Chapter 226 New Home
There was no need for Meimei to make other arrangements. The old lady made the decision for Xu Xiaojuan. The grandparents wandered around the inner courtyard of the Hou Mansion for two days and finally decided on a place - Yuehua Courtyard on the north side. It was spacious and bright, with exquisite houses. There were front and back yards, rockery pavilions, curved bridges, lotus ponds, swaying willows, and lush flowers and trees. Courtyards of this size were originally prepared for gentlemen to live in. The main house, side houses, and back rooms could accommodate three wives and four concubines. If they were worried about the noise from the women and children in the main courtyard, they could hide in the small study room on the side. The Yuehua Courtyard is just such an elegant and quiet small academy with only a row of middle wing rooms. There are exotic flowers and plants planted all around. In summer, the rich fragrance of flowers lingers, coming from the Xianglan Pavilion separated by a wall. There is also an empty courtyard over there, with several exotic fragrant orchid trees brought from the palace. From May to July and August every year, the snow-white and beautiful flower buds are as dense as stars, hidden among the green leaves, giving off a refreshing fragrance, which makes people feel refreshed and happy.
Xu Xiaojuan immediately fell in love with the small academy filled with fragrance. Her husband Li Zhao was an elegant person who loved all kinds of orchids. He must be very fond of seeing such rare orchid trees every day. He would study harder in such a beautiful and quiet environment.
She discussed with the old lady and wanted to call someone to do some repairs in the yard. The housekeeper said that she had to go through the young lady, and the old lady scolded her. She immediately went to call the young lady. Meimei didn't want to get involved in that mess, and told the housekeeper: "Do whatever they like."
After the matter was settled, the maid came to report again. Meimei then realized that Xu Xiaojuan was quite smart after all. She separated Yuehua Courtyard from the inner courtyard with a brick wall, leaving only a corner door leading to the inner courtyard. She then opened a door in the north wall leading directly to the alley. The son-in-law could enter and exit from the north door without having to step into the inner courtyard.
In this way, Xu Xiaojuan moved into Yuehua Courtyard with great satisfaction. The old lady specially gathered her children, grandchildren and daughters-in-law for dinner in Jinhua Hall one day and announced her decision, saying that Yuehua Courtyard had been renovated into an independent courtyard, which would not hinder the girls and would allow the eldest aunt and brother-in-law to stay in Hou Mansion in a very decent manner, reunite with their brothers and sisters, and take care of the sick eldest wife. It was more than just the best of two worlds.
After saying that, he glanced at Meimei and added, "Only one's own flesh and blood would be willing to make such a plan. Otherwise, if they fall into the hands of those shallow and snobbish people, they will have to suffer and live in the backyard, go through the back door, and have bad luck."
Without waiting for Meimei to respond, the second master quickly changed the subject and asked Xu Xiaojuan when Li Zhao arrived in Beijing, why he specially ran back to Jiangyuan's house this time, what books he brought back to read, etc. He also told Xu Junyalang and Xu Junxuan to take the eldest son-in-law to walk around more often on weekdays to adapt to the personnel atmosphere in Beijing. Seeing that her husband was valued, Xu Xiaojuan smiled and felt even happier. She was very attentive in front of the old lady, the second master and the second wife. She spoke sweetly and politely, and her attitude was gentle and virtuous, as if she had regained the demeanor of a young lady at home.
Meimei didn't want to pay attention to the old lady and Xu Xiaojuan. In the past few days, Lingxuzi left and Zhang Jingyun left again, and also said clearly that he would not return to the capital in the next few years. The two kind and gentle people who had always given her strong support disappeared at the same time. The feeling of loss and regret was really too painful. In addition, there were thunder and rain in the middle of the night, and Meimei couldn't sleep well at night. She was depressed and even smiled less.
At night, after coaxing Heng'er to sleep, Cuixi brought Baizhan in. Baizhan, as usual, did not want Cuixi and the others to pass the letter on to him. He personally handed the letter to the young lady. He thought it was Xu Junying who asked him to do so. It was not a secret. It was just an ordinary family letter. Was it necessary to do this?
