Chapter 26: Escape from Marriage White Moonlight 3 People Under the Eaves
Thinking of Lu Jingming's back as he walked away in anger, Ali ate the whole meal in fear, thinking that he would be kicked out soon.
Where should she find a place to live in this cold winter?
Aunt Wei assured her that her master had agreed and asked her to recover from her injuries before leaving.
Ali swallowed the food in his mouth: "Really?"
"How could this be false?" Aunt Wei looked at her in surprise. Although her young master was young, he was a man of his word. Since he had promised, he would not go back on his word.
Besides, such a delicate girl was injured, and the owner was so vicious. Even the most heartless person would not drive her away at this time, let alone the young master.
Ali touched the wound on his face, thought for a moment, and took another bite of rice: "Your master is really a kind man."
Aunt Wei smiled and said, "Young Master pointed to the east wing for you to stay in. I've already packed it up, but I'm still missing a few things. I'll go shopping later. You can go and rest after you finish your meal."
"I'm done!" Ali quickly finished the last grain of rice in his bowl and put it down. "I'll go with Auntie. I'd rather not have her busy with my affairs."
She fell off a cliff. Apart from her face, her arm was the most seriously injured, but she was still able to move without any problems.
"Okay." Aunt Wei nodded.
Ali put on Aunt Wei's clothes, thought for a while and pulled off a headscarf to cover her long hair and half of her face. She lowered her head and followed Aunt Wei, so no one could recognize her.
The two bought a lot of things at the market, filling a large, heavy basket.
Aunt Wei touched the purse containing silver and found that there was still a lot of money left in it. She couldn't help but sigh in her heart. She didn't expect that such a little girl could raise the price even more than her.
Seeing that Aunt Wei was having trouble lifting the backpack, Ali took the initiative to take it and carry it. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his arm. Ali's face turned pale and he said nothing.
Aunt Wei was a little worried at first, but when she saw that Ali's steps were very steady and he was very strong, as if he was used to doing work, she stopped talking and just held up the bottom of the backpack to make it easier for Ali.
She looked at Ali's fair and beautiful profile, and her tone unconsciously carried a hint of pity: "The girl has a good appearance, and looks like a lady from a wealthy family."
Ali smiled heartlessly: "It's a pity that I have the fate of a maid."
She had heard these words countless times, but she never thought how good it was to be a lady or how bad it was to be a maid.
Her father didn't like her and her mother, and threw them into the smallest and farthest courtyard. People in the mansion treated them according to their needs, and even the little maids dared to take their meager shares at will. She wanted to tell her father and stepmother, but she couldn't even leave this small courtyard.
The mother and daughter could only support themselves, doing all kinds of work, and even helping the stewards and maids, just to get a few copper coins as a reward.
Aunt Wei lifted the backpack upwards with all her strength, and Ali's shoulders suddenly felt much lighter: "Now that we've escaped, it's all a new life from now on."
On the way back from the market, all kinds of people passed by them, and everyone had their own place to go.
"Yes, it's all new days from now on," Ali smiled with eyes that were shining in the sunset, "Aunt, please call me Ali, don't call me girl, it sounds so strange."
Aunt Wei agreed.
The two chatted for a long time, and Ali found out that Uncle Wei and Aunt Wei had no children. They were both servants of the Lu family. Ten years ago, they were assigned by Mr. Lu to come here to take care of the seven-year-old boy Lu Jingming.
Mr. Lu doted on his youngest son very much. He selected the best for his food and clothing, and filled the house with all kinds of rare treasures. He spent money like water.
Not only that, Mr. Lu also invited many famous teachers from far and wide to teach the young master how to read and know etiquette, and he valued him very much.
Lu Jingming.
Ali repeated the name silently in her heart and thought it was a really nice name. Unfortunately, she could not read and did not know which three characters it was.
"Then why does Mr. Lu continue to live in Shangxi County? Don't Mr. and Mrs. Lu want to take him back?"
Although Ali was not valued in the mansion, he had heard something about the situations of the various families in Jianghuai.
The Pan and Lu families were both in Xingyang County, and both were wealthy merchants. They had some dealings with each other on a daily basis, but the Lu family was in the business of making and selling salt, which made much more money than the Pan family's fabric business. Her father Pan Yuan had mentioned it several times at banquets, and he was jealous every time.
The eldest sister also complained that the clothes and jewelry of several young ladies in the Lu family were more gorgeous than hers, and she grew up in Xingyang County and seemed to have never heard that the Lu family had a young man kept outside.
Sure enough, when Aunt Wei heard this, her expression froze and she changed the subject. Ali also tactfully stopped talking about it.
*
study.
Lu Jingming was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe with intricate gold thread on the cuffs, and he looked very imposing. He sat at the desk with a purple brush in his hand, his shoulders straight, and he concentrated on writing a letter.
The cold winter sunlight cast a faint halo on his well-defined face, making him look cold and distant.
The room was silent, with only the rustling of paper and pen.
After a moment, Lu Jingming put down his pen, carefully folded the letter, put it into a special envelope, and sealed it with wax.
"Uncle Wei."
