01 Visit
Xu Junying was silent for a while, then asked, "So, you have a lot of... friends over there, has anyone proposed to you?"
Mei Niang pursed her lips and said, "Two people confessed their love at the same time... It was the same as proposing marriage. They were both very good-looking and talented. I was just undecided and fell into the river and died before I could even get married!"
Xu Junying didn't care how she "died", but he was quite critical of someone confessing to her: "Ridiculous! How can a woman accept betrothal gifts from two families?"
Mei Niang was stunned for a moment, then she reacted and laughed, "I didn't accept their betrothal gift, and they didn't give me any betrothal gift either!"
"What about confession? Confession is equivalent to proposal, so you should pay the betrothal gift!"
Mei Niang couldn't help laughing: "Do you think you can just say "marry" in a domineering way like you did when you married Qin Mei Niang? It's not like that. It must be done solemnly and with a definite consent. The man and woman must understand each other and have mutual admiration before they can talk about marriage... You may still not understand. The wedding customs in my hometown are actually very simple. Let me tell you what confession is. That is, a man says to the woman he likes: I really like you, please date me! The dating here is limited. If the woman also likes it and nods, then from then on, she can only have that man in her heart. This is the so-called love covenant. Proposing is different. There are many ways to propose. The most common one nowadays is that the man holds a bouquet of flowers - preferably roses, and a ring, and says to the woman: I love you, please marry me! If the woman agrees on the spot, she will wear the ring given by the man, and this is considered a lifetime commitment. Then a grand and gorgeous wedding is prepared and held. With the blessings of both parents and relatives and friends, they become husband and wife... Unlike your dynasty, there are too many red tapes, three matchmakers, six betrothals, dowries and accompanying rooms, which are annoying and tiring!"
Xu Junying lowered his eyes and said, "Different countries, different customs. It's fine to propose like that, but that confession and that covenant are not uncommon in this dynasty... They are all romantic things played by idlers and elegant guests. People like us don't have the time or mood to do these things!"
"So people like you can enjoy the royal marriage, and you have the final say. You can marry whoever you want, regardless of whether the girl is willing or not!"
Xu Junying looked up at her with a gloomy look in his eyes. Mei Niang waved her hands and said, "I'm sorry, I was just talking nonsense. Don't mind it. Just pretend I didn't say anything!"
At this time, Baoju's voice came from outside the door: "Reporting to the Lord: Master Zhang and Master Xia have arrived, Bai Zhanying is sitting in the flower hall of the East Courtyard!"
Xu Junying said to Mei Niang, "Since we are all friends, let's go and meet each other... Remember one thing: unmarried women in this dynasty value their reputation the most, and married women value their virtues even more. They will not easily meet and talk with strange men, and it is even more forbidden to be alone. You are my wife now, and you have a covenant with me, so you must accept the rules and constraints!"
Mei Niang had already stood up and walked a few steps, waiting there impatiently: "Don't worry, I have learned all these broken rules of the rich and powerful families. I am not good at other things, but I am the best at pretending!"
Xu Junying was choked by her and refused to move: "I'm not asking you to pretend, it's... you have to be consistent inside and out, that's the only way!"
Mei Niang looked at him helplessly: "Okay, I get it! Go away, go away. You said you were good friends, but you let someone come to your house and sit on the bench. How boring!"
Xu Junying and Mei Niang walked towards the east courtyard together, entered the moon-shaped gate, walked through the neither-long-nor-short corridor, and came to the east flower hall. Zhang Jingyun and Lingxuzi were not restrained. Before the host arrived, they sat opposite each other, set up the chessboard and played chess. Ruizhu and Ruibao served tea on the side. Mei Niang walked in and opened her mouth to call for help, but suddenly she felt a tightness on her waist. Before she could figure out what was going on, she leaned against Xu Junying. Xu Junying's hands were tightly around her waist, and it was difficult for her to break free.
