Chapter 110 Peace of Mind
Xu Junying's thoughts were not as complicated as Mei Niang thought. His intention was actually very simple. He just wanted to use this action to let Zhuang Yulan and Zheng Meiyu see clearly who was the one standing by his side and who could legitimately receive his care.
How could he not hear that Mei Niang was bullying the two cousins? He was used to it and just treated it as watching children playing games. He was helpless with the performance of Zhuang Yulan and Zheng Meiyu. Zhuang Yulan's eyes changed from aggressive to jealous and resentful, and Zheng Meiyu shrank behind him and naturally pulled his sleeve. Zhuang Yulan saw it and became very anxious. She also hurried away and followed him closely. The two cousins were so close, but Mei Niang was a few steps away from him.
He didn't like this feeling. Zheng Meiyu was fine, but he didn't understand why the old lady was teaching Zhuang Yulan. How about childhood sweethearts? Since he agreed to let the elders make the decision and they were already at the stage of discussing marriage, he shouldn't avoid suspicion at all. In his impression, his cousin was gentle and graceful, shy, dignified and elegant, like a lady in the boudoir, but now she couldn't keep her cool.
It is needless to say that she entered the palace before being engaged, as she had grown up in the mansion since she was a child. Cousin Lan should not be so eager to show up and act completely as the master. With her presence in Jinhua Hall, Mei Niang always refuses to come, using the excuse that it is too tiring to take care of the housework and that Cousin Lan should share some of the burden. Xu Junying and Zhuang Yulan have known each other since childhood. They have eaten tea and snacks at the same table several times, and they often take care of each other. It is strange that since he discussed marriage with her, he is not used to sitting with her and being served by her. He would rather watch Mei Niang standing behind everyone, serving soup and dishes for everyone, persuading one to eat this, coaxing another to eat that, with lively expressions on her face. After standing at the back for a long time, she would occasionally reveal a look of boredom and resentment in her eyes. He only looked at her a few times, and he could eat more sweetly. Sometimes he felt a little sorry for her falling behind and not being able to eat hot meals. That night, after returning to her room, she actually had another meal, only then did she realize that she had only eaten one or two bites in Jinhua Hall just for show. The leftover soup and food were indeed difficult to swallow, but the Xu family had a tradition that they had to serve their elders and younger siblings first and get permission before they could sit down.
The first and second wives are both like this. Didn't the old lady serve the ancestors before? But she just knows how to play tricks, avoids when she can, and pushes away when she can, without any guilt at all. Xu Junying repeatedly asked her to go to Jinhua Hall because of a conversation with the old lady. The old lady was indeed dissatisfied with Mei Niang's casualness. She sighed and said that she should be more careful. After all, she was from a poor family and had never seen the world. It was a great change for her to marry into a family like ours... After all, it is better to learn rules in elementary school. Once they become habits, you will naturally be able to do them perfectly. Look at Lan'er, she is so respectful and virtuous, but she can't learn it overnight. You will have to rely on her to support your face in the future as a real lady from a noble family. Mei Niang has looks, doesn't Lan'er have it? And her character and education are better than Mei Niang. Although they will sit side by side in the future, Lan'er will still be the main person in charge of the family..."
This was also Xu Junying's original plan: to place Mei Niang in another courtyard, marry another wife and have children, and of course let his wife take care of the household affairs. But after these days, he changed his mind and decided not to let Mei Niang go. Since she died and came back to life, and refused to let him go, then let's waste time together and see what kind of bad fate it is!
Following the elders' wishes, marrying a wife, taking a concubine, and having children is the responsibility of the eldest son. He can afford it, but Mei Niang must accompany him. She is a kind of fresh air full of fun, filling the place where he lives. He only needs to look at her and breathe her breath quietly. Isn't she capable? She will always be in charge of this family. With her, life can change. Without her... Without her, there is no need to change!
So he asked Mei Niang to go to Jinhua Hall often and show her filial piety as the eldest grandson's wife. He also began to deliberately protect Mei Niang in front of everyone, to let the old lady and everyone in the mansion understand: Even if he married Zhuang Yulan, Mei Niang would still be the mistress of Qinghua Courtyard.
Xu Junying's thoughtfulness and care for Mei Niang irritated Zhuang Yulan and Zheng Meiyu at the same time. Fortunately, Mei Niang couldn't stand it and hurried down the stairs, otherwise she would have been killed by the hateful eyes of her two cousins.
The two allies have been successfully alienated, and it is very satisfying to watch them fighting each other. Xu Junying is too talkative. He came here to interfere and the situation has been reversed back to the original point. Well, it cannot be changed at the moment. Qin Meiniang is still the common enemy of Zhuang Yulan and Zheng Meiyu.
Zheng Meiyu followed Xu Junying closely and walked down the stairs. Zhuang Yulan watched their figures gradually disappear into the night, her face darkened, and she turned and walked into the house.
Xu Xiping and Xu Junqiao were saying goodbye to the old lady. When they left the room, Zhuang Yulan snuggled up to old lady Xu, pouting and looking unhappy.
Mother Ji glanced at her secretly, and said to the old lady with a smile, "Miss Daolan seems to be worried!"
