Chapter 54 Drunkenness
After Li Qu finished washing up, Huai Shi informed her that Granny Rong was requesting an audience.
Zhou Jin was having a meal at the round table.
The food she had prepared herself had gone cold and could no longer be used, so the kitchen sent over fresh food.
She stood by the door, welcoming Granny Rong in.
Rong Mama greeted her respectfully: "This old servant greets Madam."
Li Qu, looking weak and bullied, bowed to Granny Rong with red eyes, saying, "Greetings, Granny."
Rong Mama avoided Li Qu's greeting and bowed respectfully to Zhou Jin again, saying, "Greetings, Third Master."
"This old servant is acting on the orders of the old lady to ask the Third Master about the matter of Mianxiao Residence violating ancestral precepts. Is it because Concubine Li has bewitched the master?"
Li Qu defended herself, her aggrieved expression written all over her face: "This concubine dares not."
Zhou Jin remained expressionless, carefully chewing the food in his mouth.
Granny Rong stood there with her head bowed, neither humble nor arrogant.
The room was so quiet that even the sound of Zhou Jin moving his chopsticks was exceptionally clear.
Only after Zhou Jin put down his chopsticks, sipped his tea, and got up from the table did he speak: "Li Shi is innocent; I will take her punishment."
Granny Rong moved with Zhou Jin's figure.
"If the fault lies with Third Master, the Old Madam has something to say."
Zhou Jin didn't care at all. He moved to the desk and sat down, his gaze naturally falling on the paper that was soaked with some unknown stain: "Speak."
Rong Mama spoke in a calm and clear tone: "The old lady said that the Third Master dotes on his concubine Li Shi excessively, disregarding ancestral rules. This shows both contempt for ancestral rules and disrespect for his future bride."
She took out the document from her bosom and presented it with both hands: "The old lady is both an elder and the future mother-in-law of the bride. Whether for public or private reasons, she cannot stamp the document and submit it to the ancestors. Please allow Li to be included in the genealogy."
"In this matter, please ask the new bride for her opinion after she enters the household, and then make a decision."
Li Qu lowered her head, going through all the sad things she had encountered in her life before she could stop the corners of her lips from twitching with joy.
Before Zhou Jin could speak, Rong Mama proactively placed the document on the desk, within easy reach of Zhou Jin.
Returning to her original position, she respectfully lowered her eyes and continued, "This old servant has delivered the message. Please ask Third Master to go to the ancestral hall to receive your punishment when you have time."
"Your punishment and Aunt Li's punishment together amount to ten strokes of the cane and thirty strokes of the palm."
After saying this, he respectfully bowed again, took three steps back, and then turned and walked outside.
Li Qu finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Feeling Zhou Jin's gaze sweep over her, she quickly raised her hand to cover the corner of her lips with a handkerchief, trying hard to suppress her laughter.
Taking advantage of seeing Granny Rong off, she escaped his sight.
Upon reaching the door, she smiled and bowed to Granny Rong, saying, "Seeing you off, Granny."
"Please return, Auntie." Rong Mama bowed to Li Qu and took her leave, also taking in the bright smile that Li Qu couldn't help but show on her face.
Li Qu watched Rong Mama leave and began to compose herself.
Inhale, exhale, and with great difficulty suppressing a laugh, I turned and went inside.
Zhou Jin was looking at the documents that Rong Mama had returned.
She naturally walked to his side, glanced at him, and sure enough, the 'concubine-taking document' had been returned.
Zhou Jin glanced at Li Qu: "Satisfied now?"
Li Qu threw a handkerchief at his face: "I am such a handsome man as Master Xiao, yet I have to lie on the torture bench to be tortured."
"As for the matter of my status as a concubine, I have no interest in it," she said, feigning anger.
"Others can take concubines of different statuses, but if you cannot, I will leave you!"
"You dare!" he warned her. "If you dare run, I'll break your legs!"
"Hmph!" She looked down at him with an unprecedented display of temper, "Why would you break my legs, sir!"
"If you're so capable, sir, you can get the old lady to agree to give me a proper title!"
"You only know how to bully your concubine!"
"But if you lay a hand on my family again, I will risk my life to make you suffer!"
"The man doesn't offend the concubine, and the concubine doesn't offend the man!"
After she finished speaking, she stormed off in a huff?
Zhou Jin stared at the peach-colored dress that had disappeared from sight, feeling a mix of emotions he couldn't quite describe.
He remembered her saying that she didn't blame him for hurting her family.
Now you dare to warn him?!
Oh, and she also admitted to using someone else to commit murder.
A man should not offend his concubine, nor should a concubine offend a man.
That makes a lot of sense.
He leaned back in his chair, a smile gradually appearing in his eyes.
How could someone who had to drag his family along when fleeing south stand idly by and watch his family suffer?
It's normal for an annoyed pet to bare its canines.
He discovered that he preferred her true self to an obedient pet.
She... she couldn't help but tremble just now, she must have been trying to hold back her laughter.
He suddenly felt like laughing too.
It's been a long time since I've felt like laughing.
*
Li Qu smiled as soon as he left Mianxiao Residence.
Rong Mama meant that the concubine-taking document would not be sent to the government office for filing before the new bride entered the house!
Absolutely wonderful.
She also discussed his political affairs today, and he did not reprimand her in a pedantic manner.
Furthermore, she let bygones be bygones the dubious matter of using someone else to commit murder, and even gave him a warning!
What a wonderful night.
As soon as they arrived at the gate of Fanghua Garden, Cuiguo, who had been eagerly waiting, came up to them and said, "Auntie, the Li family sent someone to tell you that the old lady Li from Hezhou Prison has passed away due to a sudden illness caused by excessive grief."
