Chapter 184 Xiu'er becomes a concubine?
Xiao Jun was staring at the painting of the plum blossoms in the snow when he heard Meng Xi calling out from behind him:
"Second Master"
Awakened by Mengxi's cry, Xiao Jun turned around and looked at her silently. He had a crazy impulse at this moment. He wanted to take a step forward and hug her, telling her that he regretted treating her like that! He regretted so much that he was tormented by self-blame every day, telling her how much he loved her, and telling her that he would wither and die without her in this life. Mengxi's calm gaze made him maintain the last bit of rationality, and he finally did not take that step. Before Xier accepted him, he would only scare her away if he did so.
Mengxi was really frightened by the Second Master's gaze. She was used to Second Master's coldness and anger, but not used to him like this. Facing Second Master like this, she was a little bit unable to face him calmly. She was flustered and wanted to turn around and run away. She suppressed her uneasiness, straightened her shoulders, and said:
"Second Master, I have packed everything."
"Okay, Xier, we'll go right away. If we're late, mother will get anxious waiting."
After Xiao Jun finished speaking, he took a big step and walked out first. Mengxi and Zhiqiu, who followed behind him, were suspicious that the second master did not ask about the book in the south room.
…
The cousin and his wife both walked into the west wing, which surprised Xiu'er. Her aunt had only asked her cousin to come alone, but his wife came along. A flash of jealousy flashed across her eyes for a moment, but she calmed down in the blink of an eye. She seemed not to notice her cousin's wife beside her. She rushed to her cousin enthusiastically, grabbed his hand, and was about to cry. She said timidly:
"My cousin is finally back. He is so cruel. He left for nearly two years without telling Xiuer a word. He didn't even write to her. Xiuer wrote so many letters to my cousin, but my cousin didn't reply to any of them. He didn't tell Xiuer when he came back. It was my aunt who wrote to say that my cousin was back and took Xiuer over."
Seeing Xiu'er like this, Xiao Jun stole a glance at Mengxi beside him, and saw that she was still calm and unmoved. He sighed inwardly, pulled his hand away a little unnaturally and said:
"I haven't seen you for more than a year. You've grown up, but you're still so naughty. Who dares to marry you in the future? Come, meet your cousin's wife."
When Xiu'er saw her cousin pull his hand away, her face darkened, but then she pouted and said to her cousin unyieldingly:
"Why is Xiu'er so naughty? It's all because of my cousin who bullies her. My cousin is really worried that Xiu'er won't be able to get married. It's better for her to just accept it and marry my cousin!"
After hearing this, Xiao Jun choked and started coughing continuously.
Damn, did the ancients also bring a spare tire for themselves? Could this girl Xiu also be a lesbian who traveled through time?
After hearing this, Mengxi looked at Miss Xiu thoughtfully. This was ancient coconut. Even though she, Li Mengxi, had such an advanced mind, she didn't dare to say this blatantly. How could she say such words that would damage the reputation of a girl, and in front of someone else's wife.
What do you mean, do you want to give her a warning?
I glanced at the eldest wife who was sitting on the kang, and saw that she was looking at the Second Master and Xiu'er with a loving face, as if she was looking at her own son and daughter-in-law, and she didn't blame Xiu'er for her inappropriate words at all.
Mengxi walked slowly forward and greeted the eldest wife. Xiao Jun also stopped coughing, greeted his mother, and sat down on a chair beside the kang.
Mengxi sat on the chair to Xiao Jun's left, while Xiuer sat obediently next to the eldest wife on the kang. Then, as if seeing her cousin's wife, she spoke:
"Hello cousin, I haven't seen you for a while."
Mengxi heard this and said casually:
"What my cousin said is true. She hasn't come since the Chinese New Year. It's been quite a while since I last saw her. If it weren't for Second Master coming back, I don't know when I'd be able to see her again. She's proficient in chess, music, calligraphy and painting, and she's as beautiful as a flower. She's a rare talent in the world. If Second Master could marry her in this life, what more could I ask for? I just don't know if she's willing to marry me. If she is, I'd be eager to go to the old lady and ask her for it."
After hearing this, the second master, who was drinking tea, spat out a mouthful of tea and sat there coughing violently.
What does my cousin's wife mean by that? She wants me to be her concubine! She wants me to be her slave!
The condescending words of the cousin's wife actually made the clever Xiu'er speechless. She was thick-skinned enough, but she was not honest enough to say in front of her cousin's wife, cousin and the first wife that she was willing to marry her cousin. Moreover, the blind cousin's wife actually gave her a concubine position, how could she agree? She wanted to be a wife!
If she didn't agree, she was afraid that her cousin would misunderstand that she had no interest in him, which would hurt her cousin's affectionate heart. If there was a misunderstanding, it would be bad. She was speechless for a moment. She stared at her cousin, hoping that he could say something and make amends.
The second master seemed to have caught a cold. He was coughing violently and couldn't even speak.
When the eldest wife saw this, she could no longer sit still and blamed him:
"Marriage is a serious matter that requires three matchmakers and six certificates. How can it be decided with just one word from a child? Second Madam has been in the mansion for two years, how come she still doesn't know the rules? You were a little rude today. Don't do that next time."
The three matchmakers and six certificates refer to the rites for marrying a wife. I think my cousin's wife should understand what my aunt means by now. After hearing what my aunt said, Xiu'er smiled.
Seeing the eldest wife getting angry, Mengxi really had no temper in the face of this evil mother-in-law who wished she were dead. She nodded quickly and sat there dignifiedly without saying a word.
