After dark, Bilian returned to the wing room where Zhao Xiu lived in the inner courtyard.

Zhao Xiu just washed her hair, sat in front of the window with her long hair and practiced calligraphy, and was a little surprised when she saw her coming back: "Didn't you take a day off?" It's not too late for Ming'er to come back after lunch at home. ”

Bilian said a little unhappily: "Don't mention it, girl." My father said that my eldest brother has no place to live, Hengxian and I have my own room in the inner courtyard, and the house at home is just a few boxes of things. ”

This sounds reasonable, but Bilian can't be happy in her heart. It was her room, different from the room in the inner courtyard, because it was in her own home, so some things that she didn't want people to know could be placed there without hesitation. Young girl, who doesn't have a little secret? For example, watching the older sisters apply grease and powder, I was envious, and I followed a young master who didn't like fat powder, and I didn't have a chance to dress up on weekdays, so I quietly used my monthly money to buy a box or two boxes of fragrant powder rouge or golden hairpin jade flowers to collect, and when I went home, I was free, and secretly dressed up in the mirror, which was pure and smelly. Even if someone enters the room, there is only the mother, and the mother is the one who has come over, she will not say anything, and she is not afraid of leaking secrets. It's not like here in the inner courtyard, because her master Zhao Xiu lives with the old lady Zhang, and the mother-in-law in charge is stricter, and she has always paid attention to the girls' things.

Although the elder brother is a sibling, he has been separated for five years. No matter how deep the relationship is, it is limited, let him sleep in his own room and cover his own quilt. Dig out what you've hidden...... It's a very uncomfortable feeling no matter how you think about it. Helplessly, Bilian couldn't resist her father, and her mother didn't come out to eat, she seemed to be still angry with her brother, and it was impossible to help her speak, so she could only endure it. As a result, the day of vacation was not half over, and I had just eaten, and I didn't even have the time to say a few words to my mother or clean up my room. was driven back by his father.

Zhao Xiu looked at Bi Lian's expression and asked her, "Why was your eldest brother brought back, and what was he punished for?" Did you listen to him? ”

Bi Lian's expression was a little uncomfortable: "The eldest brother didn't say it, but the younger brother went home and said that the eldest brother was bad because he stole the things of the master's house." I really don't know how many years he spent in the capital. Why are the eyelids so shallow? If you don't trust him. The old lady will not ask him to go to see the house, the annual salary and subsidies are a lot, and the rewards for the New Year's holidays are also first-class, so the big house is under his control, where is he missing that bit of silver? Now that the errand is lost, the reputation is ruined, and the family has no face......" She bit her lip and felt a little angry in her heart. I hope the girls in the inner courtyard don't inquire about this. Otherwise, talk about it in casual conversation. Her brother is a thief, what face does she have?

Zhao Xiu raised his eyebrows, it seems that the Lu family didn't tell the biggest mistake made by Lu Dashou to the youngest son and daughter, why is this? Could it be that Lu Dashou is the only one who wants to get rid of his status as an official slave, maybe Lu Changxiu still has this thought, but his youngest son and daughter have not been affected?

Zhao Xiu felt that this was a good opportunity, although Bilian had all kinds of shortcomings, but she had been by her side for so many years, she had already had feelings, if she sent people away suddenly, she was still a little reluctant, but if people were unreliable, then she could only give up if she was reluctant, and while there was still hope for salvation, she had to try to pull people to her side.

So Zhao Xiu instructed Bilian: "Go outside and take a look, but there are still people, if there is, send people out, I have something to tell you." ”

Bi Lian was depressed, but she still did it, and when she returned to Zhao Xiu, Zhao Xiu had already finished writing a whole sentence, put the pen and paper aside, and turned around to tell him about Lu Dashou's confession.

Bilian was shocked: "What?!" This...... ......She couldn't even speak, after waiting in the second room for so long, how could she not know how big her brother's crime was? Her legs were weak, she fell to her knees, and cried, "Girl, I don't know how the eldest brother can ...... My father and mother, and my younger brother, are absolutely loyal to the old lady, the young master, and the girl, and we have never thought of betraying the Lord! I've heard my father say that it would be nice if we didn't want to be an official slave, but we just think about it......"

