Chapter 45 Returning Home
The red, yellow, and green leaves rustled in the wind, and the air was filled with the fragrance of fruit.
Li Qu was always at ease during the days Zhou Jin was away.
The third young lady was engaged to a man that pleased Aunt Hu, who then sent Li Qu a generous gift in gratitude.
Chang San Niang requested an audience with Li Qu twice: once to ask for a prescription for Chang San's subsequent treatment, and once to give Li Qu shoes she had made herself.
The three concubines of the second wife would often visit Fanghua Garden together to keep Li Qu company and relieve her boredom.
No one mentioned Li Qu's past, nor did anyone mention the Mid-Autumn Festival; it was as if everyone had forgotten that unpleasant time.
Although Li Qu could not go out to visit the Li family in Hezhou Prison, Cui Guo's brother bribed the prison warden, who would occasionally send some things mixed with letters, and the warden would turn a blind eye.
Li Rongxin reported the good news, saying that the Li family members had recovered from their injuries and each of them had gained ten pounds. Li's mother's pregnancy was stable, and Li Qu should not worry.
Li Qu felt much relieved and wrote to Zhou Jin even more frequently.
"...I recall making a mistake some time ago, writing 'The dew is even deeper' instead of 'The dew is heavier.' Considering the whole phrase, it seems to be 'I fear the dew is even heavier because I think of you.' I fear you may have misunderstood, so I am writing this letter to explain."
'I am a virtuous woman, and I have no intention of expressing my unspeakable longing for you, nor of being unable to contain my deep affection. I hope you will not let your mind wander, lest you be unable to sleep at night thinking of me…'
The letter was still entrusted to Kaiseki outside the courtyard for delivery.
Three days later, Li Qu received a love letter from Zhou Jin sent by carrier pigeon.
The last word was: Get lost.
By mid-October, when his confinement period ended, Li Qu first went to pay his respects to the old lady and presented her with the Buddhist scriptures he had copied during his confinement, to show his sincerity in self-reflection.
Then he went to pay his respects to the second wife.
Qiaogu led Li Qu directly to the Second Madam's study.
The second wife was a little plumper than Xia Ri. Sitting behind the accounting desk, her fingers moved incessantly across the abacus. Hearing Li Qu's greeting, she looked up, smiled, and asked, "Are you going out?"
"My lady is wise. I request permission to go out and see my family."
"I guessed you'd be going out today after your lockdown ended, so I've already arranged a carriage and servants for you."
"I thank you for your kindness, Madam."
The second wife flipped through the account book without looking up: "No need to be polite. The third branch of the family has no mistress, so I'm just doing this on their behalf. Qiaogu, give the prepared tokens to Aunt Li."
Qiaogu presented the pair of cards, which Li Qu accepted with both hands.
Seeing the opportunity, Granny Xu stepped forward and presented the tray in her hand.
Li Qu said, "This is a moisturizing cream, suitable for dry skin caused by the dry weather. It can be used on the hands, feet, limbs and body."
"I found it quite effective. If you don't mind, Madam, you may keep it and give it away as a reward."
The tray was filled with various large-bellied jars, and each member of the second family prepared one.
The large jar belonged to the madam and concubines, while the small jar belonged to the young lady; they were distinguished by the color of the jar.
The most exquisitely packaged item was a large sky-blue jar.
Qiaogu smiled and stepped forward to take it, saying, "Auntie, you're so kind."
The second wife, seemingly lost in thought, rose from behind the accounting table and walked to the tray.
He reached out and opened the packaging of the sky-blue, large-bellied jar, scooped out a fingernail-sized amount and applied it to the back of his hand, raising an eyebrow: "Just like the Immortal Dew Cream from Immortal Treasure Pavilion."
Li Qu lowered his eyes and humbly replied, "I dare not compare myself to the priceless treasures of Xianbaozhai."
After exchanging a few more words, Li Qu bid farewell to the second wife and headed straight for the Hezhou Prison with Granny Xu.
Upon arriving at the prison gates, Li Qu felt a sense of trepidation, as if he were returning home.
She cannot face her family who have been implicated because of her.
My mind went blank, and I stood there blankly, completely lost in thought.
"Auntie!"
"Auntie!!"
Cui Guo, who had gone to Yuzhen Tower to get food, arrived half an hour earlier and was talking to her right now.
She didn't hear her clearly: "Huh? Sorry, I was daydreaming. What did you just say?"
Cuiguo smiled and gestured with her chin: "Auntie, this is my brother, Quan."
