166 Night Visit
At noon, Baoju went to the water pavilion and reported to Xu Junying: "Foreign Affairs Officer Dong Neng is waiting for a reply in front of the front hall!"
Xu Junying nodded and said to Mei Niang, "You should go back for lunch. I can't accompany you today. You don't have to wait for dinner. I may be back very late. Don't rush to the Cen residence tomorrow. Wait until I leave in a couple of days... Take good care of Heng'er. I'm sorry to trouble you to take care of the madam. The imperial physician will come to see her every day. I have told my sixth brother that when Jingyun is free, I will ask him to come and see her. You should stay away from them to avoid being criticized..."
He avoided Mei Niang's dissatisfied eyes and said, "Tomorrow there will be a baby baptism ceremony at the Qin residence. I can't accompany you. Bai Zhan will follow. Remember to prepare double gifts. In addition to yours and mine, you should also prepare gifts for the elders in the mansion. The old lady is old, so it's okay for her not to go. The madam is ill and can't go. If the second wife and the sisters-in-law want to go with you to congratulate and watch the ceremony, let them go together!"
Mei Niang said nothing: Who cares if the Xu family goes to visit relatives at the Qin residence? Run away before dawn tomorrow, I don't want them to follow me!
Xu Junying said nothing more. He looked at her deeply, then walked out of the water pavilion and left with Baoju. When he passed by where Cuixi was standing, he stopped to give her a few instructions, then turned around the rockery and disappeared.
Cui Xi walked into the pavilion and said to Mei Niang, "Why didn't the eldest lady give the clothes to the Lord?"
Mei Niang was stunned for a moment before she remembered that she was still sitting on Xu Junying's outer robe. She stood up and took a look, and said, "He went there on official business, so he still has to go back to his room to change into his official uniform. I wouldn't let him wear this one, and it's all wrinkled. If people knew it was me who sat like this, I'd be embarrassed. Take it back, wash it, iron it, and put it away. It's best not to let him wear it again in the future!"
Cui Xi couldn't help laughing: "Fortunately, Lord Hou was wearing a tight suit inside, otherwise he would have insisted on wearing this one!"
Xu Junying walked out of the rockery and paused for a moment, waiting for Baoju to come up and reply. When he heard Baoju say that the old lady had entered the palace, he raised his eyebrows slightly: Grandmother and Meimei cooperated very well, one looked for excuses and the other came to the door. After all, grandma was old and he could not blame her for anything. As for Meimei, she would understand his feelings, but she still ignored him, making him worried and sad!
After thinking for a while, he said to Baoju, "Tell Xiao Chengzhi that everything is arranged and he will wait ten miles outside the city! I will go to the palace first, and ask Dong Neng to follow and report back on the way!"
After lunch, Mei Niang played happily with Heng Er on the couch. Seeing Heng Er rubbing his eyes with his two little fists, she stopped him: "This is not good, it will hurt your eyes!"
Xia Lian said: "Brother Heng is sleepy, he should take a nap!"
Mei Niang nodded: "I am a little sleepy too, get some hot water and wash his hands and face, I will take him to rest for a while!"
The mother and daughter slept equally soundly, and Mei Niang would not allow anyone to wake her up. When she woke up, the sun was setting. Cui Xi said it was already Shen Shi, and Xia Lian took Heng Er away. Mei Niang simply washed up and took Cui Xi and Lian Si to Qiu Hua Courtyard. Although Madam Zheng always oppressed her, after all, she fulfilled her ambition for Heng Er and let her take over the management of the household. Without Madam Zheng's secret consent and approval, the housekeepers who had been under Madam Zheng's orders for twenty years would not obey her so easily. Madam Zheng cultivated her wholeheartedly, and the housekeepers helped her with all their strength. She hardly encountered any major problems. Only when she grasped the power of the housekeeper did she have the confidence to give it a try when the opportunity came. I don't know what the situation was between Qin Mei Niang and Madam Zheng in the past. She, Cen Meimei, had to admit that she owed Madam Zheng a favor. Now she was paralyzed there, so she should try her best to do what she could for her!
