Fire Captain

Chu Qiao then specifically told Xiao Qi and Xiao Ba not to tell anyone about Brother Linxi and Sister Zhixiang, and never to mention it again. They should just treat the two as dead, and send them away when they have the chance. Xiao Qi and Xiao Ba seemed to have hope and expectation, and finally calmed down and waited patiently.

Zhu Shun was angry with Aunt Song because she secretly sent Zhi Xiang, whom he liked, to Ji Le Pavilion. He took the opportunity to report Aunt Song to Yu Wen Huai and had her exiled to a bitterly cold village in the far north. This gave Chu Qiao and the other servants some relief for a while.

When Chu Qiao was taking her two sisters to the woodshed, some blind people came to cause trouble. The leader was called Zhu Siliu. He knew that Chu Qiao and her sisters had offended Master Huai, so he came to cause trouble for them, hoping to show his face in front of Master Huai.

"Take this...what...named Jing Xiaoliu away to me..." Zhu Siliu broke into the woodshed and pointed at Chu Qiao and said.

Xiao Qi and Xiao Ba stood in front of Chu Qiao and said, "Why do you arrest people at random?"

Chu Qiao walked out and said, "Master Si Liu, you must have a reason for arresting someone."

Zhu Siliu said, "You want a reason? I'll give you one. One of Mr. Huai's goldfish died yesterday, and a servant saw that you killed it. I have to take you back to relax your muscles!"

Xiao Qi angrily said from behind: "You are talking nonsense. We can't even enter Mr. Huai's Hongshan Courtyard. How could my Sixth Sister kill Mr. Huai's goldfish?"

Xiao Ba said, "That's right. If you want to arrest someone, you must have evidence."

Zhu Siliu said, "Do I need evidence to arrest you? What I say is the evidence! Take you away!"

The two guards behind Zhu Siliu were about to step forward to arrest him, when suddenly a voice came from outside the door: "What a big tone!"

Zhu Siliu turned around and looked, and unexpectedly a tall and graceful young man walked in from outside the door. He was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, with a silver waist belt and tightly bound sleeves. As he walked in, he had a bold and heroic air that was different from all the other young men from wealthy families.

As soon as Zhu Siliu saw the person coming, he immediately knelt on the ground and said flatteringly: "I will teach you a lesson for disturbing Prince Yan Xun."

Chu Qiao saw that this person was the one who saved her life in the garden that day.

Yan Xun glanced at Chu Qiao and said, "I don't want to disturb you, but your courage has impressed me."

Zhu Siliu smiled and said, "I am very scared. Very scared."

Yan Xun looked at him and said, "Why don't you teach me... Some time ago, someone gave me a fine horse that can run a thousand miles without touching the ground, and it can outrun birds. It is the best horse among all horses. But today, I found that it was listless and listless when I woke up this morning. I asked the doctor and he said it was because of the hot weather. I think someone must be jealous of me having such a good horse and did something behind my back. What do you think?"

Zhu Siliu was stunned and quickly flattered him, saying, "Then... then what the prince said must be right."

Yan Xun smiled with satisfaction upon hearing this and said, "Someone must have done something behind the scenes!"

Seeing Yan Xun's satisfied smile, Zhu Siliu thought that his answer was good, and said flatteringly: "Your Highness, you will understand, you will understand..."

Yan Xun stood up and said, "That's easy... You two drag him out and beat him with a hundred sticks. If he's still breathing, bring him back to see me."

Zhu Siliu said in panic, "No... Young Master... Young Master, why are you punishing me?"

Yan Xun said, "My horse was killed by someone. I believe it was you who did it. You should be punished."

Zhu Siliu cried, "My Lord, I have never even been to your house, how could it be my fault? My Lord, you cannot accuse me without any evidence..."

Yan Xun laughed and said, "Do I need evidence to arrest you? My words are the evidence!"

Zhu Siliu finally understood. He turned around to look at Chu Qiao and the other two, then he crawled on the ground and said, “My Lord, my Lord, I beg you… I won’t dare to do it again… My Lord…” Then he saw Yan Xun didn’t say anything but looked at Chu Qiao, so he immediately crawled over and said to Chu Qiao and the other two, “Miss Jing, Miss Jing, I beg you, I beg you… Please help me put in a good word in front of Prince Yan Xun, I beg you…”

Chu Qiao glanced at Yan Xun, unable to understand why he did this. After thinking for a while, she lowered her head and said, "The prince said, you should get out now!"

