Chapter Eleven: Liu Qingqing's Conspiracy

  Liu Qingqing was on the verge of death, and Hu Zhongren was frantic with worry. Can everyone guess who this person is? Who is the person in Liu Qingqing's painting? It's Pingguo, Hu Zhongren's original wife, Xiulian. At that time, Hu Zhongren's heartache was a taboo known to everyone in the Hu family estate, so it can be understood why Hu Zhongren slapped Liu Qingqing. So, how did Liu Qingqing manage to paint Xiulian's portrait? This has to do with their trip to the small cottage yesterday.

  Liu Qingqing and Xiao Lian took out the painting in the small cottage in the evening, which was a keepsake of Xiu Lian. The two returned to their dormitory, where Xiao Lian taught Liu Qingqing embroidery, but she was clumsy and awkward, holding the needle like a club, really not getting it right. In the end, they gave up. Seeing that Hu Zhongren had not returned, the two went to bed together in their clothes. As a modern person, Liu Qingqing didn't stand on ceremony, so she had long since become close with Xiao Lian, calling her sister and treating her like a friend. However, timely knocks still came as a test.

  Liu Qingqing said: "I am a fake wife, why are you still on the same mind with me?"

  Xiao Lian said: "I don't care if you're the real Mrs. or not, but I can see that Hu Shao has a crush on you. It's not for your sake, it's for Hu Shao's, he's too miserable!"

  "Xiao Lian, do you like Hu Shao? If you really like him, I can explain to the old lady and let him take you as his concubine." Liu Qingqing said sincerely, she herself wasn't very satisfied with Hu Zhongren, so why not help someone else achieve their goal?

  "Madam, don't joke around. I'm just a lowly servant girl, how can I be worthy of being Master Hu's concubine?" Xiaolian panicked "Please, madam, don't say such things, Old Madam will kill me if she finds out."

  "Why beat you? Isn't Chen Xixi also a maid? She is so arrogant in front of Old Madam and Master Hu, but I haven't seen Old Madam scold her." Liu Qingqing found it strange, who was this Chen Xixi that she could be so arrogant in front of the mistress and Master Hu.

  "She doesn't treat her like a servant, Old Madam tolerates her because she is the aunt of Madame Hua Lian and doesn't regard her as a maid. Moreover, she is the daughter of Chen, the head steward of the estate, skilled in embroidery, and the silk shops in the capital rely on her craftsmanship. Most importantly, she resembles Madame Hua Lian in appearance, and whenever Master Hu sees her, it's like seeing Madame Hua Lian, a substitute to quench his thirst, don't you think?"

  "Yes, I had a feeling when I saw those four pictures. She really looks like her, but compared to Xiulian, she has a heavier aura, Xiulian seems like an immortal who doesn't get stained by the dust of the mundane world and doesn't eat the smoke and fire of human affairs."

  "It's true, madam is elegant and refined, extraordinary and unconventional. How can Chen Xixi, that demon, compare to her?" Xiaolian continued. "But because she looks like madam, she becomes arrogant." Liu Qingqing nodded in agreement. "No wonder Hu Shaofei sent him to the capital several times, but he dared not go. In front of Hu Shao, he also dares to be reckless and presumptuous. It turns out that he relies on his resemblance to Madam Xiu Lian and their relationship as sisters-in-law."

  "Really?" said Xiaolian, "But Ninth Lady, I'm really curious, how did you know Chen Xixi would come to steal the package?"

  "In times of crisis, our actions will be closely watched by many people. Who is the most concerned? Liu Qingqing smiled slightly, "It must be Chen Xixi, she likes Hu Shao so much and must want to see me dead."

  "But even I was kept in the dark, when did you switch the package?"

  "When I was in the small cottage, I saw these two and liked them very much, especially the portrait of Xiulian on the four fans, which was lifelike and vivid. So, I hid these two away and also changed the contents of the package." Xiaolian said: "Madam Ji's cleverness is beyond measure, her mind is deep, even I was frightened."

  Liu Qingqing said: "Because our opponent is very cunning, so we have to deceive you, afraid that you can't do it very well and ruin the plan."

  Here is the translation:

  "Speaking of which, Liu Qingqing sighed: "Once a vast ocean is hard to be just water, and removing Wu Mountain isn't just clouds. I see that Xiu Lian and others all regret not meeting earlier, looking at her portrait makes me yearn for more, thinking that after Hu Shao has seen Xiu Lian's beauty, who else can he still look up to?"

  "Yes, Mrs. Ji's words are correct, and indeed, Mrs. Xiulian is like a fairy descending to the mortal world. Hu Shao's eyes are filled with deep emotions. Fortunately, I saw in Hu Shao's eyes the same gaze he had when looking at Mrs. Xiulian back then, which is the same way he looks at you now, Mrs. Ji. Don't you feel it?" Xiaolian stared intensely at Liu Qingqing, as if trying to see through her heart.

  "My heart is not made of wood or stone, I do have feelings, but I think it's still not enough, not enough to reach the level of love. Now I understand why he's not carefree - because there's someone else in his heart, he doesn't deserve my love, just like this cup of water, if he can't pour out the old water, then there's no way to add new water inside. Moreover, I also have my own difficulties, it's not necessary for me to stay by his side."

  "So, you deliberately provoked him and let him slap you so hard. Why didn't you dodge?" Xiaolian looked at Jiufu's swollen face with sympathy and heartache.

