Chapter 23 023 Do I owe her something?!
At first, Meng's mother was puzzled, then annoyed. When she finally saw who it was, there was only deathly silence in her ears. She watched in astonishment as the two walked towards her step by step. Her legs went weak and she collapsed into Lin's arms. Her breathing became rapid and disordered, and her throat felt as if it were ice, with each breath bringing a sharp pain.
The joyful atmosphere suddenly turned sour; the servants fell silent, exchanging bewildered glances, unsure of what had happened.
Meng Qingshan was completely unaware of anything amiss. He was tall and imposing, and with a single glance from his cold, sharp eyes, all the servants immediately lowered their heads, their hands clasped in front of them, staring at the ground.
“Mother, as you instructed, my cousins have arrived. I’m busy with work, but having two cousins to keep me company is a way for me to fulfill my filial duty.” Meng Qingshan looked directly at his mother, and the words he emphasized in his speech made his mother tremble.
Mother Meng stared intently at Qingli, secretly sighing that her beauty had surpassed even that of the ladies in the capital. Seeing her son's wrist in his grasp, she was about to struggle to her feet and reprimand him when Lin Mama, her mother, tugged at her clothes from behind.
Mencius' mother looked out the door and saw a large crowd of people already gathered there. In the end, she swallowed her words.
Meng Qingshan, however, seemed determined to hold on. He walked to the side with his hands behind his back, stared at Qing Li, whose face was pale, and said in a deep voice, "Are you stupid or something?!"
Qingli trembled and immediately bowed, saying, "Qingli greets Aunt."
The situation was simpler than she had imagined, so much so that she felt somewhat dazed as she stood in the courtyard, still looking at him in disbelief.
His expression remained unchanged. He curled his finger and tapped his forehead. She couldn't help but lower her head and cry out in pain. She was no longer the fearless woman who was ready to die, nor was she filled with trepidation. He pursed his lips, and as she looked up, he turned around and ordered, "Put it away first."
A tingling sensation spread from her forehead to her heart, rippling outwards. A warm current seemed to flow through the loosened cracks in her rock-solid heart, giving her a moment of relaxation. She gazed at his broad back, the sunlight filtering through the canopies of the trees along the path outside the courtyard, dappling his slender figure with a shimmering glow.
Jiang Yue and Jiang Zhao could not contain their joy and rushed forward, calling out "Miss!" Whether intentionally or unintentionally, they knew from the past two days that their young lady had a legitimate birth.
The cousin of the Meng family is more reasonable than any other family.
Qingli wondered if this was an unexpected stroke of luck. She carefully examined the courtyard. To the north were three main rooms, with a side room on each side, a wing room on the east and west, and a row of rear rooms. Although the layout was compact, the green tiles and red eaves were quite beautiful and well-equipped. The winding corridors and bright windows revealed a lush and verdant landscape with vibrant flowers, which were clearly newly planted. She took a deep breath and felt refreshed and delighted.
Jiang Zhao and Jiang Yue were overjoyed. They talked to Granny Sui about how to arrange everything. The East Garden was bustling and noisy, while the West Garden was quiet. The doors of the houses were wide open. Meng's mother sat in a round chair, listening to Granny Lin's earnest advice. Her heart was in turmoil, and she was filled with anger, resentment and mixed feelings. She just watched her son walk forward step by step.
The men of the Meng family died young, and she risked her life to raise her son, who repeatedly took risks for an abandoned girl. He was a jinx, turning the family into a mess and bringing constant bad luck. If it weren't for her, Qingshan wouldn't have suffered such a calamity, and the mother and son wouldn't have been separated for five years.
Thinking this, Meng's mother felt a surge of anger and her words became sharp: "You've got a good plan. I thought you agreed so readily because you've been through life and death and started to care about family ties, but I never expected you to have ulterior motives."
