Chapter 322: Going South
Ruixue knelt in the yard, tears streaming down her face, and woodenly slapped herself again and again. A group of old women, servants, and little girls were watching and whispering around her. Their expressions varied, some were mocking, some were sympathetic, and some were gloating. Normally, she only followed the old lady closely, was favored by her, wore gold and silver, ate delicious food, and could make the subordinates run around for money in Jinhua Hall with just a word. She was as delicate as half a master, but now she had such an experience.
And she was punished just because she said something wrong——
In the old lady's mind, the Xu Mansion was the Hou Mansion, and the Hou Mansion was the Xu Mansion. At least when she was alive, there could not be two Xu Mansions. The second son, Xu Xiping, was weak since childhood and could not compare to his elder brother, who was strong and powerful. The eldest son inherited the title of Marquis. The old lady asked him to promise that he would take care of his younger brother and ensure his wealth and glory as long as he was the Marquis of Weiyuan. The eldest son promised and did it. Who knew that he died young and the young Xu Junying inherited the title. In previous years, his family was peaceful when he was fighting outside. After returning to the capital and living there for less than a year, he started to split the family for a woman and ignored his grandmother's prestige and dignity. How could the old lady swallow this breath? She suppressed the glory of the Hou Mansion for three generations, and watched her most beloved youngest son have nothing to do with the glory of the Hou Mansion from then on? This family was divided up unwillingly. If the emperor had not spoken, she would have wanted to tear down the high wall and call the Second Master and his family back to live in the mansion. Ruixue was courting death by touching the scar in her heart at this juncture, wasn't she?
The young ladies from the Xu family came to pay their respects one after another. Ruixue was dragged away by the maid. Mother Ji asked her to be locked up in her room first and deal with her later. Ruixue heard that she was going to be sold out, and finally couldn't stand it anymore and burst into tears. Xu Xiaorong and her sisters heard something outside. When they entered the yard and saw Ruixue being dragged away, they thought about how she was well-behaved and clever around the old lady. They felt sorry for her, but didn't dare to say anything. They just greeted the old lady honestly and accompanied her, and didn't mention anything else. ?~
Zhuang Yulan had already stood up and came to the hall to have breakfast with the old lady, waiting for her husband Shi Songmao to come and pick her up back to Shi's house. After returning from her hometown in Jiangning, she brought many local gifts to honor the old lady. The old lady tried to keep her, and Shi Songmao persuaded her to stay with her great-aunt for two days. Zhuang Yulan just refused at first, but she didn't know that Shi Songmao had wanted to visit Weiyuan Marquis for a long time. But when she came, she was told that the Marquis was busy with official business and could not meet. Please forgive Shi. Shi Songmao wanted to find another opportunity to see Xu Junying, so he urged his wife to stay in the Marquis's house, expecting that when he came to pick her up, she should be able to see the Marquis. Zhuang Yulan couldn't resist one person to stay and one person to persuade, so she had to agree to stay for one night.
The Queen Mother arranged a marriage for her to a cabinet scholar of the second rank. She had face after all, and she was a second wife. Fortunately, Shi Songmao had regular features and a straight body. He did not look like a 46-year-old man at first glance. He doted on his new wife. In addition to the fact that the children at home were difficult to discipline, the concubines had been scolded by Shi Songmao several times and had already obeyed her management. In addition, now that she was pregnant, Zhuang Yulan did not dare to have any other thoughts. ?~ But after all, she was arrogant and strong. She was still afraid to see old friends when she returned to the Hou Mansion, especially Xu Junying and his wife. Knowing that Meimei had not returned to the Hou Mansion, she felt relieved to stay. Who knew that she saw the two of them wearing red robes, suddenly walking into Jinhua Hall like a newlywed couple. At that moment, she did not even feel the discomfort of her first pregnancy.
