Chapter 74 People of the Past "With you here, I have nothing to worry about."...
When Lu Xiuyi returned to the mansion, it was just lunchtime.
Meng Yu had already prepared his favorite dishes, and when he entered the room, he saw her already sitting at the dining table.
“Breaking Ying Congxin’s leg can be considered revenge for Zhi Mian,” Meng Yu picked up her chopsticks, ladled a bowl of mutton soup for him, and put a piece of duck breast into his bowl. “I’ve locked her in the servants’ room. I don’t care what you do with her after that.”
Lu Xiuyi sat down, his brows furrowed slightly. After responding, he thought for a moment and decided that he should tell her about what had happened that day. He said, "You don't need to worry about the matter at Prince Rui's residence. I have already taken care of it. She was originally without any official status in the residence. Prince Rui made a scene for a while, but after being reprimanded by the Emperor, he had no choice but to swallow his anger."
Meng Yu smiled and said, "I'm not worried. With you here, I have nothing to worry about."
She smiled sweetly, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons, as if they held a pool of clear spring water. Lu Xiuyi was momentarily stunned, his ears turning red. He quickly coughed lightly to cover his embarrassment.
After a moment of silence, he added, "Just one thing: Prince Rui is a very petty and meticulous person. Today I will transfer about ten soldiers with slightly better skills from the Western Camp to the mansion to serve as guards. You can take them with you when you go out recently to protect you."
She already had enough eyes and ears around her, so Meng Yu didn't think he needed to plant any more people. She believed that his actions were genuinely for her benefit, so she didn't refuse and agreed gently.
"Yu'er..."
Just as she was pondering, Lu Xiuyi's slightly hoarse voice suddenly rang out beside her. Meng Yu was about to look up when she heard the voice, but she felt a pair of large hands suddenly wrap around her waist, hot and burning.
He picked her up by the waist, and when they were near the door, he kicked it shut.
In a dizzying moment, Meng Yu was placed on the couch. The gauze curtains slowly fell, touching her soft skin. The man's breathing became heavy as he reached out and touched her waistband.
Meng Yu quickly stopped him. The man's tall figure loomed in her watery eyes, and her rosy lips parted slightly: "I'm a little tired today. Let me rest for a few days."
"But I can't stand it anymore."
Lu Xiuyi stared at her intently, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. To him, she was more delicious than any delicacy in the world, so delicious that he couldn't get enough of her and wished he could be with her all day long, never leaving her side for a moment.
After saying that, he tied her hands and raised them above her head. Just as he was about to bury her head, he suddenly felt something pressing down on his abdomen. He touched it and his expression changed instantly.
"This, this is???" Lu Xiuyi let go of her hand, turned over and sat up, looking puzzled, yet seemingly understanding.
Meng Yu straightened her wrinkled clothes, sat up, and said reproachfully, "I already said I was a little tired, but you still won't let me rest."
Before Meng Yu, Lu Xiuyi had never been with a woman. This was the first time he had encountered such a situation, and he couldn't help but blush. He scratched his head awkwardly and said, "Well, how many days will it take?"
Without hesitation, Meng Yu blurted out, "Ten days."
"Ten days???"
Lu Xiuyi opened his mouth in surprise, "But I, I heard that it should only take seven days at most?"
Meng Yu narrowed her eyes and suddenly moved closer to him: "I heard? I heard it from whom?"
Her warm breath sprayed on his face, and a dangerous aura immediately enveloped him. Unexpectedly, her reaction was so intense that Lu Xiuyi was momentarily caught off guard.
Seeing that he remained silent, Meng Yu frowned and coldly questioned, "Have you had other women in the two years I've been gone? You kept saying how much you missed me, but you were secretly seeing other women. Sure enough, men's words are deceitful and can't be trusted. I was so moved by your words..."
As she spoke, Meng Yu's voice grew softer and softer, and tears welled up in her eyes. Startled, Lu Xiuyi quickly pulled her into his arms and gently explained, "I didn't lie to you, and I didn't find another woman. The reason I heard it was seven days is because when I was a child, the maids in the Marquis's mansion spoke without thinking, and they didn't hold back in front of me. That's how I found out."
