The sudden acute gastrointestinal disease that night caused a cold. I don’t know if it was the effect of Mei Niang’s secret prescription or the power of Lingxuzi’s pills, or the bath in that pot of hot ginger water, but Xu Junying started sweating, felt relaxed all over, and was completely healed.
Then he became busy, leaving the house before dawn every day, always before Mei Niang entered the East Garden, and no longer shared breakfast with her. Mei Niang asked the little maid to investigate his whereabouts, so he simply asked Bai Zhan or Bao Ju to guard the Moon Cave Gate, stop the little maid, and even Mei Niang herself, from coming in.
Bai Zhan and Bao Ju were in a dilemma, but Lord Hou's words were military orders, how could they dare not listen? They could only be careful, bowed their bodies, and did not dare to raise their heads, and explained to Grandma according to Lord Hou's wishes:
The Marquis recently brought official documents home to read. Among them were very confidential military defense documents. To prevent them from being leaked, all people in the East Garden, except the Marquis and his personal attendants, can only enter but not leave. No one from outside can enter. The eldest lady has to manage the affairs of the mansion every day, so she must not be locked in, so...
How could Mei Niang not understand? Xu Junying was avoiding her!
He just smiled and didn't make things difficult for Baizhan and Baoju.
Just avoid it. I have seen it many times in my previous life. When a man loses his feelings for his wife and has another woman in his heart, no matter how much you try to coax him, he may not come back. Moreover, in this world, men can have three wives and four concubines. If he wants to divorce his wife and remarry, what can you do? To rely on him for support, you can only accept the reality, depend on him, and obey him!
She is not the real Qin Meiniang, so she has no reason to be sad except that she feels sorry for her son. But she replaced Qin Meiniang and lived in Qin Meiniang's position, but she couldn't stand this grievance. The rebellious spirit in her bones always raised its head, and she wanted to step on injustice when she saw it, not to mention that she felt the same way - you little goblins, you said you were born well and well-educated, why do you have to steal someone else's husband? And that Xu Junying, what kind of father is he, being cold and ruthless to his son, what did Qin Meiniang do wrong? Just throw him aside without explanation, and marry another wife, just because her birth is not noble enough? What will he do with the new wife after marrying her? Are you going to let Qin, who is only 17 years old, live a lonely and miserable life with the title of Madam Hou
If the real Qin Meiniang was alive, she would have suffered this loss, but she is dead. She doesn’t want to suffer this humiliation. I came back to life for her, not to suffer in vain. Just wait, I will play with you!
Women should not make things difficult for other women, but if someone wants to live a happy and fulfilling life by stepping on the dignity of the principal wife, that is such an immoral thing, and I, the Grandma, cannot tolerate it!
At first glance, the handsome and charming Marquis, who has power and money, what woman would not want him? Since you accept everyone who comes, you should not neglect your wife, right? Be good and cooperate with your wife. I don't ask for much, grandma. Others get half of the property when they divorce. I only borrow your name to use. When I get some benefits slowly, I will naturally give up my position and leave far away when it is appropriate.
Mei Niang leaned on the couch and looked at the account book for a while. Her eyelids were fighting. She was exhausted today. She gave the old woman a massage on an empty stomach. She had almost used up all her strength. She walked back and still relied on Cui Xi and Cui Lian for support. When she returned to Tsinghua Courtyard, Mother Wang immediately asked her to prepare a fragrant bath. She seemed to be distressed. She had just taken a bath and felt refreshed, but now she was very sleepy. Mother Wang advised her:
"We'll see tomorrow. Lie down and take a rest first!"
Mei Niang blinked: "I drink ginseng soup every day, but my body is still so useless. I get tired after just a little while!"
Mother Wang sighed, "Grandma, what else do you want? You are much better now than before. Before, you would blush and sweat after walking a few steps. How could you have the energy to massage the old lady's shoulders and arms? You do it for half a day without stopping. Who among these grandmas and girls in the mansion has the patience and filial piety like you? But the old lady seems to be unaware of your frailty. She just lies there comfortably without opening her eyes to look at you. Sweat is oozing out of your forehead... Won't you go to Jinhua Hall tomorrow? You won't be able to bear it for a few days. You will get sick from exhaustion!"
Mei Niang looked at Mother Wang's worried expression and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Mom. I'll have strength again after a good sleep. The old lady caught a cold, which caused pain in her tendons, bones and joints, and stiff limbs. She won't get better quickly just by taking those medicines. My massage for her is also a form of treatment. I have to do it every day until she gets better. In fact, one hour a day will do. I'm really embarrassed to stop if the old lady doesn't agree. Alas, even if it's to show filial piety for Heng'er, after all, the old lady is sick, and as children and grandchildren, we can't replace her. It's my duty to spend some effort to relieve her discomfort!"
Mother Wang helped her comb her dry hair and said lovingly, "You have always been a kind and good child. I am afraid that Heng'er will inherit your temper!"
Mei Niang was puzzled: "Why? Isn't it good to be kind?"
"That's good, but I'm afraid I'll suffer if I'm too honest! I feel much more relieved now that you've become like this. If you were still like before, I'd be so worried that I couldn't sleep at night!"
