Madam Zheng sighed, "What does she want to do? Everyone in the mansion knows that Ying'er married you just because you are beautiful. You have nothing else. The old lady has a thorn in her heart. Which man doesn't love beauty? But they don't know that women are actually the same! He married you, and after the novelty wore off, he became cold. Fortunately, you gave birth to Heng'er, and there was an imperial decree to grant the marriage. The old lady can't do anything too much. I'm afraid she will still have to support Zhuang Yulan as the legal wife and treat her as an equal to you. If this is the case, Zhuang Yulan will also give birth to a legitimate son in the future, and the master will have to love her more. By then, I'm afraid Heng'er... You have to think about these in your heart. No one can stop the old lady from doing what she wants to do. I love Heng'er and I only plan for you and your son. I am not afraid to tell you: the two concubines in your courtyard have my people around them. The lowly concubines who were promoted from maids can't make any waves. I am here for you! I am worried about you. Ying'er is sentimental. If the old lady asks him to marry her, he will definitely not refuse. Zhuang Yulan has entered Qinghua Courtyard and lives in the East Garden, where Ying'er is day and night. They already have feelings for each other and stay together every day. What can you use to compete with her? I thought it would be better to let our Yu'er go in first. Yu'er and Ying'er get along very well. When Zhuang Yulan comes, Yu'er will join forces with you. Will you still be afraid of Zhuang Yulan?"
Mei Niang was stunned when she heard this. This is not simple at all. Zhuang Yulan and Zheng Meiyu, wait! Let Yu'er go in first
She deliberately pretended to be puzzled, looked at Madam Zheng hesitantly and asked, "Mother wants to let Yu'er enter the master's room? But, in what capacity? Yu'er is a lady from a wealthy family after all, she can't be a concubine, right?"
Madam Zheng really felt uncomfortable after emphasizing the word "concubine". She cleared her throat and said, "That can only be blamed on her bad luck! Ying'er originally liked her... You talk to Ying'er first, and I'll come forward. Yu'er will also be a concubine if she is brought in. The status of a concubine is different. She will help you when the time comes, so you won't have to work so hard, and she can also keep Zhuang Yulan in check."
Mei Niang remained silent for a while, then suddenly asked, "Mother, how many concubines did father have? Were they good concubines?"
Madam Zheng stared at her, twitching the corners of her lips as if she had a toothache, and snorted coldly: "Why are you mentioning those two shameless people?"
She was full of resentment. Xu Junying's mother was not a good person. Before she died, she released her personal maids Lin and Zhou and sold them to the government, allowing them to become good citizens. However, she asked the old marquis to take them as concubines after her death. Her intentions were clear. Concubines were not inferior to inferior concubines. They could not be controlled by the second wife, and they could take care of her sons for her. Although the children born by the concubines were not as noble as the children of the second wife, they were much better than the children born by the inferior concubines. The rules of the marquis' mansion were different from those of other families. No matter whether they were born by the wife or the concubine, all males, except the eldest son, were treated equally, allowed to compete for the top, and those who were capable were recommended. If it were not for Madam Zheng who had been in charge of the marquis' mansion for many years and suppressed them secretly, I don't know how rampant the two concubines would be!
The more Madam Zheng thought about it, the more she was unwilling to accept it. Not long after she married, the old marquis brought two concubines into the house. There was no distinction between wives and concubines. They lived the same life in the same room. She didn't know the origins of the two concubines at first. She secretly saw that the old marquis seemed to be more intimate with them. She was secretly afraid in her heart, wondering if she had not done something well enough. After she understood, she wanted to kill the two bitches. Fortunately, she was pregnant and gave birth to a daughter, Xu Xiaojuan. The old marquis loved his daughter. Seeing that she treated the eldest son Xu Junying as her own, he gradually paid more attention to her as a successor. However, he still cared for the two concubines and paid equal attention to their children. The fourth son Su Junting and the sixth son Su Junxuan did not like to wield swords and sticks since they were young. He personally invited teachers to study and learn literature for them. Zhou later gave birth to a daughter, Xu Xiaorong, and he liked her as much as he loved his legitimate daughter Xu Xiaojuan...
