by Ning er
As if listening to a story, Yun Qian Meng who noticed Mi mama’s keen interest, played along and said, “If this is true, then wouldn’t Rong shaoye be very pitiful?”
Hearing Yun Qian Meng’s sorrowful sigh, Mi mama instead strongly shook her head, firmly saying, “Although Rong shaoye did not receive any love from Rong laoye, the Rong old madam and Rong Xian taifei niangniang in the palace doted on him very much! It is said that the taifei niangniang considered Rong shaoye as her own flesh and blood; from time to time, she would call him to the palace to reminisce! Relying on just this, even if Rong laoye and that Zhou yiniang couldn’t bear to look at the main wife and him any longer, they also cannot do anything!”
While they chatted, the carriage had already arrived at the entrance to the xiangfu!
Mu Chun jumped off the carriage, then helped Yun Qian Meng slowly get down and sit on the sedan chair……
“Let’s go to Bai Shun Tang first!” The moment the sedan curtains were put down, Yun Qian Meng commanded softly. Mi mama nodded and had them carry the sedan chair towards Bai Shun Tang. Then, she headed towards Qi Luo Yuan with the red sandalwood box on her own.
She had originally thought that after lunch, everyone would have returned to rest. But when Yun Qian Meng stepped into the courtyard in Bai Shun Tang, Su Qing was punished to stand outside the main room. And Wang mama was kneeling beside her, weeping and pleading towards the old madam inside, “laotaitai, please be merciful! Our yiniang is pregnant, her body is weak, can’t endure the standing punishment!” nubi is willing to be punished in yiniangs place. laotaitai, please come out and see yiniang! yiniang really can’t handle it anymore……”
Yun Qian Meng watched the charades before her, and really couldn’t see just how Su Qing was unwell. Instead, Wang mama’s shouting and screaming was extremely annoying. In particular, her rather aged face was flowing with tears and snot, momentarily causing people to recoil in disgust!
Su Qing turned to look when she heard their soft footsteps. Seeing Yun Qian Meng calmly stand aside to watch the joke, her cold eyes flashed with a trace of hatred. Wang mama also hardened her skin to crawl beside Yun Qian Meng, trying to curry a favor from her, “da xiaojie, the old madam dotes on you the most! You can see that our yiniang is still carrying xiangye’s son, can’t stand outside for such a long time! Please help us ask a favor from laotaitai; otherwise, if anything happens to xiangye’s heir, wouldn’t it be da xiaojie’s fault?”
Yun Qian Meng found Wang mama’s threat laughable. Stopping Mu Chun from rushing over to argue, she calmly said, “What is my status? You wicked slave, you actually dare to go as far as ask me to lower myself to beg on behalf of a yiniang? Have you become senile or just muddled? Do you want me to report this to laotaitai, and have you and your zhuzi driven out of the xiangfu?”
At these words, Wang mama’s weeping suddenly stopped like a kite that had its strings cut off. Su Qing’s face also ashened in anger towards Yun Qian Meng. She had originally wanted to borrow the situation of Yun Qian Meng causing harm to Yun Xuan Zhi’s unborn heir, and have the old madam’s anger diverted from her body. But she didn’t expect that Yun Qian Meng had grown such a sharp tongue, not taking even the slightest loss!
While Yun Qian Meng watched the master and servant pair’s faces flip between the colors of the rainbow, she remembered the suffering Xia mama had endured. She laughed grimly in her heart, they already couldn’t bear it after being scolded by others slightly; compared to the people that they have hurt and harmed, this little matter was not even close to the amount of interest they had to pay back!
And she was only casually saying those words; there was no way she would really let the old madam drive Su Qing away from the fu!
Besides, she was still pregnant at the moment. It was hard to say that Yun Xuan Zhi wouldn’t build a new residence outside just for Su Qing to live in. By that time, if she wanted to get everything back, afraid it would not be as easy as in the xiangfu!
Instead, she was willing to keep Su Qing here and properly treat her!
While both parties confronted each other, Liu yiniang came out smiling from the warm room. Seeing Yun Qian Meng, her expression became even warmer. She immediately walked over and bowed respectfully to Yun Qian Meng, saying with a smile, “laotaitai just said that she seemed to have heard da xiaojie’s voice and sent sent nubi to come out and take a look! nubi didn’t believe it at first, but sure enough, it really is da xiaojie! laotaitai and you must really have deep feelings!”
