The osmanthus trees cast a cool shade, waiting for their flower buds to bloom.
Li Qu stopped beneath the shade, and Chang San, who had been walking ahead of her, stopped as well and turned around.
She wore a faint smile. The blazing sunlight slipped through the gaps between the leaves, swaying with the wind, yet could not find a single flaw on her face. Her skin was as coldly pale as a peeled egg, with a faint flush upon it—probably from being punished to kneel in the sun earlier.
Bright eyes and pearly teeth, with beauty enough to topple a city.
Chang San took a hurried glance before moving his eyes away self-consciously.
He seemed to know that Li Qu was unwilling to marry him, but he still made a rare attempt to argue for himself. “Master’s orders cannot be disobeyed.”
Who in this world did not love beauty?
Those few words alone had left him sweating profusely, feeling that he was hideously ugly.
Not only was his face ugly—his heart was even uglier, so ugly that he wished he could disappear.
Li Qu calmly continued toward the main kitchen.
“Third Brother Chang, to be frank, my brother-in-law Zhao Lianqing is the magistrate of Wan County, and he is on good terms with the Heir of Prince Yan, Xiao Cong.”
“The Zhou family naturally does not fear my brother-in-law. But if you want to use Master Zhou’s authority to make trouble for me, you should consider whether the Chang family can emerge unscathed if my brother-in-law decides to pursue the matter.”
“Taking a step back, you are using Third Master Zhou as a shield. If my brother-in-law asks the Heir of Prince Yan to uphold justice, would the Zhou family really offend Prince Yan’s Residence for the sake of a mere household slave like you?”
Every word Li Qu spoke struck Chang San at his most sensitive point.
“If I offend the Zhou family, Hezhou will no longer be a place where I can establish myself. Your parents are both settled in Zhou Residence, and you have no brothers. Even if you obtain redemption from servitude, you cannot abandon your parents and follow me to Wan County.”
As she spoke, Li Qu continued forward.
The two of them walked and talked, with Chang San following behind her this time.
He stared at her heels, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Li Qu slowed her pace and waited for him to come alongside her.
When he caught up, she turned her head to look at him. “Help me leave Zhou Residence, and I will give you one thousand silver taels.”
“With that money, whether you want to marry a wife, take a concubine, or purchase property, you will have no worries for the rest of your life.”
“Besides, I am skilled at caring for skin. The freckles on Third Miss Zhou’s face improved after she used my prescription. I can give you healthy skin as well.”
Chang San abruptly stopped and looked up at Li Qu.
He was not self-conscious because he was a slave, nor because he worked hauling manure. He was self-conscious only because of the face covered in red bumps.
Heavens knew how desperately he wanted a normal-looking face!
His heart wavered.
Seeing this, Li Qu knew she had persuaded him. Her heart eased, and she lifted her chin, smiling as she gestured for Chang San to follow. “Go see your parents. This matter will require their help as well.”
Li Qu already had a perfect plan for leaving.
Without the pressure of having to become husband and wife with Li Qu, Chang San seemed to have become more talkative.
He asked, “Why are you unwilling to become Master’s concubine?”
Perhaps because she was about to leave Zhou Residence and her mind had relaxed, or perhaps because she hated the Zhou family’s practice of forcibly taking commoner women to an extreme, Li Qu cast the warning that walls had ears far into the heavens. She quickened her pace and angrily blurted out, “He is unworthy!”
Behind the lush flowers and young trees, on another fork in the path just a step away, Zhou Jin glanced toward the direction in which the voice had vanished. He then shifted his gaze back to the woman before him, looking her up and down before finally fixing his eyes on her face.
He spoke critically. “You are far inferior to her.”
He had decided to change his mind.
Lu Yanyan was mortified and furious. “Third Cousin, I am your own maternal cousin. My family background is upright and my origins are clear. Although it is improper for me to offer myself to you, I am still far more suitable than some outsider.
“Aunt has the same idea. For my aunt’s sake, Cousin, you should not compare me to a plaything who serves men with her beauty!”
Having said that, she turned and ran away crying.
When Li Qu reached the main kitchen, everyone there was congratulating Mother Chang on the happy occasion in her family.
Mother Chang, however, wore an uneasy smile.
Li Qu’s remarkable deeds had already spread throughout Zhou Residence.
A woman who even rejected Third Master and dared to deceive Old Madam was far more than their family could handle!
When Mother Chang heard that Li Qu wanted to fake a marriage with Chang San and use the opportunity to leave Zhou Residence, she felt as though she had two heads and four arms to worry with.
This time, Li Qu began with courtesy before resorting to pressure. “The weather is hot, and my mother is resting during her pregnancy. I will have to wait at least half a month before leaving Hezhou.
“During this time, I can begin helping Third Brother Chang care for his skin.”
Chang San’s complexion was a matter of concern for the entire family.
Previously, Chang San had taken a fancy to a fire-tending maid in the kitchen. The maid’s appearance was ordinary.
But when she heard that Chang San was interested in her, she married a widower ten years older than herself the very next day.
She would rather become a stepmother than marry Chang San.
If Chang San’s face improved, then given their family’s circumstances, why would they have trouble finding him a good wife?
Mother Chang was tempted, but she felt that the risk of offending Master by secretly defying him was too great.
Li Qu smiled faintly. “Auntie Chang, one of the guarantors who sponsored my brother-in-law’s entry into official service through the imperial examinations was the Heir of Prince Yan, Xiao Cong. You can investigate this matter.”