As Meng's mother spoke, she became increasingly agitated, her face tense, and she roared, "Do you think that by giving her a false identity, others will look at her with more respect? It's just a case of putting on a sheep's skin and selling dog meat; she still can't escape her fate of being a concubine!"
These words were truly unpleasant to hear. Lin Mama stood behind her, barely daring to breathe, her legs trembling. If she hadn't been clutching her palms, she would have collapsed to the ground. The servants in the courtyard had already been driven out, leaving the place cold and deserted. The words were being poured into her ears in a swirling motion.
The sun was blazing outside, but inside, water dripping from a drop of water froze instantly.
Granny Lin had been working for the Meng family since Taiyuan Prefecture. She was bought by Meng Qingshan to work for the young lady, so she knew everything about what was going on inside. At this moment, she was particularly terrified.
Meng Qingshan remained unmoved, waiting for his mother to finish venting before suddenly letting out a mocking laugh. "It was Mother who wrote to instruct me to bring Li Qingwu here. I am not so cunning as to be so calculating. As for my cousin's identity, it just so happens that the Fourth Prince inquired about it. Li Qingwu has not made any progress, so it is not right to blame me."
Mencius' mother was so shocked by the coldness and sarcasm in his words that she could not speak. Then she heard him say, "No matter what, the matter has already reached this point, and the whole capital knows about it. If you are indignant, you can go and explain. I can bear the crime of deceiving the emperor!"
Mencius' mother gasped, the words stuck in her throat, and after a long silence, she suddenly burst into tears, clutching her chest with one hand and pointing at him with the other, saying, "You...you...are you trying to tear my heart out?!"
"She's just that good! Ah, when you were little, you went hungry for three days just to buy her a piece of dragon's beard candy. When you grew up, you did lowly jobs to earn more money, getting beaten and scolded, even risking your life. And you were still gossiped about by the neighbors, all so that she could live a good life without lifting a finger. And what did she do? She just reaped the benefits, was selfish, and caused trouble."
When she heard about his childhood suffering, Meng's mother's heart tightened. She wished she could cut open his heart and ask him, "Do you owe her something? Even if you do, you should have paid it back long ago."
After yelling, Meng's mother's face showed pain. She lay back in the chair, clutching her chest and panting heavily, her forehead covered in sweat. Lin Mama hurriedly took out a porcelain bottle from her sleeve, poured out two brown pills, and fed them to her with tea. After a while, Meng's mother's face calmed down. Her eyes were tired and no longer harsh, but she still swept them around without backing down. She was determined to get an answer.
His hysterical madness back then still frightened his mother, who worried that everything would come back to haunt him and cause him to lose the family business he had worked so hard to build.
She absolutely would not allow that!
The fierceness on Meng Qingshan's face surged up quickly but was forcefully suppressed. His hands clenched and relaxed, his unreadable expression carrying a powerful sense of intimidation. Looking at his mother's old ailment, he lowered his eyes and paused for a moment. When he looked up, his face was calm.
"She has been alone and helpless for the past five years. Whose fault it is is no longer certain. Her identity is clear, and all grudges have been wiped clean. This encounter was entirely accidental. Her son only helped her on the side. The matter of her identity was also unintentional. Whether Mother believes it or not, this is the truth. As for Mother's concerns, I will only say one thing: she probably does not want to and will not stay in the Meng family for too long."
His words were spoken slowly and deliberately, yet they were firm and resolute. Mother Meng felt relieved. Seeing the atmosphere ease, Granny Lin quickly stepped in to smooth things over for Mother Meng, saying, "General, during the days you were away, the old lady prayed to Buddha every day, hoping for your safety. She knows your lofty aspirations, your integrity, and your commitment to virtue and rewarding merit. The old lady certainly believes in you."
Mencius' mother, having been gestured to from behind, suppressed her doubts and nodded.
