Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Suffering the consequences
After her rebirth, Zhao Qingyi didn't want to fall ill for no reason like in her previous life, so she took good care of her body and took care of herself with medicinal food every day. Her qi and blood gradually improved. In addition, she was not a delicate and weak person, so the slap was powerful and hit her hard.
Li Susu screamed, covered her face and fell on the box, causing pain in her waist and abdomen.
She hadn't expected Zhao Qingyi to hit her in front of her mother. She was so angry that her teeth were chattering, "You...you dare to hit me?"
"Susu!"
Luo hurried to help her, angrily saying, "This is outrageous! Susu just hit a servant, why did you do this? You are such a shrew, do you still respect me as your mother-in-law?"
"I've been married into the Li family for three years, and because I respect my mother-in-law, there are some things I've never said. You may not be aware of my rules, but I'm a protective person."
Zhao Qingyi was not afraid at all. She was tall, and when she stood there, her aura naturally overwhelmed Luo's mother and daughter. It was just that she was usually gentle and easy to get along with, but now that she was angry, her beautiful eyebrows and eyes showed a sharpness.
"Tan Yue is a servant from my Zhao family. I am her master, and I have never hit her. How dare you, little aunt, hit her in front of me? Do you still respect me, your eldest sister-in-law?"
He still needs her help, yet he dares to be so arrogant.
After being slapped, Li Susu woke up from her fantasy of becoming the young lady of the Bo Mansion. She was overwhelmed by the upcoming marriage and felt that everyone in the mansion should obey her from now on. Tan Yue's words did not suit her wishes, so she took action.
Looking back, she realized that she still had to rely on Zhao Qingyi for her dowry, and she felt regretful. However, before she could make amends, Zhao Qingyi beat her quickly and fiercely.
Li Susu was so angry that she bit her lower lip tightly. "She's just a servant. I'm the aunt of the Li family and will soon be the young lady of the Bo's mansion! So what if I hit her?"
Only the legitimate wife of a high-ranking official or a noble family, who has been honored by her husband, is worthy of the title of Madam. Anyone can tell who is more senior between the Young Madam of the Bo Mansion and the Grandma of the Li Family. At that time, Zhao Qingyi would have to turn around and greet her.
Thinking of this, Li Susu felt more confident.
"Young Lady of the Bo Mansion?"
Zhao Qingyi sneered. In front of Luo's mother and daughter, she tore the dowry list in half and threw it in Li Susu's face. "What a young lady of the Bo's Mansion! I want to see if you can get your wish and marry into the Bo's Mansion without me."
Luo Shi didn't bother to coax Li Susu, and stepped aside to block Zhao Qingyi's way. "We are all family, why make such an embarrassing scene?"
He winked at Li Susu again, "Susu, why don't you apologize to your sister-in-law?"
Li Susu burst into tears out of grievance. She was beaten by Zhao Qingyi, and her mother actually wanted her to submit?
She doesn't want it!
"Who do you think you are? I can still marry into the Earl's Mansion without you!"
Li Susu was certain that Lady Wang from the Loyal and Brave Marquis's Mansion had taken a fancy to her, which was why she did not mind her family background in proposing marriage. In that case, she would not mind the size of her dowry either. After all, once she got married, she would have ready-made wealth and glory to enjoy, so there was no need for her to focus on Zhao Qingyi's money.
If Zhao Qingyi hadn't been there, Mrs. Luo would have wanted to slap her stupid daughter.
Li Susu seemed unable to understand the hint in her eyes and said stubbornly, "Mom, we won't beg her! It's just three thousand taels of dowry, we'll find a way ourselves!"
Ever since Zhao Qingyi got married, my mother has secretly saved a lot of money, and Li Susu knows about it.
Luo was so angry at her words that she almost vomited blood. She couldn't bear to hit her in the face, so she slapped her on the forehead and scolded her in a low voice, "What nonsense are you talking about? That's three thousand taels, it's not a small amount!"
Asking her to find a solution would be like asking for her life, wouldn't that be the end of her life?
Although she was not unable to come up with the three thousand taels, she felt distressed when she thought about the purpose of the money. It would be a waste to use it to buy dowry for her daughter now. She had to save the money to make money, and she had to consider Che'er and her own future life in the future.
"mother……"
Li Susu wanted to say something else, but Luo covered her mouth.
Zhao Qingyi smiled, "Since my sister-in-law said she wants to find a solution herself, then I won't interfere. It's late, and I'll take my leave."
Three thousand taels? Li Susu thought too simply.
