Madam Zheng came out of the old lady's room and arrived at the gate of the courtyard. There was a sedan chair waiting for her. The maid, Madam He, opened the curtain of the sedan chair. Chunyue and Xia Lian helped them get into the sedan chair. Four maids carried them to Qinghua Courtyard where Qin Meiniang lived.
Mother He followed the sedan chair and glanced back out of the corner of her eye. She saw a figure flash into the courtyard gate. Mother He had already seen that it was none other than Mrs. Pan, who had nothing to do and was always making trouble.
Seeing the eldest wife leaving in a sedan chair, it is time to go to the old lady to confirm that the eldest wife is really so sick that her legs are weak and she can't even walk steadily, and she is not lying here for a long time on purpose without coming to the room to greet and serve her.
Therefore, having idle people like Mrs. Pan in this world is useful.
Not long after Madam Zheng left, Madam Gui also came out. She did not use a sedan chair, but was supported by maids on each side, walking slowly. Madam Zhao, the maidservant, held a lantern and kept chattering beside her: "Be careful! The second wife can't stand a fall. Wrap yourself tightly in your cloak. The wind is cold and strong, and she hasn't recovered from her dizziness yet!"
At this moment, the snow had stopped, and the ground was covered with white. The yellow light from the lanterns shone on it, which actually dazzled my eyes.
Qin Mei Niang, served by Wang Mama and Cui Xi, soaked comfortably in a large wooden barrel filled with hot water. Cui Si and Cui Lian, along with a few maids, tidied up the room again, sprinkled Mei Niang's favorite rose scent in the incense burner, and replaced the rosewood carved bed with new curtains and bedding. Cui Si pointed at the cushions and pillows on the couch by the west window with disgust and said:
"Then let's change the things above as well. Grandma is well now, there's no need for her to be an eyesore here anymore!"
Cui Lian glared at her and said, "Change it if you want. Can you speak more quietly? You can see that our grandma can't remember anything. Why bother reminding her to think about those things?"
Cui Si stopped talking and walked over angrily to roll up and tie up everything on the couch, then told the maids to move them out. Cui Lian then put clean cushions, pillows and quilts from the cupboard on the couch and made the bed again.
Cui Xi found a set of smoky purple home clothes from the closet, shook it open and looked at it. Cui Lian said, "This set is new. At the beginning of autumn, Third Grandma invited First Grandma to choose the material together. Four sets of silk home clothes were made, in smoky purple, bean green, pink and snow cherry. She only wore the bean green and snow cherry sets. The woman took the pink set to wear. This set didn't match her skin tone, so she didn't wear it."
Cui Xi put her clothes on the incense burner to warm them up, and said with contempt:
"With her stature and complexion, how dare she wear our grandmother's clothes? Our grandmother is a natural beauty, with a slender and graceful figure, a rosy and delicate complexion, and she is half a head taller than her. These are just casual clothes, specially made to be loose. If they were fitted outer robes made to measure the waist, I wonder if she can afford them!"
Qin Meiniang came out after putting on her clothes, and the wet nurse just happened to bring Heng Ge'er in. Heng Ge'er was full and had a bath. He was very excited, shouting "eh" and stretching out his hand towards Meiniang from a distance, smiling with his mouth wide open, revealing two little white teeth that had just sprouted.
Mother Wang and Cui Xi watched with a smile as Mei Niang held Heng Ge'er in her arms and kissed his chubby little face. Heng Ge'er also put his drooling little mouth close to kiss Mei Niang. Mei Niang couldn't avoid it in time and got saliva all over her face. She screamed and dodged, laughing non-stop, and Heng Ge'er also giggled.
The happy scene of mother and son going on a blind date and enjoying boundless joy was seen by Xu Junying who walked in. He stood quietly by the door with an expression that had nothing to do with joy on his face, but was cold and indifferent, and a little gloomy.
Mother Wang quickly coughed lightly, but Mei Niang was busy talking to Heng Ge'er and was so happy that she ignored her. Mother Wang had no choice but to walk up to her and said:
"Grandma, Master Hou is back!"
Mei Niang was stunned. She was good at teasing children. In her previous life, she loved playing with her colleagues' babies. But she was not used to being someone else's grandmother. Every time she felt that it was not her who was being called grandmother. She was very unhappy that a slim lady in her twenties was being called grandmother.
She quickly raised her head and looked at Xu Junying at the door. Her mind turned for a while, and finally she decided to greet this Lord Hou with the same sweet smile she had used to greet her boyfriend in her previous life.
"Master Hou is back! It's cold outside, isn't it? Come and sit on the warm kang. Cui Xi will make a cup of hot tea... Has Master Hou eaten yet? If not, Madam Wang can go and arrange it!"
Xu Junying's eyes flickered, and he didn't go to the couch, but walked to the round table and sat down. Cui Si carried Heng Ge'er over, and Mei Niang took the teacup from Cui Xi's hand and offered it to her:
"My Lord, please have some tea."
