Mei Niang walked forward and helped Wang Mama into the upper room, while casually asking Cui Xi: "Miss Yu Biao entered the East Courtyard this morning, so you can't enter?"
Cui Xi said, "Miss Yu Biao came so early? I didn't see her. If we knew we could go in, we would have gone earlier!"
Cui Lian asked: "Where is the phoenix hairpin on grandma's head?"
Mei Niang then remembered: "Oh, I forgot it in the study over there!"
"I'll get it!"
Cui Lian was about to turn around and leave when Mother Wang called out to her, "It's not somewhere else. It's in your own study room in the yard. Are you afraid it's lost?"
Cui Lian looked at Mei Niang, and Mei Niang said, "You don't have to wear those, just keep them!"
Cui Si came out from the inner room and said, "The hot water is ready, grandma, please wash up!"
"Bring some more hot water in. I need to take a shower and change clothes. I have to go see Heng'er, and then go to Ziyun Hall. After lunch..."
Mei Niang glanced at Mother Wang and looked at Cui Xi: "It's up to you!"
Cui Xi understood: "Yes!"
After she came out of the bath, Cui Lian combed her hair, tied it into a simple Chaoyun bun, put some pearls and jade on it, and casually inserted a golden hairpin, knowing that she would go out later and would wear men's clothes, so there was no need to make it too complicated.
After cleaning up, Cheng'er had already brought back breakfast. Mei Niang thought about how she usually went to Qiuhuayuan to eat breakfast because she was going to see Heng'er. After knowing Zheng Meiyu's evil, she couldn't help but feel a little scared: Since this crazy woman has aphrodisiac powder, maybe there are other poisons. Having eaten at the same table with her so many times, maybe she gave her some chronic medicine! And Heng'er... It's too scary! One day I have to ask Zhang Jingyun or Lingxuzi to take my pulse to see if there is anything abnormal. Heng'er also needs to be checked.
After eating a bowl of rice porridge with hot soup and some meat dumplings, Mei Niang told Cui Si to accompany Wang Mama to the kitchen for a checkup after breakfast. Her legs and feet were not fully recovered yet, so she had to walk slowly. She couldn't sit still, so she took Cui Xi with her and went to Qiuhua Courtyard.
Like everywhere else, Qiuhua Courtyard was also full of spring. Many early spring varieties of flowers were in full bloom, with red flowers and green leaves, and the sudden increase in the number of bird calls surprised Heng'er. He turned his little head around, busy trying to identify the birds' positions. The thrush in the golden cage hanging under the corridor was also singing loudly, which made him extremely happy. He danced and babbled.
Heng'er is now ten months old. He is lively and strong, loves to talk and laugh. Although Mei Niang still can't understand what he says, she always responds to him patiently, trying to figure out what he wants to express. It's really like talking at cross purposes, which is very difficult but also very interesting.
Mrs. Zheng still disagreed with Mei Niang's statement. Heng'er's upbringing and lifestyle were still customized according to her old methods. In order to prevent Mei Niang from making changes at will, she only allowed the mother and son to stay together for a maximum of half an hour a day. If she got up late in the morning, she would ask Mother He or Zheng Meiyu to supervise and remind Mei Niang: it's time to go.
Perhaps out of pity for Heng'er who was still too young and lost his biological father so early, Mei Niang insisted on visiting Heng'er every day. Mrs. Zheng thought it over again and again and decided not to be too harsh. It was okay for the mother and son to meet, as long as Mei Niang did not go too far.
Mei Niang came a little late this morning, and Heng'er had already had breakfast. Xia Lian carried him to greet Mei Niang. Heng'er was all smiles, and excitedly raised his hands high, pointing to the singing birds and bright red flowers everywhere for Mei Niang to see, murmuring non-stop. Mei Niang held him over, kissed his rosy and soft little face, and said:
"My dear Heng'er, you are a flower!"
Xia Lian smiled and said, "From what I see, both Grandma and Heng-ge are like flowers!"
Cui Xi glanced at her from the side and said, "Little girl, you are really good at talking!"
Mei Niang smiled and said, "You are right. Spring is here. The weather is warm, flowers are blooming, everything is revived, the scenery is pleasing to the eyes, and people's moods are getting better and better. They smile every day, just like flowers!"