Madam Zheng closed her eyes tightly, unwilling to recall those troubles, and said to Mei Niang: "Now let's just talk about your room. You just got better, and as a mother-in-law, I can't push someone in. But if I don't do this, after this period of time, I'm afraid the old lady will let Ying'er marry Zhuang Yulan, and then it will be too late!"
This pressure is really great! Mei Niang frowned slightly. What should I do? There must be a rule for Zhuang Yulan to marry in. From the discussion to the completion of the marriage, it will take at least three months or half a year, unless she is granted marriage by the emperor. If so, Xu Junying will not be able to get along in this life. He needs the emperor's help to marry any wife!
If she had that time to slow down, she could take a breath and think of a way to stop Zhuang Yulan from marrying in. But Mrs. Zheng was forcing her to accept Zheng Meiyu, and she absolutely wouldn't do it. Mother Wang and Cuisi had made it clear that this vixen was so arrogant and hateful, and letting her enter Tsinghua College? It would be like throwing her into the pond in front of the door to feed the fish!
Of course, she couldn't say this directly to Madam Zheng. Mei Niang blinked and thought about how to respond to Madam Zheng.
Yesterday, lying next to Xu Junying and thinking for a while, Mei Niang came to her senses: The ancients valued the state of old age the most. Didn't Mrs. Zheng just lose her biological son? Xu Junying is not her biological son, she is just a stepmother. Xu Junying is very filial now, who knows what will happen in the future? If she wants to be taken care of and have someone to rely on in her old age, she might as well take Heng'er and raise him. It doesn't matter if you, Xu Junying, respect me in the future, or if you don't take me seriously. Heng'er was raised by me, and I am not afraid that I won't be able to raise him well in ten or twenty years!
Madam Zheng was determined to raise Heng'er as her son for his old age, otherwise why would she support me in managing the affairs of the Hou Mansion for no reason? It was because she cared about Heng'er, just like the empress dowagers in ancient Chinese literature. It didn't matter if the old emperor died, but they would catch a little emperor and raise him by their side. From then on, life would have a goal to strive for, and life would no longer be an empty and boring thing.
Poor Heng'er escaped the misfortune of losing his mother, but fell into the trap of the wolf grandmother. Poor child, his mother could only find ways to be closer to him and let him know that his mother is always by his side and he will not lack maternal love.
Just as I was thinking about Heng'er, a message came from the maid outside the door: "Heng'er is here!"
Mei Niang jumped up reflexively, and sensing the sharp gaze from Madam Zheng, she quickly controlled herself, bowed slightly and smiled:
"Mother, your daughter-in-law should go and welcome him!"
Madam Zheng said calmly, "Heng'er is with me now, and I will teach him the rules. You are his mother, so just watch over him. Don't let us say one thing and I say another, or he won't know who to listen to!"
"The daughter-in-law listens to her mother!"
Mei Niang did not move again and stood there obediently. The wet nurse carried Heng'er in. Heng'er was sharp-eyed and saw his mother. He babbled and shook his hands, trying to lean towards Mei Niang. Mei Niang just smiled at him but did not extend her hand to him. She motioned the wet nurse to carry Heng'er and go to greet Madam Zheng on the couch first.
Mrs. Zheng was satisfied, and a loving smile appeared on her face. She said, "Oh, you saw your mother, right? Then go and talk to her!"
Mei Niang finally held Heng'er in her arms. Heng'er hugged her neck tightly with his chubby little hands, rubbed his little face against hers, and cried loudly, as if blaming her for why she had abandoned him in this strange place last night, why she didn't hold him and sleep with him. Mei Niang's tears flowed down, mixing with Heng'er's saliva and flowing all over her face. She gritted her teeth, buried her face in Heng'er's arms, and silently imprinted her tears on Heng'er's clothes.
I still haven't fulfilled my mother's responsibilities! Heng'er, please forgive me. Whenever I have the chance, I will hug you and kiss you. One day, I will hug you and sing songs to accompany you to sleep! (To be continued)