This was the third letter. After reading it, Meimei spread out on the table the letters that Xu Junying had sent back from thousands of miles away by messenger. There were three sheets of plain white letter paper, each just filled with writing, not more, not less. The strokes were vigorous and freehand. The words were neatly arranged whether you looked at them horizontally or vertically. Meimei wanted to laugh as she read them. There were no passionate love words, just ordinary greetings, asking about her health, and asking about Heng'er, saying that he was fine, and finally a few words about caring and missing her, and that was it.
Bai Zhan was waiting for her reply, and she only had two words to say: Everything is fine at home, don't worry, take care.
I really can't write anything. In my previous life, I used to use computers and mobile phones. I could type a long string of words with my fingers. Touch screen phones are even more convenient. I can write words with just a few strokes. Except for signing documents and filling in numbers, who has the patience to write so many words? Besides, her calligraphy is not very good. It takes a lot of effort to write these few words well.
A few days later, Li Zhao brought his five-year-old daughter Li Jiao to the capital again. This time Li Zhao returned to Jiangyuan because his mother suddenly fell seriously ill. Several younger brothers at home were afraid that something might happen to their mother, so they quickly sent an urgent letter asking him to go back. It turned out that his mother just had sha due to the hot weather and had no appetite. She was in a coma for two days. When he returned home, his mother gradually got better, so he had to set off back to the capital. His daughter Li Jiao grew up with her grandmother since she was a child. The couple did not take her with them when they left last time. This time, after Li's mother fell ill, she felt that her health was not as good as before, and she was afraid that she could not take care of her granddaughter. In addition, her son and daughter-in-law had to live in the capital for two years, and it would be pitiful for her granddaughter to not see her parents for a long time, so she asked her son to take her granddaughter with him.
Xu Xiaojuan was very happy to see her husband and daughter. The family reunited in the marquis's mansion in the capital. Li Zhao was very satisfied with the residence. Xu Xiaojuan proudly led her husband and children for a stroll in the courtyard, pointing out and teaching them to see various scenery. Although the Jiangyuan Li family was a wealthy family, such a courtyard was ten times better than the one they lived in before.
Daughter Li Jiao pulled her brother and happily ran on the clean and smooth terrazzo floor in the yard, holding Xu Xiaojuan's clothes and saying:
"Mother, aren't we going to go home in the future? Jiao'er and my brother like this place, so we can just live here, okay?"
Xu Xiaojuan smiled and touched her daughter's head: "You can live here as long as you like. This is originally your mother's home. Your father will study here and prepare for the exam. When he becomes an official in the future, will Jiao'er and Xu'er still worry about not having a good house to live in?"
Li Zhao was a little worried: "We'll only live here for two years, but if my uncle dislikes it, we..."
Xu Xiaojuan looked at him deeply and said, "Don't worry, my eldest brother is the most magnanimous and understanding. He is busy with official duties outside every day and never cares about the affairs of the inner courtyard. I am his biological sister, how can he not let me live at home for a few years? The two half brothers have nothing to say. Their mother has always been suppressed by my mother and cannot even go out of the courtyard. The one who is in charge of the household affairs now is the eldest sister-in-law, the one who offended the old lady before and was punished to live in the outer courtyard. She only said to the outside world that she had an acute illness caused by me. In fact, she was born in a poor family and had too little discipline and education. The old lady didn't like her. But she was born very beautiful and gave birth to Heng'er. The eldest brother couldn't bear to leave her and her son, so he forgave her and welcomed her back to the mansion to manage daily affairs. The old lady still has to decide on major matters. I grew up in front of the old lady since I was a child. How could the old lady not love me? It doesn't matter if my mother is sick and can't take care of me. We have the old lady, and everything will be fine."
Li Zhaowei's frown relaxed a little, and a smile appeared on his face: "As long as I can live here for a long time and live in peace, it's fine. For other food, clothing and daily expenses, my family will send some money every six months."
