Chapter 179 Auntie is Sick
Zhichun saw that everyone looked unhappy and asked:
"What happened"
Seeing that Second Mistress and Zhiqiu were silent, Zhixia said:
"The Second Master has sent the Second Madam to serve him."
"I don't think it's a big deal, Second Madam. I've noticed that since Second Master came back, he's been particularly fond of sticking to you. He doesn't even go to Auntie's place anymore. I think he's really changed his mind about you."
After hearing Zhixia's words, Zhichun said disapprovingly that she felt that the Second Master had changed since he came back. She even discovered that the look in his eyes when he occasionally looked at Second Madam was no longer so cold. Especially since it had been more than ten days since the Second Master came back, he not spend the night at Auntie's house like he did before, which made her secretly happy for Second Madam.
"you shut up!"
After hearing this, Second Madam and Zhiqiu shouted at Zhichun at the same time.
Since she has decided to leave here, Mengxi would rather the Second Master treat her badly than believe Zhichun's words and believe that the Second Master has feelings for her.
Zhichun looked at Second Grandma and Zhiqiu in astonishment. Are you going to let me live? I can't even say a word!
Mengxi helped Zhiqiu to the upper room, entered the hall, turned around the screen, looked up and saw the Second Master sitting there with a book in his hand, looking down. Mengxi slowly stepped forward and bowed softly:
"Second Master An"
"Well, sit down."
The second master responded without looking up, still looking at the book in his hand.
Mengxi walked forward and sat down. Hongzhu had already served new tea. Mengxi picked it up, blew on it, and took a sip. She looked up and saw that Erye was still reading. He didn't seem to want to speak, so she glanced at the book in his hand.
Damn, this second master has nothing to do on a rainy day and is so bored that he actually started looking at women's rings!
Mengxi turned her head and drank her tea attentively. Hongzhu and Zhiqiu, who were standing behind them, looked at each other. Just read the book. Why ask the second grandmother to accompany them?
After a long while, the Second Master put down the book in his hand, raised his head, looked at Mengxi, and said:
"Xi'er is coming"
"Second Master, why did you ask me to come here?"
"Oh, today I happened to read a few pages of the latter part of "Female Precepts", the Analects of Women, and there were a few things I didn't quite understand. Thinking that Xier often studies these, I specially asked Xier to come over to ask for advice."
"I don't know which one the Second Master is..."
Mengxi was halfway through her words when an idea flashed across her mind. The Second Master had been well-versed in poetry and literature since childhood, so how could he not understand the "Female Rules". Gu Mingsi thought that the "Female Rules" were to restrain women, so why was he studying these?
She stopped talking before she finished her sentence and looked at the Second Master vigilantly. Xiao Jun seemed not to notice Meng Xi's abnormality. Seeing that she stopped talking, he continued:
"In the seventh chapter of the Analects of Women, 'Serving the Husband', there is a sentence that says, 'If the husband goes out, one must remember his route. If he has not returned at dusk, one must look for him. Xi'er, why do you have to remember his route if the husband goes out? What is the purpose of remembering it?"
Only then did everyone understand what the Second Master meant, which was to accuse the Second Mistress of never going out to greet him when he returned from an outing.
When Zhiqiu heard the Second Master ask this, she looked at the Second Mistress worriedly. She was just worried about this matter. It was her Second Mistress who didn't care at all. And now, she came to her door.
Mengxi had regained her composure at this time. This Second Master had learned to find fault with her in a roundabout way, clearly wanting her to admit her mistakes. Yes, she had violated the female rules, but so what? At worst, he could divorce her. She was waiting for it. Who was afraid of who? Thinking of this, Mengxi said calmly:
"Second Master, as I understand it, this sentence means that the husband has gone out, and as a wife, you should remember when he will return. If he has not returned by then, you should go to the door to wait for him and ask him. When he comes back, you should go out to greet him and serve him."
Xiao Jun saw Mengxi regain her usual calmness in an instant, and spoke a few words calmly, as if she was really discussing a book with him. He didn't feel bitter. Why was she so calm and didn't even make a single excuse? Wasn't she afraid that he would punish her? Did she not care, or did she see that he was reluctant?
He coughed lightly and said:
"Oh, in that case, Xi'er is weak, so when I go out and don't come back, you don't have to wait at the door, just wait patiently in the yard. When I come back, don't go to the second gate to greet me, just greet me in this hall."
Mengxi was furious after hearing this. He acted as if he was so considerate to her, but he still made her work hard and serve him according to the rules. She was angry, but why didn't he take the opportunity to punish her?
Turning to look at the Second Master, she vaguely felt a sly smile flash across her phoenix eyes. Looking carefully, she still had a cold face. She thought she was dazzled. She stared at him for a long time and said discouragedly:
"I understand. When the Second Master returns, I will greet him according to the rules."
It seemed that the second master opposite him was relieved, and he only heard him say:
"That's all. By the way, Xi'er usually has nothing to do, so she does something in the East Wing."
"When I have nothing to do, I just read books and write."
"What kind of books does Xi'er usually read?"
"this……"
"Replying to Second Master, Second Madam, Aunt Zhang's maid Ling'er wants to see Second Master."
As the two were talking, the maidservant Duoer came in to pass on a message. Mengxi glanced at the Second Master and saw that he had no expression on his face. She said:
"Please let her in."
"yes"
After a while, Ling'er came in from behind the screen. She looked up and saw the Second Mistress sitting in the hall. She was startled, but after calming herself down, she stepped forward and bowed, saying:
"Hello, Second Master, Hello, Second Madam"
"Well, get up, what's going on?"
The second master asked casually.
