Chapter 48: Does the mistress want to eat mine tonight?

Li Yue'er was still a student and hadn't completed her apprenticeship yet; at most, she would assist the others in managing the accounts.

After Su Rou arrived in the afternoon, the mistress immediately called Su Rou over and asked her to use the account books to teach Li Yue'er how to manage the accounts.

Su Rou, "..."

Su Rou saw through the mistress's scheme directly and bluntly exposed it without any mercy, "If you want me to do chores, just say so. Why use Li Yue'er as an excuse?"

With the year-end approaching, there were so many things to do that the mistress of the house unusually refrained from responding to Su Rou.

Li Yue'er looked at Su Rou apologetically, and even took the soft cushion and blanket that Su Rou often used and hugged them to her arms. Now she handed them to her, saying, "It was my overestimation of my ability to help the mistress with the accounts that caused you trouble."

After all, the students didn't do a good job, so they invited the teacher over.

Su Rou: "What's it to you?"

Qu Rong's scheming was only related to self-interest. Both she and Li Yue'er were useful to Qu Rong, which is why she kept them by her side.

She had long seen through the merchants.

Qu Rong is, and so is Shi Yi.

Su Rou said, "Come on, I'll use these account books to teach you. It'll also let the mistress hear if I've been teaching you diligently these past few days."

Su Rou and Li Yue'er set up a square table in the study, where the master and apprentice were helping each other sort out some simple accounts.

When Teng Huang came in carrying the account books, he looked at the mistress with a mocking smile, inwardly grumbling. Who was it that suspected that Miss Yue'er was a spy sent by the Zheng family and the old lady? Now they've even let the "spy" into the study to do the accounts.

Gamboge and cinnabar changed back into their respective clothes, one yellow and one red, moving back and forth between the two desks.

If Li Yue'er encountered accounts that were troubling or difficult, Teng Huang would give her subtle hints, which would elicit Su Rou's helpless silence and Li Yue'er's guilty gratitude.

The four of them were busy until around 3 PM when Aunt Qiu came over, gently knocked on the door, and brought some news:

"Madam, Miss Yue'er, someone from the yamen has come. They say that Miss Yue'er's father, Scholar Li, passed away this morning, and the county magistrate has sent someone to find Miss Yue'er to ask her a few questions."

Several people in the study looked at Li Yue'er at the same time.

Li Yue'er's expression was blank, her fingers tightening around the ledger. She only snapped back to reality after Teng Huang called her twice, "Oh, oh... okay."

It was as if they had just heard the terrible news and hadn't reacted yet.

She put down the account book, turned around and curtsied to her mistress, saying, "Then this servant will go ahead."

The mistress responded calmly, "Yes, let Teng Huang accompany you. If you have any difficulties, just tell Teng Huang."

Teng Huang immediately put down the account book and agreed without hesitation. He stepped forward and took Li Yue'er's forearm with both hands, his face full of grief, "Miss Yue'er, I will stay with you."

Li Yue'er, "..."

It was clear that Teng Huang didn't want to stay and settle accounts.

Li Yue'er turned around and bowed to Su Rou, saying, "I'm afraid I'll have to ask you for a few days off."

Su Rou nodded, looking at Li Yue'er with concern. Her lips moved slightly, wanting to say a few words of comfort but considering that the two did not have much of a private relationship, so she did not speak, but slowly nodded to grant her leave.

After Li Yue'er and Teng Huang left, Su Rou also wanted to get up and leave. The students had all asked for leave, so what was she, the teacher, doing staying here?

Qu Rong said, "With Teng Huang gone, I'm short-handed. If you stay and help, I'll pay you."

Su Rou wouldn't care about a few taels of silver.

Qu Rong raised her eyes. "Shall we talk about timekeeping?"

Su Rou sat back down with a calm expression. "How many taels?"

Let's talk about money then.

Qu Rong, “…Heh.”

Although Qu Rongren was sitting in the study and couldn't leave, he couldn't help but think about what Li Yue'er was doing when he was fiddling with the abacus, whether she could handle the questions from the yamen, and whether she would be afraid and give herself away.

If Li Yue'er goes to jail, she will have to talk to the county magistrate about the conditions for her release on bail and home supervision.

Even at this moment, Qu Rong didn't realize that what she cared about wasn't whether Li Yue'er would ruin her plan to kill two birds with one stone and frame the Zheng family, but rather that Li Yue'er would panic and frighten herself when she saw the people from the yamen.

No matter how brave Li Yue'er is, that's only true when the door is closed. Once she leaves the Qu residence, Li Yue'er will definitely still be afraid.

