The two of them walked into the yard while talking. It was almost noon and the sunlight was blinding. Ning Rulan could hardly open her eyes, but the warm sunlight shining on her body made her feel comfortable. She sat on the soft chair, and a breeze blew gently. It was a little cold, but very refreshing, and not as biting as Liu Mama and Hongye said.
"Oh, that's great! Although it's cozy and warm inside, it's stuffy, and I like it that way!"
Ning Rulan smiled, and a faint blush appeared on her pale face.
Seeing this, Jinshu said happily, "Third Madam, the sunlight is really good. Why don't we follow the advice of the eldest madam and take out the bed covers to dry in the sun?"
Mei Niang smiled as she read the letter: "You are a teachable boy! Just let it dry in the sun, but don't let it dry on rocks, flowers or trees. Although the sun has dried the snow, it is still damp. Use a big chair to prop it up, or set up a bamboo pole in the middle of the yard to dry it for a while, and take it back when the sun moves away. It will be much more comfortable when you sleep at night!"
Jin Shu bowed and replied, "Yes!"
He turned around and ran into the house. After a while, he and Hongye, Yanying and others brought out Ning Rulan's bedding to turn it over and dry it in the sun, while carefully brushing off the dust on the quilt.
Cui Xi and Cui Lian stood far away and watched with smiles on their faces. When they came out in the morning, the eldest grandmother asked Mother Wang to stay at home and told her to take the maids to turn over all the beddings and wash them, and to wash those that needed to be washed. She specifically told them to dry Heng'er's mattress. As for the East Garden, she also asked Mother Wang to tell Ruizhu and Ruibao to teach them how to dry the old man's quilt.
With no one around, Mei Niang and Ning Rulan began to talk softly about their bedroom matters.
Ning Rulan said: "That old mountain ginseng... I would like to thank my sister-in-law here! But I didn't use it. Someone from home said that my mother was seriously ill and needed old mountain ginseng as a medicine. I couldn't find one of sufficient age in the whole city. Fortunately, you gave it to me, so I..."
Mei Niang smiled and patted her: "As long as mother can get better! We are young, there will always be a chance to eat good food!"
Ning Rulan's eyes were slightly red: "That's right, thank you for your understanding. Someone came to our house again this morning and said that mother is feeling better, and asked me to take care of myself!"
Mei Niang said: "Fortunately, I also gave my mother a piece, otherwise I would be very sad now - you are so filial, how could I fall behind?"
Ning Rulan laughed and held Mei Niang's hand: "I used to go to Tsinghua Court to see you and talk to you, but I never thought you were so interesting!"
"It feels like a lifetime ago!" Mei Niang held Ru Lan's warm and soft hand and said with a smile: "I have to live a different life and live my life to my heart's content, so that I can live a meaningful life!"
Ning Rulan looked at her carefully and nodded thoughtfully: "You're right! You should be happy. You were too worried before."
Mei Niang said, "I will start learning how to be a housekeeper tomorrow. When you get better, you should come and help me!"
"I can't do it. I'm afraid of being in charge alone. But if I can learn with you, I'm willing to do it."
"Well, don't be afraid. Just correct your mistakes."
Ning Rulan smiled and said, "Sister-in-law is really brave. Now that I think about it, my illness was probably caused by your behavior that day. I was really afraid that it would go wrong. If a family like us loses face, we really don't know what to do!"
Mei Niang also smiled: "Yes, when I think about it carefully, it is still not perfect. It's in the past now, so forget it!"
She looked at the maids who were drying their quilts not far away and said, "Hongye is smart and pretty. Is she your most caring maid?"
Ning Rulan smiled: "All four of them are the same. They have been together since childhood and came here as dowry... I was just thinking of asking my eldest sister-in-law for an idea. Hongye, I want to give her to the third master as a concubine."
Mei Niang looked at Ning Rulan, a gentle, beautiful woman as elegant as a chrysanthemum. Her face was as calm as water when she said this.
"Are you willing, Hongye? Are you willing, too, Master San?"
Ning Rulan lowered her eyes: "Hongye is my girl, she will do whatever I say, she dare not refuse. But the Third Master... He was reluctant at first, but later I mentioned the issue of offspring, and how we have been married for so long without children, he reluctantly agreed. Mother Liu went out to do some things today, and planned to let them consummate their marriage in two days..."
"Rulan, are you willing to let your man sleep with another woman?"
Ning Rulan seemed frightened. She raised her head and looked around. Her face quickly turned red, and even her eyes turned red:
"Sister-in-law! How can you say that? It hurts my heart!"
