Chapter 125 Unkind
"Why did my cousin slander me?"
Xi Lingrou looked up at the Second Madam, tears streaming down her face.
"My third cousin was just protecting me this once. If my third cousin's wife has any misunderstandings, I will explain."
"An explanation?" The second madam asked as if she had heard a joke. "The whole mansion is saying that the third master has taken a liking to you. How are you going to explain that?"
Upon hearing this, Xi Lingrou covered her face with her handkerchief: "Who is slandering my reputation?"
"In that case, who would dare to marry me?"
"Are you trying to force me to die?!"
After saying this, she prostrated herself on the ground and cried, "I will set off for Lanxi immediately, and I will die in Lanxi, so as not to cause my cousin the slightest trouble."
She felt as if the sky had fallen.
Her maid, Huaiya, knelt down beside her, helped her up, and held her in her arms.
“Grandma, if the madam could protect the young lady, she wouldn’t have sent her to Hezhou to be entrusted to you.”
"Mrs. Xi is waiting for Miss to return so she can exchange her gifts for something good."
“Children without fathers have a hard life. Our young lady has suffered this calamity, and her reputation has been damaged.”
"It's one thing if you don't stand up for our young lady, but how can you blame her?"
Before the second mistress could even speak, Qiao Gu, who was behind her, stepped forward and slapped Huai Ya twice across the face.
Huaiya was still fighting: "If the master were alive, who would dare to insult the young lady even a single word today?"
Qiaogu stepped forward to hit him again, but Xi Lingrou had already pulled Huaiya into her arms.
She looked up at the second wife and said, "What wrong have I done? Why do you all bully me?"
The second wife sneered: "You acted with the wind and kept your actions secret, and you didn't reveal the slightest bit of your fault."
"But you probably don't know how Third Master treats Li Shi."
"Don't even mention protecting you. If Zhou Jian hadn't mentioned the Li family in his words, he wouldn't have given you a second glance even if you were dead."
Xi Lingrou cried, "Why does my cousin suspect me without any evidence!"
"Could it be that you're still holding a grudge against my elder sister for taking your place in the arranged marriage?"
“But my eldest sister was also a victim of what happened back then.”
Qiao Gu's expression changed.
The second wife looked at Xi Lingrou as if she were a fool.
Men only have one thing, they're all just tools.
She doesn't care who it is.
Given her family background, the man who's a good match for her will also come from a good family.
"The carriage is ready. Hongyu will escort you back to Lanxi."
Xi Lingrou remained calm and bowed deeply to the Second Madam, saying, "I thank you for taking care of me these past few days, Cousin."
After the ceremony, she rose and leaned against her maid, her eyes filled with grievance and dejection as she walked out.
Hongyu, the head maidservant of the second wife, presented her with a lotus-shaped robe, helped her put it on, put a hood on her, and led her outside.
After the person left, the second wife instructed, "Pack her things and send them over by fast horse."
The maids will handle the tasks.
She then instructed Qiaogu: "Go to Fanghua Garden yourself."
Qiaogu respectfully replied, "Yes."
Then she returned to the courtyard and began another day of chores.
*
When Qiaogu arrived at Fanghua Garden, everyone in the Fanghua Garden Group except for Granny Xu and the two head maids were silently reciting words in the corridor.
Hongguo reads aloud while everyone else writes from memory.
For each wrong character, one copper coin is deducted; for each correct character, one copper coin is awarded.
After listening for a couple of sentences, Qiaogu realized that Hongguo was reading a history book.
Inside the room.
While listening to Hongguo read aloud, Li Qu did postpartum recovery exercises, and occasionally appeared by the window as a 'dean of students' to proctor exams.
When Qiaogu entered, Li Qu was just finishing her workout and getting up.
The loose-fitting undergarment hugged her slender figure as she took the handkerchief offered by Cuiguo and wiped her sweat.
"I was bored during my postpartum period, so please excuse me, Qiaogu."
The people on the corridor continued to recite the words silently, undisturbed.
Qiaogu bowed to Li Qu: "Third Madam."
Li Qu walked towards the couch and sat down: "Yesterday, Second Sister-in-law worked hard to prepare a banquet for Brother Xi."
