The building fell silent.
The girl carrying a wine jug on the veranda stopped in her tracks, several patrons downstairs looked up, and even the madam was speechless, her mouth agape.
Qin Hongxiu also pretended to be stunned.
She looked at Pu Yunshan's robes and his hands, calloused from holding a sword, and tears streamed down her face.
"You mean... you're actually the young master of Mount Qingcheng?"
Pu Yunshan sheathed his sword and softened his tone.
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Indeed, Miss Hongxiu."
"You... Hongxiu originally thought that the young master was just a kind person who would fix roofs and chop wood for others."
She wiped away her tears and forced a bitter smile.
"So even someone like Hongxiu deserves the young master's attention."
"Stop talking, Hongxiu, stop saying you have a cheap life."
Pu Yunshan stared at the red marks on her neck, his fingers tightening on the scabbard.
I don't mind.
Qin Hongxiu's sobs were suppressed in her throat, and she didn't speak for a long time.
"Young master is a good man, he doesn't mind my appearance, but Hongxiu can't drag him into this mess."
"Shut up, Hongxiu! You're not allowed to say that again. Here's a hundred taels of silver for your mother. Keep the rest."
Pu Yunshan handed over the silver note.
Qin Hongxiu stepped aside to avoid it.
"Young master, this is your money."
What's mine is yours.
" Hongxiu really shouldn't take the young master's money."
"Consider this a gift from me. If you don't accept it, I won't come again."
"Then... let Hongxiu keep it on behalf of the young master."
Qin Hongxiu spoke softly and did not refuse again.
"When you need money in the future, young master, Hongxiu will repay you."
Having said that, she held the silver note, turned around, and went into the inner room.
The madam stood at the door, her expression changing several times before finally spitting out a curse.
That's hilarious.
"So what if he's the young master? We only recognize money here. You've even set up rules for the Flower-Between Pavilion? Why are you so arrogant?"
"If you have money, then take it out and use it to buy her freedom. If you're here to work, then work hard."
Pu Yunshan choked.
Redemption?
You should have said so earlier! He's broke again!
But you can't always get the money back once it's been given away.
He had no choice but to pick up his toolbox and head to the backyard.
"My money is at home, I'll bring it another day. Let's get to work today. Whatever the task, I'll take care of it. Lead the way."
The woodpile in the backyard was taller than a person.
Pu Yunshan rolled up his sleeves, grabbed an axe, and chopped down.
The wood split in two.
The second axe fell, then the third. A cold wind blew in through the back door, and sweat beaded on his forehead, but the old purse in his arms remained pressed against his heart.
Although there was no money left in my pocket.
But the warmth of Qin Hongxiu's fingers still lingered.
After chopping a bundle of firewood, Pu Yunshan raised his hand to hold his purse and looked towards the half-open window on the second floor.
Hongxiu is truly a kind and loyal girl.
We can't let this building trap her.
By evening, the foot of Pu Yunshan was piled high with neatly stacked logs.
The servant from the Flower-Between Pavilion stood by, holding an empty bucket, watching for a long time before finally asking, " Young Master Pu, aren't you going to take a break?"
Pu Yunshan pulled the axe out of the wooden stake.
Where is the well?
"Back alley."
Give me the bucket.
The servant hurriedly handed over the wooden bucket.
He originally thought that after revealing his identity, the young master of Mount Qingcheng would put on airs, but to his surprise, Pu Yunshan picked up the carrying pole and walked into the back alley with quick and steady steps.
Pu Yunshan bent down to fetch water.
Cold water splashed onto the back of my hand, making my skin numb from the cold.
He carried the two buckets of water back upstairs, the carrying pole pressing down on his shoulders, his mind filled with only the madam's words, "You can't be picky about customers anymore."
Put it here.
The madam stood at the kitchen door and kicked the water vat.
"Don't spill it on the floor. If the floor gets wet and a guest slips and falls, can you afford to pay for it?"