A-Quan bowed his head and kowtowed to Li Qu to greet her.
Li Qu wore a veil, obscuring the boy's features, but noted that he was thin: "Please rise, no need for formalities."
Ah Quan stood up, bowed his head respectfully, and said, "Everything has been arranged inside. Madam, please go in."
"Thank you for your help these past two months."
"It's my honor to run errands for you, Aunt. Please go ahead, Aunt. I'll keep watch outside for you."
Thank you.
Li Qu took a step forward, but almost tripped over himself with his first step.
Fortunately, Granny Xu helped him up.
The jailer inside greeted us politely. As we walked deeper into the prison, all the prisoners in the cells we encountered stood facing the walls. The only sound was our footsteps.
After Li Rong recovered from her injuries, she was imprisoned in the same cell as her father and mother.
As soon as Li Qu's footsteps approached, Li Rong's excited voice rang out: "Here, here!"
Li Qu involuntarily jogged forward and grabbed Li Rong's hand that was reaching out from the cell.
The worry in her heart was instantly put into practice, and Li Qu's nose tingled. She looked at Li Rong's intact fingernails and was unwilling to look away for a long time.
Li Rong slapped Li Qu's hand: "It's a foot, not a hand, what are you looking at!"
Then he released Li Qu's hand, gripped the railing with both hands, pressed his face against it, and looked behind Li Qu: "Did you bring the signboard of Yuzhenlou?"
"Yes, yes, I brought it." Cui Guo quickly stepped forward, struggling to hold up the six-tiered food box in her hand. "It's all food that Madam Li and the Second Miss like to eat."
The jailer opened the cell door and then tactfully left.
Li Rong eagerly waved to Cui Guo: "Come on, come on, I've cleaned up the broken table!"
Cuiguo couldn't stop smiling.
Outside the cell, Granny Xu removed Li Qu's veil and then stepped aside.
Li Qu felt a dryness in his throat as he walked step by step toward the prison cell.
As soon as she entered the door, Li's mother grabbed her arm and asked, "How are you? Did Zhou Sanye do anything to you?"
Seeing the undisguised worry in her mother's eyes, Li Qu's own eyes instantly welled up with tears: "Mother~"
Granny Xu quickly interjected, "Third Master has calmed down and treats Concubine very well."
Li's mother was instantly relieved and breathed a long sigh of relief.
The next second, she slapped Li Qu's arm: "You unfilial daughter, I told you to be careful, but you're the one who's causing trouble! You almost killed your father!"
Li Rong quickly called out, "Mom, come and eat! I'll finish it all if you don't come soon!"
Li's mother abandoned Li Qu, who was pouting and crying, and ran away.
"Look how fat you are, eat less!"
Li Rong retorted, "Mom, you're even fatter!"
"I'm pregnant, how can you compare to me?"
Li Rong: "That's incomparable."
Li Qu's carefully prepared words and actions of kneeling down to beg for forgiveness and kowtowing in apology were drowned out by the delicacies of Yuzhenlou.
Granny Xu took out a handkerchief to wipe Li Qu's tears: "They just didn't want you to worry, Auntie. Anyway, it's all over now."
Li Qu took the handkerchief and wiped herself, then looked up and met her father's eyes again.
Li's father was mute and had been bullied since childhood. He was used to being self-conscious and always bowed his head when he saw people. But now, when he met Li Qu's eyes, he smiled and patted his chest: "Waaah!"
Then he gave a thumbs up.
It's as if it's saying: Dad's doing great!
Li Qu's tears, which had already subsided, welled up again instantly: "Father~"
As the saying goes, "When a daughter grows up, she should avoid her father." Li's father was at a loss for words, not knowing how to comfort Li Qu, so he pulled at Li's mother, who was looking down and gnawing on a duck leg.
Li's mother finally managed to swallow the duck meat in her mouth and pulled Li's father to sit down: "Eat quickly, or Arong will give all our things to that kid next door!"
Upon hearing this, Li Qu's tearful eyes shifted to Li Rong, who was squatting next to the cell in the next room.
Li Rong, blushing slightly and with her ears turning red, stretched her hand holding the chicken leg into the next cell: "Young Master Lin, you haven't had any meat for days. If you don't mind, please try the signature dish of Yuzhenlou."
Li Qu was taken aback. She looked up and met Lin Xiaocong's eyes, who was sitting in the corner next to her.
The other person smiled politely, stepped forward and took the chicken leg from Li Rong's hand, and thanked Li Rong gently: "Thank you for your hospitality, Second Miss."