Meng Yu pressed herself against his chest, swallowing back the tears that had been forced out, and said in a feigned sob, "It was indeed over in seven days, but my body is still weak right after it ended, so I can't have sex right away. That's why I said I need to rest for another three days. Doesn't that make a total of ten days?"
She had never been so tender and loving towards him before.
Lu Xiuyi was completely charmed by her words and couldn't think of anything else. He just wanted to agree with her and said softly, "Okay, okay, you can rest for as many days as you want. I won't force you during this time, okay?"
Meng Yu held him tightly around the waist and responded softly.
Terrified that Lu Xiuyi would demand it every day, she took the medicine before leaving home today. Sure enough, her period came when she returned, and she finally felt relieved.
***
After lunch, Mrs. Zhuang returned from Lin'an Temple.
As expected, she rushed to Longxiang Pavilion without resting for long.
Snowflakes fell from the eaves, like a snow curtain isolating everything.
Meng Yu sat on the chaise longue with the windows wide open. Two figures suddenly appeared in the snow in the distance. As they drew closer, she realized that it was Die Xue helping Zhuang Mama walk over. Zhuang Mama walked unsteadily, her body swaying, her eyes filled with anxiety.
As she approached the door, Meng Yu slowly rose to greet her, feigning ignorance and smiling first: "Mother, you just got back, why didn't you rest a little longer? Did you rush to Longxiang Pavilion because you have something important to discuss with the General?"
“No, no, no, I’m here to see Madam,” Madam Zhuang forced a smile, and seeing that Meng Yu didn’t continue as she wished, she had no choice but to continue, “About Congxin…”
Before she could finish speaking, Meng Yu smiled politely and said, "Mother, Congxin's matter concerns Prince Rui and the Prince's mansion. Everything has been left to the General to handle. I am just a woman from the inner quarters, and it is really not appropriate for me to get involved. If you have anything to say, you can go to the General. He is in his study right now."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Zhuang was about to say something more, but Meng Yu yawned and smiled, "Mom, there's been too much to do today, I'm a little tired, I'll go back and rest for a while, please do as you please."
After saying that, she didn't give Mrs. Zhuang a chance to continue arguing. She turned around and went back to her room, told Huayi to lower the beaded curtain, and then changed into her pajamas and went to bed.
Having no other choice, Madam Zhuang turned and went to Lu Xiuyi's study. She returned shortly afterward with a pot of wine.
Diexue was still confused. As she stepped forward to take the tray from Zhuang's mother, she asked in bewilderment, "Mother, what is this? Didn't you go in to plead with the general for Sister Congxin? How come you came out so quickly?"
With a pale face, Madam Zhuang dodged Diexue's outstretched hand while holding the tray, and forced a smile: "This is the plum wine that your sister Congxin likes to drink. I specially asked the general for it. After she finished drinking it, the general sent someone to send her back to Tongzhou and she will never come to the capital again."
"The capital is too extravagant and heartless. Sister Congxin is too proud and will not be able to stay there sooner or later. It is a good thing that she can come home."
Die Xue sighed, and as she was speaking, she suddenly saw Zhuang's mother wipe away a tear. She tilted her head, frowned, and asked again, "Why is Mother crying?"
With tears in her eyes, Mrs. Zhuang smiled slightly and said, "She grew up by my side and now she's going back. I'm just a little reluctant to let her go."
Diexue was simple-minded and didn't think much of it when she heard this. She smiled and said, "It's a good thing that my sister can come home. You should be happy for her. Besides, it's not like we're separated by life and death. If you really miss her, you can go back to Tongzhou to visit her."
Mother Zhuang gripped the tray tightly, steadied her trembling hands, and nodded tearfully into the north wind.
The long, wide eaves were covered with snow, turning the bluestone path leading to the lower rooms into a bone-chilling white frost. The biting wind carried a piercing cold that seemed to seep into one's very marrow.
