Chapter 76 Xiu Er
The Second Master was talking to the girl on the kang. When they saw the Second Madam come in, they all turned to look at her. A hint of surprise flashed across the Second Master's eyes, but they turned cold again in an instant.
Mengxi walked forward slowly and greeted the first wife and the second master. The first wife asked her to sit down. After Mengxi sat down below Xiao Jun, the first wife spoke:
"Xiu'er, come and meet the Second Grandma," he turned and said to Mengxi.
"Second Aunt, this is my niece Xiu'er. The old lady is going to have her birthday soon, so I thought of bringing Xiu'er over to live with her for a few days so that she can celebrate her birthday. Xiu'er was the closest to her second cousin, so I asked you and Jun'er to come over to meet her today and take care of her in the future."
"Hello, cousin. Xiu'er is immature. I hope you can take care of her in the future."
Xiu'er leaned forward on the kang and spoke to Mengxi in a flattering manner, her voice crisp and timid.
Mengxi thought to herself, this must be the cousin that the grandmother was talking about. Just hearing her voice makes one's bones melt, not to mention that she is so delicate and charming. I feel pity for her. No wonder the Second Master is so devoted to her. Thinking of this, she hurriedly stood up and bowed to Miss Xiu:
"I didn't know my cousin was coming today, so I didn't prepare anything. I'll make it up to you later. I'm sorry to have embarrassed you."
"I've already delivered it on behalf of Xier, so you don't have to worry about it anymore."
When Xiao Jun heard Mengxi say this, he also felt that it was inappropriate that his mother had not told her in advance about his cousin's admission into the mansion, so he hurried to help her out.
"Thank you, Second Master, for your thoughtful consideration." Mengxi thanked the Second Master lightly and then sat down.
The three people looked at the Second Grandma for a long time, but did not find any sign of displeasure on her face. Her expression was always so calm, as if this was just a small and common household matter. The First Lady couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. The reason why she did not greet the Second Grandma in advance was to catch her off guard. Seeing the Second Grandma's embarrassed look, she felt indescribably comfortable in her heart. But today, she didn't seem surprised or nervous at all, as if this was how the matter had always been. She felt a little discouraged for a moment.
"Xiu'er heard that my cousin's wife's cooking is delicious. Tomorrow, Xiu'er wants to go and appreciate her cooking skills. My cousin's wife must make a few more desserts for Xiu'er. Xiu'er loves sweets the most."
Miss Xiu said innocently.
"It's just nonsense from the servants. It can't be cured. Don't really believe it, cousin."
Mengxi pushed it back softly. She was too lazy to serve her.
"No, I must pay it back, cousin..."
Miss Xiu kept talking until she achieved her goal, and her cousin's ending tone was so long that it really made people feel numb to the bones. Mengxi guessed that the second master's legs must be almost weak now.
"Okay, cousin, I'll go over there tomorrow at noon and ask your cousin's wife to cook for you." Xiao Jun agreed without waiting for the second grandmother to answer.
"Thank you, cousin. I know you are the best and love me the most."
Miss Xiu spoke innocently, but her eyes drifted towards her cousin's wife as if in protest.
After hearing this, Xiao Jun frowned, secretly regretting that he had agreed so rashly. He turned to look at Mengxi, only to see that she was still sitting there calmly, as if this matter had nothing to do with her. The nervousness in his heart was replaced by anger. Did she really not care that much?
What can Mengxi do? They are childhood sweethearts, and as an outsider, she can only pretend to be the boss here. She doesn't want to anger him by doing this, so she sighs inwardly.
After talking for a while, the first wife asked the second wife to go back. Xiao Jun saw this and stood up to go with the second wife, but the first wife stopped him and said to him:
"Jun'er, don't rush back yet. Xiu'er is here for the first day. Have dinner first before going back."
Only the son stayed for dinner, not the wife, and there was also a cousin there to accompany him. Even a fool could understand what was going on. After hearing this, Xiao Jun looked at Meng Xi apologetically, only to see that she was still calm and composed, excused herself, and slowly walked towards the door, as if this was how the matter should be handled. He thought to himself, does she really not care anymore, or is she missing a brain? He laughed out of anger.
