Chapter 58
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Chapter 58:
The brothel owner was worried about the large Spring Flowers Tower. With hundreds of people, including families, it was not easy to just leave like that.
Even if they could leave, where could they go? Hide in the countryside, remote mountain villages, or go to a distant place?
The best outcome is to each go their separate ways when a disaster strikes.
When Li Chunzhou went to find her, Mama Li was busy going through the accounts of the past ten years, planning to distribute the money that should be given out. Li Chunzhou took a quick look and soon lost interest, sitting on the other side of the table daydreaming.
Mama Li lit her pipe and took a few puffs. Over the years, she had witnessed many big events, thinking that she could finally live a peaceful life in the coming years. She didn’t expect to encounter conflict again.
Li Sanchun also worked as a prostitute when she was fifteen or sixteen. She got married, had children, but in the end, returned to her old profession as a madam. Using the money saved from her past life, she rented a house and started her own business. She dealt with officials by bribing them and flattered the local bullies, encountering debtors and late payments. In the end, she relied on her skills and audacity to get back what was owed.
But this job was not easy. In the end, the savings accumulated could not bypass one’s conscience. Li Sanchun thought, maybe it’s better to give it away.
In the storybook, Li Chunzhou helped Li Sanchun light a cigarette twice, while looking at Mama Li’s aging and weary face, saying nothing.
Li Sanchun looked up at Li Chunzhou and hugged her like a child, worriedly saying, "Dear daughter, after the Oiran Contest, you should follow Second Master… Mama found out that Second Master’s power in the south is as strong as Shengjing. This time, it might be a major event like moving the capital or being conquered. Following Second Master may not bring you riches, but at least safety… Mama can’t protect you anymore… When you are with Second Master, you need to watch your temper."
Suddenly feeling melancholic, Li Chunzhou buried her head in Li Sanchun’s neck and closed her eyes like a tired bird finding its nest.
Li Chunzhou knew that Li Sanchun had used her and remembered clearly how Li Sanchun had quickly given her to Liang Changfeng once Second Prince showed interest in her.
For Li Chunzhou, Li Sanchun had changed drastically from a kind and loving mother to a shrewd and cunning madam. Since then, Li Chunzhou stopped calling Li Sanchun "mother" and instead joined the other girls in calling her "mama."
When angry with Li Sanchun, Li Chunzhou would not express it directly, but rather childishly distanced herself by using this term of address, trying to hurt Li Sanchun in that way.
Li Sanchun may not have noticed or perhaps she did but chose not to address it. To her, Li Chunzhou’s childish tantrums seemed naive and amusing.
Despite this, Li Sanchun continued to treat Li Chunzhou as before, but with a certain amount of consideration and tolerance due to Second Prince’s influence.
The love Li Sanchun gave Li Chunzhou was superficial yet undeniably real, causing Li Chunzhou to sometimes resent her but also feel sorry for her at times.
For a long time, Li Chunzhou struggled with conflicting feelings, especially when Gu Lingfan began to ignore her and treat her with a cold and cruel attitude. Li Chunzhou often felt lost and spent many years in pain.
Hearing these words from Li Sanchun, Li Chunzhou suddenly felt less resentful in her heart.
She opened her eyes, held Li Sanchun’s hand with her own, looked into her eyes, and whispered firmly, "I won’t follow the Second Master, wherever you are, Spring Flowers Tower is where I’ll be."
Li Sanchun became a bit impatient and scolded, "You child! I know you are kind-hearted and hesitant, but do you think life in chaotic times is easy? Can’t you let me save…"
"Mother," Li Chunzhou interrupted, "Aren’t I your daughter? Since the day you brought me home, I have been ‘Li Chunzhou’."
Li Sanchun was speechless for a while, looking dazed, and her voice sounded shaky as she said, "You know all about it…?"
Li Chunzhou silently gazed at her for a moment, her eyes like a clear and calm lake, then nodded gently.
Li Sanchun had faced many hardships in her early life. She had been married once, had a daughter, but her husband passed away shortly after their marriage due to illness, leaving Li Sanchun alone to raise their unborn child. She gave birth to the child and raised her, but the only daughter also passed away at the age of three. To make a living, Li Sanchun returned to her old trade on her own.
When Li Sanchun first saw Li Chunzhou playing with willow branches at the door, she was captivated. She thought, this child looks so much like her own poor daughter who had left her side without experiencing the world properly.
So Li Sanchun paid a lot of money to buy the child and took her to Spring Flowers Tower, naming her Li Chunzhou.
"Li Chunzhou" is the name of Li Sanchun’s biological daughter, and the current Li Chunzhou has lived many more years than the child whose name she bears.