Mother Zhuang walked with a faltering gait, very slowly, but every road has an end. As she approached the lower house, she stopped, turned to the person beside her, and said gently, "Die Xue, wait here. I have something I want to say to Cong Xin alone."
Diexue was happy that Ying Congxin would be able to go home soon, so she naturally had no suspicions and nodded, watching as Zhuang's mother pushed open the door and went in.
***
The room was dark, with no windows or charcoal stove, and the air was filled with a chilling cold.
Mother Zhuang placed the tray on the table, sat down on the wooden chair, and looked towards the corner under the couch. She sighed, "When you left that day, I advised you to go back to Tongzhou and stop coveting things that didn't belong to you. But what did you do? You broke an innocent person's leg to vent your anger and even tried to ruin Huayi's reputation. Congxin, Congxin, you weren't such a cruel and vicious person before."
Golden sunlight streamed in through the window cracks. Ying Congxin sat leaning against the corner, the sunlight falling on her lower body, her face melting into the shadows, and she gave a self-deprecating smile.
"Before? What kind of person was I before? Kind and compassionate? Or foolish and cowardly? Don't talk such high-sounding words. You have never known what kind of person I am."
Mrs. Zhuang looked away: "Even if I don't understand, does that give you the right to do evil?"
“Even on the battlefield, all's fair in war. I was just fighting for what I wanted,” Ying Congxin said, his face still showing a stubborn glint despite his dejected expression. “What's wrong with that?”
Even after all this, she still showed no remorse. Knowing that saying more would be useless, Madam Zhuang sighed and stood up, saying, "I was the one who arranged for you to come to the capital. Today, I should see you off. This life is already like this; in the next life, do not set foot here again."
As she spoke, Mrs. Zhuang opened the door, and a biting north wind rushed in. The room was not very warm to begin with, and Ying Congxin's face turned red from the cold. As the chill swept over her, she shivered.
Just like back then, her dying father used up all his money to bribe the street vendors so that she could live and not give Zhuang's mother a single bowl of rice.
She trembled upon learning the truth.
The gold hairpin with rubies and sapphires that the eldest princess left her should have been hers. How could she... how could she give it to Meng Yu?
As the last rays of sunlight spread, crows landed on the eaves, looking around.
Bang!
Suddenly, a muffled sound filled the room.
Mrs. Zhuang, leaning on her cane, paused, her vision gradually blurring.
***
When the news reached Longxiang Pavilion, Meng Yu was lying on the couch, unable to fall asleep. She wasn't too shocked; Ying Congxin's death seemed to be expected, but she still shuddered.
Outside the window, everything was covered in silver snow; inside, it was warm and cozy like spring.
Meng Yu tossed and turned for half a day but still couldn't fall asleep. Seeing that it was getting late, she simply got up and went to the kitchen to take a look.
As instructed, Aunt Chen had also prepared sea cucumber and chicken soup today and was about to take it to Zhi Mian when she saw it and took it from her.
Zhi Mian also woke up. After nearly a month of recuperation, her legs were gradually able to support her as she took a few steps. Now she was pacing back and forth with the help of her maid.
Upon seeing Meng Yu, she quickly stopped and smiled, "Why did you come in person, young lady?"
Meng Yu had someone bring out a soft cushion and placed it on the stone bench for her to sit on. While serving her a bowl of sea cucumber and chicken soup, she smiled and said, "I had nothing to do, so I thought I'd come and see you. You look a bit more rosy today."
Zhi Mian subconsciously touched her face and couldn't help but laugh: "How could I not be rosy? Every day, the girl asks Aunt Chen to make me different kinds of soup, such as sea cucumber and chicken soup, angelica and mutton soup, or cordyceps and old duck soup. There are also various fruits and vegetables on weekdays. I have gained several pounds this month."
After serving the soup, Meng Yu urged her to drink it while it was hot, adding, "It's good to be a little plump. What's the point of being so thin, young lady?"
For some reason, Zhi Mian suddenly sighed, "You've always been a kind person, there's really no need for you to get your hands stained with blood for Zhi Mian's sake."
