"Lord Hou?"
Mei Niang looked up and saw Xu Junying with his brows slightly furrowed. He was staring at the lamp with a serious expression, as if he was lost in deep thought. She called him tentatively.
Xu Junying immediately withdrew his gaze and looked at her inquiringly.
Mei Niang smiled like a flower, moving the tea bowls on the table as if nothing had happened, and said, "The tea is cold, I'll ask the maids to change another cup. The Lord doesn't seem to like scented tea, so let's make a cup of Biluochun!"
She deliberately paused at the word "Hou Ye" so that Xu Junying would notice that she had changed her address. She remembered that Xu Junying had once told her not to call him husband, but only Hou Ye.
Weighing the pros and cons, I thought clearly—this husband in front of me, Heng'er's father, Weiyuan Hou Xu Junying, has a handsome appearance, but he is a male chauvinist who doesn't know how to cherish his wife. Male power is supreme, right? Okay, I'll endure it! From now on, I will listen to him. Even if I am not convinced, I have to pretend to obey "my husband's will"! In order to gain power in the housekeeper and seize the money, the beloved little baby was taken hostage and given to the old woman to be raised. In comparison, what is the self-esteem and shame of a mother
Hold on to your position, protect your interests, and endure humiliation, and you will be rewarded, for sure!
Cui Xi brought in the hot tea. Mei Niang took it, weighed it in her hand, and carefully handed it to Xu Junying:
"It's just the right temperature, please enjoy it, sir!"
Xu Junying watched Cuixi lift the curtain and go out, while taking the tea bowl: "There are so many more maids and servants in the corridor outside the door, did you ask for someone new?"
Mei Niang said, "I haven't told Lord Hou yet. It was the old lady and the mistress who wanted to tell me that I'm in charge now and I need to order around a lot of people. So they sent over 20 or 30 people. Madam Wang picked them out and only kept a dozen capable and strong maids and seven little girls around ten years old. They are all serving outside. The ones serving in the room are Cui Xi and the others. Lord Hou, do you think we should let a few more little girls in the East Garden? Rui Zhu and Rui Bao, although they were given by the old lady, are very smart and capable, but they are getting older..."
Xu Junying took a sip of tea and said, "Just take care of the people outside. Dongyuan doesn't need anyone. Ruizhu and Ruibao, you don't have to worry about them. The old lady will make arrangements for them when the time comes!"
Mei Niang responded respectfully: "Yes, I understand!"
Xu Junying looked up at her, but Mei Niang lowered her eyes: "Master Hou is right! I was too willful in the past. From now on, I will listen to Master Hou. Whatever Master Hou says is what I will do. I will discuss everything with Master Hou before making any final decision."
Xu Junying looked at Mei Niang leisurely, who was humble, courteous and gentle - he guessed that Mei Niang would not be willing to give up the right to be in charge of the household affairs in the Hou Mansion.
It’s good to know how to make choices and advance and retreat!
He liked Qin Mei Niang before and married her, but he never understood her. That was naturally because they had spent very little time together. The strange thing was that on the night she came back to life, he looked into her unusually bright black eyes and had a strange feeling: his heart was connected to hers! He could see her inner world, but he couldn't tell what was inside, and he didn't want to think about it. A woman who had let go was not worth his further investigation!
She took on the title of Marquis's wife, and her son became his eldest son. She wanted to manage the household, which was fine. As a girl from a small family, her family had no power or influence. Apart from making a little money, she had no ability to turn the tables. In the Marquis's mansion, he temporarily allowed her to do what she wanted, but she had to absolutely obey him and not deviate from his will.
"It would be best if you could understand."
