Chapter 105 Reaching Out
'Tomorrow night'
Li Qu looked at Zhou Jin's reply but couldn't discern the emotion in the man's voice.
She put the reply in her hand aside and instructed Hongguo to send Zhou Jin a bowl of snow pear and white fungus soup.
Then I picked up my pen and continued what I had been doing before – analyzing my future path.
Lan Guo offered her the medicine to help with pregnancy: "Madam, it's getting late, you should rest early."
Li Qu picked up the bowl of medicine, drank it all in one gulp, and said without looking up, "Go prepare some water."
Her lips and teeth tasted bitter, just like the road she had traveled.
Lan Guo handed her a plate of candied fruit.
She took a bite.
Sweetness on the tip of the tongue is followed by sourness, and then a bittersweet experience.
It's delicious and flavorful.
Seeing that Li Qu looked serious, Lan Guo didn't dare to disturb her any further. She bowed and went to prepare water.
Li Qu picked up his brush and dipped it in ink.
The tree-like diagrams she drew were made from the armor plates she obtained from Zhou Jin.
She would assemble it piece by piece, creating an armor for herself that he could do nothing about even if he didn't love her.
I love him.
You must also love yourself.
*
When Zhou Jin returned, the moon was already high in the sky.
The noise of the gatekeeper opening the courtyard gate startled Lan Guo, who was on night duty at the gate.
She hurried forward and told Zhou Jin what Li Qu had done that day.
Zhou Jin continued walking, and after listening to Lan Guo's report, he reached the steps of the porch.
He ordered, "Bring water."
Lan Guo curtsied and ran to the kitchen to inform them.
He lifted the hem of his coat and went up the steps.
I went straight to the bath room.
After washing up and entering the room, I lifted the bed curtain to make sure Li Qu was asleep.
He quietly went to the west study.
Looking at the thick stack of Qiu and Yin characters newly added to the desk.
His brows furrowed.
Is Aqu planning to deceive herself again?
He quietly went back to his room.
I lifted the bed curtains and got into bed.
It was pitch black inside the bed curtains, and he couldn't see her at all; he could only hear her even breathing.
He's gone to such lengths?
Is she still unable to let go of her past grievances and try to accept herself?
My mood suddenly turned gloomy.
He lay down beside her and carefully pulled her into his arms.
Then he comforted himself, saying that things might not be as he thought.
She might be preparing a surprise for him.
Suspicious and paranoid.
After lying there for a while, he turned to his side and carefully undid her clothes, seeking comfort.
I don't know if I used too much force or what.
She hummed in response and slowly woke up.
Zhou Jin, whose face was still buried in her arms, suddenly froze.
Pretend to be calm.
Keep rubbing against each other, keep kissing.
She nudged his head away, and he lay down to the side, pretending to have just woken up: "A-Qu, what's wrong?"
I would rather die than admit that I made a mistake based on my own subjective will.
Li Qu sat up: "I need to pee."
Zhou Jin quickly got up and lit the lamp.
When I turned around to help her up, I saw her wiping away tears, her mind a blur.
Feeling guilty, he stepped forward and fastened her loose clothes.
They didn't dare say a word.
When she returned, she shuffled heavily toward the bed.
He covered her with a light blanket, turned off the light, and went to bed properly.
They dared not cross the line.
She snuggled up to him like a kitten and hugged his arm.
"My husband~"
Zhou Jin sincerely admitted his mistake: "Aqu, I never thought I would make a frivolous advance towards you in my dream."
Li Qu nuzzled his arm, seemingly unconcerned.
She asked gently, "Did I disturb your sleep?"
Zhou Jin felt sorry for her: "You're pregnant and can't sleep through the night. It breaks my heart. How could I feel like I'm bothering you?"
“But my husband is very busy and works very hard.”
"If you feel disturbed, please rest somewhere else in the future."
"I feel sorry for my husband."
Zhou Jin was pleased with the coaxing.
I'm unhappy again.
"No need to be so polite. We're husband and wife, it's too formal to use the formal 'you' in this way."
Her voice was soft and sleepy: "I love my husband, and I respect him."
"I'm counting on my husband to protect my child and me for the rest of my life."
So, please take good care of yourself.
"As for me... I'll suffer for another two months, and then it won't be so bad."
She seemed to have wiped her tears onto his sleeve.
He turned and pulled her into his arms, kissing her forehead.
Without saying a word, he made up his mind to treat her even better.
