Chapter 49: Emancipation and Rebirth She was freed from slavery and became a free...
In the yard, the buds on the plum trees have turned slightly white, and the air is filled with a faint scent of ink.
"Is it... snowing?"
Looking up, I saw more and more feather-light snowflakes drifting down from the gray sky. Those that landed on the bluestone pavement melted instantly, leaving dark marks. Those that fell on the plum tree in the courtyard cast a thin veil over the buds about to bloom.
This was the first snow of winter. Scattered snowflakes fell into her eyes. She blinked, took a deep breath of the cool snow air, pinched her fingertips that were numb from nervousness, and walked towards the study.
Inside the study, a warm charcoal fire was burning brightly, emitting a faint woody fragrance. Qi Yu was sitting at the table, conversing quietly with Butler Yang. When he saw Liu Yeshu push the door open, his eyes lit up slightly, and a smile appeared in his eyes.
"You're here." Qi Yu put down the letter in his hand, stood up and motioned her to sit down.
Liu Yeshu bowed deeply, her voice trembling slightly, "General, you're back. Thank you for your hard work along the way."
Qi Yu looked at Liu Yeshu. Unlike her usual coarse linen clothes or men's clothing, she was wearing a light blue long skirt today, which reflected her watery eyes and made her skin look like cream. She seemed to have the clear and subtle fragrance of plum blossoms on her body.
Qi Yu looked at her, his lips curled up slightly. Fortunately, he had prepared some new clothes for her when he came to Beijing this time. Qi Yu thought to himself, she still likes to wear clothes.
Qi Yu broke the silence, picked up a brocade box from the table and handed it to Liu Yeshu.
"This time when I came to Beijing, the matter of deregistration has been completed." Qi Yu picked up an exquisite brocade box from the table and handed it to Liu Yeshu.
Liu Yeshu was stunned for a moment, then reached out her hands in disbelief to take the brocade box, feeling as if she were dreaming. Inside the box lay a declassified document bearing the imperial seal. The traditional Chinese characters on the paper were neat and solemn. She devoured the words quickly, her eyes gradually moistening.
The heavy burden of slavery that had weighed on her heart had finally dissipated like smoke. She was no longer a slave, but a free citizen.
She was choking with sobs and unable to speak. Holding the document with trembling hands, she knelt down and bowed respectfully: "General Qi... Liu Yeshu is deeply grateful. I will never forget your great kindness."
Steward Yang also stepped forward to offer his congratulations, "Miss Liu, this is truly a cause for celebration. Being released from military service is a significant event. The general must have put in a lot of effort in this journey to the capital."
Liu Yeshu immediately knelt down and said solemnly: "General, your kindness to me is as great as a mountain. Liu Yeshu is willing to work like a slave to repay your kindness." After that, he was about to perform a great salute.
Liu Yeshu had also been in the military camp and knew that the court was treacherous. Zheng Yi, who was sent by the Imperial Hospital in Beijing, was obviously here to gain merit in order to gain a higher position. It must have taken a lot of trouble to get rid of his status.
Upon hearing this, Qi Yu smiled slightly, with a hint of joking in his tone: "Then don't rush to be a slave. I have some things here that are suitable for you to wear." After that, he patted the neatly folded clothes on the table.
Liu Yeshu was slightly startled, then she noticed the clothes on the table. Some of the clothes looked simple, but they were made of high-quality materials, with a smooth texture and simple yet exquisite colors.
"These are the clothes I brought back for you from the capital. It's getting cold, so you'll stay warm wearing these." Qi Yu said lightly, his eyes unconsciously lingering on her face.
Housekeeper Yang stepped forward and unfolded the garments one by one. The top layer was a soft, aquamarine long jacket, likely made of fine Suzhou embroidery silk. The cuffs and collar were embroidered with delicate plum blossom designs, creating a lifelike effect. Another was a rose-purple double-breasted skirt, the fabric as light as mist, with distinct layers. The hem was embellished with a few peonies embroidered with gold thread, creating a luxurious yet elegant look. Finally, a pale yellow cape, woven from soft cashmere, looked cozy and warm, its edges trimmed with fine fox fur, surely providing excellent warmth on cold winter days.
Liu Yeshu looked at the clothes and said softly, "Thank you for your trouble, General. I don't deserve it..."
"Take it," Qi Yu interrupted her, his tone gentle but unyielding. "These are just some ordinary clothes in Beijing, nothing special. Besides, the New Year is coming soon, you should change into new clothes."
Liu Yeshu knew Qi Yu's character. Once he said something, he would not change it. So he stopped refusing and bowed to Qi Yu: "Thank you, General."
Qi Yu waved his hand, his eyes lingering on Liu Yeshu for a moment, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, and then he said calmly: "Okay, now that the denaturalization matter is over, you don't have to worry about it anymore. From today on, your life will be much easier."
Snowflakes drifted down outside the window, blanketing the general's residence in a pure white veil. Liu Yeshu, clutching her new clothes and documents, slowly walked toward her residence, feeling a sense of peace and stability she had never felt before.
