Chapter 86: Alliance

Zheng Mei Yu’s carriage entered the mansion through the side gate, making its way to the second gate and stopping there. The servants from Qui Hua Court had been waiting, assisting her as she alighted from the carriage. As she entered the inner courtyard, she saw Chun Yue, accompanied by several maids, walking toward her with a smile.

“The eldest madam is truly remarkable,” Chun Yue said with a smile. “She predicted that Miss would arrive now. To save the matrons from tiring themselves, she asked us to greet Miss.”

Zheng Mei Yu smiled and replied, “Thank you, Aunt, and thank you, Sister Chun Yue. I was just telling Mama He that after sitting in the carriage for so long, my legs have become sore and stiff. I need to walk a bit to stretch them.”

Chun Yue asked two maids to help support Zheng Mei Yu as they walked, smiling, “Exactly. You must be exhausted. The hot, fragrant soup is ready. Miss, after soaking in a bath and changing your clothes, you will feel much better.”

The group of servants surrounded her, chatting and laughing as they walked slowly through the Xu family’s inner courtyard. Zheng Mei Yu looked around, admiring the exquisite carvings, the pavilions, the elegant gardens, and the winding bridges. The familiar atmosphere of wealth and grandeur filled the air as she enjoyed the sensation of being surrounded by so many attendants. It felt as though she had truly returned home.

However, unlike her past arrivals, her mood was not as excited or joyful as before. Her heart raced quickly, and a certain desire, which she could no longer suppress, surged. She was eager to act. Her aunt’s ideas no longer suited her. Why should she wait for Qin Meinang’s approval? It was absurd. To Xu Jun Ying, Qin Meinang was no more than dirt beneath his feet and would ultimately be cast aside. There was no way she would ally with Qin Meinang, such an alliance would be self-destructive. Zhuang Yu Lan would soon be married, and she should align herself with Zhuang.

Xu Jun Ying followed the old matriarch’s wishes and planned to marry Zhuang as his main wife. Though he was not young and eager to start a family, he still needed concubines. The two concubines would remain irrelevant, while she would become the real, favored concubine. She would be treated with the same kindness as Cousin Ying usually treated her, and once married, she would work hard to win his heart. Over time, she would bear children, and titles of wife or concubine would no longer matter. She would figure it out.

But for now, she had a plan to eliminate one person. What right did Qin Meinang have to stay in Qing Hua Court under the title of “wife awaiting the husband”? It was shameless! Zheng Mei Yu was determined to oust her. The large, spacious upper rooms with their beautiful gardens and ponds were not yet for her, but she would let Zhuang Yulan have them for now and move into the East Yard. Cousin Ying loved spending time in the East Yard, and more opportunities for intimacy would be a good thing.

Zheng Mei Yu smiled sweetly as they approached the gate of Qui Hua Court. But then, the sound of a baby’s cry shattered her happy mood Heng Ge’er, the little devil. She had almost forgotten about him.

By dusk, Meinang and Ning Rulan arrived at Jinhua Hall but did not go directly to the main rooms. Instead, they walked around the courtyard with the housekeeper, discussing the garden and flowers. Spring had arrived, and it was time to tidy up the garden. After inspecting the lotus pond and the rockery with its exotic birds, they headed towards the purple-leafed forest and plum grove.

Ning Rulan laughed, speaking to Meinang, “The purple-leafed forest will be fine, the new buds will cover the tree trunks that were scorched by the fire. But the plum grove, those few green plums have really been hurt. The gardeners must take good care of them. After a year, I wonder if they will recover.”

Meinang playfully stuck out her tongue. “The old matriarch scolded me for days, but it wasn’t entirely my fault. How could I know that the ladies and wives would climb up the trees, picking branches here and there, laughing like fools? The ones who couldn’t get any just went up to grab more… that day, it was madness.”

Rulan smiled. “You were drunk. I had to have someone help you back. You said you weren’t drunk, but then you wanted more, scaring everyone to death.”

Just then, they heard a sharp voice, “What’s so good that you’re so happy?”

Turning around, they saw Zheng Mei Yu walking with Zhuang Yu Lan, both smiling as they approached.

Zheng Mei Yu, dressed in a pink-blue dress, was smiling brightly. Her dress, though thin for the windy weather, highlighted her slim and graceful figure. She didn’t seem to have gained any weight from the New Year, though.

