Chapter 6, Non-reliance

  Liu Qing walked out of Chen Xixi's place, wanting to discuss something with Hu Zhongren. Hu Zhongren raised an eyebrow "Speak, madam?" His calm and stern demeanor, along with his proud gaze, made Liu Qing choke on her words in her heart. Oh dear, is this someone who can be reasoned with? Never mind, she'll just have to try. Her big eyes blinked repeatedly as a flattering smile spread across her face. Hu Zhongren almost couldn't keep a straight face looking at her rich expressions, nearly bursting out laughing. Ah, whoever faced Liu Qing couldn't help but lose their composure.

  "It's just, you see, can't you not call me wife? We don't want to be husband and wife." Liu Qingqing hesitated, feeling it was hard for her to speak out. After all, she was a woman living in ancient times, and was considered the legitimate wife of Hu Zhongren, so saying she didn't like him would still cause great harm, and might even provoke Leitian's great anger, then lock her up in the woodshed with only cold water and steamed buns.

  Hu Zhongren was indeed very annoyed, his face cold and speechless.

  Since the words were already spoken, Liu Qingqing carefully said: "You, don't you want to? Or are you reluctant to part with me like a flower?" Hu Zhongren still didn't speak. What kind of person did I marry, who actively asked for a divorce? Unheard of and unseen! Liu Qingqing's thoughts were racing, guessing that her husband was angry and unwilling. "Then let's pretend I didn't say anything." She thought to herself, this path won't work, I'll take a detour instead. It's better if I find an opportunity to disappear on my own.

  "I don't despise you, but you're despising me instead. Is it because my leg is disabled? You look so ugly, I want to find that old scoundrel Liu Fengchun to settle the score! Boasting about your beauty being unmatched in the world, what a ridiculous thing to say! In my opinion, you're so ugly that you're truly one of a kind!"

  "Great, you think I'm ugly, so it's perfect to let me go!" Liu Qingqing thought to herself, cursing in her heart while putting on a smile: "So you're saying you agree to let me leave?"

  "Let you go? You don't know, your father Liu Fengchun borrowed money from our silver shop with you as collateral. If he hadn't boasted about how beautiful and skilled you are, I wouldn't have agreed to marry you." Hu Zhongren explained patiently to Liu Qingqing, who wanted to run away but found no door. Among his eight wives in the front, except for Lian'er, he hadn't even looked at them properly, let alone this ugly girl who had finally caught his eye. He thought it wouldn't be easy for her to escape, and he was like a cat that had easily caught an old mouse, determined to play with her before letting go.

  Qing Qing blinked her eyes, looking very innocent. It turned out that she was the one who had been pawned off to pay off Yang Bailao's debt to Huang Shiren. But wanting her to obediently accept this fate might not be so easy. She remembered what Ren Zhonghu had once told her - that the Liu family was known as the Eastern Liu, and was considered one of the wealthiest families under heaven. So she tentatively said: "You're talking nonsense! Our Liu family is extremely wealthy, how could we possibly borrow money from you? Let me go back home, I'll get my father to repay your debt."

  "Ha! Your father would have mortgaged you off if he had the money, wouldn't he? If you don't marry me, your family's restaurants and embroidery shops will all belong to me. Your father is obsessed with building some kind of flying ship, thinking he can fly to another world - it's laughable! He won't give up his plan to fly to heaven, so you'd better stay here with me. Although you're ugly, you taste good." Hu Zhongren showed a satisfied expression, and indeed scared Liu Qingqing, who anxiously asked: "What do you mean? Have we already... done that thing?"

  Hu Zhongren nodded slightly, and Liu Qingqing sat down on the bed with a confused expression. "What's wrong with me? I don't feel anything," she thought to herself. Hu Zhongren saw her puzzled look and thought she was easy to deceive, so he intentionally scared her, saying: "Now, you're mine, no matter where you run, I'll catch you back. So, be good and stay here, don't think about escaping. Tonight, I'll come back, and you wait for me, got it?" After finishing his words, he pretended to look around cautiously, took his cloak, and walked out the door. Liu Qingqing watched Hu Zhongren walk away, and in her heart, she cursed, "You think I'm easy to fool? I'll show you, I'll run away." She changed into her own clothes and decided to go find Ren Zhonghu to discuss things with him. He had cured her dumbness here and knew about the affairs of the Hu and Liu families; it wouldn't hurt to eavesdrop a bit more.

  Let's go if you want to go.

  Liu Qingqing quietly looked around, the surroundings were quiet and soundless. She came to a few meters away from the corner gate of the backyard, quickly ran, assisted, and jumped onto the big iron gate. One foot was about to step over when she was pulled back by someone. Liu Qingqing hadn't understood what was happening before she found herself in that person's arms. When she looked closely, it turned out to be Yang Liuqing.

  "Little sister-in-law, where are you thinking of going?" Yang Liuqing smiled with a pleased expression, laughing to himself. He had originally thought she was just a little thief, but it turned out to be his little sister-in-law. This was an opportunity to get close to her and cultivate some feelings. At noon, he saw her sharing a bed with his brother, and he was so angry that he gritted his teeth. He must take his little sister-in-law away from his brother's hands, and he wanted to have every woman who belonged to his brother.

