After hearing Zhu Jianshen say that he would not give any more money, the little girl immediately did not dare to move anymore and stood timidly not far away, holding the money tightly in her hand, sniffed and said.
"Young ones, listen to the young master."
"Don't worry, young master. After I get the money to bury my mother, I will go to the young master's house and work for him. I will not let him lose money!"
Seeing the little girl in front of him clenching her fists and swearing solemnly, Zhu Jianshen was a little bit dumbfounded. After thinking about it, he said like a little adult.
"Take the money, bury your mother, and then go and join your relatives like the emperor's uncle said."
"I told you, this money is given to you, not bought from you. Don't sell yourself in the future!"
After saying these words, Zhu Jianshen felt very happy for some unknown reason. He clapped his little hands, turned around and planned to leave.
However, as soon as he took two steps, he found that his sleeve was grabbed.
I turned around and saw that it was still the little girl. She was no longer crying, but she still looked a little pitiful with her little face like a tabby cat.
She was seen clutching Zhu Jianshen's sleeves tightly, biting her lower lip and saying.
"No, mother said you can't take other people's money for nothing. Young Master, if you give me money, I will work for you!"
Ah this...
Zhu Jianshen blinked, not knowing how to speak.
No matter how young he was, he knew that he couldn't take anyone with him in the palace. However, seeing the little girl not letting go, he had no choice but to say:
"I, I already have a lot of people taking care of me in my family. I don't need you to work. You, you go find your own relatives. Don't sell yourself!"
"No, I have to work!"
However, what Zhu Jianshen didn't expect was that the little girl in front of him was very stubborn. One hand was firmly holding the copper coin, and the other hand was tightly holding Zhu Jianshen's sleeve, as if she would not let go of both hands.
He said firmly.
"Don't worry, young master, I eat very little and will not waste your family's food. And although I am young, I can do little work now, but I will grow up. When I grow up, I can do a lot of work, and I can still do it."
I’ll be your bed-warming girl!”
"Anyway, it will definitely be useful if you take me back!"
I don’t know where the little girl heard the words of the bed-warming girl. At this moment, she said it without hesitation. The farm girl has this kind of tenacity. She will not care about anything she has determined.
Dare to say it.
But pitiful Zhu Jianshen, a dignified prince, who received palace education since childhood, and everyone who saw him was respectful and respectful. How had he ever seen such a scene.
The bed-warming girl made the little Prince's face turn red, and he stood there pitifully. He didn't know what to say, so he had to look at Zhu Qiyu again as if asking for help.
"Uncle Imperial..."
Seeing this situation, Zhu Qiyu looked a little strange. He glanced at Wan Zhen'er next to him, smiled and said to the little girl.
"This amount of money is nothing to Brother Shen. Since he said it would be given to you, just keep it."
"Take this money, bury your mother, and then go to live with your relatives. At least you can still have someone to take care of you. But if you insist on going back with Brother Shen, you will have to live under someone else's roof and become a slave. Are you really willing?"
At this moment, the little girl didn't hesitate much, she nodded sharply and said.
"If you tell me back to the master, I am willing!"
So, Zhu Qiyu looked at Zhu Jianshen who was at a loss and continued.
"Well, since you live with your mother, you don't have any close relatives at home. If Brother Shen is willing, it doesn't hurt to take him back."
"What's your last name?"
After receiving Zhu Qiyu's permission, the little girl loosened Zhu Jianshen's sleeves and said timidly.
"The younger one's surname is Liu."
"Um……"
Zhu Qiyu nodded and said.
"Well, from now on, you will be the maid in my house. Brother Shen took his jade pendant and exchanged it with me for a lot of money to buy you back. From now on, you will be called Yu'er.
"
Logically speaking, apart from being punished and confiscated to the lowly status of Jiaofangsi, the Ming Dynasty did not have slaves. At most, they only had limited-term servants.
However, the terms are the terms and the reality is the reality.
Many aristocratic families and even ordinary officials have many servants who sign a lifelong contract to sell themselves, and there are even so-called family-born children who are slaves from birth.
The so-called slaves are the property of the master's family. Everything is subject to the master's orders. Naturally, they have to make a clean break with the past. Therefore, it is common for them to change their names.
This little girl had been poor since she was a child and had seen this kind of thing before, so she didn't find it strange. She just felt that this was a sign that Zhu Qiyu, as the head of the family, accepted her, so he kowtowed and said.
"Little Liu Yu'er, thank you for the name."