The marriage was granted to her, she was carried out of the mansion, and entered the bridal chamber with Shi Songmao. Her heart that beat for her cousin Ying was broken into pieces again and again. She thought she was completely desperate, but when she saw them coming together, her cousin Ying didn't even look at her. His eyes full of love and care were always on Mei Niang. The pain and jealousy reappeared in her heart. Zhuang Yulan hated Qin Mei Niang again. If she hadn't died and come back to life, she would have been able to live happily with her cousin Ying, and there would not be such an ending.
The old lady put on a loving smile and told Zhuang Yulan to eat more and sleep more, so that she could keep her body plump and strong, so that she would have the strength to give birth to a child. She continued to ask her about the situation of her old family in Jiangning, while pointing out the many snacks on the table and asking the granddaughters sitting around the table to try each one.
"These are what your sister Lan brought back from Jiangning. I have loved eating them since I was a child. Do you think they are delicious?"
Xu Xiaomin asked curiously, "Grandma prefers spicy food, why are most of these snacks sweet and salty?"
The old lady laughed and said, "The taste of people in Jiangning is like this. They like sweet food and salty taste. When I was Lan'er's age, I had already married into the Xu Mansion and gave birth to the eldest master. But because giving birth to him was so hard, I lost my appetite and didn't want to eat anything. Someone brought sour and spicy pickles to coax me to eat some, and gradually I tasted the flavor. Only then did I start to taste spicy food."
Xu Xiaomin nodded: "I see. After giving birth to a son, everyone likes spicy food. My eldest sister-in-law is the same as my grandmother. I heard that she didn't eat it before, but only after giving birth to Heng'er..."
Xu Xiaorong gently pulled her under the table, but it was too late. The old lady snorted coldly, "Let alone that unruly and shameful thing, what qualifications does she have to be compared with me?"
The old woman outside the door just announced "The second master is coming"
Xu Xiping had already walked in. The girls quickly stood up to greet the second master. Xu Xiping waved his hand and walked over to the old lady and bowed. The old lady looked at him with dissatisfaction:
"Didn't you say that today is a day off? I sent someone to fetch you earlier, but you came just now. If your mother needs to see you urgently for any reason, I'm afraid that won't work."
Xu Xiping sat down next to the old lady, glanced at Zhuang Yulan, and said, "Mother, calm down. My cousin just came, and I had to talk to him. He is still in the study in the front yard. The fifth son asked him for advice. I thought you must have something important to tell me, so I hurried over here."
Old Mrs. Xu was easily coaxed by Xu Xiping. She smiled and nodded, looking at Zhuang Yulan: "It's rare that Mr. Shi is so thoughtful and caring. He came to pick me up early in the morning and was so caring. What can I say? You are a blessed person."
Zhuang Yulan lowered her head shyly. Xu Xiping knew that Shi Songmao came early not just to pick up Zhuang Yulan, but to meet Lord Xu. He hoped that Xu Junying would come back from court at noon so that they could have a meal together and have a detailed talk. However, the steward of the mansion told him that Lord Xu was out on business and would not be back for a few days. The newly-appointed Jinshi Xu Liuye had been granted an official position and had not returned from the government office. The fourth master Xu Junting had not returned yet. Shi Songmao was standing outside the mansion in a daze. Xu Xiping happened to come back from the outer house. The two met and took him to the west courtyard to sit. ?~
After sitting in the outer study and drinking a cup of tea, a maid came to tell him that the old lady wanted to see the second master. Xu Xiping did not rush over, but asked someone to invite Xu Junqiao, who was also on leave at home, to talk to Shi Songmao, and then went to the east to wait for the mansion.
Passing through the moon-shaped door in the wall, he felt a dull pain in his heart. He did not want to split up the family. It meant that the second branch would have to leave the Hou Mansion from now on and lose some power. But Junying, who had never cared about gains and losses, valued family harmony, and was willing to do his best for the prosperity of the family, suddenly became determined and insisted on separating. He realized that his nephew attached so much importance to his niece-in-law Qin, and was not as casual as usual. He was very upset and scolded the second wife and Xu Junlang's brothers. They usually did not take the eldest branch seriously, and relied on the old lady's favor to just enjoy the fruits of their labor in the Hou Mansion. They were lazy and disrespectful to their eldest son and daughter-in-law. Now, Junying came back and found his son missing, and he was angry. No one could live a peaceful life.