How could the Zhongyong Marquis's Mansion only want her meager three thousand taels of dowry? Once that incident happened, Li Susu's dowry would have to double, and the amount would be so large that it would bankrupt the Li family.
All of this was carefully planned by Mrs. Wang. By that time, even if the Li family wanted to cancel the engagement, they would not be able to do so.
Zhao Qingyi was happy to see them committing suicide, so she turned around and left.
Mrs. Luo refused and simply opened her arms to block the door, not letting her go. "My dear daughter-in-law, Susu is just a little girl, she doesn't understand things, don't take her words seriously."
Tan Yue still remembered the grudge of that slap, and suddenly said, "My aunt is sixteen years old, and she is not some little girl who knows nothing about the world."
Luo was also annoyed with the maid, but she didn't dare to get angry. She wanted to persuade Zhao Qingyi to change her mind and lend a helping hand.
Zhao Qingyi interrupted what Luo was about to say and said meaningfully, "What my mother-in-law said tonight is absolutely right. What kind of family is the Bo family? They are a well-known noble family in Shangjing. My mother-in-law should also think about why Madam Wang is so interested in the Li family."
Luo was stunned.
Why did she fancy the Li family? Of course, it was because Shisanlang liked her Susu!
"Madam Wang is the wife of the Bo family. She has her reasons for liking Susu."
"Yes, Madam Wang certainly has her own reasons and her own purposes, but..."
Zhao Qingyi changed the subject, "Mother-in-law should also know what is it about Li Susu that deserves Madam Wang's favor?"
"Is it true that Madam Wang only has eyes for your daughter? Mother-in-law, you should understand this: if one's virtue is unworthy of his position, disaster will surely follow."
"If a mere three thousand taels of dowry is enough to marry into the Bo family, why aren't other girls trying to marry into the Bo family as well?"
Zhao Qingyi's voice was gentle, but every word she said was full of gems, which made Luo's hair stand on end. However, Luo was not in the position, so how could she know the dirty plots in the Bo's mansion?
"Mrs. Wang has made it clear that she wants to marry Susu. Look at the room full of gifts. It is obvious that Mrs. Wang really likes Susu." Mrs. Luo only believed what she thought.
Zhao Qingyi raised her eyebrows slightly. That was all she had to say. Luo herself was blinded by the wealth of the Bo family, so after what happened, it was not her fault.
She would wait and see how this marriage would end.
Zhao Qingyi's bad mood gradually improved. He brushed past the sleeves with repeated twined flower patterns on the hem, and casually walked around Luo. As soon as he stepped out of the door, he saw Li Che walking towards him.
Li Che still had that sullen face, and he immediately asked, "What's wrong with you? Why did you make your mother angry again?"
"Your sister is getting married, and your mother came to me to ask for her dowry." Since they were already at loggerheads, Zhao Qingyi didn't hide the sarcasm in his tone. "This is your mother's business, and it's your responsibility as her brother to prepare for it. What does it have to do with me?"
After saying that, she didn't bother to pay attention to him, but this time when she passed by Li Che, she was alert and deliberately withdrew her hand and moved away from him.
In front of Mrs. Luo and the servants in the courtyard, Li Che didn't argue with her anymore. After they left, he pressed his swollen and painful solar plexus with a look of annoyance. "Mother, how dare you ask her for a dowry? Don't you think my reputation is bad enough?"
Luo had thought he would teach Zhao Qingyi a lesson, but she didn't expect him to start blaming her. She immediately raised her eyebrows, "Why don't you go and persuade Zhao, but instead blame me for ruining your reputation? Don't you think about it? Your sister is about to marry into the Earl's Mansion. If she doesn't have a decent dowry, it will be a real disgrace to our Li family!"
Li Susu ran over crying at this moment, hugged his arm and started crying, "Brother, Zhao Qingyi actually hit me! Look how she hit me in the face!"
Li Susu showed Li Che the half of her face that was beaten, and there was indeed a clear slap mark.
Li Che's head hurt even more. When Luo's mother went to call him, she clearly said that Li Susu had beaten the maid. How come Li Susu was being beaten again now?
He really didn't have the mood to care about these trivial matters at the moment. He simply greeted Luo Shi and said, "Mother, it's getting late. Let's all go."
Seeing his worried look, Luo Shi couldn't bear it, so she pulled him aside and spoke more slowly, "Don't rush back. Go to Lanyue Pavilion tonight and have a good talk with Zhao Shi. First, we want to consummate the marriage, and second, we want to find a way to get her to open the storehouse so that she can buy more dowry for Su Su. Su Su is going to marry into the Bo Mansion, and if she lives well, it will be a good thing for you too."
