The maids replied and finished their business, then left one after another. Mei Niang and Bai Jingyu sat down to drink tea and talk. It felt a little strange for two people who used to be at odds with each other to suddenly live in peace with each other.
Cui Xi added hot tea and glanced at Xiangyu, and Xiangyu followed her out of the hall. Mei Niang usually didn't want anyone around when she chatted with Ning Rulan, so Cui Xi thought of doing the same and letting them talk for a while. Anyway, Mei Niang didn't say where she was going today.
Mei Niang asked how her elder sister was doing. Bai Jingyu smiled and said she was fine and even more well-behaved now. She originally wanted to take her to see her aunt, but was afraid that her aunt was too busy and that would delay the visit.
Mei Niang smiled and said it was okay. When she had some free time and the weather was good, she could take the family's children to the garden to play. If brothers and sisters were closer together since childhood, they would have a better relationship and would be more harmonious when they grow up.
Bai Jingyu just smiled and agreed without saying much. She had many brothers and sisters in her own family, but she didn't think they were that good to each other.
Mei Niang saw that Bai Jingyu seemed to be thinner and his face was still as pale as the last time she saw him, so she asked:
"How is Second Madam doing lately? I have been busy with the affairs of the Gu Mansion these days and have not been able to go to Jinhua Hall often. You have been the only one who has gone up to serve the old lady. Thank you for your hard work!"
Bai Jingyu smiled and said, "I'm fine. I was in poor health some time ago. The doctor said it was due to blood deficiency and prescribed medicine for me to take every day. I'm much better now. I'm not the only one who goes to Jinhua Hall. There are other sisters-in-law as well. My sister-in-law is busy all day long, and she's not in good health to begin with. She needs some free time to rest. I have nothing to do, so I'll take my sisters-in-law to take care of the old lady!"
Mei Niang's heart was slightly moved, and she asked her: "Don't you have a shop outside to manage?"
Bai Jingyu sighed, "I'm not afraid to tell you. The shop outside was originally a dowry given to me by my great grandfather. After my great grandfather passed away, my uncles and brothers from my mother's side wanted to divide the family property. The difference between legitimate and illegitimate children caused a lot of trouble. My grandfather's branch... Oh! It's too long to talk about. I'm afraid it will take until tomorrow. Let's just say that after my father married my mother, he also took in concubines. The several concubines he had when he was young also took on concubines. He gave birth to seven or eight illegitimate sons and daughters. Naturally, my mother couldn't give them anything. When they were all ready to get married, they naturally came to my father. When my father couldn't give me anything, he came to me. He said that I was the most loved by my great grandfather, and I got married before my great grandfather passed away, so I got countless dowries... Not only my father said so, everyone in the mansion thought so, and I did get it, but it was given to me by my great grandfather. I am not doing well now, and my health is not good. My husband treats me like a piece of grass, and I have to take care of my daughter. I thought about ignoring my father and the others, but I couldn't avoid him. He always came to find me and said some unpleasant things, which were very hurtful. I had to give him five shops and two farms. Now I only have the embroidery shop, a pawnshop, a dry goods shop, and two rice shops. They are managed by the shopkeeper. I go to check on them from time to time, and I don't have to worry too much. The two farms outside the city are also taken care of by the maids, and I only need to visit them once or twice a year. "
The property is quite considerable. Although his father has exploited him a lot, he still has these assets. The great-grandfather really loves Bai Jingyu very much.
Mei Niang looked at her and said, "When you were in your mother's family, you followed your great grandfather a lot, right?"
Bai Jingyu's eyes turned red. "Not really. I'm a girl. There are many boys of my generation, all vying to be around my great grandfather. I was appreciated and liked by my great grandfather when I was ten years old. At that time, I began to learn how to manage the household affairs, and I did a pretty good job. My great grandfather once said that if I were a man, I could inherit his legacy... When my great grandfather was alive, I was the most pampered girl in the mansion. He always kept his word. At that time, I lived too well. I could do whatever I wanted, even in the important matter of marriage. My great grandfather let me make the decision on my own. He brought the sons of noble families that he had chosen from outside to the mansion and let me choose them secretly. I..."
