Chapter 127 Love Letters
The next morning, Li Qu's courtyard welcomed several groups of guests.
First, Qiaogu arrived, saying that yesterday the Second Madam went to pick up the Fourth Miss and the Fourth Young Master to return to the mansion, but happened to be away when Madam Hai came to the door, and was unable to deal with Miss Xi's matter in time, which caused trouble for Li Qu, and expressed her apologies, etc.
After Li Qu responded appropriately, Huai Qiu delivered Zhou Jin's reply to her.
Before I could even read the letter, my third aunt, Madam Chang, came to visit.
Li Qu then put down the letter and welcomed Chang Shi into the room to take a seat.
After sitting down, Madam Chang said, "My niece-in-law is in confinement and still has to take care of my wretched child. I feel really bad about it."
Li Qu sat at the head of the table, her voice gentle and beautiful: "It was Lady Hai who came to me on behalf of my cousin Xi. We're all relatives, so it's not good to refuse her request."
A maidservant served tea.
Chang was exasperated: "That brat is good at cockfighting and dog walking, but he's absolutely incapable of doing anything serious!"
"Now that the Xi family woman has been involved, it's become quite a joke."
"I'm so embarrassed I don't even want to go out."
Li Qu said gently, "I see that you are an open and honest person, and also have ingenious ideas. Yesterday I saw him having someone carry him back and forth, which really impressed me."
Chang quickly waved her hand: "Don't mention it."
"People who get beaten are afraid of being ridiculed, so they hide and don't go out."
"He's quite something, he'd rather die out there."
"If you can't walk, you feel it's unseemly to be carried around while lying down, but is it more dignified to be carried around while standing?"
"Speaking of which," Madam Chang said, bringing up the tea, "before coming to my niece-in-law's place, I went to my sister-in-law's place."
"I now know the whole story of what happened to the Xi woman."
“The Xi family daughter is frivolous and unfit to be a daughter-in-law. Even if she were to become a concubine, it would bring shame to our family.”
“But she is, after all, Yan’s daughter-in-law’s cousin, and my sister-in-law also said that saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda, so I will give Xi’s daughter a way out.”
"My greatest concession is to allow her to enter the household and become that wretched child's concubine. My niece-in-law, please do not try to persuade me to elevate her to the rank of concubine."
Even if you asked, I would never agree.
Chang was extremely clever; how could she not see that Xi's daughter had offended Li Qu, and she refused to budge?
Li Qu reluctantly gave up.
Chang: "There's no guarantee that helping someone will lead to success. You did what you asked of Lady Hai. As for the outcome..."
She patted her chest: "It's me."
“I absolutely refuse to allow such a morally corrupt woman to be associated with even a hint of ‘noble’ status. It has nothing to do with you.”
After saying a few more words, Changshi rose to take his leave.
After seeing Chang Shi off, Li Qu had Xu Mama personally deliver the story of how she had tried to persuade her third aunt to no avail to the second branch of the family, while also expressing her apology for not being able to help.
Then he took Zhou Jin's reply again and opened it as he walked toward the couch.
She sat down on the couch and unfolded the letter.
The above statement:
'I wish to be a pair of flounders, sinking together in the abyss. I wish to be a pair of intertwined vines, forever entwining your heart.'
There's one more thing.
My wife is so powerful, she makes me bow down.
Li Qu smiled, her eyes sparkling, her heart fluttering.
This was the first time he had responded to a love letter.
She happily got off the bed, slipped on her shoes, and called out to the outside, "Granny, I remember there was a mother-of-pearl inlaid lacquer box before!"
The sound was so excited that it woke up Xi Bao'er in bed.
Hongguo, who was serving in the room, hurriedly went to the bedside to check: "Didn't the nanny just leave? Madam, do you have anything you need to tell me?"
Li Qu blushed: "I forgot."
She turned back to the bedside, folded the letter, and placed it on the bed to prevent Hongguo from peeking at it. Then she reached out and picked up her son, instructing Hongguo, "Go to the storeroom and find that mother-of-pearl box."
Hongguo accepted the order and went to carry it out.
Xu Mama, who hadn't gone far, heard the maid catch up and say that Li Qu was calling her from inside the house, so she hurriedly returned.
Upon entering through the curtain, one sees Li Qu sitting on the edge of the bed, humming a song while feeding the child.