Mei Niang touched Wang Mama's slightly rough hand affectionately and said, "Besides mother, you are the one who loves me the most! Don't worry, I won't suffer in vain, and I will teach Heng'er well... Let's stop here today, it's time to rest, I'll have to wake you up tomorrow. Cui Xi, who will sleep in the outer room tonight? It's too cold, there's no need to stay in the corridor, those who work the night shift can go inside and warm themselves by the fire! Lock up the account book, I'm going to sleep too."
Cui Xi hurried over and helped Wang Mama put several heavy account books into the diamond wooden box. Wang Mama locked it with the key. Cui Lian helped Mei Niang get off the couch, and Cui Si squatted down to put on her shoes, saying:
"It's a good time for you to go to bed now, grandma. I just rolled around on the bed with a hot water bottle, and the quilt and mattress are warm!"
Mei Niang smiled and said, "That's great. I'm most afraid of the cold. There will still be a brazier in the room at night. You're going to sleep in the outer room tonight, right? Put a brazier in the outer room and one in the inner room. Remember to fill a copper kettle with water and put it on the fire!"
Cui Si agreed and went to prepare with Cui Lian. Cui Xi and Mother Wang helped Mei Niang lie down and covered her with a quilt. In just a short while, Mei Niang fell into a deep sleep.
Mother Wang looked around the room again, tidied it up, and told Cuisi to be more alert at night in case the grandmother asked for water or went to the bathroom in the middle of the night, and to get up in time to light the lamp and serve her. Cuisi agreed to all her requests, sent them out, closed the door, came back, made the bedding, turned off the light, and climbed into the quilt to sleep.
As soon as the light in the grandmother's upper room went out, a head popped out from the moon-shaped door, looked carefully, and then turned back to the East Garden.
Xu Junying was still reading when Bai Zhan called out from outside the door: "Reply to the master: Grandma has gone to bed!"
Xu Junying looked at the copper kettle hourglass and raised his eyebrows: It's still early, are you going to bed now
"Come in and talk!"
The door opened, Bai Zhan walked in wrapped in a gust of cold wind, then turned around and closed the study door.
He was surprised to find that there was a charcoal fire in the Lord's study tonight, and on the charcoal fire, as the young lady had instructed that night, there was a pot of water, and steam was bubbling away.
I couldn't help but glance at Xu Junying. His face was ruddy, and he slowly turned the pages of the book. He asked, "Did you see it clearly? Did you turn off the lights and come over here?"
Bai Zhan quickly replied, "No, no! I watched Madam Wang bring Cui Xi and Cui Lian out, leaving two maids on night watch in the side room. Two lanterns were lit in the corridor, and the rest of the people went to the servants' room at the back."
Xu Junying thought about Mei Niang's listless look when she was eating in the old lady's room. After all, she was not a lady from a wealthy family, so why would she learn massage? But she was very good at showing off. It was said that she massaged the old lady for three or four hours. It would be strange if she was not tired.
He nodded: "You go down, let those on night duty go to sleep, I don't need anyone to guard here!"
"Yes. I'm leaving now. Lord Hou should rest early, too!"
"knew!"
Xu Junying closed the book, stood up and walked to the brazier, picked up the copper kettle and added water to the teacup. The handle of the copper kettle was very hot. Mei Niang had been staying here for the past two nights, and she used a cloth towel to cushion her hands when she added hot water for him.
Of course he knew why Mei Niang had to sit here with him in the severe cold. She didn't like Zheng Meiyu and didn't want her to get close to him.
Not only was she on guard against Zheng Meiyu, she even didn't like herself and Lan'er sitting close to each other. What did this ignorant little woman want to do
But she is allowed to stay in this position for the time being. Does she think she can really take charge of his backyard or even the entire mansion
Qin Mei Niang had forgotten everything, and Madam Zheng knew it very well. For the sake of his face and filial piety, he could only endure the pain. There was no regret medicine in the world. Neither he nor Qin Mei Niang could go back to the past. There was only one way to save both of them: he married another wife and had children. Mei Niang stayed with Heng Er and lived in another courtyard. He gave her a name and raised them mother and son, which was considered to be a good thing.
Mrs. Zheng hinted to him many times that he should marry Zheng Meiyu, but he always said that he had to ask the old lady first.
However, he would never touch Zheng Meiyu, because that woman was too fake and cunning. Madam Zheng said that after he went out to fight, Mei Niang was lucky to have her cousin Yu accompany her. He imagined that before Mei Niang fell seriously ill, she could not change her mind about Zheng Meiyu, and she might have been coaxed into doing many good things by her. A truly kind woman would not be so cruel and decisive, turning against her without hesitation, and betraying her best friend. In addition to allowing her to take charge of everything about Mei Niang, he did not give her any promises, but she was willing to tell the truth about Mei Niang and Junjie's affair. If Mei Niang was just a best friend, then Junjie was her dear cousin!
Such a woman, let alone marrying her as a concubine, even if she is kept in the courtyard as a servant girl, one still has to be on guard against her at all times.
Cousin Lan is different. We grew up together and know each other well. She is a kind-hearted woman. If I had listened to the old lady and given up Mei Niang and married Cousin Lan, I wouldn't have so many troubles now.
The old lady was right. He admitted that he was wrong. He was too inexperienced to see the truth. He thought that family background was not important and that everything could be solved with affection. But this matter was very important. This time, he decided to follow the arrangement of his elders and marry a virtuous wife who was of equal family background and had been strictly educated since childhood, and start a new life. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.) (To be continued)