Fourth Madam Gan was still in Qiuhua Courtyard. She was a truly good daughter-in-law. She served the sickbed from morning till night. Second Miss Xu Xiaorong also came in the afternoon and sat by her side, watching Dongmei embroider. Mother He stood by the bed with a gloomy face. When Fourth Madam moved, she would order Chunyue and Dongmei to come forward, or she would go and take the medicine bowl herself, saying with a fake smile that it would be better to let the servants come, saying that Fourth Madam was tired all day and needed a rest. Madam Zheng also cooperated very well with Mother He. When Chunyue and Mother He were by her side, she would open her eyes. When Gan or Xu Xiaorong came near, she would close her eyes and pretend to sleep, ignoring them. Mei Niang stood by for a while with her hands folded. Seeing this scene, she couldn't help but secretly shook her head and sighed.
There is a difference between legitimate and illegitimate children, perhaps it is the same in any family. Madam Zheng is usually high and mighty, and is used to being arrogant in front of concubines and illegitimate children. She is unwilling to accept their seemingly pitying service in this paralyzed state. Thinking about it carefully, it is understandable. Although she does not agree, in order to make the patient feel good and better for recovery, Mei Niang plans to fulfill Mother He's wish and free Fourth Grandma and Xu Xiaorong.
She held Gan's hand, walked a few steps away from the bed, and said with a smile: "Take a break! Look at the maids in the room, they are all the Madam's regulars and can best guess Madam's intentions. We may be able to do better than them, so let them do it! You and Second Sister have been working hard these past few days, you should take a break!"
Gan's eyes were slightly red. How could she be willing to do such a thankless task? Her daughter had caught a cold these days and was always coughing at night. She couldn't take care of her. Her mother-in-law, Aunt Lin, took her daughter away so that she could concentrate on serving her wife. Her husband, Xu Junting, also asked her to be filial and guard his wife's bedside with all her heart and soul and make sure to serve her well.
Aunt Lin said, "Do your part to show filial piety for yourselves and for the master! Poor master goes out early and comes back late every day, busy with official duties, and I don't know if he can have a peaceful meal... I am useless, and I have failed our young lady and the master's mother in vain. The current eldest lady is very powerful. She never let us get close to him since he was a child, and I couldn't do anything for him. He grew up so fast... Now he can still take care of your future and make plans for you. He is a dear brother, and his heart for you is the same as that of the old marquis. You should share as much as you can, and let him worry less about the affairs of the mansion. It is the right thing to do not tire him!"
Xu Junting's words were brief, but they nailed her: "My brother is busy outside, and my sister-in-law is in charge of the affairs of the mansion. They are all busy. I am not at home most of the time during the day. You don't have to do anything. Just stay in Qiuhua Courtyard and serve the lady!"
Gan knew very well that Mother He hated her being here, but she could only grit her teeth and stay here shamelessly. During the days when the eldest lady was ill, her eldest brother had come a few times, but her eldest sister-in-law never showed up. If she, the younger sister-in-law, did not come either, then there would be no wife from the eldest house guarding the eldest lady's bedside. If this got out and people laughed at and scolded her, it would be the eldest house in the Xu family that would lose face. It would not be a problem for other people, but if the eldest grandson of the eldest house was laughed at, Aunt Lin and Xu Junting would blame her if they knew.
When she heard Mei Niang say, "You don't have to come here tomorrow, just rest in the house!"
She couldn't help but look at Xu Xiaorong, with a hint of joy on her face. Upon hearing this, Mother He next to her turned around and looked at Mei Niang with surprise on her face.
Xu Xiaorong was clever and pretended to say, "Sister-in-law is busy and can't be by your side every day. We have nothing to do, so let us serve Madam!"
