Chapter 303 Qi
May 5th is here again. The Dragon Boat Festival is particularly lively in the two Xu's mansions. People make and cook rice dumplings with realgar wine, put moxa leaves and other things in embroidered purses and wear them, or weave colorful yarn bags with a red egg and hang them on children's chests to ward off evil spirits. They boil large barrels of medicinal soup to wash away the evil spirits of the year. This custom brought by Meimei is not only popular in the family, but also spread outside the mansion. There is no parent in the world who does not care about their children. When they heard that washing with medicinal soup at this time of year can get rid of the bad diseases of the year, they immediately followed suit. Fortunately, Meimei informed the shopkeeper of Qiancaotang early and asked the people of Guiyun Villa to prepare and transport dozens of carts of bundled herbs into the city in advance. In just half a day, they were all sold out. People who came later couldn't buy any, so they blamed the pharmacy for not having enough medicine. They surrounded the shopkeeper and clamored for him to ask the shop assistants to go outside the city to collect more. The shopkeeper was surrounded and couldn't get away, so he had to do it. Soon, ten more carts were transported in, but they were all snatched away before they could be unloaded at the store door. Some people didn't get any and shouted for the shopkeeper to come out...
The new shopkeeper of Qiancaotang is the grandson of the old shopkeeper. He is completely afraid of Meimei. What is his place? The Xiankelai Hotel? The Dragon Boat Festival snacks sold there make a lot of money. What's the point of selling his grass and vines? If he charges too much, it will be suspected of cheating people. If he doesn't charge, he can't get rid of the hard-working guys. He definitely doesn't want to do this thankless job, but the master said that he has to listen to whatever Master Cen says... He wants to cry but has no tears!
Fortunately, other pharmacies were very good at learning from the same example. They immediately asked their doctors to follow suit, write prescriptions, and send people out of the city to collect herbs to sell, which alleviated Qiancaotang's urgent need.
For a time, regardless of status, almost every household was boiling medicinal soup for bathing, and the streets and alleys were filled with steam. The whole city was filled with the fragrance of herbs, which lingered for a long time and reached the sky. Even in the palace, the queen was chasing the emperor to take a medicinal soup bath...
Meimei became a housewife and was particularly busy during the holidays. In addition, the Hou family had two new little boys, and Ning Rulan of the West Family had given birth to a girl. This and that, she remembered something and disappeared again. Seeing that she had left the courtyard for a long time and had not returned, the maids had already cooked the medicine soup, so Xu Junying had to take Heng'er to take a bath in the medicine soup. The father and son bathed for a while, and had a water fight in the already cooled medicine soup. They were laughing and making noises when Meimei came back and went in to chase them away:
"You should come out when the water gets cold. What's the point of playing? It's not good to catch a cold!"
"Cold?" Xu Junying raised his eyebrows and repeated with a smile. His wife was saying something new again.
Heng'er jumped in the basin and laughed, "Father, a cold is a cold. A cold is a cold!"
"Yes! Heng'er is really smart, your father is not as good as you!"
Xu Junying glared at her: "Just praise your son, there's no need to belittle the father, right?"
Meimei and Heng'er made faces at each other, then smiled and took a handkerchief to wrap Heng'er, took him out of the basin and put him on the ground, patting his rosy little face:
"Go ahead, Sister Cheng'er is waiting outside, ask her to help you put on your clothes!"
Heng'er responded and ran away. Meimei watched him leave, turned back to look at Xu Junying and smiled:
"It's so fast! Heng'er is already three years old!"
Xu Junying held her hand and said, "Meimei, it has been two years and five months since you came to my side!"
"Well! I've gotten used to this place, and I'm no longer bored with the Hou Mansion. I'm very happy to have you and Heng'er by my side!"
"We are a loving family and will always be happy like this!"
Xu Junying kissed her temples and suddenly smiled, "I came back from outside at noon, and I saw that the streets and alleys were full of the festive atmosphere you mentioned. What? Do you want to turn the capital into your hometown? You little devil, you really know how to make trouble!"
Meimei chuckled: "Isn't this good? Look how lively the streets are. The children's laughter has become much louder, and the adults are happier the busier they are!"
“I can see that everyone is sharing the joy you bring!”
Meimei picked up the big handkerchief and shook it in front of Xu Junying. Xu Junying stood up with a smile, put one hand on Meimei's shoulder, and let her wrap the big handkerchief around his waist. She tied one corner of the handkerchief skillfully at his waist with her nimble hands, then pulled him out of the bathroom, came to the hard couch behind the screen, took the handkerchief and carefully wiped the water droplets on his body, and put on his clothes.
Xu Junying would kiss her and then grab her hand to prevent her from moving, deliberately making trouble and refusing to cooperate. Looking at her slightly annoyed and helpless look, his heart was filled with sweetness. He didn't know why, but he just liked being pampered and served by his little wife. However, Meimei didn't often treat him like this. Only when he came back from a long trip or took Heng'er to take a bath together could he enjoy this special reward.
