Volume 1 Chapter 91 The Falling Curtain (3)

  Chapter 91: The Curtain Falls (Three)

  Ah——

  When she heard that mournful cry, Mozi was entangled in how far to keep a distance from Qi Si in front of her, so as not to trip on the uneven road surface.

  Her lantern had burned down to the bamboo frame, and now the only light came from the lamp in Qi Shu's hand. In this era, even wealthy families couldn't afford to have lights on everywhere. Especially, the Qiu Manor was currently financially strained. Underneath its grand and luxurious mansion, signs of decline had begun to appear, starting a life of frugality.

  However, in Mozi's view, Zhang could afford to spend a lot of money on building a horse path for his son, but saving this small amount of money was useless.

  "Fourth Master..." also heard the scream, Qi Shu was still young after all, and the lantern in his hand shook with a rustling sound.

  "Your woman's cry, you little brat, shaking like a sieve, this is your dignity?"

  "Fourth Master, it's not...". Qi Shu wanted to say that the voice came out of nowhere too suddenly, and in the middle of the night, so he felt a chill run down his spine. But thinking about Fourth Master's temper, saying anything would be useless anyway.

  "You'd better follow Mozi and learn from her, she's braver than you are." Qiu Si looked back and found that Mozi was a little far away from him, so he frowned.

  "It's not worth mentioning." Qi Shu humbly lowered his self-worth to please the host, and then smiled and flattered, "I couldn't learn from Miss Mozi. Those who can be trusted by Master, I will worship and respect like a Bodhisattva."

  "You little scamp, this time you've finally flattered me in the right place." Qiu Si heard it very pleasing to his ears and heart, "On the day Master gets married, I'll give you a big red envelope."

  The two of them were talking loudly, without paying attention to lowering their voices, in order to protect the natural environment. Moreover, she couldn't stand their self-talking, and was disgusted to the point of wanting to vomit. Qi Shu flattered him, and Qiu Si said he had flattered the right place. It turned out that Qiu Si considered himself a horse, and Qi Shu patted his butt, but he still enjoyed it? This level of conversation was really nonsensical, making her feel both disgusted and amused at the same time. Fortunately, it was late at night, otherwise people would have seen her and thought she had gone crazy.

  As I turned around the echo wall, it suddenly brightened up before me. The lights in the main hall were like fire, burning brightly on top of a patch of night, just like daylight.

  The book fell on the front door.

  Mo Zi took a few more steps back, not wanting to follow Qi Si into the house and become the subject of gossip after dinner. Through Qi Shu's and the steward's behavior, she discovered that although she herself had not given any indication, Qi Si's thoughts had already escalated from secretly admiring her to openly pursuing her, determined to get what he wanted. For someone like Qi Si, a spoiled young master who had always gotten everything he wanted since childhood, taking in a concubine and marrying a servant girl was like having a pie fall from the sky, impossible to refuse, and not allowed to be refused.

  The round moon-shaped door creaked open, and the little girl inside saw Qi Shu and Qiu Si. She turned around and hastily shouted, "Fourth Master is here! Fourth Master is here!"

  Why didn't you call for help earlier? Now that it's too late, you're calling for help? Mozi raised an eyebrow and curled her lip, her expression full of disdain.

  Qiu Si finally showed her a sense of urgency that night, but she knew it wasn't the so-called * emotion, at most it was a possessive desire based on novelty. Qiu Si's invasive body language only proved that he wanted to subdue her with his high and mighty identity, rather than being a man surrendering to the woman he loved. It can be imagined that if she were unfortunate enough to fall into his hands, she would be left alone in an empty room, with the new wife laughing and the old one crying, a tragic fate without name or status.

  She could think of ways to resist, and she wouldn't be an ordinary servant girl who would endure hardship and drudgery. But her biggest problem was that contract. When she was seriously injured, Qi San Niang forced her to sign it. She struggled to hold on to a breath, haggling with Qi San Niang for an hour, revising clause after clause. The death contract became a life contract. Selling herself for the rest of her life became selling herself for ten years. Only providing food became having a monthly allowance. Having control over her own life and death was abolished. Being sold to someone else was also abolished. And so on, and so on.

  Non-redeemable, transferable to other owners

  Qiu San Niang played tricks with her, watching her almost fainting and her eyes losing focus. At that moment, she used the last trick to deceive her into leaving a handprint.

  Why didn't she discover it? No, she was on her guard. But she only had time to add a little, the right of transfer can be exercised at most once.

  Because the last one was too long, she didn't have time to think clearly and only thought that it's better to live than to die, so she only had the energy to add a "but".

  She cannot redeem it herself, even if she has a lot of private money, she must follow the mood of Qiurong San Niang or wait until the 10-year period is over.

  It is possible to transfer ownership to another party, and selling it to someone else is not the same thing, but essentially similar. The attached note states: Under the comprehensive evaluation of Qiu San Niang, there is the right to exchange with another party of equivalent financial power and authority for an equal value in ink and purple. The measurement of value can be determined by both parties inviting three people of high moral character to decide whether it is equal or not. If all three people determine that it is equal, Mozi cannot object to the transfer. If one person determines that it is not equal, the transfer cannot continue. If two people determine that it is not equal, Mozi can tear up the contract and leave.

  Mozi woke up to hear Qiu San Niang reading the last clause, and almost fainted again. Although she had added a restriction that it could only be executed once, if Qiu San Niang was ruthless and transferred her to some sadist or something, she would be done for. Those three prestigious and respected people had vague definitions, and were invited by both parties, not by Mozi herself, so they could be settled with just a little silver.