Upon hearing this, Meng Yu paused for a moment, then immediately realized what she meant. She took her hand and said earnestly, "Good Zhi Mian, kindness is not used like this. If she were a good person, it would be bad for me to have her blood on my hands. But now she deserves what she got. You must not feel guilty about it. Besides, I am not the one who took her life."
Zhi Mian nodded, her brows furrowed.
***
After the heavy snow, the weather grew colder and colder, and the pond at Longxiang Pavilion, once frozen over, never thawed again.
For the sake of Ying Congxin, Meng Yu comforted Zhi Mian for quite some time before she gradually untied her knot in her heart. On this day, the snow stopped, and the sky was unusually clear, with no clouds in the sky.
After tidying herself up, Meng Yu took Hua Yi out to Xunmanlou. She made a special appointment with Ning Sui to thank her for lending troops that day.
When they arrived at Xunmanlou, Ning Sui was already waiting in a private room and had ordered her favorite dishes. Meng Yu gave Hua Yi ten taels of silver and told her to find a table outside and order a few dishes she liked.
After sending Hua Yi away, she poured Ning Sui a cup of tea: "You lent me troops without saying a word that day, and your brother didn't cause you any trouble after you went back?"
"How could I not have looked?" Ning Sui said dramatically. "I almost had to kneel in the ancestral hall."
Noticing the exaggerated tone in her expression, Meng Yu smiled and asked, "And then? How was it resolved?"
"Just say a few nice things. My brother only has me as his sister. Besides, he's all talk and no action. What he says to me is not the same as what he does," Ning Sui said nonchalantly, taking a sip of tea.
“Then I owe you another favor,” Meng Yu said, resting her chin on her hand. “After thinking it over, I don’t think there’s anything I can do to help you. I have no soldiers, no power. How can I repay you?”
Just then, the dishes were served.
Ning Sui ordered a pot of wine, which was specially recommended by the shopkeeper. She heard it was a 20-year-old daughter's red wine. She tasted it and found it to be just average.
Hearing this, she glared at Meng Yu: "Why are you being so modest with me? Didn't you say last time that you made a living by brewing wine in Hejiuyun Township? When it comes to business, I'm not as good as you. If you want to repay this favor, you might as well give me a jar of peach blossom wine. That would be enough. Compared to Daughter's Red wine, I prefer peach blossom wine."
"If you want to drink peach blossom wine, peach blossoms only come after spring, and after it's brewed, you have to wait three months. You won't be able to drink it until at least next summer."
Ning Sui raised an eyebrow: "Good wine is worth the wait. I'll drink it whenever you've finished brewing it."
This matter is quite simple. Meng Yu nodded: "Alright, then we'll do as you say."
Just after having lunch with Ning Sui, someone from the Eastern Camp came to report that a dispute had broken out in the camp and a fight had broken out. The deputy general couldn't stop it, and Ning Jianxing was out of town and not in Shangjing. Ning Sui had no choice but to leave first.
After settling the bill, Meng Yu and Hua Yi boarded the carriage and returned home.
But they had only gone halfway when they were blocked by a noisy crowd. The guards following the carriage went forward to check and returned to report: "Madam, someone has fainted. Governor Peng happened to be returning to the capital and is leading people to help."
“Governor Peng?” Meng Yu frowned and pondered for a moment, then said, “Two months ago, Yichuan was hit by heavy snow, which destroyed hundreds of houses. I heard that the court sent the selfless and dedicated Governor Peng Zhao to provide disaster relief. Is that the man we’re talking about now?”
The guard replied respectfully, "Indeed."
As they were talking, a voice suddenly cried out from the crowd, "Where's the doctor? Why isn't the doctor here yet? His breathing is very weak."
Upon hearing the sound, Meng Yu frowned slightly, and without thinking, lifted the curtain to go downstairs.
Seeing this, the guard quickly stopped her: "Madam, this place is in a busy area with many people and lots of gossip. It would be best if you didn't get out of the carriage."