Henger gradually became sensible. One time, he asked to take a bath with his father, but his father refused. Henger pouted and felt wronged. Meimei helped him to ask for help, saying that the child was attached to his father. The first time he took Henger to take a bath, he didn't dare to take off his pants. Meimei came in and laughed to death. She said half-jokingly: Parents are the first teachers of their children. They can't help but teach them the principles of life. Some physical changes and characteristics should be made known to the children. If he is really shy as a father, at most, he can sprinkle a layer of petals on the water surface when taking Henger to take a bath in the future to confuse Henger's vision. It's really uncomfortable to take a bath with pants... He was so embarrassed that he grabbed her and kissed her hard on the lips when Henger wasn't paying attention. The little woman smiled too evilly, which made his heart tremble.
Xu Junying put on his clothes and said, "You've been tired for a long time. Take a rest. I'll call them to change the medicine soup for you to soak in."
Meimei shook her head: "I can't make love now. I want to go and accompany Runan. The King of Qi never comes back. She is alone and refuses to go to the Queen Mother. She will give birth in two months... Hey! Disgusting Zhao Bao!"
Xu Junying said, "Take Heng'er with you. I'll take you there. It's still early. You can stay and have dinner with her!"
Meimei looked at him and said, "Of course I want to bring Heng'er to have dinner with Runan, what about you?"
Xu Junying smiled and said, "Family members want to reunite during festivals. Tonight, everyone in the family will gather at Jinhua Hall for dinner. You can go to Qi Wangfu to accompany the princess. Heng'er should come back with me. Let him accompany the first wife. I will have dinner at Jinhua Hall and then go to Qiuhua Court to pick up Heng'er. We will go to the palace to pick you up together. The three of us will go back to Qinghua Court to reunite. Is that okay?"
Meimei couldn't help laughing: "You don't want to spend every holiday like this, do you? I don't get along with the old lady, and you and the first wife are at odds. This family has become like this, what can we do?"
Xu Junying sighed helplessly, "What else can I do? I have revered my grandmother since I was young, and I have been filial to the elders in my family. As a result, I almost lost my happiness in life because of my excessive filial piety. As an elder, I should have the demeanor and mind of an elder. It's not that I don't talk about filial piety, but I really can't stand these old people in the family: one wants to restrain me everywhere, no matter whether it is right or wrong, as long as I obey her orders; one greets me with a smile, but quietly drugged me... The method is clever, but I can't defend myself! What's the point of such a family and such elders? If I didn't have you, I wouldn't love Heng'er. If I don't have an heir for a long time, I will definitely investigate the reason thoroughly. If the root cause is found, no one will survive, and perhaps even more people will be implicated - she is stupid to do this!"
Meimei leaned her head against his rising and falling chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, feeling his emotional changes, and whispered:
"Junying!"
"Meimei!"
Xu Junying hugged her and stroked her face with a smile: "I have you, and I have also obtained the happiness I have always dreamed of. I will no longer bother with them. I don't have the time to do that. Let's all live our lives in peace. I am the head of the Hou Mansion, and you are the mistress. If anyone is not satisfied, they can leave. If they stay, they must obey the arrangements. My husband and I will not treat them unfairly!"
The family of three came to the Prince of Qi's Mansion in a carriage. The guards on duty at the door recognized Baoju and Baizhan from afar and knew that it was the wife of Marquis Weiyuan who came to visit the princess again. The previous Young Master Cen was a distinguished guest of the prince and was allowed to enter the mansion without reporting. However, the wife of Marquis Weiyuan was a close friend of the princess, so she was also told not to report. She immediately notified the side door to be opened, and someone walked down the steps and led the convoy straight into the palace from the side door.
The steward of the palace came to greet them. Meimei sat in the carriage without moving, saying that she wanted to see the princess. The steward immediately led the carriage to the door with hanging flowers, stopped the carriage, put up the steps, and opened the curtain. She was surprised to see the Marquis of Weiyuan walk out first, holding the young master and getting off the carriage, then turning back to help the lady get off. The steward then stepped forward to greet the two and asked someone to invite the palace historian to the front hall to chat with the Marquis. Meimei smiled and said:
"Marquis Weiyuan is just worried. He sent me here and left. No need to be polite, steward!"
The palace historian hurried over to greet him, saying, "Please do me the honor of coming to the hall to drink a cup of hot tea before leaving. If this palace lacks etiquette, I will make you laugh, but you will not allow us to do so!"
Xu Junying smiled and looked at Meimei: "Okay, I don't come here often, so how about I see the etiquette of your Qi Wang Mansion?"
"Humph! My palace is much more respectable than your mansion!"
A cold and arrogant voice came from the corridor of the second hall, and then a man came out from the corner of the room. He was wearing a purple robe and a golden crown, and his figure was tall and handsome. There was a faint smile on his handsome face. Meimei was stunned: King Qi? When did he come back? In the morning, she brought Cheng'er to deliver various holiday snacks, but she hadn't seen him yet. Runan looked listless and a little unhappy. She was worried about him when she went back, so she hurried over to have dinner with Runan.
Xu Junying was busy trying to pull Meimei forward to greet him, but the King of Qi said calmly, "No thanks!"
Meimei said, "Zhao Bao, why are you back?"
The King of Qi raised his eyebrows and said, "This is my home! What if I don't go home during this important festival? But you, what are you doing here? You're bringing your children and your husband with you. Don't you have any food to eat?"
Meimei said angrily: "You! You didn't have to go home during the Chinese New Year, and you don't have to go home today!"
The King of Qi sneered. Xu Junying could no longer bear their vicious attacks and pulled Meimei's hand: "His Royal Highness the King of Qi has returned home. Let's say goodbye and go back!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
