Mei Niang was a little embarrassed. What a fool! How could he casually tell outsiders about the private conversations between doctors and patients? Moreover, she had not obtained Ning Rulan's consent. Just based on the way Lingxuzi diagnosed pulses, she felt that he should be quite capable. Xu Junying did not seem to be a boaster. Perhaps he really had some accomplishments and was a great doctor. She and Ning Rulan had few opportunities to go out. How could they miss a good doctor who suddenly appeared? So she took the initiative and wished to ask them to see Ning Rulan. If they could diagnose the cause of infertility, it would solve the couple's problem and prevent the second wife from thinking about stuffing a maid into their room. It would also be a great help to Ning Rulan.
She turned her head to glance at Cui Xi, who understood the situation. She bowed and took Cui Lian, Cheng'er and Ping'er out of the flower hall and waited quietly in the corridor.
Mei Niang smiled gently at Xu Junying: "Since we are a family, there is no need to be taboo. There is nothing wrong with Rulan, but... Your husband should know that she has been married to the Third Master for more than two years. The couple loves each other, but she has not been pregnant. The Second Madam is anxious and her words are blaming. I think..."
Xu Junying had no expression on his face, and said coldly: "This matter is not a big deal or a small one, Third Brother and Rulan can handle it themselves, as for the Second Wife, you just need to take care of your own affairs!"
Mei Niang bit her lip and said, "Rulan doesn't know what to do. She is very sad. If there is no more news, the Second Wife will force the Third Master to take a concubine. The couple will have a rift because of this..."
Xu Junying frowned, "Taking a concubine is to continue the family line. Rulan has always been virtuous and will make proper arrangements. How could she have a rift with my third brother because of this? You must not speak nonsense. If others hear it and spread rumors, and people mistakenly think that Rulan is not virtuous, then it will be your fault!"
A wife is virtuous only if she agrees to her husband taking a concubine? Screw you! Mei Niang looked at Xu Junying and had no mood to please him at all. However, she couldn't show any emotion in front of his friends. She could only control herself and said in a tactful tone:
"My husband means that Rulan doesn't need to have children in this life, and she should just concentrate on taking more concubines for the Third Master, so that the Third Master and his concubines can have more children... This is convenient, but the Third Master and Rulan have a deep love for each other, will he be willing to take a concubine? What if Rulan's illegitimate sons are unfilial when she is old? These things may not be thought of by the elders. My husband and the Third Master are brothers, and Rulan and I are sisters-in-law. She treats me like a sister, so we should always think about them!"
Xu Junying initially thought that Mei Niang asked Lingxuzi to diagnose Rulan for some other illness, but he didn't expect it to be an infertility problem. As a man, he also knew that it was a sensitive topic. He didn't want Mei Niang to interfere in other people's bedroom affairs, but she said this, as if accusing him of not wanting Rulan to have a good life. But she didn't seem to mean that. She looked respectful and gentle, with a pleasant expression, and she was very reasonable. Although he was angry, he couldn't get angry. He looked at her and said:
"If you don't understand what I'm saying, don't make wild guesses. How could I not wish well for my family? Who can tell for sure about something like that? Rulan is still so young, and she may not have children because her time has not come yet. You brought the Taoist priest to diagnose her pulse in such a ostentatious way, which undoubtedly confirmed in front of others that she has a hidden illness and cannot have children. If there are some gossips, it will make her feel really bad about herself, and she will be discouraged and even more sad in the future!"
Mei Niang was scolded by him again. She was thinking about his words when Zhang Jingyun came out to smooth things over. He had ordinary features but a very nice voice, a slightly magnetic, extremely seductive bass:
"Since you have promised the young lady, you might as well take Third Madam's pulse. It will only take a cup of tea, so it won't be a problem. Lingxuzi will stay here, and Junying and I will go. Just treat Third Madam as my old friend, and Junying will take me to visit old friends. Even the young lady doesn't have to go. This way, no one will notice anything and gossip about Third Madam!"
Mei Niang looked up at Zhang Jingyun and smiled, "Mr. Zhang is really smart! Let's do this, um... I don't have anything good to give her. Her yard is full of orchids. I'll just ask Cui Lian to pretend to ask Third Madam for a pot of orchids and tell her to make some preparations. Your husband will take Mr. Zhang with you!"
Lingxuzi asked casually, "Third Grandma likes to grow orchids?"
Mei Niang nodded: "Yes, her maiden name is Rulan, and she loves orchids the most. She has hundreds of pots of them planted in the yard, and there are also many in the room!"
Zhang Jingyun and Xu Junying were just standing up. When they heard this, they turned around and seemed to look at Mei Niang very carefully. Mei Niang thought he had something to say, so she glanced at her, but he walked away.
Cui Xi brought the little maid in to add water to make tea. Ruizhu and Ruibao also came back. Mei Niang asked them a few questions, then asked them to leave and wait outside the door.
Cui Xi refilled the hot tea, and Mei Niang sipped it slowly while chatting with Ling Xuzi, asking questions here and there. Didn't Zhang Jingyun say that he and Ling Xuzi traveled around in search of rare medicine? As the saying goes, reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. These two people are knowledgeable and what we learn from them should be the most real situation of the world.
She still had something unfinished. Although she knew it was not good to ask too many people for help at once, she just couldn't help being greedy. When she brought it up with a little uneasiness, Lingxuzi actually agreed with a smile. Mei Niang was delighted and thanked him repeatedly. She took the teapot from Cui Xi's hand, poured tea for Lingxuzi, and moved over a white jade plate with four grids of blue and white patterns, and advised him to eat some homemade preserved fruits from the Hou Mansion.
"These are dried apricots, dried winter melon, and dried peaches. They are very sweet. Taoist priest, would you like to try a piece?"
Lingxuzi shook his head: "Thank you, Madam, I don't like sweets."
Mei Niang smiled: "As expected, men and women are different. Lord Hou doesn't like sweet things. It would be great if Taoist Priest and Mr. Zhang could stay in Beijing for a few months. Have you decided where to live?"
Lingxuzi said, "There is a Guiyun Villa thirty miles outside the city, and we will live there. When your brother comes back from Yuezhou, Madam, just ask Junying to send someone to tell him, and I will come to your house to take a look at him. I will definitely not let him take the exam while he is sick!"
Mei Niang leaned forward and said, "Thank you so much! I'm sorry that I've bothered you so many times just when I first met you two."
Lingxuzi said: "Young Madam, you don't have to be polite! Young Madam is gentle, kind and virtuous, and she only cares about others. I respect her very much!"
Mei Niang was stunned for a moment, and quickly waved her hands and said, "Master, please don't say that! Mei Niang is just an ordinary woman with a rough temperament. How dare I deserve such praise from you? If anyone hears this, they will definitely laugh their heads off!"
As they were talking, Xu Junying and Zhang Jingyun walked in. Mei Niang and Lingxuzi stood up to greet them. Xu Junying glanced at Mei Niang, and surprisingly there was no unhappiness in her eyes as expected. Mei Niang was secretly surprised. Because the maids were waiting by the side, she couldn't ask anything. She just sat quietly with them for a while, then stood up, bowed and left, letting the three old friends talk freely. (To be continued)