Chapter 195 Change of Words
When the eldest wife heard that it was the second master who took the second mistress out of the house, she was a little bit unbelievable and looked up at Liu'er.
Liu'er remembered clearly that the Second Madam was dressed as a maid in the carriage. If she really went out with the Second Master, why would she be dressed as a maid?
Seeing the eldest wife looking at her, she was about to step forward to explain, but when she looked up and met the intimidating gaze of the second master, her body trembled and she lowered her head in panic.
Seeing his mother shaking her head, the second master frowned, thought for a moment and then continued:
"When the second grandmother did something wrong, the mother would just tell her son and the son would teach him a lesson. If the mother used the family rules and alarmed the grandmother and made her angry, then Jun'er would be unfilial."
Seeing the Second Master mention the old lady, the first wife fell into deep thought. Seeing Liu'er lower her head in guilt just now, she also became confused, not knowing whether what the Second Master said was true or false. After thinking carefully about what the Second Lady said just now, she neither said who allowed it nor admitted that she left the house without permission. Even if Jun'er lied, as long as he insisted on it and reported it to the old lady, he would not get any good results and would hurt the relationship between mother and son. Thinking of this, she said:
"So that's how it is. Second Madam didn't tell me earlier. I thought she was unfaithful and left the house without permission, so she was punished. It turned out to be a misunderstanding."
When Xiao Jun heard this, he said sternly:
"Why, did you lose Second Mistress's face by going out with me? You didn't dare to say anything, and made Mother so angry. Now that you have married into the Xiao family, you must abide by the rules of our Xiao family. If you dare to call yourself a maid or concubine again in the future, don't blame me for punishing you cruelly!"
Seeing the Second Master like this, the First Madam thought that he must have lost face outside, and she believed his words a little. Seeing that he asked the Second Madam to change her words, she was very upset and advised:
"It's just a name, Jun'er, don't take it too seriously. Second Mistress is not presentable, so Jun'er should not take her out with him in the future."
"I originally thought so, but I never took it seriously. But there are always rules for everything. If you mess up, it will be my son's loss of dignity. I hope my mother will forgive me."
The eldest wife stopped talking after hearing this. The second master saw Mengxi was still kneeling there, so he turned around and knelt on the ground, saying to his mother:
"My son doesn't manage the household well and doesn't discipline his wife, which makes his mother angry. I beg my mother to punish Jun'er."
Seeing her son kneeling down, the first wife said anxiously:
"Jun'er, get up quickly. The ground is cold. This is none of your business."
After the eldest wife finished speaking, she remembered that the second wife and Zhiqiu were still kneeling. Since she had said that they were not wrong, and now that her son had stood up, it would be inappropriate to let them kneel again, so she said casually:
"You are being punished today because you didn't explain yourself clearly. Get up now."
Listening to the Second Master's half-true and half-false words, Mengxi could feel that the Second Master was protecting her with good intentions, and a warm feeling arose in her heart.
…
Mengxi and Zhiqiu returned to Xiaoxiang Courtyard. Zhichun and Zhixia had received the news and were waiting outside. When they saw the two men getting out of the sedan in disheveled clothes, they turned pale with fright and said:
"Second Madam, you..."
Mengxi motioned her to shut up. Zhichun looked at the maids carrying the sedan chair on both sides and shut up obediently. She let Zhixia support Zhiqiu while she supported the Second Mistress and hurried back to the East Wing. As soon as they entered the door, Zhichun could no longer resist asking:
"The eldest wife really used the family rules, didn't the second master go over there?"
"If the Second Master hadn't gone there, Zhiqiu would have died today," Mengxi said casually.
They all fell silent for a moment, and came to the north room. They asked Zhiqiu to lie on the soft step, and told Zhidong and Zhixia to fetch water and medicine. After a while of busyness, Mengxi finally reacted and looked at Zhichun and asked:
"How did you know that the Second Master would come over? Did you go and ask him for help?"
"I really have no other options, so I went to ask for help from you, Master."
After hearing the second grandmother's question, Zhichun said without confidence.
Mengxi glanced at her, then lowered her head to check Zhiqiu's injury. Zhichun, like a child who had made a mistake, lowered her head to help Zhiqiu unbutton his shirt. After a long while, she heard Second Grandma say:
"Fortunately you went to ask for help, otherwise who knows what would have happened today?"
Zhichun looked up at the Second Mistress in disbelief. It was the first time that the Second Mistress did not refuse Second Master's help. She finally took off Zhiqiu's shirt, exposing his back. They both took a deep breath and saw several bloodshot marks more than half an inch high on Zhiqiu's smooth back, oozing blood. Even though Mengxi was usually calm, she couldn't help but feel a sore nose at this moment, and a layer of mist rose in her eyes. Zhichun couldn't help crying:
"How could the first wife be so cruel?"
" It doesn't hurt, it's okay, go see if Zhixia has gotten medicine."
Zhiqiu raised his head with great effort and spoke to Zhichun, winking at her. Seeing Zhiqiu's eyes, Zhichun remembered Second Grandma and quickly stopped crying and looked at her. She was silently stroking Zhiqiu's wound without saying a word. Zhichun had never seen Second Grandma like this before and was at a loss for a moment. After a long while, he heard Mengxi say:
"Don't do such stupid things again, my life is not that valuable"
"Second Madam, it's okay. I don't feel any pain at all. Second Madam's medicine is good. I'll be fine in a few days. Second Madam, let me check if you are hurt first. I'm really worried about you. Last time you vomited blood, you almost lost your life. Fortunately, fortunately..."
