Sui Mo moved quickly, returning to the princess's residence in just over two quarters of an hour.

The atmosphere in the main hall was lively; everyone had drunk wine and was all smiles.

"Come, come, sit down quickly."

The kitchen prepared a lot, and what was served was not leftovers.

A warm feeling seemed to flow through Suimo's heart, and he obediently sat down.

After a few rounds of drinks, everyone was enjoying their meal, and even Ping An was stuffed.

When they were at Prince Rui's manor, they were ultimately living under someone else's roof, and he had to be mindful of others' feelings, so they never ate to their heart's content.

But tonight was different. Qin Zhaoyue specifically ordered that he be provided with plenty of meat.

"Come on, Ping An, have a drink too."

A gentle breeze from nearby handed over a bowl of wine. Ping An accepted it with both hands, and upon smelling it, he knew it was wine.

He did all sorts of jobs from childhood to adulthood, including working at a tavern.

Moreover, Lu Tieshan, who adopted him, would occasionally buy a few ounces of turbid wine, saying it was to relieve fatigue, but he would never let him drink it.

Xi Yu glared at him. "He's still a child. Why are you giving him alcohol?"

He reached out to snatch the wine bowl, but Qingfeng stopped him, saying, "You're sixteen already, what kind of child are you..."

He drank quite a bit tonight, and his speech was already slurred.

Ping An thought that he was no longer a child, and that he could drink what adults could drink, so he drank it all in one gulp.

The liquor went down his throat, its spiciness causing him to wince.

Why does Uncle Lu always look so happy and enjoyable when he drinks this awful stuff?

His big head was full of questions, questions that Ping An couldn't understand.

Having already drunk it, the drizzle withdrew its hand, no longer entangled with the breeze.

With a hazy, drunken look in his eyes and a wide grin, he asked, "How is it? Is it good?"

Ping An immediately shook his head, and thud! The next moment, he collapsed to the ground.

Huff... huff... huff...

He started snoring and actually fell asleep on the floor.

Most of the people in the hall were sharp-eyed and sharp-eared, and naturally they all noticed Qingfeng's prank on Ping An.

It was just a bowl of wine, and no one stood up to spoil the fun.

No one expected that such a big guy would collapse after just one bowl of soup and fall into a deep sleep.

Qingfeng was stunned, even the effects of the alcohol had sobered him up a bit, and he just... collapsed?

The trouble he caused ultimately fell on his own head, and he even dragged his good brother down with him.

He apologized, and together with Xiyu, they helped each other leave safely.

There was no other way; the doll was so heavy that even three to five people couldn't move it, so only the two of them could do it.

Ping An lived with Lu Tieshan in the front yard, in two connected rooms.

Seeing that he looked like he had fainted, the elderly couple rushed out to greet him, their faces full of anxiety.

"What's wrong with Ping An?!"

Qingfeng hesitated to speak, so Xiyu offered an explanation.

Lu Tieshan hadn't expected the kid to pass out after just one drink, but he was just fast asleep, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

After much effort, they helped the person into the house and laid them down. Qingfeng and Xiyu immediately took their leave, too ashamed to stay any longer.

The couple helped Ping An take off his shoes and then wrung out a coarse cloth to clean him up. Ping An snored loudly the whole time.

Lu Tieshan rubbed his back; it had taken him quite a bit of effort to move this thing.

The old wife sat by the bedside, staring blankly at Ping An under the dim oil lamp.

"What are you doing? Let's go back and rest."

"Tieshan, now we all have jobs, and Ping'an can eat her fill. Tell me, could we..."

Lu Tieshan's eyes trembled; he naturally knew his wife's long-cherished wish.

The fact that she has not had children in recent years has become a nightmare for her.

Otherwise, given the family's already difficult circumstances, how could they have tightened their belts to support such a child?

Although Ping An is somewhat simple-minded, he still has the heart of a child. If you treat him well, he will remember it. How can you not feel more affection for him?

Lu Tieshan, a rough and unrefined man, didn't know how to comfort people, so he gently patted his wife's shoulder.

"Alright, I'll find an opportunity to ask Qingfeng and the others, and sound out His Highness's opinion."

Meanwhile, in the main hall, after a minor incident, Qin Zhaoyue was in high spirits.

Just as I was about to invite the actors to the stage for some entertainment, Suimo handed me a stack of papers.

Upon examining them, Qin Zhaoyue discovered they were all documents.

On the fourth day of the eighth month of the fourteenth year of the Taiwei era, Hu Qin, a native of Fengjing.

Reason for signing the contract: Huqin voluntarily left the palace to serve under Princess Qin Zhaoyue.

Price: Ten cash, paid on the same day, with no outstanding balance.

Officials have laws and regulations, but people rely on private contracts. Fearing that these contracts may become unreliable later, this contract is hereby established.

Then come the contracting party, the pledgee, the guarantor, and the witness.

The seals are complete, bearing the official seal of Fengjing County, and also the knuckle marks of the index fingers of the two hands that played the erhu.

This is a contract of indenture. Qin Zhaoyue never expected that, despite being born into the Qingluan Guard, she would still be a slave after leaving the palace.

"Is this His Majesty's intention?"

"yes."

Qin Zhaoyue remembered that when she came of age, the Emperor had bestowed upon Qingfeng and Xiyu the same status of slaves, and now their contracts were in her hands.

She looked down at the hall and found that no one seemed to be indignant.

Although they were called the Azure Phoenix Guard, they were ultimately the emperor's slaves.

Now that I've changed my status and am going to the princess's residence, my status has been significantly lowered.

Qin Zhaoyue didn't have any particular thoughts.

Those who can be retained will naturally do their best; those who cannot be retained, what good is this indenture?

"Your Highness, from now on, all thirteen of us will be your servants, and you may assign us any tasks you wish."

Of course, there's a monthly fee too.

Hmm? Qin Zhaoyue immediately perked up her ears.

"How much monthly allowance did you receive in the palace before?"

"I am a centurion, and my monthly salary is fifty taels. The other ink clerks are all twenty taels."

Qin Zhaoyue nodded. For a top-tier individual in the fifth and sixth rank, this price is not high at all.

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