Mei Niang returned to Tsinghua Courtyard and went to the main hall to see her mother and brother before going back to her room.
She felt a little apprehensive inside, after all, it was not the real person, and she could not show much joy, for fear that the meeting would seem too distant and hurt the other person's relatives' feelings.
Her worries were unnecessary. When she met Madam Qin and the young master of the Qin family, she was instantly moved by their tired but caring faces. One called "son" and the other called "sister" with true feelings and tears streaming down her face. Mei Niang couldn't help crying like a tearful person and lay in Madam Qin's arms, refusing to get up.
Seeing that the three of them had almost finished crying, Mother Wang stepped forward and said, "Grandma, Madam and Master have been rushing all the way here, so they must be exhausted. They've been here for a while, and they haven't eaten yet!"
Mei Niang sat up quickly, wiping her tears while saying, "Hasn't anyone from the kitchen brought the wine and food over yet? Just now in the upper room..."
But then I heard the little girl outside the door shouting, "Mother Liang, please come over here, Grandma is in the hall!"
Mother Wang hurried forward and opened the curtain, and saw Mother Liang from the kitchen leading four or five maids, carrying in several food boxes. Cui Xi and Cui Si helped to open the food boxes. There were about twenty bowls and plates of steaming chicken, duck, fish, meat and various dishes, filling the table.
Madam Liang bowed to Mei Niang and was about to leave. Mei Niang looked at her and said, "You are Madam Liang, in charge of the kitchen affairs?"
Mother Liang lowered her head and said, "To answer Grandma, it is this old slave!"
Mei Niang said, "There are four of you in charge of the kitchen. I have met Madam Cai and today I met Madam Liang. I heard that our Cheng'er went to ask for a bowl of porridge at noon today and you didn't have time to make it?"
Mother Liang was sweating: "To answer Grandma, I only found out about this later, it's not..."
Mei Niang smiled and said, "I didn't say anything. I just felt that the big kitchen was a bit messy. In fact, you can manage it better and in a more orderly manner... By the way, you prepare some fresh ingredients tomorrow and I will go over to select them. Then I will teach you how to wash and chop them. What kind of copper pots are there in the kitchen? Find a few exquisite ones for me to see. I will prepare the old lady's dinner tomorrow night. I'm sure Mother Ji will tell you tomorrow as well."
Mother Liang didn't even dare to raise her head and replied, "Yes, I understand!"
After sending the maids away, Mei Niang came back to have dinner with her mother and brother, and said to her brother Qin Boqing with an apologetic look:
"Brother, have a drink to warm yourself up. The Lord is not available today, so let him come and accompany you tomorrow!"
Qin Mei Niang was born beautiful, and Qin Bo Qing, who was three or four years older than her, was also handsome. Perhaps because he inherited his father's weak constitution, he was even thinner than the Sixth Master of the Xu Mansion. He turned his head slightly, covered his face with his sleeves, coughed lightly, and then smiled at Mei Niang:
"It's okay. Lord Hou is busy with important matters every day. It would be nice if we could meet. How dare I expect him to sit down and drink with me? I don't drink either!"
Mrs. Qin looked worried and said, "Your brother worked too hard to prepare for the autumn exam and didn't even realize he was sick. He has a cough and is taking medicine, so he can't drink."
Qin Boqing said hurriedly, "Don't worry, mother. I am much better now. It was my sister who frightened mother and brother this time. They thought we would never see each other again. Mother cried all the way here. Fortunately, we came to the mansion and heard that you are back. We are so happy. From now on, sister, you must take care of yourself and take good care of yourself. Don't let mother and brother worry!"
Mei Niang smiled and nodded: "Please rest assured, mother and brother, Mei Niang will be fine from now on!"
Madam Qin looked at her lovingly and smiled, "That's good! I have nothing else to ask for in my life. As long as my son and daughter are safe and healthy, I will be satisfied!"
Mei Niang held Madam Qin in one hand and Qin Boqing in the other, and said with a smile: "It will be fine! I heard that making a wish on a snowy day is the most effective. I sincerely wish that our family will be safe, healthy, happy and joyful!"
Qin Boqing looked at her and smiled: "Mother, my sister is really well. Look, she has become like a child again!"
Mei Niang slapped him and said, "What a child's mentality! I'm already a mother - hey, where's Heng'er? Why can't I hear his voice? Hurry up and bring him here to show grandma and uncle!"
Madam Qin smiled and said, "I've always wanted to see Heng'er, but unfortunately he had just fallen asleep when we arrived. Let him sleep, and don't wake him up and make him cry!"
Mei Niang said: "It's okay, kid, just coax him!"
A little girl outside the door shouted with a smile: "Brother Heng is here!"
Mrs. Qin stood up happily and took a few steps forward: "Oh! My grandson is awake!"
Qin Boqing also stood up with a smile. Mei Niang hurriedly supported Madam Qin and said, "It's cold by the door. Mother and brother, please sit down. The nurse will bring him in!"
Madam Qin carefully straightened her sleeves, stroked her collar, and said, "Although Heng'er is young, he is the eldest son and grandson, the crown prince, and will inherit the title in the future. He has a noble status and should not be treated with disrespect..."
As they were talking, the maids opened the warm curtains and the wet nurse brought in Heng'er. Heng'er was almost seven months old, chubby like a little dough figurine. He had just woken up from a good sleep and had just eaten his fill of milk. His little face was rosy and he looked very energetic. He smiled at everyone he saw and was very lovable.
Heng Ge'er ignored Madam Qin's eager arms to hug him, and leaned towards Mei Niang. Mei Niang smiled and hugged him, kissed his delicate face a few times, pointed at Madam Qin and patiently taught him:
"This is grandma! She is my mother's mother. Heng'er must respect and be filial to grandma. Don't lose your manners! Come, let grandma hug you!"
