by Ning er
Yun Qian Meng saw that the old madam was so stubborn and momentarily showed a distressed expression. She sighed and walked behind the old madam, then gently massaged the old madam’s shoulders with her small hands, softly explaining, “zumu, it’s not wrong for father to worry about his own child. If you don’t go, wouldn’t father think that you did everything on purpose? After that, how can your relationship be good? Besides, father had thought very much about you in order to bring you back to show his filial piety. If you don’t go, wouldn’t it confirm the rumors outside about the xiangfu’s mother and son not getting along well? Not only that, if you want meimei to come over, you still need father to agree!”
Yun Qian Meng said this only to give the old madam a way out of the situation. If the mother and son fought each other too much, the one who benefited would still be Su Qing. Yun Qian Meng would naturally never let Su Qing get her way with anything!
Of course, the old madam was also a smart person. She knew that Yun Xuan Zhi had yet to receive a noble title until now only over this matter of filial piety. If she obstructed her son’s prospects at this juncture, she feared that it would affect the career of her two grandsons as well!
After thinking about it, no matter how much the old madam did not want to go see Su Qing, she had no other choice but to nod her head!
Yun Qian Meng saw this, then immediately told Liu yiniang who was waiting upon them from outside the room, “Pack up a bit of the jujube fibre porridge and the Peng Xi ginger cakes!”
The old madam noticed that Yun Qian Meng was being very thorough and couldn’t help but be somewhat suspicious. However, Yun Qian Meng let the servants pass the food over to Rui mama. The old madam finally showed a bit of a smile on her face as they accompanied each other to go towards Feng He Yuan!
Inside Feng He Yuan, Yun Xuan Zhi looked at Su Qing who had fainted on the bed. He couldn’t help but rage at Wang mama, “Are you all useless? yiniang is pregnant, how can you let her stand outside in the cold for the whole afternoon!?”
Wang mama saw that Yun Xuan Zhi was currently so concerned about Su Qing and finally let the stone in her heart drop. She even ignored the pain on her knees and kneeled once more in front of Yun Xuan Zhi, pleading, “xiangye, please have pity on our yiniang! Today, because yiniang said something wrong to the old madam, she was punished to stand outside for the whole afternoon. If this continues, afraid that the child in yiniang’s stomach……”
At the end of her sentence, Wang mama’s voice became smaller and smaller, as if extremely afraid that others would hear her……
Yun Xuan Zhi listened until she stopped halfway in mid-sentence and felt extremely anxious. He shouted, “Who dares to touch her? If anything happens to Qing’er, all of you will be buried along with her!”
The old madam and Yun Qian Meng just arrived at the gate to Feng He Yuan, and heard his voice. The old madam’s expression sank in anger, but Yun Qian Meng only lightly smiled and supported her, saying, “Father is teaching the servants a lesson! We should only worry about the sick person!”
Hearing this, the old madam forced down the displeasure in her heart. Her furious expression momentarily vanished, bringing her usual moderate expression to enter the main room……
Yun Xuan Zhi still wanted to keep questioning, but noticed the old madam bringing a crowd over. He temporarily stopped and turned quickly to the old madam, personally helping her into the warm room, saying, “The weather is cold, how can mother be troubled to personally come over?”
The old madam swept a severe gaze at Wang mama, then said, “I heard that Su yiniang had fainted in my courtyard! Since she is currently carrying our Yun family’s flesh and blood, I was naturally concerned!”
The old madam only talked about her concern towards Su Qing, and even her love towards the unborn child. Wang mama’s hands momentarily paused from wiping her tears as she raised her head to look puzzlingly at the old madam. But she only saw that she had a calm expression, completely different from her violent and fierce appearance in the afternoon!
Yun Xuan Zhi was also startled. He obviously didn’t expect the old madam would come to see Su Qing because of her concern!
And at this moment, Rui mama had already swiftly let the servants lift the box of food over, carefully arranging the porridge and pastries on the small table.
Yun Xuan Zhi looked at the steaming hot porridge, and momentarily felt somewhat ashamed. He attentively helped the old madam sit down properly and said thankfully, “I’ve troubled mother! But these things, you can just let Wang mama do them. There is no shortage of food for the yiniang in the fu. If mother has to prepare these for a yiniang, er’zi can only blush with shame!”
