Chapter 118 Take Away
Outside the teahouse, a light drizzle formed a curtain, while inside, spirited students engaged in lively discussions, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
Inside the private room, Li Qu looked at the young master Cui, who was tall and had developed early, with a youthful and handsome face, and thought to herself: I was careless.
It will probably be another seven or eight years before this boy becomes an official.
Cui Zhiyan stood politely in front of Li Qu, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Cui Zhiyan of Xiyang greets Madam."
A boy going through puberty, with a hoarse voice.
This is in stark contrast to his polite and courteous image.
Li Qu chuckled, "No need for formalities. I couldn't help but interrupt when I heard the young master's brilliant argument. That was impolite of me."
Cui Zhiyan looked on with admiration: "Madam's talent and learning are outstanding, I admire you greatly."
"Young master, you seem to be quite young. Have you come here to study?"
"Yan is now thirteen years old. His elder brother, Cui Zhilin, is serving as the Chief Secretary of the Military Prefecture. He accompanied the Zhou Emperor to Hezhou, and Yan came here to pay respects to his brother. He came to visit during his free time."
"May I ask how you are addressed, Madam?"
Li Qu smiled and said, "My husband is Zhou Jin."
Cui Zhiyan immediately bowed and said, "Greetings, Third Madam."
"No need for formalities, please sit down."
Cui Zhiyan politely sat down opposite Li Qu.
Zhou Feng sat down next to him.
Li Qu picked out a topic and chatted briefly with Cui Zhiyan.
He was polite, well-mannered, and spoke calmly and deliberately, showing the demeanor of a great man at such a young age.
The key point is that this young man is broad-minded and does not hold outdated views in his speech.
Open-minded and cheerful, as bright as the moon.
For Li Qu, this was another pleasant surprise.
Zhou Feng, watching Li Qu's increasingly gentle gaze towards Cui Zhiyan, felt his fur stand on end.
Before the topic had even changed, he hurriedly asked, "Third Aunt, aren't you going to Yinghua Temple to offer incense?"
Upon hearing this, Cui Zhiyan understood the implication and politely declined the offer.
Zhou Feng escorted him out.
Li Qu raised her hand to fiddle with the bamboo curtain and saw Cui Zhiyan being surrounded by many students after coming downstairs.
When Zhou Feng returned, he was devastated and went into a frenzy.
"Third Aunt, what should we do!"
"Although I have instructed Young Master Cui not to reveal your identity."
"But there are too many people today."
"Everyone is curious about your identity, Third Aunt."
"There will inevitably be some reckless individuals who will block the roads, wanting to find out what's going on!"
He looked at Li Qu with a worried expression, saying, "If Third Uncle finds out..."
Nowadays, women are considered virtuous for being quiet and keeping the home.
To put it bluntly, Li Qu's actions were nothing more than showing off her knowledge, being restless at home, and not adhering to traditional female virtues.
She lowered her eyes to look at the teacup in front of her, rested her wrist on the table, and twirled the cup in half-circles with her fingers, remaining silent.
Zhou Feng scratched his head.
After a while, Li Qu pushed the cup in her hand onto the tea table with its carved diamond pattern.
The tea in the cup flows into the water channel along the diamond pattern.
She smiled at Zhou Feng and said, "It's alright."
This is a great opportunity to put yourself in the view of current and future members of the bureaucracy.
Fortune favors the bold.
She raised her hand and touched her stomach.
Get up.
Granny Xu stepped forward and put a veil on her.
Zhou Feng, with a pained expression, advised, "Third Aunt, let's wait a while before leaving. The people downstairs haven't dispersed yet."
Li Qu laughed: "Red fruit, green fruit, you'd better stand up straight, or you'll embarrass me later."
*
Downstairs, Cui Zhiyan was surrounded as soon as she came down.
"Brother Cui, whose noble lady lives upstairs?"
"Yes, Brother Cui, a woman with such knowledge must come from an extraordinary background. Could you tell me who her teacher was?"
Cui Zhiyan tried to get away and leave, but the crowd wouldn't let her go.
He was furious: "You are all reckless!"
"You used to say that a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent, so why are you now trying to find out her identity?"
Someone in the crowd spoke up: "As the Duke of Zhou said, a woman's talent is like a pearl in a box! I admire her talent, but I have no rash intentions."
Cui said, "I have nothing to say! Please make way!"
He was pushed and shoved, unable to break free for a while.