Zhiqiu couldn't find the words to express his gratitude to the Second Master. Stopping Zhichun from going forward to check, Mengxi said:
"I'm fine, Zhichun. Go arrange two smart maids to serve Zhiqiu."
"Second Grandma, I'm fine."
At this time, Zhidong had already brought the water, and Zhixia had already brought the medicine. Zhichun hurried forward to take it, washed the towel, and was about to wipe Zhiqiu when Mengxi reached out and took it.
"Second Madam, let me come."
"Second Madam, please put it down and let Zhichun take over."
As if she didn't hear what they said, Mengxi just wiped and applied medicine for her silently. Zhiqiu couldn't help but shed two hot tears as she crawled face down. She was originally on the verge of despair, how lucky she was to meet such a master who treated her sincerely and like a sister, but fate played a trick on her, such a good person was not treated well.
After applying the medicine, Mengxi asked Zhixia to help her go back to the house to rest. Then she asked Zhichun to check her injuries. Fortunately, with Zhiqiu's protection, she only had a few bruises on her arms and shoulders. Zhichun applied medicine to the second grandmother with heartache and helped her change clothes.
While they were busy, Zhidong came in and said that Hongzhu was coming. The two were stunned and looked at the sky. Is the Second Master back?
Mengxi hurriedly ordered it to be passed in. After a while, Hongzhu came in with a small box of medicine in her hand. She went forward to greet the Second Madam and said:
"The Second Master asked me to bring these medicines for external injuries. He said that these were the best healing medicines from the imperial physician in the palace. You can use them first. If you need a doctor, I will ask someone to get him. How could the Second Madam be punished by the First Madam? I had no idea. This really scared me. Are you okay?"
After Hongzhu finished speaking, she handed over the medicine in her hand. Mengxi motioned Zhichun to take it and said to Hongzhu:
"I'm fine. I'll tell you, Master. There's no need to call a doctor."
"I'm glad Second Madam is okay. I'll go check on Zhiqiu later."
Seeing the Second Madam nod, Hongzhu turned around and went to Zhiqiu's room. Zhichun handed the medicine sent by the Second Master to the little maid and put it away, then said:
"After a busy afternoon, Second Madam must be hungry. I will serve her dinner."
"No hurry, pack up and go to the upper room first."
"Hongzhu didn't tell me that the Second Master called you just now. I think the Second Master also knows that you have just been punished and wants to take good care of you."
"We have to give Second Master an explanation for what happened today. Tell someone to send Zhiqiu's meal over first so she can have a rest first and not wait for us."
…
Xiao Jun had taken off his long gown, removed his hat, and casually tied his hair into a ponytail, leaning on the bed in a very dejected manner. What happened today had frightened him. If he had been a little later, Xier's fate would have been unimaginable. This made him feel a wave of fear, and for the first time he felt that even if he was the next head of the family, he might not be able to protect Xier in the mansion.
He knew his mother disliked Mengxi, but he didn't expect it to be so intolerable. On one side was his biological mother, and on the other was his beloved wife. Filial piety came first in everything, and his mother would not be disobeyed. But he couldn't even imagine what would happen to him without Xi'er? The two people were incompatible, but they were his closest relatives and loved ones. How could he let go of them?
At this moment, he was more worried about Xier and wanted to go over to see how she was doing, but her stubborn look and the harsh words he spoke to her in front of her mother made him hesitate. He was afraid that the person Xier least wanted to see right now was him.
While I was deep in thought, Hongzhu knocked on the door and came in, saying:
"Replying to Second Master, Second Madam heard that you are back and came to serve you."
When Xiao Jun heard that Mengxi was coming, he sat up and said to Hongzhu:
"Please ask her to come in and wait in the hall to change her clothes."
Seeing that the Second Master had already gotten down from the ground, Hongzhu hurried forward to pick up the gown draped over the chair and helped the Second Master put it on. Just as she had put on one sleeve, the Second Master suddenly stopped.
"Second Master, you..."
"Please ask the Second Madam to come to this room and prepare tea."
As Xiao Jun spoke, he took off the half-worn gown, casually put it aside, and sat down on the chair beside the table. Hongzhu looked at the Second Master in confusion, and when she saw that he had sat down, she turned around and walked out.
Following Hongzhu into the inner room, Mengxi looked up and saw that the Second Master was only wearing a middle shirt, sitting on a chair, drinking tea. She subconsciously stopped and felt a little embarrassed for a moment. She wanted to go out and wait, but then she thought, after all, they had been married, and it was normal for the Second Master to meet her dressed like this between husband and wife. If she turned around and went out now, it would seem even more alienated. After hesitating for a moment, she finally walked in and stepped forward to pay her respects to the Second Master.
Seeing Mengxi finally come in, Xiao Jun felt a little relieved. It was good that Xier could come this far, take her time, he was not in a hurry.
Seeing her bowing and greeting, he hurriedly said:
"Xi'er is here, no need to be polite, please sit down. Hongzhu, serve tea to Second Madam."
Hongzhu responded and had already taken the tea from the maid who had just come in and handed it to the second wife who had just sat down.
"Second Madam, please have some tea."
Mengxi nodded slightly, Hongzhu put down the tea, turned around and stood aside.
"Xi'er, is there something going on here?"
"Thank you, Second Master, for protecting me today. I left the house without permission today..."
Before Mengxi finished speaking, the second master's face darkened and he said:
"Xi'er forgot what I said to you during the day. Why do you still call yourself a maid?"
