Being pressed so tightly by Mei Niang, Xu Junying felt uncomfortable for a while. He walked along the bluestone path among the flower vines, turned around the rockery, and entered the corridor. He had already cast Zheng Meiyu's gaze to some corner. Xu Junying turned around to look at Cui Xi and Cui Lian who were following behind him from a distance, and said lightly:
"It's time to let go, your girl is watching!"
Mei Niang refused to let go: "She is my maid, so what if she saw it?"
Xu Junying snorted coldly, and Mei Niang said, "Isn't this good? It's warm!"
"You should walk properly and have some manners. It's not very cold today!"
"Why didn't my husband object just now? Did he want me to do this too?"
"What?"
"Haha, it's nothing! I know that cousin Yu likes my husband, but does my husband like cousin Yu?"
Xu Junying pulled his arm back, leaving Mei Niang with nothing to hold. Mei Niang was very embarrassed. Taking advantage of the night to hide her shyness, she acted like a spoiled child with him, just like she did when they were in love in their previous life:
"What's wrong, husband? We're almost home... I'm just cold!"
Xu Junying's ability to resist the temptation of beauty should not be underestimated. His body was stiff, and he said in a surprisingly calm tone:
"If it's really cold, wait here. I'll go back and ask someone to bring you some clothes. If you can't walk anymore, ask the two girls behind to help you. I'll go first!"
As he spoke, he strode forward and soon put a long distance between them.
No matter how thick-skinned one is, this is the bottom line. Mei Niang's face is burning. She gritted her teeth and paused for a moment, still hurriedly following him. This time, she knew better and stopped pulling him. She pretended to be calm and asked:
"Why doesn't my husband let me participate in housekeeping?"
"You don't have the ability!"
"I have!"
"Take care of Heng'er, enjoy your wealth and prosperity peacefully, and don't worry about anything! Being the head of a household is not an easy thing. You will get sick from exhaustion!"
Mei Niang was moved by his last sentence, thinking that he was worried about her health, and said softly: "My husband fought hard to earn military merits, and he gave his wife and son a title. As a wife, I should cherish this wealth and honor. But my husband is away from home all year round and cannot always take care of us mother and son. I am actually just a title of Marquis's wife in the Marquis's Mansion, and I don't get much more benefits than the sisters-in-law... My husband's salary is all paid into the public treasury, and I only get a little money every month. Heng'er and I are not in good health, and we have to pay for medicine and supplements out of our own pocket. Jingyu came to be the housekeeper, and he was even more wary of our Qinghua Courtyard, as if we had received more subsidies from the Marquis in private, so he would rather let other courtyards have leftovers than give us a penny more. It's hard to tell others that we are not as good as others in food and clothing... I asked the housekeeper not only because I really wanted to share some of the burden for Rulan, but also because I wanted to see how my husband's salary was used. I don't know anything about the other businesses in this mansion, how the money comes in and how it goes out. I want to understand - as the eldest grandson's wife, the head of the family, it is my duty to share the worries of the elders, right?"
Xu Junying stopped and looked at Mei Niang: "Although I have military merits, I am a hereditary marquis. The marquis's mansion has a large population, so my salary must be used for the public and my whole family can enjoy it. In addition, there are many farms, lands, shops and stores in the mansion... The account books alone fill up several rooms, and there are countless housekeepers and managers. How can you handle it? The women in the mansion have their own silver. You are a first-rank imperial edict, and after the old ladies and wives, you are the next. The amount is not small, isn't it enough? As long as you don't come out to manage the household, I can give you an extra sum of silver every month!"
Mei Niang said aggrievedly: "The monthly salary of a first-rank imperial concubine may be not small, but since I recovered from my illness, I have searched through all the boxes and cabinets and couldn't find a penny more. In the winter, others have new cotton-padded clothes, even cousin Yu has them, but I wear old clothes. Who has ever seen such an imperial concubine? Since we are husband and wife, my husband should give me the purse to manage, why give me extra money? My husband often goes out for social events, so he must have other expenses. It doesn't matter if he doesn't give it to me. I can get another reward for managing the household affairs, and with my monthly salary, it should be enough!"
Xu Junying's eyes flickered: "I didn't know you loved money so much!"
