Chapter 69: Mischief

Meinang and Rulan both arrived, and the old lady was overjoyed, her face beaming with smiles: “Good, good, good! It’s lively today! You didn’t even need an invitation, and those girls just arrived too. They’re over there playing chess.”

Meinang bowed and walked over to the old lady, sitting next to her, gently massaging her shoulders. While shaking her a bit, she coquettishly spoke in a clear, sweet voice: “Grandmother, I missed you so much these past two days. I’m sure you haven’t missed me at all, with all the lively things happening here every day.”

The old lady paused for a moment, letting out a soft “Oh!” and lifted her hand to pat her back: “You little rascal! You may be dizzy yourself, but you’re making me dizzy too! You’re nothing like me, I can lie down and get up, running and jumping in no time… You’ve still got so much strength, stop, stop, or I won’t give you any candy!”

Meinang pouted: “Where’s the candy? Let me see if it’s delicious, if not, I’ll just stay with you!”

Meinang wrapped her arms around the old lady’s neck and half-embraced her, rocking her gently. The old lady, unable to move, was helpless but smiled. Having lived so many years and with so many descendants, none had been this affectionate with her.

The girls Rui Xue and Ru Yu couldn’t help but giggle, and Mama Ji smiled as she watched. The old lady said:
“You three, just look at her tormenting me like this. Rui Xue, why aren’t you getting that box of candy? The candy that Second Master sent to me the other day. Give this little monkey a piece to try!”

At that moment, the three daughters of the Xu family had already come out from the adjoining room, chattering away around Meinang, asking her all sorts of questions. Meinang didn’t know who to listen to first and sighed: “Oh, it’s so noisy. One at a time!”

The old lady pointed at her and laughed: “It’s your fault it’s so noisy! None of them can compare to you!”

Rui Xue opened the cupboard, took the candy, and handed it to the old lady. Meinang glanced over and saw Bai Jing Yu and Zhuang Yu Lan walking towards them gracefully, and with a smile, she extended her hand toward the old lady: “The first one should be for me!”

The old lady glared at her: “Who said that? Haven’t you heard of Xiao Rong giving up the pear? Brothers and sisters should love and respect each other. The youngest should get the candy first!”

As she spoke, the old lady pretended to give a piece of candy to Xu Xiao Min. Meinang stomped her foot: “Grandmother, your words don’t count! You promised me a piece to try first!”

Everyone laughed, and the old lady smiled, handing her a piece of candy: “Here, here, you little rascal, you really know how to make me laugh. I haven’t laughed this happily in days.”

She handed out one candy after another to everyone and said: “Each person gets one, try it. This candy… none of you have ever had it before. I heard it was brought here by an envoy from the Western Regions, and Jun Lang spent a day with him to get a box, which he brought back to honor me. I was reluctant to try it first, but I’ll save some to share with all of you once this little monkey is better. She comes here making a fuss, saying I haven’t been thinking about her.”

She pointed at Meinang: “You little monkey, do you think I didn’t know what you’ve been up to? How’s your brother in law from your mother’s side doing? If that dizziness doesn’t go away, I’ve got some medicine here from the palace. Take a few pills. The second wife eats them whenever she has a fit, and they work.”

Meinang unwrapped the candy and couldn’t help but laugh. It was wrapped in paper. Candy? What a cheap name!

She popped the candy into her mouth, walked up to the old lady, and gave her a deep bow: “Thank you for the candy, grandmother. No wonder I always think of you, even dreaming about you. It turns out you think of me too. Thank you, grandmother, and thanks to you, my brother from my mother’s side is doing better, and so am I. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to eat such delicious candy.”

She whispered something into the old lady’s ear, and the old lady hurriedly hugged the candy box tightly: “No, no, I still have a few grandsons. One candy is enough for you!”

Everyone burst out laughing as they realized she was asking the old lady for candy.

Bai Jing Yu and Zhuang Yu Lan sat quietly to one side. Zhuang Yu Lan, under the encouragement of Xu Xiao Rong, smiled and unwrapped the candy, slowly eating it, while Bai Jing Yu didn’t eat, just holding the candy in her hand, and smiled: “I’ve never lacked for candy since I was young. I’m a bit tired of it now. Anyone who wants it can take it.”

No one responded to her. Meinang laughed and said: “I was always kept from eating too many sweets when I was little. If you eat too much, your teeth will fall out. No wonder nanny talks with a little whistle must have lost a big tooth?”

Xu Xiao Min chuckled and said, “Yes, last time Third Sister had a toothache because she ate too many sweets.”

Xu Xiao Wan shook the candy in her hand: “I’ll save it. Don’t want to eat it, it’s painful when you have a toothache.”

Bai Jing Yu felt angry but had to hold it in. She quickly defended herself: “My teeth are perfectly fine, not a single one fell out!”

The old lady handed the candy box to Rui Xue and gestured for Bai Jing Yu: “Don’t listen to that rascal. She’s just teasing you. She’s the one who’s greedy. The adults don’t let her eat, so she takes it out on others.”

Meinang squeezed in next to the old lady, hugging her and teasing: “Grandmother, you used to have a monkey, and the Buddha couldn’t even escape from your grip. I’m that monkey, and you’re the Five Finger Mountain. You can always guess my little thoughts.”

The old lady laughed so much she shook, pushing her away: “Stop talking nonsense. When did the Buddha have time to play with a monkey? Go sit down properly, you’re all soft like a noodle, or take off your shoes and come rub my shoulders, but be gentle!”

Meinang lay down and began massaging the old lady, asking: “Grandmother, are you still taking care of our meals today?”

The old lady smiled and said to Mama Ji: “I almost forgot. What time is it? Go tell the kitchen to bring food. Besides the people in this room, some others are coming too, they said they would come in the morning.”

Meinang asked: “Who’s coming? Our Lord Husband left before dawn. I don’t know if he’ll be back in time for dinner.”

She casually glanced at Zhuang Yulan and Bai Jing Yu. Zhuang Yu Lan immediately lowered her head, while Bai Jing Yu met her gaze, still showing some irritation.

Meinang smiled at her, understanding that it must be frustrating to have someone falsely accuse her of losing a tooth.

The old lady closed her eyes, enjoying Meinang’s massage, and slowly said: “Jun Ying came back very late last night. He just came to say hello and went back to rest. He’s accompanying the Emperor today, so I don’t think he’ll make it for dinner. It’s Jun Lang, Jun Ya, and Sixth Master Jun Xuan who are coming.”

As she spoke, they heard the maids outside announce: “Second Master, Third Master, and Sixth Master have arrived.”

The old lady laughed: “They’re here already? The food’s not ready yet. These little monkeys, come in!”

Meinang quickly got up, and Rui Xue helped her put on her shoes. Just as she stood, the three gentlemen entered one by one.

They greeted the old lady first. Xu Jun Xuan and Xu Jun Ya bowed to Meinang, inquiring about her health. Xu Jun Lang, standing next to them, couldn’t walk over, so he raised his hand in a slight bow but didn’t even glance at her. Meinang curtsied in return, thinking to herself: “It’s true what they say couples who aren’t from the same family don’t walk through the same door. The matchmaker really did a good job with these two, so proud, not even acknowledging me.”