Seeing that Yun Xuan Zhi’s face was certainly filled with shame, the old madam didn’t reproach him. She only patted his hand and said earnestly, “You are mom’s child, of course mom won’t make things difficult for you! Besides, Su yiniang is pregnant, do you want mom to see my own grandchildren suffer hardships?”
Yun Xuan Zhi saw that the old madam was speaking words true to his heart and nodded heavily.
But Su Qing who was pretending to be unconcious on the bed couldn’t stand listening to this. Under the covers, her hands tightly formed fists, only hating that she couldn’t throw off the covers and argue loudly with the old madam!
Today, the old madam had plainly, deliberately attacked her with words, then made her stand outside for the entire afternoon!
Until Yun Xuan Zhi had entered Bai Shun Tang, not even one servant in the warm room had come out to care for her! But now, the old madam, afraid that she would complain, actually shamelessly rushed over and pretended to be a good person!
Such a good plan! Not only did she preserve the relationship between mother and son, she would also be able to discredit Su Qing. The old madam’s play was too smooth!
Su Qing only felt herself rage until the roots of her teeth trembled. But since she had already fainted, she could only forcibly restrain the bubbling anger in her stomach. However, she was unable to maintain her sleeping face, her eyelashes couldn’t help but twitch slightly……
Liu Han Yu was currently standing behind the old madam. At the conversation between the old madam and Yun Xuan Zhi, she didn’t have any right to cut in, so she only focused her attention on Su Qing’s body!
Already somewhat sceptical about the authenticity of Su Qing’s fainting condition, Liu Han Yu surely enough saw the changes in Su Qing’s face, immediately exclaiming with a soft “Ah!”
Yun Xuan Zhi was just exchanging feelings with the old madam when Liu Han Yu had interrupted them. He immediately felt annoyed and quietly berated, “What happened? Can’t you see that I’m talking with laotaitai?”
Liu Han Yu immediately showed a sorry expression and took another look at Su Qing before she quietly responded, “nubi was wrong. laoye, please forgive me!”
Only, Yun Qian Meng and the old madam had already noticed Liu Han Yu’s expression just now. The old madam then told her, “Liu yiniang, go take a look at Su yiniang. If nothing’s wrong, we should also go back! It’s not good to have too many people in the room, don’t disturb Su yiniang from her rest!”
Liu Han Yu bowed towards Yun Qian Meng and the old madam, then silently moved to the bedside. Wang mama saw this and just wanted to warn Su Qing, but, remembering that Su Qing was supposed to be unconcious at the moment, if she spoke up, wouldn’t it be proving to everyone that Su Qing was lying?
At these thoughts, Wang mama only felt like she had no choice but to suffer in silence; an unspeakably bitter suffering. She could only grip her heart tightly, anxiously watching as Liu Han Yu gradually approached the bed!
The old madam flashed a look at Rui mama, sending Rui mama to immediately stand in front of Wang mama, blocking her vision!
At the moment, Su Qing only felt a malicious air moving towards her bed. Knowing that she couldn’t keep pretending to sleep, she forcefully blinked her eyes, gradually waking up……
Li
u Han Yu was just about to stick out her hand, when she saw Su Qing coincidentally wake up. Her heart filled with disappointment, but she still smiled and announced joyfully, “Su yiniang is awake!”
Wang mama heard Liu Han Yu say this, and felt her hanging heart fall back down. She only then realized that her own back was already drenched in sweat……
But Liu Han Yu’s words did not cause Yun Xuan Zhi to show a happy expression. Instead, he looked oddly at Su Qing, feeling a bit suspicious in his heart.
The old madam seriously examined Su Qing’s complexion then finally nodded with relief. She then rose and said, “Since you woke up, you should eat the porridge on the table, can’t neglect the child in your stomach! Since your complexion isn’t too good, you don’t need to pay respects in the morning after this, carefully take care of your body! We should also go back now!”
Yun Xuan Zhi heard the old madam’s instructions, then thought about how timely Su Qing had awoken, and immediately understood. His expression sank, but he still said respectfully to the old madam, “Everything was er’zi’s fault! Sorry for having laotaitai run over!”