Mei Niang laughed: "What's wrong with loving money? Even a gentleman loves money, let alone a little girl like me!"
Xu Junying snorted, "I don't know how you spent your monthly allowance in the past. Last month, it was kept by your cousin Yu, who locked it in a small box in the East Garden Study. She wanted to come over just now, so she must have wanted to return it to you. As for the new winter clothes, of course yours will not be left out. Jingyu mentioned to me that it was difficult to measure your size because you were ill, so she would make it for you when you got better. She actually guessed that you were well again! I didn't let you manage the household because you are quiet and your mind is not as flexible and calculating as Jingyu's. I also don't want too many people to know you as a grandmother!"
Mei Niang asked curiously, "You don't want people to know me? Why?"
Xu Junying answered irrelevantly: "If the old lady and the mistress insist on letting you be the housekeeper, then that's fine. But there is one thing: if you dare to commit corruption, you will be severely punished. You will no longer be the housekeeper, and you will never be able to walk out of the house and meet people at will!"
Mei Niang was stunned for a moment: "This punishment is really severe, not even allowed to go out to see people, and forever? I am an imperial decree, my husband, what if the palace summons me?"
Xu Junying walked forward with his hands behind his back: "You are a patient, the palace will not summon you!"
Mei Niang thought for a while before turning around. She was a little anxious and chased after him. Just then Xu Junying also turned around and they bumped into each other. Xu Junying's elbow hit Mei Niang in the chest. Mei Niang held her chest, gasped, and bent over.
Xu Junying asked: "How are you?"
Mei Niang was not in a hurry or panic. She was very angry, but she had to regulate her breath and not get angry. After a while, she gritted her teeth and whispered:
"Are you made of iron? Your bones are so hard! If you use more force, you will kill me!"
Xu Junying said nothing, paused and said, "Shall I call those two girls to serve you?"
"No need! What did you want to say when you turned around?"
"What do you want to say now that you're catching up?"
"I forgot about it after I was hit by you!"
Xu Junying was both amused and confused. He cleared his throat and said slowly, "Call me Lord Hou from now on, not husband!"
What kind of couple are they? They don’t even let me call them husband!
There was a chill rising from the bottom of my heart, and the place where my chest was hit was aching slightly. Mei Niang said:
"Master Hou, please go back first. I'm tired and need Cui Xi and the others to support me and walk slowly!"
Xu Junying nodded: "Just turn around the corridor and you will reach the courtyard gate. It should be fine... I'll leave first!"
Watching Baoju lead Xu Junying, the two figures disappeared at the end of the corridor with a little light. Mei Niang patted her chest and squatted down. Cui Xi and Cui Lian caught up with lanterns and were terrified:
"What happened to Grandma?"
"Nothing, I just have a stomachache. I need to rest for a while before leaving. Lord Hou has some official documents to deal with, so I'll let him go back first!"
With two maids by her side, Mei Niang thought silently and sadly: How could Xu Junying leave her in the dark like this? Did he really not care about the relationship between husband and wife? What if he didn't care about me and Heng'er
When she returned to Tsinghua Court, she saw Mother Wang coming back from her parents' home. Without saying anything, she went to see Heng Ge'er first. The little baby had fallen asleep. Feeling sorry for him for not seeing his mother for such a long time, Mei Niang carried him to the upper room, put him on the big bed, and put him to sleep herself at night.
Mother Wang brought some bad news: the houses in the Qin family compound had been in disrepair for many years and had not been lived in for more than a year. Recently, several heavy snowfalls had collapsed more than a dozen houses. Mrs. Qin hired a bricklayer to repair the old houses and had to buy more bricks, tiles, wood, etc. In addition, the garden walls had to be repaired everywhere, and the broken furniture and daily necessities had to be bought again. The several hundred taels of silver given by Mei Niang were almost used up in a flash.
Mei Niang pondered and said, "I'll use it. I'll give it to you later when I have more money. My mother is old, and even though I'm her daughter, I should do my best to take care of her!"
Mother Wang told her another story: "Madam is now worried about Master's exam. Many wealthy families have prepared gifts and visited the famous officials in Beijing. Each of them has given advice. The rich and powerful who are preparing to take the exam have all contributed money and held various gatherings. When scholars and scholars get together, they will inevitably invite people like Hanlin scholars to comment on the questions of the previous exam and test what the next exam will be like. Madam also wants Master to attend such gatherings!"