Zhuang Yu Lan, with her cloud-style hair and a pink flower ornament in her hair, wore a cherry-colored satin embroidered cotton robe and a red skirt. Her face was flushed with happiness, and her cheerful appearance made her look much healthier than her usual pale self. People who didn’t know would think it was just the lingering joy of the New Year, but Meinang and Rulan knew better. She was in high spirits because she had received good news from the Jinhua Hall. The Lord had personally promised to marry Zhuang Yu Lan, making her the main wife alongside the eldest lady. The old matriarch had agreed, and they were just waiting for a royal decree to arrange the wedding.

Meinang and Rulan smiled politely as they approached, but to their surprise, Zhuang Yulan and Zheng Mei Yu didn’t move, standing their ground. Zhuang Yulan didn’t even address them as “sister in law,” only smiling and saying, “Let’s talk under the corridor. It’s getting late, and the dew will fall, which could make us ill.”

Meinang sneered inwardly. If the dew could harm someone like her, it would be a waste. She was about to speak when Zheng Mei Yu stepped forward and greeted them with a smile. “Sister in law, are you well?”

Ning Rulan smiled at Meinang, who replied, “I’m fine. You’ve been living at home for so long, yet you haven’t come to visit us. Have you forgotten Aunt and your cousin and sister in law? Ah, as the saying goes, ‘A golden or silver nest cannot compare to your own home.’ You’re so homesick! If not for the eldest madam’s insistence, I wouldn’t have been forced to bring you back. I’m sure you must hate me for it.”

Zheng Mei Yu’s face turned pale and then flushed. She forced a smile. “How could I forget Aunt and my cousin and sister in law? I wouldn’t dare hate you. After the holidays, I planned to come and visit everyone.”

Meinang patted her hand affectionately. “Stay a little longer, and don’t insist on going back so soon.”

Zheng Mei Yu stepped aside, standing closer to Zhuang Yu Lan. “Sister Yu Lan and I have made plans to embroider a picture of the peach blossoms in the garden. It will take us some time.”

“Is that so? How wonderful. This picture can also be made into your dowry, Yu Lan.”

Zhuang Yu Lan blushed. “You’re teasing me.”

Ning Rulan could no longer tolerate the scene. She pulled Meinang and said, “Big Sister, let’s go. The old matriarch will call for dinner soon.”

Meinang turned to face the purple-leafed forest. “By the way, where’s Manager Cui? What did the gardener say about the purple-leafed trees?”

Zheng Mei Yu and Zhuang Yu Lan followed, and Zhuang Yu Lan said, “The old matriarch treasures these purple-leafed trees. It would be a shame if they were ruined.”

Meinang glanced at her. “Where do you see that they’re ruined?”

Zhuang Yu Lan lowered her head. “Wasn’t it from the fire?”

Meinang nodded. “The fire only scorched the bark, but the trees themselves are fine. After a few spring rains, they will recover.”

Zheng Mei Yu commented, “If a few spring rains can solve the problem, people wouldn’t need to set fire to the mountains to burn the weeds and dead wood.”

Meinang looked at her in surprise. “You know a lot. But I can guarantee that those trees will recover.”

Zhuang Yu Lan raised her head. “But what if they don’t?”

Meinang, noticing the defiance in Zhuang Yu Lan’s eyes, realized she was ready to challenge her. She decided to tease her and smiled sweetly. “Lord Hou visited before the New Year. He said the fire only damaged the leaves, not the trunks. When spring comes, with the rain, they’ll be fine. I even asked, ‘What if they don’t recover?’ He reassured me that if they don’t, he’ll take full responsibility for it.”

Zhuang Yu Lan was suspicious. “Lord Hou consulted the imperial gardeners? I didn’t know about that.”

Meinang smiled knowingly. “Why should you know? That was discussed in private between husband and wife. There are many private conversations, and if we shared them with you, you wouldn’t be able to understand.”

Zheng Mei Yu was taken aback. She didn’t want to be outdone. “Don’t be so modest, Sister in law. You understand everything, even matters between husband and wife. I’m quite envious.”

The smile on Meinang’s face froze, and she walked away. “Husband and wife… What an interesting topic to discuss!”

As she turned away, her heart was full of thoughts. This Zheng Mei Yu had dared to challenge her, but she didn’t know the reality of the Xu family’s strength. She had underestimated her once before and wouldn’t make the same mistake again. This was a good chance for a showdown.