Chapter 15 The Trigger

The candlelight cast a soft glow, and her beautiful eyes held a smile.

Looking at Li Qu's eyes, which seemed to see right through her, Xu Mama knelt down with a thud: "This old servant knows her mistake."

Li Qu picked up her chopsticks, took a bite of something that looked like water chestnut, and chewed it carefully: "Continue."

Xu Mama, not expecting Li Qu to be so perceptive, quickly told the truth: "It is true that Aunt Li taught Miss Biao the rules, but it cannot be guaranteed that the Zhou and Lu families will be united in marriage."

"Firstly, the Lu family has declined, so there is no need for the Zhou family to form a marriage alliance. Secondly, the old lady cannot make decisions for the master."

"Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that the old lady wanted to arrange a marriage between her cousin and the Hezhou family."

Li Qu savored the delicious flavors that blossomed on her tongue.

"This afternoon, Qinghua, the maidservant of Miss Biao, brought me a pair of jade bracelets and asked me what kind of incense I usually use for my aunt."

Li Qu: "You only asked about the fragrance?"

"He also asked about the actual relationship between Aunt and Third Master."

Did you answer truthfully?

Granny Xu quickly stated, "No! The incense used by the concubine is always selected through official channels. Even if I don't say anything, Miss Cousin can send someone to the second branch of the family to inquire and find out the truth."

"It's not that he's two-faced."

Xu Mama quickly kowtowed: "Your Highness, please understand. My indenture is in the hands of the Third Master. I will not say a word that I should not say."

Li Qu believed these words.

"Now the old lady has taken a liking to Miss Cousin, while Miss Cousin is in love with Third Master. Therefore, this old servant advises the concubine to befriend Miss Cousin."

After all, if the concubine is well, the servants will have a good life.

The first statement was probably true, but Li Qu didn't believe a word of the second statement.

After all, when she was forced to kneel as punishment, Granny Xu even whipped her.

"What are my allowances for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation?"

Seeing that Li Qu had changed the subject, Xu Mama breathed a slight sigh of relief: "Your allowance is the same as that of the concubines in the Second Master's room."

"Twenty taels of silver per month, four sets of clothing for each of the four seasons. Jewelry to be selected twice a year, in early spring and in the dead of winter."

"The jewelry is sampled in the public treasury. What styles you can choose from depends on your own taste, Auntie." Xu Mama never forgot to hint at Li Qu's ambition to win favor.

"If the master does not eat with me, I will follow my concubine's usual practice: breakfast will consist of four side dishes, a soup, and a meal; lunch will consist of two meat dishes, three vegetable dishes, a soup, and a meal; and dinner will consist of one meat dish, two vegetable dishes, a soup, and a meal."

Li Qu picked up a piece of Dongpo pork and put it in her mouth. She was quite satisfied with the taste of the food prepared in the Zhou family's kitchen.

"Snacks and fruits are delivered once a day, three to four kinds each time. They are all delivered without repeating any each day."

"Of course, if you need more money, you can have whatever you want."

There was also a vegetarian dish on the table: shredded silver toothpaste.

Li Qu took a bite; the tangy and refreshing taste was appetizing.

The staple food is white rice.

Li Qu used half a bowl.

After putting down her chopsticks and rinsing her mouth, Cuiguo cleared away the bowls and plates, Hongguo served snacks and fruits, and Xu Mama offered fresh tea.

Li Qu took a sip of tea: "What if I want to add some soup at the last minute?"

Xu Mama replied respectfully, "Occasionally or twice, the concubine can ask for it herself. If she wants regular supplies, she will have to pay for them herself."

"Those medicinal herbs and ingredients I asked for earlier, don't they require silver?"

“My aunt used these things to make rouge before, and the old lady agreed. This time, when I went to the second madam’s place to submit a request, the second madam did not object.”

In other words, the second wife had the right to refuse her unreasonable request.

"What if I want to drink soup now?"

Xu Mama smiled and said, "The concubine is the new favorite, and the old lady has also approved of her. At this time, it shouldn't be a big problem for the concubine to ask for a bowl of soup."

The implication is that those who have fallen out of favor have no right to make demands.

"Quite realistic."

Xu Mama seized the opportunity: "Who doesn't want their life to get better and better? You, Madam, are the most favored concubine of the third branch of the family, so you'll have plenty of opportunities. Why don't you send a bowl of soup to Jinxiu Hall?"

Li Qu would never again offer herself up to invite trouble.

"What about travel?"

"According to the rules, a concubine must report to the mistress and obtain permission before she can go out."

Now that there is no mistress in the house, if the master is exceptionally lenient, the concubine may come out every ten days or every seven days, entirely depending on the master's will.

Concubines were like birds in a cage, or kites with strings tied to them, with no freedom whatsoever.

