The next day, Xu Junying took a day off and went to the East Courtyard to practice martial arts early. After returning from the day, he took a bath and changed his clothes, and asked Cui Xi and Cui Lian to help the grandmother get up. Mei Niang got up half an hour earlier and was very unhappy. She came out after dressing up and saw Xu Junying already sitting at the round table, waiting for her to have breakfast together.
Mei Niang sat down, and Xu Junying said to Cui Xi, "You guys should go eat too, the breakfast will get cold soon!"
Cui Xi looked at Mei Niang, and Mei Niang nodded, and several maids walked out.
Mei Niang reached out to grab the steamed bun, but just as she touched it, she suddenly pulled back, clasped her hands on her chest, glanced at Xu Junying, closed her eyes with a smile, prayed silently, and then opened her eyes again. Xu Junying was a little nervous and asked, "What's wrong? Did you burn your hand, or are you feeling unwell?"
Mei Niang laughed and said, "Today is the day for the imperial examination. I made a prayer and offered this breakfast as an offering to the gods in the world to help my brother and Lao Liu. I hope they can write brilliant essays and both of them can pass the exam!"
Xu Junying smiled and said, "They will do well in the exam. Although I don't have the time to visit Lao Liu often, I often ask about him when I see him at my grandmother's house. He has been studying very hard since last year. As for your brother, his grades are much better than Lao Liu's... There will be an extra-special exam this year, and they should be able to seize this opportunity!"
Mei Niang served Xu Junying a bowl of porridge and moved a plate of meat dumplings in front of him. She smiled and said, "Eat quickly. You still have to go to court. I want to see Heng'er! As for Lao Liu, the Third Master said a few days ago that he would cook it himself. I don't know anything, so I just let them do it."
Xu Junying looked out the window and said, "Don't worry, it's just dawn. I had already arranged last night that Baoju will lead the others and the chief steward of the front yard to send the sixth child to the examination room. He should have gone there at three o'clock in the morning. Junlang and the third child may follow him because they are worried. I'm taking a day off today. I will go with you to see Heng'er, and then take him to Jinhua Hall to pay respects to grandmother!"
Mei Niang was startled: "You're taking a day off today? No need, I finally have a day off, I can go see Heng Er by myself!"
The warmth in Xu Junying's eyes gradually faded: "If you want Heng'er to come back, just listen to me!"
Mei Niang kept silent and slowly tore the steamed bun to eat. Xu Junying ate two meat dumplings, put two on her plate, and said with a smile: "Eat this, this is delicious!"
The two came to Qiuhua Courtyard. Heng'er was waiting for Mei Niang in the corridor as usual. He shook his arms vigorously, like a happy chick flapping its wings. He was excited for a moment and then stopped. He saw Xu Junying. It was not that Xu Junying came to Qiuhua Courtyard often. He would visit Madam Zheng once every three to five days and sometimes seven to eight days. Sometimes he came and went in a hurry, and sometimes he had a meal together. Every time, Heng'er was deliberately taken away by Madam Zheng. But he had seen her after all, and the wet nurse or Xia Lian would point and teach him who it was. Therefore, Heng'er was not unfamiliar with Xu Junying, but Xu Junying's indifference made him feel afraid to get close to her.
Xu Junying and Mei Niang walked so close to each other, side by side. The little guy suddenly became serious. His two black eyes looked at Mei Niang, and then kept staring at Xu Junying.
Walking up to him, Xu Junying reached out his hand, gently touched Heng'er's face, and asked gently: "Heng'er, what do you do when you get up so early every day?"
Of course Heng'er didn't answer, he just stared at him. The nurse holding Heng'er hurriedly taught him: "Mr. Hou and Grandmother are here, Heng'er should bow and greet his father and mother!"
Mei Niang reached out to hold the child: "Give it to me, he is still young, how can he recognize it!"
She was clearly hugging him, but her hands were empty, and Heng'er was taken away by Xu Junying. Mei Niang was stunned: "You are not used to hugging him, he will cry!"
Xu Junying smiled without answering. He held Heng'er, threw him up and caught him. Mei Niang screamed, but Heng'er giggled. His two chubby hands tightly clasped Xu Junying's shoulders and shouted at him twice. Seeing that Xu Junying did not respond, he reached out to touch his face.
Mei Niang was sweating. This kid was really hard to coax. After playing with him for a while, he went to Xu Junying.
The nurse smiled and said, "Brother Heng is happy. He likes playing like this!"
Mei Niang said to the nurse: "This is very dangerous. You can't play with him like this on weekdays. He will fall!"
