Chapter 48 Shy Answer

Fanghua Garden called for water early in the morning, more than once.

Li Qu was filled with regret. She could already imagine how her three concubines from the second wife would tease her the next time they saw her.

She shouldn't have believed Zhou Jin's nonsense about staying to lull her to sleep!

The sun was shining brightly, and the temperature rose slightly.

Li Qu, with her half-wet hair hanging loose but not dripping wet, sat on the veranda watching the maids embroider.

She pointed at the maid embroidering cherries and said, "When it's cold, everything hides away, but red brings warmth. Could you embroider me a similar purse later?"

The girl looked shy, but her eyes were full of surprise: "If you like it, Auntie, I'll give it to you as soon as it's finished."

"Okay, I'll be happy if each of you can give me one."

The other two girls immediately started laughing too.

As Zhou Jin stepped out of the bathing room, listening to the voices and laughter coming from the corridor, she finally understood why Granny Xu was willing to risk her life to take that sword for her.

She was so kind and gentle to everyone.

The robes had already been delivered, and he was preparing to dress himself when a perceptive maidservant stepped forward and bowed her head to help him put on his clothes.

After he finished dressing, he sat on the couch and was about to pick up his boots to put them on when the maid knelt down, took the boots, and prepared to put them on for him.

Only then did he notice the new face in the room.

The new face had snow-white skin on her neck, jet-black hair, a voluptuous figure, and a bulging chest that seemed about to fall off her belt.

Moreover, it wasn't like the strict attire of maids like Hongguo and Cuiguo, who were only allowed to wear hair ties.

She had two symmetrical buns in her hair, each adorned with a pair of rice-grain pearl flowers.

The color of her clothes was still the sky blue worn by the second class.

Zhou Jin slowly sat up straight, looking down coldly at the maid kneeling on the ground, who was still in the act of helping him put on his boots: "Raise your head."

Green Fruit lowered its eyelids, slowly raised its head, and behaved itself properly, not daring to overstep the bounds in the slightest.

On the veranda, she was still talking to the maidservant, her voice gentle.

"Your embroidery is excellent; you have a real talent. I'll have Granny Xu train you properly."

Inside the room, Zhou Jin looked at the maid's beautiful face and asked in a deep voice, "Who brought you here?"

He certainly didn't think that Li Qu had deliberately created someone to share the emperor's favor.

She's just kind-hearted, not brainless.

Besides, she didn't have the ability to find such a girl.

Hearing Zhou Jin's unfriendly tone, Lüguo knelt down and said, "This servant and Huaiyu were originally sent to Jinxiu Hall by the old lady to replace Miss Huaichun."

“That day, when Granny Rong and I passed by Fanghua Garden, we found that the garden was not fully furnished, so she left me to be used by the concubine.”

"What's your name?"

"My aunt named me Green Fruit."

Zhou Jin remained silent for a long while before saying, "Bring your master in."

Green Fruit kowtowed and retreated, then turned through the lattice door and saw Li Qu standing there with a smile.

She blushed and bowed to Li Qu, saying, "Auntie, Third Master is calling for you."

"Yes, you worked the night shift last night. You must be tired. Get some rest."

She was so ashamed that she couldn't lift her head and hurried past Li Qu.

Li Qu entered the room but did not go to Zhou Jin. Instead, she went to the dressing table, took the gold and jade hairpin from the dressing case, compared it to the mirror, and then turned around and asked with a smile.

"My lord, do you think this green looks better on me, or on me?"

Zhou Jin: "..."

"So, you call her Green Fruit."

“To me, it’s just a green fruit.” Li Qu put down the hairpin and sat down in front of the dressing table.

She took the handkerchief and tied her still-damp hair while saying, "It's just that I'm unlucky and can't handle your generous gifts. You gave me jade, and now I have to wear green."

He was going to reprimand her and tell her to control the servants.

How dare a second-class maidservant enter the main room to serve at will?

But remembering her poor background and lack of support, she ultimately didn't speak up.

As for the jealousy in her words... considering the gentleness of her smile, I didn't offer the advice that a wife shouldn't be jealous.

"Come here and help the master put on his boots."

Li Qu simply tied her hair into a ponytail, turned around, and squatted down in front of him.

As she leaned forward to pick up her shoes, the handkerchief loosely tied behind her head was pulled askew by the weight of her long hair, which swept over her shoulders and fell slightly across her chest, adding a touch of gentleness to her appearance.

He lifted his foot: "She's not as pretty as you."

She tugged at the top of her shoe: "She's very voluptuous."

He pushed off slightly and slipped his foot inside: "Not as voluptuous as you, nor as supple as your waist."

She got up and moved to his other side, squatted down, and took the other boot: "How do you know my waist is more flexible if you haven't tried it on yourself?"

He lifted his foot: "It's obvious at a glance."

She stopped putting his boots on, stood up, and glanced at him sideways: "You have good eyesight, sir."

After saying that, she threw her boots into his arms, turned around and walked away with a cold face.

