn’t help but feel a bit repulsed.
Couldn’t they eat with a bit more decorum?
The mess they made while eating was already bad enough, but their behavior made it worse.
Knowing that these two were her biological parents, Gu Xiruo couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of disgust towards them.
How could she have such disgusting parents? It was truly revolting.
“Finally full,” the woman spoke after devouring several bowls of rice.
Watching them eat made Gu Xiruo’s stomach ache.
Do these people always eat so much?
“Arrange a place for them to stay,” Gu Xiruo instructed.
Although the maid didn’t understand Gu Xiruo’s actions, she followed orders.
After the woman settled into the room provided by Gu Xiruo, she started rummaging through things, eyeing the money scattered around, making the nearby maid feel uncomfortable.
Why would the mistress allow such people to stay in the house? What was she thinking?
“You two rest first; I’ll take my leave.” Without giving them a chance to respond, Gu Xiruo walked away.
“Is it alright for us to seek refuge here with her since this place is so nice?” A spacious estate and some food would be sufficient for them. After years of hardship and instability, they had reached a point where they could no longer manage on their own.
Originally, they didn’t want to trouble Gu Xiruo, but their circumstances had become unbearable.
If they didn’t seek shelter with Gu Xiruo, they would likely perish outside. They both wanted to survive, hence their decision to come here.
The man glared at the woman sternly, warning her, “You better watch your step. It’s not easy for our child to be alone in the capital city. We can stay here, but if you dare to cause trouble for our child, don’t blame me for being harsh with you.”
Hearing his words, the woman felt uneasy. Living in such a grand house with servants attending to them, dressed in luxurious silk and satin attire, what was so difficult about their current lifestyle?
“You keep saying our child has it tough, so I won’t argue with you about that. But just look at what our daughter is wearing compared to us,” the woman couldn’t help but complain when she thought about their past year.
Despite their daughter’s capabilities and skills, why couldn’t they come seek her support? They had supported her for years, but now, unable to assist her due to their circumstances, wasn’t it time for her to provide for them?
“Enough. It’s not easy to do anything in a place like the capital city. Xiruo isn’t even a biological child of the Gu family. How good would the Gu family treat her once they find out she’s not their real kin? Xiruo isn’t living in the Gu family now; just look at where she resides,” they had seen the Gu family’s house.
The kind of house they lived in was what prominent families resided in; their daughter now lived in a three-compound house, a stark difference from the Gu family’s grandeur.
“If our child wasn’t mistreated at the Gu family, would she have moved out on her own?”