novelhk Chapter 181: Advance to Retreat, Sell Yourself into Slavery
Chapter 181: Advance to Retreat, Sell Yourself into Slavery
"Aunt, I am a maid in the palace, and my body contract is in the hands of the madam." Ping'er responded timidly.
Xu Yan'er moved her lips but no sound came out for a long time.
Yes, Ji Chuhe is the master of this palace, and Ping'er is just someone assigned to serve her. Just like the other people in this courtyard, none of them really belong to her.
She was just a concubine, only slightly better than Dong Ling's concubine.
She was not enslaved and was considered a proper concubine.
She also has to find a way to improve her status, preferably to become a concubine.
"Aunt, there are more servants in the courtyard now. Even if you have resentment in your heart, there are some things you really can't say directly." Ping'er reminded in a low voice.
Xu Yan'er turned her head and looked outside. The servants were busy and no one dared to approach here.
She walked forward, held Ping'er's hand, and changed her attitude.
"Ping'er, you have been serving me since I entered the mansion. If you hadn't reminded me today, I wouldn't have thought about it so much. However, I completely trust you and regard you as my closest person. You won't betray me, right?"
"Ping'er will do her best to serve Auntie."
"Don't worry, I will find a way to get your indenture from Ji Chuhe. From now on, we will depend on each other."
"Auntie, don't bother!" Ping'er immediately shook her head.
She didn't want Aunt Xu to take back her indenture contract, as she was receiving the monthly salary of a first-class maid from the Madam.
The nominal master is still the prince!
If Xu Yan'er took her away, even though she was in charge of Aunt Xu's affairs, she would still be a servant of a concubine, and her ranking would be several levels lower than the first-class maid of the main lady, and her monthly salary would drop several times!
"No trouble, Ping'er. For your sake, I will definitely ask the prince for help." Xu Yan'er said confidently.
Ping'er wanted to cry but had no tears, and she didn't dare to disobey Xu Yan'er.
Xu Yan'er did this because she wanted to completely conquer Xu Yan'er. After so many things, she has become a lot smarter and understands that in this palace, she must have servants who are loyal to her.
The first person she planned to bribe was Ping'er.
As for the rest, just observe.
In order to show her sincerity, Xu Yan'er also gave Ping'er some change as a reward.
Ping'er has been serving Xu Yan'er for so many years, and this is the first time she sees Xu Yan'er take out money!
He looked in shock at the silver particles as big as soybeans in his palm.
If this falls on the ground, it will probably take a long time to find it.
"Ping'er, follow me in the future, and I will never treat you unfairly!" Xu Yan'er looked at the piece of silver with pain, and persuaded herself in her heart: You must be willing to give it up, only by giving can you gain!
"Thank you for the reward, aunt." Ping'er took it and thanked her quickly.
……
When Xiao Yan'an returned to Mo Garden, without Xu Yan'er around, he immediately felt relieved.
It was like my heart, which had been filled with so much stuff, was suddenly emptied, and even my breathing became easier.
As soon as he entered the house, he felt more at ease.
There was nothing left in the room except some tables, chairs and furniture!
He did say that he was Xu Yan'er, but she couldn't implement it so thoroughly! It was like a bandit had come!
He is a prince, but the place he lives in is so... shabby!
That's it!
Don't care anymore.
At least I feel relieved.
He finally had a place of his own.
Xiao Yanan took off his shoes, lay down on the couch in a shapeless posture, and let out a long breath. This was the most relaxing day for him in recent times.
"The prince is back." Ji Chuhe walked in from outside.
Xiao Yanan immediately stood up, "Madam, why are you here?"
"At the beginning, the prince did not take many things with him when he moved from Liuhua Palace to Mo Garden. Now, Aunt Xu has moved out and taken some things away. Mo Garden is almost empty. I'm here to bring some things to the prince." After Ji Chuhe finished speaking, several servants walked in.
The two people in front carried in a screen, and the rest carried a few boxes.
"These are all elegant items I picked out from the warehouse. They are suitable for being placed in the study. Your Highness, please have someone sort them out and put them in place first. If there are any that you don't like, have someone send them back to me and I will pick out some that your Highness likes." Ji Chuhe said softly.
"I like everything Madam picked." Xiao Yan'an quickly made way, "Madam, please sit down."
Ji Chuhe sat down and looked around.
The shelves in the Duobao Pavilion were empty, not even a piece of ordinary porcelain was left.
"I asked her to move." Xiao Yan'an explained.
He was not speaking for Xu Yan'er, but trying his best to maintain his own face which had already fallen to the ground.
"Prince, I came here today because I have something to discuss with you."
"What is it? Ma'am, just speak up."
"Your Highness also knows that what I, the housekeeper, value most is rules. If something does not conform to the rules, it must be corrected. Aunt Xu entered the mansion as a concubine, and according to the rules, she would be a slave. Your Highness favors Aunt Xu, and the gift she gave to Aunt Xu is not excessive compared to the gift given to the wife of an ordinary family."
"Madam, I..."
"Don't be anxious, my lord. Listen to me. I know that you will not be willing to let Concubine Xu be enslaved. Now, my mother's anger should have almost subsided. In order to comply with the rules, you might as well promote Concubine Xu to a concubine. In this way, Concubine Xu will not have to be enslaved, and her status and position can be raised to a higher level."
Ji Chuhe's words gave Xiao Yan'an two choices.
Or, let Xu Yan'er become a slave.
Or, let Xu Yan'er be promoted.
Originally, Xiao Yan'an didn't need to make the decision on this matter; she could make the decision.
Even if she put Xu Yan'er into slavery, Xiao Yan'an would never conflict with her for Xu Yan'er again.
However, this matter is suitable for Xiao Yanan to make the decision.
She also wanted to know how much weight Xu Yan'er had in Xiao Yan'an's heart.
Xiao Yan'an thought about this matter seriously.
He always felt that he couldn't bear to let Xu Yan'er become a slave.
However, there was no way he would promote Xu Yan'er to be his concubine!
Is there no compromise?
"Aunt Xu, please wait a moment. Let me go and inform them." Tianxi's voice came from outside.
"Do I need to report my visit to Mo Garden?" Xu Yan'er's tone was filled with displeasure.
"Please don't make things difficult for me, aunt." Tianxi held on tightly, not giving Xu Yan'er the chance to break in.
"Ji Chuhe is here too?" Xu Yan'er saw the servants standing in the yard.
Tianxi's expression suddenly changed. This Xu Yan'er had called Madam by her name many times, which was totally undisciplined.
"It is precisely because Madam is inside that I must go and inform her. What if the prince doesn't want to see Madam?"
Xu Yan'er frowned, "Tianxi, your attitude towards me was not like this before. Now you are trying to curry favor with Ji Chuhe?"
"Madam is the master." Tian Xi responded indifferently.
"Tianxi, the prince asked Aunt Xu to come in." The maid in the courtyard came to deliver the message.
Xu Yan'er was immediately excited and circled around Tianxi, "Did you see that? The prince is just happy to see me. So what if Ji Chuhe is in there? It's still the same. Let me in? Get out of the way!"
Tianxi moved aside, and Xu Yan'er deliberately bumped into his shoulder and walked in with a swagger.
"It's only because I met a lady with such a good temper. No concubine here is like her!" Tianxi couldn't help but say.