  While she was unconscious, the contract was found to be safe, sent to the official, and stamped with an official seal. The original was kept by Qiu San Niang, and a copy of the contract and the household registration form with her name added as the head of the household were given to her. Now, whenever she goes out, she must bring it with her, otherwise, she might be taken away for being unidentified and thrown into prison.

  In this era, buying off the government and forging household registration and identity can be done. However, for someone like her who has no background or connections and an unclear past as a refugee, it's not easy. Moreover, the Great Zhou's laws governing slaves are very strict, once you're on the official roster, unless the master voluntarily releases you, even if you escape, you can't shake off your slave status. The outcome for those who get caught is truly worse than death.

  Mozzie thought that running away was the worst option after considering maturity. She needed a stable period to establish everything she needed for independence. Even if she escaped to another country, making money would attract attention, and attracting attention would ask her identity, an orphan girl who ultimately had to rely on a supporting force. Reality is far from being as beautiful as imagined, in comparison, Qiū Sān Niáng, first, was a woman, second, was a ruthless businesswoman, who had both tests and benefits for her.

  The fact is that Qiu San Niang was suppressing her in the open, but she was secretly controlling Qiu San Niang. Qiu San Niang sometimes felt it, which is why she came to make things difficult. But as a proud elder sister, Qiu San Niang's difficulties were all direct attacks, which instead gave her more opportunities to gain the upper hand.

  Self-redemption, cutting off her idea of buying freedom with money, is nothing, at most she can endure for ten years. Transfer is Qiu San Niang's most ruthless move, grasping her throat, not letting her breathe at any time. Qiu San Niang has no right to let her die, but she can absolutely make her live a life worse than death.

  Deep purple steps forward, between obedient and stubborn girls, often leaning towards the former, also considering transferring this one.

  "Who are you?" The little gatekeeper brought her thoughts back from eight thousand miles away.

  Mozhi took a look, Qiu Si and Qi Shu had already disappeared without a trace. She let out a sigh of relief and was about to slip back into the small courtyard when suddenly a black figure emerged from behind the willow tree next to her and pounced on her. She didn't have time to dodge, and they collided, causing the black figure to fall to the ground.

  Mei Zi was shocked and puzzled, she was so fierce that she bounced people back without even counting, and still didn't get up?

  The little girl let out a sound, very clever, helped her bring the lamp to shine, and curiously asked, "Who is this again?"

  "I don't know." Mozi's words to Qiu Si were true. In the dark of night, it was impossible to distinguish front from back, let alone who was who. However, the person now was pressed to the ground, face down.

  "Ah!" The little girl suddenly retreated a few steps back, pointing at the purple skirt, her face turned white and eyes wide with fear.

  Mò zǐ lowered her head to take a look, and on the blue dress with scattered flowers, there was a patch of bright red. But it was soon warmed by the lamp light, seeping into the blue fabric, no longer eye-catching. She reached out to touch it, and it was damp, but her body didn't hurt.

  "You... you're bleeding." The little girl panicked and wanted to run inside, "I'll call someone."

  Mozi hastily pulled her back, "Don't panic, the one bleeding isn't me, it's probably this person on the ground. You hold the lantern steady for me, I'll turn him over and take a look at what's going on, then you can go call someone."

  The little girl was clever and really brought the lantern closer.

  The words were calm, but Mozi's heart was also strange. When she squatted down and carefully turned the person over to face upwards, just as she was about to take a look at who it was, she heard the little girl gasp, and the light suddenly went out.

  Mei Zi raised her eyes and looked over, only to see Xiao Yatou hastily running towards the door with his back to her. "Hey, wait up! What's the hurry? I haven't gotten a good look yet."

  What's wrong with this girl? Mu Zi was annoyed.

  It's okay, there are two wind chimes hanging at the door. At this point, she doesn't care about wasting a bit of effort, turning the person 180 degrees and switching to the other side to take a look. Immediately, she heard herself gasp in shock.

  The swaying lanterns cast eerie shadows, as if blown by a ghostly wind. The light shone brightly, but the face before me looked like that of a specter. The skin was deathly pale with a hint of green, the eyes were sunken and red-rimmed, and the hair was disheveled and matted like seaweed. Yet, ghosts don't sweat, do they? But this person's forehead was beaded with large droplets of perspiration that trickled down into their hair. The plain white linen robe, typically worn to bed, was stained with crimson plum blossoms, a sight that made one's heart skip a beat.

  Mozi had seen her a few times. Among the many maids in the Qiu Mansion, she was exceptionally beautiful, with eyes that seemed to speak, a slender waist like a willow branch, and every gesture was alluring.

  They say that heaven bestows beauty on women, and it will not be in vain.

  As expected, this woman, although born as a slave, was helped by her beauty to gain wealth and honor. She even had some small cleverness; if used well and with more patience, this wealth could have lasted longer, and she would soon be able to shake off her humble status.

  Unfortunately, she was too impatient. Impatience can't swallow hot buns, this principle doesn't distinguish between beauty and ugliness.

  Ailian ah

  Beautiful name.

  Picked at the best time in the early morning, now with dew drops still un dry, the petals have fallen off like silk threads being pulled apart.

  Sorry, it's getting late today.

  Friend's birthday, went out for dinner and singing, just got back now.

  Have a happy weekend, everyone!

  Chapter 91: The Curtain Falls (Three)

  Chapter 91 The Curtain Falls (Three)