Full House Spring

Chapter 72: Escape from Slavery

Xia Li's emotions gradually calmed down, and she was thinking along the way.

If she was a girl abducted from the Fang family, she could easily escape from slavery with the help of the Fang family.

If she is not, then find someone to pretend to be a relative. Anyway, she has enough money to redeem herself, and she can't waste her time in the mansion.

Compared to Xia Li's calm state of mind, Aunt Xie became nervous. She stopped at the corner, turned around and said to Xia Li:
"Don't say too much later. You have to know what you can and cannot say. Don't let the other party look down on you."

As she spoke, she straightened Xia Li's clothes and hair. Xia Li remained calm and said, "Grandma, why do you have to be so cautious? It's not my fault. If you look down on me, you can just not acknowledge me. If you acknowledge me, you have to face up to my past."

Aunt Xie rolled her eyes at her and said earnestly:
"Don't think like that. People's hearts are unpredictable. Some people will deliberately pick on you, while others will yearn for you to come back day and night. Putting on enough superficial effort is for your own good, and it is also to comfort those who truly love you. Do you understand?"

Xia Li's eyes wandered. Is there anyone in this world who truly loves her? I'm afraid she is not so lucky. It's not that Xia Li is pessimistic, but that life practice brings true knowledge.

She put on a faint smile and whispered softly:

"I understand. I'll listen to Grandma. No matter what happens, I won't lose face."

Nanny Xie patted the back of her hand with satisfaction, then led her forward with a firm look in her eyes.

When Fang Jingzhi heard the footsteps, he subconsciously turned around and recognized his younger sister at a glance. Her figure and everything about her were deeply imprinted in Fang Jingzhi's heart.

When Xia Li approached, Fang Jingzhi felt as if struck by lightning. He could not control his gaze, which stuck to her like a magnet.

Xia Li felt a little uncomfortable with this look and nodded politely with a smile. In an instant, Fang Jingzhi's eyes were full of tenderness and doting. His smile was like the warm spring sun, making people feel warm and comfortable.

Afraid of scaring his younger sister, he just stood there and stared at her, trembling and said, "You look so much like mother, as if you were carved from the same mold..."

He was telling the truth. Even the attendant and the nanny who came with Fang Jingzhi were very excited. Xia Li also felt an unprecedented sense of security from his deep and broad eyes.

Her long, dense eyebrows raised in a graceful arc, her red lips slightly pursed, and she said in a soft voice: "Master Fang, please come in and sit down. We can talk slowly."

Fang Jingzhi felt that his younger sister was as beautiful and charming as a blooming peach blossom. He nodded and agreed hurriedly, "Okay, I have a lot to say to you."

Madam Xie stepped forward to unlock the door, then turned around and said apologetically, "Xia Li and I haven't lived in this house for a long time, so some places are covered in dust. Lord Fang, please make do with it."

Fang Jingzhi knew that Aunt Xie was taking good care of Xia Li, so he said politely, "You are worrying too much, Aunt. I think this house is very artistic."

After entering the courtyard, Aunt Xie led everyone into the house. The house was cleaned just the day before, so it wasn't very dirty. After Xia Li sat down, he said in a gentle voice:
"I don't know how Lord Fang will recognize me. I don't have any tokens with me, and I don't know how to prove my identity."

Fang Jingzhi saw Xia Li frowning slightly and said distressedly:
"You look very similar to our mother. We can tell it's you just by looking at your appearance. But to be on the safe side, let Madam Zhou take a look at your birthmark. She has served you before and is very familiar with your birthmark."

Xia Li nodded slightly. She had no objection. Since a paternity test couldn't be done at the moment, she could only compare the appearance, age and birthmark.

Nanny Zhou was about 40 years old. She was very respectful to Xia Li. The two of them entered the inner room one after the other.

Fang Jingzhi was sitting and chatting with Madam Xie. Although he had found out some things, he still wanted to hear Madam Xie's own words. He said seriously:
"My younger sister was sold to a human trafficker. If it weren't for the kindness of Madam who helped her, I really don't dare to imagine what would have happened to her."

Madam Xie heaved a sigh of relief. Recalling what happened back then, she was also very emotional. "Lord Fang, you are too serious. Even if I hadn't bought Xia Li back then, she wouldn't have fallen into prostitution. She is very smart and has the character of a flower that can bloom even if she is stuck in the mud. She has been very filial to me over the years."

Fang Jingzhi knew what Xia Li had done, and he said with pride:

"She probably inherited her father's intelligence and wisdom. Although she can find ways to get herself out of trouble, she is still young and will inevitably suffer. If you can protect her and let her grow up safely, our Fang family should be grateful."