"Replying to Second Master, Aunt Zhang specially prepared a few dishes that Second Master likes to eat tonight. Please go to Bamboo Garden for dinner."
These concubines finally lost their patience. They thought they could hold out for a few more days. Thinking of this, Mengxi looked at the Second Master meaningfully, but saw that the Second Master was also looking at her. Mengxi turned around, picked up the teacup, and drank the tea leisurely.
"Go and tell Aunt Zhang that Second Madam has served dinner. Let her have it and go to bed early."
After hearing this, Ling'er moved her lips and wanted to say something, but when she saw the second wife drinking tea, she swallowed her words back, responded, turned around and walked out.
When did she serve the meal? Isn't this obviously making enemies for her? Mengxi put down the teacup and looked at the Second Master with some annoyance.
But the Second Master glanced at her and said:
"Hongzhu sent the meal and it will be delivered soon. Why isn't Xi'er cooking?"
There was a questioning look in Mengxi's eyes, but she didn't expect the Second Master to ask her back: Did the Second Master really want her to cook for him and serve him meals like before?
Mengxi felt depressed when he thought about this, and after pondering for a moment, he said:
"Oh, I also do it occasionally. Now that there is no shortage of cooks in the mansion, I won't do it anymore."
After hearing this, the Second Master felt choked up and his face changed. It seemed that there was no shortage of cooks in the mansion before. He heard that she had always cooked for the old lady. Just as he was about to say something else, the little maid Duoer came in and said:
"Replying to Second Master, Second Madam, Aunt Cui's maid Si'er wants to see Second Master."
When Mengxi saw this, she was too lazy to speak for him this time. He was already busy enough with so many concubines. She secretly considered whether she should help him take in a few more so that he would have no time to bother her.
This Concubine Cui is the apple of his eye. She should go this time, right? Thinking of this, Mengxi smiled and looked at the Second Master. Xiao Jun glanced at her and said to Duoer:
"Please pass it in."
Duoer responded and turned to walk out. After a while, Sier came in and looked up to see Second Madam sitting in the hall. He was also surprised and paused for a moment. He quickly stepped forward and bowed softly:
"Hello, Second Master, Hello, Second Madam"
"Get up, what's going on?"
Damn, do you even need to ask this? Mengxi picked up the tea and started drinking again. She was really thirsty today and had already drunk a cup.
"Replying to Second Master and Second Madam, Aunt Cui is ill. Second Master, please go and see her."
If she is sick, go see a doctor. What can the second master do? The second master has been gone for a year and a half, and she has never been sick. She is as strong as a bull. Every time she comes to the east wing to find work, she is full of energy. The second master fell ill as soon as he came back. It is probably lovesickness! Zhiqiu cursed in her heart when she heard this.
"I'll be there in a minute."
"Yes, I will go and report to Aunt Cui right away."
When Si'er saw that Erye agreed, he was immediately happy. He quickly responded and hurried back to deliver the letter.
Mengxi was still sipping her tea. Xiao Jun looked around and finally his eyes fell on Hongzhu. He instructed:
"Go tell them that the meal will be delivered later. I'm going to the Begonia Garden first and will come back for dinner."
"Yes, I will arrange it right away."
"Second Master, it's getting late. Why don't you send your meal to Begonia Garden?"
Mengxi put down her teacup and kindly reminded the Second Master. Xiao Jun looked at her coldly without saying a word, stood up, and walked out. When he reached the hall, he looked back and saw Mengxi still sitting there. He stopped unconsciously and turned to look at her.
Seeing the Second Master standing at the door looking at her, Meng Xi stood up quickly and asked in confusion:
"Second Master, is there anything else?"
"Why doesn't Xi'er leave?"
"Let's go, where to?"
"Xi'er is the mistress of the house. My aunt is sick. Shouldn't Xi'er go and see her?"
Didn’t Aunt Cui tell him to just go and see? He doesn’t understand, yet he still asks!
Mengxi opened her mouth to retort, but she felt that it was a bit sour to say so. It would make her look like a jealous couple bickering. She changed her words:
"Well, well, Second Master, please go first. I still have things to do. It won't be too late to visit tomorrow."
After hearing this, Xiao Jun's face darkened and he said:
"Xi'er is the head of the family and in charge of the backyard. If my aunt is sick , you should immediately call a doctor and ask for medicine for her. How can you put this off until tomorrow?"
Mengxi was so angry. Didn't she have him? Why did she delay the treatment of her aunt? She just didn't want to be an eyesore. It was really a dog biting Lu Dongbin. Well, you asked me to go there, so don't feel sorry for your darling when the time comes.
After hearing what the Second Master said, Mengxi was furious. She suppressed her annoyance and replied calmly:
"Okay! I will go with you right now."
After Mengxi finished speaking, she supported Zhiqiu and walked down slowly. Hongzhu, who was standing by, thought that the Second Master was going alone, so she did not follow. But now that she saw the Second Madam was also going there, she hurriedly told the little maid to go to the kitchen to pass on the message , and then she quickly followed the Second Madam. The four of them slowly walked towards the Begonia Garden.
It was almost the hour of You. The sun had already set, and the scorching heat of the midday had disappeared. A cool breeze blew along the way, accompanied by bursts of flower fragrance, making people feel refreshed. Erye seemed to appreciate the flowers and plants on the roadside, and he deliberately slowed down his pace, walking at a leisurely pace.
Mengxi and the others followed behind, not feeling tired at all. Breathing the fresh air, Mengxi's anger that had just risen surprisingly subsided. They came all the way to the Begonia Garden, where they saw a little girl looking up outside the gate. She was probably waiting for the Second Master, and when she saw four people coming together, she was startled, paused, and turned to run into the garden.