Xu Xiaojuan glanced at him and curled her lips and said, "The money your Li family has is not even enough for me to spend for two days in the capital. Since you are staying in the Hou Mansion, why do you need to worry about food and clothing? Not to mention the Hou Mansion is a wealthy family with a lot of money flowing into the mansion every day and every month. The salary of the title passed down from the ancestors is so much that the people in the mansion can't spend it all. What's the point of supporting our family? You just need to study with peace of mind and don't worry about other things. I'll take care of everything. As your dear aunt, I can't compare with my eldest brother's Qinghua Courtyard, but I can't have the same monthly money as the two courtyards of the fourth and sixth brothers who are born out of wedlock. Our Yuehua Courtyard just needs to be like the second and third masters of the West Mansion."
Li Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "That's fine by me. Anyway, I only study in the study room. Sometimes I may get together with friends to recite poems and comment on essays. It doesn't cost much. I'm just worried that the money from home may not come in time, which will be unfair to you and the children - you have always been spoiled."
He raised his hand to help Xu Xiaojuan fix the loose pearls on her bun, and by the way, he smoothed down the two strands of hair that were blown by the wind, and said softly: "I have been away for more than a month, and you have been tired of taking care of Xu'er alone. Are you tired? Do you miss me?"
Xu Xiaojuan blushed slightly, and when she saw the two children being taken away to play by the nurse and the maid, she snuggled into her husband's arms and said shyly, "I have been thinking hard every day to make sure you have a good place to live as soon as you arrive, so that you don't have to study in the study room in the outer courtyard... I have to take care of Xu'er and mother, and go to the old lady every other morning and evening to serve her. Finally, we have this courtyard when you and Jiao'er come. From now on, our family can live a peaceful life."
Li Zhao embraced his wife and caressed her gently, causing Xu Xiaojuan to soften all over and breathe lightly in his arms. He whispered softly in her ear: "I will repay you. When I pass the imperial edict in two years, I will earn you an imperial decree, and our life will be even happier."
When Xu Xiaojuan moved into Yuehua Courtyard, she was no longer attached to Qiuhua Courtyard, but lived in a separate room. Meimei didn't quite understand how women in this dynasty should be treated when they returned to their parents' home after getting married. The old lady had no daughter, so there was no precedent to follow. She thought very simply that since she was married and occupied a courtyard, she should be treated like the fourth child, Xu Junting, and receive the same amount of silver every month as usual.
Xu Xiaojuan had already waited for a long time at the old lady's place, acting like a fool and a spoiled child, trying to please her. The old lady also wanted to support her, so she agreed to call Meimei to come and discuss the monthly allowance in person. That night, after dinner at Jinhua Hall, she brought it out and talked about it. Meimei didn't react, but the second master glared at her:
"How can we do this? Mother knows that this is against the rules. A married girl has a dowry of land and money, which is considered the property given to her by her parents. If she occasionally returns to her parents' home, she will be a guest, and there are rules for the money for entertaining guests. The money for entertaining guests will be given to the family where the aunt lives. The eldest aunt is now back home, and she should live in Qiuhua Courtyard. Even if she is given to Yuehua Courtyard to live, the money for entertaining guests will be in Qiuhua Courtyard, and Qiuhua Courtyard should subsidize all expenses, so Qianli doesn't need to worry about it anymore."
When Xu Xiaojuan heard her uncle say this, her face suddenly changed. Since she returned to the Hou Mansion and lived in Qiuhua Courtyard, Mother He only gave her the guest money and did not let her touch the monthly money of Qiuhua Courtyard. She could look at the account books with the amount and withdraw a few taels of silver when needed, but it was impossible for her to control it all. The old woman refused to let go and just said that the mistress was ill. Although the Hou often sent medicines and supplements, the money had other uses and could not be given to the girl... Now that her husband and daughter are here, she boasted in front of her husband again. If she only relied on that little guest money, how could the family live comfortably?
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