Lin Mama slowly exhaled from behind. The old lady was sitting, while she was standing, but she could see clearly that the general's words were not something he had made on a whim or said casually. Moreover, thinking of what had happened in Taiyuan Prefecture before, no matter how fiercely he fought, how he shouted and killed, or how he joked and talked, she would never know what he was going to do until the very last moment.
In any case, we must get through this hurdle first; the rest can only be dealt with slowly.
*
The Jiugong Lane, separated from the palace by a wall, was heavily guarded by the Imperial Guards. Apart from the noisy chirping of cicadas, the entire lane was completely silent. The paint on the vermilion gate was slightly mottled, and the passage of time was palpable. Stepping over the threshold and entering the mansion, one was greeted by a long and quiet road. Accompanied by the sound of pine trees and bamboo rustling in one's ears, one unconsciously slowed down one's pace.
The Imperial Guard Commander Anping looked at the light and shadow cast on the road. The light flickered in the darkness, causing him to squint. He subconsciously placed his hand on the hilt of the goose feather sword. The uneven surface of the sword dispelled the dizziness in his mind for a moment, suppressed his restless heartbeat, and immediately calmed his mind before taking a step forward.
Anping was horrified and sighed that Huang Pu's coercion techniques were indeed profound and unpredictable. This courtyard was built by Huang Pu himself, using the Bagua orientation, which is unusual for a house facing south. Every plant and tree in it was in accordance with astronomical and geographical phenomena. If someone stepped into this place without guidance, they would never return.
It was rumored that after the craftsmen finished building the structure and returned home, most of them became mentally impaired and spoke incoherently, but their lives were not in danger.
Whether it's true or not, it's terrifying enough.
When they reached a distance of five steps from the central pavilion, Anping Tai stood to one side with a knife in his hand. The eunuch Dexi slightly raised his closed eyes, saw who it was, and then closed them again as if he were dozing. Bamboo curtains hung all around, and the voices inside were low and inaudible.
A chorus of farewells rang out, the bamboo curtain was hung up, and Xi Ziyu, the Left Vice Minister of the Imperial Medical Academy, helped Huang Qizhi, the Director of the Imperial Medical Academy, and led four imperial physicians out in turn. The eunuch Dexi stepped forward with a forced smile, looking at Huang Qizhi's hunched back and exhausted face, and sighed that he had to go through such a dangerous situation at his age. He said gently, "Director Huang's medical skills are profound, and his hands can bring the dead back to life. I admire him greatly."
Huang Qizhi naturally declined, repeatedly saying, "Lord Huang is under the protection of His Majesty, so he is naturally safe and sound."
Huang Pu returned from the brink of death, and the imperial physicians saved his life. The emperor was overjoyed, and the two old foxes were in the mood to chat, showing no trace of the worries of the previous days.
Inside the pavilion, Huang Pu's face was ashen, but his spirits were still relatively high. Leaning against the soft pillows, he looked somewhat flustered and ashamed, saying, "Your Majesty, what virtue or ability do I possess to trouble you..."
Emperor Kang of Ming, dressed in a crimson satin robe embroidered with dragons playing with pearls and wearing a dazzling golden crown, sat upright on a high chair. Although the years had shown their marks, his eyes were sharp, and his majestic and noble aura was powerful and profound, commanding respect without words. Emperor Kang waved his hand to stop Huang Pu from speaking, and sighed deeply, as if reminiscing with an old friend, "If I don't allow you to die, then you will never die."
As Huang Pu raised his sleeve, the bitter smell of medicine wafted over. He said with melancholy, "This old minister is now all alone, with no attachments. I have long since disregarded life and death. If I were to die, it would be a blessing for this old minister to go to paradise."
Her words were filled with sorrow. Emperor Mingkang paused and advised, "Consort Mu is restless in the palace, constantly worried. How can you say she is all alone?"
He seemed emotionally agitated, coughing until his face turned red, but he was still breathing heavily and unable to speak. Huang Pu could only wave his hand and say intermittently, "She... is protected by His Majesty, so this old minister... naturally does not care."
