Chapter 81: Sweater

After bidding farewell to the Empress, the palace attendant led her out of the palace gates, where Xu Jun Ying stood tall, waiting in the shadow of a flowering tree. He was not as patient as the Emperor had suggested, to accompany her in watching the lanterns. He simply said one thing:
“Let’s go, return to the mansion.”

Strangely enough, despite the awkward and complicated relationship between them, as soon as Meinang walked towards Xu Jun Ying, she immediately felt a sense of calm and stability, almost like… well, it’s hard to explain, but in the vast sea of people, though he wasn’t the ideal man, he was the first person she had encountered in this world whom she felt close to and could rely on. It felt like meeting a fellow villager in a foreign land, it wasn’t a bad thing to seek some comfort from him.

As they left the palace late at night, the lanterns hanging along the gates illuminated everything as bright as day. The streets were bustling with carriages and horses, the noble ladies and wives were getting into their carriages to head home. Surprisingly, the wife of the Duke of Ding Guo had not left yet. Upon seeing Meinang, she approached her, and Meinang promptly met her halfway. Lady Pang then introduced the Duke of Ding Guo to Meinang. Xu Jun Ying also stepped forward to greet him. Soon, other noblemen and their wives joined, exchanging farewells before leaving.

The coachman lowered the steps, and Meinang climbed into the carriage. She was still looking around when her foot slipped, causing her to stagger. Xu Jun Ying instinctively reached out to steady her, and though she quickly grabbed his hand, they immediately let go, avoiding eye contact. Meinang inwardly cursed herself for the awkwardness and hurried into the carriage to avoid further embarrassment.

Xu Jun Ying didn’t ride in the carriage but followed alongside on horseback with his steed, Bao Yu, and his warhorse, Bai Zhan.

Meinang sat alone in the carriage, absentmindedly thinking for a while. Gradually, a smile formed on her face: “Good, I’ve managed to get close to the Empress, and the most important thing is the Emperor favors her. Whatever the Empress says, the Emperor listens. There’s hope now. Just take it slow. A way will appear when we reach the mountain. I don’t have to keep hiding in the Duke’s mansion forever. Better days are ahead if I just have some patience.”

She thought she saw a glimpse of spring when the sun peeked out, but to her surprise, two days later, the rain and snow came again. The spring chill still could freeze someone to death, especially with the strong winds. Meinang, feeling cold, didn’t leave the mansion except for going to Zi Yun Hall and Qui Hua Courtyard to visit her son. She had excuses for not going to the old lady’s place after all, she had Xu Jun Ying to go in her stead. The old lady was fond of her eldest grandson, not Meinang.

One evening, feeling tired from reading, she picked up her crochet hook and worked on knitting a sweater. The purple sweater she had carefully knitted was given to the Empress, but she had not finished her own, so she decided to knit a vest for herself. It would be good for spring. She also remembered the task the Empress gave her something for the young prince to do.

Xu Jun Ying entered and handed her a small bundle. He didn’t want Cui Si to assist in removing his cloak. Instead, he handed the package to Cui Si, who approached Meinang:
“The Empress asked me to give this to you. She said that since the weather has been so cold, she would like you to make a garment for the Emperor.”

Cui Si opened the bundle, and Meinang looked inside. The package contained several types of fine yarns, each in different colors. Understanding the Empress’s intent, Meinang realized that the Empress, feeling comfortable and warm in her own sweater, wanted one for the Emperor as well.

Meinang smiled at Xu Jun Ying and said, “I understand, thank you for delivering this, Lord Hou.”

Xu Jun Ying nodded and turned to leave.

Meinang chose bright yellow yarn at first quite fitting for the royal family but then changed her mind and selected purple instead. She had given the Empress purple, and since they were a couple, matching outfits seemed even better. The next time, she would use yellow yarn for the vest she was knitting.

She meticulously worked on the sweater, calling for three maidservants to assist in shifts to ensure the stitches were fine and even. By the morning of the third day, the sweater was completed, and she instructed Cui Xi to carefully pack it and send it to the Eastern Courtyard to Xu Jun Ying.

“Grandmother says: This is the sweater the Empress requested. Please trouble Lord Hou to make sure it gets delivered to her,” she instructed.

Xu Jun Ying glanced at Cui Xi and asked, “Has your mistress been busy with this lately?”

Cui Xi lowered her head. “Yes. Mistress is afraid of the cold and refuses to go outside. She only goes to Qui Hua Courtyard to greet the old lady and spends the rest of her time doing needlework indoors.”

Xu Jun Ying said, “Tell your mistress to go visit the old lady. How long has it been since she last visited?”

“Yes, I’ll tell her,” Cui Xi replied.

Before leaving, Cui Xi handed another small bundle to Xu Jun Ying. He opened it to find another sweater this one knitted by Meinang for him.

“Please wear it,” Cui Xi said. “The spring chill can be quite harsh. The winds are strong outside.”

Xu Jun ying paused, then placed the bundle on the table. “Keep it. Tell your mistress I appreciate her kindness.”

Cui Xi bowed and left, her mind full of thoughts. She, Cui Jian, and Cui Si were not foolish. They could tell there was some tension between Lord Hou and his wife, but they also knew their mistress had been treated poorly in the Duke’s mansion and that Xu Jun Ying had always supported her. They had watched him protect her and give her many precious gifts after she gave birth to Heng Ge’er. Even though the gifts were later taken by her cousin, the fact that she had received them meant something.

The three of them had grown up in the Qin family, where they had been treated with kindness. Though the family had gradually declined, they had always considered it home. They had become Meinang’s personal maids and had followed her to the Duke’s mansion. With their shared loyalty to her, they had quietly hoped she could find a way to leave. But Old Mama Wang was adamant that Meinang reconcile with her husband, even if it meant becoming his second wife. She didn’t want Meinang’s reputation to be tarnished.

Cui Xi smiled as she thought about how the Emperor and Empress both had sweaters made by Meinang, and Xu Jun Ying would soon wear one too.

Unbeknownst to her, Xu Jun Ying was still in a daze, staring at the sweater Meinang had knitted for him, trying to make sense of the strange feelings she stirred in him.