Chapter 11 Teachings
The sun was shining brightly, and the sky was clear and the air was crisp.
Four little girls from Fanghua Garden were huddled in a corner playing with roots.
One person holds a long poplar leaf root in their hand, intertwining two leaf roots together. The other person grabs the two ends of the leaf root in their hand and pulls it towards their chest at the same time. Whoever's leaf root breaks loses.
Li Qu and Granny Xu were embroidering two fruits.
The double-sided embroidery was a precious gift that Li Qu wanted to give to the old lady of the Zhou family.
Double-sided embroidery was Li Qu's second specialty, a skill she learned even earlier than her skincare routine.
I still remember that after she and Xiao Cong had a fight about the Three Treasures, she started ignoring Xiao Cong.
It wasn't a cautious, respectful, and distant avoidance, but rather an anger that screamed, "I don't want to talk to you."
On Qixi Festival, Wu Xubai acted as matchmaker, and the three of them went boating on the lake together.
Xiao Cong lowered his stance and said, "A-Qu, for Qixi Festival, aren't you going to give me a purse?"
Xiao Cong certainly didn't lack gifts of purses, nor did he lack girls who would give him purses.
And she also saw the truth clearly.
If she really marries someone else, Xiao Cong will not let her go.
In that instant, she saw the enormous benefits that Xiao Cong could bring her.
There's no way around it; it's too difficult for ordinary people to make a living. But if they hitch a ride on Xiao Cong's coattails, everything will be different.
After Qixi Festival, Xiao Cong's fiancée, Lin Wanru, introduced her to a master of double-sided embroidery.
She studied for nearly six years and achieved some success.
*
Working day and night, Li Qu finally finished embroidering the headband before the end of the Gui Water period.
While Xu Mama, Hongguo, and Cuiguo were praising Li Qu's amazing skills, Li Qu began making the anti-aging cream.
"I won't rest tonight. Granny, you should rest early tonight. We'll go to Shou'an Hall tomorrow."
If you want to live well in the Zhou family, you must first get past the matriarch of the Zhou family.
After staying up all night, the next day, Li Qu put on a slightly weak makeup, chose a loose and dignified dress, and went to the Shou'an Hall of the Zhou family's old lady before dawn.
The old lady made a grand display, letting the plums dry in the sun.
Whether out of curiosity or something else, the second wife, the second daughter, the second concubine, and others, who had been exempted from paying their respects to the old lady on the first day of the month, all met at Shou'an Hall by chance.
Li Qu, of course, greeted him politely upon meeting him.
The second wife, being of high status, considered it an honor to give face to a concubine if her gaze lingered on Li Qu even for an inch.
The second wife's legitimate daughters, Zhou Huanyan and Zhou Miaoyan, were very kind to Li Qu because Li Qu's face masks and rose water were very effective.
The third young lady, born out of wedlock, is fourteen years old this year. Her marriage was delayed because of severe freckles on her face. Now, her freckles have been faded by Li Qu, and she looks at Li Qu as if she were a second mother.
As her mother, Aunt Hu, passed by Li Qu, she whispered, "Don't be afraid, we're here to give you courage!"
Aunt Xun and Aunt Zheng behind her nodded as they looked at her.
Li Qu politely agreed, but in her heart she felt that they were there to watch the fun.
After everyone went inside, laughter could be heard from inside from time to time. Around ten o'clock, Xueying, the head maid of Shou'an Hall, came to invite Li Qu in.
As expected, apart from the aloof old lady, the room was filled with curious eyes.
Li Qu knelt down deeply as she approached, her voice earnest: "I was ungrateful and acted rashly, almost angering the old lady. I deserve to die."
Now that I have realized my mistake, I have come to apologize to the old lady.
Although the old lady has already punished me, I am still terrified.
Everyone held their breath.
Grandma Zhou sat at the head of the table, dressed in fine clothes, her face a mixture of kindness and authority, a smile that seemed to be on her lips.
She tossed the prayer beads onto the table and stared silently at the kneeling figure: "Alright, you've served by my side before, you know my temperament. I don't have many hidden agendas. I've only heard that you're unwilling to sign the concubine-taking document?"
They've arrived.
Everyone held their breath.