On the one hand, he was forced to discuss the division of the family with Xu Junying, and on the other hand, he begged for mercy and acted innocent in front of the old lady. The old lady did not allow it in the first place, and she was even more heartbroken to see her son like this. She declared that she would never let Junying do it. He secretly relaxed, thinking that as long as the old lady was there, the second house would not leave the Hou Mansion. However, the emperor intervened, and no matter how tough the old lady was, it was of no avail. The division of the two mansions became a foregone conclusion.
Fortunately, the old lady fought for the greatest benefit for him, and the old lady's most brilliant move was to return to the Hou Mansion to live again. With her in control of the Hou Mansion, the second house had nothing to worry about.
But the old lady disliked her niece-in-law in every way and made things difficult for her and she seemed unwilling to be outdone. The old and the young confronted each other and the flames of war spread to him for no reason.
Xu Junying held a banquet and invited him to dinner alone. During the meal, she said to him: The old lady doesn't like Meimei, just because she comes from a humble background and is very picky about her. But things are different now. The Qin family has become a new noble, and it is not right to treat Meimei like this. Meimei has a stubborn personality. On one side is her grandmother, who gave birth to and raised her father, and whom her nephew respects and values. On the other side is her wife, who raised her nephew's eldest son, and whom she cannot despise. Both sides must be taken care of. Meimei and her nephew have a deep affection, and she will only pamper and love her in this life. If anyone does anything harmful to her, she will find out and will never forgive or condone it.
Junying pushed a brocade box in front of him and said: Uncle and father are close brothers, and nephew and Junlang, Junya, and Junqiao are also brothers. Although the first and second wives have separated, the brotherhood will never be broken. If there is something, we will share the responsibility. Uncle is a court official, with a wife, concubines, children and grandchildren, and he still keeps a mistress. If someone familiar hadn't come to tell nephew, nephew would never believe this. Whether it is discovered by the censors or by the aunts and brothers in the mansion, it will not be good... I wanted to persuade my uncle to turn back, but when I heard that the woman was pregnant, I realized that my uncle was in a dilemma. After the division of the mansion, the food supply of the West Mansion was only managed by the second and third brothers' wives, and there were several accountants in charge. The aunt also began to ask about internal affairs. My uncle must have a lot of inconveniences. Here is a silver note of ten thousand taels and the real estate deed of a house in the city. Uncle can move the woman here and stop living in that desolate street, which is not dignified for a court official. Going out of the city frequently will attract more attention.
Xu Xiping's face was filled with shame and sweat. The court had clearly prohibited officials from keeping mistresses. If they were caught, they would be charged with adultery. Officials below the fifth rank would be exiled to a wild place, and those above the fifth rank would be punished according to the circumstances, with salary deductions or demotions. However, it was not uncommon for officials to keep mistresses. It depended on who it was. No matter how stubborn the censors were, they would not dare to bang their heads against walls or rocks. Everyone would bully the weak and fear the strong. Those with great power, connections and face would turn a blind eye and pretend not to see anything. Once they were unlucky enough to be caught, they would really not be able to bear it, especially for someone like Xu Xiping who committed crimes one after another. He kept a mistress on a whim, relying on With the power of the Hou Mansion, he thought that no one would investigate him, and he would just play around. There were the trouble-making second wife and the concubine Yan who had been favored by him for many years in the mansion, and he didn't want to offend them. Who knew that the woman was very lovable, and he couldn't bear to let her go, so he made her pregnant. She was pregnant with his heir, and he couldn't let her go. At the same time, Junying wanted to separate the family. He had just moved out of the Hou Mansion, and someone immediately targeted him. No wonder the concubine sent someone to invite him two days ago, saying in panic that there was always someone hanging around outside the door. In the end, she simply knocked on the door and asked the maid all kinds of questions. These people were really snobbish and hateful. Fortunately, his nephew stopped him. If he had reported it directly, wouldn't it be over immediately? Not to mention the salary deduction and demotion, if the higher-ups were serious and punished him according to the usual bad behavior, he might not be able to keep his official position this time.