Holding Heng'er in her arms, she walked to the dry and clean corridor and wanted to put him on the ground and help him learn to walk, but Heng'er held on to her tightly, curled up his feet, and refused to get off the ground. Xia Lian looked around nervously, and when she saw that the maids didn't look at her, she whispered, "Grandma, don't do this. It will be bad if the Madam finds out!"
Mei Niang said: "Why not? Heng'er is so big now, he is very strong and can learn to walk!"
Seeing Mother He coming from the corner of the corridor, Xia Lian leaned over and picked up Heng'er. Heng'er refused to obey and turned around to cling to Mei Niang like a monkey. Mei Niang had no choice but to hold him in her arms again, stood up straight, and smiled at Mother He:
"Morning, Mom!"
Mother He bowed slightly and smiled: "Grandma is here, greetings! Madam is in better spirits this morning and is about to get up. I came to see if Brother Heng has had a good breakfast. I have to go over to greet Grandma!"
Mei Niang looked at Xia Lian, and Xia Lian said quickly, "Heng Ge'er was hungry when he woke up this morning. He had his milk and breakfast!"
"It's good to eat, it's good to eat..." Mother He looked at Heng'er in Mei Niang's arms, nodded and smiled, and when she turned to look at Xia Lian, her eyes changed a little: "What's wrong with Heng'er? Did he want to go downstairs to play just now? Xia Lian should remember what the eldest lady said!"
Xia Lian lowered her head: "It's... it's my fault!"
Mei Niang patted Heng'er and said calmly, "I accidentally dropped a flower on my head. I put Heng'er down and asked him to pick it up for me. What's wrong with that? Is it not okay?"
Mother He said with a smile: "Grandma, you don't know, the eldest lady recently asked someone to tell Heng'er's fortune - Heng'er, he will have a smooth life, without having to work hard everywhere, and he is destined to be rich and noble! But there is a taboo: before the age of two, it is best not to walk!"
Fuck you! Mei Niang almost blurted out, which fortune teller who came out of a wild cave can make a living by saying such nonsense, I really admire him! He is not allowed to walk at the age of two, do you want to make my son a cripple
Finally, he managed to hold it back and pretended to be surprised and said, "I've never heard of such a taboo. It's really strange!"
Mother He smiled and said, "The fortune teller said that Heng Ge'er has a good fate, so he wants to be different from others!"
As they were talking, Chunyue came and asked Mei Niang to bring Heng'er in, saying that Madam Zheng had already washed and dressed, and was sitting in the inner hall drinking tea and waiting, and she had something to say to the eldest lady.
Mei Niang sneered in her heart, what is there to say? In addition to the fortune she calculated for Heng'er, it is probably related to Zheng Meiyu. Zhuang Yulan is about to receive the imperial decree to grant marriage. Madam Zheng has repeatedly warned her, but Mei Niang only listened and did not speak out. She has long seen that Xu Junying does not care about Zheng Meiyu. If he follows Madam Zheng's wishes and adds a four-person sedan behind Zhuang Yulan's eight-person sedan and marries Zheng Meiyu, the inner house will never be at peace. That is his own fault; if he still retains the courage to force Qin Meiniang to marry him against all odds and refuses Madam Zheng, then he is smart.
The group walked into the inner hall and saw Madam Zheng sitting on the couch with a smile on her face. She looked very energetic and in good spirits. She reached out to take Heng'er away. The two of them kissed each other cheek to cheek. Mei Niang bowed to Madam Zheng. Madam Zheng nodded kindly and pointed to the opposite side of the low table and said, "Sit down. I have something to discuss with you!"
Dongmei brought tea to Mei Niang, and Mother He took the maids and took Heng'er away.
Only the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were left in the room. Madam Zheng looked at Mei Niang and said, "I heard that you went to the old lady and asked to move out of Qinghua Courtyard?"
Mei Niang nodded: "Yes, it's not good for new people to live too crowded."
Mrs. Zheng sighed, her eyes were a little complicated: "Think carefully, it will be difficult to go back after leaving Tsinghua College..."