Her breathing became heavier, and she draped her legs over him, sleeping more and more soundly.
He raised his hand and traced her eyebrows and eyes with his fingertips.
I decided to give up asking her questions about the character 丘螾.
She can have some little secrets of her own.
I slept well all night.
Zhou Jin was awakened by her teasing in the early morning.
Her palms were very warm.
He grabbed her wrist, his voice low and husky: "Aqu! You can't!"
She seemed startled by his voice: "Hmm?"
She lay languidly in his arms, seemingly half-awake.
He closed his eyes and clenched his back teeth.
She realized that her behavior was inappropriate and quickly apologized to him.
"I'm sorry, my husband!"
"I never imagined that my dream would be so disrespectful to you."
Zhou Jin: "..."
He took a cold shower early in the morning.
When I came out of the bathhouse, there wasn't even a maidservant in the room.
Neatly folded clothes were laid out on the tatami.
He was used to the neglect he received from everyone at Fanghua Garden.
She silently stepped forward and dressed herself.
Her gentle voice came from the corridor.
"Thank you for coming to my Fanghua Garden so early in the morning, Granny Niu. If you don't mind, please have some morning tea here."
"Thank you for your kindness, Madam. It is only my duty. Please do not hesitate to ask if you need anything."
Judging from the voice, he's a sycophantic lackey.
Sure enough, the obsequious servant spoke up: "This old servant also has a beautiful pot of periwinkle here."
Zhou Jin paused in his dressing.
"If you, Madam Bo, would even glance at it, it would be a blessing for the plant."
"Granny, you're so sweet-talking. If you keep coaxing him like this, you'll even coax the soup I'm making for Third Master into going to waste."
The servants and maids burst into laughter.
Zhou Jin was tying his inner robe belt when he heard this, so he slipped on his shoes and strode out the door.
The moment he appeared, the maids and servants gathered in the corridor fell silent.
He bowed respectfully to Zhou Jin and said, "Greetings, Third Master."
She stood on the porch with her back to the gate.
She turned around at the sound of her voice, a warm smile spreading across her face: "My husband~"
She was particularly eye-catching today, wearing a pomegranate-colored gauze long dress and a deep gold cross-collar embroidered top.
She wore a gold necklace around her neck, with a jade pendant hanging from it.
Her dark hair was all pulled up, piled high, and adorned with a golden osmanthus hairpin.
No ear decorations, yet elegant at home.
He didn't have time to appreciate her beauty; his gaze was fixed on Granny Niu standing under the eaves.
As if sensing something, Granny Niu knelt down with a thud and lay trembling on the ground.
Li Qu noticed Niu Mama's movement and turned to look at her.
But then Zhou Jin spoke up: "Huaichun, hand the man over to Huaiyan."
"If she confesses, she will be left with a whole body; if she doesn't confess... then her bones will be crushed and her ashes scattered!"
He bit the last four words with extreme cold.
Li Qu felt the hairs on the back of his head stand on end when he heard this.
The servants of Fanghua Garden were so terrified by the murderous intent that they prostrated themselves on the ground.
Of the two maids who came with Granny Niu, the one holding the periwinkle flowers rolled her eyes and fainted.
Another person collapsed to the ground, nearly fainting.
The entire Fanghua Garden fell silent for a second.
Granny Niu's panicked voice rang out.
"Third Master, autumn is bleak with few colors."
"This old servant just wanted the Third Madam to see the color of the periwinkle and feel better."
"There is no intention to leave these flowers in Fanghua Garden!"
"This old servant is in charge of the greenhouse and knows all the plants inside and out!"
"How could we possibly leave this poisonous substance in Fanghua Garden!"
"Third Master, spare me! Third Master, spare me!"
As they were talking, Huaichun had already stepped forward and subdued Granny Niu.
Granny Niu turned pale with fright, and her skirt gradually became damp.
Seeing that she was about to be dragged away, she quickly turned her gaze to Li Qu.
"Third Madam, Third Madam!"
"These flowers are so brightly colored, this old servant only wanted to make you smile!"
"You are the most lenient of all, please, I beg you, plead for this old servant!"
"Please, please, for the sake of the child, save some money..."
Huai Chun slapped her so hard that her teeth fell out and she cried out in pain.
The closest one, Cuiguo, took off his smelly socks and stuffed them into her mouth.
After Granny Niu was dragged out, Granny Xu and the other servants of Fanghua Garden gradually remembered Doctor An's instructions.
