Chapter 78 No Illness
"This is a life-saving pouch that I personally sealed; it will ensure you escape danger and be safe."
"Keep it safe. Anyone who opens it without permission will be expelled from Fanghua Garden and never allowed to use it again."
Li Qu summoned her personal maid, Granny Xu, and her first and second-class maids to her side and handed them each a brocade pouch.
Xu Mama and the others dared not disobey.
"I will obey your instructions, Madam. Thank you for your kindness."
What a great job at Fanghua Garden!
The master has a good temper, treats the servants well, and bestows many rewards.
Only a fool would move.
Furthermore, being expelled from Fanghua Garden means the end of one's life as a slave.
"Go ahead and get busy."
After everyone left, Li Qu put a checkmark next to the item on the list of plans.
One last item is needed.
Li Qu put down her pen and picked up the invitation card beside her.
The invitation was sent by my second great-aunt, Zhou Yu.
Zhou Yu married into the Qiao family of Hezhou and became their matriarch.
Unlike her domineering aunt Zhou Lan, she lived a secluded life, handing over the reins of the household management to her daughter-in-law as soon as she entered the family. She only wanted to enjoy a peaceful and carefree life and did not want to worry about anything.
The lotus appreciation banquet was a banquet that the Qiao family held every year.
Sending a formal invitation to Li Qu was also done according to custom.
This is why Li Qu chose this post.
Because the banquet was held at Qiao's Lotus Garden, which connects to the Lianxin Lake in Tonghezhou.
*
She put down the invitation, took out the paper filled with plans, and set it aside. Then she picked up another piece of paper.
I smoothed out the paperweight, picked up my brush, and began to write.
There's a condition called Stockholm Syndrome... and I'm a perfectly healthy person...
'...All the past events were merely expedient measures...'
'...I forgive your oppressive power, and I beg you to show mercy and let me go...'
'...You and I are like heaven and earth, we should never have any connection...'
'...This child who shouldn't have come into the world, will never have come into the world...'
"...Let's part ways amicably and each find our own happiness."
Respectfully presented by Ms. Li, a commoner.
She dried the ink, took an envelope, and put the ink inside.
He wrote "To the Third Master Zhou" on the envelope, sealed it with wax, and set it aside.
With a smile, Granny Xu brought over the bird's nest soup: "Madam, Aunt Zheng has arrived."
As soon as she finished speaking, Aunt Zheng's voice came from outside.
"Could it be that my sister is willing to part with the glass lotus flower on the windowsill?"
"Why did you so eagerly call your sister over?"
Li Qu stood up with a smile.
The final plan has arrived.
"Didn't my sister mention before that there was an older woman who was having a hard time?"
"When I was cleaning out Third Master's storeroom, I found a lot of old and unusable materials."
"If you don't mind, sister, you can have someone come and pick it up. We can make two sets of clothes for you."
"It's just that the colors aren't fashionable anymore."
Aunt Zheng exclaimed happily, "Oh my, how could I possibly encounter such a wonderful thing?"
"Even if the styles are outdated, the items that can enter Third Master's warehouse are still priceless treasures."
"I'll send someone to inform my older sister right away."
Granny Xu followed Li Qu with the bird's nest soup, glancing at the paper full of earthworm symbols drawn on the desk, but she didn't pay it any mind.
Li Qu welcomed Aunt Zheng to sit down: "Is your older sister living on the painted boat on Lianxin Lake now?"
Mentioning the sisters and cousins on those pleasure boats, Aunt Zheng's eyes held a hint of melancholy, a sense of things having changed.
“When I was little, she lived in a three-story pleasure boat and was adored by countless men.”
"Only a man with both talent and good looks can win her invitation to board the ship."
"The scenery is absolutely magnificent."
"It was because I saw her success that I worked so hard to learn to play musical instruments and sing."
"I want to grow up and be like her, stepping on men and looking down on them."
"Now... she lives in a covered boat."
