“Hong’er was sold into the brothel when she was young. I raised her for 15 years, but she returned me very little. If you want to redeem her, sure, but it won’t be cheap.”
Chu Qingzhi asked unhurriedly, “How much?”
The Madam demanded an exorbitant price. “Ten thousand taels.”
Chu Qingzhi glanced at the room and locked onto the place where all the indentures were kept. ‘Too taels, not more, not less.”
She wanted Hong’er to walk out of the Hundred Flowers Tower openly, say goodbye to her past, and start over. Otherwise, she wouldn’t pay a single scent.
The madam looked in disbelief. “I said 10,000 taels, and you cut it to 100 taels. Are you joking with me?”
Hong’er slowly clenched her fists. 100 taels. The brothel madam would definitely not agree. Her heart sank and she was in despair again. She wouldn’t be able to leave today.
“A hundred taels, not more, not less…” Chu Qingzhi leaned closer to the madam and whispered in her ear, “There are two corpses buried under the parasol tree in your backyard…”
The redness on the madam’s face immediately faded, and her face turned pale. She looked at the young man with fear. “You, you…”
Chu Qingzhi said impatiently, “1 don’t have time to waste. Give Hong’er to me and we are good.”
The madam was frightened out of her wits. “I’ll go get the indenture immediately…”
Chu Qingzhi urged. “I still have something to do. Hurry up.”
The madam’s body was covered in cold sweat. She immediately sped up and took out the indenture. She handed it to the young man with trembling hands. “Here, the indenture.”
Chu Qingzhi took the indenture and looked at it. Then, she handed it to Hong’er. “Take a look. Is there any problem?”
Hong’er stood there in a daze, her face filled with disbelief. She originally thought that she would not be able to leave the Hundred Flowers Tower today, but she did not expect the situation to take a turn. She had really obtained the indenture.
She looked at the indenture anxiously and only confirmed that it was real after checking it three times. She was pleasantly surprised. “It’s my indenture. Young Master, it’s mine.”
Chu Qingzhi took out a hundred taels of silver and stuffed it into the madam’s hand. “In the future, Hong’er will have nothing to do with the Hundred Flowers Tower.”
With that, she waved at Hong’er. “Go upstairs and pack your things. 1’11 wait for you downstairs.”
“I’ll go right away.” Hong’er hurriedly ran upstairs.
The brothel madame looked at Hong’er’s back and her heart ached. She had invested way more than a hundred taels of silver in Hong’er.
Soon, Hong’er packed up and walked to Chu Qingzhi excitedly. “Young Master, I’m done packing. Let’s go.”
Chu Qingzhi stood up and walked towards the entrance of the Hundred Flowers Tower.
Hong’er followed behind step by step. As she approached the door, her heart beat faster and faster. How many years had it been since she was sold here? She could finally walk out of that door.
When she reached the door, she stopped, took a deep breath, and slowly stepped over the threshold…
Outside, Hong’er turned her head around to look at her sisters who had grown up together. She said loudly, “Sisters, I’m leaving. Take care of yourself.”
The girls’ eyes widened…
“You’ve been redeemed?”
“You’re free?”
“You’ll follow the young master next to you?”
Hong’er looked at the young man and nodded shyly. “Yes, I’ll be Young Master’s person from now on.”
The girls were all envious…
“Hong’er, you’re too lucky.”
“I’m so envious of you for being so lucky.”
“Remember to come back and see us in the future. Don’t forget us.”
The girls started crying as they spoke. They were extremely envious of Hong’er. They all regretted not snatching the young man from her in the beginning…
“I’m leaving.” Hong’er waved at her sisters, then turned around and chased after the young man. “Young master, where are we going?”
Chu Qingzhi asked, “Do you have anywhere to go?”
Hong’er nodded. “1 secretly bought a small residence. If you don’t mind, we can live there together.”
She couldn’t help but imagine living with the young master. The more she thought about it, the sweeter she felt.
Chu Qingzhi nodded and said, “Lead the way. I’ll send you there.”
Hong’er had yet to understand the meaning behind Chu Qingzhi’s words and happily replied, “The small residence is on the right…”
After passing through a few streets and alleys, Chu Qingzhi arrived at the entrance of a small courtyard.
The surroundings were filled with such residences that had a small courtyard and a few houses. The environment was quiet and not bad.
“Hong’er, what are your plans for the future?”
Hong’er lowered her head slightly and said with a blush, “I don’t have any plans. 1 just want to serve you well.”
Chu Qingzhi was speechless.
“I’ll leave Shuiyun County and travel elsewhere…”
Hong’er understood what Chu Qingzhi meant. Her eyes turned slightly red. “Young Master, can’t you bring me along?”
Chu Qingzhi said tactfully, “1 like to be alone. I’m not used to having a companion.”
Hong’er cried. She couldn’t bear to part with the young master. Although she didn’t even know his name, she was already attached to him.
Suddenly, she seemed to have thought of something. She slowly raised her head and stared straight at Chu Qingzhi.
“Young Master, if you want to leave, I can’t keep you. I have no intention of getting married in this life. You, you can leave a child for me.”
There were tears on her eyelashes, and her face was completely red. She looked like she had just been bullied.
Chu Qingzhi couldn’t take it anymore when she saw her like this. “You don’t have to do this…”
“Young Master, are you despising me for being unclean?” Hong’er interrupted Chu Qingzhi and hurriedly said, “Although I grew up in a brothel, 1-I’m still innocent.”
Chu Qingzhi was surprised. Such a charming girl was actually…
Hong’er’s tears rolled out of her eyes one by one. “The madam used all sorts of methods to force me. In the most serious case, she even let those thugs bully me. 1 bit my tongue and threatened to commit suicide. At that time, my mouth was filled with blood, and it scared everyone. The madam was also afraid that 1 would really die, so she didn’t force me anymore…”
She was really a fierce woman. Chu Qingzhi was a little impressed. “Hong’er, do you still have family?”
Hong’er said uncertainly, “I was sold to the brothel when I was five years old. My memories when I was young are already very blurry. I don’t know if I have any relatives.”
Chu Qingzhi said. “Then, do you have anyone you like?”
She was a little worried about leaving this girl here alone.
Chu Qingzhi was afraid that Hong’er might have misunderstood her intention, so she hurriedly added, “Hong’er, I didn’t redeem you because I wanted to possess you or make you a servant girl. I don’t have any motives. I just wanted to save you. Don’t feel burdened. If you have someone you like, tell me. 1’11 take you to see him..”
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