Chapter 276 New Mission

Chapter 276 New Mission

Chapter 276 New Mission
When I walked into the room, Xiaoqing had already put on her dress. She wiped away her tears and said, "Sir, I'm fine!"

Xiao Xia nodded and said in a deep voice: "It's not safe here, take your things and follow me!"

Xiaoqing quickly picked up a small bag of her own and walked out of the teahouse with Xiaoxia, just in time to meet Yang Zhao, "Third brother, I've been looking for you everywhere, hey! What are you doing with Xiaoqing?"

Xiao Xia said in a deep voice: "Yang Ling wanted to rape Xiao Qing in broad daylight, but I saved her. Madam asked Xiao Qing to serve me, and I am going to send her to my house."

Yang Zhao gnashed his teeth and said, "You are a dog that can't change its nature, but you can't leave for now!"

"Brother, that bastard won't let this go. It's not safe here!"

Yang Zhao scratched his head. "How about this, let Xiaoqing go to my house first, and then take her away when you leave later?"

This is a good idea. Xiao Xia turned around and looked at Xiao Qing. Xiao Qing nodded, "Everything is up to you, young master!"

Xiao Xia and Yang Zhao sent Xiao Qing to the carriage and went to Yang Zhao's mansion a few hundred steps away. They watched Xiao Qing get off the carriage and enter Yang Zhao's mansion from afar, and then the two brothers returned home.

Yang Zhao said: "Yang Gongren wants to see you for something!"

Xiao Xia was startled. Could it be another mission? She had just made an appointment with the Cui sisters.

"Where are the others?"

"In the secondary living room!"

Xiao Xia hurried to the secondary guest hall, only to see Yang Gongren sitting there drinking tea.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting!"

Yang Gongren took out a thick envelope and handed it to Xiao Xia, saying with a smile, "I have something else for you!"

"what's up?"

Yang Gongren whispered, "There is news that the remnants of the Northern Qi Dynasty may rebel in Wei County. I want you to investigate. The specific task is in the envelope!"

"When to set off?"

"There's no rush. You can decide for yourself. You can go in a few days."

Xiao Xia breathed a sigh of relief, fearing that he would be forced to leave overnight.

"I just got back. I'll take care of my military duties and leave soon."

Yang Gongren nodded, "You decide for yourself!"

As soon as it got dark, Yang Zhao's carriage took Xiao Xia back to the mansion, and Xiao Qing came back with him.

Otherwise, how can we say that Yang Zhao is kind? He took Xiaoqing's indenture back from her mother and gave it to Xiao Xia.

Xiao Xia said to Ah Chu, "This is Xiao Qing. Take her to the kitchen to have dinner first, and then find a room for her to stay in the inner house. Bedding and daily necessities must be prepared."

Ah Chu agreed and quickly took Xiao Qing with him.

Xiao Xia returned to the study and sat down, taking out the envelope Yang Gongren had given him, which contained several memorials, two from the governor of Wei County and one from the governor of Wuyang County. They all said that the remnants of the Northern Qi were secretly recruiting and training the army, and that there was a possibility of rebellion in the next one or two years, so they hoped to attract the court's attention.

Xiao Xia found the assignment letter. Fortunately, it did not ask him to wipe out the National Protection Association's army, but to secretly investigate the other party's current recruitment situation.

Xiao Xia pondered for a moment. He had just sent Li Luming to Wei County, and wondered what news Li Luming could bring him.

"Young Master!" Achu's voice came from the door.

"I brought you some wine and mutton buns!"

Xiao Xia didn't have enough to eat in the afternoon and was hungry. He smiled and said, "Bring it in!"

Achu brought in a pot of wine and a plate of mutton buns. There were no buns in the Sui Dynasty. Xiao Xia taught Chen how to make them. She was very talented and the mutton buns she made tasted delicious. Xiao Xia especially liked them.

Xiao Xia was really hungry, so he ate all ten buns in one gulp and drank a pot of wine, and finally felt full.

A Chu put all the tableware into the lunch box.

Xiao Xia asked with a smile: "Has Xiaoqing's room been arranged?"