Unfortunately, her status as the matriarch of the Qu family made it unsuitable for her to accompany Li Yue'er on this trip; otherwise, Li Yue'er would feel more at ease with her presence.

...Slowly realizing her distraction, Qu Rong frowned in annoyance, closed her eyes, and tried to comfort herself:

She had put so much effort and thought into Li Yue'er; she couldn't let it all go to waste.

If Li Yue'er ruins her plans, she'll punish her properly after she gets out of trouble.

Meanwhile, Li Yue'er, who was on the mistress's mind, was walking out.

Aunt Qiu followed Li Yue'er, and with a gesture of comfort, she held her cold hands tightly and said with a firm look in her eyes, "Miss Yue'er, I heard that Li Juren's death was an accident. When you see his body, you must not panic. After all, your mother and sister are counting on you."

Li Yue'er understood what she meant, and gratefully grasped Aunt Qiu's hand in return, saying, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Seeing that she was not flustered, Aunt Qiu was relieved. She patted Li Yue'er's hand and whispered, "Yue'er, don't be afraid. It's over. Good days will come from now on."

That damned one is finally dead! The evil spirit that haunted the Ming family mother and her two daughters has finally gone to hell!

Regardless of how he died, this outcome is truly gratifying.

The body of Li Juren was discovered just an hour ago.

It was cold and snowing heavily, and people who weren't going out to work rarely chose to go out in such weather. This led to the fact that Li Juren was lying in the snow and almost buried by the snow when he was discovered by a few people who were passing by while playing cards.

After turning his body over and recognizing his face, the group was so frightened that they immediately reported it to the authorities, since the deceased was a scholar who had passed the imperial examination!

The magistrate quickly took over the case, ordering the coroner to examine the body and also sending people to investigate where Li, the scholar, had gone that day, what he ate and drank, and who he had met. In addition, he also sent people to contact Li's family, acquaintances, and enemies.

This is a common procedure for investigating cases in government offices, and nothing surprising about it.

Not to mention Li Yue'er, her own daughter, even Li Juren's lover in the brothel was questioned by the yamen runners.

Li Yue'er was not invited to the yamen, after all, she was a family member of the deceased, and the county magistrate told her to go back to her courtyard to give a reply.

However, she was separated from her mother and sister during the questioning, and all three were asked the same questions.

For example, have you seen Li Juren recently? Is there anything unusual about him? Now that he is dead, how do you feel?

Ming had no idea about Li Yue'er's plan. After learning that Li Juren had died, her withered eyes slowly lit up, like a withered tree that was almost lifeless sprouting new buds.

I thought I would live in darkness for the rest of my life, but who would have thought that one day the sun would shine again.

Dead? That beast is finally dead.

Ming's tears flowed uncontrollably, and she was so choked with emotion that she couldn't speak.

The government was aware of her family's affairs, and several constables had patrolled the courtyard gate quite often over the years, so they were no strangers to Ming Shi.

Seeing her so excited, the constable blurted out, "Don't be so obviously happy yet, let's finish asking the questions."

Realizing his mistake, the constable frowned and stammered, "That's not what I meant... Please accept my condolences."

Ming wasn't sad at all; she wished she could buy several strings of firecrackers and set them off for three days and three nights!

Li Xing'er was only six years old. Although she understood what death was, she wasn't afraid at all about her father's death. She just asked innocently, "Will he come back?"

The yamen runner replied, "It's unlikely."

Li Xing'er sat obediently and asked earnestly, "Will you hit me and my mother again?"

The constable replied, "Of course not!"

Li Xing'er, reserved and shy, smiled sweetly and said, "It's good that he's dead."

The bailiff said, "...Next."

It was Li Yue'er's turn.

Li Yue'er appeared bewildered, but upon learning that Li Juren was truly dead, she, like her sister, showed a relieved expression. However, being older, she realized her lapse in composure and quickly wiped away non-existent wetness from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, pretending to cry twice.

The constable, “…”

Besides the Ming mother and daughter, the yamen runners also questioned Li Juren's mistress.

Li Juren's mistress had long wanted to separate from him. Everyone outside said she was Li Juren's mistress, but only she knew that she was the one supporting Li Juren!

That beast, when drunk, not only beats Ming, but also her. After sobering up, he pretends to be a gentleman, bowing and apologizing with sweet words to coax her.

She dared not mention separating from Li, a scholar who held a high position, because of his tyrannical influence. But she had long since grown tired of him.

Li Juren always blames her for being useless, saying that she can't bear a son. It's ridiculous. If she can't bear a son, neither can Mingshi. Even his lover in the brothel couldn't bear a son. None of the three women could do it. Doesn't he know where the problem lies?