Mei Niang laughed: "You chose Xu Junlang?"
Bai Jingyu's face flushed, and he lowered his head: "No one would have thought that the person who vowed to grow old together would become like this today! This is my retribution. When my great grandfather was alive, I spoiled me and became lawless. I was too proud and thought that my life would always be smooth sailing. I treated you like that before... When I was at my mother's house, I looked down on my timid and cowardly brothers and sisters, and hated them for not being strong. I was too shallow and ignorant! When I was discouraged, I followed my mother to go to the Buddhist temple and listened to the Zen master's Zen. I suddenly realized a lot. Life is like the tide, with ups and downs, and it is not always smooth sailing. Good and evil also have causes, and there will be karma in the end. All the things I did in the past have retribution now: in my great grandfather's life, I was like a fallen leaf, blown by the wind and beaten by the rain..."
Mei Niang looked at Bai Jingyu with his head down, tears dripping down, and was stunned for a moment: "Stop! Don't say anymore, how can you be so miserable? Your great grandfather who loved you the most has passed away, but his love for you is still there, isn't it? Although he can't protect you with his power, he left you wealth so that you can protect yourself and maintain your dignity. You can't divide your dowry anymore. That is the love your great grandfather gave you, and it will accompany you for the rest of your life!"
Bai Jingyu wiped her tears with a handkerchief and nodded: "Yes, I just realized that I regret giving my father those..."
"Those are your filial piety, honoring your father. You still have so much, and you are capable and can manage it, so it is enough for you!"
Bai Jingyu said embarrassedly: "Sister-in-law is a smart person. Talking to you makes me feel comfortable and clear... I have always wanted to find an opportunity to apologize to sister-in-law. All the bad things I did to sister-in-law in the past were because I was bewildered. Please forgive me, sister-in-law!"
"Forgive?" Mei Niang smiled: "No!"
Bai Jingyu was stunned: "Then what... How do you punish me? I will accept it!"
"You admit it? That's great, I'll tell you when I think of it!"
Bai Jingyu looked at her: "Do you need to think about it again?"
Mei Niang said, "Yes, I can't think of it right now. You say I'm smart, but in fact you are much smarter than me. Look at how stupid I was when I first entered the mansion. I was afraid of everyone I saw, and I didn't dare to do anything. I stayed in my own nest every day!"
Bai Jingyu lowered his eyes: "You are too timid, I... Unfortunately, I was too proud at that time. Not only did I not help you, but I also took advantage of your misfortune. Now I am getting my retribution!"
"Was I really that annoying then?"
Bai Jingyu's eyes flashed, and he sighed: "... In the final analysis, it's because the master insisted on marrying you, and the elders didn't like it!"
Mei Niang nodded: "That should be the reason. Let's not talk about it. It's boring. Are the two concubines in your room still causing trouble?"
Talking about his aunt, Bai Jingyu had a blank expression on his face: "After the last incident, I didn't talk much to the Second Master, and he didn't come to Huifangyuan often. Occasionally, the Second Madam sent someone to bring the eldest daughter over, because he missed his daughter. Xiangrui and the Second Madam are raising Wei'er together, and Xiangxue's belly is also big, so she will give birth in two or three months. I don't have any ideas now, I only care about the eldest daughter, raise her well, find a good family to marry her off, and that will be the end of my life!"
Mei Niang looked at her and asked: "How old are you? Are you done with this life?"
Bai Jingyu smiled bitterly: "Then what else can I do? The Second Master and I are already at loggerheads. He treats me like a poisonous woman and won't let me get close to those two women, fearing that I will poison them and their children. He won't even set foot in my Huifang Courtyard... Even if he comes, I have no hope. My body is not well!"
"What's wrong?"
Bai Jingyu whispered, "The doctor checked my pulse and said that I hurt the fetus first and then got poisoned by the cold. I can't get pregnant anymore. I'm taking several kinds of medicine now. Women usually have sex once every three to five days, but mine comes once at the beginning and end of the month, and each time it lasts seven to eight or even ten days. It's not good at all."