Mother Chang gritted her teeth. “Five thousand silver taels. If the master pursues this matter…”
“That is why the wedding should take place sooner rather than later,” Li Qu said unhurriedly.
“Once the wedding night has passed, Old Madam will no longer try to make me Third Master Zhou’s concubine.”
“Third Master Zhou does not have the habit of watching other people spend their wedding night.”
“With that, the matter will be settled.”
“At the same time, Auntie Chang, you can use this opportunity to request the grace of redemption from servitude.”
“After that, Chang San and I can move out of Zhou Residence, which will make it more convenient for me to come and prepare medicine for him.”
“I have offended the masters of Zhou Residence. If I am not wandering around inside Zhou Residence, there will naturally be fewer chances for accidents.”
Mother Chang glanced at her son’s face and agreed. “Five thousand silver taels! If you go back on your word, girl, we will immediately report you to the master!”
“Mm. I have no desire to provoke the Zhou family, so I will naturally keep my promise.” No sooner had Li Qu finished speaking than an acquaintance from the kitchen came to the rear outer quarters to look for Mother Chang.
“Auntie Chang, Nanny Xu from Third Master’s courtyard sent over the wedding items. She said that Third Master is holding a wedding celebration for Concubine Li tonight and asked you to come over.”
Mother Chang was startled. “So soon?”
Li Qu raised an eyebrow.
It seemed she was not the only one who did not want to listen to Old Madam Zhou’s arrangements.
“Auntie, since the master has given his orders, go take care of things first.”
When the visitor saw Li Qu, she smiled and bowed to her before saying, “Concubine, please come along as well. A bridal stylist is waiting to do your makeup.”
Mother Chang exchanged a glance with Li Qu, who asked, “Where are we going to do the makeup?”
“Nanny Xu said it will be inside Xiuyan Pavilion, right next to the main kitchen.”
Li Qu’s heart relaxed. She had thought Zhou Jin had changed his mind, but now it seemed he intended to personally bring about her marriage to Chang San.
Excellent.
Chang San went to find Father Chang and explain the whole situation.
Li Qu and Mother Chang went to see Nanny Xu.
This time, when Nanny Xu saw Li Qu, she did not nag her anymore.
Li Qu maintained the proper courtesy and cooperated with Nanny Xu’s arrangements: washing, changing clothes, and applying makeup.
Looking at the gold-and-jade hairpin being placed in her hair, Li Qu asked in confusion, “This hairpin is far too valuable.”
“It was bestowed by the master.” Nanny Xu’s manner was no longer as eager as before. She was much calmer and more indifferent.
Seeing that Nanny Xu did not seem inclined to say more, Li Qu fell silent.
Inside Xiuyan Pavilion, red lanterns hung high.
Wearing ordinary clothes beneath a red bridal veil, Li Qu sat on a bed strewn with longans and red dates, quietly waiting for Chang San to arrive.
She felt that her makeup looked rather beautiful today.
However, remembering that Chang San did not dare to look at her, she was not afraid that he would become lustful after seeing her.
If he did, she still had the hairpin with which to stab him!
There seemed to be a commotion outside, probably because the kitchen staff were drinking.
Li Qu knew that the Chang family were considered respectable servants. Now that the master had shown them favor, it was only proper for things to be lively.
She thought that after tonight, the predicament of the Hezhou Zhou clan would be resolved.
Once she left Zhou Residence and confirmed that her mother was in no danger, she would be able to set a date for going to Wan County.
After reaching Wan County, everything would be settled.
At the thought, she could not help smiling.
Eldest Sister had found a young man for Second Sister—a type of scholar that Second Sister liked. If nothing went wrong, Second Sister would no longer have to pay the tax for remaining unmarried past the eligible age next year.
Everything was going well.
The more she thought about it, the more at ease she became. Even after the veil was lifted, she did not immediately raise her eyes. She merely said, “Since we married today, we will probably have to pay our respects to Third Master Zhou tomorrow.”
“When the time comes, I will bring up the matter of having you obtain redemption from servitude.”
Mother Chang would petition Old Madam, while she would petition Third Master Zhou. If one side failed, the other might succeed; at worst, they could wait until the end of the year.
Li Qu’s eyes gradually came into focus. The first thing she saw was a brocade robe embroidered with golden begonia stamens.
She abruptly raised her eyes—and met Zhou Jin’s deep, cold gaze.
In an instant, the memory she had deliberately forced down surged forth.
In the pavilion in the rear courtyard of the Hezhou government office, Li Qu had personally watched the handsome young woman before her being killed by the man standing in front of her, a dagger slicing across her throat.
Blood had sprayed out, spattering the jade-smooth cheek of the man before her. Like plum blossoms painted upon it, the blood looked demonic and terrifying.
Li Qu felt the gooseflesh all over her body suddenly tremble. It was as though she had been happily picnicking in a safe place outdoors, only to discover that she had been targeted by a lurking cold-blooded beast. Her heart nearly stopped beating.
Her throat swallowed involuntarily. Before she could say a word, her chin was seized by fingers cold as icy jade.
“Whether I am worthy or not is not for you to decide.”
“Li-shi, keep those sharp little teeth of yours under control. Otherwise, Master will have your entire clan put to death by slow slicing.”
(Ten thousand words of explicit content omitted because they failed review.)