Chapter 33 Guilty Feelings
The wind rustles the autumn trees, and leaves fall in profusion.
When Zhou Jin spent the night at Fanghua Garden for the first time, Xu Mama personally kept watch over him.
It's pitiful that at her age, she was forced to eavesdrop on the neighbors' conversations for half the night.
For the first time, Granny Xu felt a pang of sympathy for her concubine.
With Third Master's insatiable lust, how can the concubine's body withstand it?
Li Qu then noticed a bowl of donkey-hide gelatin and bird's nest porridge on the breakfast table, with a few streaks of red flowers faintly visible.
Granny Xu wished she could stew all the tonics in one pot.
Zhou Jin dined with her, and Huai Xiang came along to serve her.
After finishing his meal, Zhou Jin instructed Huai Xiang, "Have the doctor check Li's pulse regularly."
Li Qu sat to one side, while Granny Xu fed her diced naphthalene fruit.
That is, an apple with a soft, mealy texture.
Hearing this, he hummed twice.
When she gets into bed, she's Little Aqu; when she gets out of bed, she becomes Lady Li.
Zhou Jin pretended not to understand Li Qu's humming.
Just then, Qiaogu, who served the Second Madam, came to deliver something to Li Qu.
“There are many things to do inside and outside the mansion in autumn. Madam only managed to sort out the things that Second Master brought back this time in the last two days.”
“Each of the three wives received one; these were chosen by the madam specifically for the concubines.”
"If the aunt likes it, she can wear it for fun; if she doesn't like it, she can give it as a reward to the servants."
In fact, the things that Second Master brought back were given to the rightful recipients on the same day.
For example, Miss Biao received a dowry, which she later gave to Li Qu in exchange for certain information.
Li Qu raised her bandaged hands, gesturing for the box to be handed to Xu Mama, who was attending to her, and returned the greeting with a smile: "Thank you, Madam."
Qiaogu smiled and took out a palm-sized box from her sleeve: "Madam's maternal family is descended from the Dong family of Yuzhang. Thanks to the blessings of our ancestors, they have passed down some holy medicine for external injuries. I specially brought a bottle for you, Aunt, hoping that your hands will recover soon."
"But he is a descendant of a medical immortal who treats patients without taking money or goods, and who only asks those who have recovered from serious illnesses to plant five apricot trees in the mountains."
Qiao Gu was surprised that Li Qu, despite her humble origins, knew such things: "That's right."
Li Qu bowed again: "The Immortal Physician brings warmth to the medical field and saves the world. I am so fortunate to receive your kindness today."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Granny Xu slipped Qiaogu a purse and invited her inside for tea, but she declined. Only then did she personally see Qiaogu out.
Inside the room, Zhou Jin opened the box, and Li Qu turned around, meeting Huai Xiang's smiling and appraising gaze.
Li Qu smiled in response and walked up to Zhou Jin. She saw Zhou Jin playing with the gold-inlaid jade openwork bracelet in his hand, opening the ingenious mechanism hidden inside, and pouring out a fragrant pill.
Inside the box were a pair of cherry-red gemstone earrings and a rough ruby the size of a pigeon's egg.
Two silver hairpins inlaid with velvet flowers, one a blooming crabapple, the other a hibiscus in springtime.
And a palm-sized glass ornament featuring red lotus and green leaves.
It took Li Qu more than half a year to find the distillation bottle that he brought from Yan.
Moreover, this ornament in front of us has a natural crystal-like brilliance and its colors and shapes are just like real flowers!
It is a rare and precious item these days.
Li Qu quickly called to Granny Xu, "Granny, take it out so I can see it."
Granny Xu glanced at Zhou Jin, who had put down the bracelet, but didn't move.
Zhou Jin wisely took out the glass.
Li Qu stared intently, looking left and right, but couldn't find even the slightest bubble or flaw.
"rare."
Zhou Jin looked at her: "Why?"
"The glassmaking process is complex, and controlling the firing temperature is extremely difficult. If the temperature is not right, bubbles are very likely to appear."
"As far as I know, the glass artifacts passed down by the ancients were identified by the bubbles in the glass, which helped to determine their dynasty and collectible value."
"It is evident that there are air bubbles on the glass, which is difficult to avoid."
"But this piece of glass is completely free of any bubbles, which is truly rare."
Zhou Jin turned his gaze back to Liuli: "Old Wu treats you very well."
"Huh?" Li Qu didn't react for a moment. "Who is Wu Laoliu?"
etc.