Mei Niang touched her forehead and said, "Is there such a thing? Isn't this just... irregular menstruation? What's so difficult about it? Just take Wuji Baifeng Pills or Qianjin Pills and it will be fine!"
Bai Jingyu was stunned for a moment: "What Feng Wan? I have never heard of it!"
Mei Niang came to her senses and smiled: "Oh, I can't remember it all at the moment. I saw this recipe in a pharmacy before. Many kinds of medicine are mixed together to make pills. You will be fine after eating them. I will ask for you when I have time!"
Bai Jingyu leaned forward gratefully and said, "Thank you, sister-in-law, for your concern!"
Mei Niang looked at the sky outside the hall and said, "What time is it now? Why hasn't anyone come to call us for lunch?"
Bai Jingyu smiled: "It's not even noon yet, sister-in-law, are you hungry? You can serve the meal now. Sister-in-law, do you want to go back to the courtyard to eat or eat here?"
Mei Niang suddenly remembered that Xu Junying always came back for lunch these days, so she asked her, "When will the old lady serve lunch?"
Bai Jingyu said, "Sister-in-law, it's better for you to go back to your own courtyard to eat and rest. If you go to the old lady's for lunch, you won't be able to come back. You have to stay in Jinhua Hall until the evening. You can't hold on. It's not too late to go after dinner."
"What about you?"
"I take my eldest sister to eat lunch. I go to Fenghuayuan once every three days. When the master is here, I serve the two elders. When the master is not here, I eat with the mistress."
Mei Niang thought that she was even more miserable than herself. At least the eldest lady was not allowed to serve at meals because of Heng'er.
As she was speaking, Cui Lian called out from outside the hall, "Grandma, I'm coming in!"
Bai Jingyu saw Mei Niang's face darken slightly, and responded, "Come in!"
Cui Lian walked in, bowed to the two grandmas in turn, then walked over to Mei Niang and said, "Grandma: Lord Hou has something to do this afternoon, so he can't come back for lunch. He may not be back until very late at night. Grandma, you can have dinner by yourself or go to Jinhua Hall. It's up to you. If you feel bored eating alone, you should go to Jinhua Hall. It's more lively with more people!"
Mei Niang breathed a sigh of relief, it turned out that she was not here to treat him to a meal, so she looked at Cui Lian and asked, "Who said that?"
Cui Lian replied: "Replying to Grandma: Lord Hou said that when Baoju comes back, he will pass it to Baizhan, and Baizhan will pass it to me. I will then reply to Grandma, that's it!"
Mei Niang smiled: "No wonder... What about Bai Zhan?"
"Bai Zhan is waiting in the front yard. If the Grandmother has something to say, I will go and tell him!"
"Why tell him to rest?"
Mei Niang frowned, stroked her chest, turned to Bai Jingyu and said, "I suddenly feel chest tightness, and I don't want to eat... I think I'm going to be sick!"
Bai Jingyu said hurriedly: "I am too tired, sister-in-law, go back and rest for a while, and ask the kitchen to make some hot porridge!"
Mei Niang nodded: "It seems that I really need to sleep for a while, so let's go back. If I'm still not feeling well at night, Jinhua Hall..."
Bai Jingyu said hurriedly: "I'm here! I'll go and take care of you. Tell the old lady that you're not feeling well. Sister-in-law, get a good night's sleep and you'll be fine when you wake up!"
"Well, that's it, you have to work harder! I'm usually not in good health in spring, and I feel something wrong here and there. Usually, Rulan helps me take care of things, but now she's pregnant, so she can't be tired. If one day I can't move, I'll have to trouble you to come to Ziyun Hall to look after me. After all, you've been in charge of things before, so you're familiar with it..."
Bai Jingyu was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "Okay! I don't have anything to do. If my sister-in-law wants me to come, I will come. It will be easier for two people to share the burden!"
Mei Niang smiled: "If you do more, it will offset my punishment to you!" (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)