Hearing the sincere apology in Yun Xuan Zhi’s words, the old madam knew that her purpose for coming was already achieved. She smiled and waved her hand, saying magnanimously, “You are my son, what’s with all the rules and customs? But Su yiniang is pregant after all. It’s not convenient for you to stay in Feng He Yuan tonight. Let Liu yiniang help you arrange everything, make sure to rest a bit earlier!”
After that, she grasped Yun Qian Meng’s hand and walked out of the warm room. Liu Han Yu also stopped before Yun Xuan Zhi and softly said, “laoye, nubi will first serve dinner to laotaitai and da xiaojie. nubi will come back to serve you later!”
Hearing this, Yun Xuan Zhi momentarily frowned and asked in concern, “laotaitai and Meng’er haven’t eaten?”
Liu Han Yu dully nodded her head and followed after them to leave Feng He Yuan.
The warm room was suddenly quiet again. Yun Xuan Zhi stood at the doorway, directly staring at Su Qing who was leaning at the head of the bed. He only saw that her black hair was hanging down on her shoulders, making her small, charming face appear even more deathly pale!
However, this woman had just tried to cheat him of sympathy by pretending to faint!
Instead, his aged mother had to endure her hunger and come over to see a yiniang. Yun Xuan Zhi’s heart was filled with pain as he coldly said, “The rules cannot be ignored! Otherwise there is no meaning to our family traditions! Su yiniang must sincerely go to pay respects to laotaitai every day and night in the future! Don’t you dare play any tricks!”
Finishing, Yun Xuan Zhi stepped out of Feng He Yuan in disappointment.
Su Qing didn’t think that her desperate ploy over the entire afternoon would be exposed by the old madam. Angry, she momentarily threw the covers onto the floor with all her strength, scaring Wang mama to immediately rush over and hurriedly pull the covers back over her body while she consoled her, saying, “furen, pay attention to your body! If you fall sick at this moment, then aren’t you fulfilling those people’s wish? What’s more, er xiaojie is still waiting for you at the ancestral hall!”
Her words let Su Qing calm down. Only, just now, Yun Xuan Zhi did not get angry, instead saying those things to her coldly and distantly. Su Qing could only feel restless about it!
After sharing her bed with him for so many years, Su Qing was naturally very clear about Yun Xuan Zhi’s personality!
When he was angry, he still wouldn’t estrange himself from other people!
But when he treated them with cold distance, it only meant that he was distrustful of the other person!
Over these years, the reason why Su Qing could get wind when she wants wind, and get rain when she wants rain, was because she had a clear grasp of Yun Xuan Zhi’s personality!
But under the old madam’s hand, Yun Xuan Zhi had unexpectedly become cold to her. It was only too late for Su Qing to second-guess herself, so much so that she almost regretted letting Yun Xuan Zhi bring the old madam back to the xiangfu just to try to set up Yun Qian Meng.
However, what had annoyed Su Qing even more was, early on the second day, Yun Xuan Zhi had sent Captain Liu out of the city, letting him bring Yun Yi Yi back to the xiangfu!
Hearing the news, Su Qing’s face turned ashen. But looking at her circumstances, she could only smile and say that Yun Xuan Zhi’s deed was good!
The old madam saw that her son was now more agreeable with her, and looked towards Su Qing with even more smugness. But she realized in her heart that she was depending on Yun Qian Meng more and more, only feeling that last night, listening to Yun Qian Meng’s proposal was the right course of action!
Liu yiniang knew that Yun Yi Yi was a darling in the old madam’s eyes, so she went to discuss with Yun Qian Meng, whether to tidy up the rooms beside Bai Shun Tang for Yun Yi Yi to stay.
Yun Qian Meng took a deep look at Liu Han Yu and knew that she was worried that with Yun Yi Yi here, Yun Yan would have no ground to stand on, so she only smiled and told her to do as she sees fit.
Liu yiniang saw that Yun Qian Meng was still considerate of her, and felt the loyalty in her heart grow.
At the moment, Yun Qian Meng had entered the old madam’s room after the servants’ bows. She saw the old madam holding up some satin and silk fabric to compare the colors, so she laughed and asked, “What is zumu doing?”