Li Qu accepted the bird's nest cup offered by Granny Xu: "A covered boat?"
"Yes, she's picky about her customers and would rather die than accept a good-for-nothing."
"But the women in the pleasure boats and pavilions come one after another, there is never a shortage of new ones."
"She's almost forty, what good man could possibly be interested in her?"
The maidservant served tea to Aunt Zheng.
“If it weren’t for my help over the years, she would probably be dead by now.”
Aunt Zheng picked up her teacup: "Although Second Master is a bit fickle and promiscuous..."
"But without him, I don't know what my situation would be like now."
She smiled as she drank her tea.
Li Qu stirred the bird's nest soup with a spoon: "The Second Madam is about to give birth, and my sister is also busy. Let her come directly to my courtyard to get it."
"No, don't dirty your sister's place."
"What are you laughing at, sister? It's those men who are dirty. Who would choose to be a prostitute if they had no other way to make a living?"
Aunt Zheng stared blankly at Li Qu.
Li Qu's eyes were sincere.
Aunt Zheng smiled and said, "Thank you, little sister."
Li Qu smiled and said, "You're too kind."
Success.
*
May 17th is the day of the banquet.
Li Qu glanced at the plan paper covered with checkmarks and casually put it aside.
It's all in pinyin; nobody can understand it.
Then she began to dress up and do her makeup.
Simple yet polite clothing.
Simple and uncomplicated jewelry and headwear.
Without makeup, her skin was as smooth as a peeled lychee.
Granny Xu frowned: "Is Madam dressed too plainly?"
"This child probably likes simplicity; I find him very pleasing to the eye."
The blame was shifted onto the child, and sure enough, Granny Xu stopped questioning.
As Li Qu left the house, the courtyard, and the Zhou residence, she never looked back even once.
Upon arriving at Qiao's Lotus Garden, where the banquet was being held, Li Qu first paid her respects to the hostess, her aunt Zhou Yu. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, she excused herself to take a walk and left.
Zhou Yu arranged for someone to guide her on a tour of the garden.
"I don't like being disturbed, so I avoid crowds and just wander around."
The servants all responded.
*
The lake in Qiao's Lotus Garden and Lianxin Lake are connected together, resembling a gourd.
The gourd's large belly was enclosed by the Qiao family, lotus flowers were planted, pavilions and corridors were built over the water, and the buildings along the land were transformed into part of their private garden.
The gourd's belly is the Heart Lake.
Connecting the lake to the waterway, the scenery is extraordinary.
Painted boats come and go, making it lively both day and night.
In a corner of a bay near Qiao's Lotus Garden, there are many low-class awning boats hidden in Lianxin Lake.
They rest during the day and emerge from the bay at night, carrying red lights as they wander off to specific places.
*
After strolling around for a while, Li Qu was surrounded by people and went up to the pavilion on the water.
She chose to sit and enjoy the view from the floating pavilion near Qiao's Lotus Garden, which connects to the underwater waterway of Lianxin Lake.
As far as the eye could see, the winding waterside pavilions and corridors were constantly being traversed by servants.
On the lake, the maidservants, skilled in water navigation, rowed boats to help the young ladies pick lotus flowers and leaves.
On the distant riverbank, women were having their maids fish, competing to see whose maid could catch the most fish.
There are even matchmaking events.
It was bustling with activity.
Li Qu's gaze shifted and fell on some small boats moored on the river.
The small boats were scattered about, each carrying two or three female servants, all of whom were skilled swimmers.
They were lifeguards specifically assigned to prevent anyone from falling into the water.
Li Qu picked up the teacup beside her: "The wife who manages the household in the Qiao family is quite a capable person."
Granny Xu was completely unaware of anything amiss.
She replied with a smile, "That's right. People say that Second Aunt is lucky. She only had one son, and her son married a capable wife."
Li Qu held the water glass in her hand and gently twirled it.
It's not good if only one important person falls into the water; she will become the primary rescue target.
