Chapter 55: Permission

Xu Jun Ying entered the Qui Hua Courtyard with Bao Ju and Bai Zhan. Cui Xi had already sent a maid, Ping’er, to wait at the gate to watch for his arrival, and she ran back to inform Meinang. Meinang, afraid he would enter the East Garden’s moon gate where she couldn’t approach him, quickly went out to meet him, barely catching him in the corridor.

With a gentle bow, she greeted him, “My lord, you’ve returned. The main room has hot tea and refreshments prepared. Please come in and rest for a while.”

Xu Jun Ying paused, glanced at the main room, and replied, “I still have official documents to review. Tomorrow morning, have Bai Zhan take my calling card to invite the imperial physician to check on Lord Qin and Lady Qin. After receiving a prescription, go to the best pharmacy to gather the herbs and stock up on supplements for their health. It shouldn’t be a major issue. It’s year-end and things are busy, so there’s no need for you to make the trip.”

Meinang felt a surge of anger: “Both her brother and sister in law are ill, and their mother is elderly. Yet, he won’t allow her to visit her family? No wonder Qin Meinang didn’t survive, weak and fragile as she was. Being married to a man like this, suffering such treatment, she wouldn’t even need food to live rage alone could fill her up.”

“But I’m worried. I’d like to go back and see them.”

Xu Jun Ying’s voice turned cold. “Nothing will happen to them. You can rest assured.”

For the Marchioness to leave her residence, there are strict rules and protocols, especially for a prominent figure like her. It’s bound to attract attention. Should she meet another noblewoman on the road and get into conversation, their connections could grow. Stopping her from making contacts would become harder. The last thing he wanted was for her to flaunt herself in public under his name. He’d rather lock her away where no one could see her.

Meinang reminded herself, “Don’t get angry. Don’t be sad. You are Cen Mei, not Qin Meiniang.”

She lowered her head and softly replied, “I, Meinang, am of humble origin. Thanks to the marquis’ kindness, I married into a grand household, a rare honor. But my brother’s life is fragile, my mother once had his fortune read, and they said he wouldn’t live past twenty. We finally managed to bring his wife back to the capital from Yue Zhou, yet this happened. If he doesn’t make it through the year, his sister won’t even get a final farewell, and that would waste the marquis’ kindness and the efforts of the soldiers.”

Xu Jun Ying was silent for a while, as Bao Ju and Bai Zhan stood nearby with their heads down, barely daring to breathe.

Tonight, Qui Hua Courtyard was lit up with rows of large lanterns, casting bright light everywhere. Cui Lian came over, carrying a thick cloak, and together with Cui Xi, draped it over Meinang’s shoulders, pulling the silver fox fur hood over her head.

Silver fox fur? Where did she get silver fox fur?

Xu Jun Ying recalled that a fur trader, whose life he had once saved on the frontier, had gifted him a few fine pelts. He hadn’t wanted to accept them, but eventually took two fox pelts, thinking they were common and easy to obtain, not very valuable. But the trader had substituted them with extremely rare and expensive silver fox fur and given them to Bao Ju, who stored them in the East Garden’s warehouse. He hadn’t cared at the time and had no intention of giving them to Meinang she no longer had the right to receive his gifts.

When he returned, Miss Zheng had spotted the fur and asked to have one. He didn’t mind, so he let her take it, material things are inconsequential, after all.

Meinang rarely went outside and hadn’t worn it before. Had she perhaps gone into the East Garden’s warehouse and taken it herself while he was away?

Earlier, as Zhuang Yu Lan had escorted him out of Jin Hua Hall, her delicate frame shivering in the cold, he’d thought about giving her the silver fox fur. Now that Grandmother had given her approval, everyone knew that Cousin Lan would become his second wife. He should cherish her accordingly.

Cousin Lan was everything he needed from a noble family, elegant, kind, and devoted to him. It was enough. His third brother had said it right: he and Cousin Lan shared only sibling like affection, but perhaps marriage and time together would strengthen their bond.

Love, passion would he ever experience those again? He didn’t need them. Those illusions only deceive. Now he wanted a stable home, a virtuous wife to give him a sense of belonging.

Wang Mama, standing under the veranda, saw the two silently facing each other in the snow and rushed over, bowing deeply, “My lord, Lady, please come inside. The snow is cold, and the icy wind will harm your health.”

Xu Jun Ying looked at Wang Mama and finally relented. “If you’re truly concerned, then go tomorrow. Bai Zhan will escort you to the Qin residence and then fetch the physician. Take a few maids along, and draw five hundred taels from the household accounts in my name for Lord Qin and Lady Qin’s medicine… Wang Mama, remind Lady Qin of her conduct. Follow proper etiquette, depart at dawn, and return by noon.”

Meinang exhaled softly, without looking up. Bowing faintly, she said with a hint of mockery, “Thank you, my lord, for your kindness. Meinang is deeply grateful.”

Xu Jun Ying slowly walked away, pausing after a few steps. “Wang Mama, who taught Lady Qin her manners? As one raised in a family of scholars, steeped in virtue, she should understand these things.”

Meinang remained silent, as did Wang Mama and the others, bowing their heads until Xu Jun Ying walked away into the moon gate. Only then did they help Meinang inside, remove her cloak, bring a fire pot, and warm her feet. Meinang said, “I’ll be fine. The fire will warm me. You all must be cold too; don’t mind me.”

Wang Mama, distressed, replied, “How can we not? You’re already weak, and with the master already ill, you mustn’t fall sick either. You’ll need to rise early to see him tomorrow…”

As she spoke, she covered her face with her sleeve, weeping.

“Why cry?” Meinang said. “After what I’ve been through in this household, do I care for face anymore? Don’t worry; I promised we’d see better days, and I intend to keep that promise. Watch and see.”

Wang Mama anxiously urged, “Please, Lady, don’t anger the Marquis. He may be difficult, but he’s been good to you.”

“This is good? Just because he gave five hundred taels? He nearly refused to let me visit my own family. If I hadn’t practically cursed my brother with my own mouth, he wouldn’t have let me go. Do you believe me?”

Frustrated, Meinang pulled her foot back, giving Cui Si a stern look. “How many times have I told you? Use a gentler touch here. If you press that hard, you might as well carry me tomorrow.”

“Yes, Lady,” Cui Si replied, adjusting her touch.

Wang Mama, crying again, said, “Lady, you were raised by the Madam to be refined, gentle, and graceful. None of the other young ladies here have such virtues. Don’t abandon what she taught you…”

Meinang wanted to shout and curse but restrained herself, looking at Wang Mama’s tear-streaked face. She closed her eyes and sighed. “Please stop crying. I’ll change, all right? I’ll change.”

Then she turned to Cui Si and asked, “Am I not gentle enough?”

Cui Si laughed. “When Lady is quiet, she’s very gentle.”

Of course, Meinang thought. “Qin Meinang had a delicate appearance that invited people to bully her. Who could say she wasn’t gentle?”

But Cen Mei had had enough. A silent person doesn’t bark but still bites. “Let them try me. If they provoke me again, I’ll fight back.”