Zhu Siliu glanced at Yan Xun, and Yan Xun said, "What? Don't you want to leave? Feng Mian..."

Zhu Siliu rolled over on the ground and headed out the door, saying, "I'll get out now, right now..."

Finally, only Yan Xun and Chu Qiao were left in the woodshed. Chu Qiao stood up and said, "Thank you, Prince, for saving us!"

Yan Xun was dumbfounded and asked in surprise: "Is this the end?"

Chu Qiao lowered her eyes and didn't even look at him, she just said, "It's over!"

Yan Xun thought for a moment and said, "Aren't you going to thank me, my prince?"

Chu Qiao said expressionlessly: "Thank you!"

Yan Xun was choked by Chu Qiao and then he said, "Then thank you. There's not even a cup of tea!"

Chu Qiao was also stunned for a moment, and said, "Sir, can you see if there is any tea in our room?"

Yan Xun turned around and looked at it and said, "I don't care. I'm thirsty anyway... You two go and pour tea for this prince."

Xiao Qi and Xiao Ba said: "Yes!"

Chu Qiao held them both and said, "Oh, don't go. If the steward finds out, you'll get scolded again." Then she said to Yan Xun, "My Lord, if you want to drink tea, please go to the upper room. There is good tea and water there. We are just humble servants and have no right to serve tea and water to you."

Yan Xun was almost laughing at Chu Qiao’s anger. He walked around the room twice and found that there was no stool. Finally, he sat down on the table in the middle of the room and said, “I don’t care. I… I’ll just wait here.”

Xiao Qi and Xiao Ba looked at each other, and Xiao Ba said smartly: "Prince, please wait a moment. I will go to make tea." After that, she pulled Xiao Qi out. Chu Qiao wanted to stop her but failed.

Seeing this, Yan Xun said, "Your sister is a bit sensible... Is this how you treat your lifesaver?"

Chu Qiao had no choice but to bow again and said, "Thank you, my Lord."

Yan Xun asked: "What's wrong with you? You look so sad, as if I owe you money..."

Chu Qiao's eyes moved slightly, and she said in a heavy tone: "My brother just passed away, my sister also died, and even I almost lost my life just now. If Prince Yan Xun wants to hear my jokes, please forgive me for not being in the mood today."

Yan Xun restrained his smile, took out a jade bottle from his bosom, placed it on the table and said: "This is a good medicine for removing scars and regenerating flesh. Keep it for use." After saying that, he walked out.

Chu Qiao looked at his back and wondered, "What on earth is he doing here?"

When Bai Ziyang came to find Chu Qiao in the evening, he happened to see the white jade bottle on the table. There was an orchid pattern carved on it, small and exquisite. Bai Ziyang opened the lid, smelled it, then looked at Chu Qiao and said, "Secret medicine made by the Yuwen family?... But it's not as good as mine. You just need to keep the medicine I gave you well. This... belongs to me." After saying that, he stuffed it into his pocket and flew away.

Chu Qiao was left alone in a daze, looking at the empty person in front of her and thinking: What are you doing here again?

After leaving, Bai Ziyang suddenly thought: I forgot to talk about the important matter. Forget it, there is nothing important to talk about. Let’s talk about it next time.

As soon as the mourning period for old master Yuwen Zhuo of Qingshan Court was over, news suddenly came out that Yuwen Yue wanted to select maids to sleep with him. Any maid in the Yuwen Mansion who was rank copper bell or above could participate in the selection.

Chu Qiao's mind moved when she heard the news. She had been in Yuwen Mansion for so long, and this was her only chance to enter Qingshan Courtyard and get close to Yuwen Yue. Unfortunately, she was an iron bell, so she was not in the scope of the election. Looking at the delicate grass outside the window that could resist the stubborn stone, she thought that even if I were an iron bell, I would still give it a try.

An iron bell maid is a joke in front of copper bells and silver bells. Chu Qiao doesn't even have the qualifications to run for the election. She has no other choice. Chu Qiao kneels in Yu Wen Yue's courtyard and says that she will not leave if she is not allowed to run for the election.

I don’t know what Yu Wen Yue was thinking, but Chu Qiao just knelt down with her.