Rui mama saw Yun Qian Meng come in and smilingly moved over, receiving the plain cloak she had taken off, answering, “laotaitai was worried that the four xiaojie didn’t have any good clothes, losing face for the xiangfu. So she used her private savings and thought about making some new clothes for all the xiaojie!”
When she heard this, Yun Qian Meng showed a disapproving look and snatched the satin from the old madam’s hands and passed it to Rui mama, somewhat angrily saying “zumu is the elderly of our xiangfu! To actually take out your private savings, won’t other people jest about us? Outsiders who don’t understand will say that our xiangfu is embezzling our cousins! zumu, please stop. It’s not just father who won’t allow it, even Meng’er won’t let you! Afterwards, when Liu yiniang comes, we’ll ask her to call over the boss of one of the weavers from Jiang Nan, and make a few more sets of clothes for meimei! As for accessories, when simeimei arrives, Meng’er will personally bring her out to choose!”
The content of her words were both intimate and warm. Forget the old madam, even Rui mama was full of praise for the eldest young miss’s handling of the affairs. She said, “laotaitai, look, da xiaojie is so sensible! You should comply with da xiaojie, don’t waste her filial obedience!”
The old madam saw that Yun Qian Meng had a slightly angry expression, and listened to Rui mama’s advice, granting Yun Qian Meng’s request.
However, having made plans for the youngest granddaughter in front of the eldest, she worried that perhaps Yun Qian Meng was being generous on the surface but jealous inside!
The old madam carefully sized up Yun Qian Meng. She only found that she was wearing a green spring skirt, her body covered by a thin, silver-colored coat. The colors were simple, but didn’t let down her status. Only, her drawn-up hair was only adorned with one ivory orchid hairpin, while her temples were bare besides two simple pearl hairpins. This caused the old madam to feel somewhat disatisfied, thinking that a girl like that was too simple and neat. She ordered Rui mama to take out a small jade box from her wooden chest, then selected a golden peacock buyao and fixed it in Yun Qian Meng’s hair. Satisfied, she said, “Now you look like a xiangfu’s da xiaojie!”
Yun Qian Meng figured out that the old madam had misconstrued her intentions, so she immediately stood up and spoke with a terrified expression. “How can sunnü accept such a precious gift from zumu?!”
Saying that, she moved to pull the golden buyao out of her hair……
But the old madam stopped her movements, pulling Yun Qian Meng to sit back down. She smiled and sa
id, “These years, zumu had never sent you anything! Now, you respect your elders, love your sisters, of course you deserve this reward!”
Yun Qian Meng saw that she was insistent, then stood up again to bow in thanks, “Qian Meng thanks zumu for the reward!”
The old madam nodded with satisfaction. The two of them sat down and chatted for a bit, bringing up the topic of the birthday that was coming soon. The old madam said with some interest, “I haven’t seen laotaijun for so many years, don’t know how she has changed! Thinking back, your wai zumu was once a well-known beauty in the capital!”
Yun Qian Meng saw that the old madam finally couldn’t stop herself from talking about Fu Guo gongfu and held back the coldness in her eyes, smiling as she said, “wai zumu is strong and healthy. With da jiumu busy handling all the matters in the fu, wai zumu is really enjoying her life with no cares! It’s just that wai zumu has somewhat caught on in years, often cherishing the memory of the past. She especially misses zumu, saying that you were bosom friends and also relatives by marriage; the feelings were naturally impossible to compare with other people!”
Since Yun Qian Meng’s words were very much to her liking, the old madam’s rarely seen smiling wrinkles also appeared. She pointed at Yun Qian Meng and praised towards Rui mama, “This yatou, really gets my heart, listen to that sweet-talking mouth!”
Rui mama also laughed, quickly continuing after the old madam, “That’s true! da xiaojie is so filial, truly is laotaitai’s great fortune!”
The old madam loved listening to flattery the most. Being boasted up into the sky by others, her elated heart was filled with a light and airy feeling. However, her mind was still clear, understanding which questions she ought to ask at this moment. She only intimately pulled over Yun Qian Meng’s hands, resolutely saying, “zumu hasn’t been in the capital for so many years, completely unsure of a lot of the news and happenings around here! I recall that your da jiumu’s son, your da biaoge has already had his coming-of-age ceremony?”