Yun Qian Meng saw how happy Liu Han Yu was being today, then saw Su Qing’s indignant expression, and immediately understood why Liu Han Yu was so happy!
Lightly sweeping a glance at Su Qing, Yun Qian Meng carefully asked, “Has laotaitai had her lunch?”
“She’s already eaten! However, since da xiaojie had left in the morning, laotaitai can’t keep her mind off the jade emerald mung bean cakes!” Chatting and laughing, Liu yiniang followed Yun Qian Meng to enter the room. Stepping into the room, Liu Han Yu pulled Yun Qian Meng to a halt and whispered quietly into her ear, “laotaitai wanted to bring the xiaojie from erlaoye’s family over here, but Su Qing did not agree, so she was punished to stand outside!”
Yun Qian Meng nodded to show her understanding, then received the paper box from Mu Chun and stepped into the warm room.
“sunnü greets zumu!” At the moment, the old madam was sitting on a warm bed, holding a brown silk handkerchief in her hands as she carefully examined it.
Seeing Yun Qian Meng enter, she put down the handkerchief and beckoned to her, asking Yun Qian Meng to move closer. Touching her slightly cold hands, she finally feigned anger and said, “On such a cold day, next time, just let the servants go to buy it! You are the xiangfu’s precious da xiaojie, mustn’t ruin your health!”
Hearing this, Yun Qian Meng showed a touched expression and immediately burrowed into the old madam’s bosom. She gratefully said, “What is zumu talking about? Respecting zumu is sunnü’s natural duty! What’s more, it’s already the beginning of spring, it’s not as cold as it was in winter anymore. As long as zumu is happy, sunnü will be delighted to do anything!”
As she spoke, she presented jade emerald mung bean cakes that were still warm. When the box was opened, a fragrant scent assailed their nostrils. The old madam’s eyes showed an even happier expression!
“zumu, have a taste. See if the taste is the same as in the past!” Yun Qian Meng received a wet handkerchief from a servant and cleaned her hands before carefully picking up a piece of the sparkling, transculent mung bean cakes and bringing it up to the old madam’s face.
The old madam did not decline, taking a small bite from Yun Qian Meng’s hands. Eating slowly before swallowing it into her stomach, she said with satisfaction, “Exactly the same as it was in the past! Your shenniang had also hired a chef that specialized in this! But for some reason, they couldn’t get this flavor! Today, thanks to Meng’er’s good fortune, zumu can finally enjoy the food!”
Yun Qian Meng only made a modest smile and passed the the pastries to Rui mama beside the old madam. She then personally poured a cup of hot tea for the old madam, smiling, “zumu doesn’t know, but it was shenniang who told Meng’er about this! shenniang is really considerate. Worried that zumu would not be used to living here, she especially mentioned it to sunnü!”
Seeing that Yun Qian Meng was not arrogant with her own accomplishments, instead passing off the credit to her daughter-in-law, the old madam was even more satisfied with this granddaughter!
Yun Qian Meng had picked up the silk handkerchief that old madam was looking at earlier and saw that it was embroidered with a peach of immortality. The needlework was exquisite, creating an image of a fresh peach. She smiled and praised, “Whose great handiwork is this? The embroidery is so lifelike!”
The old madam heard her and also smiled, pointing to Liu yiniang as she said, “It’s Yun Yan yatou’s embroidery! She said that she worried that I wouldn’t have enough, so she made
it for several nights in a row!”
Liu yiniang heard Yun Qian Meng suddenly ask about the silk handkerchief and felt her heart thumping in her chest. Her hands somewhat tightly gripped on her own handkerchief as she showed a smile, anxiously explaining, “nubi just thought yesterday, that da xiaojie was so filial to laotaitai; san xiaojie as a meimei should also learn from da xiaojie’s example, so we sent this handkerchief over! Just a small skill, can’t be compared to da xiaojie!”
What Liu yiniang said was not wrong.
It had to be said, that Tian Fu Lou’s emerald jade mung bean cakes were not something anyone could buy!
The shopkeeper would look at the buyer’s family medallion. If it was not a legitimate child from a prestigious family, it was almost impossible to buy them!
