inspire-indiana Chapter 213 Qiu Rui Appears
Chapter 213 Qiu Rui Appears
Bai Chanzi received a letter from Qiao Qingshu saying that she wanted to bring Qiao Anlan to visit her.
Bai Chanzi was so excited last night that she barely slept. She and several maids spent the whole night preparing a table full of dishes.
Even Qiao Qingshu was stunned when she went in. The kang (heated brick bed) was full of dishes, and the table and stools next to it were also covered with dishes.
Jiu'er laughed from the side and said,
“We all told Madam to cook less, but she refused. Last night she cooked almost all of the signature dishes that she had been studying the other day, just in case the young lady and young master wouldn’t get to taste her cooking.”
Huan'er then brought out two more jars of wine to continue the drinking game.
"Not only that, Madam has even learned how to brew wine now. This was brewed a few months ago. Actually, it should have been left to ferment for a few more months, but Madam couldn't wait and insisted that I bring it out so that the young master and young lady could taste it."
Qiao Qingshu couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh. Her mother, who was usually so composed, was now so anxious.
Qiao Anlan also looked deeply at Bai Chanzi and smiled. Bai Chanzi pouted and stepped forward to pinch Huan'er and Jiu'er's lips.
"You're all so talkative, hurry up and set the table."
Everyone then sat down, and Jiu'er, Huan'er, and He'er were also forced to sit at the table by Bai Chanzi. Everyone's faces were filled with joy.
Bai Chanzi's complexion was rosy, and a smile appeared on her face, clearly showing her happiness.
"I'm so happy today, let me drink to myself first."
After saying that, he raised the plum wine in front of him and drank it all in one gulp, feeling indescribably refreshed.
Everyone was overjoyed and raised their glasses to celebrate Qiao Anlan's return.
The meal lasted almost until the afternoon, during which Bai Chanzi also shared many of her innermost thoughts with Qiao Anlan, causing the mother and son to alternate between tears and laughter.
Qiao Qingshu also teased Jiu'er, Huan'er, and He'er to chat about everyday things together.
Happy times are always short-lived, and Qiao Qingshu had to leave with Qiao Anlan in the evening.
Bai Chanzi was very reluctant to part with them, holding the hands of her son and daughter for a long time, unwilling to let go.
Qiao Qingshu spoke up,
“Mother, if you want to live with my brother, I will make some plans to bring you back to the Qiao family in a few days.”
Bai Chanzi was taken aback when she heard this. Although she was reluctant to part with her two children, she did not want to go back to the Qiao family.
She actually enjoys her current life very much; it's free and unrestrained, and she no longer has to be the noble lady Bai Chanzi, but can be herself again.
Her expression shifted, and she hesitated slightly, a look that Qiao Qingshu noticed.
With only a slight, faint smile, Qiao Qingshu nudged her mother and said...
"Go back quickly, Mother. I will bring my brother to see you another day."
Qiao Anlan behind her also gestured for Bai Chanzi to go home, and Bai Chanzi slowly returned to the house with He'er's help.
After sending her brother home, Qiao Qingshu returned to the Xiao family home herself.
As soon as she got home, she saw a servant hanging red silk at the door. She was slightly taken aback, then smiled. It seemed that Xiao Chengyan's wedding was approaching.
She returned to the second house's courtyard with light steps, ate a meal first, and then went to Su Yunzhen's room.
As soon as Xiao Zhijie saw her enter, he smiled and stepped forward,
"Mother woke up this morning and has been awake all day. It seems that Doctor Ouyang's medicine is really good!"
Qiao Qingshu echoed excitedly a few times, then turned around and winked playfully at Su Yunzhen, who was drinking porridge on the bed.
"My husband, this is wonderful!"
As usual, Xiao Zhijie was sent back to rest by Qiao Qingshu, while Xiao Zhijie chatted with Su Yunzhen for a while longer.
As night deepened, she was about to return to her room to sleep when a maid blocked her way.
"Mrs. Third Sister, is it convenient for you? I have something to say to you..."
The maid who spoke was standing in the shadows, her face obscured, and her voice hesitant. Qiao Qingshu, unsure of her identity, asked.
Who are you? What do you want to say to me?
The maidservant stepped closer under the lantern and said timidly,
"My name is Qiu Rui, and I serve in the Second Madam's room."
Qiao Qingshu's brow suddenly twitched. It was Qiu Rui!
Qiu Rui, who saved Consort Xiande on the day of her previous visit to her family, was later made an adopted daughter by Consort Xiande.
Later, she married Prince Yu as a concubine. After Qiao Qingshu became empress, the two became close friends, and Qiu Rui would often go to the palace to talk to Qiao Qingshu.
Even after she was banished to the cold palace, Qiu Rui was one of the very few people who cared about her, secretly giving silver to the palace maids and eunuchs to bring in many things for Qiao Qingshu.
Qiu Rui was later beaten to death by Prince Yu. Apparently, it was rumored that Qiu Rui had set up a memorial tablet for a strange man in a secret room in the inner courtyard. Prince Yu was furious and had Qiu Rui hung up and beaten to death.
In her previous life, she learned about Qiu Rui's cause of death while in the Cold Palace, overheard by a few eunuchs. At that time, she was also imprisoned and didn't even have the chance to visit her old friend, so all she could do was weep bitterly.
Seeing Qiu Rui standing alive and well before her, her face still bearing the features of a young girl, she couldn't help but feel moved.
Actually, she had planned to find Qiu Rui after marrying into the Xiao family, but she had been so busy these days that she had completely forgotten about it.
It was somewhat unexpected that Qiu Rui had come to her of her own accord. She asked softly,
What do you want with me?
Qiu Rui hesitated for a while before finally taking out a pair of shoes from her bosom and handing them to Qiao Qingshu.
Qiao Qingshu took the shoes and immediately noticed their difference upon touching them. One of the soles was thicker, and the soles of the two shoes were not the same height.
Qiao Qingshu smiled.
"These shoes must be defective. What are you doing giving them to me?"
Qiu Rui nervously touched her head, her voice trembling slightly.
"These shoes are...they're for An'er..."
Qiao Qingshu's hand holding the shoe suddenly trembled, and she immediately understood why the soles of the shoes were uneven.
Her brother walks with a limp because one of his legs is too short to bear weight. These specially made shoes would fit him perfectly!
Why didn't she think of this method!
If my brother wore shoes like these, he would probably walk just like any other person!
Then, his eyes lit up as he stared at Qiu Rui and smiled.
"You know An'er? How did you two meet?"
Qiu Rui still looked nervous, and her voice trembled slightly.
“I’ve known An’er since the year he came to the manor. There were always a few servants who would bully him. One day at lunchtime, a few servants went to his table to make fun of him again. I couldn’t stand it, so I helped him drive them away. He was grateful to me and taught me to write…”
As she spoke, she looked up at Qiao Qingshu with a startled expression, then hurriedly explained,
“I know An’er is now the eldest son of the Qiao family. I have never had any improper thoughts. I understand. I can be a match for An’er, but I, Qiu Rui, would never dare to presume upon the legitimate son of the Qiao family…”
He then pointed to the shoes and said,
"I've been making these shoes for a long time, saying I'd give them to him. I didn't expect he'd already passed away, but these shoes would definitely have been good for him, helping him walk more steadily. I felt I shouldn't break my promise to give them to him, so... so I hope Third Madam can help me deliver them to An'er... oh no, Young Master Anlan..."