Chapter 20 The Problem
With clear skies and gentle breezes, the air is filled with the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms; autumn has arrived and the weather has noticeably turned cooler.
Hongguo relayed a message to Granny Xu, saying that Li Qu was slacking off at Fanghua Garden, either playing cards with the concubines of the second wife or inviting the young lady over for a chat.
The five remaining beauties of Qinghuai Courtyard, after the incident involving Lady Sun, began vying for the emperor's favor in order to live a better life.
He would either deliver food to Jinxiu Hall every few days or bump into Third Master in the courtyard.
Now that the seasons have changed, the five beauties have all presented their embroidery pieces, hoping to win the Third Master's favor.
Not to mention the two young ladies, Huaichun and Huaixiang, who had the advantage of being close to the water.
Their mistress, Aunt Li, never went to Jinxiu Hall to curry favor, and the handmade clothes she made were for her unborn younger brother's swaddling clothes!
Immediately, Granny Xu could no longer sit still.
After arranging things at home, he rushed back to work.
“Auntie, you’re being foolish. You’re the new favorite. If you don’t consolidate your favor now, those little hussies will take advantage of the situation, and you’ll never have another chance to go out at night again.”
That night, Li Qu took Xu Mama out for a long time to stroll through the market.
Although Li Qu didn't buy anything, Xu Mama could tell that Li Qu was happy at the time.
Freedom is the greatest joy.
At this moment, Li Qu was practicing calligraphy.
Of the four arts—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—only calligraphy was truly outstanding.
The calligraphy wasn't by any famous master; it was a square and broad Yan style regular script, almost like it had been printed.
Granny Xu kept going on and on, analyzing the pros and cons for Li Qu.
“Since you have your family in your heart, you should try even harder to win over Third Master’s heart.”
"Think about it, where would you get the fabric to make clothes for your family? If it weren't for Miss Biao seeing that you are favored by the Third Master, would she have given you the fabric?"
Li Qu did not respond, letting her chatter in his ear.
Xu Mama nagged for two days, but Li Qu remained unmoved.
Hearing that the Bai family of Qinglan Courtyard had moved out of the courtyard because of their excellent painting skills, he became even more anxious and developed blisters on his lips.
"My lady, you'll regret what I said today, even if it goes in one ear and out the other!"
Li Qu stopped writing, staring at a poem by Li Qingzhao, "Huanxi Sha," on the paper, lost in thought.
Granny Xu glanced at it secretly, then her eyes lit up: "This is good, 'The moon moves and the flower shadows promise to meet again,' this old servant will send it to Third Master right away?"
"I'll go myself."
Xu Mama was in a great mood and quickly went to call Hongguo to help Li Qu with her hair.
However, Li Qu did not bring the poem she had memorized, and went to Jinxiu Hall alone.
She wanted to go back to Jishui Lane and have a meal with her family.
He also had no intention of taking the opportunity to see Zhou Jin.
Upon hearing that Madam Bai had found an ancient painting and was appreciating it with Zhou Jin, Li Qu smiled and asked Huai Chun, who was receiving them, "If we get the Second Madam's permission, may we go home for a visit?"
Huaichun thought for a moment and said, "Master doesn't concern himself with the affairs of the inner quarters. Why don't you ask the Second Madam for her opinion? If she approves, there shouldn't be any problem."
"Thank you, Miss Huaichun."
Having received Huaichun's words, Li Qu ignored the anxious Xu Mama behind her and went to the Second Madam's place.
Li Qu was a very considerate person, and the second wife, Yao, had a good impression of her. When she heard that Li Qu wanted to go back to her parents' home, she thought for a moment and gave her a travel pass, instructing her: "It's late today. We have to go out to a banquet tomorrow. How about the day after tomorrow? There will be a free carriage the day after tomorrow."
"Jishui Lane is not far, I can take a sedan chair. I have been feeling unbearably worried these past two days, and have been having nightmares. I really miss my family very much. Please arrange for one or two good servants to accompany me, and I will make sure there is plenty of sweet tea and good water."
"Okay."
Yao also gave her a month's salary in advance.
Li Qu was overjoyed to have the trip to Jishui Lane confirmed for tomorrow.