Facing the gazes from Zhang Jingyun and Lingxuzi at the same time, Mei Niang blushed instantly, became silent, and had to lower her head.
Xu Junying gently let go of Mei Niang, greeted the two visiting friends with a smile, spoke polite words, and offered them seats in the living room. He told Ruizhu and Ruibao to get out some freshly bought good tea, and then went to the kitchen to bring a table of delicious dishes, ready to have a few drinks with his two good friends.
Mei Niang had no choice but to follow him, bowing her head and listening to the three men chatting. After that, the host and the guest sat down. Xu Junying helped Mei Niang sit down first, and then sat next to her. He smiled and said, "My humble wife has caught a cold recently and feels a little unwell. My voice is hoarse when I talk. I heard that you two were coming to the mansion, and I insisted on coming together to meet you. It's because the last matter with Xijiang Xuelan has come to an end. The third sister-in-law diagnosed that she was pregnant, and she wanted to thank you two in person!"
Xu Junying, who always looked quite upright, suddenly acted like this, which was even more fake than wearing a mask. Mei Niang couldn't accept it and couldn't help but glared at him. Xu Junying smiled at her and said in a doting tone:
"Aren't you going to thank the two gentlemen on behalf of Rulan? Why don't you dare to speak? Come, drink some warm tea first, and then talk slowly. Your throat must be uncomfortable."
Her voice was no longer hoarse. She had stayed up late the night before and made it hoarse. She slept for a while, got up, scolded Zheng Meiyu, ran back to the upper room, brushed her teeth and rinsed her mouth with green salt, and then she felt better. Why did he keep emphasizing her voice? Was he hinting to her that he didn't want her to speak
The inexplicable hug just now was because she wanted to call for help. Since he promised to let her come with him, but didn't let her talk, what did that mean? The more I get to know this guy, the more I find that he is abnormal!
I don’t care. If I’m suppressed like this, I won’t be able to last even a month, let alone three months!
Mei Niang refused to take the tea bowl that Xu Junying handed over, and said with a smile: "I'm not thirsty, Lord Hou, drink it yourself! Master Zhang and Master Xia, please have some tea!"
Zhang Jingyun smiled and said, "Young Madam has caught a cold. You must take medicine in time. Don't delay it or it will turn into a serious illness, which will be very bad!"
Lingxuzi said: "If you have a severe cold, you can take one of the pills I gave you before. If you feel that the weather is not good, take one pill and soak it in a pot of hot water. Drink some yourself and teach people around you to drink it. It can suppress and prevent various symptoms."
"I see, that pill is really a panacea!"
Lingxuzi smiled and said, "A true elixir should be able to bring a person back to life. I have never seen one before!"
Xu Junying's mind worked quickly. After listening to Lingxuzi's words, he looked at Mei Niang and smiled at Lingxuzi, "It is said that my wife was able to come back to life because I couldn't bear to let her go. I guarded her day and night, and my true love moved the heaven and earth. This is of course true. I really can't bear the heart-wrenching pain of losing her. But she came back to life, perhaps because she had taken some pills given by Brother Xia. Brother Xia's pills can be called magic pills!"
Lingxuzi nodded and said, "That's a Qi-boosting pill. Only my master knows the formula. It can really save people in times of crisis. The emperor also took this kind of pill that time. You were hit by a poisonous arrow last time, and I only have three pills left. I'll give them all to you!"
Xu Junying raised his hands and bowed, thanking them again: "You two have been so kind to me, Xu Junying! Every time I was in danger, I needed your help. If it weren't for this Qi-boosting pill, I wouldn't have recovered so quickly, and maybe my left arm would have been useless... Because this pill was so good, I couldn't bear to finish it, so I kept one, thinking it might save someone. When I got home, my wife was seriously ill, so I gave it to her. She didn't get better at the time, and she died half a month later. Fortunately, she came back to life two days later, which was surprising and gratifying. Looking closely, the pill played an indispensable role!"