Mei Niang sneered: "Is my words enough to hurt your heart? What about the future? Watching your husband holding Hongye's hand, walking past you in a loving way, and going back to the room together, in another year or so, Hongye's belly will be big and she will give birth to children. See how much weight you, Ning Rulan, still have in Third Master's heart and eyes!"
"Stop talking, stop talking!" Ning Rulan covered her face. "How can I be willing to do this? But the Second Madam is forcing me. If I don't let Hongye be a concubine, the Second Madam will send someone else. What will happen then? I can't have children. If I don't allow the Third Master to take a concubine, won't I become a jealous woman who has committed a heinous crime?"
Mei Niang said, "Look at me, didn't I give birth to Heng'er? The old lady took advantage of my inconvenience to send a concubine to me. Now there are only two. Maybe in a short time, Ruizhu and Ruibao who are by your side will also become concubines. Just now, the old lady told me that she would find a few more concubines for you, so that you can have more children and have more branches!"
Ning Rulan was stunned and looked at Mei Niang, not knowing what to say.
Mei Niang chuckled: "Do you think I really arranged this for her, bringing people into my courtyard one by one to compete with me for a husband? I have my own plans in mind. It's not that easy to enter Qinghua Courtyard as a concubine!"
She held Rulan's hand tightly: "You have promised the Second Madam that you will give the Third Master a red leaf. Once this door is opened, green leaves and red flowers will be sent to you one day, and you can't stop them! From what I have observed, the Third Master has you in his heart and he loves you. You must hold his heart firmly and not let anyone share his love! Some men are originally good. Once they love someone, they will love him and will not offend others. But if you insist on giving him a beauty, he will not be polite... Rulan, listen to me, don't let the red leaves get close to the Third Master, otherwise you will regret it!"
Ning Rulan was a little stunned: "But the matter has been arranged, what should I do?"
Mei Niang thought for a moment and said, "Hongye is yours, so whatever you say is what it means. Just say that Third Master is not feeling well and does not need a concubine for the time being. You and Third Master should have a good relationship as husband and wife, right?"
Ning Rulan blushed and nodded: "He has always treated me as well as he did when we were newly married!"
"You should tell him how much you care about him and how much you love him. You and your wife are of one mind. Just reject the second wife. Don't be afraid of people saying you are unvirtuous and jealous. You know your own business. What's the big deal about a loving couple having a concubine come in for no reason? You are still young, it's impossible for you to not have children. You have to believe in yourself and believe in the Third Master!"
Ning Rulan exhaled, "After listening to your words, I feel much more relieved! Okay, I'll give it a try and test the Third Master first. If he still says he doesn't want to have a concubine, I... I'll then ask Mama Liu to marry Hongye off - after all, both of us know about this, and it's awkward to meet again."
Mei Niang nodded, "That's the truth. Hongye is your dowry maid. She has been learning to read and write since she was a child, and she is not only beautiful, but also has a temperament similar to yours. If she becomes the third master's concubine, I dare say that the third master will definitely transfer his affection. If he has children, they will undoubtedly be favored. As the main wife, you will not be neglected, but it is really unpleasant to share a share with others... If she is married off, the one she is married off with will also be the one in charge of the mansion. You should carefully choose a good one for her, and live together for the rest of her life. Maybe it will not be as rich as being the master's concubine, but it may not be a blessing for her!"
Ning Rulan covered her face with the handkerchief in her hand, looked closely at the girls playing not far away, and said softly:
"Hongye has indeed grown better and better in the past two years. I originally wanted to choose Jinshu, but when I asked Third Master, he said: Let's go with Hongye. After all, she has some similarities with you!"
Mei Niang chuckled: "Your Third Master is really interesting! Let me remind you: there are not many good men. If you lose his heart because of sending him a concubine, no one will pity you even if you cry!"
Ning Rulan pursed her lips and smiled, saying modestly: "I need to think about it carefully!"
Mei Niang stood up, raised her hands above her head with her fingers crossed, and made a stretching motion: "You take your time to think about it, I should go now!"
Ning Rulan was frightened when she saw Mei Niang stretching in public, and quickly patted her: "My dear sister-in-law! You... at least go back to your room. If you continue to do this, you will be laughed at by the maids!"
Mei Niang smiled sheepishly: "I was basking in the sun, it was warm and comfortable, and I forgot myself for a moment... I will be more careful next time!"
I cursed in my heart: Damn it, there are only a few women in the whole yard, and I dare not relax. What kind of world is this!
Ning Rulan also stood up and walked with Mei Niang, chattering about various things in the Hou Mansion, what situations she had encountered when managing the housework, how the maids taught her to deal with them, and which maids in charge were the more stubborn and which were the more honest. She also gave Mei Niang some advice.
Mei Niang walked around her yard, admired some blooming orchids, and then took her maid away. (To be continued)