Mei Niang frowned and said, "Those people have nothing to do, they just gather together for fun, what's the point? Our master is extremely talented, he has real talent and knowledge, and he is afraid that he will not pass the exam, so he has to fight with them?"
Mother Wang said, "Ah, grandma, why are we talking about these things now? No matter how talented you are, what good is it? If you don't have good relationships with people above and below you, even if you pass the exam, people will still look down on you. When you enter the officialdom, you will have to follow certain rules!"
Mei Niang couldn't help but look at Mother Wang again. This wet nurse is really amazing. How could she understand this
"Okay, I'll ask you, sir. Maybe I can help you find some directions!"
"Ah! Madam had the same idea, but she refused to let Grandma know. I couldn't bear to see Madam upset, so I said something!"
Mei Niang smiled and said, "I see. Mother is the same. She is still aloof from me. But mom is really good to mother!"
Mother Wang smiled and said, "Look at what grandma said. If I didn't have a wife, I would have starved to death on the street!"
Mei Niang propped her cheek with her hand and sighed, "If Lord Hou and I were of the same mind, our Qin family could also benefit from his glory. But I don't know what Lord Hou is thinking - didn't mother say that he didn't mind my family's poverty and was willing to marry me? It's obvious that he must like me. Even if the couple haven't seen each other for a long time, he can't treat me like this, right? I gave birth to Heng'er, and he still took a concubine... Well, even if it was given by the old lady, I can't refuse it, but this time I was sick for a month, and he has this cousin and that cousin around him, each one is more affectionate than the other, and they are flirting with each other. What does it mean? I am still the principal wife, right? He never comes to talk to me about anything, and would rather live alone in the East Garden..."
Cui Si tucked in the quilt for Heng Ge'er by the bed and couldn't help but walk over and say, "Grandma, you don't know, that cousin of the Zhuang family..."
Mother Wang stared at her and said, "Little girl, what do you know? Stop gossiping and make grandma think the wrong thing!"
Cui Si lowered her head and said nothing more.
Mei Niang looked at Mother Wang: "What are you afraid of, Mother? We are all family."
Mother Wang rolled her eyes and said carefully, "Grandma is the original wife and has Heng'er, so who is she afraid of? But ordinary men have three wives and four concubines, not to mention the Marquis? The Marquis is of noble status and is also powerful and handsome. Not to mention that the cousins like him very much, there are countless girls from good families outside who are watching him! The two concubines were originally maids raised as concubines. They are lowly concubines. Even if they give birth to a half-master, they have no face. On the contrary, if the girls from good families outside are willing to come and be concubines, they will be noble concubines and good concubines. The little master born by noble concubines is not much worse than the legitimate son. If the Marquis still values noble concubines, then I am afraid it will be bad for Grandma and Heng'er!"
Mei Niang stared at Mother Wang in a daze: "I am his wife, and I don't allow him to take a concubine, is that okay?"
Mother Wang hurriedly said, "Grandma, you must not do that. If you do that, you will become a jealous woman who is neither virtuous nor virtuous! Everyone will criticize and laugh at you. Besides, the old lady and the wife are in charge, how can you stop them?"
Mei Niang was indignant: "What should I do? I will just watch my husband take in a few concubines and give birth to many sons to compete with my Heng'er for his father? And the position of the Crown Prince?"
Mother Wang's eyes sparkled, "Grandma should treat Master Hou better and truly care for him. Master Hou is not a wooden man, how can he not be grateful? Master Hou is also very concerned about his reputation. Since he has accepted Grandma's kindness, even if he marries a concubine, he will never put Grandma aside. Grandma's position as the principal wife is secure, and no one can replace Heng Ge'er, the prince!"
Mei Niang smiled bitterly: "I want to treat him sincerely, but I'm afraid he won't appreciate it. He won't even come to my room!"
"Alas, there is no need to rush. Lord Hou has just been separated from grandma for too long and has become estranged... Take your time! Grandma is only looking at Heng'er's sake. Live with Lord Hou wholeheartedly. The couple will live a long life together and everything will be fine!" (To be continued)