She didn't know that Li Che had just hit a wall in Lanyue Pavilion.
Mother Luo had not had time to report this matter. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Li Che brush Luo's hand away and said, "I know. My son has been very tired recently, so I won't come to pay my respects."
It was her own son, and she knew the situation well. Luo saw that he was unhappy, but she didn't dare to ask, so she had to let Li Che go back first.
After his back disappeared into the Qionghua Hall, Mother Luo dared to whisper, "Madam, when I went to invite Grandma earlier, Grandpa was already in Grandma's courtyard. But I saw that Grandpa looked unhappy, as if they had been having an argument."
"What?"
Mrs. Luo thought her son was worried about being suspended from work, but she didn't expect it was because of Zhao Qingyi. Her previous good face disappeared immediately. "This bitch! She won't add to Su Su's dowry, and she can't serve her husband well. What's the point of my Li family marrying her?"
Mother Luo was afraid of being heard, "Oh, Madam, please be quiet..."
Now that the power of the Luo family has fallen into the hands of Zhao Qingyi, they, as servants, dare not offend Zhao Qingyi openly.
Mrs. Luo was so angry that she felt dizzy. She held her buzzing head and said, "We can't indulge Zhao like this any longer. My Che'er needs someone who understands his feelings and serves him personally. Don't we have Yuxiu? Tell her to serve Che'er tonight and make sure he calms down."
Mother Luo said awkwardly, "Yes, Aunt Yuxiu is willing to serve, but her face hasn't fully healed yet, so it will probably take a few days..."
Speaking of face, Luo couldn't help but think of Zhao Manyi, who also had a rash and was mistakenly driven out of the house by her as having smallpox. At first, she didn't know Jun Ge'er's life experience, and drove her away in a panic. Later, she learned that Zhao Manyi was actually Jun Ge'er's biological mother and the concubine that Li Che had kept in Lingnan for the past three years.
Luo's buzzing head slowly calmed down. She was really confused. Zhao Qingyi was from the Zhao family, and Zhao Manyi was also a daughter of the Zhao family. Even if she was not as good as Zhao Qingyi, she would not be much worse.
The key point is that Zhao Manyi was willing to risk her own reputation to give birth to Jun Ge'er for the Li family. This shows that she treats Che'er sincerely, and presumably, she is willing to pay for the Li family.
Anyway, Zhao Qingyi, that stingy miser, could not be relied upon, so Luo simply set her sights on Zhao Manyi.
"I heard that the third daughter of the Zhao family is a divorced widow. How about asking Che'er to marry her?"
It seemed as if the heavens were on Luo's side. Jun Ge'er happened to run over, hugged Luo's legs and sobbed, "Grandma, Grandma, I want my mother, I want my mother..."
He couldn't stand Zhao Qingyi, the mistress of the house, and his mother was still the best to him.
As soon as the little grandson arrived, Luo's mood improved. She smiled and pinched Jun'er's little face, "Okay, okay, grandma will agree to your request. When your aunt gets married, grandma will find a way to reunite you with your mother, okay?"
Luo made up her mind that after Li Susu's marriage was settled the day after tomorrow, she would discuss with Li Che about taking Zhao Manyi as a concubine.
—
Zhao Manyi didn't know that she had become Luo's prey. Ever since she was pushed out by Li Che and was turned away, she returned to the Zhao family and was so angry that she started throwing things and beating and scolding the servants. Aunt Fang couldn't persuade her, so she just let her vent and only warned everyone in the courtyard to watch their mouths.
Zhao Manyi was originally a widow, and even if her husband died, she should have stayed in her husband's family. However, Zhao Manyi was already pregnant with Li Che's child at that time, and her husband was a sickly man who could not have sex. If she continued to stay in her husband's family, she would not be able to hide her pregnancy over time.
Aunt Fang, feeling sorry for her daughter's widowhood, cried all day long in front of the second master Zhao Huailiang, begging him pitifully, and finally made Zhao Huailiang soften his heart.
Zhao Huailiang's official position was not high, but he was able to get in touch with the government by relying on the face of the first wife. He insisted on asking for a divorce on the grounds that the other party was trying to get married for good luck. The other party could not suppress the power of the Zhao family, so he gave in and gave Zhao Manyi a letter of divorce.
A noble family like the Zhao family could not tolerate a divorced woman, so Aunt Fang sent her daughter away on the pretext of recuperating from illness. Zhao Manyi then went to Lingnan to become Li Che's concubine, and gave birth to Jun'er in Lingnan. Now she has returned to the capital because of Li Che.
Although no one mentioned Zhao Manyi and her widowhood anymore, for safety's sake, they still had to keep a low profile and this kind of temper tantrum must not be spread.
