Chapter 161 Measurement
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When they returned to the upper room of Qinghua Courtyard, as soon as they entered the door, Cui Xi and Cui Si immediately asked people to prepare hot water for the master and the grandmother to bathe and change clothes. Cui Lian stood there and looked around the room. Her face immediately sank and she turned around and walked out. Mei Niang sat at the table and looked at her back without saying a word, only motioning Cui Xi to bring tea.
Mother Wang said that the grandmother was tired, so she asked the wet nurse and Xia Lian to take Heng'er to wash and change clothes, and then put him to bed. Mother Wang was also tired after a day, her back and waist ached, and her legs and feet were stiff. She asked Cheng'er to get some hot water for her to wash, and then she went to bed to rest. There was a maid in the upper room serving her, so she felt relieved.
After the last attack of leg pain, Mei Niang always advised her to do less work, rest more, and not to keep her on duty at night. In addition to asking Cheng'er and Ping'er to accompany her every day, she also assigned a maid to serve her, asked a famous doctor to prescribe a nourishing and conditioning recipe, and asked Cai Mama in the kitchen to arrange someone to make food for her. She treated her like a wet nurse. Although Wang Mama said that she couldn't afford it, she felt very happy in her heart, comforted and happy. She was worldly-wise and had seen the feelings of the Lord Hou for Mei Niang long ago, but Mei Niang refused and only wanted to run away from the Lord Hou's mansion, which made his wife anxious. She didn't have the concept of being faithful to one man like Madam Qin, but like Madam Qin, she believed that no one else could give Mei Niang happiness except the Lord Hou! Only Wang Mama knew how good a son the Lord Hou was. Mei Niang did something that violated the law of heaven, and he endured the pain and took it all for her. Just for this, Mei Niang should be grateful, respect and love him for the rest of her life, and live with him peacefully. What's more, the Lord Hou also recognized the eldest son and maintained Mei Niang's position as the legitimate wife. Isn't that enough? What else does she want?
While Mother Wang was worried about Mei Niang's ignorance, she was also carefully avoiding Lord Hou. As long as Lord Hou was in the upper room, she would disappear. She knew a lot and was not sure whether Lord Hou was willing to see her. In order to prevent Lord Hou from suddenly remembering the unpleasant past, she felt that there was no need for her to appear in front of him.
After Mei Niang and Xu Junying bathed and changed their clothes, Xu Junying went back to the study to read. Mei Niang called Cui Si and asked about Heng Er's condition. Cui Si said that the wet nurse and Xia Lian had gone to bed with him. Mei Niang gave up the idea of bringing him back. When she was about to go in to rest, Cui Lian came and reported something to her. Mei Niang lowered her eyes, yawned and said:
"I noticed it - forget it, there's no need to pursue it, and there's no need to blame anyone. We won't be living in this courtyard for long, and we'll have to return it to them eventually!"
Cui Xi came out and said that the bed had been made and all the quilts and sheets had been changed. Mei Niang nodded, got up to rest, and said to Cui Lian, "It was Cui Si last night, you will be on duty tonight. Heng Er is not by my side, so you can sleep more soundly!"
Cui Lian glanced at Cui Xi, and hesitated to speak. She only bowed respectfully and said, "Yes!"
Mei Niang stared at her with bright eyes: "Just say whatever you want to say. You know I don't like to hide things!"
Cui Lian lowered her head and said, "Replying to Grandma: Cui Si was not on duty in the upper room last night!"
Mei Niang was stunned for a moment, and looked at Cui Si: "Didn't I tell you? I'm tired, and I must have been sleeping very deeply. What if Heng'er fell off the bed when you were not around last night? I didn't see Heng'er when I got up this morning. Did he really fall off the bed?"
Cui Si turned her head to look at the small study room with the curtains drawn, and said softly: "To answer the grandmother: it was Master Hou who told me to go out. He said he wanted to watch the public on the couch and listen to what Heng Ge'er was saying..."
Mei Niang's eyes were fixed: "He? He comes to look after Heng'er?"
That means Xu Junying went to her bedside late at night!