If they choose to create an accident and escape by falling into the water, many people will fall into the water together, causing the maids and servants to scramble and panic.
At the same time, people who have fallen into the water should be kept within a safe range to prevent fatalities.
She put down the cup and raised her hand to press her temples.
There are too many uncontrollable factors.
Or, she might secretly go into the water by herself.
But how can I get rid of the maids and servants who are always by my side?
Just as he was pondering this, a pair of maids came to deliver a fruit platter.
Huai Xia, who was guarding the entrance to the outermost corridor, raised her hand to stop the maid.
The garden was filled with women, and the other three male bodyguards that Zhou Jin had arranged to protect Li Qu were forbidden from being brought in.
Currently, Li Qu only has Huai Xia, a capable female servant, by his side.
After examining the fruit, Huai Xia was about to pat the other person's body to see if they were carrying any weapons.
The other party suddenly attacked.
Fruits swarmed towards them, and before Huai Xia could react, another person had already rushed towards the pavilion.
She shouted, "An assassin!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the remaining person attacked with a hairpin.
Huai Xia drew her sword to fight back, but was stopped in her tracks.
"Ah! An assassin!"
Another person approached amidst the screams of Granny Xu and the others.
Target: Li Qu.
When Cuiguo saw someone approaching, she grabbed a teapot and smashed it.
Xu Mama also stepped in front of Li Qu without hesitation.
The assassin raised his arm to dodge Cui Guo's attack. In that instant, Li Qu took a deep breath, pushed Xu Mama aside, and fell out of the pavilion corridor due to the force of the impact.
"Remember the secret pouch."
With a thud.
Granny Xu was pushed to the ground. When she looked up, she saw that the seat where Li Qu had just been sitting was empty.
In an instant, the sensation of ice water being poured over her entire body bombarded her brain.
Seeing that the assassin was about to chase after Li Qu after she fell into the water, she stepped forward and grabbed the assassin's leg tightly.
He screamed like a pig being slaughtered: "Stop the assassin! Stop the assassin!"
"If the lady falls into the water, there will be a life-saving old woman to rescue her. But if the assassin catches up and kills her in the water, the entire Fanghua Garden will perish!"
The people of Fanghua Garden are more united than ever before.
Fearless and undaunted.
With their superior numbers, they managed to hold back the assassin's advance.
The incident happened so fast that screams of surprise erupted from the people in the park before they could react.
"Help! Help! Madam Zhou's Third Madam has fallen into the water!"
"Assassin! Catch the assassin! Madam Zhou's Third Madam has been assassinated!"
Granny Xu screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice filled with uncontrollable fear and trembling.
When the sound spread, everyone was stunned.
The maids responsible for rescuing people on the river rowed frantically towards where Li Qu had fallen into the water.
If Madam Zhou were to die in the lake, then the servants responsible for saving lives would also be doomed.
The other ladies who had realized what was happening quickly arranged for their maids to come to their aid.
If one's own maidservant were to save the Third Madam, it would be an immense favor.
If you climb up to the Third Master Zhou, your ascension to heaven is just around the corner.
Some panicked, some looked forward to an opportunity, and some were worried.
Upon hearing that Li Qu had fallen into the water, Huai Xia became enraged. Ignoring the fact that Li Qu's hairpin had pierced her shoulder, she drew both swords and severed Li Qu's neck.
Scalding blood sprayed all over her face. She kicked the assassin to the ground, wiped her face, and rushed towards the pavilion.
Those who fail to protect their master will surely die.
The assassin in the pavilion arrived before her, shook off Xu Mama and the others, and jumped into the water.
Without even firing a shot, Whiteton leaped down right after him.
From the moment the assassin launched his attack to the moment Huai Xia chased someone into the water, only a few breaths passed.
After a while, the maids from various families who came to their aid finally arrived.
Someone saw blood in the pavilion; some were given medical treatment, while others were being tracked down.