However, what she didn't know was that the place she was about to go was not at all the wealthy gentleman's home she knew.
For ordinary people, when they buy slaves, they naturally have to change their names. However, most of the people who serve in the palace use their real names. Even if they are different from the names they had before entering the palace, they are usually chosen by themselves.
It is a great grace to be given a name.
He didn't see the group of servants following him, and his eyes almost fell out of envy.
Looking at Zhu Jianshen, who was obviously happy, a smile appeared on Zhu Qiyu's face, but he continued unhurriedly.
"Brother Shen, your place is usually strict and there are many rules. Yu'er is young, so I'm afraid she needs to learn the rules well, otherwise she might be kicked out at some point."
"It just so happens that your sister Hui has few playmates. How about letting her accompany your sister Hui?"
As soon as these words came out, the two children in front of them became a little listless.
However, Liu Yuer knew her identity after all. Although she was disappointed, she did not dare to speak. She just looked at Zhu Jianshen with some reluctance.
Of course she understood that if what happened today had not been for the kindness of the young master in front of her, she would never have been able to sell herself.
Being lonely and helpless at such a young age, and her mother, whom she depended on, suddenly left, the little girl was naturally frightened. Although she looked strong on the surface, how strong could a child of this age be?
From beginning to end, she tried every means to 'sell' herself. In addition to wanting to bury her mother, in fact, subconsciously, she was probably not even aware that she was treating the young master in front of her as her own.
rely on.
Now I heard that I couldn't stay with Zhu Jianshen, so I was naturally very disappointed.
As for Zhu Jianshen, he did not have such complicated emotions, and he just did it casually to help the little girl in front of him.
However, after all, he is only a four or five-year-old child. Although he has a distinguished status and has been cared for by countless people since he was born. Wan Zhen'er, Liang Fang and others also take good care of him, but he is lonely after all.
Very.
Especially when the Queen Mother Sun decided to enlighten him, her daily schedule was very tight, her studies were very stressful, and she almost had no time to go out and play.
Whenever he saw Sister Hui and Brother Ji playing in the garden, he felt envious in his heart and wished that he could be accompanied by someone of the same age.
Unfortunately, this wish is destined to be impossible to realize...
Zhu Jian took a deep look at the little girl next to him, and a hint of mature helplessness flashed across his childish face. From a very early age, there were countless people around him, telling him all the etiquette that he should abide by as a prince, and he should understand it.
All the truth.
Therefore, he knew very well that it was impossible for such a four or five-year-old little palace person to appear in a place like the East Palace.
If nothing else, if his grandmother knew about it, she would definitely scold him for having fun and losing his mind.
Unlike him, Sister Hui was the most favored in the harem. Although she loved to play and make trouble, she was a very nice person.
Therefore, this little girl will definitely have a better life if she goes to Sister Hui's side than to him.
Nodding seriously, Zhu Jian said deeply.
"Listen to the emperor's uncle..."
However, even though he said this, the loneliness in his eyes could be seen at a glance.
Seeing this situation, Zhu Qiyu nodded and said.
"Shu Liang, find a few people to bury the child's mother properly, then have someone make some clothes for her, wash her up, take them back to Liu Huan, and ask her to arrange a funeral next to where Sister Hui lives.
residence."
"yes!"
Because it involves matters outside the palace, it is naturally appropriate for Shu Liang, the admiral of the East Factory, to take charge of the matter. However, I am afraid that neither this little girl nor her deceased mother would have thought of what happened to her family.
How could such a big shot handle the funeral?
So, Shu Liang quickly found two people, wrapped the woman on the ground with a mat that he also didn't know where to find, and carried her down. Then Shu Liang personally stepped forward, took the little girl's hand, and took her away.
Went down to make arrangements.
Zhu Jianshen stood beside Zhu Qiyu, reluctantly watching the unkempt little girl leave. There was a hint of maturity and loneliness that was inappropriate for his age on her fair and fat little face.
But it only took a moment for Zhu Jianshen to feel a big warm hand on his head, and then Zhu Qiyu's voice fell.
"In a few days, the emperor's uncle plans to set up a small school next to the Qianqing Palace to teach your sister Hui and brother Jianji how to read. He will also let your younger brothers and sisters from Nangong come with them. When the time comes, when you come here to say hello every day, You can meet them on the way, and if sir agrees, you can also have breakfast together."
"Really?"
Zhu Jianshen's eyes immediately lit up, and he looked up at Zhu Qiyu, his eyes full of expectation.
