Chapter 19: Redeeming Freedom

“You”

Zhu Ping suddenly stood up, staring at Li Rui in disbelief.

He never imagined Li Rui would choose to redeem his freedom.

If this got out, it would be a massive blow to the Zhu family’s reputation; rumors would spread wildly that the Zhu family cheated their servants, and how could they possibly manage afterward? Who would ever willingly sell themselves into the Zhu household?

Once a family grows large, its reputation is paramount.

Zhu Ping decided to eliminate this source of chaos.

Even though his son Zhu Yue had once said Li Rui had some ability, it meant nothing compared to the Zhu family’s stability—he would not allow anything detrimental to the Zhu family to happen.

“Old Li, has the Zhu family ever neglected you?”

“Never.”

Li Rui shook his head: “If not for the late patriarch taking me in, I would have died in the famine years ago.”

Hearing this, Zhu Ping’s expression softened slightly.

Since it wasn’t the Zhu family’s fault, things were much simpler.

“Old Li, if your stipend isn’t enough, I can raise it by thirty percent.”

In Zhu Ping’s view, no problem was unsolvable with money—especially for household servants. It had always worked, never failed.

He didn’t worry this would provoke protests from other servants.

Anyone who lives to seventy gets a raise!

Li Rui shook his head again: “Long ago, I fled with my parents to Qinghe County. They died on the road, and I had no time to bury them. After entering the household, I still had no time to observe mourning. Now, I wish to spend three years in mourning with my broken body—it’s the least I can do to fulfill filial duty.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ping and Magistrate Ma were both moved.

Yu State was founded on martial strength.

Yet warriors, armed and defiant, were hard to control—they broke laws and feared nothing.

Warriors could choose not to marry or have children.

But they could not possibly have no parents.

Thus, under the influence of a great Confucian scholar, the idea of ruling the realm through filial piety took deep root in Yu State, second only to loyalty to the sovereign.

Magistrate Ma, as the official in charge of rites and law, immediately seized on the key word.

Filial piety.

A promotion opportunity—again, a promotion opportunity!

He had already imagined how to draft his memorial to the imperial court; such a perfect topic was hard to find even with a lantern at night.

Magistrate Ma instantly felt this trip was worth every moment.

Zhu Ping resumed his earlier smile.

“Old Li, you truly are the Zhu family’s lucky star. Since it’s like this, I won’t urge you to stay. I’ll have someone fetch your indenture. Moved by your filial heart, I grant you thirty taels as filial support.”

“Thank you, Master.”

Li Rui was overjoyed.

Not only had he redeemed his freedom, but he’d also gained thirty taels of silver for free!

The Zhu family master was never generous—he ran a strict household and was a miser through and through. By his orders, the Zhu household extinguished all candles after the hour of Xu to save on oil.

Many neighbors had to bore holes in their walls to steal light.

This drew constant complaints from surrounding households.

Today’s generosity was merely to ensure the Zhu family received favorable mention in Magistrate Ma’s memorial to the court.

Magistrate Ma was also very satisfied.

Under his governance, fathers were kind, sons were filial, masters benevolent, servants loyal.

A splendid scene of peace and prosperity.

“Ha, ha, ha~”

Magistrate Ma stroked his beard and chuckled: “I’ll personally instruct the staff about your deregistration. Go there soon—no one will dare to harass you.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

Li Rui bowed again.

Today was full of good fortune.

He was registered as a low-status household, so besides reclaiming his indenture, he had to go to the county office to officially remove his low status.

The King of Hell is easy to avoid; it’s the minor demons that are hard to escape.

Even with an indenture, getting deregistered required at least five taels in bribes, or else the clerks in the Household Department would torment him endlessly.

The corruption of Yu State’s bureaucracy was plain to see.

“Master, you’re deregistered?”

Wang Zhao, upon hearing Li Rui’s news, didn’t know whether to rejoice or grieve.

With Li Rui gone, he would become the new stable hand.

His stipend would double, and he’d gain respect—otherwise, Ma Yang wouldn’t have fought Li Rui over the position.

Yet over the years, he had grown accustomed to living and working alongside Li Rui day and night.

His master’s sudden departure left him with mixed emotions.

Li Rui sighed softly and patted Wang Zhao’s shoulder: “Take good care of the horses. If anything happens, go find your Uncle Yang.”

“Yes.”

Wang Zhao nodded, tears in his eyes.

After advising Wang Zhao, Li Rui went to see Yang Yong.

Yang Yong was just as shocked to hear Li Rui had chosen to redeem his freedom.

“Old Li, you’re serious?”

Li Rui smiled faintly: “Your knife.”

He returned the knife he had borrowed from Yang Yong—it belonged to the Zhu family. Borrowing it was fine, but taking it away would cause Yang Yong trouble.

Yang Yong took the knife, his expression filled with emotion: “Forget it. Once you find a place to stay, come find me for a drink.”

“Good!”

Li Rui laughed heartily.

He returned to his room.

After packing, he realized that after decades in the Zhu household, he owned almost nothing.

Just one quilt and three sets of clothes.

He finished packing quickly.

He waited until Zhu the steward appeared.

“Old Li, here’s your indenture, and thirty taels from the Master.”

Zhu the steward stared at Li Rui with envy.

Though he had clawed his way up to the position of steward, it was only surface glory.

Low status remained low status.

Li Rui not only escaped servitude but gained thirty taels—how could he not be envious?

The hour of Wei.

Li Rui, carrying his bundle, walked down the street toward the county office.

Even though the Zhu family master had urged him to stay until New Year’s Eve, he refused.

The county office wouldn’t reopen until the eighth day after the New Year.

Staying another eight or nine days invited too many uncertainties—deregistration couldn’t be delayed.

Due to the New Year, the streets were nearly empty; most people were home preparing New Year’s Eve meals.

Li Rui arrived before the county office.

It was eerily quiet.

Following his memory, he reached the Household Department, where only a young clerk sat with his head propped on his hand, drooping then lifting again.

“Young official.”

Hearing Li Rui, the clerk snapped awake, impatiently asking: “Old man, what do you want?”

Li Rui pulled out his indenture: “I’m here to deregister.”

Upon hearing Li Rui wanted to deregister, the clerk perked up.

Though few people in Qinghe County were deregistered, a dozen or so each year was normal—but he’d never seen someone of this old age attempt it.

“From the Zhu family?”

The clerk saw the Zhu family seal and remembered that morning, when Magistrate Ma had visited the Household Department.

He had said someone from the Zhu family would come to deregister today—don’t make trouble.

It was him!

The young clerk couldn’t help but glance at Li Rui again.

With Magistrate Ma’s orders, he dared not obstruct him. He took out the household register, crossed out Li Rui’s name in red ink, then added it to the free register.

Less than fifteen minutes passed.

Without Magistrate Ma’s prior notice, it would have taken at least ten days to half a month.

(End of chapter)