Chu Qiao knelt from the scorching sun to the full moon, and her perseverance and stubbornness attracted Yu Wen Yue's attention. Yu Wen Yue's personal attendant Yue Qi saw this and said, "Why don't you leave? If you don't leave, I will carry you away..." Just as he was about to pull Chu Qiao away, he heard someone in the room say, "Stop!"

Yu Wen Yue came out of the house, stood in front of Chu Qiao and said, "What are you doing here?"

Chu Qiao immediately said, "I, Jing Xiaoliu, beg you to show mercy and allow me to participate in the selection and serve you."

Yu Wen Yue said coldly: "Raise your head!"

Chu Qiao slowly raised her head and looked directly at Yu Wen Yue.

Yu Wen Yue looked into Chu Qiao's eyes and said, "Give me a reason why I should be so kind to you?"

Chu Qiao clenched her hands tightly, looking a little nervous but firm as she said, "Only by staying with you, sir, can I save my life."

Yu Wenyue said: "That's your reason. If you want to stay in Qingshan Courtyard, there is only one way, to be my maid."

Chu Qiao said: "Yes!"

Yu Wenyue said: "Do you know what it means to sleep with the emperor?"

Chu Qiao lowered her head and said softly, "My lord, I don't know."

Yu Wen Yue said: "You can also enjoy the master's bed?"

Chu Qiao lowered her eyes and continued to answer: "Yes."

Yu Wenyue asked, "Do you know that I killed your brother Linxi?"

Chu Qiao said: "...I know."

Yuwen Yue said, "Since you know that I killed your brother with my own hands, and you still agreed to sleep with me, where is your dignity? Tell me?"

Chu Qiao took a breath and said, "I am not qualified to talk about dignity. I just ask you to give me a way to live."

Yu Wen Yue looked at Chu Qiao for a long time, then flicked his sleeves and said, "Yue Qi, pass on my order to allow Tie Lingdang Jing Xiaoliu to participate in this selection."

"promise."

Chu Qiao looked at Yu Wen Yue's departing back. She succeeded.

Chu Qiao knelt for a whole day. When she stood up, her legs seemed to be no longer her own. She limped back to the woodshed, walked to her bed, turned around and sat down, and suddenly asked, "When did you come?"

"When you said yes for the first time!" Bai Ziyang said while sitting on the beam.

Bai Ziyang jumped down from the beam, came to Chu Qiao and squatted, carefully lifted up Chu Qiao's trouser legs, and saw Chu Qiao trying to hide and glared at him. Chu Qiao didn't know what she thought of and stopped. Bai Ziyang took out the wound medicine and applied it on Chu Qiao's knees. While applying the medicine, he said without raising his head: "...Actually, there is no need to do this."

Chu Qiao watched Bai Ziyang apply the medicine to her skillfully and gracefully... gracefully?... and said, "This is the only way to get close to Yu Wen Yue."

After applying the medicine and tidying up Chu Qiao's clothes, Bai Ziyang looked at her and said, "There are other ways... I can send other people to sneak in, and I'm... not in a hurry..."

Chu Qiao lowered her eyes and said, "Then just think of it as me being anxious. This is the fastest and best way now... Besides, what difference does it make whether it's me or someone else?"

Bai Ziyang frowned and said, "How can you be the same as others?"

Chu Qiao looked up at Bai Ziyang and suddenly chuckled and said, "When are you going to take out the things in your pocket?"

Bai Ziyang lowered his head and shook his head, smiling: "I thought you would only see Fei Liu laugh?" Then he took out a box from his pocket and handed it to Chu Qiao.

Chu Qiao took it and opened it, seeing that it was a box of cosmetics. She looked at Bai Ziyang in confusion.

Bai Ziyang rolled his eyes and said unhappily, "Since you are going to participate in the selection of a maid tomorrow, you have to borrow some things to dress up. Even if you don't draw your eyebrows or put on lipstick, you have to put on some facial rouge to cover up your haggard face..."

Chu Qiao sniffed it carefully and said thoughtfully: "What's in here..."

Bai Ziyang said: "It's something that can make him lose interest in you..." After saying this, he looked smug and swayed from side to side.

Chu Qiao closed the lid, looked to the side and said, "You can go now!"

Bai Ziyang: “…………”