Under the envious eyes of the sisters, Liu Ruyan followed Zhou Sheng to a corner.
"I wonder how you have considered what I said last time?"
Ruyan lowered her head slightly under his burning eyes, "If... what the young master is talking about is combing, the slave family has no choice."
"I'm asking about your personal thoughts," Zhou Sheng stretched out his hand and stroked the black hair beside her ear, "Or do you mean, it doesn't matter to you who bought your right to serve?"
"No... of course not..." She bit her lip.
"That's right." Zhou Dacai's voice was softer. He liked the other party's expression very much - the weakness and fear not only did not destroy her beauty, but made her look more charming, making him unable to help but want to go. care. "I have already talked with the boss lady, and the time for combing will be after I go to Gyeonggi to attend the examination."
Liu Ruyan felt as if something was clenching her heart.
"But the thought of you having sex with someone else in the future is not something I would like to see. So I have considered redeeming your life after you have recovered your reputation."
Hearing this, Ruyan raised her head in surprise, "Then... what about after the redemption?"
Zhou Sheng raised the corners of his mouth. This was the reaction he wanted to see, "I will take you as my concubine."
Liu Ruyan lowered her head again, "I wonder where the master is..."
"I already have four concubines. Don't worry, they get along well with each other on weekdays, and since you know poetry and music, it will not be difficult to get close to them. Remember to teach everyone when the time comes, so that no one will appreciate my good lyrics. "
"Then the slave family... it all depends on the master."
…
After bidding farewell to Zhou Dacai, Liu Ruyan was immediately surrounded by the sisters as soon as she returned to the small building where the servant girl was staying.
"Hey, what did Mr. Zhou tell you?"
"He actually likes you, right?"
"It can't be that...he decided to take your first night, right?"
Liu Ruyan had no choice but to confess, "Mr. Zhou indeed ordered my comb, and he also said he would redeem my life."
This sentence instantly detonated everyone.
"Wow! Sister Liu, you are so lucky!"
"Yes, that's the famous Zhou Talent."
"Stop talking about us. All the ladies in the city will secretly envy you."
"After all, after the prince is gone, he should be the most anticipated candidate. He is talented and well-educated, and has a handsome appearance."
"I think you have forgotten someone." Some girls objected.
"who?"
"The new Prime Minister of the Privy Council, Mr. Xia. I heard that he is about the same age as Zhou Dacai, but his status is equivalent to a fifth-grade official, and he is also the confidant of Her Royal Highness the Princess. Even the General Affairs Bureau is planned by him... Such a person , how can it be inferior to Mr. Zhou?"
"Uh... It seems true when you say that. Why do the sisters rarely mention him?"
"Maybe Mr. Xia has never been to Zui Qinglou?"
"Yes, why? This is the best brothel in Jinxia, right?"
"Or... he has a relationship somewhere else?"
"Haha, just like no one knew that Mr. Zhou would favor our Miss Ruyan!"
This topic aroused everyone's interest, and the sisters started chattering.
Only Liu Ruyan was not in a happy mood at all.
Redeeming one's body, taking concubines... Things that were enviable in the eyes of other nobles, but she was filled with worry and uneasiness in her heart.
Many of the women cultivated by Zui brothel were orphans bought from Yaxing. The young girls were raised almost from childhood. Everything they saw and heard happened in this small area. But there are exceptions, such as herself.
Liu Ruyan was eleven or twelve years old when she was sold here, long past the age of ignorance. Generally, brothels would not accept such a woman as a henchman, but she came from a wealthy family, had a good foundation in talent and learning, and had a pretty face, so she was bought by Zui brothel. Precisely because she had witnessed the plight of concubines in her family before her family fell into decline, and had heard her mother tell the fate of such women many times, it was difficult for her to feel happy when she heard Mr. Zhou's words.
From now on, her destiny, happiness and joy will all be in the hands of one person.
Liu Ruyan couldn't help but look at the wild cats entrenched in the yard - she often fed them, but even so, she could not make any restrictions on these wild cats.
They come and go when they want. No matter whether it is a high gate or a courtyard wall, they can't stop them.
This freedom even made Liu Ruyan feel a little jealous.
That was probably a feeling she would never experience.
"You have said so much good things about Mr. Xia, but that is just a temporary trend. After all, the princess will always notice such things as offending scholars. When there is a problem, the princess will definitely use him to calm everyone down. dissatisfied."
"That's right... As long as you can read, you can be an official in the Secretariat. It's ridiculous."
"But I'm a little curious. If I pass the registration screening and become a reserve official of the Secretariat, will the drunken brothel take me back?" A sister asked ingeniously.
"Xiao Nizi, you have a wonderful idea. What kind of place is a brothel? Do you think they will accept you after you reveal your identity? Save it, the only people in this world who will not dislike you are sisters like us!"
"But... no one has asked them this question?"
"Why, do you still have illusions? Why don't you think about how to serve people and let any young master take a liking to you sooner?"
Everyone burst into good-natured laughter.
But the other party's words made Liu Ruyan's heart skip a beat.
Yes, indeed no one asked the Secretariat.
There is no restriction on identity stated in the conditions. Did they forget it, or is it something that is a common practice in the world and does not need to be specifically listed
After staying in a brothel for so many years, she had long understood that she shouldn't have expectations.
But once that idea emerged, it took root and sprouted in her mind like a seed, and it was difficult to erase it no matter what.
Two days later, Liu Ruyan got an opportunity.
That was the day when the Qing dynasty went out in batches to buy rouge, clothes or jewelry. Since everyone's dressing style was different, there would be a shopping trip every one or two months. Of course, they are under the leadership of grandma, and they are not allowed to act alone during the whole process.
It's just that Mammy means it. After all, the girls have no household registration and no relatives to rely on. Even if they escape, where can they escape? At least you don't have to worry about food and clothing in a brothel. If you become a homeless person, your life may not be guaranteed.
The group of people walked and walked, and when they were approaching the long street where the Secretariat was located, Liu Ruyan pretended to walk around the fabric shop, found a gap that no one was paying attention to, and quietly left the group.
After confirming that she had not been discovered, she lifted up her skirt and ran all the way, the wind blowing in her ears, and the sound of her heartbeat drowned out the panic in her chest.
At that moment, she seemed to become a wild cat.
After passing through the crowd, Liu Ruyan stumbled into the door of the office.
Following the signs, she quickly found her goal.
—"General Office Reserve Officer Registration Office".
A young girl received her.
This was Liu Ruyan's first feeling. Can even such a young girl manage things here
The second feeling is that there are so many people coming to sign up.
"Hello, do you have anything you want to ask?" the other party asked with a smile.
"I, I am..." Liu Ruyan wanted to back down several times. Just telling her identity was embarrassing enough, let alone asking others. But when she thought about what would happen three or four months later, she hesitated and finally said, "I am a brothel girl and I know how to read and write... Do I qualify to sign up?"
The girl showed a surprised look. She did not answer immediately, but pondered for a moment, "Well... the land thief didn't tell me what to do in this situation."
So - I really forgot.
Liu Ruyan felt something sinking rapidly in her heart.
But the other person's next words made her freeze in place.
"Why don't you wait here? Mr. Xia is in the Privy Council Mansion now. I will tell you after I get the answer."