Chapter 62: with translation of chapter title

You wouldn't regret selling that drawing for fifty taels, selling it too dearly, would you?

The blacksmith then laughed and said: "Young sir, our master still wants your drawings. I don't know if you have any other weapon designs on hand; if there are any our master values, we can discuss the price."

Li Qingluo hesitated.

She hadn't expected they'd first express interest in cooperation—could it be they merely liked the dagger design she had drawn before?

That dagger had indeed allowed her to escape death even when facing Li Kechuan.

It's a useful thing.

Li Qingluo: "Thank you, sir, for appreciating my modest skills. If you don't mind, in three days I'll have someone bring the drawings over for you to look at first, how about that?"

The blacksmith was naturally overjoyed.

After agreeing on a time, Li Qingluo took a ready-made scabbard from the shop and then left.

The blacksmith immediately turned and went back inside.

In the corner, despite it being August, the room was still hot like a steamer.

Besides the brazier still blazing, that black-clad figure remained wrapped up like a zongzi, revealing only half a pallid, bloodless face.

The blacksmith walked over, clasped his fists, and reported: "Young master, that gentleman just came. I let him know we wanted her new designs, and she agreed with me to come back in three days."

The black figure gave a sudden fit of coughing, then after catching his breath asked: "Has anyone been sent to follow him?"

Blacksmith: "Sent. The young master wants to know exactly who he is with."

Black figure: "He hasn't come back for so long; aside from truly not being greedy, it must be that he has no choice. Or perhaps he simply doesn't have any genuine goods left to give me. Let's see in three days; I hope he doesn't disappoint me."

After Li Qingluo and Que'er met with Deng Mama at Fukuanlou, the three did not linger but hurried back to the Jiangjun Fu.

Three days later.

Li Qingluo had originally planned to go to the blacksmith's shop herself, but Qu Shi suddenly came to see her, so Li Qingluo could only summon Que'er, tell her the name and location of the blacksmith's shop, and hand her a small box.

Just say it's something Li Xiaolangjun sent as promised, and the shopkeeper will know.

Inside the box were five drawings Li Qingluo had selected.

But in fact, she still had several more formidable weapon designs in her hand.

She merely wanted to keep some as a reserve, and the designs still needed much refinement.

Li Qingluo also discovered that she might have some talent for weapon design.

So, while still at Hongfenguan, she asked Pei Lao Furen for a few books on weapons.

The more she read, the more agile her mind became.

Now, following Master Shenhe, she has come into contact with many real weapons; each time she holds one, her mind involuntarily spawns more ideas.

For example, could this knife be made as soft as possible to hide in a belt?

Or again, how should this cuff be concealed to facilitate launching flying arrows?

Moreover, could this knife be split into two and then recombine into one?

Whenever such an idea occurred, Li Qingluo would return to her room and quickly sketch it down.

However, hardly anyone knows about this.

Que'er carried the box and went out.

After Que'er left, Li Qingluo went outside Hongfenguan to meet Qu Shi.

These days, when Qu Shi comes to Hongfenguan, she dares not enter directly, for Pei Lao Furen had once issued a strict order.

"Mother, I don't know what you wish to see me about?"

Li Qingluo bowed slightly, but also had no intention of inviting Qu Shi into the courtyard.

Qu Shi's face flashed with embarrassment; she thought: She treats me too coldly. Before, she would stew me tonics and medicinal soups, and occasionally send pastries to Chunzaitang; now, with her grandmother backing her, she truly is putting less and less stock in her own birth mother!

It's said that she sends things to Jingci Tang every day—either food or drink, or handmade trinkets she herself made.

Qu Shi suppressed her dissatisfaction and a hint of sourness, then said: "Luoluo, your elder brother… if you have time, perhaps you could accompany me to see him?"

Li Qingluo: "?"

What is wrong with her mind?

Doesn't she realize that her now-disabled eldest son, the one who least wants to see anyone, is none other than her Li Qingluo?

Perhaps Li Qingluo's mocking gaze was too obvious, causing Qu Shi to feel a bit uneasy.

"This… it's not that, the day you went to see him—though I don't know exactly what you said to him—he has indeed become much more obedient these past days."

"Your elder brother now agrees to take medicine and lets others apply and change his salve. It's just that he occasionally stares gloomily at the door, unknown what he's thinking, but that gaze is truly frightening…"

Li Qingluo: "If he wants to die, I would not stop him."

"Mother, my teacher is still waiting in the courtyard for me to finish my lessons, so I won't see you off."

Her refusal was quite clear.

Without waiting for Qu Shi to say more, she turned and entered the courtyard.

Shenhe, who was about to pack up and go home: ……

Qu Shi watched Li Qingluo's departing figure with a sense of loss, and soon heard the sounds of martial practice coming from the inner court.

Qu Shi curiously asked Qingyi: "Isn't she supposed to be doing her lessons? Why is it so noisy in the courtyard?"

Qingyi: "Madam, the Second Miss is practicing martial arts."

Qu Shi: "What!? You mean… Luoluo isn't just studying, she's also practicing martial arts!?"

Qingyi: "Yes, madam. You didn't know? I thought you did. Now everyone in the Jiangjun Fu is saying that the Second Miss truly is the blood of the Jiangjun Fu, and she actually enjoys wielding blades and swords—a veritable tiger girl of a general's family!"

Qu Shi: ……

How could she not know!?

She truly hadn't heard a whisper of it!

No, perhaps Qingyi and they have said it in front of her, but she never cared before!

Even when she heard her name, regarding all her affairs, Qu Shi automatically shut her ears, as if she had never heard of it, never keeping it in mind.

As it turns out, she's actually practicing martial arts!

Well, then how is her training?

Qingyi: "I don't know either. As for the affairs of Hongfenguan, aside from hearing some noises, we maids can't find out anything."

However, the Second Young Lady seems very diligent. Besides that Mid-Autumn day, it seems she didn't even stop for the few days when her period came.

Qu Shi suddenly thought of her dear little treasure, Zhu'er.

Even when she was young, her husband had also thought of having her wield a sword playfully.

In their Jiangjun Fu, even daughters should be like a tiger father has no dog daughters, a military family has no weak daughters.

But Zhu'er disliked the taste of rust, and was even more unwilling to endure the hardship of martial arts training.

So, after just a quarter of an hour she cried and gave up, and she would rather die than go back to the martial arts training ground.

All three of them doted on her; although her husband had been depressed for a few days, after all he also doted on Zhu'er, so at Chuan'er's pleading he also let the matter drop.

Now…

She and her husband's true bloodline are actually this diligent, practicing martial arts herself in that small courtyard!

Indeed, the true bloodline of a military family is indeed different!

Qu Shi left Hongfenguan with light steps; in the evening, seeing her husband return from his subordinate duties, she hesitated for a long time, but still told him this.