Chapter 196 Dinner
Mengxi wanted to talk about leaving the house without permission, but she was interrupted by the Second Master halfway through her words, who kept asking her about her name. Mengxi really didn't take this matter to heart. She had been taking care of Zhiqiu's injury since she came back, and had long forgotten about it. Now that the Second Master mentioned it, she was speechless for a moment, and looked at him in a daze.
Seeing Meng Xi's frustrated expression, Xiao Jun's lips softened a lot. Seeing that she didn't say anything, he coughed and said:
"Since this is your first offense, I'll let you off this time. But next time you call yourself a maid or concubine, don't accuse me of being ruthless."
"Maid, maid, I understand."
Mengxi didn't know what had mad the Second Master today, why he was so serious about a name. Today's ordeal had made her take all these things lightly. It was just a name, it didn't matter if you called it cat or dog, there was no need to be awkward. But after calling it that for such a long time, she felt a little uncomfortable when he suddenly changed his name, so she responded with some stuttering.
After hearing Mengxi finally change her words after stuttering, the Second Master's expression softened. He looked at Mengxi and said in a gentle voice:
"Xi'er, were you hurt today at your mother's place?"
"It was Zhiqiu who blocked the way. Zhiqiu was seriously injured. If Second Master had gone a little later, I'm afraid Zhiqiu, Zhiqiu... Thank you Second Master for your help."
"Zhiqiu is a rare loyal person. Let's get a doctor to take a look tomorrow, give her some medicine, and let her stay at home and take good care of herself."
"Thank you for your concern, Master. I have already taken the medicine you sent me. It's okay. I don't need to look for a doctor. It would be troublesome."
After hearing this, the Second Master looked at Mengxi for a long time without saying anything. Finally, he coughed and said:
"Xi'er, your mother's punishment to you today was indeed a bit severe. Do you hate her?"
"It was I who broke the rules today. The eldest lady was right in giving me a lesson. How dare I feel resentful?"
After hearing Meng Xi's insincere words, Xiao Jun sighed helplessly in his heart. She still didn't trust him. For a long time, as if persuading Meng Xi or talking to himself:
"Filial piety comes first in everything. Even if your mother is wrong, you should not disobey her. After all, there are no wrong parents in the world, only unfilial children and grandchildren."
After hearing what the Second Master said, Mengxi suddenly felt a hint of helplessness lingering between Second Master's brows. Was it because of the irreconcilable relationship between her and his mother? The first wife was determined to divorce her. Even if he had her in his heart, what could he do? In this ancient time when filial piety was the most important thing, he could not protect her. Moreover, there was an insurmountable gap between them - the ancestral precepts of the Xiao family.
This scene made her think of the sad and mournful love story between Lu You, a famous poet of the Southern Song Dynasty, and Tang Wan, which she had read in her previous life. The two people who loved each other in the end parted ways because of the dislike of their mother-in-law. Many years later, when Lu You saw Tang Wan again, he burst into tears and wrote the eternal masterpiece "The Golden Hairpin".
Isn’t this kind of deep affection also: the east wind is evil, the joy is thin, a cup of sorrow, and several years of separation.
Besides, he and she were two people who were not close to each other. When she thought of this, Mengxi felt a trace of complete despair in her heart, which made her feel heartbroken. She looked at the Second Master for a long time and said softly:
"Second Master is right. I have never dared to disobey the First Madam or make her angry. I will remember the lessons of Second Master and the First Madam in the future."
After hearing what Mengxi said, the Second Master sighed. Mengxi thought about leaving the mansion and was about to explain, but he heard the Second Master say:
"By the way, Xi'er, do you remember Mr. Tao whom we met when we went to Jingyun Temple to fulfill our vows two years ago?"
"Second Master is talking about the poet Tao Jundong, Master Tao."
"Yes, it's him. We also mentioned the prince's aide Li Zan at that time. I wonder if Xi'er remembers him."
Seeing Mengxi nod, the Second Master said:
"Today, Li Zan hosted a banquet at Fenglai Pavilion to entertain the four young masters of Pingyang. He originally asked the crown prince to be the middleman and arranged a meeting with the Medicine God, but unfortunately the Medicine God did not go. During the banquet, Master Tao and Li Zan specifically mentioned Xi'er. They admired Xi'er's poems very much, and agreed to go to Luding Mountain for an outing on the sixth day of next month. They asked me to take Xi'er with me. Is Xi'er willing to go with us?"
When she heard about the outing, Mengxi's eyes lit up, but then she remembered that Li Zan had seen her before. Last time, they narrowly passed each other in front of the painting pavilion of Jingyun Temple. Later, Li Zan seemed to have sensed something and kept watching them for a long time. He mentioned her today. Was he trying to confirm something? Especially since the prince seemed to have discovered that she was a girl that day, Mengxi's eyes dimmed immediately when she thought about it, and she blurted out without thinking:
"Second Master, I am just a little woman in a deep house. I have never seen the world and am not worthy of being in a noble place. The four young masters of Pingyang are all elegant people. I am afraid that if I stay with them, I will lose face for you, which is not good."
Hearing this, Xiao Jun's face suddenly became colorful, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple took turns to appear. He was choked for a moment. Mengxi saw the embarrassed face of the Second Master and suddenly remembered what he said to the First Wife in the afternoon that she was not worthy of being in the upper class. What he said just now seemed to be a sign of anger with the Second Master. Her face became a little hot for a moment. She really didn't mean that. Seeing that the Second Master was silent, she opened her mouth and said:
"Well, Second Master , that's not what I meant."