Emperor Mingkang watched him calm down, his eyes swirling with thoughts, before finally saying, "Minister Huang once said he wanted to serve the country by promoting education, but his wish has not yet been fulfilled. I will wait for him."
These words seemed to bring forth the heroic spirit of yesteryear from the dust, causing a glint of light to appear in Huang Pu's eyes, but it was fleeting. Emperor Mingkang, however, did not wait for him to refuse, and instead instructed him to rest well before leaving the pavilion.
Once seated in the sedan chair, Dexi followed closely behind. Suddenly, she heard an order: "Minister Huang is seriously ill; Consort Mu should visit him."
Just as Dexi was about to agree, he saw the Emperor pinching his brow and muttering, "Fourth Prince...be careful not to offend him."
Dexi paused for a moment, then whispered, "Lord Huang saw Consort Mu, and the father and daughter reunited. His health improved even faster. I heard that the Fourth Prince is training horses at the horse farm in the suburbs of the capital. Even if you gave me four legs, I still wouldn't be able to reach him. Please, Your Majesty, spare my life."
After saying this, he was about to kneel down, but Emperor Mingkang scolded him, "You shameful thing, go back to the palace at once."
Dexi smiled and agreed, her eyes narrowed. As she watched the Emperor close his eyes, Linglong's mind raced. She analyzed that Consort Mu was gentle and had no presence in the harem. The Emperor had always kept his distance from Consort Mu, and she could not tell whether he was happy or angry. Although this was a favor from the Emperor, it was still separated by the Fourth Prince, which made it really difficult to handle.
After thinking it over, he suddenly remembered something and decided to do Consort Mu a favor.
After Emperor Mingkang left, Huang Pu was helped back to the Gan Yuan courtyard by his steward He Tai. He sat down at the long table, held up a piece of paper in the light, and read it carefully once again. His eyes were slightly sunken from being bedridden for many days, but they were filled with a gentle light.
He Tai dared not open the window, fearing the wind would blow it in. He lit a candlestick and placed it on the long table, saying in a friendly manner, "Our courtyard will be lively when Miss comes back."
Huang Pu laughed heartily, feeling that it should be lively, but then his laughter faded and he asked in a deep voice, "Have the people left?"
He Tai shook his head, his voice unconsciously lowering, "There are still three people at the alley entrance, and someone is spying from the neighboring courtyard."
Huang Pu's brows furrowed, his skin twitched, and he said impatiently, "Let them be. Is Song Yuan coming back?"
After speaking, a man jumped down from under the eaves. He was dressed in coarse linen clothes and had an ordinary face, which was unremarkable and would be inconspicuous in a crowd. He entered the room, knelt down and bowed, and said, "Master, I have failed in my duty. I only threw the letter into the room and did not see the young lady."
Song Zhang and Song Yuan are both He Tai's sons. Song Zhang has been missing since he went to pick up the young lady, and Song Yuan has also been incompetent. Anxious, Song Yuan asked, "What's going on?"
“The young lady is surrounded by three guards, all of whom are more skilled than me.” Song Yuan visited the post station last night and immediately sensed the undisguised aura upon entering. It was a blatant threat, and he dared not relax his guard. He hid for a long time before finding an opportunity.
"I couldn't get too close, fearing I'd alert them, so I followed behind until the young lady entered the Meng residence safely before returning to report."
He Tai cursed the good-for-nothing and made a move to hit him, but Huang Pu stopped him, saying, "Alright, things are not peaceful in the manor right now, but it might not be so bad to stay in the Meng manor."
"Yes," He Tai replied verbally, then turned around and scolded, "Go and keep an eye on the Meng residence."
Song Yuan got up and left. Huang Pu watched this scene with a smile, feeling a surge of energy. He thought to himself that he needed to recover his strength so he could go and see who this Meng Qingshan really was.