Granny Xu brought a round stool for Qiaogu.
"These are all the Second Madam's duties."
Qiaogu respectfully did not sit down. After a few words of small talk, she brought up the purpose of her visit.
"...The lady followed the clues and found the two maids who had initially gossiped about her."
"The two maids said that they met Miss Huaiya, her maid, on the road."
Seeing the drawing paper fall from Huaiya's hand, he stepped forward to help pick it up.
Because the painting paper was stained, Huaiya was afraid of being punished, so she spent two jiao of silver to ask the two maids to go with her to plead with Miss Biao.
"The two maids then went with Huaiya."
"As a result, we could smell from afar that the young master was being disrespectful to the young lady."
"Having rushed over, he saw Third Master protecting Miss Biao, and Young Master apologizing... Third Master kicked Young Master."
Seeing this, Huaiya quickly gave two more jiao of silver to the two maids, begging them not to spread the word about seeing the young master, and sent them away immediately.
"The two men were sweeping the garden together when they turned around and started arguing, saying with a smile, 'Third Master has probably taken a fancy to Miss Biao.'"
"In addition, Miss Biao and Huaiya walked back to the courtyard in a sad and dejected manner, and their conversation was intermittently tinged with these words, which was overheard by others."
“Then scheming lackeys inquired everywhere, and that's how the matter came to light.”
The story of Li Qu attaining enlightenment and the subsequent ascension of several maids in Fanghua Garden is truly inspiring.
The servants eagerly hoped that they would have an opportunity.
"Third Master sent a message to Second Madam yesterday, instructing her to restrain the words and actions of her relatives and prevent them from causing trouble in the mansion."
"But the Second Madam goes to bed early, so this old servant only reported this morning."
As Qiaogu spoke, she knelt down and admitted her mistake: "I never expected that rumors would spread overnight. It was all my fault, which almost caused a disaster."
Li Qu quickly leaned forward to help the person up, but Xu Mama, who was standing nearby, had already helped her up.
Li Qu straightened up and said, "Second Sister-in-law worked hard yesterday. Fortunately, Third Master did not disturb her rest because of such matters, otherwise I would have felt ashamed."
Qiaogu added, "The Second Madam heard about the incident early this morning and immediately launched a thorough investigation. She also sent people to the three mansions to meet with the young master for questioning, and only then did she learn the whole story."
She explained in detail: "...Third Master Yuan was not the one who protected Miss Yuan."
"It was because the young master's words offended you, Third Madam, that the Third Master stopped to reprimand and scold him."
"It was all a misunderstanding."
"Now, the two maids who gossiped have had their tongues cut off and their names tattooed on their faces, and have been sold off by the madam according to the rules." This is tantamount to being sentenced to death.
"No one in the manor dared to spread even the slightest rumor."
"Miss Biao was also sent back to Lanxi by the Madam."
"If the manor keeps quiet about this matter, and Miss Biao keeps quiet, then the matter can be settled."
"Second sister-in-law, you've worked hard." Li Qu offered no further comment.
"Speaking of which, what did you do to pass the time during your postpartum period, second sister-in-law?"
"I'm not allowed to leave the house every day, and my head is spinning."
With the matter closed, Qiaogu looked much more relaxed.
"Watching plays and listening to music..."
After a few words of small talk, Qiaogu took her leave.
Granny Xu escorted Qiao Gu, and Cui Guo went to the kitchen to fetch Li Qu's small bird's nest soup.
"This young lady has finally been sent away."
"A toad jumping on your foot, it doesn't bite, but it's disgusting."
Li Qu smiled as she ate, "What did she do to offend you?"
"She chased the cat all the way to the gate of our courtyard, and that doesn't seem like a good person. Anyway, I don't like her."
She disliked any woman who might harm her.
"You can't talk like that when you're out in public."
“This servant only speaks so frankly in front of Madam.”
Just then, Hongguo brought in the results of the little girls' dictation practice.
Li Qu then turned his attention to the sheets of paper he had written from memory.
Cui Guo happily brought over a basket to hold the copper coins and went out, saying, "Madam is using different methods to give everyone copper coins. Let's see if anyone has given Madam any extra copper coins today."
Hongguo presented a cinnabar brush to Li Qu.