At that moment, he had to flatter his old face and make excuses for himself, and he talked a lot of nice things to his nephew. Xu Junying did not comment much, but said lightly: "The woman asked the old lady for permission, and she will be taken as a concubine in the future, or she will be released. Uncle should think about it. The younger generation should not ask about the affairs of the elders, and should just pretend that they don't know. Uncle understands nephew, and has always respected the elders. He only hopes that the family will be harmonious and everything will be prosperous. Now the old lady still doesn't like Meimei, and the nephew will have to go far away for official business soon. I am afraid that the two of them will always have conflicts at home. Grandmother is old, and Meimei is weak and can't stand the scolding and suppression of the elders. I beg uncle to be by grandmother's side morning and night, comfort her heart, say a few good words for nephew, and do your best to persuade grandmother to take care of her health, so that she won't get angry and sick. With uncle and brothers and sisters at home to take care of and comfort grandmother's health, nephew can rest assured to do things outside - nephew has left his family and is busy for the Xu family, so please understand nephew.
The uncle and nephew talked for half a day, and Xu Xiping's worries were gone, and he also took the responsibility for himself.
After breakfast, Shi Songmao was also accompanied by Xu Jun to the mansion to meet the old lady. The old lady saw that the couple were sitting together. Zhuang Yulan's makeup changed after she got married, and she lost her youthful and delicate temperament. She was surrounded by silk, pearls and jade, showing the demeanor of a noble lady. Shi Songmao was a white-faced scholar who had been in the officialdom for many years. He was shrewd in his elegance. Although he was two or three years younger than the second master Xu Xiping, he looked more majestic than Xu Xiping. The old lady sighed in her heart, cheered up, and chatted with Shi Songmao with a smile, recounting the glorious past of the Jiangning Zhuang family, talking about how Zhuang Yulan's father was a scholar who was ambitious and talented, but unfortunately died young because of God's jealousy of talents, how her uncle followed his brother's ambition and finally passed the imperial examination to become an official, and how there were many young talents in the family who were also working hard to make progress, etc. Shi Songmao was a man of such a character that he could not understand what the old lady meant. The old lady was hinting that if he became a banker, he should remember to help the banker's sons who were studying for fame. He smiled bitterly in his heart, thinking that he was also thinking of asking Xu Junying for help.
After returning to the capital to report on his work, the emperor praised him and promoted him from the third rank to the second rank. The empress dowager granted him marriage, saying that he was extremely honored. He married Zhuang Yulan, and after enjoying the joy of his wedding, he no longer received an audience with the emperor. The capital was full of talents and countless scholars in the cabinet. When the emperor wanted to convene people to discuss state affairs, it was never his turn. He submitted memorials on the matter many times, but the emperor did not respond much. However, Shi Songmao was not a person who was content with mediocrity. He was the top scholar in the previous dynasty and was loyal to the court. He had made small contributions to the previous emperor and the current emperor. He was talented. , he was ambitious and felt that he could still do his best for the emperor and the court. The emperor might have forgotten him temporarily, but as long as he appeared in front of the emperor again, he would be valued. His wife's cousin Xu Junying could help him pass through the palace gate smoothly. Seeing that the emperor Shi Songmao was waiting for this opportunity, he patiently tried to please the old lady, smiling humbly, and praising his wife's family with all kinds of flattering words, saying that the Zhuang family was a century-old family with extraordinary luck and great hope for the future. This made the old lady happy and laughed especially happily.
Xu Xiping sat aside, listening to his mother's happy laughter, feeling relaxed and wanting to doze off - he could never sleep well in the outer room. He had to get up before dawn and rush to the city gate to wait for it to open to enter the city, otherwise it would be too late and he would be easily discovered. He suffered a lot just for the sake of a little pleasure.
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