She looked up and met a pair of eyes colder than glass.
"Ahem." Li Qu awkwardly stood up and sat down in a seat to the side, raising her hand to pour tea, trying to cover up her embarrassment, "This concubine... ah..."
Snap!
My hand hurts.
The cup broke.
Zhou Jin turned and left.
Feeling a pang of sympathy, Granny Xu cleaned up the mess and asked Li Qu, "Who is Wu Laoliu?"
Li Qu: "An ambitious illegitimate son."
"who?"
"A philandering and heartless homosexual."
Granny Xu: "Who exactly is it?"
"My rumored ex-boyfriend."
My boyfriend immediately realized it wasn't a proper word.
It's even less proper to put it alongside scandals.
Granny Xu frowned: "This old servant can see that the master cares about you. Please do not mention your past to the master again."
Li Qu didn't want to either!
All she wants now is to get out of Zhou's predicament as soon as possible and make a quick getaway!
In the afternoon, Li Qu caught six small fish, each about one centimeter long, and kept them in a small glass tank. She placed the tank in front of the window, with one half in the sun and the other half in the shade.
"After being exposed to the sun, there is a place to cool off."
She looked at the little fish she had imprisoned in the glass container and said to herself, "You are so small. If you go to the pond, you might be eaten by the big fish. It's good that I'm raising you."
The days of being confined to one's home are always hard to endure.
Fortunately, several of Zhou Jin's concubines would visit her when Zhou Jin was away to keep her company.
In the lead-up to the Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhou Jin was very busy and had no time to attend to matters of the bedroom. He only occasionally had time to send Li Qu some things, and he was nowhere to be seen in the mansion.
In Jishui Lane, Li Rong has officially taken over the restaurant and is now in charge of cooking and running errands.
After the swelling in Li Qu's hand subsided in three days, she was able to use the toilet on her own.
This will completely end the shameful days when Granny Xu had to wipe her bottom.
After he regained his ability to hold a needle, Li Qu specially embroidered four double-sided, differently colored small screens depicting cats chasing butterflies as a return gift for the Second Madam.
When sending gifts to the Second Madam, we must not forget the Old Madam.
Just before the Mid-Autumn Festival, I embroidered another pair of auspicious insoles for the old lady.
As for the gift for Zhou Jin, she originally planned to embroider a set of matching couple's robes.
Her piece was already finished, but Zhou Jin's piece simply couldn't be completed before the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Li Qu then picked out a sachet from Hong Guo's embroidery to appease him temporarily.
Zhou Jin had already sent a message in advance, saying that he would not be returning home for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Li Qu drew a cute little picture of a moonlit willow tree, a scene of lovers meeting at dusk, and stuffed it into a sachet, which she then had Xu Mama deliver to Jinxiu Hall as a way of appeasing him.
"Why don't you find a way to send her to Third Master, Aunt?"
"If you have the ability, you can give it a try."
Granny Xu thought for a moment and said, "This old servant will give it a try."
As it turned out, Granny Xu actually managed to send it out.
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the area outside Fanghua Garden was bustling with noise and activity, while inside, the lights had already been turned off and the garden was quiet.
Li Qu lay on a rocking chair by the window, letting her plain nightgown trail on the ground, embracing a sliver of moonlight, utterly at ease.
The maids in the courtyard had finished their business early and went out to join the fun and see what was happening. Xu Mama, who didn't like joining the fun, sat on a round stool to the side, accompanying Li Qu to admire the moon.
“Every year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, my two aunts would bring their younger relatives to visit the old lady. It’s a pity this year, my aunt can’t go out to see the opera.”
"No wonder even a usually composed girl like Hongguo is thinking about running away."
"The outside world is so glamorous, how could a young girl not love it?"
With her jade-like feet raised and a gentle push, the rocking chair began to sway.
Li Qu sighed, "Yes, who doesn't love the glitz and glamour of the outside world?"
She could almost picture the bustling scene of the market.
Granny Xu comforted her, "Next year, Auntie will also have the opportunity to go out and see the lantern festival."
Li Qu chuckled lightly.
She could have freely moved around the lantern festival, but now she only has the opportunity.
The moonlight, like woven silk, left no trace.
Just like her feigned obedience and tenderness, and the fabricated pretense.
Bang bang bang!
Li Qu suddenly stopped rocking the chair.
Granny Xu got up and walked outside: "This old servant has bolted the courtyard gate. I'll go see who it is now."
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