She didn't know what happened last night. She slept really well, but she felt someone pulling her hair and soft claw-like hands touching her body. She knew it was Heng'er. Half asleep and half awake, it seemed that someone came to stop Heng'er and took him away. She remembered that she had arranged for Cui Si to guard outside. Was it Cui Si? She felt relieved and continued to sleep deeply...
Cui Xi said, "Mr. Hou must have played with Brother Heng for a long time last night. The couch was full of small things thrown by Brother Heng. Cui Lian and I spent a long time cleaning them up this morning!"
Mei Niang didn't ask any more questions. She pursed her lips and waved her hand: "Cui Lian, go to the couch. Cui Xi and Cui Si, go down. I'm going to rest!"
Before she got under the quilt and fell asleep, she was still thinking, what is Xu Junying going to do? Using Heng'er to get close to her bed, is he trying to create chaos, take the opportunity to climb up, and create some kind of fact, so that she will have to obey him from then on?
You must be dreaming. What world am I from? Could it be that I can't get over the word chastity? What a joke!
She really wanted to get up and run to mock and ask Xu Junying what his intention was in running to her bed in the middle of the night, but her body felt heavy and she couldn't move, she couldn't open her eyes, and her consciousness gradually became confused until she fell asleep.
Xu Junying finished reading all the documents in the study. It was already the evening. Baoju knocked on the door and asked, "Sir, do you want some hot tea?"
Xu Junying said: "Come in!"
Baoju came in with a pot of tea, and Xu Junying asked, "How is the matter I asked you to ask just now?"
Baoju replied, "I have inquired clearly: the one who leaked the news was Zeng Fugui's family, who is a messenger in our courtyard. Zeng Fugui was born in our family, but this daughter-in-law was born to the maid who came with her as a dowry... The eldest grandmother received the news from her mother's family and took the maids, big and small, who were close to her, and Wang Mama out of the house. Not long after they left, Miss Zhuang came with her people, accompanied by the second grandmother. The mother-in-law who was on duty in the corridor received the order from Miss Cuilian and did not want to open the door. Jinsuo, who was in front of Miss Zhuang, was very talkative and scolded the mother-in-law, saying something like "When the new grandmother moves in in a few days, you guys will be an eyesore even if you want to stay here!" The mothers-in-law couldn't help but use her title as the new grandmother to pressure others, so they opened the door. Miss Zhuang and the second grandmother went into the upper room and just measured around without touching anything inside. The mothers-in-law heard from Jinsuo that all the furniture and furnishings in this room would be replaced with new ones, and Miss Zhuang was buying them, so they needed to measure the sizes... By the way, the study has been tidied and decorated, and the master's bed has been replaced with new bedding and sheets, which was done by Miss Zhuang herself!"
Xu Junying raised his eyebrows and looked around: "Is it her? I thought it was Cuisi and the others - I know about this. Go down and rest. Tell them: There are still servants like this in Zeng Fugui's house. Go back to Madam Wang and clear them out. As for the two people by the lotus pond, it is inconvenient for the eldest grandmother to come forward to deal with them. You go and ask the two aunts. The aunt is kind and will handle this matter. Return their indentures, give each of them a farm and a sum of money, and let them go!"
Baoju nodded: "I will do it tomorrow!"
Xu Junying watched Baoju close the door and leave, then got up and went to the upper room. Cuilian was lying on the couch with her clothes on, sleeping lightly. She woke up when Xu Junying walked in, and suddenly sat up, almost scaring Xu Junying. Cuilian said, "Does the Lord want some tea?"
Xu Junying turned on the lamp on the table and waved his hand: "No, if you can't sleep well here, go back to your room and rest!"
As he spoke, he walked towards the inner room. Cui Lian bit her lip, thought for a moment, and decided not to listen to him. She fell down, covered her head with the quilt and pretended to sleep.
Xu Junying came out of the inner room, walked to open Mei Niang's gauze curtains, and seeing that she was sleeping soundly, he tucked in the corners of the quilt for her, stood in front of the bed for a while, turned around and came out, ignoring Cui Lian on the couch, and went to rummage through the cupboard. He found two quilts, carried them into the study and threw them on the new bed that Zhuang Yulan had made during the day, using one as a mattress and the other as a cover. The man who had not slept for two nights in a row closed his eyes and soon lost consciousness.
