Chapter Five
Since Yan Zhili said there was no need to worry about it, Liu Qin really didn't intend to interfere, and didn't even bother to meddle in the housekeeping matters.
She couldn't remember such things at all. Although Liu Qin didn't understand the so-called rules in the capital and wouldn't care about such a large family, she could distinguish between what was important and what was urgent. Even though she and Yan Zhili had a deep relationship, there were still six years between them.
Baojie and Guige both chose their own courtyards. Because Guige was still young, he ended up choosing the courtyard closest to the main courtyard. Baojie chose a large one. Baojie's thinking was very honest. In the past, her family was poor and had no choice but to eat, live, and dress poorly. Now that her father was rich and her family was wealthy, of course she had to choose the best. Besides, no matter how big the courtyard was, she wouldn't have to do any work.
Although they now have their own courtyard, Baojie and Guige will stay in the main courtyard for now. They will move there once they have gotten used to the other courtyards and the existing ones have been renovated.
Before they returned, Chen Qiu had already prepared a lot of things for them, so they had everything they needed to wear and use. When they left the palace, they brought back many things in large and small carts.
Baojie took Guige out to play by herself, and Yan Zhili let his guards accompany them, which made him feel at ease. While staying by his wife's side, he couldn't help but ask, "Why do you look preoccupied?"
Liu Qin pursed her lips, her eyes reddening as she said, "Sister Bao has killed someone."
Yan Zhili was also taken aback. He didn't think killing people was a big deal. He had killed many people to get to where he was today, but he didn't expect that his daughter had killed someone at such a young age.
“It’s not Baojie’s fault.” Liu Qin hurriedly explained, “There were a lot of kidnappers outside at the time. Two old women came to our house in the middle of the night to forcibly take Guige away. They even injured my mother and me. If it weren’t for Baojie, Guige would probably have been taken away.”
Yan Zhili was unaware of this incident and asked, "Are you seriously injured?"
Thinking of the despair she felt then, Liu Qin felt a sharp pain in her heart: "My mother injured her head, and Baojie killed someone with the wood-chopping knife we used at home."
Yan Zhili said in a deep voice, "Well done."
Liu Qin pursed her lips: "I saw those two people during the day. They said they were relatives of the same family."
Yan Zhili's expression changed. He reached out and grasped Liu Qin's hand. Since they were relatives, it was likely that those people had come looking for them after the two disappeared. However, they were doing something shady, so they naturally didn't dare to openly inquire. They probably did a lot of probing in secret.
“My mother and I disposed of the body together.” Liu Qin’s hands trembled as she recalled that bloody night: “We realized that the village was not safe, and it would become increasingly unsafe.”
Yan Zhili reached out and hugged his wife, but of course it wasn't safe. At that time, war was raging and people were filled with fear. The four of them were easy targets for others.
Liu Qin slowly exhaled: "Mother and I secretly sold the jewelry and rented a small courtyard. Bao Jie... Bao Jie went to work as a maid in a wealthy family."
Yan Zhili knew all this, but hearing it from his wife still made his heart ache.
If there were any other way, Liu Qin would not have wanted to let such a young daughter work as a servant in someone else's household: "It's not like she's being sold into servitude; she gets a monthly allowance, so she can only work as a lowly maid."
Those maids who served as personal servants in those households all had indentures, and Liu Qin also had her bottom line; she couldn't sell her daughter.
Yan Zhili took a deep breath, her eyes reddening, and said, "I'm sorry to you and your daughter."
Liu Qin shook her head. If possible, she would like to go by herself, but those families simply do not want someone as old as her. She can only take on some laundry, sewing, and small embroidery jobs at home because she also has to take care of her injured mother-in-law and young son.
“Sister Bao sends her monthly allowance back every month,” Liu Qin said. “It’s all thanks to my husband’s soldiers, who are very kind. They didn’t make things difficult for us after taking over the town. They even sent us food and caught all the local thugs.”
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry I didn't find you sooner." No matter how lightly his wife spoke, those days must have been unbearable. Yan Zhili said, "I'm sorry."
Liu Qin said softly, "It has nothing to do with my husband. It would be so difficult to find someone in that kind of environment, especially since we intend to remain anonymous."
Yan Zhili felt guilty as he listened to his wife's words.
Liu Qin looked at her husband with a smile. The hardships and pain of the past years had not made her sharp and resentful. Instead, she was like a pearl with its light contained within: "We have always known that what you are going to do is not simple. You are a big shot. So when everything is settled, we will come to find your uncle and you."
Even when they were so poor they couldn't afford to eat, they didn't pawn the keepsakes left by Yan Zhili.
Liu Qin said, "It's all thanks to Madam Wang's kindness."
Madam Wang was the mistress of the household where Baojie worked. Later, seeing that Baojie was young, she let Baojie stay by her side. Baojie even received the same monthly allowance as a first-class maid, but had much less work to do. Madam Wang taught Baojie a lot of things. When she learned that Guige was studying, she also gave Guige a set of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
Later, it was through Madam Wang's inquiries about Yan Zhili and the others' whereabouts that they were able to reunite as a family.
Yan Zhili was also grateful to Madam Wang, because without her, his wife and daughter would probably have suffered a lot more: "We will repay her properly."
Liu Qin said softly, "Anyway, we'll have to rely on my husband to repay the favors we owe."
Yan Zhili felt this was a matter of course: "We'll invite her into our residence then, and we'll thank her properly."
Liu Qin lowered her eyes slightly. She loved her husband, but she loved her child even more. Her family was not outstanding, and now she could only rely on her husband.
Xu is young and beautiful, comes from a prestigious family, and is currently pregnant. If she gives birth to a boy, it's hard to guarantee that she won't want to fight for him.
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