Ah Chu smiled and nodded, "I'll arrange for Sister Xiaoqing to stay in the young master's east wing, okay?"

"East Wing?" The East Wing is next to Xiao Xia's bedroom, and is also the maid's room. The furniture and bedding there are all ready, so you can move in and live there.

Xiao Xia hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded, "Okay!"

"I have agreed with Sister Xiaoqing that she will take care of the young master at night, and I will take care of him during the day."

Xiao Xia smiled and said, "Actually, you can move in too!"

Ah Chu shook his head, "My mother doesn't agree!"

Xiao Xia understood her mother's worries. She knew her daughter would not sleep well at night without her by her side, especially since she was only twelve years old.

"Go ahead! Let Xiaoqing get some hot water later."

"Then I'll leave first!"

A Chu left with the lunch box.

After a while, Xiaoqing came in with a cup of hot tea.

Xiao Xia asked her to put the tea on the table, took out her indenture and handed it to her, saying, "This is your indenture. I have cancelled it. Give it to your parents! From now on, you are a civilian."

Xiao Qing was a little flustered and didn't dare to accept the indenture. "Master, I... I don't understand."

Xiao Xia stuffed the contract into her hand and said with a smile: "This is my principle. I don't keep slaves, and Ah Chu is not a slave either. In the future, you will be a paid maid just like Ah Chu, with five strings of cash a month, food and lodging, and four sets of clothes a year."

Xiaoqing was a little confused. She had been a slave of an aristocratic family since she was a child, and now she had become a commoner. She didn't know what to do.

Xiao Xia asked with a smile: "How much is your monthly salary?"

"Five hundred wen a month!"

This is the difference between a domestic slave and a maid hired from outside. A domestic slave has no wages, only a little pocket money, while a hired maid would cost fifty wen a day, and a maid hired from outside would cost one hundred wen a day. A personal maid for a wealthy family like Xiaoqing, if hired, would cost at least five strings of coins a month.

Household slaves and maids had a low status. If they were beautiful, they might have the opportunity to become the master's concubine. If they were average-looking, they would be paired with servants when they were around 20 years old, and the children born would still be servants or maids, and this would be the case for generations.

Xiao Xia pondered for a moment and said, "Give your indenture to your parents when you have time, and have them go to the county government to cancel your slave status. From now on, you will make tea for me in the inner house. I don't have much to do here, but the rules are quite strict. Don't bring outsiders in. Even if your parents come to visit you, they are not allowed to enter the inner house. Remember?"

Xiaoqing nodded, "Xiaoqing remembers it!"

Xiao Xia smiled and said, "That's it! Go and rest early."

"Xiaoqing, take your leave!"

Xiao Xia called her again, "Wait a minute!"

He took out two ingots of ten taels of silver from the drawer and handed them to her, saying, "Fifteen taels is an advance of three months' wages for you, and the other five taels is for buying some clothes. Let Ah Chu take you there."

Xiaoqing's eyes turned red. No one had ever given her so much money in her life, but what she felt in her heart was not the money, but the kindness of her master.

She knelt down again and said, "Young Master, I will repay you for your kindness!"

"Don't kneel down so often in the future. It's more beautiful to perform the Wanfu ceremony."

"Xiaoqing remembers it!"

Xiao Qing stood up and bowed gracefully. Xiao Xia smiled and said, "This looks good. I like it!"

Xiao Qing smiled sweetly, "I'll bring you some hot water!"

She was slim and light, and walked away like a green butterfly.

Xiao Xia looked at the soft curves behind her, and a small flame suddenly ignited in his heart.

He had never had such thoughts about Achu. She was still young, only twelve years old. But Xiaoqing was different. Xiaoqing was sixteen years old and had grown into a girl.

He suddenly thought of the snow-capped peaks and cherry red that were just revealing the youthful light. In this sultry summer night, Xiao Xia began to feel a little irritated and uneasy.

At this time, another burst of brisk footsteps was heard, and Xiaoqing came with hot water to help him wash his feet.

(End of this chapter)