On the other side, some scheming individuals, under the guise of seeking knowledge, surrounded Zhou Hong.
The teahouse was bustling with activity.
Until a gentle voice rang out.
"Please make way, everyone."
The students surrounding Cui Zhiyan at the stairwell either looked up or turned away.
The crowd surrounding Zhou Hong also sensed something and looked up.
Zhou Hong turned around and his gaze fell on Li Qu, who was slowly descending the stairs.
Just then, his personal servant returned with the news and whispered in his ear, "Master, upstairs are Young Master Feng and the Third Madam of the Main Mansion."
Zhou Hong's eyes narrowed instantly as he looked at Li Qu.
All was silent except for the sound of autumn rain weaving through the wind.
Li Qu helped Granny Xu down the steps one by one.
Huai Xia led the way, followed by Hong Guo and Cui Guo, who stood tall and straight. Huai Chuan brought up the rear, her every step graceful.
A veil concealed her face.
Her figure revealed that she was already married to someone else.
Everyone recognized her voice as that of the person who had spoken up earlier.
Cui Zhiyan straightened up and turned to bow to Li Qu.
He did not reveal a single word of his identity, but his actions showed his respect.
The students made way, and Li Qu walked to the first floor under the curious gazes of the crowd.
Then, they walked in the direction of Zhou Hong.
The students in front of him all made way for him.
Li Qu did not approach. Once there was no one blocking the way between them, she bowed from afar.
"I happened to be hosting a refined discussion with my third uncle, and I made a mistake and disturbed him. Please forgive my rudeness."
Zhou Hong's face was solemn as he slowly spoke.
"Su Hui, a concubine of Fu Jian of the Former Qin Dynasty, used palindrome poems to win favor in the harem, which ultimately led to the downfall of the Fu Qin Dynasty—this is the disaster of 'women interfering in politics'."
"What does my niece-in-law think?"
Li Qu took a deep breath.
"The downfall of the Fu Qin dynasty was due to its relentless military campaigns, not to a woman's poetry and prose."
Zhou Hong asked again: "During the Eastern Han Dynasty, He Jin summoned Dong Zhuo to the capital because his sister was involved in politics. Women's involvement in politics will inevitably lead to disaster—this is the distinction between Yin and Yang in the way of Heaven."
"What does my niece-in-law think?"
Li Qu remained neither humble nor arrogant: "He Jin's defeat was truly due to the calamity caused by the eunuchs, and had nothing to do with his sister."
Zhou Hong was about to speak again.
Li Qu took the initiative in controlling the pace of the conversation.
"My third uncle said that women's involvement in politics is a disaster for women. Then my niece-in-law asked, 'If a male ruler like Emperor Hui of Jin is a tyrant, he is even more disastrous for the country than a woman. Why is it that only women are blamed?'"
"If we judge fortune and misfortune by gender, then was the downfall of Jie of Xia and Zhou of Shang not because men were unfit to be rulers?"
With a loud bang, the entire hall erupted in uproar.
Li Qu also felt a chill run down her spine.
To say such a thing in this patriarchal society is utterly rebellious.
But now that the topic had been raised, she couldn't let it fizzle out.
She raised her voice: "My niece-in-law is ignorant and clumsy with words."
"In my opinion, the root of chaos lies in incompetent rulers and treacherous ministers."
"Government and chaos depend on the principles of governance, not on the inner chambers of women's homes!"
It was a resounding statement.
A clamor of discussion erupted around them.
Zhou Hong also looked surprised.
Amid the discussion, Li Qu bowed respectfully and said, "My words were inappropriate; please forgive me."
Then he helped Granny Xu walk outside.
As she reached the door, a north wind blew and rain flew, the light veil of the fence fluttered slightly, revealing a face as beautiful as a lotus flower.
The students crowded around the teahouse were stunned.
Servants held umbrellas and escorted Li Qu to the carriage.
Zhou escorted her to the door, cupping his hands in a respectful bow: "Seeing off Third Aunt."
Some knowledgeable people recognized the regulations governing the carriage Li Qu was riding in.
Suddenly someone asked, "Is it really that Third Madam Zhou, who came from a commoner background?"
"How do you possess such extraordinary insight?"
What happened to Li Qu was unknown.
But from now on, she will no longer be an unknown person.
Once seated in the carriage, she let out a long sigh of relief and gulped down her drink.
Looking up, he saw Cuiguo and Hongguo staring at him with bright eyes.