Now that he is dead, his mistress feels relieved and cooperates fully with the yamen's questioning, revealing everything she knows, including the matter of Li Juren's attempt to make connections with the Zheng family.

From now on, she and Li Juren will have no more relationship. Today, she explained everything in detail, which can be considered as preserving the last bit of affection between the two.

After the constables finished their questioning, the coroner's autopsy results came back: excessive drinking.

It could be an accidental death, or it could be caused by someone deliberately getting him drunk.

The mistress's testimony, along with witnesses from the restaurant, pointed the finger at Master Zheng of the Zheng family. The magistrate had no choice but to send for Zheng Er to come and give a reply.

The Zheng family was still preparing for their master's birthday banquet tonight when, in front of all the guests, the yamen runners took Zheng Er away.

The others didn't know what mistake Zheng Er had made, but they had something to hide, and some even started muttering on the spot, "Could it be that something that happened a few years ago has been discovered by the authorities?"

"Nonsense! That was an accident!"

"What accident? It was clearly a man-made disaster!"

Someone asked, "Are you talking about Scholar Li?"

The man spoke hastily, blurting out without thinking, "What Scholar Li? I was talking about Mr. and Mrs. Zheng Qianxi."

That is, the parents of Qu Ming, the current patriarch of the Qu family.

The scene fell silent for a moment. Realizing he had misspoke, the man quickly pretended to be drunk and fled the Zheng family.

However, there were many people and a lot of chatter at the time, and someone eventually heard the truth and spread the word.

The investigation was to be handled by the yamen (government office), but Zheng Er insisted that he was not the one who harmed Li Juren. In addition, many people in the restaurant saw Li Juren go downstairs and leave by himself, including the restaurant's waiters. Therefore, without evidence, Zheng Er could not be blamed for this.

As Zheng Er was being released home, the death of Li Juren was also ruled an accidental death.

As dusk approached, the constables carried his body home and brought funeral expenses to the Ming mother and daughter.

A full five taels of silver.

The constable said, "We shouldn't have given so much, but our county is a bit richer. The magistrate said you and your mother had a hard life, so he only gave you five taels. If you ask me, since the person is dead, you should save the money. After all, you still need to live."

He earnestly advised her, fearing that Ming might act impulsively, thinking that she and Li Juren were even, and would not be willing to save the five taels of silver, thus spending it all on Li Juren's funeral.

The status of a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations) was indeed extraordinary. Not only did they receive a funeral allowance after their death, their families would also receive a stipend of three taels of silver per year for the next five years, and a certain amount of rice, flour, and oil from the government office every month.

This was a generous and considerate treatment given by the imperial court to the families of those who had passed the imperial examinations.

However, the amount given depends entirely on the local county government's financial situation. Those with money receive more, while those without receive less. If the county magistrate is honest and upright, the money is distributed on time, while if the county magistrate is incompetent and greedy, no money is distributed.

Fortunately, Chenhe County had many merchants, and the taxes collected from these merchants, large and small, revitalized the county's finances. In addition, the county magistrate was kind-hearted and had met the Ming family patriarch a few times, so he generously gave him five taels of silver.

In the future, apart from Li Yue'er who has already been sold into the Qu family, both Ming and Li Xing'er can seek help from the government whenever they encounter difficulties.

Although her family consisted of widows and young girls, they were protected by the government, and no one could bully them; otherwise, they would be punished according to the law, receiving at least ten strokes of the cane.

While Li Jushi was alive, the Ming family mother and daughter were unable to enjoy the benefits of his Juren status, but now that he is dead, the Juren status is proving very useful.

Ming disgusted Li, the scholar, and he wished he could divorce her and sever all ties with her!

But if they really get divorced, she and her daughters will be the ones who suffer.

Even if she felt nauseous, she had to grit her teeth and endure receiving the money for a few years. Once Xing'er grew up or found a job that allowed her to support herself and her daughters, she would go to the government office to request a divorce and transfer her daughters' household registration back to the Ming family, so that they could change their surname to "Ming" with her.

Ming held Li Yue'er's hand tightly and whispered to her, "Yue'er, don't be afraid. Once I've saved up some money, I'll redeem you from the Qu family, and the three of us can live together again."

No matter how well Li Yue'er dressed or how much she brought to the family, Ming felt more indebted and heartbroken for her.

She wished she could keep her daughter at home right now and never have her become someone's concubine or mistress again.

Mentioning this, Ming hated Li Juren again!

If it weren't for that beast, she wouldn't have ended up like this, her parents wouldn't be restless in the afterlife, and her daughter wouldn't have been sold to a merchant's family as a concubine.

