Seeing the fear in Xu Ling'er's eyes, Yu'er already had the answer in her heart.
After the Xu family's incident, all those involved were executed, the men exiled, and the womenfolk, including her, were sent together to the Imperial Music Bureau.
Overnight, they fell from their noble status as ladies and gentry to become women of the dust who sold smiles and poured drinks.
Such a vast disparity was like falling from the clouds into a bottomless abyss.
By comparison, Yu'er's situation was relatively better.
After all, her beauty and figure were top-notch, she had some knowledge of the four arts, and with her identity as a Miss of the Xu family, she was cultivated as the main attraction by the Imperial Music Bureau, becoming an Elegant Courtesan who sold her art but not her body.
However, this was only temporary.
Ultimately, she was merely a commodity to be bought and sold, lacking any real autonomy.
