Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

The next morning, Jia's mother was napping on her couch, like a lazy old cat. Suddenly, a servant outside the door announced, "Master Zheng has gone out. Li Gui, his attendant, said it might take quite a while for him to return." Her half-closed eyes snapped open like lightning, a flash of cold light flashing across them like a meteor across the sky, then vanishing in an instant. After a moment's silence, she instructed the servant, "Go and call the Second Madam." Then, turning to Yuanyang, who was standing nearby, she said, "Yuanyang, send someone to bring the woman Master Zheng redeemed here, like a prisoner."

Soon, Lady Wang arrived in a hurry, like a gust of wind. Seeing Lady Jia sitting in the upper seat, her eyes as cold as ice as ice as she looked at the kneeling woman below, she couldn't help but feel an indescribable joy in her heart. She bowed respectfully to Lady Jia and said, "I pay my respects to you, old lady. This girl must be the prostitute that the master took pity on and brought home yesterday!"

Luqi, kneeling below, heard this and knew that the middle-aged noblewoman with a face full of gloating joy was none other than Jia Zheng's wife. She raised her head, her gaze like a sharp arrow landing on Lady Wang. She was dressed in luxurious attire and had a dignified demeanor, like a blooming peony, yet her face held a condescending and arrogant expression. Luqi sneered inwardly, but put on a pitiful expression on her face, saying softly, "Madam, don't you know whether I'm a prostitute or not?"

Although Grandmother Jia didn't have much affection for Lady Wang, she wouldn't stand by and watch a prostitute so brazenly disrespect her legitimate daughter-in-law. She slammed the table and shouted, "Anyone who comes out of a brothel is nothing but a prostitute! I still have your indenture!" She glared at Lady Wang, signaling her to stop talking. Then, she said to Luqi, "Since you've been redeemed, you should understand the rules and stop talking about the past. Now you belong to the Jia family and must abide by their rules like a caged bird."

Luqi lowered her head and remained silent, a sly glint in her eyes, like a cunning fox. Seeing this, Jia's mother felt displeased, thinking to herself that this woman was really as cunning as the rumors said, like the water in a deep pool, unpredictable.

Luqi quickly knelt down and kowtowed to express her gratitude, "Thank you for your advice, old lady. Luqi understands."

Grandmother Jia glanced at her sideways and said, "Now that you are considered a member of the Jia family, you must abide by the rules. From now on, you will stay in my courtyard and do some chores like sweeping and cleaning."

Although Mrs. Wang was dissatisfied, she did not dare to say anything. She glared at Luqi fiercely and cursed in her heart: "She is just a lowly prostitute, and she actually thinks she is the master."

Luqi lowered her head and replied, "Yes, old lady."

The old lady continued, "Since you are a maidservant beside me, why don't you change your name? Let's call you Fenzhu!"

When Luqi heard this, she kowtowed quickly, her movements as quick as a chicken pecking at rice, and she kept saying, "Your servant Fenzhu thanks the old lady for the name." At this moment, Feicui came to Jia's side with a bowl of medicine and said, "Old lady, it's ready." Jia's mother glanced at Fenzhu and said coldly, "Go and serve it to the girls below."

Jade turned to Pink Pearl and said softly, "Miss, please use the medicine."

Fenzhu's anger burned like a raging fire, but she feigned a calm demeanor, saying delicately, "This is the old lady's kind gesture. I will drink this nectar while it's still hot. However, I'm not seriously ill!" Upon hearing this, a flicker of impatience crossed Jia Mu's face, as if shrouded in a gloom. She said in a deep voice, "This is a panacea for all worries! Feicui, watch her drink the soup thoroughly, and don't let her leave until half an hour has passed."

Fenzhu carefully took the medicine bowl, secretly groaning inwardly, as if she had drunk poison instead of medicine. But she managed a smile and whispered to Feicui, "Thank you, sister." Then, she closed her eyes tightly and drank the bitter, unpleasant medicine in one gulp.

After drinking the medicine, Pink Pearl felt a churning in her stomach, as if a hand were stirring inside. An intense feeling of nausea washed over her, and she could no longer bear it, bending over and vomiting. Feicui, seeing this, quickly handed her a handkerchief, gently patted her back, and asked with concern, "Miss, are you okay? Do you want to call a doctor?" Pink Pearl shook her head, took a deep breath, and, suppressing the discomfort, said, "Don't bother, I'm fine. It's just that the taste of this medicine is a bit strong, and it's hard for me to take it for now." As she spoke, she wiped the filth from the corner of her mouth, her face as pale as paper. She knew this was a high-quality sterilization drug, and her life was over.

After Luqi left, Jia's mother said to Mrs. Wang, "I know you are dissatisfied with Zheng'er's redemption of the prostitute, but he is the head of the family after all. A harmonious family is the foundation of everything. As the principal wife, you should be tolerant."

Mrs. Wang nodded helplessly and said, "The old lady is right. I understand." But she secretly swore in her heart that she must find a way to get rid of Luqi, just like removing a thorn in her eyes and a thorn in her flesh.