A faint floral scent came over her. Her smoky purple silk embroidered clothes gently wrapped around her graceful figure. She lowered her head slightly, and her long hair, as smooth and silky as black satin, cascaded down like water... Xu Junying did not allow himself to look at her again. When he took the tea, he could not help but look at her hand holding the teacup. Her fingers were slender and delicate, and her skin was pink and delicate. He still remembered her sick face, pale and messy, lifeless. It was only half a day, and she had completely recovered, as bright as a flower, exuding a proud youthful aura. Her clothes were too thin, and it was so cold... He then realized that she was not wearing an outer robe!
What happened to this woman? She must be so happy after coming back from the dead. If she falls ill again, he would not be patient enough to give her another funeral.
"Mother Wang, doesn't your grandma have any thick clothes to wear?" Xu Junying took a sip of tea and said in a deep voice.
Cui Lian quickly took out a red satin embroidered with floral patterns and quilted silk jacket and put it on Mei Niang. Mei Niang looked at the clothes but did not put her hands into the sleeves. She frowned slightly and said, "How long have you kept this clothes? It smells damp. It needs to be turned over and aired before it can be worn."
Cui Lian said in embarrassment: "It has been cold and sunny for days, and the grandmother has been lying in the room all the time, and she doesn't need to wear a robe, so she didn't bother to turn it over and dry it..."
Cui Xi brought over a pink jacket embroidered with peony flowers and said, "Grandma, please wear this one. I just put it in the incense burner to smoke it."
Mei Niang took the clothes, stroked them, and nodded, saying, "This one, I don't feel that cold..."
Mother Wang helped her dress, saying, "Master Hou is right. We servants were not careful enough. She had just come out of the hot water and her body was a little warm. She should have put on some clothes to cover herself. Otherwise, she would have gotten sick again. What should we do?"
Xu Junying said: "If you get sick again, all of you slaves will be dragged out without a single one left - I'll only say this once!"
Mother Wang and Cui Xi lowered their heads and dared not say a word. Mei Niang secretly glanced at Xu Junying. His expression was relatively gentle, but his tone was cold and firm. She couldn't help but think of the things she had asked Mother Wang about Weiyuan Hou while taking a shower just now. This handsome man started killing people at the age of fourteen, so his heart must be extremely cold and hard.
Xu Junying knew that Mei Niang was secretly watching him, so he became more serious, put down his teacup, and said, "We are all tired today. It's reasonable to rest well, but you suddenly came back to life. Once the news spreads, there will be many kind-hearted and curious people coming to visit the mansion tomorrow. Even the palace will be unable to resist asking questions. You can't avoid seeing them. You must choose your words carefully, and think about what to say. Don't say the wrong thing. Our Hou Mansion has been a clean and noble family for generations, and we will not allow people to gossip about us at will!"
At this time, the maid outside the corridor reported: "The eldest wife is here!"
Xu Junying was not surprised, as if he had expected it. He stood up and glanced at Mei Niang. Mei Niang followed him obediently and walked to the door to greet Mrs. Zheng.
The maids opened the curtains and Mother He supported Madam Zheng in walking in. Madam Zheng's face was still pale and bloodless, and she looked several times more haggard than Qin Meiniang who had just died once.
Mei Niang followed Xu Junying in paying her respects. Xu Junying said, "Mother is not fully recovered yet, why did you make this trip? If you have anything to say, just call your son and daughter-in-law over!"
Madam Zheng sat on the warm and soft couch and let out a long sigh: "I was thinking that. I've spent half my life on this trip, but I have to come. After all, Mei Niang's condition is more serious than mine. Your grandmother is old, otherwise she would have come too..."
She looked at Mei Niang, who was standing beside Xu Junying in a state of alertness and vitality, in surprise. She was stunned for a while:
"My son! You, you got well so quickly? Are you tired of standing? Sit down quickly - both of you, sit down!"
Cui Xi and Cui Si brought in an embroidery cushion. The two maids, perhaps out of panic or something, placed the two cushions side by side, very close to each other. Xu Junying sat down first. He was tall and strong, and took up quite a lot of space. If Mei Niang sat over to him, she would have to be close to his body. Thinking it would be embarrassing, she did not sit down and just stood beside him.
Madam Zheng looked at her and said, "Please sit down. We haven't talked together for a long time... Where's Heng? Bring him here so I can see him."
Xu Junying looked back at Mei Niang, with an irresistible call in her eyes. Mei Niang gritted her teeth and had to go and sit next to him. She smelled the sweet fragrance of his clothes and raised her eyebrows slightly: Can a man have such a fragrance? That Miss Zheng must have fumigated his clothes for him.
The wet nurse brought the sleeping Heng'er in. Madam Zheng withdrew her gaze from Xu Junying and Qin Meiniang. A loving smile appeared on her pale face. She reached out and gently caressed the baby, pinched the cotton-padded jacket to see if it was thick enough, and held his hand to see if it was warm. If she was not really tired, she would have wanted to hug her darling grandson.
"Take good care of Heng'er," Madam Zheng said in a slightly dry voice, "I was very ill, and you were sick too, but you didn't have time to take care of him, how pitiful! Fortunately, you are getting better, and Heng'er has his mother to love him, I feel relieved! This disease can be cured as soon as it is said... But you are living and dying like this, and you have caused Master Hou a lot of trouble, you should thank him!"
