117 Chapter 117
◎Is it transgression or usurpation?◎
The next day, Wu Tao came to visit the patient.
Cheng Mu is much better now. She felt uncomfortable lying down for a long time, so she put a cup and a pillow on her back and sat up.
"Is Madam Cheng feeling better? Illness comes like a mountain, and goes like a thread. You need to take good care of yourself for a while. Do you have enough people at home? If not, please borrow two from the escort agency."
Cheng Mu smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Master. There is not much work to do at home, so it is not necessary."
Nanny Zhu sat beside the kang, holding Cheng Mu's hand, her face filled with worry. "Poor thing, you've suffered this ordeal. You look so pale. Where else is it hurting?"
Cheng Mu shook her head. "It's just a headache."
Qin Zhenzhen also came and stepped forward and said, "It's all my fault. If I hadn't dragged Madam Cheng out to play on the ice—"
Cheng Mu asked her to stop talking, and suddenly she felt a headache coming on.
Seeing her expression, Nanny Zhu quickly said, "If Madam Cheng trusts me, I'll give you a massage."
Wu Tao quickly said, "Yes, Aunt Zhu has some skills. A massage will make it feel much better."
Cheng Mu said apologetically, "Then I'm sorry for neglecting the boss."
Wu Tao said casually, "We're family, so let's not talk about different things. You're sick today, so we won't stay any longer. Get some rest."
She took Qin Zhenzhen away first, while Nanny Zhu stayed behind to massage Cheng Mu's head.
She let her hair down, let Cheng Mu lie down, and sat on a small stool under the kang, with her fingers applying soft yet firm force.
"It hurts, Mammy..."
After holding it in for several breaths, he uttered a weak sound.
Nanny Zhu said, "All twelve meridians converge at the head. Madam Cheng worries too much every day, causing stagnation of qi and blood. She should massage them frequently."
Cheng Xi wanted to say that pressing these acupoints was extremely painful, and the pain was much worse than before.
But gradually, I began to feel much more comfortable. When I was drowsy, I even hoped that Madam Zhu would keep pressing on me.
After pressing it, my mind is indeed much clearer.
Nanny Zhu asked, "Madam Cheng, do you want to go to bed or get up? If you want to get up, I'll comb your hair."
"No, I can do it myself. Aunt Zhu's cooking skills are really precious."
"A few days ago, Madam Cheng kicked me out."
Nanny Zhu half-jokingly made Cheng Xi blush instantly, "I apologize to you, Nanny."
"Mrs. Cheng is really generous with her gift. That ginseng is worth dozens of taels of silver, and she also gave me so many seeds."
Nanny Zhu sat down on the kang again, as if she wanted to discuss in depth the lie she had told her to leave. Cheng Mu begged for mercy, "Good Nanny, please forgive me."
Only then did she see a hint of a little girl's expression on her face. Nanny Zhu couldn't help but smile lovingly, "Madam Cheng, you are usually so steady and mature, but it turns out you are just a young lady."
"The child is already so big, how can I call him little lady?"
Nanny Zhu really wanted to say something, but she held it back again and again, trying her best to hold it back.
Wu Tao and his friends came here this time, but because the Chinese New Year was approaching and there was a heavy snowfall, they did not plan to return to Yunzhou.
Before New Year’s Eve, the mute woman finally steamed enough buns for the ten days of the New Year.
By New Year's Eve, Cheng Mu's illness had already been completely cured.
In the past few days, Mu Yun took Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi to make lanterns at home. They used bamboo strips as the frame and pasted red paper on the outside. There was no lantern inside, but tassels were hung at the bottom. They made two simple big red lanterns and hung them in front of the house early in the morning on New Year's Eve.
Wanli held the ladder, raised his head and stepped higher to hang the peach charms on the gate.
Xiaoliu was giving him instructions from below, worried that he would hang it crookedly.
