Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Not Appreciated at All
Qu Fulan spoke confidently and with great flair, waiting for Heir Pei to make a statement.
She was confident Heir Pei would agree.
Great achievements require not getting bogged down in trivial matters; compared to great endeavors, what does a slave contract count for?
Exchanging a slave contract for talent, why not?
She had anticipated Heir Pei’s reaction.
Surely, he would be surprised by her bold words, as a death contract wanting to redeem itself is indeed a very rare occurrence.
But this isn’t unheard of; Qu Fulan knew that for death contract slaves to break free from servitude, it generally required the efforts of ancestors accumulating enough merit to free future generations.
As the saying goes, "One generation plants the trees under whose shade future generations rest."
No one wishes for their descendants to be slaves eternally.
Hence, it is clear that trying to break free from servitude is not an easy feat.
This is why Qu Fulan had worked so hard to this day, feeling her achievements were enough to prove her abilities, thus enabling her to speak up.
She had worked so long on this matter, something she felt she could accomplish on her own, yet halfway through, Xiao Shiqing appeared out of nowhere, wanting to erase all of her efforts.
How could she let such a thing happen?
But she was still wrong, as after listening to her, Heir Pei remained surprisingly calm.
This... what is going on?
Earlier, when she was calculating accounts, he was still surprised; now, hearing her bold words, how is there no reaction at all?
This unexpected reaction not factored into her plans made her somewhat uneasy.
"Heir?" Qu Fulan said a bit uneasily.
He still didn’t react; instead, he silently drank a cup of tea. Just as she was about to speak again in unease, he spoke.
"Alright," he said.
Qu Fulan was momentarily stunned before realizing what he meant.
...
Two days later.
The news about Qu Fulan leaving the mansion was spreading like wildfire.
"I heard cousin gave Fulan a life-selling contract, allowing her to restore her freedom?"
In the pavilion, the Pei family girls gathered, and Cheng Ru first couldn’t hold back and asked.
After all, it wasn’t something disgraceful, and it was normal for the news to spread.
"I heard about it too. I originally wanted to ask Sister Fulan, but she’s been busy these past two days, so I didn’t go." Fang Yuan said.
The Third Miss said, "Yes, I heard Fulan went to the old lady to give her heartfelt thanks, and now she’s about to leave the mansion."
"The old lady agreed too?" Cheng Ru asked.
"Fulan is second brother’s maid; since second brother agreed, of course, the old lady wouldn’t oppose. You haven’t been here long, but if you live here longer, you’ll understand that for second brother’s decisions, as long as it’s not murder or arson, the old lady supports it. I’ve heard she even rewarded Fulan with many good things to take with her out of the mansion." The Third Miss said.
"But didn’t I hear Fulan signed a death contract?" Cheng Ru asked.
"What’s the difference between a death contract and a live contract? It just takes a word from the master," Fang Yuan wasn’t too rigid about such matters; her family also released one or two death contract slaves, but they were mostly elderly, pleading for future generations.
"Though that’s the case, this matter is still very sudden." Cheng Ru sighed, "After all, Cousin’s kindness to Fulan is well known, yet out of the blue, she’s leaving. I don’t understand."
"If this had happened to someone else, I probably wouldn’t understand either. But with second brother’s nature, he does whatever he wants without a fixed pattern; I can understand him giving Fulan the contract, but it still feels a bit sad. In the future, it might be hard to meet Fulan again." The Third Miss said.
"Yes, she’s so capable; I admire her endlessly. I originally wanted to learn more from her." Fang Yuan said.
Although it was past the Mid-Autumn Festival, the climate was still sweltering. Cheng Ru waved a round fan slowly and said, "Who says not? I originally thought Cousin would always keep her."
The so-called ’always keep her’—the meaning was self-explanatory.
In fact, most people thought so; Heir Pei treated Fulan so well, he would surely keep her by his side in the future.
However, when Third Young Madam Yao Xing heard the news, she squinted her eyes, "Couldn’t it be a mistake? How could the Pei Mansion let a death contract maid leave?"
"It’s no mistake; the news has spread throughout the mansion, and she even kowtowed to the old lady. She’ll be out in a couple of days." A maid answered.
Yao Xing frowned, "It shouldn’t be; Second Brother treats that girl so well, how could he easily let her go? Isn’t there something suspicious?"
"I’m not sure about this, others are also puzzled." The maid responded.
Yao Xing thought about it but couldn’t come up with an answer.
Logically, who the main branch lets out shouldn’t concern her, but if it were anyone else, it’d be fine. It happened to be that girl Qu Fulan, someone she disliked from the first sight. Giving her the contract and freedom wasn’t something Yao Xing was willing to see.
"This main branch is becoming increasingly reckless, letting out just anyone without fear of breaking the rules; also, Qu Fulan, does she think she can just come and go from the Pei Mansion as she pleases? Not to mention, many people outside wish to become a maid in the Pei Mansion and can’t achieve it, yet she wants to leave. I heard her parents have both passed; once outside, who could she rely on? Isn’t she eyeing someone who disdains her servant status, so she must shed her slave status to become a legitimate wife?"
Yao Xing thought this increasingly likely, "For someone like her, even without a slave status, what good family could she marry into? She might even be deceived by someone; she’s been in the Pei Mansion so long, receiving so many rewards, especially from Second Brother, who gave her the best things—I’m sure she bragged everywhere and got her mind set on by someone with ill intentions, promising to marry her as a legitimate wife, and she naively believed it."
This isn’t impossible; girls from brothels after saving a lifetime of money often got deceived by men’s flowery words, losing both life and money, ending miserably.
Now Qu Fulan seems to be in such a situation.
Yao Xing was very satisfied with this idea, feeling comfortable knowing Qu Fulan would end up deceived, losing both life and wealth.
But she also felt sorry for those treasures; even she didn’t have the things Second Brother gave.
"Go inquire where she’s staying, and come back and tell me." Yao Xing said.
Rather than letting others benefit, it would be better to keep it in the family, so to speak.
At this moment, by the riverside, it was night.
A painted pleasure boat docked on the shore, with the sound of pipa music playing on board, fishes swam out to listen, the echoes lingered.
People on the shore were fortunate to hear such wonderful sounds.
However, these kinds of boats were usually used by the rich and powerful, and common folk, let alone boarded, were even chased away by guards if they got too close.
Prince An listened to the music, nodding along enthusiastically, feeling life had reached its peak.
Only to inadvertently see Pei Ji’an’s indifferent expression, instantly feeling his teeth ache.
He arranged all this entertainment so thoughtfully, for whom exactly?
Yet the main person didn’t appreciate it at all.