Mei Niang smiled and said, "I do have things to do, so I can't stay by the Madam's bed every day. I just try to find time to come over and see that Madam He and Chunyue are here. You still have to come over to pay your respects every day, just like before, just ask at the door! Spring is humid and warm, the air in the house is not very good, and the light and shadow are dim. If there are too many people in the house, it will not be good for the patient, so there is no need for everyone to stay here. Madam He will make arrangements, and only one or two people will be left in the house on duty when there is nothing to do. I will teach Chunyue and the others a set of massage techniques later, and massage the Madam according to the time every day, while chatting with her. She can't speak now, but she can listen. Talk more, say what she likes to hear, and try to make her happy, so that it will be conducive to recovery!"
Mother He looked at Madam Zheng and saw that she had opened her eyes. She hurried over and said with a smile, "Madam, did you hear what Grandma said? Grandma said she wanted to massage your body. Are you willing?"
Madam Zheng closed her eyes and opened them again, doing it three times in quick succession. Madam He almost burst into tears, and leaned down to Mei Niang: "This old slave will follow the instructions of the great lady and will take good care of the madam!"
Mei Niang nodded, "From now on, you will have to work harder. If the Marquis is not busy with official duties, he will come to visit and ask how he is doing sooner or later. But I am a bit busy. Recently, the Queen has often summoned me to the palace. The Second Madam is helping to take care of the affairs in the mansion, so I have to ask about it from time to time. I will tell everyone that the monthly salary of all the servants and maids in Qiuhua Courtyard will be doubled, and that of Madam He and the sisters in the upper room will be doubled! You must take good care of Madam, and don't be careless at all. If I find out that Madam has suffered the slightest grievance and is sad, everyone in this room will be severely punished and will not be forgiven easily!"
Ever since the first wife fell seriously ill, Mother He's face has been filled with worry. Only when she heard Mei Niang forbid the fourth grandmother and the others from coming close to serve her did she relax. Now when she heard Mei Niang say this, she simply wanted to kneel down and kowtow to her. This first grandmother was really different. In the morning, she was keeping people at a distance and seemed unwilling to care for or pay attention to the wife. But now she suddenly changed her mind completely and wholeheartedly protected the wife and did not let her suffer any loss. After all, the wife was really amazing. She had made the right choice and had supported the right person. The first grandmother finally knew how to be grateful!
After persuading Gan and Xu Xiaorong to leave, Mei Niang called Chunyue, Dongmei and others and taught them some massage techniques carefully. There is a set of corresponding massage techniques for preventing joints and muscles from twisting and deforming after an acute stroke. She had learned it in her previous life. She did it for her grandmother several times a day during the holidays and was very proficient. While teaching, she also talked about some nursing knowledge of stroke symptoms. The maids were different in cleverness and their receptive abilities varied. After teaching for half a day, only Dongmei could do the whole set, the others still lacked some. After Mei Niang confirmed that Dongmei's movements were completely correct, she asked Dongmei to teach them slowly, and she got out of bed and put on her shoes. She said something to the madam, asking Mother He to take good care of her, feed the madam medicine on time, help her eat, and pay attention to cleaning. Then she went back to Tsinghua Courtyard. It was getting dark, and she had to go back to see Heng'er.
As expected, Xu Junying did not come back for dinner. Mei Niang was happy and relaxed. She pulled over a soft rattan chair, and with Cui Xi and Cui Lian, she tied Heng'er inside with a soft cloth, and pulled him to the table to eat together. Heng'er was very happy and did not care at all about being "tied" up softly. He sat down for a while, looked up and around in the rattan chair, and then held on to the armrests of the chair or the edge of the table, and quickly stood up, reaching out to grab the food on the table, and stuffing whatever he grabbed into his mouth. While taking care of him, Cui Xi said with some concern:
"Grandma, you'd better not chew the chicken leg in front of Heng Ge'er, he's trying to imitate you!"