Xiao Jun on the side frowned after hearing what his mother said, and thought to himself: Xiu'er is a girl, but she said such shameless words, and her mother didn't blame her at all. Xi'er just went along with Xiu'er's words. Although it was not pleasant to hear, it didn't violate the rules. But his mother got angry on the spot. Xi'er is his legal wife, and his mother treats her like this. Where does she want him to be?
After looking at his mother and cousin, he realized that some things should be said earlier. He might as well stop them from thinking about it. Thinking of this, he took a sip of tea, moistened his throat, and said:
"Mother is right. Xi'er has gone too far in slandering. My cousin is the daughter of the imperial censor of the dynasty. She is not only beautiful, but also, as Xi'er said, she is proficient in chess, music, calligraphy and painting. She is truly a gifted woman. The threshold of my aunt's house is almost trampled by those dignitaries who come to ask for marriage. My cousin is so beautiful and talented that she should marry a prince or a general and become a first-class imperial official. How can a commoner like me spy on her? What's more, I have already married a wife and concubines. Xi'er, please stop talking nonsense in the future."
When the eldest wife first heard Xiao Jun following her words to blame the second wife, she rarely smiled. He was indeed her own son and his words were pleasant to the ears. But the more she listened, the more she found it offensive. Why did he sound as if he was saying that he was not worthy of Xiu'er and that she was out of her league? Xiu'er was not that good. She was just a commoner. Although Jun'er had no official position, he was the head of a noble family. Even if he wanted to marry a princess from a wealthy family, he was worthy of her!
What was Jun'er doing? A light bulb went off in her head and she finally realized that she was so busy blaming the Second Mistress that she forgot that Jun'er was listening. She thought that she did not agree to let Xiu'er marry him, so she said angrily that she was not worthy of Xiu'er. She simply refused to avoid losing face.
This silly son, how could he not understand her own thoughts at all? She had watched them grow up and knew that they had a deep affection for each other, so how could she not agree? But Jun'er had already said what he wanted to say, and he couldn't take it back. For a moment, he was like a fly, and his face turned blue and white.
After hearing what the Second Master said and stealing a glance at the First Wife's deflated face, Mengxi was in a good mood. This evil mother-in-law bullied her every day, and now she was choked by her own precious son. Let's see if she can still punish her son by making him kneel for half an hour?
She looked at the Second Master with joy, only to see that he was also looking at her with tenderness in his eyes. Her heart skipped a beat and she quickly turned her head away, sitting there without saying a word.
Xiu'er on the side listened to her brother and cousin praising herself, how beautiful it was, and it was her cousin who was so proud of her in front of her cousin's wife, but the more she listened, the paler her face became. In the end, she finally understood that her cousin had rejected her. She couldn't get over it for a while, and looked at her aunt sadly. It must be that after her cousin's wife proposed to let her be a concubine, her cousin did not agree, and her aunt said such words, so she misunderstood and thought that she did not like him. Her dignity was hurt, so she simply refused.
Although the mother and cousin did not discuss it, their ideas were surprisingly similar. If the Second Master knew what his mother and cousin were thinking at this moment, he would probably really bang his head against the wall. How could he and his cousin be that ambiguous!
Xiu'er is worthy of her name, she is smart. It doesn't matter if her cousin misunderstood her. She will find a chance to express her feelings to him in the future and tell him of her everlasting love. She doesn't care about kings, generals, or first-rank imperial edicts. She will not marry anyone else in this life.
No matter what, she had to find a way to end this topic now, so as not to talk too much and not be able to take it back, which would make her cousin lose face in the future. Xiu'er was very considerate. Although she felt very wronged at this moment, especially when she saw her cousin's wife flirting with her cousin, which made her even more jealous, this was not the time to get angry. She had to think about her cousin's future. Love is about giving without expecting anything in return. She believed that one day, her cousin would understand her.
After thinking for a moment, Xiuer coughed lightly and said:
"Cousin, you won't leave again after coming back this time, right? My cousin is really heartless. He has been gone for nearly two years and didn't even come back for the New Year. My aunt missed him so much during the holidays, but she didn't dare to let the old lady know, so she could only wipe away her tears in secret."
After hearing this, Xiao Jun looked at his mother apologetically and said:
"If there is nothing serious this time, you can stay in Pingyang for a while. Jun'er is unfilial. You have been away for such a long time and made your mother worry."
The eldest wife's eyes turned red when she heard this. She was really upset by her son. She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and said:
"No matter how old my son is, he is always my flesh and blood. I have watched him grow up since he was young. As a mother, I feel heartbroken whenever something happens to him. But Jun'er has grown up, and his heart has grown too. I really can't help him. He has been gone for nearly two years, and he didn't even tell me when he left, which made me get up early in the morning. It would be fine if he didn't come back for the holidays, but he didn't even care about the old lady's birthday and his parents' birthdays. How could he care about me as his mother? I am old and useless..."
As the eldest wife spoke, she burst into tears, causing the second master to be doubly careful, admitting his faults and bowing and nodding to cheer his mother up.
Seeing that Master Xiao, who had the final say in Xiaoxiang Courtyard, was now being tormented by these two women, he was almost about to kneel down and kowtow to the First Wife. Imagining that after she left the house, Master Xiao would fall into the hands of these two self-important women, how miserable he would be.
For the first time, Mengxi felt that the Second Master was also very pitiful. However, that had nothing to do with her, Li Mengxi. Everyone has his own destiny. Being born in such a family, perhaps this is the sorrow of his life.