After Aunt Fang had taken care of the servants in the courtyard, she left the inner courtyard and went outside. A maid came up quietly and whispered a few words in her ear.
Aunt Fang was already dissatisfied with the Li family and Zhao Qingyi because of her daughter's matter. Upon hearing this, her face darkened, "...He's not dead?"
As soon as she said this, she looked around vigilantly. Fortunately, the people around had been cleared away.
Aunt Fang clenched her round fan tightly in her hand and was silent for a moment before she said coldly, "This eldest family is really lucky."
But, so what? Back in the capital, back in the Zhao family, she wasn't the only one who wanted the eldest wife dead.
Aunt Fang took a deep breath and turned to leave.
Within just two days, the news about the eldest wife spread throughout the Zhao Mansion, and the Meng family also heard about it.
This matter was of great importance, so Meng Jiawen had no time to hand in a visiting card, so he hurried to the door early in the morning to ask for a meeting. He was Zhao Qingyi's cousin and the eldest son of the Meng family, so the servants in the Li Mansion were naturally very respectful to him.
Zhao Qingyi got up at dawn every day, washed up, had a meal, and prepared to go out to inspect the shop. When he learned that his cousin was coming, he asked the housekeeper to take him to the front hall.
As soon as the cousins met, Meng Jiawen dismissed the rest of the people, leaving only Zhao Qingyi's two trusted maids.
"Cousin, I have news about my uncle and aunt." Meng Jiawen came here on horseback. As soon as he sat down, he drank a large cup of tea and tried to suppress his disordered breath. "Don't worry if you hear it."
Zhao Qingyi's heart skipped a beat and his whole body tensed up, "Cousin, please speak slowly." Although she asked him to speak slowly, she was more nervous than anyone else in her heart.
She was afraid that the result would be the same as in her previous life.
Then Meng Jiawen said, "My uncle and aunt were robbed by bandits on their way back to Beijing."
Zhao Qingyi stood up suddenly, forgetting to breathe for a moment, her pretty face turned pale.
Meng Jiawen hurriedly comforted him, "Just listen to me first, your uncle and aunt are fine."
He patted Zhao Qingyi's shoulder and gestured for her to sit down. "For some reason, there's been unrest everywhere lately. My aunt and uncle happened to encounter a group of robbers in Shunde Prefecture. They were burning, killing, looting, and committing all sorts of evil in the area, and they've already killed many people. Luckily, when they arrived in Shunde Prefecture, they went to buy you some local specialties, which saved them a day. When the robbers stopped them again and tried to harm people, my aunt and uncle happened to be followed by the Prince Consort's men."
"I'm sure you've heard of the eldest princess's consort. He's a man of the Jianghu, highly skilled in martial arts, and his entourage are all martial arts masters. They easily defeated the bandits and handed them over to the authorities. That's how my aunt and uncle saved their lives, but..."
Speaking of this, Meng Jiawen's expression became a little unnatural. "It's my little cousin..."
Zhao Qingyi's heart, which had just been relieved, was immediately worried again, "What happened to my brother?"
"My cousin fell off the carriage in the chaos, hit his head, and passed out..."
In this new life, Zhao Qingyi could not bear any bad news. Upon hearing this, her nose felt sore and tears welled up in her eyes.
I feel sad and fortunate at the same time.
I felt sorry for my brother's injury, but I was also glad that my parents and brother were still alive in this life and that I had saved my life.
"Alright, alright." Meng Jiawen hurried to comfort him. "Don't worry. I heard from the doctor that it's just a minor injury and his life is not in danger. The Meng family has already sent someone to meet him. The princess and her husband will be with him on the road ahead, so I'm sure there won't be any problems."
Tan Yue Qiao Yue also used a handkerchief to wipe Zhao Qingyi's tears. Zhao Qingyi fell into the armchair. It was the first time she cried out loud in her new life. She cried for a long time and finally calmed down.
"It's good to be alive, it's good to be alive."
She no longer asked for anything. In this life, she was lucky enough to be able to keep her parents and brother alive.
Zhao Qingyi wiped her tears and whispered, "Cousin, you just said that my father and mother met the eldest princess and her husband?"
"Yes." Meng Jiawen thought of this and couldn't help but sigh, "It's really God's blessing. If not, my uncle and aunt would be in danger of life and death."
Zhao Qingyi fell silent.
In the previous life, after her parents and younger brother got into trouble, the eldest princess and her husband passed through Shanxi. They learned that robbers were rampant and decided to deal with the matter. Later, they recognized their parents and younger brother in the charity cemetery, buried their bodies, and brought them back to Shangjing for burial.
