Chapter 2 (Revised)
Brothers, smash his shop!
That night, the Hao family invited many people to chant sutras and light fires for the bewildered Lu Qin, hoping to ward off evil and cure her illness. The farce finally ended late at night.
Because of this incident, Madam Hao and Master Hao felt very guilty and were very accommodating to Lu Qin's every request. Lu Qin also benefited from the misfortune, as she was exempted from paying her respects to her parents-in-law for a while and did not have to get up early.
She slept soundly until she naturally woke up, occasionally making plans for starting a business in her room, completely unaware that she had become the headline figure in the household.
"I heard that the young master has not returned for three days, and he is drunk. He has locked himself in the clinic and refuses to come out no matter what."
"The young master doesn't want to marry. Even if ten oxen pulled him, he wouldn't come back. It's just a pity for the young mistress, who is so deeply in love..."
"That's right, she tried to kill herself several times because of this, and almost went insane. So young, what a tragedy..."
When Zhilan returned with the medicine, she was met with a chorus of gossip.
She was furious, but afraid that her mistress would be heartbroken if she found out, she could only swallow her anger and go back to her room.
She pretended to be nonchalant as she fed Lu Qin the medicine, but Lu Qin pushed it away, refusing to drink it, because of the disgusting smell.
Although a woman's appearance was of utmost importance in ancient times, she didn't care when she thought of her bastard husband. After all, it was just a minor injury and wouldn't disfigure her.
Seeing her stubbornness, Zhilan had no choice but to place the medicine on the table, remove the soft cloth covering the bronze mirror, and say that she would first help her wash her face and do her makeup.
Lu Qin casually agreed, but when she looked up unintentionally, she caught a glimpse of the person in the mirror and froze on the spot.
She was petite and charming, and because of her illness, her already fair skin was even more like snow, like a flawless piece of white jade.
Then look at those exquisite features, her eyes as bright and clear as peeled lychees, her bloodless lips perfectly stained with lip rouge, like just-ripe cherries...
This is what she looks like, why didn't you say so sooner!
Lu Qin picked up the bowl beside her like the wind, drank the medicine in one gulp, and then touched her smooth, supple skin.
Cool!
"..."
Zhilan was puzzled... but it was good that the young lady was willing to take the medicine.
During the fifteen minutes she spent getting ready, Lu Qin kept admiring her face. When she looked down at the table full of rouge and powder, she couldn't help but think of her important business.
Nothing else is urgent. She needs to check out the current beauty and clothing market first. She needs to find a way to go out... She's got it.
"Zhilan, I miss my husband so much."
Lu Qin took out a silk handkerchief and dabbed a few empty tears under her eyes, looking like a broken beauty. "My husband is not here, and I have nothing to do in the mansion. I want to go out for a walk."
Zhilan hesitated for a moment, then said, "Miss, you're still sick. Don't go out yet. What if something happens to you on the street..."
Besides, the fact that the young lady is now living alone in her room has become a topic of gossip. If she were to go out and hear about it, she would probably be furious.
Lu Qin thought for a moment, not wanting to make things difficult for her, she raised her hand to cover half of her cheek, and said sadly, "Yes, if my husband saw me like this, he would only despise me..."
Zhilan is always timid and easily frightened, so following her around is inconvenient and might even cause trouble.
She should find a chance to sneak out herself.
...
Around midnight, Lu Qin got out of bed, packed her bags, and prepared to sneak out of the Hao residence while the maid was dozing off.
She didn't know how silver could be converted into RMB, so she packed up all the betrothal gifts from the Hao family and took them with her. To ensure a smooth journey, she also brought lip rouge for marking her entrance and an iron rod for self-defense.
A great mission has been bestowed upon us by Heaven!
Lu Qin mustered her courage, solemnly put on her veil, letting the thin silk drape down to cover her face, and confidently made her way into the courtyard in the dark.
The mansion gates were already locked, and the servants on night duty hid in the dim light, their eyes wide open, watching every figure approaching the gates.
The door was so tight that not even a fly could get out. Lu Qin decisively gave up on breaking through the front door and instead found a low wall that was more secluded, which she nimbly climbed over.
Unexpectedly, her body was incredibly weak. She was exhausted after just one step. She rested furtively for a while before regaining her strength.
Seeing another, even higher wall under the moonlight, Lu Qin took a deep breath and slowly climbed over it.
Only after she passed through the higher courtyard wall and climbed over the Hao residence did she dare to breathe a sigh of relief and walk into the street.
