They returned to the capital yesterday. Miao must have heard the news and sent a servant to deliver the name card today. Mingyu's face suddenly turned red when she thought of the purpose of Miao's visit. She was too embarrassed to face Wei Mama and Bixi. When they divorced, Wei Mama and Bixi had advised her. Now she wanted to go back to her husband and remarry. Mingyu felt that she couldn't face it. She blushed and nodded to Wei Mama and Bixi randomly. Then she hurried back to her room, which seemed like she was running away.
Mrs. Xu sighed imperceptibly. She really didn't want her daughter to marry so far away, nor did she want her daughter to marry Sima Hong again. But her daughter was willing, so she and Xu Changqian could only follow her daughter's wishes.
At night, after Mingyu finished washing up, she lay on the couch and read a book by candlelight. Thinking that Miao would come to her house early tomorrow morning, she felt a little uneasy and worried. For a long time, she didn't turn a page of the book in her hand. She didn't know how to face Miao, nor did she know if Miao was still angry with her. With such a bad temper, if she came in anger and made both sides unhappy, what should she do
At this time, Madam Xu lifted the curtain and came into the room, saying with a smile, "Don't look at it, it hurts your eyes."
Mingyu quickly sat up on the couch, put the book aside, and said with a smile: "Mom, why are you here?"
Madam Xu sat down next to Mingyu, took Mingyu's hand and said, "The wife of the Marquis will be here tomorrow."
"Yes." Mingyu nodded gently, resting her head on Madam Xu's shoulder, and quickly said, "She has a bad temper and speaks harshly, but she is not a bad person. If she says something unpleasant tomorrow, don't take it to heart, mother."
Madam Xu smiled, patted Mingyu's hand, and sighed, "Silly girl!" Mingyu was going to marry into Sima Hou's mansion, and no matter how unpleasant Miao's words were, they, as parents, had to listen with a smile. They also expected Miao to treat their daughter well. How could they get angry over a few words
"Mother will ask you one last time." Madam Xu turned her head and looked at Mingyu seriously. "Your father and your brother have inquired about it. Sima Hou Mansion is not the Sima Hou Mansion in Tianshui before. You followed Sima Hong to Xi'an Prefecture. Now Xi'an Prefecture is a military garrison. Not to mention food and daily necessities, even housing is in short supply. I heard that even if you are a general, you only have a small courtyard to live in, and there are no servants to serve you. Can you endure such hardship?" It's not too late to regret now, Madam Xu added silently in her heart.
Mingyu smiled and whispered, "Mom, I'm not one of those rich girls who can't survive without someone to serve me."
Madam Xu's eyes were red, and she took a few breaths to calm down her turbulent emotions. She said self-deprecatingly, "Look at me, I'm really old. A girl's marriage is a happy event..." Before Mingyu could speak, Madam Xu held Mingyu's hand and said, "Mingyu, if the wife wants to set a date when you come to the Marquis's Mansion tomorrow, let's wait until tomorrow when spring comes... and spend the New Year with your parents, okay?"
Mingyu felt her eyes and nose were sore. She hugged Mrs. Xu, put her head on her shoulder, and tears kept falling. "Okay, okay, I will spend the New Year with my parents." Mingyu said.
Xu Mingye and Fu Lemei, who were eavesdropping under the windowsill, sighed at the same time. Fu Lemei whispered in Xu Mingye's ear, "My mother didn't cry much when I got married!" The bitterness and jealousy in her tone were obvious.
Xu Mingye took advantage of the night to kiss his wife's tender face, and sighed in his heart that his mother-in-law was too busy to have time... Besides, they lived so close that it would only take a cup of tea to meet. Mingyu was not like this. After she got married, he didn't know how many times they would see each other in this life.
The next morning, Miao came to visit. Mingyu hid in her room and saw through the gap in the curtain that Miao and Madam Xu were greeting each other in the yard, with a very polite attitude.
Several people entered the house and talked for a long time. Mingyu didn't know what Miao and her mother had said. At about noon, Fu Lemei came into the house and called Mingyu over, saying that Madam Sima had something to tell her.
Mingyu's heart beat faster all of a sudden, and she forced herself to stay calm and followed Fu Lemei into the main room. Seeing Mingyu coming in, Madam Xu stood up first and said with a smile, "You two can talk slowly." Then she went out, and the rest of the people hurriedly followed Madam Xu out of the room.
Only Mingyu and Miao were left in the room. Miao sat upright on a chair with a teacup in her hand. She looked at Mingyu carefully and said with a smile, "In the blink of an eye, I haven't seen you for several years. In the blink of an eye, you have grown into a big girl."
Mingyu looked up at Miao. She was wearing a moon-white satin skirt, a short jacket with dark patterns in the same color, and a shawl embroidered with large golden flowers on her shoulders, which was the brightest color on her body. Compared to the majestic and stern mistress of the marquis's mansion, Miao was now less fierce and more gentle. Inevitably, wrinkles appeared at the corners of her eyes when she smiled, and her expression was vicissitudes and sad.