Aunt Xie waved her hands and said sincerely, "I just did what I should do. This is also the fate between Xia Li and me. You don't have to worry too much. Besides, if you recognize the wrong person..."

Fang Jingzhi said confidently: "I can't be mistaken. The stubbornness in her eyes is exactly the same as when she was a child. How could I not recognize her as my own sister?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard Madam Zhou excitedly say, "Second Master... She is our daughter. The crescent birthmark on the right side of her waist is slightly larger than when she was a child, and the sesame-sized black mole on the edge is also there. I remember it clearly, there is no mistake..."

Fang Jingzhi's eyes turned red when he heard this, and he choked up and said, "After searching for so many years, I finally found the person..."

The stone in Nanny Xie's heart finally fell to the ground. Seeing Xia Li coming out, she hurried to greet him. Xia Li also breathed a sigh of relief. She squeezed Nanny Xie's hand a little harder.

Fang Jing looked at her eagerly and said, "Sister, I'm your second brother, please call me and let me know."

Xia Li's cheeks flushed slightly. Fang Jingzhi looked to be in his early twenties, and she was a little uncomfortable with being suddenly asked to call him brother.

Fang Jingzhi was not in a hurry. He said with a gentle look:

"My elder brother and his wife are in Laizhou, our hometown, serving our parents. Besides me, there is also my cousin who married into the Shangshu Mansion in Kyoto. Let her come to see you someday. Your real name is Fang Youyi, which means you can learn the Analects after you have memorized it. I will explain it to you in detail after I take you home."

Xia Li didn't expect that he would have to change his name after changing his identity. His name was just a code name, which was not unacceptable.

She looked sincere and asked carefully, "Brother, father and mother...are they okay?"

Fang Jingzhi was very pleased to hear this, and he said in a gentle tone:

"They are all in good health. Apart from being concerned about you all the time, there are no other problems. My father is a great scholar of the time. He resigned from his official position and returned to his hometown to become the headmaster of Dongli Academy. My mother helps take care of the household affairs. Our family is simple, but we have quite a few relatives. You will know when you return home."

Xia Li still longed for family affection. She felt a little hopeful and said in a gentle voice, "Brother, I signed a contract to sell myself. I'm afraid I won't be able to leave for a while."

Fang Jingzhi's expression was slightly restrained, his eyes sparkled, and he said in a calm voice: "You don't have to worry about this matter. You are the daughter of an official, and the contract of sale is not signed with your real name. If the Duke's Mansion dares not to release you, I will deal with them."

Fang Jingzhi was the runner-up in the imperial examination at the age of 18, so he is no small figure. Moreover, the Fang family has a very high reputation among civil officials. The Lu family has nothing to gain from making enemies with them, and they will not be so stupid.

Xia Li felt more at ease after hearing his words. After thinking for a moment, she said, "I will talk to the old lady about this in person when I return home. After all, we are master and servant."

Fang Jingzhi naturally had no objection. In his opinion, his younger sister was extremely rare in that she was grateful and did not shy away from this life experience. If she had received an orthodox education since childhood, she would have been even more outstanding.

"You can decide on this matter yourself. Second brother has no objection. The day after tomorrow, I will pay you a formal visit with my cousin and take you back with me. What do you think?"

Xia Li glanced at Aunt Xie and said hesitantly:
"Second brother, I acknowledged my grandmother as my godmother and promised to take care of her until the end of her life. Can I take her away with me..."

Aunt Xie felt warm at heart after hearing this. Before Fang Jing could speak, she spoke first:

"I appreciate your kindness, but I can't go with you. You know how the old lady is doing now. If I leave, she won't even have anyone to talk to. How can I bear it?"

Xia Li looked disappointed and said, "Grandma, we agreed on this at the family recognition party, how could you go back on your word?"

Madam Xie was startled for a moment, then relieved. A gentle smile appeared on her lips, and she said in a calm voice:
"Things are different now. As long as we are doing well, it doesn't matter if we are together or not. You have a deep relationship with Qiao He, so you can bring her with you as a companion."

Aunt Xie was truly thinking about Xia Li. The situation of the Fang family was unclear, and if Xia Li went there alone, he would inevitably suffer grievances. It would be much better if he had the company of his little sisters.

Xia Li understood what grandma meant. A sad look appeared on her face. She looked at Fang Jingzhi and said, "Second brother, can I take Qiao He out of the house with me? I can pay for her redemption myself."

Fang Jing said with a doting look in his eyes: "Just take the people away, I will take care of the rest, don't worry."

This was a very simple matter, at least for Fang Jingzhi. The Lu family didn't care about one or two insignificant maids, and they would probably be willing to do a favor.