In this life, because of his message, his father chose to take a detour and unexpectedly met the eldest princess and her husband in Shunde Prefecture.
But if they had not met the eldest princess and her husband, their parents and brother would still have died.
This was inconsistent with Zhao Qingyi's original plan. In her previous life, there were no robbers in Shunde Prefecture. She deliberately chose this place and asked them to postpone their journey for a day just to avoid this ambush, but it still happened.
"On what day did my father and mother encounter the robbers?" Zhao Qingyi had a hunch that something was wrong.
Meng Jiawen frowned and thought, "Calculating the time, it should be... the tenth day of June?"
It would take about five or six days for the news to be transmitted from Shanxi to Beijing, which was just a rough estimate.
Zhao Qingyi's mind raced back to his past life; the time of the accident seemed to match, except for the location...
It seems that the death of my parents and younger brother in the previous life was not an accident, but a deliberate targeting by someone.
Zhao Qingyi's heart sank little by little. It was the height of June, but she felt cold all over. Could it be because her father was about to implement a new policy together with Prime Minister Zhang?
If this is the case, then the matter can be explained, but I am afraid that in the future, their Zhao family will still have no peace.
Meng Jiawen didn't know what Zhao Qingyi was thinking. Seeing that she looked bad, he asked with concern, "Cousin, are you okay?"
Zhao Qingyi came back to her senses, "It's okay, I was just thinking about how to thank the princess and her husband for saving my life." And also for the kindness of burying her parents and brother in her previous life.
Seeing how hard she was living in the Li family, Meng Jiawen thought she was worried about money, so he patted his chest confidently, "Don't worry, when the princess and her husband return to the capital, my Meng family will immediately prepare a generous gift and come to express our gratitude."
"Thank you, cousin. I have one more thing to ask." Zhao Qingyi pondered for a moment and said seriously, "Cousin, please find a way to send someone to the Shunde government office to inquire about the origins of that gang of robbers."
"I would have done the same even if you didn't tell me." Although Meng Jiawen was not involved in politics, he had been in the business world for a long time and knew the twists and turns of people's hearts. In addition, his uncle was promoted to the cabinet and was going to implement new policies, which made many people jealous. He guessed that the robbery incident was not simple. The only clue now was the robbers. It would be best if he could get useful information from them through interrogation.
"You have to take good care of yourself recently." After giving these instructions, Meng Jiawen left some guards and followers for Zhao Qingyi before leaving in a hurry.
Meng Jiawen arrived before noon. Shortly after he left, the mother and daughter of the Luo family from Qionghua Hall were busy getting ready. Today was also a good day for the Zhongyong Marquis's family to come and propose marriage. Except for Lanyue Pavilion, almost everyone in the Li Mansion was coming in and out, busy decorating the mansion.
After noon, the Duke of Zhongyong came to propose marriage as promised. Mrs. Wang came in person and brought forty-eight loads of betrothal gifts. Considering the Li family's status, it showed their importance.
Luo's mother and daughter changed their clothes and smiled from ear to ear. They exchanged engagement letters and signed the marriage certificate on the spot. The two families chatted for a long time as the sun gradually set.
The marriage has been settled. Li Susu looked at the sun outside the window and it was getting late.
She stood behind Mrs. Luo and spoke timidly, "Mother, the embroidery thread in my daughter's room is almost used up. Can I..."
Li Susu is about to get married and has already started embroidering her wedding dress.
Luo Shi subconsciously glanced at Madam Wang's expression. Madam Wang was obviously unwilling and said with a smile, "Do you want me to send two maids to accompany you?"
Li Susu's hand, hidden in her sleeve, was clutching a piece of paper. Upon hearing this, she quickly shook her head and said, "No, no, it's all a small matter. Madam Wang, please don't worry about it."
Mrs. Wang's eyes darkened slightly, and then she smiled again. No one could tell what was going on.
After leaving Qionghua Hall, Li Susu asked her maid to tidy up her clothes. Today she wore a light red short-collared shirt embroidered with crabapples, paired with a green pleated silk skirt with bamboo leaves. It was three times more gorgeous than her usual outfit, but when she thought about meeting someone soon, she still felt it was not enough and felt uneasy.
The last time we met at Xiangguo Temple, she didn't dress up properly. So, should she be dressed appropriately today?
Thinking of this, Li Susu carefully opened her palm, and there was a note slightly soaked with sweat.
The maid was still a little hesitant, "Auntie, are you really going to keep the appointment?"