The door opened, bringing a few wisps of cold wind. Uncle Wei respectfully entered, took the letter and placed it in his arms: "Please rest assured, sir."
Lu Jingming lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment. Seeing Uncle Wei still standing in front of him, he raised his eyebrows slightly.
Uncle Wei leaned forward and asked with concern, "Sir, aren't you going out today?"
Since half a year ago, the young master would go out after 3 p.m. every day and come back at 3 p.m., with worry always on his face. They, the servants, did not dare to ask about their master's affairs, but they had watched the young master grow up, so they couldn't help but worry a little.
Lu Jingming shook his head, his expression calm: "You don't have to go there anymore."
"Yes, I understand."
The door closed again. Lu Jingming stood up and pushed open the wooden window beside him. The leaves of the red plum tree outside the window had all fallen off, and the bare branches looked particularly desolate in the cold wind.
Suddenly, a woman's voice came from behind the tree trunk, vague and indistinct.
Lu Jingming moved slightly and walked to the other side of the window. From here, he could just see Ali's profile and those bright and energetic eyes.
She sat cross-legged under a tree, holding the bundle in her arms, thinking about what had happened along the way. The customs in Shangxi County were not much different from those in Xingyang County, and the things sold in the market were also similar, including grains, fruits and vegetables, rice wine, various bamboo baskets, embroidery, and poultry such as chickens and ducks.
Ali rested her chin on her knees and squeezed the bulging bundle in her arms. There were more than one hundred taels of silver in it. Although this was more than she had ever seen since she was a child, she still felt it was not enough.
Now that Master Lu is willing to let her stay here temporarily, in addition to recuperating from her injuries, she has to try to do something else and save as much money as possible. After leaving here, she will have to pay for an inn or rent a small courtyard by herself, which will be a considerable expense.
She was thinking in her mind and muttering to herself.
She was illiterate and had never touched the arts of calligraphy, painting, or music. The cost of brewing wine or raising livestock was too high, and she was reluctant to do so. After some consideration, she realized that these businesses either required skills or money.
As for embroidery, Ali rubbed her dry eyes. Even if she starved to death, she would never have anything to do with the Pan family again.
When she thinks about it, growing some fruits and vegetables that can be harvested quickly in winter may be the most suitable path for her now.
As for the Pan Mansion.
She dropped so many jewelries when she ran away. If the people who were sending her off saw them and couldn't find her, they would probably think that she had fallen to her death. The Pan family would not travel thousands of miles to Shangxi County to look for her just for an insignificant concubine's daughter.
Then, she can rest assured and stay here for the time being.
As for what happens in the future, we’ll talk about it later.
After sorting out the chaotic thoughts of the past few days, Ali's brows relaxed a lot. He stood up nimbly with the bag in his arms, and turned his head to meet Lu Jingming's gaze.
He stood at the window and looked for a long time.
Seeing her looking at him, Lu Jingming's expression changed for a moment, and something suddenly disappeared from his eyes.
Ali didn't understand what was going on. The cold wind made the wound on her face hurt. She pulled her headscarf to cover it and wrapped herself tightly.
Seeing that Lu Jingming was silent, Ah Li walked to the corridor, smiled at him, and made small talk: "Mr. Lu, what a coincidence, are you here to enjoy the scenery too?"
Lu Jingming seemed to be in a good mood, his eyes fell on the bundle she was holding tightly in her arms.
"Since it's such a treasure, it's best to put it on a candlestick and worship it. Don't carry it around all the time to avoid it getting knocked, bumped, or lost."
He spoke a sentence in a roundabout way, which made it sound quite rhythmic.
Ah Li followed his gaze, silently hid the bundle in his arms, and laughed dryly: "Mr. Lu really knows how to joke."
Lu Jingming also smiled and said lightly, "It's freezing cold, and you're not staying indoors, but coming out here to enjoy the breeze. You're quite leisurely and elegant."
Ali heard the sarcasm in these words, but as soon as his eyes fell on his face, all his anger disappeared.
Seeing Lu Jingming put his hands on the window frame and was about to close the window, Ali stepped forward and said: "I haven't thanked you in person yet. If it weren't for your pity, I would be living on the streets."
Lu Jingming stopped and cast a cold gaze at her again: "Isn't this exactly what you want, young lady?"
"Huh?" Ali, who rarely failed to understand the hidden meaning behind others' words, looked puzzled. "What do you mean, Master?"
The smile on Lu Jingming's lips grew colder. "I advise you, young lady, not to be greedy, or you will end up losing more than you gain."
What?
Although Ali was still confused, she had understood one truth since she was a child:
When you are under someone's roof, you have to bow your head, let alone the roof of your savior.
She blew a breath of warm air on her frozen palms and nodded indifferently: "Young Master is right, Ali knows."
No matter what they say, just agree to it first.
"By the way, Master, you don't know my name yet, right? Just call me Ali, everyone calls me that."
Ali tightened his clothes, wrapping himself up tightly, leaving only a pair of eyes with distinct black and white exposed.
Lu Jingming repeated: "Ali?"
Ali nodded: "Yes, Ali."
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