  "We can't let the wolf wear the child's clothes. We have to do this to change yesterday's outcome, I've already told you, I'm not Liu Fengchun's daughter, I'm just a substitute bride." Xiaolian said with an expression as if it was nothing special, "What's the big deal, as long as Hu Shao likes it, everything will be fine."

  Liu Qingqing shook her head slightly, "Things are not as simple as you think, Chen Xixi is our biggest enemy. Looking at her performance today, she has great ambitions for Hu Shao, I'm worried that what she's after is not just to be Hu Shao's wife."

  "Madam Ji is right, Madam Xiulian holds a high position in Hu Shaoye's heart. Chen Xixi will definitely cling to Hu Shaoye with her own advantages. Today, Hu Shaoye is sentimental and may seek warmth in Chen Xixi's arms." Xiaolian nodded in agreement, "But Madam Ji, are you really willing to let go of Hu Shaoye and hand him over to Chen Xixi?"

  "It's not like I'm giving up, I haven't thought it through yet. Xiaolian, have you ever heard of a person named Yue Qianshan?"

  "He is a good friend of Hu Shao, the young master of the wealthy Yuenan family in northern China. He used to come visit us whenever he came to the capital city. I heard his family's wealth rivals that of royalty, with cattle and sheep grazing everywhere and granaries full of grain. They have many shops in the capital, and are on par with your Liu family and our Hu family as one of the wealthiest merchants." Xiaolian spoke freely without holding anything back. After a moment's thought, she asked again: "How did you think to ask about this person?"

  "Hu Shaowen saw me wearing the Biyu Buddha and said I was Yue Qianshan's fiancée. He also said that I had the imperial kitchen menu, these two things are the tokens of my engagement with Yue Qianshan." Liu Qingqing recalled Hu Zhongren's appearance that night.

  "No wonder Hu Shao is hot and cold to you, it turns out that he was worried that you are his friend's wife. He is a man of honor and would never toy with his friend's wife. But I'm afraid he has also been attracted by the charm of Jiufu, so he has mixed feelings." Xiaolian said with a smile.

  Liu Qingqing laughed and scolded: "You're so young but you've got a big devil in you, what else do you know?"

  Two people were chatting and laughing. Outside came Yang's mother's voice "Old Madam is here to visit Ninth Madam."

  Xiao Lian hurriedly got out of bed to greet her, while Liu Qingqing wrapped herself in a quilt, only revealing her face. Her swollen and red cheeks evoked sympathy from others. Old Madame entered with the support of Yang Mama, and Liu Qingqing struggled to get out of bed to pay respects to her. Old Madame hastily said: "Don't move, dear daughter-in-law, taking care of your body is important. I've come to apologize for my unfilial son."

  "Xiao Lian, quickly give the old lady a seat." Liu Qingqing instructed. "Mother-in-law, don't say that. Today's matter is my fault, I shouldn't have only thought about defeating Xi Xi and not considered Zhong Ren's feelings. Seeing Zhong Ren miss Hua Lian so much, my heart is relieved, this shows that Zhong Ren is a good husband who values emotions and righteousness. What virtue do I have to deserve meeting such a good match? I hope mother-in-law will convey my intentions to Zhong Ren and tell him not to worry, and also not to hold grudges against Xi Xi for cutting Hua Lian's keepsake."

  "That little hoof, Xixi, has a heart full of malice. She even wants to destroy the last bit of thought her sister had left behind. Luckily I said I wanted to make her my concubine, so you can compare with Empress E's noble character in serving one husband together. Now, even if Zhongren agrees to marry her, I won't agree to it."

  "Mom, don't be like this, as long as others are happy, I'm not afraid of suffering some grievances..."

  "I wouldn't mind even if she became the main wife, let alone a concubine. After all, Xixi has been with Hu for many years without any official status, it's not good either." Liu Qingqing was becoming more and more cunning, even calling her mother-in-law "mom", but in her heart, she was secretly cursing: "You only think about having children to carry on the Hu family name, you don't care about other people's suffering. You just don't know that I have no interest in your crippled son, otherwise, if he dared to be promiscuous, I would make him suffer. However, taking this opportunity to get rid of Chen Xixi is also a good idea, so she won't be like a mad dog, biting people everywhere."

  "Good child, you are so reasonable and understanding, truly worthy of being a talented lady. No wonder Mr. Liu regards you as a precious gem. He has sent a letter through Yang Liuqing, hoping that you will have time to visit your relatives in the capital city. He and your mother are now living in Kyoto. Although this child is a bit impulsive, he is still reasonable. Once he calms down, I will make him apologize to you and allow you to return home to visit your parents." The old woman looked at Liu Qingqing with increasing delight, not expecting her daughter-in-law to be so beautiful and sensible.

  Liu Qingqing covered her swollen cheek, sucked in a breath and said, "Mom, my mouth still hurts a bit, so I won't stay for dinner. You tell the others, that's my intention."

  "Alright, I'll go find someone to bring some good medicine for you and also tell them your intentions." He stood up straight and walked out the door with Yang's mother.

  "Ah, things are getting out of hand. Xiaolian, what do you think Yang Liuqing will find out? Why did Liu Yuanwai want us to go to Kyoto? Does he still not know that I'm not his biological daughter, and the bride was switched?"