Cui Guo clutched her heart: "Madam, you are the most amazing lady I have ever met!"
The red fruit nodded repeatedly.
Xu Mama smiled and raised her arm: "Although Madam has scratched my arm red, I still think Madam is very powerful."
Li Qu's gaze fell on Xu Mama's arm.
The red mark on Granny Xu's arm revealed that her inner state was not as calm as it appeared.
Xu Mama lowered her arm: "Madam is able to compete with men, and dares to compete with men. This old servant admires her the most."
Hongguo and Cuiguo nodded repeatedly.
Li Qu smiled faintly: "Please invite the nanny to watch the opera, and apologize to the nanny."
"Great!" Cuiguo exclaimed with delight.
Nowadays, there are few forms of entertainment, and the plays performed at people's homes are all very formal and proper.
The plays performed in the theater were more diverse and varied, including both popular and unpopular ones, which were quite popular with the public.
After Huaixia made the arrangements, Li Qu took her seat to watch the play, and the outside was already in an uproar.
A pregnant woman, whose background and education contradict each other, and who is beautiful and married into a wealthy family, suddenly finds herself in the midst of the words of a man who holds the rules of the world.
It has all kinds of words.
A series of chain reactions brought the impact of this discussion to a climax.
*
Also reaching a climax were the poor little ones who were caught sleeping in.
"My dear Rong'er, wake up."
A shameless man, using both soft and hard tactics, obtains the treasure he has longed for day and night, and becomes endlessly greedy for it.
Li Rong frowned and pushed the person on top of her, complaining, "Didn't you say you wouldn't make a scene this morning!"
"I can't control him."
There's no reason to let go of what you've already possessed.
The man's low, husky voice sounded soft and weary.
She angrily hit him: "You broke your promise!"
He chuckled softly.
He lowered his head and made a fuss in front of her.
She always made him want to bully her.
No matter how much they bully him, they can't get enough of him.
"My dear Rong'er, your good days are over. I need to go back to work on time."
"You stay at Zhaoshan Residence and don't go out and wander around."
"I'll take you to see Fourth Sister after five days of rest."
When her fourth sister was mentioned, she seemed a little more awake.
"My dear Rong'er, are you comfortable?"
Her naturally fair skin flushed a light pink with shyness.
He inserted his large hand between her slender fingers and pressed her firmly into the bedding.
He asked, "Is this more comfortable, or was it more comfortable the way it was before?"
She was filled with shame and indignation.
He said, feeling wronged, "How am I supposed to know how you feel if you don't tell me?"
"I don't know, so I just do whatever I want. If I hurt you, you'll beat me up later."
Li Rong retorted angrily, "Weren't you reading a book?!"
"It wasn't taught in the book, so Rong'er taught me!"
She hit him again.
He enjoyed her vibrant appearance.
His fingertips, resting on her spine, seemed to carry a subtle electric arc, making her tremble from her tailbone to the top of her head.
She couldn't help but reciprocate his affection.
She wanted him to give her more.
She dared not open her eyes, afraid of meeting those eyes that were clearly gentle and smiling yet filled with desire.
The possessiveness and domineering nature that filled her always frightened her.
"My dear Rong'er, don't bite your lip, I want to hear it."
It was already past 7 AM when soft, tingling moans, barely suppressed, emanated from the woman's bedside.
The night she accepted him, under his tutelage, she learned to enjoy it.
The clever man was slowly eroding her soul, leaving no aspect of it untouched.
A butterfly fluttering among the flowers was caught by a spider that had been eyeing it for a long time, and could only get entangled tighter and tighter in the spider silk.
He was teasing her.
It's wonderful to bully her until she cries and begs for mercy.
After being satisfied, it was already past 9:00 AM.
*
After washing up and getting dressed, he transformed into a well-dressed and upright gentleman once again.
Li Rong sat in front of the dressing table, letting Qiu Ju style her hair.
My gaze inadvertently fell upon him through the reflection in the bronze mirror, and I saw him bending down to adjust the jade pendant at his waist.
He glanced up casually, his eyes filled with tenderness, and his gaze captured hers.
She quickly turned her face away from his gaze, but unexpectedly pulled her hair and cried out in pain.
This made him chuckle softly.
It is undeniable that he possesses all the virtues of a young master from a prominent family.
Qiuju asked, "Second Miss, what kind of hairpin would you like to wear today?"
Lin Xiaocong picked out a delicate pink pearl hairpin from her dressing case and, under Qiuju's guidance, inserted it into her hair.
