Hua Xianle

Chapter 58:

Meng Shi must have pinched herself a dozen times during that carriage ride, unable to believe everything was real. She was still incredibly ill, but she no longer felt like she had no choice but to die. Instead, her prospects had greatly improved, not just for her, but all of the women that had been freed along with her. They no longer had to suffer under the thumb of Anxin or the brothel owner, and Meng Shi would be able to see her son again.

When the carriage came to a stop, much sooner than any of them had expected, they found themselves at the gates of a massive manor that looked like it could rival an Imperial Palace. Then again, the owner of this manor was a prince, so it only made sense. The door to the carriage opened and they all descended one by one, entering the lavish gardens full of exotic flowers and shaded trees. All of the women marveled at their surroundings, more than a few whispering about where they would work and if they would be allowed to enjoy this beautiful scenery.

"Welcome, ladies," Pei Xiu greeted them all, bowing in greeting before giving them all a welcoming smile. "I am the head of this household's staff, and I have been informed of your situation by the Young Prince."

All of the women began carefully appraising him, as they did for every client that entered the brothel. They could tell that he was a cultivator, and clearly someone with military experience. His smile did seem genuine, and his eyes held no condescension or disdain. They all slowly relaxed, and Sisi gently spoke up.

"Is this where we are to work now?" she asked.

"If that is your wish, then we will be more than happy to find a place for you among our staff. If you have families you wish to return to, we can provide transport back to them. If you wish to find work beyond the manor, the Young Prince is willing to write letters of recommendation to aid you in your endeavors. He also has connections in most of the Major Sects, and can most likely get you whatever you need."

The whispers returned to their little group, stunned by the continued generosity. Another lady quietly stepped up, voicing her own question.

"If we stay here, what will we be doing?"

"There are a variety of open positions. If you have the skills or desire to learn, we will place you where you see fit. You will find that the Young Prince is quite patient with those just beginning to learn their craft, and will not belittle those who put in a genuine effort."

The whispers turned more excited, and a few began voicing where they wanted to go and what they could do. None of the women chose to leave Hua Manor. Meng Shi was just about to voice her own thoughts when a coughing fit hit her. She lost what little strength she had been clinging to, crumbling to the ground. Immediately, Sisi was trying to help her up as Pei Xiu quickly wrapped things up.

"Ah, Ladies, I'll have the other servants escort you to the rooms you will be staying in. I believe you are still tired from your travels. For now, Meng-furen, we should take you to our resident healer. She'll be able to help you with whatever is ailing you." 

Pei Xiu gestured for a few servants to come and escort the other ladies towards the east side of the manor where the servants reside while he helped Sisi escort a weak Meng Shi to Wei Qing.

…

Wanyin was absolutely miserable. His hands were dry, his knees were sore, and his back ached from being on the ground scrubbing floors day and night. He lost count of how many times he’d been berated for doing a “sloppy” job. He’d even been deprived of meals until he performed to the satisfaction of his captors, and when he was fed, it was cold, simple congee most of the time.

This wasn’t fair. He wasn’t meant to be scrubbing floors, not when he was meant for greatness! This was a job for-… for true servants! Those that were lower than him should have been doing this tedious work! Not him!