Nanny Xie and Xia Li left the house without asking for leave. They couldn't stay outside for long, and it was time for them to go back. Although Fang Jingzhi was reluctant to let her leave, he also knew that this matter could not be rushed.

Nanny Zhou actually asked to stay and serve the girl. She had a good reason. She was the girl's wet nurse and should stay by her side. Xia Li knew that she really wanted to be by her side, but this was against the rules.

How could she act like a girl in someone else's house when she hadn't done anything yet? Xia Li declined politely:

"This is inappropriate. How can a maid have a nanny to serve her? It won't be too late for you to follow me when I get home."

Fang Jingzhi was a little disappointed when he heard this. He had finally found his younger sister and watched her closely, fearing that she would be wronged. Therefore, he hoped that Nanny Zhou would stay and serve him. He discussed with her:
"Otherwise, let Madam Zhou stay in this mansion. She's closer. If you have any questions, you can send her a message immediately."

Nanny Xie didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and said, "Master Fang, there's no need to worry so much. No one in the mansion dares to bully Xia Li, and I'm still here to take care of him. Nothing will happen in the next one or two days."

Fang Jingzhi bowed to Madam Xie and said solemnly:
"Thank you for your concern, Madam. My little sister is the apple of my parents' eyes. They have never been happy for the past few years since she went missing. They really cannot tolerate any more mishaps on her part. I hope you can understand."

Madam Xie was old and had done favors for the Fang family, so she could accept the gift. She said calmly, "Master Fang, please rest assured. I will hand Miss Youyi over to you intact the day after tomorrow."

Xia Li felt very complicated after hearing this. She felt like she had stolen someone else's happiness. She felt guilty, touched, and there were other feelings that she herself didn't understand.

Before leaving, Fang Jingzhi gave her a few silver bills and a bag of gold beans, and told her not to be frugal and not to be stingy with things that could be solved with money. Xia Li refused again and again but did not refuse, so she simply accepted it.

It was already late when the two returned home. Nanny Xie went to serve the old lady first, and Xia Li changed her clothes before going. She first found the embroidered ornaments for the old lady from the closet, wrapped them carefully with cotton cloth, and then went out.

When she stepped into the main room, everyone looked at her at the same time, including Shi Mi and Qian Cao. The old lady's expression was the most complicated. Aunt Xie blinked at her, probably because she was the first to talk about her recognition of her relatives.

Without waiting for her to salute, the old lady sat on the bed and waved at her, saying lovingly:

"I know you have an extraordinary background, but I didn't expect you to be a pearl covered in dust. Your grandma told me about Lord Fang's recognition of your relationship. If she knew you were the daughter of the Fang family, I would never let you suffer for so many years."

Xia Li raised a faint smile at the corner of her mouth. She held her composure and said in a steady voice, "I have served the old lady for all these years. How can I feel wronged? You are the most loving and kind person. Staying by your side is a blessing in disguise. I cherish this blessing very much."

The old lady felt relieved after hearing these words. Her smile became more sincere. She asked Qiancao to bring a chair for Xia Li and took her hand and said:
"You grew up under my nose, and your speech and behavior are no worse than those of a lady from a wealthy family. I used to feel sorry for you, but now you are fine."

Xia Li's cheeks turned slightly red, and he said:

"Without the protection of the old lady and grandma, I wouldn't be where I am today... Originally, I wanted to give you this embroidery as a gift on your birthday, but I was afraid that I would have to go home before that day, so I sent it to you first."

The old lady took the thing from Xia Li with astonishment and slowly opened the cotton cloth. When she saw the portrait gradually emerging, she was so surprised that she couldn't close her mouth, "This... is this my portrait?"

Shi Mi also came over to take a look. She exclaimed: "This embroidery looks like a real person. Even the hair is so realistic. There are also marks on the old lady's hands. It's incredible."

Although it was not the first time that Aunt Xie saw this embroidered ornament, she sighed from the bottom of her heart every time she saw it. She said in a low voice:

"It took me five years to embroider this piece. This girl is a stickler for details. She won't be satisfied until it is perfect."

The old lady's hands slid gently over the portrait, looking like she couldn't let it go. She couldn't help but praise, "How did your little hands become so dexterous? Did you draw it first and then embroider it?"

Xia Li smiled and nodded, explaining softly: "I worked on the draft for a long time, but I always felt that I couldn't capture the old lady's spirit, so I revised it over and over again until I was satisfied."

The old lady looked at her with particularly loving eyes, and she said with emotion:
"No wonder you are so outstanding. Your father was a brilliant man, and your mother was also known as a talented woman in Kyoto. It's true that your whole family is full of talented people.

Your slavery will be removed tomorrow, and it will not hinder your future. If you have the chance in the future, it will be enough for you to come and see me."

　I changed my second brother's name.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)