It took Zhou Jin a while to come to his senses. He looked down at the boots he was holding and then at the direction Li Qu had left in.

My first thought: Thank goodness no one else saw it.

And then... I didn't even feel angry.

I'm in a strangely good mood.

Because of Zhou Jin's meddling, breakfast at Fanghua Garden has become brunch.

When Zhou Jin arrived at the dining hall, Li Qu had already laid out the food for him.

He watched her lower her eyes and pick up food with her hands, and his heart was filled with a warm feeling.

She pulled out a chair and invited him to sit down.

After he sat down, she gently and considerately sat down next to him, very close by.

She eats very slowly, chewing each bite with relish.

He couldn't help but stare at her.

Her cheeks were stuffed with steamed buns, like a little hamster. As she chewed, she looked at him questioningly, as if to say: Why are you looking at me?

He responded, "A-Qu is a feast for the eyes."

The usually timid maids burst into unrestrained laughter.

Her ears turned red, she glared at him, and moved to the place furthest away from him.

He had a great appetite.

After the meal, before Li Qu could say anything else, Zhou Jin was called away by Huai Qiu.

Li Qu stood on the veranda watching him go.

Just as Zhou Jin left Fanghua Garden, his three idle concubines from the second wife's household arrived.

Li Qu set up a small square table on the veranda and served melons, fruits, snacks, and tea to his guests.

"Twice last night, and three times this morning, tsk tsk tsk, no wonder she's Sister Li." Aunt Zheng teased as soon as she approached.

Upon hearing this, Li Qu's ears turned bright red, and she welcomed her to sit down: "Sister Zheng, why are you inquiring about what happened in my room?"

Aunt Xun chuckled and sat down in the honored seat for the guests.

Aunt Zheng sat down at the end of the table: "Why do you need to ask, sister? I overheard the gossiping maids and servants on the way here."

"When have any men in your household ever refused to get out of bed in the morning?"

Li Qu blushed completely.

This is the ten thousandth time I've regretted letting Zhou Jin lull me to sleep!

She should have chased him away with a big stick after she was done!

"Alright, alright." Aunt Hu sat down and patted the table. "I heard that my little sister got three treasures yesterday. Why don't you bring them out to show off to your older sisters?"

Aunt Xun laughed and said, "Just like you, you show off everything you get."

Everyone took their seats and began chatting.

Li Qu ordered someone to fetch the two valuable gifts sent by Madam Bai.

For a moment, screams from women rose and fell.

"Ahhh, it's so beautiful!"

"What kind of gemstone is this? It's so sparkly!"

Even the experienced Aunt Xun couldn't resist getting her hands dirty.

Red Fruit and Blue Fruit served from the side, their faces beaming with pride.

Li Qu quietly sipped her tea.

What's the use of looking good if you can't take it with you?

After admiring the sights, the three turned their gaze to Li Qu.

Aunt Zheng looked on expectantly: "What Third Master gave must be even more precious, right? What kind of treasure is it? Take it out and let me see."

Li Qu choked on her tea and coughed incessantly.

"Don't mention it!"

"Cough cough cough cough!"

"Third Master has betrayed me!"

"Cough cough cough!"

The three were puzzled.

Aunt Hu spoke up: "Didn't you say that Third Master promised to bring you a gift? Is Third Master the kind of person who goes back on his word?"

Aunt Zheng chimed in, "That's right, my sister said she would show it to us."

Aunt Xun noticed the rosy cheeks of Hongguo and Languo, and silently drank her tea, lost in thought.

Fortunately, Granny Xu returned in time.

"Greetings to all the concubines. The gifts that Third Master brought for you are here. This old servant just retrieved them from Jinxiu Hall."

The box was placed on the small table.

Li Qu breathed a long sigh of relief.

Aunt Zheng held out her hand expectantly: "Let me see what kind of treasure it is."

Aunt Hu and Aunt Xun also looked over.

Granny Xu and the others also craned their necks.

Li Qu also smiled, somewhat curious about what Zhou Jin had asked her to send someone to retrieve.

The box opened the next moment.

Li Qu blinked: Huh? How could it be a pink and cute little outfit? The kind with bells and pearls?

You must have misread it.

She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again.

She wasn't mistaken!

She looked up in alarm.

Then she saw Aunt Zheng's cheeks flushed red, she was rubbing her handkerchief to cover her parted lips, and she was looking at her shyly.

Aunt Hu's ears turned bright red, and her eyes darted around subtly, conveying the same message: I didn't expect you guys to be so good at this.

The most straightforward one was Aunt Xun. Her face flushed, and she reached out to close the box lid: "Sigh, if Sister Li puts this on, Third Master will surely be pleased."

Then, certain stimulating images played out in the minds of the brain-dead aunts.

The commotion made them blush and they all got up to say goodbye.

Not to mention the maids' hushed, ambiguous laughter.

Only Granny Xu had an expression that said, "Oh dear, this old servant has caused trouble."

Li Qu: "..."

I don't know how much time passed.

"Aaaaaaah!"

She lay on the small table and cried in anger.

She hated the lewd Zhou Jin!