Jiang Hai's face turned ashen when Huang Yunxi said "I'll stay for a few days."

He truly hadn't expected that a woman singing for money could be so fierce.

They frequently threaten suicide.

Even if she and her Yuexiu class manage to leave safely and go to Xia Country, does that mean they will never come back?

If they were to return, they would have to pass through Zhenjiang Pass again. Who could save them then?

That's so stupid!

After Huang Yunxi finished speaking, an eerie silence fell over the room.

Huang Yunxi's gaze was firm. After looking around, her eyes fell on Qi Yunxiao.

Clearly, he was the most important person at the scene.

She knelt down in front of Qi Yunxiao with a thud: "My esteemed sir, please lend a hand and help me."

Qi Yunxiao looked at Shen Qingyu: It's your decision.

Shen Qingyu glared at Qi Yunxiao, both amused and exasperated: "You don't ask me to decide when you're meddling in other people's business."

However, Shen Qingyu took a step forward: "You just begged us for help, what kind of reward are you offering?"

Huang Yunxi: "!!!"

Yes, the Yuexiu Opera Troupe wasn't a particularly famous or large troupe. They could only afford to eat their fill, so what kind of compensation could they possibly offer?

Huang Yunxi thought for a moment, feeling miserable, but still unwilling to give up: "If a noble person is willing to help us, we are willing to become slaves."

Shen Qingyu was shocked: "What difference is there between you serving as a slave in our household and accompanying the military officer for a few days?"

"Besides, what do we gain by offending them to save you from becoming slaves?"

This question left Huang Yunxi completely bewildered.

Yes, why would they offend the deputy commander guarding the border for the sake of a completely unknown opera troupe?

I have no money.

We need people... The deputy commander only needs a few days!

This will become a slave again...

That's something that could happen over several lifetimes!

Huang Yunxi's face turned pale, but he still looked at Shen Qingyu stubbornly: "Although we are low-class people who cannot be brought to the table, we have traveled all over the country for many years and believe that we have a pair of eyes."

“I can see that you two have pure eyes and are not bad people.”

"What if you're wrong?" Shen Qingyu persisted.

"If I've really made a mistake, by then I'll have done my best, and it won't be too late to end it all."

Huang Yunxi was quite straightforward and spoke his mind directly.

Shen Qingyu glanced at Qi Yunxiao: If we can save him, let's save him, even if it's just for that one sentence about his upright gaze.

Qi Yunxiao: Received.

After the couple finished their argument, Qi Yunxiao stepped forward and said, "Since His Majesty has decreed that theatrical troupes are absolutely forbidden from entering the military camp, I can't pretend I didn't see them since I've run into them..."

Jiang Hai was furious: "Does the young master really refuse to give me, Jiang Hai, any face?"

The soldiers behind them suddenly drew their swords with a clang.

The Dragon Guards, not to be outdone, also drew their swords.

Qi Yunxiao suddenly laughed strangely: "You're a collateral descendant of the Jiang family, the Vice Minister of War, aren't you?"

Jiang Hai was taken aback when Jiang Hai revealed his origins so readily, and immediately became cautious: "You know me?"

Qi Yunxiao curled his lip in disdain: "Guess why I know?"

This is the hardest question to answer, especially when the other person is completely unprepared.

After quickly weighing the options, Jiang Hai finally gritted his teeth and said, "These people have unknown origins and whereabouts. Since the young master insists on taking them away, then let him take them away."

"If they want to leave the country, that's fine too."

Upon hearing this, Huang Yunxi immediately retorted, "Our exit documents are all complete. What do you mean by 'unknown origin and destination'..."

Shen Qingyu waved her hand, interrupting Huang Yunxi: "Just tell me, do you still want to leave seclusion?"

Huang Yunxi hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at the old troupe leader.

Master Huang immediately shook his head: "We're not leaving the seclusion! We beg a kind person to take us in! Just give us a bite to eat."

In those days, many prominent families in the capital kept their own opera troupes. When the troupe leader, Huang, heard Jiang Hai call Qi Yunxiao "Young Master," he naturally assumed that they were also a prominent family.

There's nothing wrong with keeping a theatrical troupe, right?

Shen Qingyu's eyes turned slightly cold: "You are unwilling to leave your seclusion, yet you are willing to become slaves and maids in our household?"

"Yes!" Master Huang readily agreed.

“Alright, then come with me.” Shen Qingyu didn’t hesitate and agreed immediately, then left first.

Qi Yunxiao gave Gao Er a wink, and Gao Er immediately went to the backyard to fetch the person.

Fortunately, apart from the old troupe leader who got beaten up, the other eight people didn't get beaten up. So everyone took back their various weapons and left with Shen Qingyu and Qi Yunxiao.

Jiang Hai watched Qi Yunxiao lead his men away with a cold gaze, and couldn't help but spit out a curse, feeling a chill run down his spine.

How did Qi Yunxiao, a young master with no real position, manage to win over a member of the Dragon Guard, and how did he know so much about his own situation?

No, we must send a letter to the capital and ask them to find out what's going on.

Don't turn around and get killed without even knowing how you died.

After everyone left Zhenjiang Pass and boarded the boat to head home, Shen Qingyu summoned the old troupe leader and Huang Yunxi.

Since we've saved someone, some things should be made clear.

After they finished tidying up, the two looked at their clean and tidy clothes and their expressions were no longer so distressed.

"Now that we're on the ship, we're basically safe. I only have one question for you: 'Are you really going back with us to be our slaves?'"

"It's not too late to back out now."

Shen Qingyu deeply understands the principle that "a forced relationship is never sweet".

Huang Yunxi and the old troupe leader Huang exchanged a glance and nodded, their eyes now filled with determination.

It was Old Master Huang who spoke up to explain: "Over the years, we've wandered from place to place, often suffering bullying, and in the end, we've only been trying to make ends meet."

"If all you're looking for is a meal, what difference does it make how you eat?"

As Master Huang spoke, he began to shed tears and recounted the situation.

This Yuexiu troupe has a total of ten people, including couples and sisters, all of whom are related by blood.

During the previous famine, everyone was struggling, and their lives were difficult, so they thought of trying their luck in the Xia Kingdom.

However, they were made difficult by the general guarding the pass.

Huang Yunxi is the niece of the old troupe leader Huang. Seeing that he couldn't even protect his own niece, the old troupe leader Huang finally lost heart.

"We are sincere. As long as a kind person is willing to take us in, we will be happy as long as we are given food."

Shen Qingyu then looked at Huang Yunxi.

Huang Yunxi gritted his teeth and nodded: "I'll listen to the troupe leader."

"Alright, then you can sign the indentures." Shen Qingyu called over the second-year high school students to prepare the indentures for them.

The group was brought over and signed indentures. Only then did Shen Qingyu reveal her plans.

There's no other reason than that when Shen Qingyu decided to take them in, she also decided to use them as her living advertisement.

"From now on, you will teach children who are willing to learn storytelling and opera in our academy."

Master Huang: "Huh?"

Huang Yunxi: "What?"

The Yuexiu Opera Troupe members: "Teaching opera? At the academy?"