All I can say is that the heavens were on our side and that bastard froze to death!

It was God who helped the mother and her two daughters!

A glimmer of light finally appeared in her eyes, and she began to have plans and hopes for the future. She felt that even after the death of Li Juren, there was still hope for her future.

Seeing her mother like this, Li Yue'er didn't want to spoil her mood. Instead, she grasped her mother's rough palm and smiled playfully, "Then I'll be waiting."

Ming reached out and touched her cheek. "Okay."

The funeral was being held in the courtyard, and the neighbors came to help.

After Li Juren's body was brought back from the yamen, the aunties and uncles in the neighborhood came to help cut fabric and sew mourning clothes.

Aunt Li and Ming Shi were on good terms, and now she and Li Yue'er were advising Ming Shi to choose the worst coffin possible, one that would barely be usable. If it weren't for saving face, they would have just wrapped him in a straw mat.

Meanwhile, Li Yue'er, posing as the daughter of Li Juren, wrote letters to Li Juren's friends and asked Lin Mu, his "adopted son," to help deliver the letters and attend the funeral.

When they arrive in the next day or two, Li Yue'er can take the opportunity to collect a sum of money for the funeral, which she can save for her mother and sister's future living expenses.

While Zheng Er of the Zheng family was holding his birthday banquet with a gloomy expression, the courtyard of the Ming family mother and daughter was already covered with white cloth and decorated with wreaths.

The coffin of Li Juren was placed in the center of the main hall. In the small courtyard, neighbors came and went, and aunts and grandmothers chatted and laughed. It was a lively "funeral turned into a celebration".

Tonight is just the beginning. It's cold today, and the funeral will take a long time. From the time the coffin is placed in the coffin to the burial, it will take at least three to five days.

Li Yue'er was so busy in the afternoon that she didn't have time to catch her breath until nightfall.

Garcinia and the aunties had cooked some hot soup, and now they were bringing her a bowl.

Li Yue'er held the bowl in her hands to warm it, pursed her lips, and looked at the deep night in the courtyard and the white in the distance. Suddenly, she remembered the warm palm of her mistress that gently covered her eyes.

She missed her mistress a little.

Li Yue'er turned to look for Teng Huang, wanting to ask her if she wanted to go back to the Qu residence tonight, so she could help her carry her thoughts back with her.

After all, she and her mother probably wouldn't be able to get a proper rest these next few days, and given their limited resources, it would be difficult for them to find fluffy, brand-new quilts and bedding for Teng Huang.

Teng Huang was the head maid under the mistress's command, and Li Yue'er was afraid of mistreating her.

To everyone's surprise, at first glance, Gamboge looked like a yellow butterfly, effortlessly entertaining the neighbors who came to help in the courtyard, her figure incredibly light and cheerful.

Forget about going back to the Qu family mansion, she probably can't even remember which way the main gate of the Qu family mansion faces right now.

Li Yue'er, "..."

She seemed to be just as carefree as before, even when she didn't want to be with women.

Li Yue'er lowered her head, sipped her soup, and sighed softly. Perhaps she had been sleeping by the mistress's side for too long and was living a too comfortable life. She missed her terribly even after just one night apart.

Meanwhile, at the Qu residence, Qu Rong had just finished taking a bath and was sitting on the bed.

Normally, Li Yue'er's arms would have already wrapped around her back like soft vines, her fingers nimbly slipping into her clothes, her fingertips wandering along the edge of her undergarment, and when she was distracted, they would slip into the fabric and grasp her.

Seeing her frown and purse her lips, Li Yue'er was not afraid at all. Instead, she loosened her grip and started playing with it, asking her in a low voice, "Does the mistress want to eat me tonight?"

The door was knocked on, and Qu Rong instantly snapped back to reality.

The room was cold and deserted, with only her there; there was no sign of Li Yue'er.

Qu Rong asked in a deep voice, "Who?"

Dansha: "Mistress, someone from the gatehouse came and asked if we should leave the door open for Miss Yue'er tonight?"

Qu Rong, "Not to be retained."

Dan Sha lowered his eyes and said, "Yes."

Although leaving the door open wouldn't help—even if it were, Yue'er and Teng Huang probably wouldn't come back—not leaving it open would show that the mistress didn't care about Yue'er or Teng Huang at all.

Dansha was about to turn and leave when the mistress suddenly stopped her.

A soft voice came from inside the house, "Go and harness the carriage."

Dansha looked up abruptly and replied without hesitation, "Yes!"

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Moon: Say goodbye to your baby~

Mistress: Guess again.

Moon: ...

.

Fujiki: What brings you here?

"Cinnabar"...passing by

Gamboge: ?