"Human life is at stake, how can I sit here idly?" Meng Yu said sternly, "Get out of the way."
The guard hesitated for a moment, then silently stepped aside and gestured for the guards behind him to quickly line up on both sides to check the surrounding security.
Hua Yi parted the crowd to allow Meng Yu to squeeze in.
Meng Yu looked up and saw an official in a scarlet court robe, around fifty years old, with a few white hairs at his temples and a clear and bright face, squatting anxiously beside the young man who had fainted on the ground in front of a dilapidated and cramped carriage.
The young man lay on his side, covered with a faded cloak, which must have belonged to Peng Zhao. His lips were pale, and he was clearly unconscious. Meng Yu quickly went over and checked his nose. He was still breathing slightly. She immediately said to Peng Zhao, "Turn him over first."
Upon hearing this, Peng Zhao, without bothering to ask whether Meng Yu was a doctor or not, quickly joined forces with her to turn the young man flat onto the ground.
Meng Yu immediately began pressing on his chest.
A voice suddenly rang out from the crowd: "He's already passed out, why is this girl still pressing on his chest? Isn't she just hastening his death?"
"Judging from her attire, she looks more like a woman who never leaves her home, not a doctor."
Upon hearing this, everyone realized what was happening and began to criticize Meng Yu: "Do you even know how to treat illnesses? Don't end up killing someone."
Meng Yu ignored him and continued to press down hard.
Hua Yi believed that Meng Yu's actions were intended to save people. Hearing what those people were saying, she couldn't stand it anymore and rebuked them sharply: "My lady is doing this out of kindness. Unlike you, you just stand by with your hands folded. It's so cold outside, and someone is lying on the ground. You don't even bother to put your coats down for him. You just stand there making sarcastic remarks."
"You little hussy, what are you cursing about?" Someone with a fiery temper was immediately enraged upon hearing Hua Yi's words and shouted, "We didn't help, but at least we had bad intentions. He was already unconscious, and she was still pressing him down as if he were going to die."
"you……"
Zhi Mian's face turned red with anger at the man's words.
Seeing that he couldn't help Meng Yu and hearing the commotion around him, Peng Zhao quickly stepped forward and kindly advised, "Everyone, please stop arguing. I believe this lady means well and would not harm this brother in public."
Peng Zhao was renowned and was always regarded by the people as a noble, selfless, and incorruptible official. After he said this, everyone stopped talking, but they still looked at Meng Yu with disdain and contempt.
Meng Yu was so focused on saving the man that she couldn't hear what the onlookers were saying. She pressed her forehead until beads of cold sweat appeared, and just as she was about to run out of strength, the young man suddenly opened his eyes with a "poof".
Everyone stared in astonishment, finding it hard to believe.
Just then, the doctor rushed over with his medicine box. After taking the pulse and administering acupuncture, the young man regained his senses and was able to stand up a little.
The doctor packed up his medicine box and sighed repeatedly, "Fortunately, this lady pressed his chest in time to save him, otherwise this brother would have lost his life. If the opportunity had been missed, I'm afraid even a god could not save him."
The disdainful crowd sheepishly withdrew their gazes. Hua Yi glanced at them, then straightened her head and puffed out her chest, feeling incredibly proud.
Peng Zhao wasn't surprised. He had read a lot of books, and only now did he suddenly recall the books he had read. Combining this with Meng Yu's technique, he roughly understood the situation. He quickly clasped his hands in thanks to her, saying, "On behalf of this brother, I thank you for saving my life, Madam."
Meng Yu reached out to help him up, but suddenly felt the guard's gaze coming toward her. Her slender white fingers stopped in mid-air: "My lord, there's no need to be so polite. This is a matter of life and death, it's only right."
Peng Zhao's gaze swept across the crowd and landed on the trumpet tassel bells on the carriage of General Huaiyuan's residence. Looking at the person in front of him, he immediately guessed who Meng Yu was, but still pretended not to know and asked, "May I ask who you are, Madam?"
Meng Yu lowered her eyebrows: "My husband is General Huaiyuan, Lu Xiuyi."