He looked at Zhang Jingyun and said with a smile, "There are also many precious medicinal materials from Jingyun, thank you for that too!"
Zhang Jingyun smiled and shook his head: "Old friends, it's really boring to talk about this. Back then, several of my uncles were captured by the northern tribes in order to obtain the horns of the goat. Master led us brothers to rescue them. If you hadn't led the cavalry to support us and used a trick to lure the tiger away from the mountain, allowing us to escape safely, the result would be unpredictable!"
Lingxuzi said: "Thinking back to those days in the north, it was hard, but I am very grateful!"
Xu Junying nodded: "Yes, it is unforgettable. After years of fighting, our dynasty was still able to defend itself strictly and strengthen its military strength. In the end, the northern countries surrendered, and the people on the border were able to live and work in peace. This is a great blessing!"
Mei Niang listened to their conversation but could not get a word in. She wanted to get up to see how the banquet was prepared, but then she heard Zhang Jingyun say, "We still have to hurry to the imperial farm outside the city. The weather is uncertain and it's going to rain again. It's better not to drink. Come back another day. I'll take my leave now!"
Xu Junying said: "So urgent? Who lives in the imperial manor outside the city? The emperor, the queen, and the queen mother are all in the palace!"
Lingxuzi smiled bitterly and said, "It's Princess Sude. She left the city last night and stayed at the imperial manor. Today, the empress dowager issued an imperial decree saying that Princess Sude was not feeling well and asked us to go over and take her pulse!"
"Isn't there a royal doctor?"
“Now the two of us are the imperial physicians of the Cining Palace,” Lingxuzi said helplessly, “Jingyun and I only came here to treat the King of Qi and protect the dragon fetus in the Queen’s belly. We go in and out of the palace every day, and live in Guiyun Villa outside the city in our spare time. We didn’t think much of it, but now we’ve been caught by the Queen Mother. It’s not enough for us to write prescriptions, we have to personally refine plasters and pills for her… March is here, the Queen is about to give birth, and after the dragon child is born, we two should quickly retreat - the imperial capital is prosperous, but it’s not our place. If we continue living like this, we’ll become numb!”
Mei Niang nodded in agreement: "I feel the same way. The capital is too boring!"
Xu Junying looked over and said, "It might be boring to stay at home for a whole winter. If you like, we have a farm outside the city. We can take you there to live someday. After the imperial examination in March and the palace examination in April, the emperor wants to go hunting. He will bring some palace maids and concubines with him. You can also go!"
Mei Niang smiled and said, "It's okay to stay outside the city for a while, but hunting is definitely fun. If you allow me to go, I will definitely go. Master Zhang and Master Xia, you will go too, right? It will be more lively and fun with more people!"
Zhang Jingyun smiled and said, "If we were still here, we would go!"
“That’s great!”
Zhang Jingyun and Lingxuzi stood up to say goodbye. Xu Junying could not keep them, so he had to let Baizhan lead the way and go out through the east door. Mei Niang followed behind Xu Junying and saw them out of the small door. They greeted each other and said goodbye, and watched them go out of the second door.
As soon as the guest left, there was no one around, so Mei Niang glared at Xu Junying: "What did you mean just now?"
Xu Junying said calmly: "I was just about to ask you what you meant! You were taught well over there to be dignified and virtuous, to be polite and to follow the rules, but you didn't do it!"
"Me!" Mei Niang looked around and lowered her voice: "What's wrong with me? At least I didn't touch you! But you..."
Xu Junying pulled her into the yard, turned around and closed the door, then said to her: "They came to visit me in the name of visiting, but they actually came to visit you. Why is that? It's because you revealed to them that we are not getting along well, so they are worried. I did that just now, with no other intentions, I just wanted to save some face and let them see that I, Xu Junying, am not a rough man who only knows how to march and fight but doesn't care for his wife!" (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian. to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.) (To be continued)