Little Heng seemed to understand. When Madam Qin stretched out her hand again, he went over obediently, looking at Madam Qin with his big, clear, and bright black eyes.
Mrs. Qin was so happy that she hugged Heng'er, loving him so much that she laughed so hard that tears were about to flow.
Mei Niang was afraid that the child was too heavy and would make her mother tired, so she pointed at Qin Boqing and said to Heng Ge'er, "This is my uncle, my mother's brother. Heng Ge'er, let me hug you, too!"
Qin Boqing quickly took Heng'er, hugged him tightly and said with a smile: "Heng'er, grow up quickly. Your uncle will teach you how to write!"
Mei Niang smiled and pinched her son's face: "Yes, uncle's calligraphy is unmatched!"
Qin Boqing blushed: "Sister, don't say this in front of others. I just think I have mastered some skills to write well!"
"Good is good, are you afraid to say it?"
The brother and sister had not seen each other for a long time, and were arguing intimately. Mrs. Qin teased Heng Ge'er and said with a smile:
"Heng'er looks really good, but he doesn't look like Mei Niang. He must look like Hou Ye!"
I guess he looks like Lord Hou? Mei Niang asked, "Has mother never seen Lord Hou?"
Qin Boqing said, "Did you forget? Two days after Lord Hou married you, he went to the north to fight. Mother never had the chance to see Lord Hou!"
Mei Niang groaned. No wonder she and Xu Junying were so cold and indifferent. It turned out that they had been separated for two days after their wedding. The war would definitely not end in three or two months. What a tragic couple. They got together again after their feelings faded. Yes, didn't Mother Wang say that Mei Niang had given birth less than a month after Lord Hou came back from the border? The old lady also gave her a concubine, which meant that they had been separated for nearly a year.
After Xu Junying married his bride, he went to fight in the war. When he returned home, the child had been born to him. He got a good deal as a father.
Mei Niang said to Qin Boqing: "I have been seriously ill and have forgotten many things in my mind. To be honest, I don't even remember my mother and brother. If it weren't for Mother Wang and the others to help me remember, I don't know what to do!"
Qin Boqing looked at her in surprise: "Oh, what should I do? Don't forget Lord Hou and Heng'er!"
Mei Niang smiled and said, "I really forgot about it, but then I remembered it again!"
Mrs. Qin sighed, "Your father had this experience before. He was seriously ill and didn't recognize anyone. But he slowly remembered people after a few days. I just hope you don't get sick again..."
Mei Niang comforted her and said, "Don't worry, mother. Even if I get sick again, I will never forget you and my brother!"
Then he looked at Qin Boqing and asked, "Brother took part in the autumn exam. How was it?"
Qin Boqing smiled and said, "Although your brother is weak, he is good at studying. He has won the first prize in the provincial examination!"
Madam Qin said, "I was going to return to Beijing after the New Year to prepare for the imperial examination... Because of you, your mother and your brother hurried over first. Your sister-in-law is five months pregnant and cannot travel quickly, so she is still staying in Yuezhou."
Mei Niang blinked her eyes, a little anxious: "Who will my sister-in-law stay in Yuezhou with?"
Qin Boqing said, "Don't worry, there are quite a few of them, all of whom are maids and servants she brought with her as a dowry from her parents' home. They are very honest people. My mother and I will return to our home in the west of the city tomorrow to clean up the yard. My mother is old and it is not easy for her to travel, so she will stay in the capital. I will then rush back to Yuezhou to pick up your sister-in-law. We will walk slowly all the way and should be able to return in time for the New Year so that the whole family can be reunited and celebrate the New Year."
Mei Niang looked at Qin Boqing worriedly. If he was a stronger man, it would be fine, but for such a thin and weak scholar, asking him to run around in the snow and wind would be fatal, wouldn't it
But he has to run away. There is a pregnant woman in Yuezhou over there, and his mother is here. He can't just take care of one side. During the New Year, the most important thing is family reunion. As the only son of the Qin family and the pillar of the family, Qin Boqing has to shoulder the responsibilities of a son and a husband.
It was all because of Mei Niang's illness. Fortunately, she came to take her place and Mei Niang is alive again. The Qin family mother and son's hard work in coming here was worth it. If Mei Niang had died in front of the mother and son, wouldn't it be heartbreaking!
People who walk a long way are too tired, so Mei Niang settled her mother and brother. Bai Jingyu listened to the old lady and had four thick and soft quilts brought. Mei Niang asked Mother Wang to use them all at once. Only when her mother and brother slept comfortably did she feel better.
Leaving Mother Wang to serve her mother, Mei Niang returned to her room and sat under the lamp, thinking about this and that. Cui Xi, Cui Si and Cui Lian did not dare to disturb her and sat aside to do needlework to keep her company.
Xu Junying, this son-in-law is too much. He clearly knew that Mei Niang's mother and brother had arrived. After paying respects to the old lady, couldn't he come over to meet her and have a few words? As a mother-in-law, Madam Qin must want to meet her son-in-law. Qin Boqing also had this meaning in his words, but Xu Junying didn't come. What could she do
The people in the Xu Mansion are so arrogant and conceited. The old lady took advantage of her age and refused to meet her in-laws. The first and second wives should at least send someone to inquire about it. The housekeeper Jingyu had a table of food and wine prepared, but he refused to even take a look. Are you sending away beggars? Really, what's wrong with being from a high-class family? Is being a marquis so great? If you look down on the humble family, you shouldn't have married their daughter in the first place!
She was sulking quietly by herself for an unknown amount of time. The red charcoal fire in the brazier gradually dimmed. Cui Xi was about to urge Mei Niang to go to bed when she suddenly saw the warm curtain lifted and Xu Junying walked in. (To be continued)