The words on the peach charms were written by Xiao Qi, and this was the pair he was most satisfied with. Mu Yun looked at them from a few angles and praised Xiao Qi's handwriting, which made Xiao Qi very happy.
A neighbor passing by saw it, chatted with him for a while, and then came to ask for a painting, and Xiaoqi agreed.
Because Wu Tao and the others are here, we will have breakfast at Cheng Min's place today, and dinner at the escort agency. Many escorts will also come from their homes to have the New Year dinner together.
It's another big banquet.
Breakfast is simple, just making dumplings.
After Wu Tao came over, he also made two by himself. Qin Zhenzhen didn't expect Mu Yun's craftsmanship to be so skilled. She made two but couldn't pinch them, but Mu Yun just squeezed them casually and they were shaped. It really made her anxious.
Wu Tao comforted her: "Your hands are for holding a pen and reins, don't compare with them."
Cheng Mu washed a few copper coins and used them as a prize.
While eating, Qin Zhenzhen stole the show. She ate three in a row and found copper coins in each of them.
Nanny Zhu said, "Good luck to Madam Qin. There will be great joy in the new year."
Wu Tao said: "The biggest happy event is my marriage, which will be finalized next year."
Qin Zhenzhen's face flushed red, "The child is here."
Xiaoliu also ate a copper coin and came out, cheering, "I have great news too!"
Cheng Mu searched the plate, found one and secretly gave it to Xiao Qi.
Xiao Qi quickly followed suit, "Me too!"
Mu Yun stared at Cheng Mu, who was too embarrassed to look back and smiled.
Her eyes and eyebrows are full of charm, more vivid than ever before.
Mu Yun stared at Qin Zhenzhen, who saw him. She sighed and felt that she was not so happy anymore.
A gust of wind blew outside, and the snow on the wall fell down, some of it passed through the crack in the door and floated into the house.
The white flowers have all fallen and I close the heavy door, hugging the cold branches alone to recognize the old scars. Perhaps my deep affection has turned into snow, and I still run towards my old friend when the wind blows.
Qin Zhenzhen suddenly realized something in her melancholy, her heart churning, and she gradually became restless. "Madam Cheng, can you lend me the Four Treasures of the Study?"
As expected, the word "love" is the best word in poetry, which can give rise to countless emotions.
Before Qin Zhenzhen came to Puyang, she had never received such poetry. Now she often gave rise to the kind of sorrow that she once despised the most. In the study, she picked up the pen, examined it, and laughed at herself.
After finishing writing, I read it again from the beginning. These are very good, but I can't help but feel like forcing myself to express my sorrow in new words.
Thinking back, why did she look so deeply in love? She and Mu Yun had only known each other for a few days, had only exchanged a few words, and he hadn't even glanced at her. Relationships were about mutual consent, like the look they had just exchanged.
Her fate is not with Mu Yun at all.
Qin Zhenzhen sighed and crumpled up the words she had written.
"Why rub it?"
Hearing the visitor's question, Qin Zhenzhen hurriedly stuffed the crumpled paper ball into her sleeve.
"Madam Cheng..."
"I was afraid you weren't full, so I brought you some cakes." Cheng Mu's plate was filled with mung bean cakes, twisted dough sticks and other homemade foods made during the twelfth lunar month, but only one of each was left.
The world changes with the mind. A thousand mountains awaken after the snow clears, a wild goose flies lightly through the clouds. Qin Zhenzhen found that when she faced him again, the bitterness she had felt before was gone.
"Madam Cheng, I like the bone-in meat you cook with spices."
Cheng Mu couldn't help but smile. This was the awkwardness she felt from Qin Zhenzhen. What she did was obviously bold and open. At least in front of her, she would speak frankly about what she wanted to eat and what she wanted to do, and never put herself in a difficult position. But in front of others, she appeared like a little girl, well-behaved and delicate, allowing others to manipulate her.