Zhao Xiu bent down to pull her up: "Don't cry, if I don't believe you, I'll just kick you out, what are you doing by your side?" ”

Bi Lian thought about it and felt a little relieved, but she still kept crying: "Big brother, how can he be so confused?!" ”

Zhao Xiu said: "As a slave, I am unwilling to accept my fate and want to be a good citizen, this idea cannot be said to be wrong." To be honest, your family has always been very loyal before this incident came out, and if there was a way to get you off the status of official slaves, I believe that my grandmother would have let you out a long time ago. It is precisely because the law does not allow it that she will keep you, so that in our house, your life can be better. ”

Bilian kept nodding: "Isn't it?" Although I envy my sisters who marry outside to be grandmothers and live a good life, I also know in my heart that I don't have that blessing. I'm waiting for the girl now, although I'm a girl, but I can eat and wear, which is worse than the daughters of ordinary people outside? The girl treated me well, and let me read and write, learn the rules, learn to settle accounts, and I grew up so big, except for going south from Beijing that year, when did I suffer hardship? Other officials and slaves are not as comfortable as us. My mother often taught us to cherish our blessings, and I would never be confused and do things that made my master angry and hurt myself. ”

Zhao Xiu is very satisfied, as long as Bilian has this awareness, she is not afraid that she will be influenced by her father and brother and do something against the master. Lu Xiaoman on my brother's side should also be trustworthy, otherwise as soon as my brother came home, he would have kicked people out a long time ago, and there was no shortage of this little guy around him. The two small ones of the Lu family, plus Lu's mother are all on the side of the small second room, even if the small long house attracts a Lu Dashou? As for Lu Changxiu, she has to observe it again.

After thinking about it, Zhao Xiu said to Bi Lian: "Don't worry, although it is your brother, he has never returned to the old mansion." The people here don't know his temperament, but they know that your parents and brothers are good, as long as you don't mess around. If you don't do anything wrong, no matter what your eldest brother is, it won't affect you. ”

Bi Lian nodded firmly: "I will never mess around with him, if he does such a thing again, I ...... I don't recognize him as a brother! ”

Zhao Xiu smiled and decided to give her a little sweetness: "Bilian, do you know? Your father also mentioned that he couldn't forget that his ancestors were once eunuchs. Your eldest brother is delusional because he has listened to him a lot. He was actually a bit stupid to expect Xiao Changfang to help. If Xiao Changfang had a way to get them out of the country openly, grandmother would have done it a long time ago, and could she wait until this time? Xiao Changfang now has a six-rank military attache at most, and my grandmother is still the duchess of the county. What they can do. Can't we do that? So they are only coaxing you. ”

When Bi Lian heard this, she resented Xiao Changfang: "My brother is delusional, so he made a mistake, and he didn't have the heart to harm his master." But they deliberately harmed others, and they were afraid of being involved, so they deliberately coaxed others to work for them. God has eyes, it should really be a thunderbolt to slash them! ”

Zhao Xiu smiled and continued: "Although Xiao Changfang is coaxing you. But your family may not have any hope of leaving the country. It's just that it may not be for everyone. ”

Bilian was taken aback, and immediately rejoiced: "Girl, you didn't coax me, did you?" ”

Zhao Xiu glanced at her: "What am I coaxing you to do?" If I don't coax you, you're also my girl, and if I coax you, aren't you also my girl? ”

Bi Lian came up with a smile and said, "Good girl, I said it wrong, you can dissipate your anger and tell me." In the past few years, there have been several big girls in Zhang's courtyard who have been released to marry when they are old, many of them are hired externally, although they are only married to farmers, or small businessmen, but Zhang's is generous, and he is not stingy with the people around him, and everyone is accompanied by a rich dowry when they get married. Those big girls live happily and richly after marriage, and they come back from time to time to say goodbye, talking about their situation in their in-laws' house, they can't say how proud and happy they are, which makes them envious. However, she knows her own family affairs, as an official slave, don't count on that kind of life, as long as she can find a good marriage partner among the Zhao family, she will be satisfied. The girl actually said today that she also had hope of leaving the country, how could she not be overjoyed?

Zhao Xiu told her carefully: "The decree of our imperial court does not allow officials and slaves to leave their nationality, just because the officials and slaves of this dynasty, you also know the origin, when Emperor Taizu was there, he hated that kind of person the most, and it was also your ancestors who did something wrong, so future generations will be affected." ”

This Bilian knows, and when Zhao Xiu told her about the history of this dynasty earlier, she had talked about it.