The woman's eyes and brows were full of spring-like beauty, and her singing voice was slow and soft.
Noticing that Granny Xu had entered, she looked up at Granny Xu, shook her head, and said gently, "It's alright."
Granny Xu then left the room.
Sunlight fills the world.
*
Human desires fill people's hearts.
Xi Lingrou tasted the bitter fruit of insatiable greed.
Huirui Hall, where the Yao family handled their daily affairs.
Ignoring the servants' attempts to stop her, she rushed in and pounced on Yao's desk, her face pale and her body weak and frail.
"Please, my cousin, take me back to Lanxi."
Without looking up, Yao said, "I took you back before, why didn't you go back?"
With red eyes, Xi Lingrou looked at Yao Shi and said, "If you're not going to take me back, then please try to quell the rumors outside."
She and her aunt had considered spending money and manpower to fight this public opinion war.
But all efforts were in vain.
On the contrary, rumors about her and Zhou Jian, that disgusting thing, spread like wildfire and could not be suppressed at all.
"It was Old Madam Zhou and Third Master Zhou who allowed the rumors to fester. You violated their taboos, and the fact that they didn't send you to your death immediately is already out of consideration for me."
"When did I break any taboos!"
Madam Yao: "Your statement that the sons born to Madam Zhou's third wife are not grown up is tantamount to cursing the third wife's lineage to die out."
"Even the head of your Xi family wouldn't dare utter such words. I'm already doing more than enough by sparing your life!"
"The people from the three prefectures who are here to pick you up will be here soon. From now on, settle down and live a good life."
"I will explain the situation to my aunt myself."
My perfectly good life has been completely ruined.
Xi Lingrou trembled with fear: "It can't be like this."
"I don't want to!"
"I want to go back to Lanxi!"
"Can't I just go to the north? I can go to Yan!"
Tears streamed down her face, making her appear pitiful and miserable: "With my looks, I am worthy of the most outstanding men of this era!"
"The Zhou family will not tolerate me, but they will allow me to go to the north!"
"The Crown Prince of the capital, or the Heir Apparent of Yan, are both acceptable!"
"Instead of seeing that纨绔 (playboy) Zhou Jian!"
"To be his wife would be a disgrace to me, let alone to be his concubine!"
She couldn't help but lean forward: "Cousin, please help me!"
"My looks are no less than that commoner woman's, and my figure is not much different from hers!"
"I come from a better background than her, and I am proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting!"
"I should be the one who is cherished and pampered, the special woman who allows him to break with convention and make an exception to take a concubine as his wife!"
"I'm just observing mourning for my father, that's all!"
"cousin!"
Yao: "I've had enough of what you've said."
"Cousin!" Xi Lingrou cried, having exhausted all her tricks. "Please save me! How can I, a dignified daughter of the Xi family, become a concubine to that good-for-nothing!"
Yao leaned back in her chair: "I warned you long ago, and I cleaned up the mess for you as soon as the rumors started, but you still acted recklessly."
"Heaven's sins may be forgiven, but self-inflicted sins are unforgivable."
"Cousin!" Xi Lingrou was about to plead again when Qiaogu entered and announced, "The people from the three mansions have arrived."
Xi Lingrou was terrified: "I am a noblewoman of the Xi family. Even if I were to take a concubine, there should be a procedure! Cousin, you can't just send me away like this!"
"Your aunt entrusted you to me, and I will prepare a generous dowry for you." Madam Yao waved her hand.
A servant woman stepped forward to invite Xi Lingrou.
Xi Lingrou pleaded and refused to leave.
Yao's expression remained calm.
The third brother brought her a document.
'The place my wife points to is the way home for the Xi woman.'
The third brother used the Zhou family's seal when he first sent a letter to his second sister-in-law.
This further changed her understanding of her third sister-in-law.
Unable to break free from the servant's grasp, Xi Lingrou cried out, "Where's Huaiya? I haven't seen Huaiya all morning! Where did you put Huaiya?!"
Qiaogu coldly said, "Huaiya used foul language to slander Third Master and corrupted Miss Biao by having an affair with another man. Madam has already taken care of it for you."
"Ah!" Xi Lingrou's eyes widened in fury. "Yao Rou, you deserve to have your marriage to a high-ranking family stolen away and become the wife of an unloved merchant!"