On a winter afternoon, sunlight slanted through the window lattice, casting a warm glow across the Liu family's humble home. As Liu Yeshu entered, she was greeted by the familiar aroma of charcoal and the faint scent of cotton wool from her parents. Father and Mother Liu sat at the table. Mother Liu's brow furrowed slightly as she carefully threaded a needle in the dim light. Father Liu, having just returned from chopping wood, was pouring him a glass of water. Younger Brother Liu huddled in a corner, a block of wood in hand, intently carving something, sawdust scattering across the floor.
"Dad, Mom, Ling'er, I have something important to tell you." Liu Yeshu suppressed the excitement in his heart and spoke calmly.
Father and Mother Liu looked up at the same time. Seeing that she looked unusual, Mother Liu quickly asked, "Shu'er, what's the hurry?"
Liu Yeshu carefully pulled out the documents for her release from slavery and handed them over with trembling hands. Her eyes flushed slightly, and her voice was filled with uncontrollable excitement: "Mother, the general has helped me to cancel my slavery. From now on, I am a good citizen!"
The room instantly fell silent. Father and Mother Liu stood there, stunned, as if struck by lightning. Mother Liu took the document with trembling hands, her eyes quickly scanning the contents, fearing she might be dreaming. "Shu'er, this... is this true?" Her voice trembled with disbelief.
Liu Yeshu nodded vigorously, tears welling up in her eyes. "It's true. The deregistration documents are here. In a few days, the government will also officially register them."
Father Liu was silent for a moment, his eyes slightly moist. He nodded heavily, his voice choked with sobs: "Okay, okay! That's great!" His rough palm tightly grasped Liu Yeshu's hand, almost pinching it to hurt Liu Yeshu.
Liu's mother could no longer control her emotions, tears welling up in her eyes. Wiping her eyes, she sighed, "Finally, there's hope!" She hugged Liu Yeshu tightly, as if to dissolve all the bitterness and grievances of the past few years in this embrace.
Younger brother Liu Yeling had been listening quietly. Seeing his mother cry, he too was moved. However, he quickly patted his chest and said proudly, "Sister, now that you've been denaturalized, I'll take care of the rest of our family! With Ling'er here, these things will be a piece of cake!"
After hearing this, Father Liu couldn't help but smile and shook his head, pretending to be serious and said: "Boy, you say it easily, but it's not that simple." Although he said so, he couldn't hide the pride and relief on his face.
He then turned to Liu Yeshu, his eyes filled with worry. "Shu'er, how did you escape from this slavery? What conditions did you agree to with the general?"
Liu's father had recently heard rumors that the county magistrate had removed his daughter from the county register to allow her to take in a new concubine, and he had always felt a little worried, fearing that his daughter had made unnecessary sacrifices in order to do so. Upon hearing this, Liu's mother also looked a little worried.
Liu Yeshu smiled lightly and briefly recounted the whole story.
"Dad, Mom, don't worry. General Qi is not that kind of person. I just used my own ability to renounce my citizenship. I didn't agree to anything I shouldn't have agreed to."
After hearing their daughter's explanation, Liu's father and mother finally felt relieved. They looked at each other and a relieved smile appeared on their faces.
Liu Yeling suddenly grabbed her sister's hand mysteriously and said, "Sister, come with me. We have something good to show you in the next room."
Curious, Liu Yeshu followed her brother into the adjacent utility room, where she saw a few pieces of wood and iron in the corner, along with a crude blueprint. Liu Yeling excitedly pointed to the wooden mechanical model on the table and said to Liu Yeshu, "Sister, look, I made a model of agricultural machinery. It's just a prototype, but it already works."
Liu Yeshu took a closer look. It was a mechanical model made up of gears, shafts, and a few simple levers. Although crude, Liu Yeshu found it looked quite realistic. Liu Yeling proudly pressed a small mechanism, and the gears of the model slowly turned, moving the wooden blocks nearby, simulating the action of plowing the land.
Liu Yeshu's eyes widened in surprise: "It was made so quickly?"
Liu Yeling said proudly, her eyebrows dancing with joy: "Although it's just a prototype, I've basically figured out the principle. Once I make it into a real machine, plowing the land won't require so much manpower!"
Liu Yeshu looked at his brother's smug expression and gently stroked Liu Yeling's head: "Ling'er is truly a genius! If this machine could be made into a real thing, it would be very useful in farming in the future."
Liu Yeling nodded confidently, her eyes gleaming with self-confidence: "Sister, don't worry! Once I perfect this machine, it will definitely be of great use. By then, our family will all be able to live a good life, and maybe we'll even have a chance to escape from citizenship!"
Liu Yeshu looked at her brother's determined expression, feeling both relieved and slightly uneasy. She reached out and touched the mechanical model, gently turning the gears a few times, feeling the power of this small device. While it was a remarkable invention, Liu Yeshu knew that if a mechanical tool like this could be widely used, it would not only help her family but could also cause a greater stir.
"Ling'er, remember to keep this model safe and don't show it to outsiders easily." Liu Yeshu reminded, frowning slightly, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.
Liu Yeling didn't care, she smiled and patted her chest: "Sister, don't worry, I won't tell anyone except you!"
Just then, there was a sudden rapid knock on the door.
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