He nodded to his mother, agreed, stopped, and said coldly to Mengxi: "Xi'er, go back to Xiaoxiangyuan first."
Mengxi responded, helped Zhiqiu out of the east ear room, and returned to Xiaoxiang Courtyard. When they arrived at Xiaoxiang Courtyard, Mengxi went directly to the pharmacy in the backyard to continue her unfinished work. Zhiqiu and Zhichun were nervously waiting outside. They looked at each other, not knowing how to comfort the Second Grandma. Today, they both understood clearly that this cousin must have had an affair with the Second Master, but the First Madam had gone too far, not even doing the face-saving work, and just openly invited the Second Master to have dinner. Although the Second Master usually disliked the Second Grandma, he also felt that the First Madam had gone too far by looking at his face at that time. They were so upset that they didn't even dare to speak all the way, and kept looking at the Second Grandma's face, fearing that she would be upset.
Finally, Second Grandma opened the door of the pharmacy and walked out with a tired face. Seeing Zhiqiu and Zhichun at the door, she was stunned for a moment:
"You guys are fine now, what are you all doing here?"
"Second Grandma"
"What's wrong"
"Second Madam, are you really okay?" Zhiqiu finally couldn't help it, he mustered up his courage, and looked ready to die.
"What's the matter? What happened?" Mengxi gave Zhiqiu a look and asked.
Zhiqiu saw that Second Mistress's expression did not look like anything was wrong, so he scratched his head and said carefully:
"It's my cousin's business."
Mengxi then remembered what happened in the afternoon and found it funny. She tapped the two people's heads with her fingers:
"You guys, you think about all sorts of nonsense all day long. They had feelings for each other before I entered the mansion. In fact, the Second Master is quite pitiful. He was forced to marry me. A marriage without love is a shackle. It would be good if they could be together."
Mengxi was speaking from the heart. She had been in the mansion for such a long time. She observed Erye calmly and found that except for his bad temper, he was a good man from a modern perspective. He was filial, affectionate, and handled family affairs without any ambiguity. Of course , the affection Mengxi was thinking of was his love for his cousin. Unfortunately, he was born in ancient times and there was no freedom in marriage. The reason why he hated her so much was probably because of his love for his cousin! She and he were just victims of this ancient marriage system. Mengxi, from a modern perspective, could easily understand Erye. Sometimes she even felt sorry for Erye, a little brat who was spoiled by worship.
"Second Auntie, why do you say that a marriage without love is a shackle? What is love?"
Mengxi rolled her eyes at Zhiqiu, not wanting to answer the two little girls, and walked towards the east wing.
After all, Zhiqiu and her friends were from the ancient times. In their opinion, her second grandmother had been branded with the Xiao family's mark for her whole life. She was a member of the Xiao family in life and a ghost of the Xiao family in death. If she could not be favored by the second master, her future would be dark and gloomy. It was she who was pitiful, how could it be the second master? He had three wives and four concubines, what was there to be pitiful about? Seeing that the second grandmother ignored her, Zhiqiu said unwillingly:
"But Second Madam, what are Miss Xiu and Second Master..."
Mengxi stopped her before she finished speaking, raised her hand and tapped their heads and said:
"I've been busy all afternoon and I'm starving. Why don't you serve me food? If you don't, I'll be the first mistress in the history of Da Qi to be starved to death by her maids."
When Zhiqiu and Zhichun heard their grandmother say this, they knew that Second Grandma was indeed fine, and they quickly went to serve the meal.
Mengxi looked at their backs and shook her head. It seemed that she really had to hurry up and prepare . The eldest wife had already started. Her days in the Xiao Mansion were really numbered. She had to plan her future before the Xiao family divorced her. She would not follow any of those useless ethics. Those three obediences and four virtues, and the idea of men being superior to women, all went to hell. She had to leave the house! Remarry!
Her short-term goal is to leave home, and her long-term goal is to remarry.