Upon hearing this, Peng Zhao immediately clenched his fist: "I've heard that General Huaiyuan is brave and skilled in battle, but I never imagined that Madam is also a kind and benevolent person."
"You flatter me, Lord Peng," Meng Yu nodded slightly. Seeing the guard's urging look, she casually made an excuse, "I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."
Peng Zhao nodded and watched Meng Yu board the carriage and drive away before he himself got into the old, cramped carriage with drafty curtains and returned to his residence.
***
Zhi Mian loves the lotus leaf stewed pearls at Xun Man Lou, so Meng Yu specially packed a portion to bring back and asked Hua Yi to deliver it to her.
As the year drew to a close, there were many things to do in the military camp, and Lu Xiuyi often left after breakfast and did not return until after 7 a.m.
The snow intensified in the afternoon, and the cold wind howled outside the window, stinging my face like a knife.
Meng Yu suddenly remembered that Lu Xiuyi's face was dry and cracked when he woke up this morning, so she asked Huayi to take out the box of Yuzhu Rose Cream from the cabinet and have the guards in the mansion deliver it to the West Camp.
After giving her instructions, she finally felt at ease and took a nap.
No sooner had she woken up than Steward Cao came to report, "Madam, Lord Meng has arrived."
Meng Yu put down his teacup and blurted out instinctively, "Lord Meng? Which Lord Meng?"
Seemingly surprised by her question, Steward Cao paused for a moment before quickly bowing his head and replying, "It is Lord Meng Yanqing, the Junior Secretary."
As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Yu paused, his hand still touching the teacup.
I hadn't heard this name in a long time, and hearing it again felt like a lifetime ago.
Where is he?
She picked up the teacup again, took a slow sip, and felt the warmth of the tea flow into her heart, slightly melting her cold and hardened heart.
"They're waiting in the lobby."
Meng Yu immediately got up and led Hua Yi and two other maids to the front hall. As soon as they entered, they saw Meng Yanqing sitting in the main seat, leisurely sipping tea.
Her gaze darkened, but she still calmly and coldly asked, "Father, you are a busy man, what brings you here today?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Yanqing lifted his eyelids and saw that the person who came was Meng Yu. After taking a sip of tea, he slowly put down his teacup and said with a cold face, "You've been back for so long and you haven't gone home to pay your respects to your grandmother. I thought you didn't consider me, your father, to exist."
“Although my father has never taken care of me personally since I was a child, he at least paid to raise me. How could I pretend you don’t exist?” Meng Yu sat down in the main seat to his left with a swagger.
Meng Yanqing frowned and slammed the teacup down.
Snap!
The teacup tapped on the table, making a crisp sound, and a little tea spilled out. Meng Yanqing turned her head to look at her, clicked her tongue, and said in an extremely annoyed tone, "What? You think you can sit on equal footing with your father now?"
Meng Yu didn't reply immediately. Instead, she smiled slightly and turned to Steward Cao, who was standing beside her, and asked, "Steward Cao, where is this?"
Steward Cao was taken aback, realizing the meaning behind her words. He bowed his head respectfully and said, "Madam, this is the Huaiyuan General's residence."
With a forced smile, Meng Yu continued, "Then who am I?"
"You are the general's wife, the mistress of this mansion."
Meng Yu turned her head slightly, her gaze falling on Meng Yanqing with extreme coldness: "Father, did you understand?"
Seeing Meng Yanqing looking at her incredulously, she continued, word by word, "I am the master of this place. Do you think I should be sitting here?"
The person opposite her frowned after being rebuked by her words.
Meng Yu, however, was still not satisfied. She sneered and continued to add fuel to the fire: "Speaking of which, I'm only sitting here because you and Grandmother threatened me into the bridal sedan chair. Why do you seem a little resentful now? Should I send someone to invite Lu Xiuyi back so he can have a word with you?"
She spoke so bluntly and without any restraint that even Meng Yanqing dared not call her by her name, which made him so angry that he immediately stood up, staring straight at her, his anger rising in his chest, his face turning pale and then red.
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