Zhu Qiyu smiled, his voice still gentle.
"You have no joke!"
Zhu Jianshen was so happy that he almost jumped up from the ground. He didn't even care about daily etiquette and shouted loudly.
"Thank you, Uncle Emperor!"
With this look, Yu Qian and Shen Yi, who were watching from the side, were helpless and sad. In short, their expressions were extremely complicated.
Several people got on the carriage again and continued to move forward.
However, what Yu Qian and others did not expect was that the carriage did not continue to patrol the city, but went all the way out of the capital through Fucheng Gate.
At this time, Yu Qian suddenly felt a little uneasy and couldn't help but say.
"Your Majesty and Your Highness should be aware of the people's sentiments and stay in the city. Now that the earth has just turned around, there may be rogues and thieves outside the city waiting for opportunities to cause trouble. If they are encountered and harm Your Majesty and Your Highness, I will die without redemption."
After all, there are still government troops and Shuntian government officials everywhere in the capital. If something unexpected happens, someone will come at any time.
However, once you leave the city, the level of danger increases greatly.
Although this is only a possibility, if the possibility occurs, it will be a heavy blow to today's Ming Dynasty.
Seeing this situation, Shen Yi on the side gave Yu Qian a dissatisfied look. Now you are willing to speak. Why didn't you help me just now?
snort!
Shen Shangshu complained silently, but he still echoed Yu Qian, saying.
"Your Majesty, what Yu Shaobao said is true. The situation outside is chaotic now. If Your Majesty really wants to go out of the city to inspect, you must at least wait for a while for the city to stabilize. Otherwise, it will be difficult for me to accompany Your Majesty out of the city. I beg Your Majesty to think again. "
Seeing the two people talking earnestly, Zhu Qiyu still had the intention to joke and said.
"Well, someone has joined us to give advice, and Mr. Shen has gained a lot of confidence in his speech..."
His Majesty!
Talking about business!
Chen Yi's face turned red and he was choked and speechless.
How come this doesn’t look like an emperor at all?!
Even Yu Qian on the side couldn't help but feel speechless. It seemed that ever since he left the palace, the emperor had been somewhat different from his usual serious and gentle demeanor, and his interactions with him were a bit more easy-going and natural.
But the problem is that the emperor is very easy-going, but how dare these ministers not observe etiquette?
Therefore, facing such words, Yu Qian could only smile bitterly.
Zhu Qiyu, on the other hand, looked at Shen Yi's embarrassed look, and a smile appeared on his face. This old boy came to his palace to beat the autumn wind. From time to time, he even reminded him 'tactfully', but he couldn't embarrass him properly. Awkward.
However, joking aside, Zhu Qiyu also understood that Yu Qian and the two were serious, and leaving the city at this time was indeed risky.
However, what they don't know is that Zhu Qiyu, who has made mistakes in this matter, knows far better than them that a gentleman should not stand behind a dangerous wall.
After suppressing his smile, Zhu Qiyu looked at Zhu Jianshen aside and spoke seriously.
"Prince, you came out of the palace with me today. Your words and deeds are very decent. It seems that the gentlemen in the East Palace have taught you well."
"So today, I want to teach you another truth, that is, there are many things, etiquette, and rules in this world. You may not like them and feel that they restrict you, but you still have to follow them."
"Because these rules are often gained by the blood and tears of our predecessors. Under any circumstances, do not gamble on the hope of eventuality, but make complete preparations."
"So, before you understand the functions of many etiquette regulations, you must abide by them even if you don't like them. You must not be willful and careless. Remember?"
Zhu Jianshen was a little confused and obviously could not understand the profound meaning. However, he carefully wrote down every word Zhu Qiyu just said.
"remember……"
"Um!"
Zhu Qiyu nodded with satisfaction and turned to look at Yu Qian and the other two. Seeing their thoughtful expressions, he knew that they understood.
Until you figure it out, you have to abide by it, but what if... you figure it out?
The carriage stopped outside the city gate, a neighing sound was heard, and the curtain of the carriage was immediately rolled up.
"My Majesty, Lu Zhong, Commander of the Jinyi Guards, is here to see your Majesty. Long live our Emperor!"
A familiar voice sounded, and Yu Qian and others followed the sound, only to see Lu Zhong, dressed in a flying fish robe, kneeling on the ground outside the city gate.
As he prostrated, behind him, a group of at least 2,000 members of the Jinyiwei Military Academy, carrying embroidered spring knives on their waists, bowed in unison and shouted in unison.
