Chapter 223 Grievances
Because of the old lady's sudden hesitation, the issue of my aunt's residence was left unresolved.
This matter was not a big deal to Meimei. There were plenty of good places to live in the Hou Mansion. A married woman who came back to live in her parents' home could live anywhere she wanted. She brought her son-in-law back, right? She could live in Wenhua Courtyard. If Xu Xiaojuan was a likable lady, she would have arranged it. The marriage of Lao Liu had not yet been decided. It was too early. Besides, there were other courtyards in the inner courtyard that were better than Wenhua Courtyard. Lao Liu could choose any one of them as his new home. But Xu Xiaojuan was too unlovable. She didn't want to see this lady, so she made up a lie. Lao Liu was also smart and clever. He said what she meant. The truth and lies could not be ignored. You, old lady, can arrange it. If you love your granddaughter and force her family to live in Wenhua Courtyard, it would mean that you are bullying Lao Liu. Although he is a concubine's son, he is a male in the Xu Mansion. He also passed the imperial examination and has a reputation. Do you dare to look down on him? If you don't live in Wenhua Courtyard, and let Xu Xiaojuan and her husband live in any of the inner courtyards, then will you still care about the three unmarried girls of the Xu family? It's related to the reputation of chastity. Unless they don't have to get married in the future, living in Jingyuan is actually very good. It's secluded and peaceful, just right for studying. Mr. Li doesn't have to go through the inner courtyard to go in and out, and the aunt can accompany her husband to study attentively, and go to the inner courtyard to greet him in the morning and evening. I will support you for two years with good food, drink and clothes. At least you can pass the imperial examination and go wherever you want. People who dislike each other will only add troubles when they meet.
When Xu Xiaojuan heard about this, she was furious: How could they arrange for her family to live in a remote and deserted courtyard? Not to mention that it was an unlucky place for concubines who made mistakes, but to let her husband who was about to take the imperial examination use the back door all day long, wasn't that deliberately implying that he was unlucky and had no future? Throwing off her dignity, Xu Xiaojuan ran directly to Ziyun Hall and scolded Meimei:
"You were originally just a daughter of a low-class family. How dare you look down on me after you married into the Xu family? I am the eldest daughter of the Hou family. I was born and raised here. My parents have loved and cared for me since I was a child. They have never looked down on me because I am a girl? My father loved me so much that he even loved me more than my brothers... Where were you at that time? Who were you? This family is my home first. You have only been here for two years. Grandmother and mother are still sitting in the hall. You are so domineering. Do you feel guilty to treat a married girl like this? Your brother dotes on you. So what if you are a royal family? I am not afraid of you - go out and let the people in the city comment on you. Is it reasonable for you to do this? If you return to your mother's home and your sister-in-law treats you like this, will you feel disappointed?"
Meimei was sitting in Ziyun Hall listening to the butler's reply, writing and drawing on paper with a brush in her hand, when suddenly Xu Xiaojuan came in without any notice, pointed at her and scolded her like a machine gun while crying. Meimei was stunned. How could a daughter of the Hou family have such a cultivated demeanor? She was really sorry for the old Hou who loved her like his life, and also for Madam Zheng who gave birth to her, raised her, and hoped that she would become a phoenix.
Outside Ziyun Hall, under the shade of a small banyan tree, the wet nurse Zheng Mama, who had been chasing Xu Xiaojuan, and the two older maids Shuixiang and Yuexiang were at a loss and panicked. They saw figures swaying at the gate of the courtyard, and Mama He led Chunyue in hurriedly. Mama Zheng quickly approached them, pointed at Ziyun Hall, and whispered to Mama He:
"I couldn't hold her back, my aunt...went in."
When Mother He listened to Xu Xiaojuan's scolding, she couldn't help but get angry and pointed at Mother Zheng and scolded:
"Useless thing, the eldest girl was handed over to you to nurse. Was it because I was blind that I couldn't tell her off? Why couldn't I hold on to her? Now you've made a fool of yourself, haven't you?
” The young lady is meticulous and can understand the eldest lady’s heart better than the eldest girl… If you want the eldest lady to recuperate and get better quickly, what the eldest girl should do now is to curry favor with the young lady. She has been married for many years, but she is still so ignorant. She makes a fuss over trivial matters. What does she want to do? She has lost power in her husband’s family, and it’s good enough for her to have a place to support herself when she returns to her parents’ home. Don’t be ungrateful and annoy the young lady and involve the eldest lady. I think nothing will happen to you.”
After saying this, Mother He took Chunyue away in anger. She had wanted to come here to persuade her aunt, but now it was useless. She was too embarrassed to go in. She didn't want to see things turn out like this. Mother He sighed: How could such a smart and strong-willed wife give birth to such a daughter?
In Ziyun Hall, all the maids were stunned. Seeing that the young lady just lowered her head and wrote silently, they thought that she was frightened by the eldest aunt. Immediately, several maids came forward to persuade Xu Xiaojuan, but Xu Xiaojuan scolded them:
"Step aside, who are you? Are you worthy enough to talk to me?"
