The Counterfeit Madam Hou Chapter 45

A few big dudes then rushes forward to grab Liu Qinghuan . Madam Hu hurriedly stand in front of her, worried .

” My daughter is injured, so what’s with you guys! ”
” Injured? ”

The leader then look up and down at Liu Qinghuan . Her face is indeed pale and thus, stop his men .

” Take care and don’t hurt her . ”
” Yes! ”

They then spread out their palm, signaling her to walk on her own . Liu Qinghuan glance at Madam Hu before following them outside . Madam Hu move and the leader immediately move in front of her, smiling .

” The reason we’re here is to discuss a marriage with you . ”

That is all Liu Qinghuan heard before being invited up a carriage . After sitting in there for a while, the leader then walk slowly out of the house . Once the carriage driver spot him, he begin to move the carriage forward . Liu Qinghuan look back at Madam Hu’s house, before asking the leader .

” What’s your purpose in capturing me? ”

The corner of the man lips curl up .

” Not to worry, Miss Hu . We’re here to bring you to get married . ”
” Married? Isn’t there steps to it? Why are you in such a rush? ”
” We’re in a rush, but don’t worry, Miss, the groom is the County magistrate Ma 2nd son so your downy won’t be bad . You dad too, just agree to this marriage . ”
” Oh . ”

Liu Qinghuan smile lightly and goes silent . Fearing that she’ll reject it, the leader speak up again .

” Marrying into the Ma Family is like marrying up . The rest of your life will be in comfort, without worrying about food or money . ”

Liu Qinghuan smirk internally and begin to arrange all that had happened in her head .

When she woke up, she heard the Hu couple discussing about her taking over their daughter . Only after eavesdropping for a while, the 2 of them haven’t mention what they are exchanging her for . Now, she know it’s for this marriage .

In order to let her admit that she’s her daughter, they even collaborate with the constables to come up with a escape murderer . Their idea is not bad, but to the biggest swindler in Chang-An, plenty of tiny details gave it away .

But those 2 constables are legit . Most likely they have a good relations.h.i.+p with the Hu couple and secretly told them that the Hu family is coming to force marriage onto their daughter . Looking at the situation today, County magistrate Ma haven’t ask before heading over and forcefully taking her away, perhaps fearing they would alert them and allow Lingshan to run away .

But while one side does everything to force marriage, one side too, does everything they can in order to not let their daughter marry into the Ma family . Looks like the Ma family 2nd son is… either not healthy or have a bad personality .

But one thing she doesn’t understand is that the Hu family is not rich and looking at Madam Hu, her daughter is not pretty either . So why must it be her daughter?

She bit her lips . Forget it, since it had nothing to do with her anyway . The only reason she didn’t expose them is to repay their favor . They saved her life and now, she saved her daughter’s life so they are now even .

In order to let them relax and con her, she specially gave them a tragic backstory just to let them understand that she have no one behind her so even if she die, there won’t be anyone to come looking for revenge on her behalf .

She is really moved by her own kindness, she is truly a gentlemanly swindler .

The problem left, is to escape from this marriage . This she is good at . She can even escape from the Hou mansion, not to mention this tiny Ma family .

Thinking up till this point, Liu Qinghuan start coughing up really hard again . Hearing that, the leader look over .

” Are you okay, Miss Hu? ”
” I’m fine . ”

She say, lowering the hand she use to cover her mouth . When the leader turn back forward, Liu Qinghuan release her tightly clench hand and see that she have cough out blood again . She bit her lips, and remain silent all the way .

The carriage travel all the way to the Ma mansion but they enter through the back door . Liu Qinghuan lift her bows at this, but said nothing . The leader call to stop before walking over to her .

” Miss Hu, I would have to trouble you to wait for a moment as we inform them . ”

County magistrate Ma is sitting on his bed, in a daze and when he see the leader walking in, he quickly get on his feet .

” Is she here? ”
” Yes, she’s waiting in the courtyard . ”
” You’re sure she’s Hu Lingshan? ”
” She admitted it herself . ”
” That’s good, that’s good . Bring her to the study . ”
” Yes . ”

He then walk back to where Liu Qinghuan is .

” Miss Hu, the County magistrate Ma invite you in . ”

Liu Qinghuan blinks and get down from the carriage, following him into the study . Her gaze subconsciously look around and is very surprise when she spots the《Blue Lotus · Summer》painting hanging on the wall .

As Liu Qinghuan is in a daze, County magistrate Ma is also studying her . At first, he thought that Hu’s daughter would be a rough looking girl, having been born in a farmer family, but who know she is such a beautiful lady . His son would surely love it .

” You’re Hu Lingshan? ”

His question snaps Liu Qinghuan back to reality .

