Chapter 29 Second Master
At noon, the sun was high in the sky.
The post-rain lingering heat is comparable to the sweltering heat of summer.
Seeing Li Qu kick off the covers and refuse to get out of bed, Xu Mama coaxed her patiently, "Auntie, get up and have some food. It's past noon, and if you sleep any longer, you won't be able to sleep at night."
Li Qu looked listless, her eyelashes slightly raised, her face sleepy: "Granny, I'm sleepy."
Granny Xu's heart softened completely.
Not to mention her own third master, even she, an old nanny, felt that her concubine was exuding an alluring fragrance at all times.
Granny Xu reminded her, "It's been quite some time since the concubine went to Shou'an Hall to pay her respects to the old lady."
"This morning, Third Master personally escorted you back. We should go and pay our respects tomorrow, lest people spread rumors that you are arrogant because of his favor."
Li Qu rolled over and said, "Okay."
In ordinary aristocratic families, the matriarch does not require her children, grandchildren, or concubines to pay their respects.
The Zhou family is different.
Only two female relatives from the Zhou family accompanied the old lady, making the place somewhat lonely. Therefore, the second wife often brought her two concubines to pay their respects to the old lady.
Gradually, it became the norm for wives and concubines to be present when paying their respects to their husbands.
However, since the third branch of the family had no matriarch, and Li Qu didn't usually visit, no one could find fault with her.
"Granny Rong came by this morning and brought some nourishing things for my aunt."
"Hmm." Li Qu didn't care about any of that.
"This old servant will prepare water for your bath, Auntie. It's hot today, which one should she wear..."
"Wear a bathrobe; I won't be seeing any guests this afternoon." She was utterly exhausted.
Granny Xu raised her hand and tugged at her collar, covering the exposed outline of her slender waist: "Okay."
As Xu Mama's footsteps faded into the distance, Li Qu slowly opened her eyes.
She couldn't handle Zhou Jin's enthusiasm and stamina.
I really can't take it anymore.
The thought that he had actually fed her medicine filled her with resentment and anger.
"You filthy thing!"
When dressed, he is a proper gentleman; when undressed, he is a playboy.
Playing with flowers.
With nothing to do in the afternoon, I stole half a day of leisure from my busy life.
The atmosphere in Fanghua Garden was cheerful and relaxed.
Cui Guo just returned from delivering the land deed and the indemnities of the relevant personnel to the food shop in Jishui Lane.
"The lady was overjoyed, smiling from ear to ear as she held the land deed, and she spun the second young lady around several times."
Li Qu lay on the rocking chair, her face covered by a fan, and responded with a soft "hmm" upon hearing this.
Granny Xu and Hongguo, along with four other maids, gathered around Li Qu and began embroidering.
"When I came back just now, I saw Biqing from Qinglan Courtyard loitering at the entrance of our courtyard. I wonder what she's up to."
Granny Xu immediately straightened up, alert: "Hmm?"
Cui Guo took out her embroidery frame from the basket: "It's Bi Qing. I know her. I saw her when I went to the kitchen to get food before Aunt Bai moved to Qinglan Courtyard."
"Before, he was all high and mighty, but today he ran away as soon as he saw me."
Seeing Li Qu's indifferent attitude, Xu Mama could only whisper in her ear, "Be careful of the people from Qinglan Courtyard."
"You only have a good life when your aunts are well. Don't bring trouble upon yourselves."
The girls all answered cautiously.
Li Qu sighed.
Women's battlefield is a war without gunpowder, but it has never ceased for thousands of years.
In an era where women were subservient, the situation was even more pronounced.
She was not short of money, so she didn't care about the fine clothes and delicacies that Zhou Jin provided for her.
Now, she probably still has to deal with the troubles Zhou Jin has brought her.
So why did she become his concubine?
There is no reason.
However, Zhou Jin's change in attitude towards her was obvious to all.
This is a good start.
The art of seduction, based on lust, intertwines desires of love, hate, greed, anger, and delusion, enticing people invisibly.
She removed the fan and rose from the rocking chair: "Does Granny know Third Master's size?"
Granny Xu looked up in surprise: "Auntie is finally going to make something for Third Master herself?"
“Use the fabric that Miss Biao gave me, have the embroiderers in the manor sew it up, and send it to me so I can embroider a double-sided robe for him myself.”
"This old servant will go right away."
Watching Granny Xu run off excitedly, Li Qu thought for a moment and loudly instructed, "Don't sew anything too complicated, just a nightgown, a nightgown will do."