"Madam is still the same as before." Mingyu said in a low voice.
Miao smiled and shook her head, "People, after going through so much, how can they be the same as before?" Seeing Mingyu still standing there respectfully, she smiled and said, "Sit down, I have something to say to you. This is your home, but I have to greet you."
Mingyu sat on the chair opposite Miao, feeling a little uncertain, not knowing what Miao was going to say to her. She remembered that Miao wanted Sima Hong to marry the daughter of Duke Deng, and she had come to propose marriage, so she wouldn't go back on her word now.
"I know you are sensitive and have your own ideas." Miao said, "I just want to ask you one question." Miao leaned forward and approached Mingyu, "Have you made up your mind to follow Bao Ge'er? No matter what happens in the future, you will be the daughter-in-law of our Sima family?"
Mingyu naturally understood what Miao meant. Miao would never want to let such a disgraceful thing as divorce happen to her son again. The deeper meaning was that no matter whether Sima Hong would bring honor to the family and be promoted to a higher position in the future, or unfortunately die in battle, Mingyu would not have any bad ideas. Even if Sima Hong died, she would have to remain a widow for him.
"Yes." Mingyu nodded. Since she had decided to marry Sima Hong, she had considered all the possible consequences. If that day really came, she hoped that she would have a child by then. Even without Sima Hong, she would have a spiritual support and could raise the child independently.
"Okay, then I feel relieved. I'm always worried about Bao Ge'er being alone in the northwest. Now that you, as his wife, are taking care of him, I feel relieved." Miao sat up straight, nodded with satisfaction, and the expression on her face was not as serious as before.
Seeing Mingyu sitting there quietly and obediently, Miao couldn't help but sigh, "Before in Tianshui... I wronged you. I have always wanted to make it up to you, but I didn't have the chance... Today, I will tell you what is in my heart. You insisted on getting a divorce at that time. It was a lie to say that I didn't blame you. Until now, I still blame you in my heart. Don't you know how Bao Ge'er treats you? You are hurting his heart so much by doing this..."
Mingyu lowered her head and took a deep breath. Thinking back on the past, she also felt sad, but she did not regret her original choice. Who can guarantee that the choices she made in her life are correct? Who can guarantee that Sima Hong can become a steady and reliable man who can stand on his own? Why should she bet her whole life? Don't blame her for being selfish. In her position, she just made the choice that a normal person would make.
"Mingyu was ignorant at the meeting..." Mingyu whispered, "No one knew that things would end up like this."
Miao shook her head, "I'm not scolding you. You're not having a good life in our family, and I have to take most of the responsibility. I was too stubborn at that time, but now I've let it go and I think I was ridiculous. I just feel sorry for Bao Ge'er. There are some things I've been holding back for so many years that I want to tell you. No matter how I see you, Bao Ge'er has always had you at the top of his mind. His life is also hard and it's not easy. As long as he is happy, he likes you, and you two can live a good life, I, as a mother, must help my son realize his wish."
Mingyu lowered her head, feeling somewhat guilty, and said, "I was young and ignorant, and I caused Madam to worry." In fact, she also hated Miao at that time, and did not regard her as a mother-in-law from the bottom of her heart. Miao was not actually a wicked mother-in-law with a bad heart. No matter how dissatisfied she was with Mingyu, she had no idea of killing her daughter-in-law and replacing her with a new one. She just put on airs, liked to be superior, and liked to be respected and coaxed. If Mingyu had had a slight idea of wanting to stay at that time, and spent more time on Miao, she might not have come to the last step.
Miao smiled, reached out to take the wooden box on the small table beside her, opened it and pushed it in front of Mingyu.
Mingyu didn't understand what was going on, but she was a little surprised when she saw what was in the box. The box was exquisite and delicate. When she opened the lid, there were three layers. Each layer contained several pieces of jewelry with intricate workmanship, including hairpins, necklaces, earrings, gold, jade, and pearls. Each piece was a top-grade treasure and was obviously worth a lot of money.
"Madam, this is..." Mingyu looked at Miao.
Miao turned the box around, showing Mingyu each item one by one, listing them all. "When I escaped from Tianshui, it was fortunate that Wei Ma brought this with her, otherwise I wouldn't even be able to give you a gift. This Phoenix Flying to the Moon hairpin was given to me by Aqing... your father-in-law as an engagement gift. At that time, he was dull and could not speak, so I was not very happy about it. He went all over the capital to find the best craftsman to make this hairpin... This jadeite gold bead earring was given to me by my mother. The jadeite is a rare gold-threaded red jadeite, which made my sisters envious..."
When talking about these things, Miao had a happy smile on her face. As she chattered, she seemed to be recalling the good old days and forgetting the painful experience of her family being broken up.