” Yes I am . ”

He nod satisfactory .

” Tonight is your day of marriage so I’ll get a maid to prepare you for it . ”

Her mouth twitches . Tonight? How much of a rush is his 2nd son in… .
Glancing at County magistrate Ma, she looks nonplussed .

” County magistrate Ma, I’m is only a pleasant but a marriage cannot be so casual . ”
” Is it? I’ve already send your downy to your family and also got someone to take a look at the days . Today is an auspicious day . ”

Her eyebrow twitches . An auspicious day again .

” Your birth dates matches my son exactly . You two are a match made in heaven . ”
” County magistrate Ma, you know my birth dates? ”
” Cough cough . ”

County magistrate Ma randomly coughs and doesn’t answer her . Liu Qinghuan finally understand why it have to be Hu Lingshan now . Glancing at the painting, she ask .

” County magistrate Ma, this painting is really pretty . Who is the painter? ”

Following her line of sight, County magistrate Ma see that she’s talking about the《Blue Lotus · Summer》 .

” Is Ding Maoxue not written there? ”
” I can’t read . ”

His mouth twitches . Such a huge country and there are so many literate ladies and he have to choose one that can’t read… Forget it, seeing that she is so pretty, his son shouldn’t mind .

” Although I don’t know how to read, I always have an interest in painting . The lotus on this painting is so life-like, it must be expensive . ”
” Of course, it’s our family treasure . ”

Actually, he brought it from a poor scholar for a few cents . Seeing Liu Qinghuan looking interestingly at the painting, he thinks about it for a moment before taking it down .

” Here, treat it as a present to my daughter-in-law . ”
” Really? ”
” Of course, would a county magistrate con you? ”
” Thank you, County magistrate Ma! ”
” You’re marrying into my family, I won’t treat you badly . ”
” I shall go prepare now . ”

Holding the painting . Liu Qinghuan left happily with the maid . Seeing how happy she is, County magistrate Ma is glad . Just a few cents worth of things could get her to behave . A pleasant is a pleasant .

After dressing Liu Qinghuan up, the maids then stand guard outside the door, waiting for the auspicious hour to arrive . Liu Qinghuan take the painting out and pour her cup of water on it .

She stare nervously at it, not knowing if it is real or not .

The blue lotus start fading and a rough map starts appearing . Her gaze sharpen, this is the real deal . She quickly keep the painting, her heart pounding .

Sometimes misfortune is a blessing in disguise . Although she nearly died, it allows her to find the last painting .

She is not sure where County magistrate Ma got the painting but she know that he doesn’t know what it meant . Piecing all the map she seen, she manage to figure out where the buried treasure is .

Liang prefecture, Xiwei mountain .

Liu Qinghuan can’t help but laugh . Everything seems to be landing perfectly for her .

” Miss Hu, the auspicious hour is here, please board the marriage carriage ”

Suddenly, the maid outside yell into the room and she frown . Is the 2nd son not in the house? Why does she need to board a carriage? But outside is easier for her escape so she simply rearrange her clothes and stand up .

” I’m coming . ”

A carriage is waiting for her by the door but it is still by the back door . Something flash in her mind but Liu Qinghuan can’t seem to grasp it . After boarding, the marching band in front of the carriage doesn’t start playing either as they silently move forward . This is less like a marriage and more like acting as a thief .

After a while, she found out that they are heading up a mountain . There is only one mountain in Liang prefecture, the Xiwei Mountain!

Liu Qinghuan sit up in surprise . The G.o.ds can’t be that considerate,can they? Not only telling her where the treasure is, they are even providing a carriage and escorting her over?

It must be because she did too many good things in her life and touched the G.o.ds .

‘Beep beep beep’ . After that few notes, the carriage stop suddenly as everyone escorting the carriage fainted . Liu Qinghuan frown and look to the front .

In the dark night, a young man stand in front of the carriage . The pale silver moonlight cannot light up his features clearly so all she could see is a simple silhouette . His hair fly about in the air as his sleeves are flapping against the night breeze .

After staring at her for a while, the young man start heading towards her . Seeing him getting nearer, Liu Qinghuan gulp nervously .

” Are you flagging a carriage? ”

He almost stumble at that as he slowly walk out from the soft moonlight .

” Do you know who you’re marrying? ”
” Ma family’s 2nd son . ”
” No, it’s the eldest son . ”
” There’s not much difference . ”
” Then what if I told you the eldest son of the Ma family died 5 years ago? ”

TN: Woo, haven’t done a double chapter in a long long time but since 44 ends in such a cliffhanger, I thought I could spare you guys the torture and do another chapter . Who knew that this cliff is worst? Cheers .