Granny Xu: I didn't hear you, I didn't hear you, this old servant didn't hear you!
The following day, Shouan Hall was bustling with activity.
The entire second branch of the family, including the second master Zhou Yan, were present.
For some reason, the concubines of the second wife all looked unwell, their expressions listless and lacking in energy.
Compared to the radiant, dignified, and elegant Second Madam, it was like fireflies compared to moonlight; the difference was immediately apparent.
On the third branch's side, not only Li Qu was present, but also Bai Shi from Qinglan Courtyard was there.
Bai Shi had a round, plump face. Standing next to Li Qu, her eyes made no attempt to hide her disgust for Li Qu.
"My sister is shameless. Knowing that the Third Master was going to my Qinglan Courtyard that day, she still sent a maid to call him there. Such behavior shows no manners whatsoever."
At this moment, the Second Master and Second Madam were talking inside the room with the young ladies, while the concubines were standing outside.
Before Li Qu could speak, Aunt Hu, who was leaning against the maid, sneered, "Let me see who it is? Oh, it's the Ninth Miss of the Bai family!"
"What kind of upbringing do you have, a young lady who was raised in a temple since childhood?"
Aunt Hu came from the Wei family of Hezhou. Both of them were illegitimate daughters, so they were in the same circle. The eldest brother knew the second brother's background, and neither of them was more noble than the other.
Bai's face was extremely pale: "You are supposed to be a lady from a noble family, yet you've gone and colluded with a poor woman."
Aunt Hu rolled her eyes: "You're just an unfavored concubine, what right do you have to speak here?"
Bai was struck where it hurt and was furious.
The delicate and frail Aunt Zheng stood up from the maid's arms, fanning her nose as she walked around, exclaiming, "Ugh, what's that smell!"
Sniffing around, it finally caught a whistle near Bai Shi, let out a cry, and quickly fled.
"It turns out someone didn't brush their teeth this morning."
"No wonder he spews filth all over his mouth."
"Can't afford tooth powder or what? How about I send you some?"
"You!" Madam Bai pointed angrily at Aunt Zheng, "Who do you think you are! A piece of trash from a brothel, how dare you be so rude to me!"
Aunt Xun waved her fan, her stance clear: "Aunt Bai, please watch your words. How dare you interfere with the birth mother of the Second Young Master!"
"You!" Bai Shi looked at the three concubines of the second branch who were vaguely surrounding Li Qu, and trembled with anger.
Aunt Hu rolled her eyes, grabbed Li Qu's hand and patted it: "There are always people who can't tell east from west, and don't know what's important. If there's a next time, the older sisters will definitely make her regret it."
Li Qufu said, "Thank you, my three elder sisters."
Aunt Hu glanced at Madam Bai.
If you can't keep a man, what business is it of anyone else's?
She's only good at bullying her own family, just like that scheming concubine!
"snort!"
The events outside seemed to have no effect on the masters inside the room. Xueying went out to announce that all the concubines and masters should line up and enter one by one to pay their respects.
Everyone was asked to leave after only one meeting.
When Li Qu entered to pay her respects, before the old lady could even tell Li Qu to get up, Second Master Zhou Yan got down from his seat.
"Oh dear, you're the concubine in Third Brother's room who cursed Zheng the Traitor!"
"It's really difficult for me to see you. Last time I begged the Second Madam to take me to bump into you, but I saw you being dragged away by the Third Brother."
He was already forty years old, with two older sisters. His grandmother doted on him a lot, which fostered his unruly and willful personality, making him as carefree as a teenager.
No one was surprised.
The old lady scolded him: "How dare you be so rude!"
Zhou Yan was well-maintained and handsome, bearing a resemblance to Zhou Jin. Although he was already in his forties, he still retained his charm, except for a dark circle on his left eye, which made him look slightly comical.
He looked at Li Qu with amazement, then understood. He returned to his seat, poured tea, and said with a smile, "My son is staying here just to see this warrior."
Li Qu quickly declined the courtesy, saying, "I dare not accept such a compliment."
Zhou Yan laughed loudly: "I deserve it, I deserve it. That Zheng scoundrel is too much. I couldn't argue with him, so I fought with him and even lost a tooth."
"Your idea of finding someone to curse him is brilliant! I've already arranged for eight sharp-tongued people to go to the capital to curse him. We'll make sure he's cursed until the sky falls and the earth trembles, so I can vent my anger!"
Everyone tried to suppress their laughter.
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