Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Birthday Flight

"Happy birthday, my Lady!" Qiu Ling greeted cheerily as she entered Peace of Mind residence.

Li Yingshan chuckled as she sat up in bed. "Thank you. Is everything ready?"

"Yes, my Lady. I saw Master and Madam coming over."

"Then help me dress, quickly!"

Qiu Ling dressed her in a turquoise and light grey SongkuHanfu pattern from the Song dynasty; pants instead of a skirt and helped her over to her wheelchair at the four-sided table. After sitting her down, Qiu Ling found the book of Buddhist sutras and handed it over.

"Good. Don't let on about anything."

"Don't worry, my Lady."

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Li Yingshan waved towards her maid. Qiu Ling walked over and opened the doors, stepping outside and bowing.

"Greetings to Master and Madam."

"Qiu Ling, how is she?" Mrs. Li asked.

"My Lady is reading sutras. Please excuse her."

Old Li hmphed and barged in. His wife threw out an apologetic look and followed him in. Qiu Ling scurried inside.

"I'm sorry, my Lady. I-"

Li Yingshan looked up from her book. "It's alright, Qiu Ling." Her eyes fell on her parents. "Father, Mother."

Old Li looked around. "What do you do all day?"

"I read and exercise my legs. There's not much else."

He scoffed, "Why do you even bother? You're useless now."

"Old Li," her mother murmured. "Not on her birthday."

He folded his arms across his chest. "You're relieved from having to greet the family. Seeing as you're now confined to that chair, I don't want you embarrassing us in front of the other in-laws. Your sisters' families don't need to see what you've become."

Tears welled in Li Yingshan's eyes. Her words were barely a whisper as she replied, "This daughter understands."

"Old Li, why don't you give Shan'er her birthday gift now?" Mrs. Li suggested, trying to calm the tension in the room.

He waved his hand and his manservant handed the gift over to Qiu Ling. She brought it before Li Yingshan and set it down on the table. Li Yingshan reached out and unwrapped it, revealing a pair of lotus earrings.

She bowed her head and held out her hands in a respectful salute. "Shan'er thanks Father and Mother for the birthday gift."

Seeing his job done, Old Li nodded and turned. He stalked towards the open doors and exited the residence. Mrs. Li placed a hand on her youngest daughter's shoulder.

"Your father is just gruff. Don't mind him."

But are you any better, Mother? You've never once come to visit me since I got put on house arrest.

"Yes, Mother."

"Good child."

Then, Mrs. Li turned and left as well. Once they were gone, Li Yingshan's whole demeanor changed. She wiped the tears away, and her sorry state turned into a cold gaze.

"Qiu Ling, once Mother and Father are busy entertaining the in-laws, we'll leave. No one will notice us then; they'll all be too busy."

"Yes, my Lady."

∇

As Li Yingshan heard the guests arrive in the early evening, she instructed Qiu Ling to begin packing. They gathered medicine, water, books, and money. Qiu Ling helped her change out of her Songku and into a simple black and red ZhijuHanfu pattern from the Han dynasty; convenient and plainer in style than other Hanfu patterns Qiu Ling dressed into a simple pair of loose fitting pants and a shirt made from hemp, resembling a worker in the fields. Their hairstyles were plain and unadorned. Over Li Yingshan's head, Qiu Ling placed the straw conical hat. A black veil fell from the rim, hiding her face.

You are reading story 爱与坚持 Love and Perseverance at novel35.com

When they were finally ready, Qiu Ling wheeled Li Yingshan out of the Peace of Mind residence. They turned around once, to lament their leaving, before slipping away. They snuck out, avoiding the few servants that were wandering the grounds of the Li family manor. As they drew closer and closer to the side exit, Li Yingshan heard someone approach.

"Who's there?" they called out.

"Qiu Ling, hide us!" she hissed.

They snuck behind the side of a building. When more servants passed by, the coast was finally clear. They rushed towards the exit and finally made it out. A carriage and horse were waiting there for them. Qiu Ling helped Li Yingshan into the carriage and pulled the curtain down. She climbed onto the step and picked up the reins.

"Ch! Ch! Ch!"

Flicking the reins, she urged the horse into a trot. They pulled away from the Li family manor and headed towards the north side of Longxin City. When they rode under the entry gate and left the city behind them, Li Yingshan turned in her seat and drew the window curtain aside. She watched as her former home grew smaller and smaller in the distance.

Sadness filled her eyes. I wonder if I'll ever return to Longxin City...

"My Lady, is everything comfortable in there?" Qiu Ling called out.

Drawn from her thoughts, she replied, "Yes, fine. Good work, Qiu Ling."

"My Lady, how far are you wanting to get tonight?"

"As far as possible. Once my father finds out I'm gone, he might send people after me. We need to get out of his reach. The faster we can get to Luoyang, the better."

"Yes, my Lady. Sit tight."

Li Yingshan leaned back against the carriage wall and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Finally, freedom.

They rode for hours, long into the night. The moon and stars shined against the black sky above. Birds chirped in the woods. Squirrels chittered. Howls of wolves echoed for many li1 li = 500 meters in the quiet night.

When they stopped to let the horse rest, Li Yingshan crawled out and said, "Qiu Ling, I'll drive for a bit. You can get some sleep inside."

"I'm alright, my Lady."

"It's not a suggestion."

Her maid bowed her head. "Yes, my Lady."

The two girls switched places and once the horse had rested, Li Yingshan flicked the reins. They started off again, continuing northwest.

As morning dawned, they came into Xinyang. It was still another day and night's ride to Luoyang, but both were hungry and the small carriage wasn't overly comfortable.

Li Yingshan steered the horse over to a hitching post. "Qiu Ling."

Her maid came out and tied the reins over the post. "I'll get some food for us."

She disappeared inside the restaurant and came out a few minutes later with two bags full of buns and cakes. They ate inside the carriage before taking off. As they were exiting out the northern side of the city, their carriage was stopped by the city guards.

"Halt."

Li Yingshan and Qiu Ling had switched places again, so Qiu Ling looked at the guards.

"What's wrong, sirs?"

"Is this a civilian carriage? It seems too small to be one."

"Yes, it is. We're poorer, and my Jie jie is unwell and resting inside."

"Where are you headed?"

"The capital. We've been summoned by our aunt and uncle to spend some time with our cousins," Qiu Ling easily lied.

Finally satisfied, the city guards let them pass. They continued on towards Luoyang, towards their new life.

You can find story with these keywords: 爱与坚持 Love and Perseverance, Read 爱与坚持 Love and Perseverance, 爱与坚持 Love and Perseverance novel, 爱与坚持 Love and Perseverance book, 爱与坚持 Love and Perseverance story, 爱与坚持 Love and Perseverance full, 爱与坚持 Love and Perseverance Latest Chapter