Li Rong shyly withdrew her hand, unconsciously touching the fingers that seemed to have touched Lin Xiaocong.
"Is it Lord Lin, the renowned physician from the capital?"
Lin Xiaocong, holding a chicken leg, stood up and politely bowed to Li Qu with a smile: "Greetings, Madam."
Li Qu glanced at Lin Xiaocong, then at Li Rong, and all her tears vanished instantly.
After the meal, the Li family did not dwell on the matter of being tortured, nor did anyone condemn Li Qu for implicating his family. The conversation revolved around Lin Xiaocong.
Li's mother cracked melon seeds: "If it weren't for your second sister still having her virginity mark, I would never have let that Lin family next door have it easy!"
Some time ago, when Li Rong was in solitary confinement, the person she had the most contact with was Lin Xiaocong.
Li Rong retorted, "He's a gentleman."
"Could a gentleman really be so infatuated with you?"
Li Rong blushed: "This is called developing feelings over time."
Li Qu interjected, "When he treated your foot, did he touch it?"
Lin Xiaocong from next door quickly took precautions: "I did not offend the Second Miss. I wore gloves when taking the needle and applying the medicine."
Li Rong stammered, "I... I just can't fall in love with someone at first sight!"
Li Rong glanced in Lin Xiaocong's direction.
Lin Xiaocong chewed the chicken leg meat in his mouth politely, and when he noticed Li Qu looking over, he smiled gently.
He is the refined and handsome scholar type that Li Rong likes.
She is also exceptionally good-looking.
His demeanor was also extraordinary.
Li Qu concluded: "Not a good match."
Li Rong retorted, "Can't I just meet a good one!"
Li Qu looked at Lin Xiaocong, her words carrying a strong implication: "Lord Lin is of marriageable age and should already have a wife."
Lin Xiaocong seemed rather dim-witted: "I'm not married yet."
Li Rong's eyes sparkled.
Li Qu: "..."
"They were already engaged!"
"Not engaged yet."
"There must be someone who admires him!!"
"I haven't met another person I've fallen for at first sight."
"Then you must dislike someone as vulgar as my second sister!!!"
Lin Xiaocong smiled and said in a gentle tone, "The second young lady is resilient, pure, kind, and warm-hearted. She is not a vulgar person."
Li Rongru was made to drink Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), her face turned red, and she felt dizzy.
"So, are you going to marry my second sister?"
Li Rong instantly snapped out of her daze, quickly covering Li Qu's mouth with her hand. She looked apologetically at Lin Xiaocong, then grabbed Li Qu, turned her around, and revealed her clenched teeth with her back to Lin Xiaocong: "You've gone mad!!!"
Li Qu removed Li Rong's hand: "Did he see you without your disguise?"
Upon hearing this, Li Rong instantly felt guilty.
The sisters are from the same family. Li Qu's appearance was praised by her mother as surpassing her mother's. How could Li Rong be any less beautiful?
She raised her hand and scratched her head: "Well, that morning, before I could even pretend, he... he came to change my dressing."
Feeling unsure of herself, she glanced at Li Qu and said, "Didn't you say that we should avoid wearing the disguise overnight if possible?"
Li Qu pointed in Lin Xiaocong's direction: "He is young, a master of traditional Chinese medicine, and must have a family backing him up."
Then he pointed at Li Rong and said, "You like him, but you're destined to be a concubine."
Li Rong's expression changed slightly, but she did not respond.
Ah Quan rushed over, attracting everyone's attention.
"Auntie, Third Master has returned to the manor."
The atmosphere in the room changed instantly after he said that.
Everyone looked at Li Qu.
Li Qu's heart pounded.
Thinking about the contents of the letters exchanged over the past two months, I suddenly felt uneasy.
Taking a deep breath, she got up, dusted off her clothes, and prepared to return home.
The problem that the Li family had deliberately ignored has finally come to light.
Li's mother stepped forward and grasped Li Qu's hand: "Qu, no one blames you! But, but what will you do from now on?"
She stared intently into Li Qu's eyes, unwilling to miss a single emotion within them.
Looking at the complex emotions in her mother's eyes, Li Qu hesitated for a long time before finally smiling slightly: "Mother, don't worry, I will live a good life from now on."
Li's mother wanted to put her mind at ease, but for some reason, hearing these words only made her feel more uneasy.
Granny Xu helped Li Qu put on the veil, and Li Qu bid farewell to her family and turned to walk outside.
Beneath the veil, her face remained expressionless.
Next time, she can't guarantee what will happen to her, but she will make sure her family is safe and sound.
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