"But Emperor Taizu has not cut off the back road of officials and slaves." Zhao Xiu continued, "He said, fathers and ancestors are fathers and grandfathers, and children and grandchildren are children and grandchildren, if fathers and ancestors do wrong things and become official slaves, future generations have the heart of patriotism and serving the people, and they cannot be buried, so if they can make contributions to the people of the country, they can be left as good citizens, and those who have great merit will have additional rewards." My grandfather was the founding marquis of the country back then, and he got ten rooms of officials and slaves as a reward, your house is one room, where did the other rooms go, do you know? ”

Bilian vaguely heard someone mention: "The aunt's wife went to a room to get married, and the rest must still be in the Hou Mansion, and the Hou Mansion was not in the official position that year, and they were also taken back." ”

Zhao Xiu shook his head: "There are only five rooms that have been taken back, and there are three rooms, and they have already been out of their nationality." The men of their family followed their grandfather to the border to fight, and a few died, but they all made military achievements, so not only did they all become good citizens, but two of them became military attachés, but their grades were not high. ”

Bilian was surprised: "I've never heard my father and mother say it, is this true?!" ”

Zhao Xiu nodded: "Naturally, it's true, my grandmother also mentioned to me that my grandfather went out on the expedition at that time, and he also asked your grandfather and your father if they wanted to go to war together, but they refused, afraid of dying on the battlefield, and felt that it was better to wait in the study, so they missed the opportunity." ”

Bilian's mood is a little complicated, her father and ancestors are all scholars, and there are some who dare not go to the battlefield, no wonder they are. She looked at Zhao Xiu again: "The girl mentioned them, did she mean that our family can also go to the border to try?" But my father and brother don't know martial arts? ”

Zhao Xiu smiled: "I didn't mean that, I just wanted to sue you, in fact, there is still a way to get out of the country openly, just our family, there have been successful examples." And with the eldest aunt, there is actually a precedent that is half the success. ”

Bilian urged her: "Girl, say it quickly!" ”

"My aunt married an official slave in the same room, and she had a daughter, and later married a steward of the Xu family and gave birth to a son and a daughter. I heard that the steward was seriously injured in order to save his master, so the Xu family rewarded his family with grace and let his children out. Zhao Xiu smiled slightly, "My aunt is a good person to the end, and promised them that when they are old in the future, they will also be let out together and reunited with their children." So, don't look at the daughter of the official slave is also an official slave, and now she is still working as an errand in the Xu family, but in the future, when she is older, she will become a good citizen, isn't this half the success? ”

Bi Lian's eyes lit up: "The girl means ......"

"I mean......" Zhao Xiu lowered his voice, "Although the good and the poor don't get married, for example, if your sister-in-law wants to marry your eldest brother, she has to sell herself into our family as a slave before she can marry your eldest brother, and it is impossible for you to marry a commoner outside, but if you marry a male servant who is not an official slave, there is no problem." The wife follows the husband, and after you get married, you will no longer be an official slave, but an ordinary servant. As long as your husband is made a people, you will naturally become a people. Although there are some loopholes in the law, they are not illegal, and the master has nodded his head, who will pick your thorn? The only downside is that it can only be used on you......"

The excited expression on Bi Lian's face suddenly froze, she was stunned for a moment, and her expression darkened: "If I am the only one who lives a good life, and my father and brother are still here, what does it mean?" ”

Zhao Xiu smiled, and his heart was much more settled: "They won't suffer here, what do you have to worry about?" It's the same as your sisters who married off and became the grandmothers of a wealthy family, but their parents are still working in our family. Since you want to get out, I can help you, you decide. ”

Bilian thought about it and felt that it made sense, so she smiled again and said to Zhao Xiu: "Girl, you are reasonable, wait for me to go back and discuss it with my family, okay?" ”

Zhao Xiu waved his hand: "Whatever you want, anyway, you are not old enough to get married, so don't worry." ”

Bilian breathed a sigh of relief, her cheeks flushed. Zhao Xiu's words opened a new window for her, and she suddenly found that the original law did not allow officials and slaves to leave the country, in fact, there were many loopholes to exploit, and it was a way for a girl to marry an ordinary slave and then redeem herself with her husband, but it was not impossible to think about a man. She can't think of it in her brain, so let's go back and talk to her parents, the family can't get out of the country, but if they come one by one, maybe there is a way to think of it?

Thinking of this, she looked at Zhao Xiu's gaze with great gratitude: "Girl, thank you for your heart for me, I ...... I don't know how to repay you......"

Zhao Xiu smiled: "What to repay?" Is our love for so many years fake? As long as you remember the benefits of our family, do things well, live a good life when you go out, and don't be like your eldest brother, entangled with the enemies of our family, that's enough. I don't want you to repay it. ”

Bi Lian bowed her head in shame, and suddenly remembered something: "Girl, my eldest brother...... Out of nowhere, I got a small bag of things, put them close to me, and hid them on the roof beam of my room. She took out a small paper bag from her sleeve pocket: "That's it, I'm afraid that my eldest brother will find out, so I poured some and wrapped it up." I wanted to show it to my mother, but before I saw my mother, I was driven back by my father. The girl took a look and saw if she recognized what it was. (To be continued......)