Chapter 112 Locking the Prince Out
Honghua was washing clothes. Her hands were swollen and oozing with pus from chilblains, but she still had to work.
Although Nanny Song was no longer too stingy with the monthly allowance, it was still a lot less in copper coins, but the work still had to be done.
These low-ranking slaves never have a day of leisure.
Even if it snows heavily, we still have to work, especially now.
Honghua had to wash the last two basins of clothes before dark so that she could go home and cook something hot to warm herself.
Thanks to the money that Nanny Song gave Li Runrun last time, she was able to buy a set of winter clothes, otherwise it would have been really difficult to get through this winter.
This winter seems to be particularly cold.
Just then, a servant came running over and asked, "Who's calling Honghua?"
Honghua shuddered, fearing that she had done something wrong, and immediately became extremely scared.
Then the servant said, "The prince's concubine is looking for Honghua. Which one is Honghua?"
When Honghua heard that it was Liruanruan who was looking for her, her eyes lit up with hope as never before. She didn't even bother washing her clothes and hurriedly stood up: "I am, I am Honghua."
Honghua walked while wiping her hands which were red and swollen from the cold.
The servant looked at her with disdain, but because he had received a reward, he did not show it too much. He said, "Come with me."
The servant led the man to Li Runrun's ear room, so as to show that he had done a good job, so that next time Li Runrun had such a good task, she would come to him again.
"The concubine has been brought in."
Li Ruanruan nodded: "Go down, it's hard for you to be cold."
"Well, that's what I should do."
The servant returned his mission, turned around and ran away.
Honghua walked into the ear room and felt warm all over. She lowered her head and didn't dare to look around. She only felt that Li Runrun's room was warm and indescribably fragrant. She was afraid that she would smell dirty and dislike Li Runrun.
I wish I could just curl up, not touch anything, and stand as far away from Li Ruanruan.
Li Runrun watched her leave in the cold. She had been cold before and knew what it felt like.
He quickly said to Li Bai, "Bring a stool over and ask Honghua to sit down and warm herself by the fire."
As she spoke, Li stood up and took Honghua's hand.
Honghua shuddered and quickly pulled her hand back: "Slave, my hands are ugly, I'm afraid they will pollute the eyes of the concubine."
"Why is it ugly? You and I are from the same family. In the past, I had to clean chamber pots in the winter, and my hands got frostbite, which was worse than yours. It was always rotten and healed, and healed and rotted again, and the coarse cloth clothes were covered with blood."
Li Bai had already moved a stool over.
Li Ruanruan asked Honghua to sit down: "It must be painful."
Then she took out the ointment: "This ointment should feel more comfortable when applied."
Li Runrun held Honghua's hand, warmed it in front of the heater, and applied frostbite ointment to her without any disgust. She even blew on it gently for fear that it would hurt her.
Honghua tried to hide at first, but after Li Runrun pulled her away, her eyes turned red.
Then she started to cry: "Ever since my mother died of illness, no one has been so kind to me."
Li Ruanruan took out her handkerchief again and wiped her tears: "Don't cry, just call me from now on. We are all from the same place. If others don't treat us as human beings, we should also treat ourselves as human beings. The better days are still to come. Since I came out, I will definitely help you. In this mansion, I am the closest to you."
Li Ruanruan's words moved Honghua deeply, and she said immediately, "If you want to be my concubine, even if it means you want me to die, I will be willing to do it."
Li Ruanruan was amused: "Why would I want your life?"
When she saw the red flower like this, she remembered that when Ye Yunchu first saw her, she was also like this, shrinking, timid and afraid.
Li Ruanruan applied the medicine to Honghua. She closed the box of frostbite ointment, washed her hands with soap and hot water that Li Bai had brought, and then said, "I do have something I want you and Wang Yu to do together."
Honghua's eyes were filled with loyalty to Liruanruan: "Just tell me what you want to do."
Li Ruanruan looked at Honghua for a long while before asking, "I remember Dad told me that Wang Yu's father was a refugee and was sold into slavery in the Marquisate to make a living. He used to be a hunter in the mountains and was said to be an expert at hunting snakes."
Honghua is older than Liruanruan: "When Wang Yu's father was still alive, he often boasted about this."
"Are there any snakes that don't hibernate in winter?"
"I don't know about that. I need to ask Brother Wang."
"Are you afraid of snakes?"
Honghua shook her head. Her life was already so worthless, so what right did she have to be afraid of this or that? She had stopped being afraid a long time ago. She was numb and not even afraid of death. What else was there to be afraid of?
Li Ruanruan nodded and said, "Then you discuss with Wang Yu and get me a live, non-venomous snake."
As for why they had to get a non-venomous one, it was of course because a non-venomous one would not be subject to too much scrutiny. Otherwise, if a poisonous one bit Xu Wan, the Marquis' Mansion would be held responsible, and by then I'm afraid the entire Marquis' Mansion would be turned upside down.
Li Ruanruan won't reveal the truth unless she is sure.
But it's non-toxic, which means letting Xu Wan bleed. Non-toxic means that nothing will happen, and no one will pursue it too much, so the matter can be concealed.
Honghua didn't ask Li Runrun what she wanted the snake for.
Just hearing that Li Ruanruan wanted it, he hurriedly said, "Since the concubine wants it, we will get it for you no matter how difficult it is."
Li Ruanruan took out ten taels of silver from her purse and said, "The rest of the money you two can divide. I will bring you two to the East Courtyard to work as soon as possible."
Honghua wanted to refuse, but she couldn't take her eyes off the silver.
To them, money is not wealth, but life.
After all, she was a decisive person, so she didn't refuse and took the silver: "Don't worry, Tongfang."
Li Ruanruan nodded: "Then I'll wait for your good news."
Honghua stood up and said, "Then I won't stay any longer. If I lock it, I won't be able to go back."
"Okay, drive slowly. This is the food Li Bai prepared for you. Take it back. And this frostbite ointment. Use it well. It won't be embarrassing to be my maid in the future."
When Honghua heard what Li Ruanruan said, she immediately accepted it and said, "I will definitely use it well."
If she works for Li Runrun, she cannot be too sloppy. She is Li Runrun's maid and also Li Runrun's face.
Honghua left full of energy.
Li Bai glanced at Li Runrun, who was standing under the porch, looking at the sky which was about to get dark.
If she could handle this matter well, she would have something to deal with next time Xu Wan came, and she would not be so panicked.
It’s good not to be passive.
She reached out, pulled off two bamboo leaves, and placed them to her lips.
Li Bai's eyes lit up, thinking that the concubine could also blow bamboo leaves.
I pricked up my ears in anticipation to listen to the soft sound of the pear tree.
As a result, Li Ruanruan exerted force: "Puff——"
Li Bai: “….”
Li Runrun threw away the bamboo leaves and laughed.
Li Bai also found it funny and laughed.
Just then, there was a noise at the door. It was Ye Yunchu who had just returned from drinking, and he came back with his secret guards.
Haitang and her group of maids hurried to greet them.
Ye Yunchu saw Li Runrun's smile from a distance, and with his good eyesight, he found her so alluring.
I was just about to walk towards her quickly and ask her why she was laughing.
But Li Runrun turned around and took Li Bai into the house, closing the door of the ear room.
Who are you trying to lock out?
Who else could it be?
What a courage!
This timid and cowardly little maid is so bold!
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