Pu Yunshan poured the water into the vat without spilling a single drop.
Unable to find any fault, the madam could only twirl her handkerchief and walk inside.
"The windows in the backyard were also drafty, but they were fixed today."
A tile on the roof is loose; I'll get it fixed tomorrow morning.
"And the latch on the third-floor door has been stuck for half a month."
After listening, Pu Yunshan looked up at her.
The madam felt uneasy under their gaze, but forced herself to say, "What are you looking at? You said it was all-inclusive."
"OK."
Pu Yunshan leaned the carrying pole against the wall.
"All-inclusive."
The kitchen maid came out carrying a basin of vegetable leaves, and seeing him go to carry wood again, she couldn't help but lower her voice.
" Young Master Pu, don't actually believe what your mother says."
"She only does this because she thinks you're easy to boss around, so she piles all the work on you."
Pu Yunshan did not turn back.
"Who is this Squire Li has taken a liking to Hongxiu?"
Two vegetable leaves fell from the girl's hand.
"This..."
"Explain."
The girl glanced at the kitchen doorway and lowered her voice even further.
"That Squire Li, he's never been gentle when it comes to choosing girls."
" Hongxiu is such a foolish girl, how could she sign a death contract? Young master, you can save her today, but you can't save her tomorrow."
Pu Yunshan put the piece of wood in his hand on the ground.
"She signed a death contract, so there's no escaping it?"
The girl sighed.
"The death contract is sealed inside the building; whatever Mom says goes."
"Unless someone buys her freedom."
"Redemption? How much?"
The girl didn't dare answer immediately.
Pu Yunshan asked again.
How much do you want?
"The contract for the young lady in Hongxiu was originally worth six hundred taels, but now that it's been changed to a fixed contract, I'm afraid Madam will demand a much higher price."
The girl counted on her fingers, her voice growing softer and softer.
"At least... one thousand taels."
Pu Yunshan stood still.
One thousand taels.
Mount Qingcheng has no shortage of money, but he didn't bring any with him when he came down the mountain, and he couldn't ask his father for money.
What if my father finds out that I helped the courtesan redeem herself?
At that moment, the image of his father tying him up and swinging him around eight hundred times immediately appeared in his mind.
Pu Yunshan frowned.
what to do?
The aroma of stewed meat wafted from the kitchen.
Pu Yunshan smelled the aroma and his stomach growled.
The girl suppressed a laugh and handed him a cold pancake.
"Put something in first."
Pu Yunshan took the cake, broke it in half, and handed the other half back.
You eat too.
"I'm not hungry."
"I'm not hungry either."
The girl hesitated for a moment, but finally accepted the answer.
Watching Pu Yunshan carry the timber upstairs, I couldn't help but shake my head.
This young master may seem skilled in swordsmanship, but his heart is frighteningly honest.
The door to the music room on the third floor was ajar.
There was no music playing inside.
Pu Yunshan raised his hand and knocked on the door.
"The girl with Hongxiu."
The sound of clothes rustling came from inside the room.
"Come in."
Pu Yunshan pushed open the door and went in.
Qin Hongxiu had changed back into her red dress, though the hem was a bit worn and the gold thread on the cuffs was gone. She sat by the window combing her hair, with a cup of cold tea on the table.
"You still want to see Squire Li in the future?"
Qin Hongxiu stopped holding the wooden comb.
"Mom said to send other girls to test the waters tonight."
Pu Yunshan sensed something was wrong.
Will she still let you go in the future?
"The death contract is in her hands. She's not letting Hongxiu go today, only because of the young master."
Qin Hongxiu put down the wooden comb and reached out to pour him tea.
"Young master, don't worry about it. You've already done enough by standing up for Hongxiu today."
Pu Yunshan sat down but did not touch the tea.
I will redeem you.
Qin Hongxiu's hand paused at the edge of the teacup.
"Redeem me?"