*
After taking a bath, Qingli sighed comfortably. After two months of traveling, she finally had a temporary place to stay. She was wearing a moon-white satin dress that felt soft and cool against her skin.
All they could hear were Jiang Yue's exclamations of amazement. Jiang Zhao and Granny Sui stood in front of the mahogany cabinet, looking at the rows of dresses, all kinds of colors, silks and satins, and each one fit them perfectly as if they had been personally tailored.
Knowing the dresses were of extraordinary value, the three dared not touch them and looked at her helplessly. She lowered her eyelashes, and the water droplets that had gathered on them dripped onto the back of her hand, bringing a hot, damp sensation.
In the end, she spoke up, "It's nothing."
As she spoke, she opened the makeup box beside her, neatly arranging gold hairpins, jade hairpins, earrings, and bracelets inside. Her eyes swept over the various kinds of rouge and face powder arranged next to the bronze mirror.
She thought to herself that it was a waste for him not to become an old nanny.
"Miss, this servant, Granny Qiu, requests an audience." Granny Qiu stood at the door with her hands clasped, looking down at the ground, waiting for instructions from inside. She had only been bought by the general half a year ago. Besides her, there were seven other people: one was Hua Ying, a palace maid; two head maids, Jiang An and Jiang Shui; and four junior maids, Ying Hong, Ying Liu, Ying Yang, and Ying Chun. They had been kept on the estate for half a year under the supervision of Granny Hua Ying. A little over a month ago, she received a letter from the general and returned to the manor to prepare everything she needed.
The eight women were clearly prepared by the general for the young lady in the house. Facing their future master, they were naturally extra cautious and showed no sign of probing or disrespect.
Soon, a maidservant emerged from the room, lifting the curtain. She had crescent-shaped eyebrows, a peach-blossom face, and a gentle voice. She lifted Granny Qiu slightly and said with a smile, "Granny Qiu, come in."
Granny Qiu followed Jiang Yue with her head bowed and eyes lowered. She walked slowly and quietly into the room without looking around. She simply reported politely, "Miss, the maids from Xiwan Garden say that we will be having dinner in the Old Madam's room tonight."
Qingli paused, the ivory comb stopping in her hair. Her foster mother—no, she should call her aunt from now on—how could she have changed her personality so quickly? She couldn't refuse. If she saw her, she could say something, or say nothing at all. Li Qingwu was right in front of her; she could just follow her lead and have a quiet meal.
She bit her lip, lost in thought, and managed to sort out her jumbled thoughts. She didn't know how long she had been lingering at the Meng residence, whether it was short or long. She had already kept her promise, and now entrusting him with her affairs was indeed a great trouble. It was best not to cause any trouble.
Granny Qiu had not heard a reply from the head of the household for a long time. She thought that she had offended someone by making a decision on her own. She looked up uneasily and saw that the house was furnished by them. Although she knew that the house was luxurious, she was still trembling with fear.
But upon closer inspection, the room's opulence paled in comparison to the woman's stunning beauty. Her long, flowing, jet-black hair, half-wet, cascaded down her back, held in her hand. Following her jade-like hand upwards, she couldn't help but gasp. Her face was exquisitely beautiful, with cherry-red lips and pearly white teeth. Coupled with the shy, alluring look in her eyes, she was completely captivated.
In a panic, he quickly lowered his head to hide his astonishment. He was unsure about the relationship between the young lady and the general, and he became even more vigilant in his actions.
Qingli calmed her mind, and her agitated mood dissipated. She looked at Granny Qiu. Having stayed in the inner quarters for a long time, she had developed the ability to judge people. She noticed that Granny Qiu was capable in handling affairs and treated her with more sincerity. "Granny Qiu, please get up."
Jiang Zhao, having received a signal from his mistress, took out the copper coins he had exchanged from his sleeve and stuffed them into his bosom despite Qiu Mama's refusal. Qiu Mama felt that it was too hot to handle, yet she also felt that her sensible mistress should do so. However, for some reason, when she thought of the general's appearance, she became anxious and felt that she should accept whatever the mistress did, whether it was a scolding or a reward.