After listening to Meng Xi's explanation, Xiao Jun's expression eased a little, and he continued:
"The scenery of Luding Mountain is nice. Now is a good season for outings. I wanted to take Xier out to relax, but since Xier doesn't want to go out, forget it."
After a pause, Xiao Jun remembered something and looked up at Meng Xi and said:
"Xi'er, if you want to leave the house in the future..."
Er Ye was halfway through his words when Hong Xing knocked on the door and came in, saying:
"Dinner has been delivered. Shall we set the table now, Master?"
After hearing this, Xiao Jun stopped talking, glanced at Meng Xi, and said:
"Let's set the table"
As she spoke, she stood up and prepared to change her clothes. Hongzhu reached out and picked up the long gown that was hanging aside. She looked up and saw that the Second Master was looking at the Second Mistress. She understood that the Second Master wanted the Second Mistress to serve him, and it was obvious that he was trying to please her. Look at the concubines in the backyard, which one is willing to let her maidservant serve the Second Master closely? Thinking of this, Hongzhu stood there holding the clothes without moving.
When Erye saw Mengxi just lowered her head and studied the floor, as if there were flowers on the floor, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart. She was ultimately unwilling to get close to him. He reached out to take the clothes from Hongzhu's hand and put them on himself.
Mengxi stole a glance and saw that the Second Master had buttoned up his clothes. Hongzhu stood aside and casually handed the belt to the Second Master. The Second Master took it and seemed to look at her intentionally. He put it aside and said:
"In the yard, no need to tie it."
As the Second Master
When they arrived at the hall, the meal had already been served. Xiao Jun glanced at Meng Xi, thought for a moment and said:
"It's late today, Xi'er, let's use it together. There's no outsiders here, so there's no need to follow the rules."
"My meal hasn't been delivered yet, I'll just go back to the East Wing and eat."
"These dishes are enough. Xi'er, please sit down and eat together. Let Hongzhu and Zhichun serve you. Hongzhu, tell someone to bring the Second Madam's dinner here."
Hongzhu responded and gestured to Hongxing who was standing beside her, and Hongxing turned and walked out.
Mengxi glanced at Erye. To be honest, Erye was a good person. It was just that he and she had not cultivated for three lifetimes, so they were not destined to be together in this life.
If they were in modern times, even if they were not husband and wife, they could still be very good friends or allies. People often say: If the deal fails, the friendship will still exist, right? Why not try to get along with him during this time before leaving the house? Maybe if we meet in the market one day, we will not be husband and wife, but become true friends. Thinking of this, he said casually:
"Thank you, Master, for your help."
After Mengxi finished speaking, she sat down on Xiao Jun's right. Seeing Mengxi sitting down, Xiao Jun seemed to let out a sigh of relief, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and there was even a hint of smile in his trance. In ancient times, people were required not to talk while eating. This was the first dinner they had sat together for two years after their marriage. They didn't say a word to each other, but even Hongzhu felt that the Second Master seemed to have taken the lead that night and was in high spirits.
When Mengxi and Zhichun returned to the east wing, it was already getting dark. When they entered the room, they found Zhiqiu had not rested yet. He was lying on the soft couch in the north room, chatting with Zhixia and Zhidong. When they saw Second Madam and Zhichun come in, the three of them stood up.
"Didn't I tell you to have dinner and rest early? Why are you so disobedient and still leaning here?"
Mengxi saw Zhiqiu and others in the room and scolded them.
"I was worried about the Second Madam and couldn't sleep. Did the Second Master punish you for leaving the house without permission today?"
After hearing this, Mengxi and Zhichun looked at each other. The Second Master was so busy asking her to change her words that he actually forgot that they had left the house without permission. Mengxi smiled and said:
"When the Second Master brought it up, he was interrupted by Hong Xing coming in."
"From the tone of Second Master's voice, it doesn't sound like he's blaming Second Madam. Rather, it sounds like he's reminding you not to leave the house without permission in the future. If you want to leave the house, tell him."
Zhichun listened to what the second grandmother said and spoke up.
After hearing this, Zhiqiu rolled his eyes at Zhichun and said nothing. Zhichun saw this and looked at Zhiqiu ferociously. He opened his mouth to say that it was the Second Master who saved her today, but suddenly he remembered the bloody creatures lying on Zhiqiu's back and stopped talking.
Ignoring Zhichun, Zhiqiu turned to look at the Second Mistress and suddenly fell to her knees with a thud, startling the four people in the room. They didn't know what she was going to do, but heard Zhiqiu say:
"Second Madam, I was waiting for you here just now. Thinking back to what happened in the afternoon, I am still frightened. Second Madam is a delicate person. She was brought in by the Xiao Mansion in a sedan chair with eight bearers. No matter what, it is not worthy of the family law. Today, I finally saw clearly that the first wife will not tolerate the second madam. The second master is a filial son. Even if he has some feelings for you, the first wife wants to punish you, and the second master cannot protect you. What's more, there is Miss Xiu in the middle. Even if we are very careful, we can't prevent this. "These people have been scheming day and night. Divorcing you is still a way to save us. I am afraid that one day if we are not careful, Second Madam will be harmed by them. Second Madam, please don't be blinded by Second Master's feelings. I beg you to listen to Master Ouyang. We will leave the house and live in anonymity for the rest of our lives. Even if Second Madam is divorced, we will not stay in the fire pit. I swear that if Second Madam is divorced, I will never marry and accompany you to serve you. If I break my oath, I will be struck by lightning."
After hearing what Zhiqiu said, Mengxi calmed down surprisingly. After a long while, she slowly walked to Zhiqiu, held her up with her hand and said:
"Okay, let's do as you say. If we can't get the divorce letter, we have to escape from this Xiao Mansion!"
