Zhou Zixi had a very happy childhood. He was born into a wealthy family in the State of Wei.
The brothers are friendly and respectful to each other, and the parents are loving.
He was well-read since childhood and became famous at a young age.
Because of his handsome appearance and his talent for poetry and calligraphy, he was appointed as Shaoqing Zuoshi at a young age and followed his father in and out of the imperial court.
However, the iron cavalry of the Quanrong defeated the weak Wei State and shattered the dreams of countless families.
No eggs are left unbroken when the nest is overturned. In one night, the mountains and rivers were shattered, and families were destroyed.
As a powerless scholar, he didn't even have the chance to resist and fell from the clouds into the mud unexpectedly.
He was branded with the shameful slave mark and became a lowly slave.
He and his relatives were repeatedly sold from one owner to another like livestock.
Many masters seemed particularly excited when they heard that he was of noble birth, and tortured and abused him more cruelly than they treated other slaves.
Every time he thought that he had reached the limit of pain, but the next master would often step him into a deeper quagmire.
It was unknown how long this went on, and Zhou Zixi gradually became numb from the pain.
He no longer cared who bought him this time.
He endured the severe pain in his feet without saying a word, and allowed the new buyer's servants to lead him along the road in the slave market with a hemp rope.
Because he refused to cooperate and resisted excessively, the slave trader who sold him drove iron spikes into the soles of his feet as punishment.
It hurts when I walk, a little pain is good, because it hurts so I know I am still alive.
Zhou Zixi walked step by step in the mud, and a gorgeous carriage appeared in his sight.
Outside the market, there were several carriages of different sizes parked. The owners of these carriages bought slaves, tied them behind the carriages, and let the slaves follow them all the way back.
carriage.
Zhou Zixi's face turned pale, he knew it was impossible for him to reach the finish line.
Before the owner pedaled back, he suddenly looked back at him for a moment and discovered that his foot was seriously injured.
But the owner had no intention of returning the goods. Instead, he asked the red-robed servant to take the filthy man to the clean and luxurious carriage.
He was placed on the soft mat in the car.
There was a heater in the carriage, which was completely different from the desperately cold outside.
What kind of master is this? Zhou Zixi couldn't help but wonder in his heart.
Soon, the guard in black got into the car, with a faint smell of blood on his body.
Zhou Zixi roughly guessed what he had done.
The man, who was still full of murderous intent, shook out a blanket after getting in the car, and carefully covered him with it, avoiding the wounds on his body.
Zhou Zixi, whose skin was almost frozen, was suddenly enveloped by such warmth that he could not help but shiver.
Then he saw his master being taken into the car. The young and handsome master looked at him, sighed softly, and sat down against the car window.
The carriage started moving slowly, and as the carriage swayed gently, Zhou Zixi, who was extremely tired, couldn't help but want to close his eyes.
Before falling asleep, he dimly saw the master stretch out his white hand and gently clasp the hand of the black-clad guard.
…
Zhou Zixi woke up in a small house.
He has been recuperating in this room for several days.
He sat up and raised his hand to touch his shoulder wrapped in gauze.
All the injuries on his body have been properly treated.
Every day someone brought him medicine and meals on time, but no one scolded or ordered him to do anything.
Now he knew that his master was none other than the lord of Bianzhou, Cheng Qianyu, Marquis of Jinyue.
But he didn't dare to think too much.
He had harbored hope countless times, but it had been ruthlessly crushed countless times. Now he had gotten used to not actively hoping for anything.
Just sitting on the bed like this day after day, quietly waiting for the fate that is about to come to me.
There were faint sounds of quarreling outside the door. Zhou Zixi listened carefully and a voice that was very familiar to him but he could not believe came from outside the house.
This is the outer courtyard of the palace.
At this moment, Cheng Qianye was frowning at the woman kneeling in front of him. She was wearing a coarse cloth short shirt, brown leggings on her legs, and her shoes had holes worn out. She was dusty and obviously had come a long way.
The woman was waiting outside the palace, insisting on seeing King Yue of Jin. When she was being driven away by the guards, she happened to meet Cheng Qianye who was returning to the palace.
"Who do you want to redeem?"
The woman slumped on the ground with her head down, holding a worn-out purse in her hands, which was filled with coins.
"Sir, please let me redeem my son. I beg you."
Cheng Qianye was about to speak when there was a clanging sound behind him.
She turned around and saw Zhou Zixi, wearing only a plain white lingerie, struggling to walk out of the house while holding onto the wall.
He walked too quickly and lost his balance. He tripped over the door frame and fell down the steps outside the house.
Despite being in such an embarrassing situation, when the man raised his head from the dust, Cheng Qianye couldn't help but marvel in his heart.
Only then did she realize that the slave she bought with a bruised face and nose turned out to be a handsome man after he recovered from his injuries.
This man not only had a handsome face and beautiful features, but also had an innate elegance. Even in such an anxious situation, his actions still revealed the grace that a person from an aristocratic family had cultivated since childhood.
He hurried to Cheng Qianye, stood in front of the woman, spread his sleeves, and knelt down to salute.
"Please forgive me, my master. This person is a relative of mine who does not know the rules of etiquette. I will order her to leave now. I hope my master will be magnanimous and forgive her."
He bowed his head repeatedly, spoke earnestly, and was very nervous.
"Stand up and talk. No need to kneel. Your injury hasn't healed yet." Cheng Qianye stopped Zhou Zixi.
She sat down casually on a railing in the corridor and brushed the hem of her clothes.
"Tell me, what's going on?"
The woman stood up and tried to help Zhou Zixi, but Zhou Zixi glanced at her and shook his head imperceptibly.
But Cheng Qianye saw it, and she pointed at the woman and said, "Tell me your name and where you are from."
The woman looked at Zhou Zixi and said without flinching, "My Lord, my name is Ayang, and I am from Wei. I was originally the maid of the young master... This lady, I have raised money and want to redeem my young master. Please help me."
Cheng Qianye glanced at the purse in her hand.
Ah Yang's face flushed slightly, but she immediately raised her head, "I have inquired about it. The lord spent one gold to buy the young master, so these are not enough. But I spent a long time to raise this much. I heard that the lord is known for his kindness, so I beg you to be flexible."
"Where are you going to go after you redeem him?"
"We don't have anywhere to go, so we'll just stay in Bianzhou first." Ayang glanced at Zhou Zixi, "I have plenty of strength. Bianzhou is hiring people everywhere. I can support you, young master."
Cheng Qianye smiled. She knew that Ayang had a lot to say, but she didn't need to pursue it at this moment.
"He is mine now. I will not let you redeem him."
"But I won't treat him as a slave. If you want, you can live in this outer courtyard and take care of his injuries. We can talk about other things in the future."
The author has something to say: I will make up a small chapter later, my little cuties go to sleep first, don't wait