"In autumn, periwinkle should be the first plant to be wary of, as its stems, leaves, and flowers all contain potent poison."
If a pregnant woman accidentally ingests this, it could harm both mother and child in severe cases, or cause diarrhea and premature birth in milder cases.
Xu Mama was momentarily dazed and collapsed to the ground, losing all her strength.
Their lives were going too smoothly and beautifully, and they almost fell into someone else's trap.
"This old servant has been negligent and derelict in his duty. I beg my master to punish me."
Zhou Jin's face was cold: "A six-month fine, twenty taels of silver for punishment. If there is another offense, you will be tattooed and sold into slavery. No one can beg you to do anything about it!"
*
After Li Qu became pregnant, Zhou Jin's protection of her was both abnormal and harsh.
He cared about every aspect, no matter how small.
The dangerous foods and plants listed by Dr. Guang'an were all part of the training provided to everyone at Fanghuayuan.
Zhou Jin also had a booklet that he knew by heart.
He didn't feel particularly angry when he heard the name "Cinnamomum camphora".
He only became enraged when the laughter of the people in the courtyard reached him.
Amazingly, not a single person remembered that this flower is poisonous!
He personally supervised the executions.
Fanghuayuan's hands were swollen from top to bottom like pig's trotters after being beaten.
*
When the news reached Shou'an Hall, the old lady had just finished her breakfast.
She helped Rong Mama out of the dining room: "Luckily the news came late. If it had come earlier, I wouldn't have been able to eat."
Granny Rong dared not utter a sound.
Nothing more.
Who in the entire Zhou family, besides the old lady, would dare to lay a hand on Fanghua Garden?
The old lady didn't intend to make a move; she was just testing the waters of Fanghua Garden.
"We haven't even figured out the extent of the problem yet, and we've been made an example of."
The old lady was speechless: "Go find Huaiyan, and don't let Huaiyan use torture."
"Let this old servant help you back to your room first."
The two took a few steps, and Xueying came up to them: "Madam, Third Master and Third Madam have arrived."
The old lady patted Rong Mama's hand as she supported her: "Hurry and save them, or I'll be committing a sin!"
"Yes." Granny Rong bowed and withdrew.
Xueying stepped forward and helped the old lady back to the main room.
Upon arriving at the main room, before the couple sitting to her left, drinking tea, could even get up, she said, "Please sit down!"
Zhou Jin remained seated.
Li Qu stood up and stepped forward to help the old lady: "I am late in paying my respects, please forgive me."
The old lady patted her hand: "Go to the dining room and have some breakfast. A pregnant woman can't go hungry."
Li Qu understood the intention to send him away, and wisely left.
*
After Li Qu left, Zhou Jin spoke up: "Why did Mother set her sights on Fanghua Garden!"
There are three brothers in the mansion.
On the eldest son's side, his sister-in-law was arguing with his brother every day about returning to the capital, so she had no time to care about the affairs of the third son's family.
They dared not return to Hezhou for the first time!
There was no conflict between the second wife's side and the third wife's side.
Moreover, with the marriage of the eldest son of the second wife approaching, everyone is extremely busy.
The only person in this household who dares to so openly and brazenly interfere with Fanghua Garden is his mother.
The old lady sat down on the couch without haste, and picked up her prayer beads: "What's this about asking for favors!"
"But I'll tighten my skin!"
"Give her a heads-up too!"
"Was yesterday's outburst even reasonable?"
"I've never seen a woman who's eight months pregnant still be able to have miscarriage trouble!"
Snow Oriole served her tea.
She said calmly, "A person's energy is limited; you can't be in charge of both domestic and external affairs."
"If she can't change her mind, either you let her go, or don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Zhou Jin remained silent, listening to this nonsense that posed no threat to him whatsoever.
The old woman's punch landed on cotton; it was powerless.
Well, she mainly wanted to give Li Qu a warning.
There's no way to leave now.
If you stay, you should live your life well!
She won't forgive someone if they don't live a proper life!
She said, "I will send Granny Niu to the estate."
Zhou Jin: "Mother, never do such things again!"
"She's already having a hard time during her pregnancy, and now she has to suffer this shock!"
"It took so much effort to appease her. If you scare her away, will you compensate me?"
old lady:"……"
"Get out of my sight!"
Zhou Jin: "Then don't even think about getting away unscathed."
He stood up and bowed to the old lady.
"I take my leave."
The old lady watched her youngest son's departing figure, then angrily collapsed onto the couch.
"evil creature!"