But at this moment, the maids who were trying to save lives on the lake were like dumplings in the water, coming up one after another and going down one after another, but no one had yet managed to pull up the pregnant wife of Master Zhou.
*
Zhou Yu disliked entertaining guests and preferred to enjoy massages from servants in her room with familiar women.
The usually shrewd and considerate daughter-in-law seemed to have lost her mind, calling out "Mother" as she ran over in a daze.
Zhou Yu waved away the maid who was massaging her and slowly sat up.
The woman who knew him also sat up: "What happened?"
Then, the dignified and composed eldest daughter-in-law of the Qiao family rushed in from outside the door, but she could not even walk steadily and fell to the ground in a sorry state, with the pearl hairpins on her head swaying.
She raised her face in terror and cried, "Mother, something's happened! Something terrible has happened!"
"My third aunt was assassinated and fell into the water at the pavilion in the lotus garden. She was never seen alive, nor was her body found!"
"Ah!" the other women in the room exclaimed.
But then Qiao's eldest daughter-in-law continued crying, "All the servants who were good at swimming went down to rescue them!"
"We only managed to retrieve the outer robe and embroidered shoes that my third aunt was wearing today!"
"What should we do?!"
Zhou Yu nimbly dismounted and went to her daughter-in-law, taking her hand on her shoulder: "Who are you talking about!"
"Third Aunt Li, Third Aunt Li who is pregnant!"
The eldest daughter-in-law of the Qiao family couldn't help but repeat: "That Li woman who is the only favorite in the Third Uncle's room!"
Zhou Yu swayed slightly.
Thinking about how her eldest sister had offended her third brother, causing the Chu family to fall from the top of the four major families in Hezhou to the bottom, she felt dizzy.
"Has the assassin been caught yet?!"
"My third aunt's maidservant killed one assassin and captured another, alive!"
"Just live, just live!"
"The person may have been swept into Lianxin Lake through an underwater passage. Send more people to search, and hurry up!"
"We've sent people, we've sent people!" Qiao's eldest daughter-in-law couldn't help but tremble all over.
She was the one who organized and arranged the banquet, so she bears inescapable responsibility for any mishaps.
Given how much that third uncle doted on his wife, how could she possibly have a good ending!
Zhou Yu quickly instructed the servants to help her fix her hair and change her clothes: "I will go and tell my mother myself."
"Keep a close eye on that assassin! Don't let him die!"
"Just in case, just in case someone dies, we can push that assassin to the third brother to vent his anger!"
"Furthermore, the Qiao family needs to find out what went wrong and give the Zhou family an explanation!"
"Don't worry, you are the eldest daughter-in-law of the Qiao family, and the Qiao family will protect you."
"Okay, okay!" Qiao's eldest daughter-in-law nodded repeatedly, but her body trembled with fear.
*
Speed is of the essence in war.
Li Qu didn't waste a single moment after entering the water.
After passing through the underwater tunnel, we surfaced for air.
They didn't dare make any loud noise when they needed to breathe.
Having found the right direction, they swam towards the bay where the covered boats were moored.
She was like a silver carp that occasionally glided across the water's surface—nimble and cautious.
Nobody noticed.
In the distance, she saw a covered boat with a pair of white lanterns hanging on it.
That was her goal.
It was a life she refused to give up even when she was exhausted.
Closer, even closer.
Keep going, persevere to the end!
Once you board the boat, you can leave the river island.
In the future, she will have a loving family and a partner who respects and cherishes her.
A different life will be possible.
She can't give up!
Absolutely not.
rush!
Lianxin Lake is very large.
The moment she climbed onto the boat, she was as exhausted as a dead fish.
But with her body wrapped in her undergarments and covered in water stains, it wasn't safe for her to lie outside.
She lifted the curtain, moved into the cabin, and lay down, panting heavily.
In this way, it will not attract attention.
People living on covered boats rest during the day.
No one was bothered by her.
Thus, she completed the first step of her escape.
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