"Gold and silver always seem vulgar to Rongrong."
She lowered her eyes and said, "But I'm just an ordinary person."
Lin Xiaocong smiled and took off the pearl hairpin, then picked out a gorgeous gold-inlaid jade hairpin and inserted it into her hair.
“When Rongrong wore those gaudy gold and silver items, she became extraordinary.”
Li Rong glanced at him in the mirror.
She got up, ignored him, and ran outside.
He treated her very well, just as he had promised.
They have everything they need, and they're always there to comfort and appease them.
He lamented, "Rongrong, why do you not recognize me every time you get out of bed?"
She shouted angrily from outside the door, "Shut up!"
She was unwilling, but her heart was pure. She said she would believe him once and then she would stop making trouble.
When they arrived at the dining room, she had already pulled out a chair for him and served him hot porridge.
She still sat far away from him.
He sat down next to her as usual, and Qiu Hui and the others moved the tableware in front of him.
He approached her, and she didn't flinch.
She ate quietly and didn't want to initiate any conversation with him.
Lin Xiaocong knew that something was missing among them.
He was convinced that time would fill in the missing part.
He served her food, worried she might be bored at home, and gave her something to do.
"Rongrong, I want a purse that you embroidered yourself."
Li Rong replied, "Okay."
He emphasized, "It must be a thousand times, ten thousand times, more beautiful than the purses made by the women at the Hezhou steamed bun shop!"
"good."
"Aren't you going to ask me why I want the purse embroidered by Rongrong?"
"Why?"
He then told her about how he had kept Yongniang's purse close to his heart for as long as half a year.
She chuckled and smiled.
He admired her smile: "Rongrong, smile more often from now on, okay?"
She nodded: "Mm."
As he spoke, a faint smile remained on his face.
Lin Xiaocong went to work after finishing his meal.
Li Rong didn't ask him why he was only going to work when it was almost noon; she simply saw him to the gate of the courtyard.
After he disappeared, she went back to her room and embroidered a purse for him.
Qiu Hui brought Li Rong a bowl of medicine.
Li Rong picked up the glass and drank it, then suggested, "It would be better if it were made into pills."
Then he popped a sour plum into his mouth and lowered his head to continue his work.
"When you return later, I will inform you and see if it can be made into pills."
"Um."
Qiu Hui handed the medicine bowl in her hand to the little maid, looking at the beautiful woman sitting on the couch, embroidering diligently.
I don't know whether to sigh at her good fortune or her bad fortune.
Difficult to assess.
It was around this time that Granny Heng, who served Madam Lin, arrived at Zhaoshan Residence.
The maidservant reported: "Granny Heng is being stopped outside the courtyard gate and is arguing with Qiu Feng."
Qiu Hui said to Li Rong, "Second Miss, please stay inside and don't come out."
"Qiu Feng personally guards the courtyard gate, and ordinary people cannot enter."
Li Rong didn't even look up, concentrating on her embroidery: "Mm."
Qiu Hui went out for a while, then came back and said, "It is the young master's mother, Granny Heng, who serves the First Madam of the Marquis's Mansion."
"A message has been sent asking you to go to Xinglin Garden."
"Xinglin Garden is the residence of the First Madam."
"The young master instructed that you need not heed any summons from anyone in the manor."
"I have already sent them away."
Li Rong responded with an "oh".
She was focused on her work when, in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the maidservant came rushing in to report again.
"Sister Qiu Hui, the First Madam has arrived in person!"
Qiu Hui went out and hasn't returned for a long time.
Li Rong put down her embroidery shed and went outside to take a look.
As soon as I stepped out of the door, I saw a graceful and elegant woman in the corridor, surrounded by servants and maids.
When Madam Lin saw Li Rong suddenly appear at the door, her gaze lingered on Li Rong's face, and she raised an eyebrow.
Then climb the steps one by one.
The gaze shifted from Li Rong's face to her chest and waist.
As she stood in front of Li Rong, the contempt and disdain in her eyes intensified.
She asked with a mocking laugh, "Does this lady really have to come and invite you in person?"
Li Rong looked up at her: "Are you Young Master Lin's mother?"
Madam Lin disdainfully replied, looking at the girl before her as if she were an ant.
She smiled and explained her purpose: "Your Highness is guilty of licentious behavior during the day and deserves punishment."
As he spoke, he casually hooked his index and middle fingers together.
"take away."
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