"You deserve to have married such a lazy and philandering playboy!"
He brought the newly acquired jade rough stone to thank Madam Yao for persuading the old lady to agree to take back Aunt Qing and her two sons.
Watching Xi Lingrou being stuffed into a sedan chair and carried away by the maids, he pointed to himself and asked the servant beside him.
"Is she referring to me as an unambitious and philandering playboy businessman?"
Madam Yao, having been informed by her servants, went out to greet Zhou Yan with a smile.
Looking at his virtuous and generous wife, Zhou Yan considered whether he should have a fifth child with her to prove his love for Yao.
He stepped forward and said, "Madam, I have a favor to ask of you today."
"We are husband and wife, why should we ask for anything?"
"It's not Aunt Qing yet. She's young and doesn't know any better, and she just came back from the estate. The original plan was to go release lanterns with Madam tonight, could we reschedule for tomorrow night?"
"My husband should spend more time with Aunt Qing. I'm fine with things on my end."
Zhou Yan laughed heartily: "I've just acquired a piece of jade. Madam, take a look and see if you like it."
“I like everything my husband gives me.”
For some men, the ultimate pursuit is to have harmonious relationships with their wives and concubines, and to have women on both sides.
*
Zhou Jian pursued the Xi family's daughter.
"What if my beloved concubine cries and I like her even more?"
In the guest room of the three mansions, Xi Lingrou's hands were tied behind her back.
She retreated to a corner, looking at Zhou Jian, who had barged in, with horror.
Zhou Jian had an injury to his buttocks and could only walk by dragging his feet carefully.
According to custom, one must choose an auspicious day to take a concubine.
Xi Lingrou was temporarily placed in a guest room.
But Zhou Jian barged into her room.
He chuckled and pinched her chin: "You seduced me, attracted Third Brother, and fantasized that Third Brother would come to your rescue. Your dream of climbing the social ladder has been shattered."
"From now on, follow me closely, and I'll take good care of you."
Xi Lingrou's eyes were filled with utter disgust: "My Xi family will send someone to take me away!"
"Ha, they're here to send you to your death, and that's more like it for the reputation of the entire Xi clan and all the women."
No, it won't.
"She's beautiful, but seems a bit dim-witted; she still can't grasp the situation. Will her son be stupid too?"
Xi Lingrou glared at him fiercely: "Get lost, you toad trying to eat swan meat!"
"What? You want Young Master Xie to want you?"
What kind of daydreaming are you having!
He showed her with facts that his daydream had come true.
When Chang arrived, she heard a great deal of crying coming from inside the house.
His unreliable youngest son was complaining of a sore butt while simultaneously shouting that he was having the time of his life.
Chang rolled her eyes in anger.
How come other people's youngest sons are the rulers of the South, while her youngest son is just dirt in the South?
*
When the news reached Fanghua Garden, Li Qu was drawing on an envelope.
"Seeing that the young master is really unruly, the auspicious time is set for the evening of the day after tomorrow, he can't wait even a moment longer."
Cui Guo, well-informed, whispered her complaints in Li Qu's ear.
Li Qu carefully wielded his brush.
"Who's gossiping with you?"
Cui Guo flattered, "This servant has absolutely not done anything taboo outside."
"I just asked my mother and the others to keep a close eye on what's happening in the mansion so they can inform you as soon as possible."
"They are all reliable relationships."
“Because the matter of the Xi woman is related to us, they took the initiative to send her to me after they received the news.”
Li Qu stopped writing and blew on the simple sketch of a big-headed woman leading a baby on the envelope.
Green Fruit is very suitable for intelligence gathering.
She handed the letter to Cuiguo: "Deliver this letter personally."
Cuiguo's smile froze on her face, and she pleaded with a bitter expression, "Madam, please let Hongguo go."
She didn't want to have any contact with Huaiqiu.
“This morning, Huaiqiu came to me personally, so it wouldn’t be right not to give him a response.”
"Dress up nicely, go and talk to him yourself, and come back and tell me the results."
Cui Guo blushed and accepted the order to deliver the message.
She didn't return until the afternoon.
Granny Xu stopped her under the eaves, twisted her ear, and questioned, "Did you go out to slack off?"
Cui Guo was about to be wrongly accused: "It was Third Master Huai Qiu who was discussing matters and could not be disturbed. He also refused to receive the letter for me, so I have been waiting until now."