Meimei put down the brush, took the round fan from Cuixi's hand and waved it, saying leisurely: "Let the eldest aunt know: they are nothing, they are the managers of the Xu Mansion. Because they are older than us, the young and old men and women in the Xu Mansion have to respect them as mothers. The eldest aunt's surname is Li now, and she should be more respectful to them when she returns to her parents' home. Not to mention anything else, the food, drinks and clothes that the eldest aunt eats, uses and wears on weekdays have to be brought to her by them."
'Nonsense'
Xu Xiaojuan snorted contemptuously: "A slave is a slave, and a master is a master. What's the point of talking about seniority and age? I enjoy the inheritance left by my ancestors. What does it have to do with them? If these slaves don't serve their masters, they will have no way to survive."
Meimei's face darkened, and she didn't want to pretend to be calm and elegant. It was getting late, and if she didn't hurry up, she would delay the time. She had other things to do in the afternoon. She glanced at Cuixi and Cuisi, and thought, forget it, these two are not as good at talking as Cuilian. She looked at the maids, and saw that Aunt Lin was looking at her eagerly, so she said to Aunt Lin:
"Is this how you manage the inner courtyard? How will you deal with people who enter the Purple Cloud Hall without notifying you when you are working?"
Mrs. Lin's eyes lit up and she became more energetic: "Advise him. If he doesn't listen, beat him out with a stick."
Xu Xiaojuan was so angry that she was shaking all over: "How dare you"
Meimei looked at Xu Xiaojuan coldly: "Today, I will not bother with you because you are Xu Junying's sister and Heng'er's aunt. If you dare to be instigated by others and insult me again, I will not be able to kick you out next time. I let your family live in the quiet courtyard just as a suggestion. It is up to you whether to live there or not. Since you are the one who is in charge of keeping me here, you can live wherever you want. Now, listen to Lin Ma's scolding, and then get out of here."
Xu Xiaojuan almost fainted: "What did you say? How could you be so rude..."
She rushed forward, and Mrs. Lin waved her hand. Two sturdy maids came forward, grabbed Xu Xiaojuan on the left and right, and dragged her out: "Aunt, please stop making trouble. The young lady is tired enough taking care of the house affairs. Don't make it difficult for the young lady."
Xu Xiaojuan struggled desperately, but she was no match for the middle-aged maid who was as strong as an ox. She was dragged out in a few seconds.
The maids in Ziyun Hall continued to reply. The slightly hoarse voice of Lin Mama came from the corridor outside the hall: "It is true that the eldest aunt is the eldest daughter of the Hou Mansion. No matter how much the old master and the wife love her, it is the Hou Mansion of the past. The old lady is old and the wife is sick. The master is in charge of the outside affairs and the young lady is in charge of the inside affairs. All matters in the inner house are decided by the young lady. This is the most reasonable. The eldest aunt is also a mother. She has both sons and daughters. Imagine that when Xu'er gets married in the future, won't the daughter-in-law be in charge of the family and make the decisions? Why does the daughter come back and argue with the daughter-in-law? The young lady is unwilling to argue with the eldest aunt. That's because the young lady is virtuous and kind. When did the eldest aunt hear that the Qin family is a low-born and poor family? The young lady's ancestors were important officials in the court, and the deceased in-laws' old master also had an official position. Who is the first place in the imperial examination this year? Listen carefully, eldest aunt: that is the master and the young lady of the Qin family. Madam’s dear brother, Heng’er’s dear uncle. During those days when the emperor granted a Qionglin Banquet and the No. 1 Scholar paraded through the streets in red to show off his official position, our Hou Ye was just accompanying him from the side. That kind of glory and splendor, not to mention the eldest aunt, no one of a certain age in the capital has ever seen it. Do you know the reason? The uncle in law is the No. 1 Scholar who has won three first places in the imperial examination. He is the incarnation of the Star of Literature. Only one such person appears in several dynasties and generations. Which emperor would treat him as a treasure when he met one? The eldest aunt, please don’t believe everything you hear and say such meaningless words. Even if the young lady protects you, if those gossipers spread it out and offend the No. 1 Scholar, the eldest aunt can’t afford it. The young lady is willing to make plans for the eldest aunt. Isn’t Jingyuan the best place to study? The eldest aunt can go and see for herself. What a nice courtyard, it’s tidy and clean, like a small courtyard with a separate entrance, quiet and peaceful. I guarantee that the son-in-law will study well and pass the imperial examination in the future.”
Meimei didn't know how painful it must have been for Xu Xiaojuan to be forced to listen to everything that Mother Lin said. Anyway, she only listened to it occasionally and felt overwhelmed. Was it necessary for this nagging Mother Lin to say so much?
Xu Junying has a grandmother like that. She is already speechless. Unexpectedly, there is such a sister who jumps out. She is almost devastated.
Marry, marry, I've heard that you're not marrying a person, but a family, a big family.
What a mess! If I could regret it, I would like to continue to resist. Xu Junying, please take me to work outside. Living in this mansion is really a headache.
Xu Xiaojuan was kicked out of Ziyun Hall. She was filled with shame and anger. She ignored the advice of her wet nurse and maids, and cried all the way to Jinhua Hall to find the old lady.
The home of the past has changed. The Xu Mansion is in a mess and divided into two. Her mother is ill in bed and she doesn't see her sister-in-law. Even her brother doesn't live in the Hou Mansion. Only the old lady still lives peacefully in Jinhua Hall, making her feel like she's home.
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