Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Let’s Not Contact Each Other Anymore
It was a contract for releasing from slave status.
Xiao Shiqing was stunned, "How could it be?"
Qu Fulan retorted, "Why not? Does Prince Xiao think that I can’t get rid of my slave status on my own, and I must rely on you?"
Qu Fulan didn’t want to get angry, but her plans were almost repeatedly disrupted by Xiao Shiqing.
Especially today, she was actually followed and didn’t know it.
When she saw that small carriage, no matter if it was related to her or not, she would not meet Xiao Shiqing at the Hongfu Building.
So the first small boy who went in was delivering a message.
But actually, there was another boy following behind to check the situation, and when he came back, he told her that a madam had caused a scene in the private room.
Qu Fulan just chuckled.
And he’s the original male protagonist, where was the vigilance?
Xiao Shiqing was silent after what she said, and after a while, he opened his mouth, "I didn’t think that way; I just wanted to help you."
This had a certain "I’m doing it for your own good" feeling.
That’s how many conversations between parents and children go.
But whether it’s good or not, only the person involved would know.
"I know the Heir wants to help me, but as I told you before, I have my inconveniences. I planned to explain everything to you today because I have my own plans and arrangements. But I had no idea you’d heard somewhere that I was a maid in the Pei Mansion and without asking me, went to ask the Emperor for a favor."
If Qu Fulan had told him about her maid status, she would have had to explain her entire plan to persuade him; otherwise, he wouldn’t agree to her plan.
But revealing her plan would expose more information, wouldn’t it?
So she chose to hide it, but who knew things would still go wrong.
It seemed inescapable, no matter what she did.
"If I really waited for that favor, I’d have to wait until the autumn hunt, wait for your competition to end, wait for you to win, before I could get my contract of freedom. Moreover, what if you lost? What would we say then?"
He would definitely lose. Although that segment wasn’t in the book, if Xiao Shiqing got involved, it would follow the original story.
In the original, he didn’t give the heroine freedom this way; he achieved merits over two years to exchange for her freedom.
By then, would Qu Fulan have to wait two years?
Xiao Shiqing was stumped by her questions, unable to say a word.
He hadn’t thought of these things, because in his eyes, she was still the girl who relied on him for everything.
Even if he lost, he would use other conditions to exchange for her freedom with the heir of the Pei Family.
But now discussing these things was meaningless.
"I’m sorry," he said.
Qu Fulan didn’t want to say it’s okay, because it wasn’t okay, so she remained silent, but not for long, before she spoke.
"Heir, regarding the Li Family, you already knew without me saying. I’m no longer a young lady of the Li Family, and everything from the past is in the past. You said you’ve been looking for me all this time, and I appreciate it, but now you’ve seen, I’m doing well. You can be at ease, and in the future, for the good of both of us, let’s not contact each other anymore."
"When the Li Family was in trouble, I couldn’t appear in time, that’s my fault. You’ve suffered a lot because of it, so your resentment toward me is understandable, but don’t say such words in anger," Xiao Shiqing replied.
"It’s not out of anger, I know what I’m saying. Heir, when I say no more contact, it’s for both our good, specifically, for my good. Because Mrs. Xiao doesn’t like me, maintaining contact with you only drags me down."
Qu Fulan’s words were harsh, but they needed to be harsh, otherwise, things would get worse if left ambiguous.
As expected, Xiao Shiqing was left speechless by what she said.
Indeed, his mother had met Jirou long ago and kept it from him.
But even if his mother didn’t like her, he liked her, knowing since he was little that she would become his wife. How could that be so easily let go?
"I will convince her to accept you," Xiao Shiqing clenched his fingers.
"But I no longer want any entanglement with the Xiao Family. I’m living well on my own now, earning my own living. Besides, Mrs. Xiao doesn’t like me, so why force our ties?"
"Living on your own is not safe," Xiao Shiqing said.
"Wouldn’t living with the Xiao Family be even more unsafe? At one point, Miss Xiao sent assassins to the Pei Mansion to kill. Surely you know of this, but did you know the target was me? Do you know why she wanted to assassinate me? Because she hates me, just like Mrs. Xiao, they both hate me. Are you still insisting on your idea? Or do you want me dead to be satisfied?"
"Let me say it again, I’m doing well now and can support myself. If you truly care for me, please stay away from me from now on, and don’t let any member of the Xiao Family disturb my life. If you can do this, I’ll be very grateful to you."
...
"I heard you were driven out of the Pei Mansion?"
At the family temple, dressed in plain clothes, Master Lu, who had taken religious vows, was playing chess with Cheng Ru at a stone table.
Ever since Master Lu moved there, Cheng Ru would come by every few days.
But Third Miss and Fang Yuan only visited him once and never came back.
Yet the Third Miss, Fang Yuan, and even the Old Madam all tacitly approved of Cheng Ru’s frequent visits to Master Lu.
Why? It’s because a teacher for a day, a father for life.
Third Miss and Fang Yuan visited less because their statuses limited them, not to mention Master Lu was dismissed by the second brother, with the Old Madam’s agreement. They, the granddaughter and the niece, couldn’t possibly visit too often, or else it would be slapping the second brother and Old Madam in the face with their actions.
Besides, they weren’t particularly fond of Master Lu anyway, seeing him once was enough to fulfill their obligations.
But Cheng Ru was different. She was merely a relative of the second house’s wife, not a member of the Pei Family, and thus, was freer to act and didn’t have to worry about many things.
Many people in the Pei Family praised Cheng Ru for visiting Master Lu.
The maids privately said she valued the teacher-student relationship, showing respect for her teacher through her actions.
Some even said she had her own ideas, not changing herself just to please anyone, even acknowledging the teacher who taught her.
In summary, Cheng Ru’s visits to Master Lu left an impression of being straightforward and magnanimous.
"It was said she left voluntarily; I don’t know the exact reasons," Cheng Ru said.
"Leaving the Pei Mansion voluntarily is just for show," Master Lu didn’t believe it, "She leaving was actually a good thing; otherwise, who knows how many people she’d drag down."
Meanwhile, the four guardians were also troubled over something.
Whether or not to tell the Heir about Miss Qu’s meeting with Prince Xiao?
"The Heir only asked us to protect Miss Qu, she is not in danger right now, so it should be fine not to tell."
"I think we should tell, given she went to meet someone important."
"But since Miss Qu is no longer with the Pei Family, it’s her freedom to meet whomever she wants, right?"
"That’s true, but since she’s no longer with the Pei Family, why did the Heir still want us to protect her, think about it?"