Xu Mama seemed to know Li Qu's mind perfectly, explaining, "Auntie is beautiful and delicate. If she arouses evil thoughts and tarnishes her reputation, then the favor she receives will come to an end."

Xu Mama didn't mention the more serious cases.

If one's innocence is dishonored and one loses one's purity, one cannot escape the fate of hanging oneself with a white silk ribbon.

"Therefore, when the concubine went out, she always had a carriage with insignia and an entourage to deter villains."

As for accommodation, Fanghua Garden, where Li Qu currently lives, is closest to Jinxiu Hall and is well-equipped, providing a level of comfort that Li Qu has never experienced before.

"Please ask Aunt Chang from the kitchen to make a soup to cool you down and clear away the heat, and bring it over herself."

After a pause, Li Qu added, "It can be used by both men and women."

Granny Xu understood instantly.

Now that the concubine is in good health, she wants to solidify her position in the emperor's favor.

So he went to the kitchen with a smile to take care of things.

Li Qu peeled two more grapes and then went to the courtyard to digest her food.

When Granny Xu brought Chang San Niang to Li Qu, Li Qu was pointing to a patch of roses in the northwest corner and said, "Besides that, let's plant an osmanthus tree, preferably one that's five years old, I like that."

Hongguo quickly agreed.

Chang San Niang, holding a soup bowl, saw Li Qu turn around and quickly bowed to her, saying, "Greetings, Aunt Li."

"It's so late, you must be tired from working so hard."

"It's all my duty as an old servant."

“I won’t take your soup for nothing.” Li Qu walked towards the side room. “I made some good stuff a few days ago. Aunt Chang, take it back and try it.”

Xu Mama took the soup from Chang San Niang's hand and gestured for Chang San Niang to follow Li Qu.

Chang San Niang looked slightly uneasy.

Li Qu went to the side room, took out the face mask she had prepared beforehand and the internal conditioning prescription she had written, and sat on the chaise longue by the window, as if she were reclining and admiring the moon. Out of the corner of her eye, she could just catch a glimpse of the courtyard: "Can you read?"

"The head of the household knows a few characters."

Li Qu handed the items to Chang San Niang: "Once the acne is under control, come back to me and I will give you a prescription to remove the marks."

Chang San Niang looked up at Li Qu with a delighted expression: "This, this is..."

Li Qu smiled gently: "Although the cooperation did not succeed, business may be over, but friendship remains. I hope Brother Chang will get rid of his chronic illness soon."

Chang San Niang quickly kowtowed to express her gratitude.

"There's no need to thank me; I also have a request."

The gratitude in Chang San Niang's eyes immediately faded: "Auntie, please speak frankly. If this old servant can help, I will certainly not refuse."

"That night at Xiuyan Pavilion... when did Aunt Chang find out that Third Master was going there?"

Chang San Niang breathed a sigh of relief and replied truthfully, "When we were preparing to invite the bride out to pay respects to heaven and earth, we were stopped by Xu Mama, who was guarding the gate, and her men."

In other words, the people in the kitchen were also kept in the dark.

"Have you heard why Third Master changed his mind?"

Chang Sanniang glanced at Li Qu, clutching the object in her hand, and presumptuously advised, "Since Third Master has taken a liking to you, Aunt, you should settle down. What outside is more enjoyable than the luxurious life in the Zhou family mansion?"

As for the reason, how dare we, your humble servants, speculate on His Majesty's intentions?

"I've never heard anyone mention it before?"

Chang San Niang thought for a moment, then said, "Someone mentioned that the master was in a bad mood that day, apparently because he was scolded by someone from the capital."

"What did you say?"

Chang San Niang shook her head.

So, was there a reason why Zhou Jin changed his mind?

Li Qu caught a glimpse of Granny Xu approaching with a food box out of the corner of her eye, and sat up straight: "What I said today is for you to hear. Don't talk nonsense about it in the future."

"From Lao Nu Province."

"By the way, is this soup good for reducing internal heat and clearing away toxins?"

"Winter melon and lotus leaf soup: Winter melon promotes urination, removes dampness and relieves summer heat, lotus leaf clears heat and detoxifies, relieves irritability and clears the orifices. Adding lean meat to make soup gives it the aroma of lotus leaves, the deliciousness of lean meat, and the sweetness of melon. It is refreshing, detoxifies and is very delicious, making it the best choice for summer."

Just then, Granny Xu entered with a smile: "Madam, would you like to change your clothes?"

Li Qu was currently wearing a plain silk halter-neck dress that she had commissioned a tailor to make, with a matching robe draped over it. While she possessed a certain charm, this attire was inappropriate given the distance to the Brocade Hall.

Li Qu got up and walked outside: "Granny, please go and tell him how I feel about you, Master."

Granny Xu looked surprised: "Old...this old servant will go?"

"You are adept at navigating social situations and are very eloquent. I believe you can grant my wish."