Fortunately, the Hao residence was located in a bustling area. Not far away, rows of shops with lights still on outside came into view.
Despite visiting only a few shops, Lu Qin was so exhausted that she was panting heavily and nearly collapsed several times. So she changed her plans and decided to visit the clinic first before checking out the market.
Unexpectedly, the road to finding the clinic was even more winding. Lu Qin walked through several twists and turns before finally finding a small clinic with its door open at a corner.
The signboard of this clinic was simple and straightforward, with only the character "医" (medicine) engraved on it. Lu Qin dragged her tired body inside and found that the clinic was not only in a remote location but also small in size. Apart from a counter, two tables and chairs, there was a wall-high cabinet of Chinese medicine.
"Excuse me... is anyone... home?"
Lu Qin felt that she and her luggage could take up half the room. As she asked, she struggled to stand on tiptoe and suddenly noticed a man in a black robe sitting behind the counter.
The man had long, black hair tied up, his long legs casually stretched out, and a faint smell of alcohol wafted from him. Seeing Lu Qin enter, he lazily raised his phoenix eyes and put down the book he was holding.
"You're here..."
Before Lu Qin could finish speaking, the man jumped up and sneered, "How dare you do this in broad daylight?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Qin felt a flash of cold light before her eyes and a chill approached her neck. Upon closer inspection, she saw that it was a man holding a short sword to her neck.
Lu Qin shuddered, her palms were drenched in cold sweat, and the stray hairs at her temples were also soaked with cold sweat, sticking to her cheeks.
Her smile froze for a moment: "Um, doctor, is this...some kind of medical ritual?"
"Seeing a doctor?" The man looked her over suspiciously.
This man was running around in the middle of the night, wearing a veiled hat and dressed in black. He had a bulging bundle on his back and carried an iron rod that looked like it had been stolen from a blacksmith's shop. He was walking unsteadily and unsteadily... Was he really here to see a doctor?
After a long pause, he shoved his sword into the counter, glanced at the iron rod in her hand, and sneered, "If you hadn't said anything, I would have thought you were going to rob and plunder!"
Thinking about her outfit, Lu Qin chuckled dryly; it did indeed look a bit like a robbery.
She put down the iron rod she was carrying and said apologetically, "It's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. Sir, I came to see a doctor, but I've been injured on my face these past few days and can't be seen in public, so I'm wearing a veil."
After hearing this, the man seemed to lower his guard, casually sat back down, and took out a pulse pillow, gesturing for Lu Qin to place her hand on it.
Lu Qin thought to herself that this man was strange and hard to figure out, but she obediently put her hand on the pulse pillow and waited for the man to take her pulse and examine her.
Following the principle of respecting the difference between men and women, the man took out a fine handkerchief and placed it on her wrist. He then extended his slender hand, leaving only two fingertips resting gently on her wrist.
Gradually, his brows furrowed slightly, but he remained silent.
Lu Qin watched him quietly, not daring to breathe too loudly, for fear of disturbing him.
A short while later, the man lifted his handkerchief and said, "I'm too deeply poisoned; I'll be meeting the King of Hell soon."
Upon hearing this, Lu Qin gasped. Yama? No, why am I going to die so soon after transmigrating?
She asked anxiously, "Is there any cure for this poison?"
“Yes.” The man leaned back in his chair and said without further ado, “One thousand taels.”
One thousand taels? Lu Qin was dumbfounded. What kind of illness would cost four taels? Was he robbing her?
She paused, then smiled politely: "Doctor, I don't have that much money, you see..."
“There’s nothing we can do,” the man shrugged. “Just wait to die.”
Lu Qin was angered by his words, picked up an iron rod, and turned to leave in a fit of rage.
"You're so ungrateful! I've run into all sorts of scoundrels! I married a jerk, and now I run into a jerk when I go to the doctor! You're utterly heartless! No wonder this place is so run-down and small! You wouldn't even get this money for a coffin!"
...
Half an hour later, the sky outside was just beginning to lighten, and the shouts of vendors could be heard everywhere.
"If it's not sweet, you don't pay!"
"Three coins! Only three coins!"
"There's only one steamer of xiaolongbao left!"
The crowd was bustling, and Lu Qin, dragging her ailing body, was pushed and shoved from the left and right, finally managing to squeeze out of the crowd after a long while.
It's unbelievable that there isn't a second clinic on such a long street.
Having taken many detours, her recently recovered strength was completely drained again. Her heavy clothes were very inconvenient, so she staggered to a corner to sit down and rest, and casually picked a wildflower.