That’s why, Yun Yan’s handkerchief and Yun Qian Meng’s pastries, really could not be compared to each other!
But Yun Qian Meng didn’t show the slightest bit of discontent on her face. Instead, she carefully examined the handkerchief for a while before praising, “yiniang is too modest! meimei’s needlework is exquisite, the colors are also appropriate for zumu’s age, can clearly see that she put a lot of thought into it! This kind of filial piety, is nothing less than anything I have done! What’s more, san meimei’s handiwork is so superb, that I even want to ask her to teach me how to embroider!”
At these words, the old madam showed a smiling expression while Liu yiniang also relaxed and let out a breath!
At this moment, Wang mama’s shouting came again from the outside. Her already hoarse voice was especially ear-piercing, momentarily cutting into the old madam’s joy. Somewhat annoyed, she said, “If everyone in the fu was as sensible as Meng’er, then I wouldn’t have anything to worry about! But that unlucky star had to be stubbornly brought in, can’t even keep a child properly!”
As she spoke, the old madam’s breath became somewhat unsteady as she fiercly slammed her hand onto the table……
Yun Qian Meng quickly put down the handkerchief in her hands and gently stroked the old madam’s bosom to comfort her, helping her steady her breath. Still, she made a puzzled expression and asked, “Coming in just now, sunnü saw Su yiniang standing in the middle of the courtyard. zumu, Su yiniang is carrying father’s flesh and blood after all, you should still let her go back to rest! If anything were to happen, wouldn’t it be harmful to your feelings with father?”
When the old madam heard Yun Qian Meng’s proposal, her mood that had calmed down was stired up once again. She only fiercely sat upright and said with an ugly expression, “That fox still wants to ruin our mother and son’s relationship? Don’t think that she can do whatever she likes because she is pregnant! Does she think that just because other people are scared of her, that even I will be scared of her? Just a yiniang, does she want to overturn the heavens? Even if the child gets born, I won’t accept it, don’t even think about entering the genealogy!”
The old madam pointed out the window as she berated. Her loud and clear voice let everyone inside and outside the room hear everything she said clearly. For a moment, Wang mama’s voice weakened, while Su Qing’s silhoutte actually swayed for a bit, her expression becoming even more ugly!
Yun Qian Meng only looked concernedly at the old madam before lifting the teacup that was already not too hot for her, saying considerately, “zumu, drink some tea and release your anger! If you really can’t bear to see Su yiniang, then just exempt her from paying respects every day and night, letting her stay in Feng He Yuan. This way, father also won’t have any criticism. Instead, he’ll feel that zumu is being considerate towards yiniang!”
The old madam drank a few mouthfuls of tea and suppressed her anger. She then said sincerely and earnestly, “yatou, your heart must not be so kind! Today. she treated me with such disrepect; if you are too nice to her, won’t she just ride on top of your head? She can’t be exempted from paying respects to me every day and night! Even back when your mother was pregnant with you, she also came to see me every day, never missing a single day! How can these customs be broken just over a yiniang? Besides, how can her status be compared to that of the main wife? If she didn’t rudely contradict her elders today, I wouldn’t have treated her like this either!”
After speaking, the old madam heavily gasped for air……
Yun Qian Meng saw that the old madam had finally reached the main point and asked, “Don’t know just what happened to cause zumu to be so unhappy?”
The old madam saw that Yun Qian Meng was being thoughtful and didn’t keep things vague. She got right to the point, saying, “Meng’er, all three of you sisters had grown up together since you were young. With each other as companions, you wouldn’t have felt lonely! But your meimei Yi’er, only has two elder brothers above her, and no brothers and sisters below her. Now that her brothers have come to the xiangfu, leaving her alone, how can she not be lonely? zumu thought, why not bring Yi Yi here, wouldn’t it be great if she came here to accompany you? But that black-hearted woman actually said that the girl should stay back and take care of her parents, just won’t allow Yi Yi to come over! You say, how can zumu not feel bitter?”
Yun Qian Meng lowered her eyes and earnestly listened to the old madam’s every word. Her eyelashes that were like butterfly wings concealed her gaze, even the old madam couldn’t fish out her thoughts!