  Liu Qingqing said with a smile, "It's you, I thought it was your cousin."

  "Yang Liuqing was confused, 'What did you say? You and your cousin had a falling out?' Liu Qingqing thought that it didn't matter who she asked for help, so she might as well stir up trouble between Yang Liuqing and Hu Zhongren to get him to help her. But first, let's see what Yang Liuqing is thinking. Her heart was racing with excitement, and she gave off a flirtatious air as she wrapped her arms around Yang Liuqing's neck. 'Yes, I told him I didn't like him because he's crippled, and asked him to set me free. But he said my father owed him money, and that I'm... collateral.' Liu Qingqing spoke with a pained expression. She remembered how Yang Liuqing had lusted after her beauty when she fell into the water, and now she wanted to see if his lust knew no bounds."

  Actually, she has a beautiful appearance to speak of. The scar on her face would scare anyone! Yang Liuqing pretended to be angry and sympathetic, but in his heart he was overjoyed, the opportunity had arrived. The two of them hit it off immediately, walking together towards the pavilion, sitting on wicker chairs, with a very intimate appearance, attracting two pairs of jealous eyes.

  These eyes are Chen Xixi's beautiful eyes. She hated this ugly face. Seeing Yang Liuqing pick a peach blossom from the tree to give to Liu Qing, she walked out and sneered: "So the Ninth Lady is a flirtatious woman, just sleeping with Young Master, now hooking up with Cousin Young Master, aren't you afraid of the Hu family's rules?"

  Liu Qingqing took the peach blossom and swung it back and forth in the air, "What? Am I also violating family rules by playing with my younger uncle in the pavilion? I'm talking to him under the clear sky and bright sun, trying to cater to his temper, and serving my husband wholeheartedly. Is this also against family rules?" Yang Liuqing deliberately let Hu Zhongren and Chen Xixi eavesdrop from behind the pavilion, using her eyes to glance at them. In fact, Liu Qingqing had also seen Hu Zhongren and Chen Xixi, and she countered by pretending not to know, which indeed lured Chen Xixi out.

  Hu Zhongren's face had an angry expression, with a jealous look in his eyes, and his face was cold as if it had been frozen. Let's just listen to what Liu Qingqing has to say. Liu Qingqing continued, "Since I married into the Hu family, I am a member of the Hu family. Since I became Hu Zhongren's wife, I should respect my husband and try every means to make him happy. However, since it is not acceptable for me to have contact with other men, I don't need to ask my cousin, I only need to ask my husband, Husband, you say, is that right?" Her voice was so sweet it could melt ice. Chen Xixi was so angry she had no words to respond.

  Liu Qingqing smiled and continued, "I said so, how could my husband look at a servant? Someone must have stuck to him, not knowing their humble identity, not knowing their weight. This child can't speak now, right? What's that phrase called? Reason is defeated by words! Hehe. Xixi girl, I think you should go back to Kyoto first and take care of our Hu family's embroidery workshop, do your job well! Don't have any ideas about my husband's goodness, don't you agree with me?" Her eyes sparkled, enticing Hu Zhongren.

  "Madam, you are right. I will send her back to Kyoto first." Turning his head to look at Chen Xixi, "Xixi, I think you should return to Kyoto in the next few days. I'll follow after a while. Remember to work hard and don't make any mistakes. Brother-in-law, prepare yourself for the next few days and go to the Liu's house first to pay your respects. Tell them that I will be visiting my father-in-law soon."

  Yang Liuqing brushed off her sleeves and stood up, making a bow to the two of them. "Take care, little sister-in-law, I'll be waiting for your arrival at the Liu residence." After finishing speaking, she left the pavilion, suppressing her anger as she returned to the west wing.

  Chen Xixi wanted to speak but stopped herself, finally giving Liu Qingqing a fierce glare. "Hushi, I'll do everything you say, let's take our leave and return to the capital first. You must come back early, okay? Ninth Lady, please take good care of Hushi, or else he might leave you for me again."

  Chen Xixi put on a gentle and obedient expression, implying that she was also skilled at seducing people.

  Liu Qingqing sneered coldly: "You can rest assured, although I don't have a beautiful face like a flower, I can still control my husband's heart. You don't need to wait, it's better to choose a good branch early."

  Hu Zhongren watched the two of them exchanging blows, coming and going, and seemed to be enjoying himself. Seeing that they didn't stop, he sat down on the side with great interest, watching them. Liu Qingqing grasped his hand: "Husband, let's go back to our room and talk, Xixi, you quickly follow what Hu Shao said and do it, put your heart into it, this is the duty that a servant should fulfill." After finishing speaking, she didn't even glance at Chen Xixi, and walked forward with her hand in Hu Zhongren's arm, revealing a victorious attitude, proudly returning to their residence, completely disregarding Chen Xixi's darkened face.