Go in, don't go in, go in, don't go in...
After much deliberation, she decided to go in, since getting treatment was the priority.
Lu Qin stood up, patted the dirt off her bottom, and suddenly saw several familiar servants in the distance.
They looked around, sometimes gathering and sometimes dispersing, as if searching for someone; one of them was even riding a horse.
Was she probably sent by the Hao family to find her?
That's true. After sneaking out for so long, they're definitely going to look for me. My in-laws will probably blame me when I get back.
As they drew closer, Lu Qin prepared to lift the thin silk to reveal her face, but then she heard the group discussing something.
"Last night, the secret guards sent word that Miss has gone missing. Madam Zhao instructed that we must seize this opportunity to capture Miss and take her outside the city."
"yes."
The head servant assigned routes, and the group split up. Lu Qin watched this scene, her smile freezing on her face.
It turned out that it was Aunt Zhao who sent people to kill her, and they even disguised themselves as servants of the Hao family.
That Aunt Zhao is too ruthless... poisoning and human trafficking, if this were modern times, she would definitely call the police...
Lu Qin turned around silently, shrinking back into the corner while peering out to observe her surroundings.
Soon, the servants who had gone in four directions met in the middle and began to discuss the new route allocation.
Southeast, Northeast, Southwest, Northwest.
"Should we go with that thing and the North and South?"
"Go to hell."
Lu Qin's heart was in her throat. Seeing a servant rushing towards her, she decisively got up and left.
Because she was walking in a hurry, she bumped into a passerby, fell down, and her veil fell to the ground.
"hiss……"
For a moment, people on the street stopped and looked over.
"Sorry. Are you alright?"
The passerby, full of apologies, was about to reach out to help her when Lu Qin swiftly picked up her veil and fled westward.
Sure enough, the servants noticed her and rushed towards her, shouting, "Young Madam, we are here on Master's orders to bring you back to the manor!"
"I don't believe you!" Lu Qin pulled on her veil and ran off. "You dare impersonate someone from the Hao family? You should go back to the underworld!"
She left the servants half a block behind in one breath, then turned left and right and returned to the alley.
This can't go on; she's almost exhausted and needs to find somewhere to hide.
Lu Qin frantically scanned her surroundings, but there was nowhere to hide except for the clinic she had just been in, which was still open.
Seeing that the servants were about to come this way, she didn't care about anything else and turned around and rushed into the house like a gust of wind.
The man who was reading looked up when he heard the noise, and when he saw her return, he sneered.
I've never seen anything like this before. Not only are they unwilling to spend money on medical treatment, but they also come back to cause trouble.
He impatiently put down his book: "Hey, little..."
"Let me hide for a bit!" Before he could speak, Lu Qin darted behind the counter and crouched between two drawers, hiding herself perfectly.
"Hiding?" The man stood up. "Are you perhaps a fugitive?"
Lu Qin took off her veil and quickly stuffed it under the cabinet: "I'm not!"
The man watched the man's swift movements and couldn't help but become suspicious. This person was highly suspicious; he had a strange illness and was trying to escape...
He said sternly, "Who are you? Tell me honestly, or else I'll—"
Before he could finish saying "Grandpa," Lu Qin raised her head, used all ten fingers to pull out a gold bar from her sleeve, and held it up in front of him.
"This is just a small token of my appreciation, please consider it an invitation to tea, brother! Please help me out, brother!"
She blinked, trying to intimidate the man with her stunning beauty and soften his heart.
However, the man only glanced at the gold bar in her hand.
It's like saying, "You're rich, aren't you?"
"..."
Seeing his hesitation, Lu Qin took out another token, on which the character "Hao" was clearly engraved.
Whether she lives or dies depends entirely on this quack doctor. The servants sent by Aunt Zhao are on horseback; they might just dump her in the middle of nowhere and bury her alive!
Lu Qin's fingertips trembled slightly with nervousness: "This is my husband's family's token! I'm definitely not a bad person! Brother, you've helped me, you're my benefactor, I will definitely repay you in the future!"
"..." The man looked at the token and finally reacted, frowning.
"Trust me this once, and I'll explain in detail later." As if hearing the sound of horses' hooves, Lu Qin grew extremely nervous. "Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda..."
"My friend."
Before she could finish speaking, the servants outside came searching from house to house. Lu Qin quickly held her breath and kept quiet, frantically sending out distress signals to the man with her eyes.
The man glanced at her, his gaze sharpening, and strode to the door.
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