Li Qu reviewed the papers on the spot and circled the incorrect characters.
Then Hongguo took the results and went out to recite the scroll.
"Today's excerpt contains eighty characters."
The crowd gathered on the corridor, eagerly anticipating this moment.
"Aunt Ma is right forty points, wrong for twenty points, and misses twenty points; she neither punishes nor rewards anyone."
Everyone looked at Aunt Ma, who was guarding the gate.
She immediately felt embarrassed and said she was ashamed.
"Sixty red flowers, twenty missing, forty copper coins reward, keep up the good work."
All eyes turned to the rough-around-the-edges red flower.
Honghua happily knelt down and accepted the copper coins that Cuiguo had counted.
"Ten correct answers, thirty wrong answers, forty missing answers, sixty copper coins fine."
The crowd immediately surrounded Chenghua, the unskilled servant, and began to ridicule her.
"Qingguo is absolutely right."
Applause erupted, and Qingguo instantly became the object of everyone's praise.
The contestants recited the songs and competed for rankings based on their performance.
Leisure time passes more easily.
Around noon, Li Qu and Xi Bao'er took a nap on the bed.
The bedroom curtains were drawn, and the windows were opened for ventilation.
Granny Xu was doing needlework on the corridor, while the young maids, who had nothing else to do, were practicing calligraphy on the ground with twigs.
Fanghua Garden was quiet.
The courtyard of the second wife, Yao, was not quiet.
*
The head maid, Hongyu, prostrated herself on the ground: "Miss was very quiet the whole way."
"Unexpectedly, when the carriage reached the pavilion ten miles outside the city, Miss Biao suddenly pulled out her hairpin and committed suicide."
"The servant girl was quick to stop her, but the maid Huaiya seemed to be frightened and screamed in panic, causing the carriage to stop and the caravan to come to a halt."
"After the servant snatched the hairpin from Miss Biao's hand, Miss Biao threw her head against the carriage wall, saying that her reputation was ruined and her future was hopeless. Rather than going back and causing all the women in her clan to be criticized, she would rather die."
"The servant and Huaiya held onto Miss Biao tightly, but they still attracted the attention of the people standing in the pavilion."
"Someone stepped forward to help, asking what had happened. But Huaiya was so quick to speak that there was no stopping him."
"Rumor has it that Third Master has taken a fancy to Miss Biao, which has made it impossible for anyone to marry her, ruining her reputation and future. Miss Biao is so distraught that she wants to end her life."
"After Miss Biao calmed down, I lifted the curtain to look outside and found that there was a group of ladies resting in the pavilion."
"The conversation between the two sides took up a lot of time, just as the eldest aunt was passing by with Miss Yingyang on her way to Yinghua Temple to pray for blessings."
"When the eldest aunt heard that it concerned the Zhou family, she brought the person back."
"Miss Biao has been sent back to her courtyard. I took it upon myself to tie her up."
Madam Yao raised her hand and pressed her temples: "Who are the people in the pavilion?"
"This servant recognizes the wife of Magistrate Xiao, but not the others."
Hongyu quickly replied, "This servant was a bit too cautious and went forward to inquire why the people in the pavilion were lingering there."
"They said they were going to Yinghua Temple to snatch the first incense stick on their way back. It wasn't arranged beforehand."
Yao waved her hand.
Hongyu breathed a sigh of relief and stepped back.
After Hongyu left, Madam Yao frowned and said, "She certainly knows how to choose a place. Shili Pavilion, when is there ever a day when no one stops there?"
Qiaogu chimed in, "Miss, aren't you afraid of damaging your reputation by making such a big fuss?"
“She’s risking her reputation for her future,” Yao said, as if talking to herself.
"Is it the Xi family who wants to climb up to the third son, or is it Ling Rou who wants to climb up to the third son?"
She suddenly remembered something: "Ling Rou once went out to visit a cousin who had married into Hezhou."
Before Madam Yao could say anything more, a maidservant entered to report: "Madam, something has happened at the estate. The Fourth Young Master and the Fourth Miss were almost burned to death."
Compared to Xi Lingrou's situation, which was troubling her, this news seemed ridiculous to her.
I thought Aunt Qin would stay on the estate forever, but she couldn't stand it for more than a year?