The genuine smile on Li Qu's face slowly faded, replaced by a slightly sarcastic and indifferent one.
"oh."
Her reply was simple: "Prepare the wine, and have the kitchen prepare two more dishes to go with it."
"Then... how should we respond to the Li family?"
No need to reply.
What should I reply to?
No one cared about the life or death of that 'Old Madam Li'.
Just like how that 'Old Madam Li' never cared about anyone in her father's branch of the family back then.
When the late dinner arrived, she ate only half full before starting to drink.
First, they drank cup after cup, and then they drank from the jar while tilting their heads back.
Completely drunk.
She lay on the carpet without any regard for her image, pointing at the approaching Granny Xu and saying, "Granny, you look like a frog, with big eyes and a big mouth."
Granny Xu was very worried and told her not to be sad, even saying, "Tomorrow, you can ask for a favor to leave the mansion and see off Old Madam Li."
She laughed when she heard that, and then laughed until she cried.
For twelve whole years, no one knows how she got through those twelve years.
At that time, she was only four years old, and she dared not show the slightest resentment or abnormality.
Because any adult in the family could kill her and sell her. She was at their mercy, like a fish on the chopping block.
She waited, until she grew up and was able to take revenge on her enemies, but she sadly discovered that she could not do so.
As long as Li Yaozu dies, 'Old Madam Li' will definitely think of her.
Before the family split up, her parents and sisters were all people that 'Old Madam Li' could manipulate.
She could only endure it. An unbearable endurance.
Finally, she realized that the time was right.
Therefore, for a full year before fleeing south, she mentioned it to Xiao Cong more than once:
'My eldest cousin is a respectable person.'
My eldest cousin is a very good person.
I heard my eldest cousin had a new son, so I made clothes for the baby.
"..."
She successfully brought Li Yaozu to Xiao Cong's side.
She hoped that her betrayal would turn Xiao Cong into a knife, allowing him to cut off her enemy's head.
She was 80% sure.
Therefore, when she heard Zhou Feng say that an old woman insisted on seeing the Li family and was even cursing at them, she guessed that the old woman was 'Madam Li'.
She was filled with excitement and couldn't wait to find out the result she was looking forward to.
Then, the moment 'Old Madam Li' saw herself, she indeed had a man-eating, crazed look on her face.
She smiled; it turned out that no one had forgotten what happened back then.
very good.
She asked her: "The dead cannot be brought back to life, what do you want?"
Every wrong has its perpetrator, every debt its debtor. If you're so capable, go and take your revenge.
I avenged myself with my own abilities!
She choked back tears as she spoke, "Granny, that lovely little baby will never come back."
Xu Mama was busy cleaning up the vomit that covered Li Qu's body and didn't notice what Li Qu was saying at all.
She called to the maids, "Lan Guo, come here. You're stronger, so let's move the concubine into the bathtub together."
"Red fruit and green fruit, you two keep an eye on her, one in front and one behind, to prevent Auntie from falling and bumping into something."
"Chengguo, go check if the water temperature is suitable."
The cacophony only served to highlight the deep sorrow of untold stories in my heart, making my grief all the more profound.
Exhausted, she gradually felt sleepiness creeping in.
She was still thinking that she would talk to Zhou Jin tomorrow and ask him to keep the secret and not let her pregnant mother know about what happened back then.
Confused and muddled.
"Third Master..."
As soon as Li Qu heard someone call Zhou Jin's name, he slipped into the water.
A strong arm pulled her out just in time.
A pleasant, magnetic, and cool voice said: "You may all leave."
She wiped the water off her face, struggled to lift her eyelids, and looked at Zhou Jin.
Then... Zhou Jin also resembled a frog with big eyes and a big mouth.
She giggled and pointed at him, "Zhou Jin, how come you've turned into a frog with big eyes and a big mouth too?"
"Just like Granny Xu, so cute."
Xu Mama suddenly sped up her retreat and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Zhou Jin: "..."
People speak the truth when they're drunk.
"What did you call me 'Grandpa'?"
"Zhou Jin!" she repeated with a smile, "Zhou Jin!"
"You are Zhou Jin, and I am Li Qu."
Zhou Jin: "..."
"So, do you like me?"
"dislike."
Zhou Jin: "!"
"I love him, I love Zhou Jin, I want to have his child, a lovely child!"
Zhou Jin pursed his lips.
"But he doesn't like me. He only likes the obedient Aqu."
"But I am Li Qu."
Zhou Jin began to clean her.
She asked, "Zhou Jin, the frog, are you a frog in disguise?"
Zhou Jin: "..."
"Frog, did you turn into a human for your princess?"
Zhou Jin: "I'm not a frog."
"Even I don't like princesses."
"How could that be? If you don't like the princess, who do you like?"
"I like you, whether you're being good, angry, or drunk, it's all acceptable."
She giggled and splashed him with water: "Zhou Jin the Frog, will you love me forever?"
He didn't know: "Hmm."
"Then you can only like me, okay? I'll be unhappy if you like someone else."
Zhou Jin replied dismissively, "Okay."
"who I am?"
“Aqu”.
She made a face and said, "That's not right."
"Little Aqu."
She exclaimed angrily, "No!!!"
"Li Qu".
She was finally satisfied and quieted down, as if she wanted to sleep.
He wasn't paying attention and she slipped and choked on the water.
After much effort, he finally managed to put her on the bed.
She slept soundly, even snoring.
He stared at her for a long time.
Do people speak the truth when they're drunk?
“Aqu”.
"A-Qu?"
"A-Qu!"
All he heard in response was snoring, making it hard for him not to believe it.
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