Xu Junying put down the teacup, "It's not easy to be a housekeeper, especially there are too many trivial matters in the inner courtyard, be more careful... I have to serve the old lady in the morning and evening, and I can't forget the rules and filial piety because I'm busy. Brothers and sisters-in-law get along well with each other on weekdays, but they must also be sensible - don't interfere in other people's private affairs in the future. As for my third brother, the second wife had originally arranged for him to marry a good girl. I went back to the old lady, and the old lady nodded. I happened to be there that day. If you interfere like this, my third brother will definitely not listen to the second wife's arrangement. The second wife has wasted a lot of effort and has to work hard to turn down the original person. In anger, if she knows that it's because you invited a famous doctor for Ru Lanyan, no matter how kind you are, you will definitely not get a good result, and even I will be annoyed by her. The Hou Mansion is a big family, and all the descendants are outstanding. I inherited the title as the eldest grandson, and the eldest house is in charge of the household. If I interfere in the affairs of the second house... Where do you put the second wife? You women should understand these inner household affairs best, and I shouldn’t be the one to teach you! "
Mei Niang lowered her head: "Master Hou is right. I will remember it."
"Since you insist on doing it, then study hard, work hard, be fair, and don't let others catch you short! In fact, I think Jingyu is the best candidate for housekeeper. After all, her family background is similar to ours. She has seen a lot since she was a child, so she can do it easily. It will be more difficult for you!"
Xu Junying silently recalled the old lady's trembling white hair that day, pointing at him and scolding: "One day you will regret it! You are not a good match. How can a girl like that, who is petty, uneducated and not presentable, be worthy of the title of imperial decree? She may not even be able to keep your backyard under control for you!"
It turns out that I am still too young, acting on impulse, and not listening to the advice of the elderly. These are the consequences!
Mei Niang was also feeling indignant: Do you dislike me for coming from a poor family? What have you been doing? I was attracted by her beauty and hurriedly married her. Now that we have children, you are still talking about this. Is it interesting
Look down on me, your grandmother. What can't I learn under such great pressure? I have worked in a big company, and I don't believe that I will capsize in the gutter. I don't care if your small mansion with hundreds of people can fall! I have no background. My family has no money and power, but you, the son-in-law, have! Give me time and opportunities, and I will give you a rich, powerful and glorious mother-in-law's family!
Seeing Xu Junying stand up, Mei Niang quickly followed suit and asked hesitantly, "There is hot water in the inner room. Would you like to take a hot bath, Lord Hou?"
Xu Junying glanced at her and said, "No need!"
Then he walked straight out the door.
Mother Wang and Cui Xi walked into the room and saw Mei Niang staring at the hourglass on the cabinet. She didn't turn around and just asked Mother Wang:
"He went back to East Garden?"
Mother Wang nodded and looked at Mei Niang with some sadness: "Master probably wants to read the official documents!"
Mei Niang said: "Which of the two concubines had a miscarriage? Is it still not well?"
"It's Aunt Yi, it's almost one month old. Strangely enough, Aunt Yi had an accident and Aunt Xiu was also sick, so Master never went there again."
There's nothing strange about it. It was the eldest wife's doing. In order to pave the way for Zheng Meiyu, the two concubines had to take the last place.
Does Xu Junying really dislike Zheng Meiyu? But he obviously doesn't reject Zheng Meiyu. The two of them are close to each other and walk so naturally. On the contrary, he is like a zombie when his wife touches his body with her hand.
He reached out and touched his face. In his previous life, he had bright eyes, white teeth, was strong and cheerful. In this life, he inherited Qin Meiniang's body, and was even more charming and beautiful. How come after he had Heng'er, he couldn't keep him
She became a mother before she fully grew up. Maybe because she had been ill for too long, her body was a little thin, with fair skin and a slender waist. She was basically a bud waiting to bloom. Yet he was tired of looking at her
Is that a wise saying? What you can't get is always the best! He turned back to his childhood sweetheart, his cousin Zhuang Yulan? If that's the case, what should I do
Mei Niang tried her best to regain her confidence, and said to Wang Mama thoughtfully, "Starting tomorrow, keep an eye on the whereabouts of the Houye in the mansion. And prepare two gifts for me. I will go to see the two concubines tomorrow!"
Mother Wang tried to stop them: "How can a mistress go to see concubines? There is no need to honor them. Just call them over!"
"It doesn't matter. Aren't they sick? After all, they have been pregnant with my flesh and blood. Even if they don't have any credit, they have worked hard. Let's go and have a look!"
Mother Wang remained silent. Cui Si curled her lips and said, "Grandma is so kind. When you were sick, they never came to see you once!" (To be continued)