Chapter 278 Caring for My Cousin
The medicine prescribed by Physician Wen was indeed effective and worked quickly. After only one dose, Meng Jinyao's unbearable abdominal pain was relieved. Although there was still some lingering pain, it was bearable. She felt much more energetic and could walk freely without having to bend over and clutch her stomach in pain.
The next day, Gu Jingxi saw that she was much better, so he went to work at the Dali Temple without worry. He had a lot of official business to attend to that day, so he told her that she didn't need to wait for him for dinner.
A few days later, her period ended, and Meng Jinyao felt much better. She had originally planned to visit Aning at the Song family, but Aning was being kept at home by Madam Song awaiting marriage and couldn't easily come out. So she decided to take the initiative to go there herself. She would go to the Liang Prince's Mansion to find Ayan the next day. She wouldn't be tied up with any official duties and would have plenty of free time, which would be perfect for visiting her close friends.
Unexpectedly, just as they were about to leave, the maidservant came to report that the eldest young mistress of the Luo family had arrived.
The eldest daughter-in-law of the Luo family?
Meng Jinyao was stunned for a moment, then immediately thought of her deceased aunt's only child, her cousin Luo Yong'an. The eldest daughter-in-law of the Luo family was her cousin's wife. A few days ago, her uncle was transferred to the capital, and they met at her grandmother's birthday celebration. She just didn't know why he suddenly came to visit.
She instructed, "Go quickly and invite the guests over." Then she instructed Xia Zhu, who was closest to her, "Xia Zhu, go and prepare tea."
Madam Xu was a gentle woman. She had a good impression of her husband's cousin from their last meeting. When she saw Meng Jinyao, her gentle smile deepened, and she asked softly, "Cousin, I hope my sudden visit hasn't bothered you?"
"How could I be bothering you? I don't usually have anything important to do, so it's good that you're here to keep me company and help me pass the time." Meng Jinyao gestured for Xu to sit down, then asked, "What brings you here today, cousin-in-law?"
Madam Xu wasn't one to beat around the bush, so she got straight to the point: "Cousin, after that disgraceful incident at Grandmother's birthday banquet last time, my husband was worried that you would be depressed if you learned about the cause of death of your aunt and your eldest cousin. He couldn't come over himself, so he sent me to check on you. Now that we see that you are in good spirits, we are relieved."
Meng Jinyao was taken aback, not expecting it was because of this. A warm feeling washed over her, and she replied softly, "I'm sorry to have worried you, cousin. At first, I was filled with resentment, but seeing Sun get such retribution has made me feel much better. Now that my enemy is dead, I won't dwell on this matter anymore. Don't worry."
Madam Xu nodded gently: "It's good that my cousin can think things through. I originally came to see my cousin when I attended the wedding banquet for Miss Gu a few days ago, but my child and mother-in-law both caught a cold and fell ill. The old and the young need to be taken care of, so I couldn't get away and didn't come to the wedding banquet that day."
Meng Jinyao knew about this. Her cousin-in-law had sent a message a day in advance, saying that neither her cousin-in-law nor her uncle's second wife could come. Only the men from the Luo family attended the banquet. They were too busy at the time, so she didn't see her cousin. She asked, "Cousin-in-law, are Zheng-ge and Madam Luo feeling better?"
Ms. Xu replied, "Cousin, don't worry, they are all fine now."
Xu was gentle and talkative, and the two had a pleasant conversation. At noon, she stayed to have lunch with Meng Jinyao.
Before leaving, Madam Xu suddenly remembered something and said, "Cousin, are you free in two days? It's like this, the Luo family didn't host any banquets during their trip to the capital. I was thinking of holding a tea party in a couple of days to invite the newly acquainted ladies and relatives and friends to come and get together."
Without hesitation, Meng Jinyao agreed: "Sister-in-law, let's meet again in two days. I'll be free then."
Ms. Xu replied with a smile, "Then I will be looking forward to my cousin's arrival in two days."
After seeing Madam Xu off, Ningdong quietly asked, "Madam, did Young Madam Luo come to see you, or did she come to invite you to a banquet in two days?"
Meng Jinyao replied gently, "Both are true, don't overthink it. My cousin treated me very well when he visited my grandmother in the capital before, and he can distinguish right from wrong. My uncle is currently working in the Ministry of Personnel. Although he is a fifth-rank official, the Marquis said that my uncle is an upright and efficient person, and he might be able to rise in the future. Such a person would not need a junior like me to curry favor with him."
Ningdong said with shame, "It was my overthinking."
Meng Jinyao said, "I can't blame you. There are just too many people with ulterior motives. It's good to be vigilant. Not to mention you, sometimes I'm like a frightened bird, always feeling that others have ulterior motives and want to harm me."
She paused slightly as she spoke, then added, "My cousin and his wife are both very kind."
Ning Dong suddenly said, "Madam, the Second Miss probably won't be attending the banquet at the Luo family's house that day, will she?"
Meng Jinyao shook her head: "Madam Sun has not been dead for long. As Madam Sun's child, even though Madam Sun has been divorced, she still needs to observe mourning for her. Children of divorced mothers must observe mourning for a year."
Ningdong slapped her forehead: "Look at my memory, I actually forgot about that."
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The Luo family.
Luo Yong'an was playing with the child when he saw his wife return. He handed the child to the wet nurse and asked her to take the child away. He then asked about his cousin: "Madam, how is my cousin?"
As soon as Ms. Xu sat down, she heard her husband's question. With a smile on her lips, she said gently, "Husband, don't worry. My cousin is very insightful and open-minded. That matter has not bothered her. She seems to be in good spirits now. She is not depressed and can still laugh and talk with me."
"It's good that you can take it easy." Luo Yong'an sighed softly, his tone carrying a hint of brotherly pity for his sister. "My cousin has had a hard life. She suffered at the hands of that Sun woman, her uncle didn't care about her, and her grandmother was prejudiced against her, mistakenly believing that my aunt and my older cousin were killed by her. She hasn't had a good life these past few years."
Xu knew that her husband cared about this cousin, but she was not jealous. Her husband's feelings for his cousin were those of an older brother to his younger sister, but his feelings for her were those of a man and a woman. Her husband had put in a lot of effort to please her and get her to agree to marry him. Even after he married her, he did not take any concubines or maids during her pregnancy.
She comforted him, saying, "My husband, now that Grandmother knows the truth, those prejudices should be gone."
Luo Yong'an remained silent after hearing this. A few days ago, he went to see his maternal grandmother. His grandmother's dislike for his cousin was not something that happened overnight; it had been going on for many years. Even if she knew the truth, she would not change her attitude towards his cousin anytime soon. From the changes in his grandmother's expression when he mentioned his cousin, he could tell that his grandmother still disliked his cousin as always.
Madam Xu added, "By the way, my cousin will be coming to the family banquet in a couple of days."
Upon hearing this, Luo Yong'an thought of another cousin and asked, "Madam, did you invite Cousin Ayu?"
Madam Xu glanced at him and scolded, "Don't you trust me to handle things? I wouldn't make such a foolish mistake. My cousin Ayu lost her mother and needs to observe mourning, so I didn't send a letter to the Meng family."
Luo Yong'an quickly replied, "I was just afraid that Madam would forget."
Mrs. Xu chuckled helplessly, "Although I've been a bit too busy lately, how could I forget something like this?"
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