When the old madam finished speaking, Yun Qian Meng finally perked up her pretty face, her starry, brilliant eyes showing a smiling expression. Her lips curling into a smile, she said happily, “zumu, this is a great thing! Meng’er also really likes Yi Yi, having her here would really be the best! But these things, zumu should just ask father directly, why do you need to go through Su yiniang?”
The old madam watched Yun Qian Meng agree frankly and felt extremely delighted!
But hearing her mention Su Qing again, she couldn’t help but snort and say heavily, “I just thought that since your father doted on her, her words would be more effective than mine! I wanted her to bring this up with your father, but instead, she refused straight away! She really wants to make the household disharmonious; this kind of poisonous woman, what use is there in keeping her?”
At this, Yun Qian Meng understood. The old madam was really just using this as a pretext to make a fuss, wanting to pay back Su Qing for the insult from long ago!
But this matter could not be allowed to let Yun Xuan Zhi form a hatred in his heart. That’s why, she used familial love as an excuse!
However, it would seem that the matter of bringing Yun Yi Yi into the xiangfu was something the old madam had planned all along. After all, in West Chu country, it was difficult to find another man that could compare to Chu Fei Yang!
And after the old madam had caused such a scene, Yun Xuan Zhi would have already received the news at his side. It was very likely that he would bring the matter up at dinner.
This time, Yun Xuan Zhi had wanted to show off his filial piety by bringing the old madam back. If he overruled the old madam’s suggestion now, then that would be extremely unfilial!
Su Qing’s earlier actions were in conflict with Yun Xuan Zhi’s bottom line. She was only afraid that Yun Xuan Zhi would treat her coldly for a while!
It can’t not be said that old ginger was hotter than young ginger. The old madam really kept to the saying, ‘for a nobleman to take revenge, ten years is not too late’. She had waited until today to finally collect the interest!
If Su Qing was to be treated coldly, and the few young and beautiful yiniang having just recently entered the xiangfu; she didn’t need to think to know what her following days would be like!
Not expecting that she wouldn’t need to raise her hands to sort Su Qing out, Yun Qian Meng momentarily felt her mood turn good. She lifted the lid on her teacup and blew away the steam, comfortably taking a sip; only waiting for the good show tonight!
Sure enough, before it was time for dinner, Yun Xuan Zhi had entered Bai Shun Tang with heavy steps!
O
nly, when he saw in the courtyard, Su Qing with a pale complexion, on the verge of collapse after having made to stand for the entire afternoon, his enraged expression turned tender in a flash. He immediately rushed over and pulled her into his embrace, gently asking, “How did this happen?”
Su Qing showed a wronged expression, her difficultly restrained tears aptly falling onto the back of Yun Xuan Zhi’s hand. The boiling warmth momentarily scalded Yun Xuan Zhi’s heart, causing his heart full of anger to vanish like smoke in thin air. Seeing Su Qing’s eyes turn white, as if about to faint, he immediately carried her and left Bai Shun Tang with large steps!
The old madam had already heard the servants announce, saying that the laoye had come. She had just begun to put on a broken-hearted expression, but didn’t expect the servants to come in again and report that Yun Xuan Zhi had carried Su Qing in his arms and left. Momentarily pissed, the old madam’s lips quivered, hating how she couldn’t smash the teacup in front of her to vent her anger!
Yet Yun Qian Meng had already predicted that Su Qing would pull such a trick. Instead, she was calm and composed as she sipped her tea, counting down to the moment when Yun Xuan Zhi would return.
The room was completely silent, even somewhat frighteningly gloomy. Liu yiniang looked at the old madam’s anger as well as Yun Qian Meng’s uninvolved indifference, and found an excuse to withdraw. Finally able to relax her breath, she ordered the servants to go prepare the dinner!
After two hours, the sky had already darkened. Lanterns were lit in every corner of the xiangfu, but Yun Xuan Zhi had still not returned. The old madam’s anger was now already at the verge of her breaking point!
Yun Qian Meng saw this and immediately placated her, “zumu, don’t be angry! Perhaps Su yiniang’s pregnancy was disturbed! Why don’t we go over and have a look?”
Hearing this, the old madam waved her hands in annoyance, fiercely saying, “If she has the ability, then seriously fall ill! Want me to see her? Dream on!”