Tears finally fell from Li Sanchun’s eyes, as she held Li Chunzhou’s shoulder and said with pain, "Lady Chun, you must hate me… but… I, I…"
"I don’t hate you." Li Chunzhou handed a handkerchief to Mama Li to wipe away her tears, pursed her lips, and smiled, saying, "Even though you once thought of me as a replacement for your biological daughter… and remembered my true identity only when faced with immense benefits, willingly pushing me towards Second Master… But Mama, I don’t hate you."
Li Chunzhou was not lying, she sometimes even felt grateful to the child she had never met – "Thank you for lending me your name, thank you for lending me a mother, thank you for sharing life with me… Whatever happens, I am willing to take care of your mother for you."
Hearing her words, Li Sanchun was speechless, tears kept falling uncontrollably. She dropped the cigarette loosely to the side, her voice trembling imperceptibly, "I’m sorry, would you still be willing to accept me as your mother?"
The fearful, teary eyes of Li Sanchun were surrounded by fine lines creeping stealthily. Li Sanchun’s gaze at Li Chunzhou did not resemble that of a woman in her forties or fifties, but more like a child about to lose her mother.
Li Chunzhou knew that she didn’t necessarily have to say the last part of what she wanted to express, swallowing it down, wasn’t it nobler?
But in front of Mama Li, she still said those words that pierced the heart – because by saying them, it would make Mama Li feel even more guilty, and add another weight to Mama Li’s love for her.
Mama Li used to use this feeling to tie herself, now Li Chunzhou is also using this feeling to tie Mama Li. Over the years, she almost instinctively learned how to please and manipulate others.
In seven parts of true feelings, there are inevitably three parts of false feelings and insincerity. Li Chunzhou treats everyone like this – because few people in the world are genuinely sincere towards her.
Therefore, she won’t ask Li Sanchun if I were your biological daughter, would you still let me go and play those flattering and pleasing games for advancement, nor will she ask if the real "Li Chunzhou" was still alive, would you give me your shallow love like now.
She only carefully watches the person in front of her, smiling, and says, "Of course… Mom."
Li Sanchun, after hearing her words, hurriedly hugged her tightly, as if hugging her only, lost and regained child.
Li Chunzhou snuggled into her arms, tightly embracing Li Sanchun, her little face nestled on her shoulder, contentedly closing her eyes.
Li Chunzhou knew her identity very well; she was a liar, a thief, a prostitute. On the stage of life, she continuously played various roles for others or herself. Li Chunzhou was destined to constantly steal love from others, weaving it into a huge web to survive the harsh winters of life.
***
When war happens, regardless of the decisions made by those in power, the lives of those below are actually hardly affected.
The important guests were still giving orders, while the girls in the building were still drinking and smiling. Even though refugees had reached the city gates of Shengjing, many people still didn’t think the war would reach them.
The decline of Daliang was not sudden. Corrupt politicians with different ideas, factions fighting each other, radicalized and indifferent common people, openly corrupt officials at all levels, frequent natural disasters in the southeast, all of these factors contributed to Daliang’s struggle to survive, mostly because Prime Minister Gu was still supporting it.
Liang Wenshi was the final straw that broke the camel’s back.
Li Chunzhou watched the bustling crowd outside the gates of Spring Flowers Tower, suddenly remembered a wave of refugees that had entered Shengjing half a month ago. At that time, the court was still somewhat responsible and officials were sent to settle the refugees. It was also at that time that Li Chunzhou found the emaciated Li Zhexuan outside the city walls. He was only four or five years old back then, and now, ten years had passed.
However, in the current cycle, only half a month had passed. The current court had already lost the ability to maintain the dignity of being the capital, treating the country’s people like burdens that should be kept away.
People outside the city wanted to come in but couldn’t, while those inside were busy packing up to leave.
At noon, Mama Li gathered all the people in Spring Flowers Tower and announced that after the Oiran Contest on the 24th, everyone would go their separate ways. On the morning of the 25th, she would give each girl in the building thirty taels of silver, and each servant ten taels. If the enemy really invaded, it would be up to them whether to stay or leave.
The girls and servants in the building were stunned. Some of them had thought about the possibility of escaping before, but with the close watch of the major brothels in Pingkang Alley, they knew it would be difficult.
There were layers of inspections even at the entrances and exits of Pingkang Alley. To successfully escape, one not only had to evade the watchful eyes of a brothel but also avoid the spies and henchmen throughout Pingkang Alley, both openly and in secret.
Mama Li surprised everyone with her announcement today.
Li Chunzhou had a calm expression on her face, feeling indifferent because to her, the idea of reincarnation blurred the sadness of reality – knowing that everything might have a chance to start anew.
Looking around, she didn’t see Gu Lingfan, so she found Chihong and asked her to help find where Gu Lingfan was.