The problem that had been troubling her for most of the month was solved at that moment.
Since she was able to leave the manor smoothly, why would she go and seduce that scoundrel Zhou Jin?
She didn't care about the Bai, Wang, or Qiao families. She hoped they would capture Zhou Jin's heart, and ideally, make him forget about her altogether.
As for her, she managed to appease the second wife while Zhou Jin ignored her, and in the future, when Zhou Jin was not paying attention, she could go anywhere, whether it was to heaven or earth.
Excellent!
On the way, they met Miss Lu Yanyan, who greeted them with a beaming smile: "Greetings, Miss Lu."
Lu Yanyan frowned as she looked at Li Qu: "The Bai family now lives in Qinglan Courtyard. They paid for their own small kitchen in the courtyard and even got a highly skilled chef from their maternal family. How can you still be laughing?"
"I am overjoyed to have another person to take care of Third Master. As long as Third Master is well, I am well."
Lu Yanyan said with a straight face, "You're quite open-minded."
"Perhaps it's because the love was too deep," Li Qu sighed.
Lu Yanyan blushed slightly.
Her maid, Qingci, scolded, "Nonsense! How dare you speak so lewdly in front of my young lady!"
Li Qu was in a good mood, and even Qingci seemed much more amiable than usual. She raised her fan to cover her face and said, "Yes, yes, I misspoke. Please forgive me, Miss Qingci."
Qingci was taken aback for a moment because she didn't expect Li Qu to admit her mistake so readily.
"I have other matters to attend to. If Miss Lu has nothing else to attend to, I will take my leave now." Li Qu said, and seeing that Lu Yanyan remained silent, she bowed and walked away.
"etc."
Li Qu stopped and looked at Lu Yanyan with a smile: "Is there anything else, Miss?"
Lu Yanyan carefully observed Li Qu's expression, raised an eyebrow and said, "You don't seem to care about my third cousin at all."
Having learned from the Chang San incident, Li Qu was determined not to suffer a loss of words again. Looking at Lu Yanyan, she still smiled faintly: "The ocean embraces all rivers, what's wrong with one river?"
Seeing Lu Yanyan's stunned silence, Li Qu waved her fan and said, "My heart is with the sea, and I love everything about her."
Having said that, he waved his fan and leisurely left.
Qingci couldn't help but feel indignant: "She clearly didn't care at all."
Lu Yanyan watched Li Qu's graceful figure disappear into the distance, and slightly tightened her handkerchief: "She's good at playing hard to get. Let's see if the Bai family can replace her!"
Everyone in the household believed that the third wife, Li, might lose favor, and that Bai would become the second most favored wife in the third wife's household.
Unexpectedly, that very evening, Bai Shi used an ancient painting as a pretext to prepare a delicious meal and apply perfume to her skin. Zhou Jin, who had been eagerly awaiting her arrival, went straight to Fanghua Garden after receiving a note from Hongguo, the head maid of Fanghua Garden.
At that time, Li Qu, unaware of the maid's betrayal, was drafting a list of things she could take back the next day.
Even though her family members were short-sighted, always held her back, and had a lot of flaws, Li Qu still loved them.
Because it was her greedy, hard-working, calculating, and timid mother who, despite the pain of postpartum tearing, staggered off the bed when she was thrown into the chamber pot as soon as she was born, picked her up from the chamber pot, wiped her, breastfed her, and gently patted her, saying: "With your mother here, don't be afraid."
It was that cowardly, timid, blindly filial father who had been bullied by his parents and brothers his whole life. When his uncle's family tried to take his eldest sister away to exchange her for a marriage, he cried out and brandished a kitchen knife, protecting his wife and daughter behind him as if he were possessed by a god, brave and fearless.
This same imperfect father, upon learning that she was unwilling to become a concubine for Prince Xiao Cong of Yan, grabbed his shoe and beat her, cursing incessantly. Yet, on the day before her departure, he packed his bags with a sorrowful expression.
Not to mention her second sister, Li Rong, who always cooperated with her.
A dream from her past life enriched her mind.
She believes that life is ordained by fate, and she wants to embrace a life filled with warmth.
"Snacks too?"
Li Qu looked up in surprise and met Zhou Jin, who had somehow appeared behind her.
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