"Then why are you blushing?"
Cui Guo blushed even more: "This servant has brought the Third Master's reply, good nanny, please let me in quickly!"
Only then did Granny Xu let her go.
Inside the house, Li Qu was writing and drawing in the west study, creating pictures that they couldn't understand.
Cui Guo entered the room, presented the letter with both hands, and placed a long, narrow hairpin box on Li Qu's desk.
Li Qu glanced at her flushed and bright cheeks, smiled, put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and picked up the box.
Inside the box was a gold-inlaid green double-fruit hairpin.
She smiled and asked Cuiguo, "Did Third Master give this to me?"
Cui Guo blushed and shook her head: "Yes, it was Huai Qiu who gave it to me."
"Then why are you giving it to me?"
Cui Guo's eyes were bright: "Huai Qiu said that if I marry him, he will become the eyes that Madam places by Third Master's side."
Li Qu couldn't help but laugh: "Then wouldn't you become the eyes and ears that Third Master keeps by my side?"
Cui Guo quickly waved her hands: "This servant would never do that! Even if Third Master kills this servant, this servant would never betray Madam!"
"Yes, I believe you."
Cui Guo breathed a long sigh of relief.
"So, you're planning to sacrifice your own happiness to find me a pair of eyes?"
Why not?
Li Qu: "Is this something to be taken for granted?"
Cui Guo replied matter-of-factly, "Our marriages are always decided by our masters. Why should we, the servants, have any say in it?"
"But the lady is different from the other masters."
“You treat your servants as human beings and respect their thoughts.”
"This servant is thrice blessed to have met you."
"If marrying Huaiqiu would benefit you, Madam, then I will gladly accept it!"
Li Qu called her with a smile, "Silly Cuiguo."
"I don't need to keep eyes on Third Master; I trust him."
Ke Cuiguo wanted to do something for Li Qu.
She thought that she would eventually get married, and rather than marrying someone else, she would rather marry Huaiqiu.
Marrying Huaiqiu would allow her to gather intelligence about the Third Master and obtain firsthand information for the Madam.
She bowed to Li Qu and said, "This servant is willing to marry Huaiqiu. I beg you, Madam, to grant my request."
Li Qu remained silent for a long time.
She looked at the girl kneeling on the ground, her back hunched over like a small mountain, and was deeply moved.
She wants people whose hearts are with her to do things for her.
Unexpectedly, the person whose heart was with her was willing to sacrifice for her.
Considering that Huaiqiu was not bad, Li Qu nodded: "Then I will test you and see if you can make Huaiqiu my eyes."
Cui Guo immediately straightened up and patted her chest: "I will never let Madam down."
“I will go and tell Huaiqiu that you have agreed, in order to gain his trust.”
"Then, I will seize the opportunity to gather some information for you, which will prove my abilities."
Li Qu smiled and said, "Go ahead."
Let's get to know each other first. If we really develop feelings for each other, it would be a wonderful thing.
Cui Guo left with the hairpin, looking very proud and confident.
Li Qu opened Zhou Jin's reply.
The inscription reads: 'Alone by the window, I open a book; the blank page is empty from beginning to end. Perhaps a fairy maiden is filled with parting sorrow, her longing for you unspoken.'
It means that he received the letter, secretly opened it by the window, only to find a blank sheet of paper. He figured it was probably because she was too deeply in love to know where to begin.
After reading the letter, Li Qu smiled and covered her face with it.
The thought of him secretly standing by the window, his eyes smiling, eagerly anticipating opening the letter, made her smile linger.
I've only been apart from him for one night, but I already miss him a little.
Young girls are often in love, and this is how it is.
When Xiao Mi Hongguo entered the room, Li Qu was still pondering the contents of the letter.
"Madam, this is the sixth day of breastfeeding. This is a herbal soup to reduce milk production."
Hongguo offers a medicinal soup to suppress lactation.
Li Qu carefully put the letter away and placed it in the mother-of-pearl inlaid box that she used to keep her love letters with Zhou Jin.
Then I went back to the bedroom, picked up Xibao, and fed her one last time.
Judging by the time, her reply to her second sister should have reached her by now.
*
Li Qu miscalculated.
Her message to Li Rong via carrier pigeon was intercepted by Lin Xiaocong.
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