Which one is the real her? Perhaps she has lived like this since she was a child, and everything about her is still her. Then, when she is with Mu Yun in the future, facing him day and night, what will she be like?
Things like Xibing's incident would not be an isolated case. If she were to be caught in the middle again, over time, not only would it be tiring and thankless, but her relationship with Mu Yun would definitely get worse and worse.
Qin Zhenzhen stayed around Cheng Mu all day long. Cheng Mu played chess with her and Wu Tao, listened to her playing the flute with Wu Tao, and drank with them at the New Year's dinner in the evening.
Cheng Mu took the fruit wine that Gao had brought last time. The wine tasted very good and had a fruity aroma, just like a soft drink. She drank bowl after bowl without noticing. After the banquet, Qin Zhenzhen insisted on keeping Cheng Mu to keep watch with her.
But Cheng Mu insisted on going back no matter what. Who would want to work overtime all night? It would be more comfortable to stay alone.
When the wind blew outside, the alcohol took effect and the head started spinning.
I guess I won’t be able to keep watch at night.
After returning home, she instructed that the candles in the house should be kept burning all night, and she went back to her room and lay down.
"Sister-in-law." Mu Yun brought her some hangover water. "Drink some water and then rest, so you don't feel uncomfortable."
The feeling of being drunk and light-headed was not uncomfortable at all, but rather very enjoyable. Cheng Mu said, "I can't drink any more. My stomach can't hold any more."
Mu Yun was in no hurry to leave, "I'll keep watch with my sister-in-law."
"You should go and keep watch with Madam Qin. Madam Qin..." She treated her specially. Was it because she respected her as the elder sister-in-law like a mother, or was it to prevent her from being arrogant? Cheng Mu was stuck in her mind.
Mu Yun sat across from her and asked, "How is Madam Qin?"
What others think is not important. Cheng Xi leaned on the table and murmured: "As long as you like it."
Mu Yun also put his chin on the table and looked at her, "It doesn't matter who I like?"
The candlelight was dim, casting a large shadow, so no one could see each other clearly.
"Getting married is not a good idea." It's okay to like anyone, but getting married is not a good idea. Once you get married, everything will change.
"Who should I marry?"
Cheng Mu frowned and looked at him. Why was Mu Yun beating around the bush tonight? What was he testing?
"Let's talk," he said.
Cheng Mu shook her head and just wanted to close her eyes and sleep.
The candlelight flickered like a boat swaying in the water.
"You'll catch a cold. Go to sleep on the kang."
Mu Yun's voice was sometimes far away and sometimes near, like a long rope half floating and half immersed in the water. The winter night was quiet and the whole body was warm.
Suddenly, she was lifted up by a pair of hands and fell into strong arms. A warm source of warmth approached her, carrying a strong smell of alcohol. She didn't know whose it was. Cheng Mu was startled and resisted the other person's approach with both hands. "What are you doing?"
"You can't sleep here."
"I can walk by myself." Cheng Xi tried to get up and fell.
She tightened her arms and suddenly jumped into the air, grabbing the other person's clothes and letting out a low cry.
He said, "You're drunk."
"I'm not drunk," Cheng Mu said stubbornly. A truly drunk person would have passed out long ago. She knew exactly where she was and what the other person was doing. She angrily said, "You've overstepped your bounds."
She was gently thrown, her hips landing on the desk. The man leaned forward, his breath strong, and asked knowingly: "Is it overstepping, or usurping power?"
The candlelight cast a dim light, and his face was sharp and distinct, like a wild beast in the dark. Cheng Mu's body became more and more tense, and she kept leaning back to avoid it.
Mu Yun suddenly stopped and did not move forward. The darkness engulfed his facial features, and her soft, fair face became visible instead. Her jade neck stretched out like a fluttering butterfly's wings.
"Are you drunk?" Cheng Mu remembered that during the New Year's dinner, the bodyguards took turns toasting him and he drank quite a lot.
Only when you are drunk will you dance back and forth on the border.
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