Just when Mrs. Wang was about to arrive, a maid from the Bo's Mansion secretly slipped a note to Li Susu, saying that it was written by Shisanlang, inviting her to go out and cruise on the lake together in a pleasure boat after they got engaged.
Li Susu did not dare to confess her secret meeting with a man before marriage, even though this man was her fiancé, to Luo. However, she could not bear it and was eager to see Shisanlang again.
Li Susu's mind flashed with the handsome appearance of Shisanlang, and her face turned red and her heart beat fast again, which also made her more determined to go out of the house to meet him.
Just as she was about to step out of the street gate, Zhao Qingyi, leading Tan Yue Qiaoyue and a group of guards, came from another road and met her.
Li Susu paused and quickly hid the note.
Zhao Qingyi remained calm.
This scene from the previous life is still happening.
At that time, she saw that Li Susu looked unhappy and was afraid of causing trouble, so she asked Qiao Yue to snatch the note. After learning the whole story, she tried her best to stop her, but Li Susu not only refused to listen, but also insisted on going to the appointment. After causing trouble, she turned around and bit her, making Luo Shi believe that she was the one who secretly fanned the flames and harmed Li Susu. For this, she punished her by making her kneel in the ancestral hall for a whole month, forcing her to use her dowry to subsidize Li Susu.
At that time, she only cared about the Li family's reputation and Li Susu's reputation in the boudoir, and did thankless things. This time, she would not read the note, nor would she stop Li Susu from meeting with another man.
Perhaps it was because he learned that his parents and brother were safe, or perhaps it was because of the big event that was about to happen, Zhao Qingyi was in a good mood at the moment.
Her almond-shaped eyes casually glanced at Li Susu's hands behind her back, and she curled her lips slightly, "Auntie, do you have something to go out for?"
"It has nothing to do with you." Li Susu still resented Zhao Qingyi for not wanting to buy her more makeup. After she said that, she left without looking back. There was a sedan waiting outside the gate.
Zhao Qingyi watched the sedan go away, smiled faintly and stroked her temples, "Since I have nothing to do today, let's go to the Qingyun Teahouse across from Mingxin Lake."
She couldn't wait to see the show.
"Come here, prepare the sedan chair."
Different from the sedan chair that took Li Susu away, Zhao Qingyi's sedan chair was made entirely of fine rosewood, with carved flowers, birds, fish and insects vying for attention. Silver bells with tassels hung from the four corners, and the top of the sedan chair was inlaid with glazed beads. As soon as the sky darkened, the whole sedan chair was filled with precious light, and it was extremely luxurious.
Before her rebirth, this sedan was used daily by Luo and Li Susu. After her rebirth, she did not allow outsiders to touch it. She usually went out on foot or in a low-key carriage. Today, because she was in a good mood and it was getting late, she asked the servant to carry out the sedan.
Tan Yue and Qiao Yue also noticed her good mood, but the two of them were still thinking about the Luo mother and daughter asking their grandmother to add more makeup, and the Zhao family's eldest wife encountering robbers on the road, and they were unhappy.
Half an incense stick later, the sedan chair landed steadily in front of the Qingyun Teahouse. This teahouse was owned by the Meng family and was always bustling with people. Today, there was a night cruise on the Mingxin Lake opposite, which attracted many guests.
In the evening, the shopkeeper noticed the glowing sedan chair and hurried out to greet it. "Grandma Zhao, how did you find time to come here today?"
The Meng family only has this cousin, who is also the eldest daughter of the Zhao family. Everyone in the Meng family knows her.
"I'm free, so I came to take a look." Zhao Qingyi smiled and asked Tan Yue to grab a handful of silver peanuts from her purse. "Is Room No. 1 on the fourth floor still available?"
"Yes, yes." The shopkeeper took the silver peanuts and nodded hurriedly. "The eldest young master has ordered that this room number one will be reserved for you forever. No one else can use it."
Zhao Qingyi, surrounded by the shopkeeper and several servants, went up to the fourth floor.
The higher up the teahouse goes, the more it is for distinguished guests and the prices are expensive, which ordinary people cannot afford. Therefore, even though the first and second floors are bustling with people, the fourth floor becomes deserted. Not to mention the private rooms, there are few people even in the lobby.
Zhao Qingyi did not enter Room No. 1, but sat directly in front of the window facing the lake. This position had a wide view, and the entire Mingxin Lake was in sight. Pleasure boats were floating on the clear lake. As dusk was approaching, strings of colorful lights were hung on the pleasure boats. From a distance, they were full of colorful lights and swaying shadows.
