The maids nodded, turning to assist in digging ditches.
The ten maidens who remained behind could only bow their heads, their hearts pounding in fear as they watched the ground, waiting for their master’s decision.
"Why were you not drugged by the brokers after being sold?" Lin Caisang asked them directly, without any preamble or sending Zhe Jue to investigate.
After all, even if she sent Zhe Jue to investigate, how could they find anything about people from the northern region of Jidi who had passed through several hands?
Zhe Jue came over in surprise when he heard her words.
"Miss Lin, you’re saying these women haven’t been drugged?"
How could that be possible? The relationship between the Liang Kingdom and the North was always poor, so how could the authorities allow women from the North to be sold here and give birth to descendants of the Liang kingdom?
Moreover, although these people were bought as slaves, what if some of them were spies? If they infiltrated a house, they could potentially climb the social ladder using their own wombs!
How could the government have such a big oversight?
Ignoring Zhe Jue, Lin Caisang raised her hand and pointed at a maid who hadn’t dared to speak, beckoning her to come forward.
The maid, terrified at being singled out, stood up with a slight tremble, sneaking a glance at Lin Caisang before quickly lowering her head again.
"Speak up, how did you escape being drugged? Don’t tell me the dealers were lenient because of your appearance," Lin Caisang asked.
"Slave, slave..." The maid choked, her legs shaking.
Seeing her trembling, Lin Caisang raised her voice.
"If you don’t tell the truth, we’ll have you slaves dragged up the mountain and buried!"
"No...Master, this slave will speak, this slave will speak." The maid, horror-struck, fell to her knees.
"This slave and the other ten sisters were bought by a nanny from Jidi. The nanny told us that after we arrived in the Liang Kingdom, people would come to take us to various mansions to serve masters..." The maid relayed all that had happened to Lin Caisang.
Lin Caisang cursed under her breath.
She had initially thought that drugging these women was too cruel, but now hearing the maid’s narration, she realized she had been too kind, too naive about human nature.
"So, it’s only you eleven with no others?" She asked.
Without waiting for her to finish, Lin Caisang rebuked her angrily.
From her evasive eyes, it was clear she was not speaking the truth. She was trying to deceive Lin Caisang.
"You should know that the slaves in the Prefect’s mansion weren’t sold. If I find you were lying to deceive me, the consequence will not be something you can imagine!"
"There are four more."
The maid turned pale and confessed out of fear.
Upon her words, Lin Caisang inhaled deeply, turning to Ya Molian.
"Zhe Jue, go to the Prefect’s mansion again and buy more maids. Remember, disguise yourself," Ya Molian instructed Zhe Jue.
Zhe Jue promptly locked up the maids singled out by Lin Caisang and made his way to Yejun.