With a blush, Granny Qiu said, "Miss, apart from Granny Huaying who has taken leave, all the servants of Dongwan Garden are outside, waiting for your summons."
Inside Qingli were Jiang Yue, Jiang Zhao, and Granny Sui, and outside was Granny Qiu. That was enough. As a young lady living in her aunt's house, why would she need such a grand display? So she arranged, "As before, everyone do their own thing. I have nothing to arrange here."
Granny Qiu felt that the young lady had misunderstood, and reported again, "Young lady, we servants are all servants prepared for you by the general. Just like these clothes and tea sets, if you do not order us around, we will be terrified."
When Qingli heard Granny Qiu mention clothes, her ears burned. Once her feigned composure was triggered, the exquisite items all around seemed to carry his aura and envelop her, making her feel both hot and restless.
It wasn't until I saw him in Xiwan Garden that the heat intensified, making my face look like a beautiful sunset.
Meng Qingshan sat upright on one side of the hall, holding a book in one hand. His large palm made it impossible to see the contents of the book. He was dressed in a black robe with a waterweed pattern, and his gold belt was adorned with red agate. His waist was cinched tightly, making him look exceptionally strong and powerful. Every part of him exuded a refined and noble air.
She looked up again and her eyes met his. Realizing she had been caught peeping at someone, her eyelashes trembled. Meng Qingshan placed the book on the table between them and watched the blush spread across her porcelain-white neck. He smiled slightly.
"Cousin, what book are you reading?"
Having already made her plans, Qingli didn't stand on ceremony and changed how she addressed him, just in time to test his reaction.
Meng Qingshan smoothed out the book, and when she saw it clearly, she was stunned for a moment. Only endless shame and anger rushed to her head, and she curled up like a steamed shrimp. Back in the Dingxi Prince's Mansion, she had secretly mocked him for being all brawn and no brain, not taking her childish annotations seriously. Now, thinking that he had seen everything, she immediately turned her body to the side, wishing she could find a crack to crawl into.
He tried to calm his pounding heart with heavy breaths, secretly angered by his deep scheming and habitual manipulation of people.
When Meng's mother heard the maid report that her young mistress had arrived, she hurriedly led Li Qingwu out of the inner room and looked at the two people sitting upright to one side, with a table in the background.
As the sun set and dusk fell, the rosy clouds shone brightly on the two of them, both dressed in light-colored clothes, like a golden couple. Meng Qingshan's cold and stern features softened and became handsome, while Qingli blushed and looked charming. Such a beautiful scene was beyond reproach.
Seeing the suspicion on her aunt's feet, Li Qingwu felt even more anxious, but dared not show any jealousy. She forced a smile and said sarcastically, "Sister is here, why don't you come to pay your respects to your aunt? If people find out, they'll laugh at us for being unruly."
Qingli didn't respond to her words, but slowly got up and stepped forward, bowing and curtsying, "Qingli greets Aunt."
The peaceful and harmonious scene just now reminded Meng's mother of the happiness of her family of three many years ago, and her heart softened. She no longer spoke harshly, but she also did not speak gently. She gave her a deep look, then turned her gaze away and said calmly, "Get up."
Lin Mama stood at the back, relieved that she had passed this hurdle safely, and asked permission to have her meal in the west wing.
The meal was peaceful and harmonious. Meng's mother asked Li Qingwu and Meng Qingshan to stay and talk. Qingli was pleased with this and left after curtsying.
Kyoto's summer is scorching hot, without even a breath of wind. Walking on the ground at noon makes your soles ache. But now, with the moon and stars shining brightly, the leaves rustle in the wind, their whispers brushing against your ears, and your mood inexplicably lifts.
Discovering that your worries are just needless anxieties is incredibly relaxing.
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