"Clean up Aunt Qing's courtyard and have Yao Quan lead people to bring her and her child back."
Yao took a sheet of white paper, patted it with a paperweight, picked up a pen, and began to write a letter.
She wanted to write a letter to Lanxi.
He then instructed, "Go and find out who Lingrou's paternal aunt is."
If word gets out about Xi Lingrou's affair, she'll definitely come knocking.
"If you're coming to my door, just bring it here."
Qiaogu bowed and withdrew.
Yao handled all matters calmly and unhurriedly.
Unexpectedly, Xi Lingrou's cousin, Madam Hai, did not come alone, but went directly to the old lady's Shou'an Hall with Zhou Lan.
*
The woman surnamed Hai was unkind when she came to visit.
When Xueying came to invite Li Qu, Li Qu was breastfeeding Xi Bao'er.
The little guy changes every day, his face is getting fatter and fatter.
Separated by a screen, Xueying bowed and relayed the message from outside the screen: "The matter of the Xi family's daughter is now widely discussed."
"Her paternal aunt, Madam Hai, has now heard about the matter concerning Madam Xi and wants the Zhou family to give Madam Xi an explanation."
"The matter has reached the old lady's ears. She said that it concerns the three families and that you need to make a decision."
"What do you think? Should we invite Madam Hai to Fanghua Garden, or would you like to go to Shou'an Hall yourself?"
Li Qu replied, "I will go to Shou'an Hall after I have fed the child."
Xueying received the order and returned to Shou'an Hall to deliver the message.
Granny Xu frowned: "This Xi girl really does have designs on Third Master."
"Are you trying to force Madam to bring her into the household through rumors?"
"Shall I go and inform the Third Master?"
Li Qu looked at the child tenderly: "I'm going to meet with Madam Hai."
Why should my dear husband have to do such a trivial matter?
She looked up and called to Cuiguo: "You and your brother do some things for me. You can only succeed, failure is not an option."
Cui Guo replied with a serious expression, "Please give your orders, Madam."
*
Li Qu arrived at Shou'an Hall half an hour later.
When Xueying lifted the curtain to invite Li Qu into Shou'an Hall, Hai Shi, who was sitting on the right, turned her head to the side.
Then a woman wearing a veil and a heavy cloak entered the room.
After she entered, servants stepped forward and removed the windproof veil and cloak from her body.
Suddenly, her stunningly beautiful face and luxurious clothes were revealed.
She smiled faintly.
She has a gentle and clean temperament.
She wore a headband inlaid with tiny gemstones, and her movements were dazzling.
As she took out a handkerchief to wipe the fine sweat from her face, she gracefully stepped forward and spoke.
"I always have to be bundled up tightly when I go out, which makes me sweat all over."
As soon as she entered, the maids of Shou'an Hall consciously closed the windows.
The old lady chimed in, "You have to be careful during your postpartum period."
Li Qu stepped forward to greet the old lady and then greeted Zhou Lan, who was sitting next to her.
Finally, he looked at Mrs. Heath.
When Mrs. Hai met her gaze, she did not sense any hostility; the other woman was as gentle as a cloud drifting in from the horizon.
Her husband's family was not prominent; they were already among the lowest ranks of aristocratic families.
He rose and bowed to Li Qu, saying, "Greetings, Third Madam."
"No need for such formalities."
Li Qu took her seat, and a maidservant served her tea.
The old lady introduced Li Qu to Madam Hai: "This is the third son's wife. She is in charge of all matters concerning the third branch of the family."
Upon hearing this, Madam Hai pulled out her handkerchief and her eyes reddened: "Third Madam."
"Rumors are more ferocious than tigers; at best, they make people look down on you, and at worst, they can drive a person to their death."
"My poor niece has no father to rely on, but she is also very beautiful."
"She came to Hezhou to seek refuge with the Second Madam, hoping to have someone to protect her by relying on the Zhou family."
"Unexpectedly, I was almost driven to my death by rumors."
Her tone was sorrowful and pitiful.
"Now everyone outside is saying that Third Master has taken a fancy to her."
"In the south, who would dare to take a woman that Third Master has his eye on?"
"What should we do?!"
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