*
Having been wronged by her son, the old lady wanted to get revenge on her daughter-in-law.
He helped Xueying to the back of the partition in the dining room.
She watched Li Qu eat his meal properly through the openwork patterns on the partition.
After searching for a while without finding any fault in her demeanor, she asked Xueying, "Xueying."
"Did you hear her making noises while eating?"
Xueying watched as the Third Madam ate quietly, chewing without opening her mouth, and lowered her head.
She is an honest snowbird.
The old lady glanced at her twice: "Go and bring Rong Mama back."
Xueying bowed respectfully and withdrew properly.
The old woman turned around, wanting to continue spying through the lattice window at the culprit who had bewitched her son into a fool.
She saw Li Qu holding an amaranth juice red bean bun, standing opposite her through the partition, eating it while watching her.
old lady:"……"
Li Qu, with her chubby cheeks and crescent-shaped eyes, smiled at the old lady.
Looking at that beautiful and lovely face, the old lady suddenly radiated a warm light, showing no embarrassment at being caught.
On the contrary, I felt that... there was a reason why my son failed.
She walked around the partition: "I just saw the 'Golden Branches and Jade Leaves' pot you sent, and I like it very much."
Li Qu stepped forward to help her and sat down at the dining table with her.
It is proper to not speak while eating or sleeping.
But in front of affectionate elders, why bother with rules?
"I'm glad you like it, Mother. Your daughter-in-law really enjoys your breakfast here. May I come and bother you often in the future?"
The old lady looked at her smiling and affectionately, and said lightly, "Didn't you say you didn't care?"
“What was not rare before is now considered a treasure.”
The old lady's teeth ached: "Don't try to coax this old woman with the same tricks you use on the third son!"
"I'm not afraid to tell you, that pot of periwinkle this morning was a gift from me!"
"If you think that by winning over the third son's heart you can do whatever you want in the Zhou family, you are sorely mistaken!"
"As a mother, I'd rather he suffer for a while than suffer for a lifetime!"
"Have you really thought this through?"
Li Qu chewed on the steamed bun in her mouth, still smiling.
"He was willing to give me anything I asked for."
Equality, respect, and the position of the principal wife.
"He was willing to give me things I never asked for."
He did not take concubines, and power was shared among all his members.
“Since he is sincere towards me, I cannot retreat without a fight.”
Even if the outcome isn't as wonderful as he promised.
At least he's doing well now.
"The future requires effort, and my daughter-in-law will work hard."
She leaned back in her chair and swallowed the last bite of her steamed bun: "I forgave him, I accepted him, and I've done more than just benefit him."
The maidservant helped her rinse her mouth and served her tea.
She picked up the cup, took a small sip, and put the teacup down.
The old lady could tell that her demeanor was completely different from yesterday.
Yesterday my eyes were clouded with rain, today they are covered with blue skies and white clouds.
Li Qu pulled two pieces of paper from her sleeve: "Mother, look at these two patterns, which one do you like?"
Seeing her bright and sweet smile, the old lady wanted to give her a gentle reprimand, but ultimately couldn't bring herself to say it.
Her intention in warning Li Qu was to encourage her to live a good life with her son.
It's not about putting on airs like a mother-in-law.
The old woman snatched the paper from Li Qu's hand: "I want both of them."
Li Qu pulled out another piece of paper from her sleeve: "I'll embroider three for you!"
"You didn't embroider it on both sides? How can you embroider three of them?"
"Why would you need double-sided embroidery on the shoe upper? You can't see it when you wear it inside."
"I like it."
"Alright, alright, I'll embroider it for you ...."
The old lady laughed: "I won't let you embroider for nothing!"
"Then, Mother, could you tell your daughter-in-law about the Zhou family clan affairs, the social interactions within the household, and other matters?"
“After my daughter-in-law gives birth, someone will definitely come to congratulate us.”
"We can't let Second Sister-in-law worry about everything concerning the Third Wife."
The old lady snorted, "Now you want to learn? You'll have to make this old woman happy first."
"Hush, hush, hush, daughter-in-law, please."
She showered the old lady with compliments, showering her with endless praise.
They told jokes from all over the world, making the old lady spit out her tea so hard she choked from laughing.
The dark-clad figure outside the door quietly departed.
Zhou Jin was worried that the old lady would make things difficult for Li Qu, so he came back to check on her.
But then I saw this scene.
His large hands opened and clenched in his sleeves, opened and clenched again.
The warmth in her eyes and brows lingered.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