The shopkeeper brought the tea and respectfully placed it in front of her. Zhao Qingyi gently stirred the teapot with the lid, and the hall was immediately filled with the fragrance of tea. "It's such a good seat, but I'm the only one sitting here enjoying the view. What a pity."
The shopkeeper was a little unsure of her intentions.
Zhao Qingyi gestured to Tan Yue, who handed all the money she had to the shopkeeper. "My grandmother wants to treat everyone today and invite everyone to sit on the fourth floor."
The children of officials and dignitaries in Beijing would often invite relatives and friends to a teahouse for a small gathering, but not everyone was as wealthy as Zhao Qingyi, so most of them gathered on the second and third floors, where the view was not as broad as on the fourth floor.
But there will be a good show on Mingxin Lake soon. Isn’t it a pity that no one comes to watch it?
The shopkeeper was still completely confused, muttering to himself that Mrs. Zhao really had too much money and didn't know where to spend it. However, he accepted the money and did as he was told, then asked his clerk to go downstairs to invite someone.
Almost no one refuses a good thing that comes for free.
When Zhao Qingyi returned to Room No. 1, she heard noises coming from the stairs. There were men and women, sons of nobles, many literati and scholars, and some daughters of officials.
Due to the difference between men and women, the lobby was separated by twelve glazed screens. Men and women sat down separately and subconsciously looked out the window. They were soon deeply shocked by what they saw, and most of them were sighing at the scenery upstairs.
Amidst the exclamations of admiration, someone suddenly shouted, "The pleasure boat is moving!"
The pleasure boat started moving, sailing slowly towards the center of the lake against the wind, which also meant that everyone who should get on the boat had already gotten on.
Zhao Qingyi sat in front of the window, leaning her head against the wall and eating snacks, looking very relaxed. The two maids didn't know what she was up to, and out of boredom, they also turned their eyes to Mingxin Lake.
This was a surprising sight, a water-red figure was particularly eye-catching.
Qiao Yue opened her mouth wide, "Isn't that my aunt?"
Tan Yue also came to the window, "Why is there a man next to her?"
The man was undoubtedly Shisanlang, whom Li Susu met at Xiangguo Temple.
Zhao Qingyi chewed the cloud cake in her mouth carefully, with no surprise on her face. Instead, the two maids watched her with great interest.
Qiao Yue almost laughed out loud, "I never thought that my aunt would secretly meet a man outside in the middle of the night. If this gets out, my reputation will be completely ruined..."
She came to her senses and stopped talking. She suddenly looked at Zhao Qingyi and said, "Grandma, you invited so many people to the teahouse. Could it be..."
"Hush." Tan Yue pressed her index finger against Qiao Yue's lips. "Don't say anything careless. Our grandmother just has too much money and didn't know where to spend it. She invited people over for tea and a play. How could she have known that someone was secretly meeting a man in a pleasure boat late at night?"
Qiao Yue reacted and nodded with a smile, "Yes, yes, how would our grandma know?"
The two maids laughed as they talked, and continued to stare at the pleasure boat. After a while, as the man and woman in the pleasure boat hugged each other, Qiao Yue covered her eyes with her hands and cried out in shame.
"Oh, how embarrassing, how embarrassing!"
She said she was embarrassed, but her fingers covering her eyes were wide open, as if she wanted to make the person opposite her look ugly. However, the next moment, she was stunned by the situation opposite her.
Suddenly, a young man in a wheelchair rushed in and shouted, "Bitch!", interrupting the hug between Li Susu and Shisanlang.
The young man in the wheelchair was dressed in cloud-patterned brocade. It was obvious that he was of extraordinary status. He looked somewhat like Lady Wang from the Loyal and Brave Marquis's Mansion, with a fairly handsome face. It was a pity that he had a limp and could only sit in a wheelchair.
He stared at Li Susu, his eyes nearly spitting fire. "Well, you're so good! You got engaged to me right away, and now you're having an affair with another man!"
His voice quickly attracted the men and women in the pleasure boat. Nowadays, people are open-minded, and it is common for young men and women to travel together on special holidays or occasions. For example, on today's night tour of the pleasure boat, there are many engaged young men and women, or married couples traveling together.
But when he heard someone having an affair, he still looked over here curiously.
Li Susu was originally immersed in the warmth of her meeting with Shisanlang, but was suddenly scolded and looked confused.
"You bitch! Bitch—" The other party was very annoyed and turned the wheelchair to rush over.
Li Susu screamed in fear and huddled in Shisanlang's arms. She had no idea who the person was. "Who are you?"
"Who am I?" The young man almost laughed out loud. "I am the Thirteenth Young Master of the Loyal and Brave Marquis's Mansion! Liang Ye!"