Li Qu's heart tightened slightly, but she pretended to be heartbroken. She straightened up, her eyes filled with tears, and twisted her handkerchief, looking at Old Madam Zhou with a wronged expression: "Third Master said that I am ungrateful and do not deserve a title. He also said that if I cannot please him, he will not give me a title."
As she spoke, she lowered her eyes to hide her heartbreak, her face glistening with the moonlight.
Li Qu took out a handkerchief and slowly wiped away her tears. She secretly glanced at the old lady, hesitating to speak.
Rong Mama, the old lady's trusted confidante, spoke up: "The concubine has reaped what she sowed. From now on, she should settle down and serve the Third Master properly."
Li Qu felt relieved, but her face showed a hint of grievance. She suppressed her sobs and bowed again, saying, "Thank you, Old Madam, for forgiving me. From now on, I will serve Third Master wholeheartedly."
Grandma Zhou showed mercy: "Get up, and offer Aunt Li a seat."
"Thank you, Madam." Li Qu stood up and sat down in the last seat that the maid had arranged for her.
The old lady of the Zhou family has passed the test.
The matter of the concubine's document was also dropped by Old Madam Zhou.
Li Qu breathed a sigh of relief, then heard Old Mrs. Zhou say, "You all came here today, did you all come to show off your new lipsticks? They're all so bright and beautiful."
The conversation then turned to Li Qu's work on rouge.
Taking the opportunity, Li Qu presented the old lady with the anti-aging cream, lip rouge, and forehead band that she had made for her during this time.
The crowd gathered around Li Qu's gift, showering her with praise once again.
Finally, the cold tea in Li Qu's hand was replaced with the same high-quality jade Guanyin tea that everyone else was drinking.
After sitting for a while, the second wife took her leave, citing the many household affairs she had to attend to. The three concubines of the second wife also left with their mistress.
Seeing their mother leave, the three young ladies from the second wife also got up to say goodbye.
Li Qu stood up behind her, but before she could say goodbye, she heard Granny Rong say, "Please wait, Madam."
Li Qu nodded and stood up: "Please give your instructions, Madam."
"Your Highness should be very attentive to the Third Master, being respectful and gentle. The proper conduct of a concubine goes without saying. The sooner you obtain a formal title, the more at ease you will be."
"Yes. I will heed your teachings, madam."
"Although the old lady and the third master are mother and son, a son is no longer under his mother's control when he grows up. The old lady shouldn't interfere too much in the third master's affairs. If the third master encounters any important matters, he should inform the old lady immediately."
"What does 'granny' refer to...?"
Granny Rong glanced at Li Qu and slowly said, "For example, Third Master was ordered to take over the grain transport troops from the court, but now he claims to be ill and cannot take up the post. It won't be long. Does Third Master already have a good plan?"
Li Qu was startled.
The position of Commander-in-Chief allows one to fight against external enemies and suppress popular uprisings and pacify rebellions.
She never expected that Zhou Jin had taken this position in order to suppress the grain transport troops.
The canal soldiers recognized the Zhou family as their master.
So, does the Emperor want the Zhou family to cut off their own arm?
Li Qu was filled with countless thoughts, but her face remained expressionless. She quickly knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "I am terrified. The Third Master only engages in sexual relations with me and does not discuss anything else. I do not even know what the nanny said."
"Third Master always treats his concubine differently; his concubine is a smart woman."
Li Qu cried out, "Third Master is heartless; I fear my life is in danger."
After a long while, Rong Mama's voice came from the head of the table: "You were sent by the old lady, so she will protect you."
Seeing this, Li Qu had no choice but to reply, "I will do my best."
"Furthermore, a concubine's son is not superior to a legitimate son, even in terms of age. Concubine, please take care of your health and do not do anything wrong."
“From the concubine’s residence.”
"The old lady would never take your things for nothing. Here's a little trinket, Auntie, take it back and play with it."
A maidservant brought out a tray and handed it to Granny Xu.
Li Qu kowtowed in gratitude: "Thank you for your kindness, old lady."
"Step down."
"This concubine takes her leave."
After Li Qu left, Lu Yanyan walked out from the inner room and nestled into Old Madam Zhou's arms, sobbing softly, "Aunt, I don't see what's so good about her. Why would my third cousin prefer her to me?"
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