Mei Niang tore off a piece of chicken and stuffed it into Heng'er's mouth, while trying to stop him from snatching the chicken leg from her hand, she said with a smile: "Are you worried that he will break the rules and manners? You should stop being influenced by those old ladies, don't worry, just eat as you like! It's really not easy to live these days, just live a simple and carefree life when you are alone. If you always care about what outsiders think and think about everything, wouldn't it be exhausting?"
Cui Si brought a hot towel over to wipe Heng'er's hands and said with a smile, "That's right, I think grandma is right!"
"Little hoof! What do you know? You're just talking nonsense here!"
Mother Wang brought Xia Lian in from outside, and Cui Si quickly lowered her head and stood aside.
Mei Niang had no choice but to put the half-eaten chicken leg on the plate. Heng Er saw this and started to scream. Mei Niang smiled and said to Mother Wang:
"Mom, please sit down and have dinner together!"
Mother Wang said, "Things are different now. Master Hou may be back at any time. We still have to follow the rules in public and behind others. Cuixi and the others can no longer eat at the same table with you, and neither can I!"
Mei Niang lowered her eyes and was halfway through her meal, not wanting to argue with her: "Okay, I get it, I'll be more careful next time!"
Mother Wang looked at Heng'er again, asked Cuixi to untie the soft cloth strips, and frowned, "What do you mean? You are so ignorant to tie up Heng'er! Xia Lian, hold Heng'er and let Grandma have a good meal."
Mei Niang drank the soup slowly, and waited for Mother Wang to go out before she continued to gnaw on her chicken leg. Heng'er also came over from Xia Lian's arms, so Mei Niang had to hold him. Cui Lian wanted to feed him but he refused and insisted on sharing a chicken leg with Mei Niang. The mother and daughter took turns eating, and only stopped after they had finished eating all four chicken legs, big and small.
After dinner, several people teased Heng'er and carried a large wooden basin to the upper room, pouring hot water for him to take a bath. Heng'er liked playing with water, and like Nezha making trouble in the sea, he splashed out most of the water in the basin. Cui Xi, Cui Lian, Cui Si, Xia Lian and Mei Niang liked the chubby, tender and delicate little baby the most. They all rushed to wash him, kneading and kneading him, treating Heng'er as a toy. Everyone, big and small, had a lot of fun and laughed. Fortunately, Mother Wang didn't come over, otherwise she would have lectured her again after seeing this situation.
It was exactly 11:00 p.m., Mei Niang had finished her bath, and Xu Junying had not returned yet. Mother Wang came over and urged Xia Lian to take Heng'er away. Mei Niang refused to give in this time and insisted on keeping Heng'er to sleep with her. Mother Wang's repeated attempts to persuade her were in vain, so she had no choice but to ask Cui Xi to be more alert when on night duty and pay attention to Heng'er's movements at night.
After sleeping for a long time during the day, Mei Niang sat on the couch and read the account book. Heng'er didn't sleep either. He sat aside and slowly turned over the literacy cards that Mei Niang made for him. Xia Lian followed Wang Mama to rest. Cui Xi and the other three maids still sat around as before, doing their own things and occasionally looking after and teasing Heng'er. After Mei Niang finished reading the account book, she stretched her body and turned over. Heng'er was surprised to see his mother suddenly change her appearance. He stared at her for a while. Mei Niang winked at him mischievously and stuck out her tongue. Heng'er then curiously reached out to touch Mei Niang's face. Mei Niang couldn't stand it and quickly turned back. Heng'er looked at Mei Niang who was sitting upright and heaved a sigh of relief. Several people couldn't help laughing. Mei Niang hugged Heng'er in her arms with heartache, kissed him and said:
"My dear son, your mother is exercising, why are you worried? Don't be afraid, it's okay!"
The mother and son were laughing and joking when they heard the grandmother outside the door announce, "Second Grandma is here!"
Mei Niang was startled: It's so late, what is Bai Jingyu doing here? (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation.) (To be continued)