Li Susu's head buzzed, and she almost thought she had misheard, "Zhong, Zhongyong Marquis' Mansion? ...The Thirteenth Young Master?"
A servant behind Liang Shisan felt deeply that his husband had been let down by the woman before him, and said angrily, "That's right! My young master is your betrothed husband!"
The four words "fiancé" hit Li Susu's forehead heavily. She was at a loss. She looked at the lame Liang Shisan, and then at the handsome and tall Shisanlang beside her. Her powdered face suddenly turned pale.
"No, impossible!"
Li Susu shook her head, her lips trembling. "How could you be the Liang Shisan I'm engaged to? The man next to me is my fiancé, the Thirteenth Young Master of the Bo Mansion!"
"ridiculous!"
If Liang Shisan could stand up, he would definitely go up and grab the couple and slap them hard. He gripped the wheelchair handle with one hand and slowly raised the other hand, pointing at the man next to Li Susu. His fingers were shaking with anger.
"He... he's just my mother's distant nephew, the thirteenth child in the family. Because his parents died, my mother took pity on him and brought him to the uncle's house to be raised! How can he be considered a young master of the uncle's house?"
"Wang Shisan! How long are you going to pretend to be stupid?" Liang Shisan asked for the last time, his eyes bloodshot.
Li Susu was completely confused. She staggered and barely managed to steady herself by holding onto the railing on the side of the pleasure boat.
Liang Shisan...Wang Shisan...
How come there are two Shisanlang? They both got her involved!
In panic, Li Susu's eyes were full of tears. She looked at Liang Shisan sitting in the wheelchair again, and a deep despair swept over her body.
"Impossible... How could I be engaged to a cripple? The one who made the engagement with me was clearly Shisanlang, who is right beside me!"
Liang Shisan seemed to be well prepared. He pulled out a jade pendant and the marriage certificate from his sleeve. "This is the engagement token my mother exchanged with you that day at Xiangguo Temple. Also included is this marriage certificate. It clearly states that the person who has made the marriage contract with you is me, Liang Shisan!"
The onlookers were in an uproar, and even the spectators in the teahouse were attracted by the movement on the pleasure boat.
At this point, Liang Shisan was so ashamed and embarrassed that he threw the marriage certificate at Li Susu on the spot.
Li Susu didn't have time to cry out in pain. She picked up the marriage certificate in a panic and looked at it carefully. Sure enough, Liang Shisan's name was written on it. At first, she and her mother had also seen this marriage certificate, and they didn't think there was anything wrong with it.
It was not until this moment, when she and her Shisanlang were taking a night cruise on the pleasure boat, that she realized that there were actually two Shisanlangs in the Bo Mansion.
The man she met at Xiangguo Temple and fell in love with at first sight was Wang Shisan, the distant nephew of Lady Wang from the Bo Mansion. The man who signed the marriage certificate with her was a lame man named Liang Shisan.
Back then at Xiangguo Temple, Mrs. Wang kept calling her Shisanlang and wanted her to marry into the Bo family. Afterwards, when she returned to the Li family, she and Luo Shi went to investigate and only knew that Mrs. Wang's legitimate son was ranked thirteenth in the family. So they mistakenly thought that the Shisanlang they saw that day was Mrs. Wang's legitimate son, the legitimate son of the Bo family.
With that kind of appearance and background, Li Susu couldn't wait to marry him immediately. Even until the engagement today, she and Luo Shi hadn't carefully checked the details of the Bo family, and they didn't know that there were two Thirteenth Langs in the Bo family. The real Thirteenth Lang was actually a plain-looking lame man!
The Duke of Zhongyong actually used such despicable means to deceive her and her mother!
Li Susu felt as if the sky had fallen on her. She couldn't stop shaking. Finally, she couldn't bear it anymore and wanted to tear up the marriage certificate. However, the marriage certificate was made of silk and ordinary people couldn't tear it into pieces.
After venting her anger, she threw the marriage certificate into Mingxin Lake.
Liang Shisan was furious, "You——"
Li Susu had been spoiled by Luo Shi since she was little. She couldn't swallow this humiliation and shouted at Liang Shisan, "I don't want to marry a cripple! I don't want to marry a cripple!"
Calling him a cripple completely enraged Liang Shisan.
"You bitch!"
Liang Shisan actually forced himself to get up from the wheelchair and rushed directly towards Li Susu.
Wang Shisan had already run away, but Li Susu was still in shock at the truth and had no time to dodge. Instinctively, she let out a shrill scream and flipped over the railing.
It fell into the lake with a "plop", creating a huge splash.
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