Qin Meiniang bowed her head and thanked Xu Junying. Xu Junying said calmly, "Why do you say thank you to a husband and wife? Mother has alienated us!"
Madam Zheng laughed and said, "I was confused. You should respect each other and take good care of Heng. He is our eldest son and grandson, and he will inherit the family business in the future..."
Xu Junying glanced at Hengger in the wet nurse's arms, and an ambiguous smile appeared on his lips.
Madam Zheng suddenly started to cough violently. Mother He hurried forward and gently patted her back, but she still couldn't stop. Seeing this, Mei Niang called Cui Xi to bring some hot water, and personally handed it to Madam Zheng's lips, saying softly:
"Drink it, mother. Swallow it slowly, one sip at a time."
Mrs. Zheng did as she was told and swallowed a few times. As expected, she stopped coughing. She was surprised and said:
"That's a good idea. Does Mei Niang know anything about medicine?"
Mei Niang smiled and said, "How can I know anything about medicine? I just drink warm water to relieve the acute wheezing and dry coughing. The elders in my mother's family usually do this, but it has no effect. To really cure the disease, you have to take medicine. Should mother take medicine at this time?"
Mother He smiled and said, "Grandma is really thoughtful. It's time to take the medicine!"
Mrs. Zheng took a breath and said, "But I haven't told you anything serious yet—you who have come back to life..."
Qin Meiniang had a headache: Is it strange to come back from the dead? There are so many such things in modern times. Is there fake death? Is there anyone who was saved from shock and suffocation? The ancient people were conservative. They would talk about a small matter for a long time. It’s okay that the son can’t marry a new wife if his wife is not dead, but what does the mother-in-law mean? Is it that the whole family is unhappy with her resurrection
Poor Qin Meiniang, what kind of person was she? She was born as beautiful as a fairy, but was despised by her husband at such a young age. She could even earn a grand funeral after her death, but was so unwelcome when she was alive!
Xu Junying turned his head and saw Mei Niang wrinkling her nose. The Qin Mei Niang he knew was always quiet and elegant, and behaved dignifiedly. How often had she ever had such a naughty look? Even when she was amused by Heng Ge's childhood, she had never had such a playful look before.
Maybe he himself had never seen her? Since their wedding, how many days had he and Mei Niang been together? Except for the month when she was seriously ill, if he wanted, he could sit by her bed for a while. At that time, Mei Niang was lifeless, with her eyes closed, and she didn't even look at him.
Xu Junying said to Madam Zheng: "Don't worry, mother. My son has already taught Mei Niang. She knows everything!"
Madam Zheng nodded: "That's good... I feel relieved when you are here!"
Madam Zheng was so tired that she could no longer sit down, so the couple escorted her out of the courtyard. Madam Zheng got on the sedan chair, which was carried by the maids. Xu Junying told her to walk slowly and carefully, and watched them go far away before they turned back and walked to the main house. Xu Junying did not follow Mei Niang, but stood in the snow and watched her climb the steps. When Mei Niang reached the corridor, she looked back at him, a little surprised at first, but then she felt relaxed and smiled, saying,
"Are you going to the study to study? Do you want someone to prepare some midnight snacks?"
She remembered lying in the coffin and hearing the old women talking about how the Marquis slept in the east wing, which meant that he did not live in the same room with Qin Meiniang.
That’s right, Qin Meiniang was dying, so he wasn’t afraid of being infected.
Xu Junying said, "No need! I live in the east wing. If you need anything, you can ask someone to come and see me. You can rest now. You have to get up early tomorrow morning to pay respects to your grandmother. Jingyu is not at home these days, and the ladies are not feeling well. It is Rulan who serves the old lady breakfast every morning. She is in charge of the inner courtyard alone, and it is very hard. Please help her if you can."
Mei Niang said, "I have seen Rulan, Third Madam, right? And who is Jingyu?"
Xu Junying thought it was very strange for the two people to talk like this. One was standing in the yard, and the other was standing in the corridor. There were many maids watching beside them. At this time, heavy snow began to fall from the sky. He said impatiently:
"If you can't remember, go back to your room and let the girls tell you slowly!"
Mei Niang also noticed that it was snowing. Large flakes of snow fell from the dark sky, and were illuminated by the dim light of the lanterns under the corridor. It was very beautiful, and she couldn't help clapping her hands and laughing:
"Ah! It's snowing again, so beautiful! I wonder how thick the snow will be in the yard tomorrow morning! Lord Hou, go back and be careful not to catch a cold!"
As he spoke, he folded his arms as if he was cold, twisted his waist, and slipped lightly and quickly into the warm curtain lifted by the maid.
Her clear voice came from the room: "Bring Heng'er here, grandma, I want to sleep with my son!"
Xu Junying stood there, snowflakes kept falling on his head and shoulders, piling up thicker and thicker. After a while, he suddenly woke up, shook off the snow on his body, and strode away. (To be continued)