The old lady poked Zhuang Yulan's forehead with a finger and said with a smile, "How can she not have something on her mind? The dowry has been put together one by one, and she has to do several embroidery works by herself. She hasn't even finished half of them yet. Today, I called my cousin Yu to come over. How many pieces can she do?"
Zhuang Yulan shook her head shyly: "I didn't get it done. Cousin Yu suddenly had to go to the bathroom again, which made it difficult for me to concentrate on doing it."
Mother Ji said that Miss Yu had a stomachache. She heard from her maid Ru'er that she ate too many walnuts last night and drank cold water. Walnut kernels are oily, and drinking cold water would wash it down. Isn't this asking for trouble? "
Zhuang Yulan felt annoyed when she heard her mention walnuts. She could still vividly remember the time when her cousin Ying took her to crack walnuts under the shade of a tree when she was a child. Her cousin Ying was worried that the hard shells of the walnuts would scratch her hands, and was also afraid that she would have to wait too long, so he always cracked and peeled the walnuts one by one, and put the fragrant and crispy walnut kernels in her hands, smiling and saying, "Lan'er, eat them. Your cousin will crack more for you!"
She ate a petal, raised her hand and put another petal to cousin Ying's mouth. The walnuts are so delicious, cousin, eat some too!"
Cousin Ying ate the walnuts from her hand and praised her for being so well behaved.
Zheng Meiyu counts? Is she worthy of asking her cousin Ying to crack walnuts for her?
Mother Ji saw that Zhuang Yulan looked unhappy and was clinging to the old lady, as if she had something to say, so she told Ruixue and Ruiyu to go down and prepare hot water, and wait for the old lady to wash her face and feet so that she could go to bed. She brought a plate of candied dates and placed it on the low table next to the old lady, saying, "The old lady and the young lady are eating fruit. I'm going to the back yard to see how Mrs. Lin is doing with her job."
Mother Ji and the maids including Ruixue, Ruiyu and others went out, leaving only the old lady and Zhuang Yulan, the grandparents and grandchildren, sitting on the couch in the room.
The old lady picked a candied date and handed it to Zhuang Yulan, but Zhuang Yulan said, "I don't want to eat it. I can't eat it!"
The old lady looked at her and put the candied dates into her mouth. "Hasn't she been fine these days? You don't need to take medicine. The doctor said that in the spring, your illness will be cured naturally. In the future, you will get married and have children, and your body will be strong, and the root cause of the disease will be cured."
Zhuang Yulan lowered her head. "It's almost March, and the Queen Mother hasn't summoned you to the palace yet... I don't think Cousin Ying treats Mei Niang the way Ruizhu said. They, they are very good!"
The old lady ate another candied date and said with a smile, "I took it as a big deal. Don't worry, your cousin is getting older and has more social events in the officialdom, so he naturally understands the difficulties of his wife's family not being in power. Didn't the housekeeper in the front yard say that? There were many invitations to the banquet, but your cousin accepted them and didn't let Mei Niang in. He was hiding his incompetence! Who among the women of the noble families is not of noble birth and background? When she entered the palace on the Lantern Festival, she didn't dare to talk about what she saw and heard in the palace, which shows that she couldn't even see the faces of the empress and concubines. But you are different. When you get married in the future, there will be the empress dowager in the palace. When relatives come and go, the empress dowager will lead the way for you, and you can meet the empress. Junying and the emperor have been good friends since childhood, and you will have plenty of opportunities to meet the empress in the future. The empress is in a similar situation to you. She also lost her mother when she was six or seven years old. Jiangning's grandmother took her to raise her for a few years... You may have a lot to say. You have a good relationship with the empress, so what's the worry about having children? Don’t think Mei Niang looks fine on the outside. She has been sick for a month and has been dead for two days. How can she recover on the inside? Ruizhu said that Junying went to her room only a few times. I asked him that day and he said that he had invited a famous doctor to diagnose her. It is not suitable for her to have children or take elixirs. It is important to live separately and take good care of her body. She already has Heng’er. After you marry in, I will find a good doctor to see you. If you can have a boy in one go, it will be great! Lan’er, your great aunt is old. Because of the incident in our family a few years ago, your uncle was impeached and has been suppressed. He only occupies an idle position and cannot move. He is like this. You and Ying’er are all talented people. They will always show up... You and Ying’er should live well, but you should take care of your mother’s family!”
Zhuang Yulan nodded and said, "Grandma, don't worry, Lan'er understands all this. But, this matter has been discussed for so long, and it's just missing the Queen Mother's word. It can't be done, Lan'er is unsure!"
"What a silly girl! Don't let anyone see you so anxious." The old lady scolded, "Your cousin Ying never regrets what he has promised. Just wait patiently. You will be a bride in March at the latest!"
After hearing this, Zhuang Yulan felt more at ease. She looked up at the old lady, smiled shyly, picked up a candied date and put it in her mouth and bit it gently. The sweet, sticky and fragrant taste was her favorite.
Over there, Xu Junying accompanied the two of them, talking all the way as they walked towards Qiuhuayuan.
He and Mei Niang rarely walked together. One walked in front and the other behind, each with their own thoughts. This time, with Zheng Meiyu in the middle, it was even more so. Mei Niang even went against her usual habit and walked in front, and walked very fast, five or six steps away from them. She didn't turn around and look at them until they reached the gate of Qiuhua Courtyard, waiting for them to come closer so that they could go in together.
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