The nurse lowered her head hurriedly: "Only the Lord has the strength to coax the boy to play like this, the maids wouldn't dare to do that!"
While they were talking, Xu Junying threw Heng'er twice, then patted the excited Heng'er and said:
"Don't play this anymore, your mother is even more timid than you, she'll be terrified!"
Mei Niang said: "Heng'er is not like an ordinary child. He is fatter and heavier. What if you lose your grip and drop him?"
Xu Junying glanced at her and said, "Of course he is not an ordinary child. He is my child. Will I fail?"
Mei Niang rolled her eyes at him, and Xu Junying smiled: "Let's go, Madam is up, it's time to go in and pay respects!"
Mei Niang wanted to hug Heng'er, but Heng'er refused to let her. He hugged Xu Junying's neck tightly like a little fat bear and couldn't be pulled down. The old women and servants who were watching were all laughing. Xu Junying's faint smile was even more ironic. Mei Niang was embarrassed and felt so defeated that she couldn't stand. She turned around and walked inside with her sleeves fluttered.
When Lord Hou came to pay his respects, he was always respected. It was very rare for him to come at the same time as Grandmother Hou. Lord Hou was too busy, so he always came alone in a hurry. It was rare that he had time this morning, so they came together. Mother He had already entered the room and woke up Madam Zheng, and asked Chunyue, Qiuhong and Dongmei to help Madam wash and dress. Madam Zheng was not in good spirits, with a gloomy face and a hoarse voice, saying:
"Why are you in such a hurry? Let them wait! What's going on? They came here so early in the morning and made such a fuss outside... It's been a few days since Yu'er was sent back, but there's no news, and they haven't even asked about her!"
Mother He accompanied her and said carefully, "Just now the young couple were playing with Heng outside. Master Hou is always too busy. It's rare for Heng to be with Master Hou, and he was having so much fun... Madam, you'd better hurry up, they have to go to the old lady soon!"
Madam Zheng groaned, "Why don't you just go to the old lady? Why are you coming to me? Do you think I'm not weak enough? I'm afraid I've had Yu'er's illness for the past few days. I feel sore and weak all over. I haven't gotten better even after taking medicine... I can't sleep well at night. I woke up this morning with a severe headache. Why do you have to come and make such a fuss?"
Mother He left the dressing table and walked to the next room, rummaging through the mahogany boxes. Dongmei followed in and asked, "What are you looking for, mother?"
Mother He took out a brocade box, opened it and looked at it. She was stunned: "This is the dizziness medicine that the Marquis gave to Madam. He brought it from the palace. She took some, and there are about six or seven left. How come it's gone?"
Dongmei said, "My uncle sent someone over half a month ago, and my wife sent some money and things. Miss Yu took this medicine and asked the person to take it back, saying that it was for my uncle's wife, who also had this dizziness. Miss Yu said that she would ask my uncle for some more, and asked us not to tell my wife yet!"
"You, you guys just... Alas!"
Mother He put the empty box in Dongmei's hand, sighed, and went to a rosewood chest of drawers. She found a white porcelain bottle, shook it, and said,
"And this Ten Fragrance Pill, it can at least relieve some of the pain and dizziness, take this first!"
Xu Junying and Mei Niang waited in front of the hall with Heng'er in their arms for half an hour before Madam Zheng came out, supported by Chunyue, surrounded by He Mama and others. She was wearing a thin Xiang-colored cotton gown, padded trousers, and a dark blue skirt. She had a gold hairpin and a headband on her head that covered half of her forehead, and her face looked very bad.
Heng'er's shout caught her attention, and she smiled and stretched out her hand: "Heng'er, come here, grandma will hold you!"
Xu Junying walked over, put Heng'er in her arms, and asked with concern: "Mother looks very tired, Heng'er is too naughty, and mother is tired! Son has some free time today, go and ask a doctor to take mother's pulse, and prescribe some tonic medicine for her to take good care of her body!"
Madam Zheng waved her hand: "It's okay, it's okay! I've always had those minor illnesses, nothing painful or itchy, and I'll be fine after resting for two days. I'm still taking the tonics and tonics you gave me in the past. There's no need to find someone to see me again. It's a waste of time and effort, and I'm too lazy to do it!"
Mei Niang came up to pay her respects. Madam Zheng looked at her and said, "Tell the steward in front to send someone to ask about your cousin Yu's situation. There are good medicines available at home, so take some of them over. Send some items and money together to show your care for your uncle's family!" (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)