The next day, Mei Niang lived a familiar yet somewhat different day. She quickly washed, dressed, and had breakfast. Heng'er was already beside her. His childish babbling voice echoed in the yard, like the sound of nature. Mei Niang couldn't stop laughing when she heard it. She couldn't help but go over and play with him for a while before she left reluctantly. According to Cui Xi's arrangement, she first went to Qiuhua Courtyard to visit Madam Zheng, then to Jinhua Hall, and then to Ziyun Hall.
She is still the eldest lady of the Xu family and lives in the Hou Mansion, so she must act according to the rules of the Hou Mansion.
Mei Niang had never thought that Madam Zheng loved Zheng Meiyu so much. When she heard the news of her death, Madam Zheng actually had an acute illness, similar to a severe stroke - her hands and feet twitched, half of her body lost consciousness, and even the corner of her mouth was crooked, saliva was flowing, and she couldn't understand a word she said. Mei Niang stood in front of Madam Zheng's bed and almost didn't recognize her. She sighed in her heart: Is it that serious? Such a vicious niece was actually an angel in her mind. If she knew what Zheng Meiyu did, would she be directly angry to death?
Bai Jingyu was busy dealing with the affairs of the Hou Mansion in the morning. Xu Xiaorong, the concubine of the eldest house, stayed up late last night. This morning, it was the fourth grandmother Gan who came to serve the medicine by the bed. Mother He and Chunyue stayed by the bedside every morning and night to take care of the master. After Mei Niang arrived, she first bowed to Madam Zheng, explaining the reason why she could not guard the bedside for the next few days, and told her that Heng'er was fine and there was no need to worry. Madam Zheng made a sound and blinked her eyes. Mei Niang asked Mother He what this meant. Mother He wiped her tears and said:
"I miss Brother Heng and want to see Brother Heng!"
Mei Niang nodded and said to Madam Zheng, "Be patient. Heng'er came with me to my mother's house yesterday and he was tired all day. Let him rest well today. I will bring him here to pay respects to Grandmother tomorrow!"
Mrs. Zheng remained silent, closed her eyes, and did not move.
Mei Niang sighed, bowed slightly, turned around and walked out of the bedroom that made her feel depressed.
After walking out of the room and taking a few steps, I heard the door curtain fluttering behind me, and Mother He shouted in a choked voice:
"Grandma!"
Mei Niang turned around and saw Mother He leading Chunyue to kneel on the ground, tears streaming down Mother He's face, sobbing: "Grandma, please have pity on me! Considering that I have been taking care of you since I was a child, and now I really love Heng'er, please don't mind your past strictness - I treated you like that, but it was all for you and Heng'er's good! I've said that you are weak in nature, and if you are not suppressed and tempered, I'm afraid you will not be able to become a talent... There are many people in this Hou Mansion who are more talented and capable than you, but I only want you to take over her choice, just because you are the eldest daughter-in-law of the eldest son, the legitimate daughter-in-law, and the mother of Heng'er!"
Mei Niang looked at the curtain that was hanging down, motioned Cui Xi to help He Mama and Chunyue up, frowned and said: "How can you say that, mother? The eldest is the mistress of the Hou Mansion. She used to be in charge of the entire Hou Mansion. She has daughters-in-law, women, children, grandchildren, and granddaughters. Who should pity her? I know how she treats me. As a daughter-in-law, I can only be grateful for the teachings of my mother-in-law. How dare I blame her for being strict? Whether it is legitimate or not, mother, please don’t mention such words in the future. It will make brothers and sisters feel estranged. We are all daughters of the master. Who has not fulfilled his filial piety? If mother blames me for not coming to serve on the sickbed, I have made it clear just now - I followed the marquis to the palace to chant Buddhist scriptures and pray for the queen because of the emperor’s order. Yesterday, my sister-in-law gave birth to twins. I had to go home to help with some affairs. When I come back to the mansion, I will naturally take care of them. I will do my duty as a daughter-in-law. Don’t bother mother with more words!"
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