Mei Niang remained silent. Xu Junying had already rejected this plan. It would be useless to say anything more. She didn't need to worry about it anymore. After talking to Xu Junying, the matter became clear. It would be better to leave Xu's house as soon as possible.
Her biggest worry and the most difficult problem to solve now is Heng'er! She can't ignore Heng'er, he is Qin Meiniang's most important concern in the world. From the night of her resurrection, she eavesdropped on the discussions of the old women in the coffin, and after finding out the ins and outs of the matter, her maternal instinct came naturally. She loves Heng'er, and when she holds Heng'er, she can feel his little heart connected to her own. Maybe what happened in the dark was not accidental, but was done by Qin Meiniang? Qin Meiniang, who is helpless and weak, may have a stronger obsession than anyone else, which has moved a certain god between heaven and earth. It is not impossible to fulfill one of her wishes, at least, let her child have a mother who can protect him for his whole life.
She became the mother, without any reluctance, and loved Heng'er naturally, willing to love him wholeheartedly and accompany him. It didn't matter if Madam Zheng tried to snatch Heng'er from her, because Heng'er also had the responsibility to honor his grandmother. He was still young, and it was okay for him to live with Madam Zheng for a few days, but when he reached the age of learning and growing up, she had to fight for her son!
Seeing Mei Niang didn't say anything, Madam Zheng thought she was upset, so she said, "You don't have to be like this. You have to have three wives and four concubines. When a man marries a new woman, it's only a few days of novelty, and then it won't be a big deal. You just need to hold on to this position. You have been separated from Junying for a few months because of your illness. Although there is some indifference between husband and wife, you are still so young and beautiful after all. Junying may not abandon you. If you leave, it will be a good thing for him. How can the old lady not be happy? You can't move! No matter what, just bear it. Heng'er is growing up and will be able to determine the title of the prince after one or two years. No matter how much you don't like it there, you have to think about Heng'er!"
Mrs. Zheng doesn't care about the relationship between Xu Junying and Mei Niang. She just wants everything to be good for Heng'er. Mei Niang must keep her position as the main wife, be in charge of the household affairs, and secretly control the birth of Xu Junying's children. As soon as Heng'er is two years old, she will put pressure on Xu Junying to make Heng'er the crown prince.
Heng'er is the child of the seventh wife. She knows it very well. Mei Niang presented the Yuanpa to Jinhua Hall on the second night of her wedding. She was there at the time, chatting with the second wife and the old lady. The old lady took a look at the Yuanpa, sighed and said: What's the point of presenting it now? The wedding night is the best time! This Qin is an ignorant person, and her family can't discipline her... After all, she is a petty person!
She never expected that more than ten days later, the seventh brother suddenly said to her: "Mei Niang is my woman now, mother, you must treat her well!"
She slapped Old Seven in the face, but Old Seven was unmoved: "I know you all look down on her. The old lady didn't allow her to serve tea, and deliberately belittled her, making her even more embarrassed in the mansion... Big brother only wanted her beauty, and took her home and left her there. In such a large mansion, how can you people be easy to serve and get along with? Mei Niang is just an object, and he should keep her well! Maybe Big brother will one day obey the old lady's wishes and marry another girl from a wealthy family. Mei Niang will be taken care of by me. I like her and love her. If anyone dares to bully her again, let me know, and I will definitely let her know how to write a typo!"
She was shocked by these words and her legs went limp with fear, but the matter was done. What was the difference between a newly married sister-in-law having an affair with her younger brother-in-law and breaking the law of heaven
Mei Niang was pregnant, and Lao Qi was both happy and worried. When he told her that the child was his, her first reaction was to abort the fetus. Lao Qi refused and threatened her with a dark face: If you dare to hurt Mei Niang and the child, he would not recognize her as a mother! She was furious, but she had to compromise and made careful arrangements until Heng'er was born, until Lao Qi finally got into trouble!
Without the Seventh Brother, all her hopes were shattered. She thought she could not survive. When she was trying to commit suicide, she heard Junying say: My son can be the Seventh Brother’s son!
She suddenly came to her senses: Heng'er is Lao Qi's child! No one knows about this except Lao Qi, Mei Niang, Mei Yu and herself. Jun Ying is unaware of it... (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.) (To be continued)