Chapter 89: Apologizing (II)

Cui Xi brought two bowls of tea and placed them in front of Xu Jun Ying and Meinang before stepping aside.

The two bowls were identical, white porcelain with blue floral patterns. Xu Jun Ying watched as Mei Niang opened hers, revealing a bowl of green tea. He opened his own tea bowl, only to find amber-colored tea, and he was momentarily stunned.

“Why is the tea different?”

Meinang, with a mouthful of tea, couldn’t answer immediately, but Cui Xi quickly responded, “The Lord drinks black tea, and the madam drinks green tea.”

Xu Jun Ying said, “I don’t drink black tea. Please bring me green tea.”

Meinang swallowed the tea and asked, “Why doesn’t the Lord like black tea and only drinks green tea?”

Xu Jun Ying glanced at her. “Green tea cools the body. I’ve always only drunk green tea.”

Meinang covered her tea bowl and explained, “It was I who asked Cui Xi to bring black tea. Black tea has a warming property, it helps to dispel cold and warm the stomach. You don’t like it, but you can gradually get used to it. Once you’re used to it, it’ll be fine. Green tea is cooling and clears heat, but…”

She was about to add, “Given your current constitution, you should avoid drinking too much of it,” but thought better of it. Saying so might not be appropriate. Xu Jun Ying wasn’t overly sensitive, but any man would be reluctant to admit weakness in his physical constitution. With his tendency to drink and over indulge in tea, his stomach was probably in poor condition, though he appeared strong on the outside. She thought it might be a good idea for him to consult his old friends, Ling Xu Zi and Zhang Jing Yun, to get a proper diagnosis and check his health. He wasn’t a bad person, and at his young age, he shouldn’t be pushing his body too hard. It was just a friendly reminder, a kind gesture.

Seeing Xu Jun Ying waiting for her to continue, she carried on, “During the years when the Lord was at the border, his diet was irregular, and the climate changes affected his stomach. In fact, black tea would suit you better, but green tea should be fine too, though it’s better not to drink it on an empty stomach… I don’t know much about this, but your friends, Ling Xu Zi and Zhang Jing Yun, are skilled in medicine, aren’t they? You can see them in two days. They’ll surely advise you on dietary restrictions.”

Xu Jun Ying looked at her. “Ling Xu Zi and Zhang Jing Yun, you still remember them?”

Did she see through something? Meinang noticed the strange expression on Xu Jun Ying’s face and couldn’t help but feel guilty, lowering her eyes.

“I… I always wanted to ask them to treat my brother.”

Was he blaming her for stopping that from happening, extinguishing her hope? Xu Jun Ying picked up his tea and sipped, saying, “Didn’t your brother get better?”

“Thanks to the Lord, my sister in law found a famous doctor who cured my brother.”

Xu Jun Ying raised an eyebrow. “You’ve seen your brother and sister in law?”

“No, I was really worried. After the new year, I asked Cui Xi to go check on them. She came back and told me about it.”

She glanced at Cui Xi, who returned her look and lowered her head.

Xu Jun Ying remained silent, and Meinang didn’t dare say more, fearing she’d reveal something unnecessary.

The room was quiet for a while, and Xu Jun Ying broke the silence, frowning. “What’s this dizziness you’ve been experiencing? You suddenly feel fine, yet you took the old lady’s medicine and lied to her.”

Meinang’s gaze wandered. “I didn’t lie. I didn’t dare deceive the old lady, I just wanted to try the medicine. It worked, and when I took it, I felt fine.”

Xu Jun Ying snorted. “It’s all palace medicine. I gave the old lady two boxes before. A few days ago, I brought back a new box. Didn’t the little girl give it to you?”

Meinang lowered her head. “You mean the medicine that Cheng’er gave me… I didn’t take it because I hadn’t had any more symptoms, so I didn’t know it was the same as the old lady’s.”

He turned to Cui Xi, who had been standing like a statue beside him. “Go get the box of medicine and show it to the Lord.”

“No need.”

Xu Jun Ying sounded impatient. “If you’re sick, you should get treated. Lying around, not working, and not going to Jin Hua Hall but making the old lady worry what is that? You are… “

He stopped, as though deciding against saying the word ‘wife’. After a pause, he moved on. “And what you and your maid were just saying don’t think I didn’t hear. Not only is it improper, it’s downright… sacrilegious. You need to remember this, take care of yourself and your people. If you keep talking like that…”

Meinang immediately apologized. “I dare not. We don’t speak like that, it was just tonight, I don’t know why…”

At that moment, a loud voice came from outside the door. “Where is everyone? Where did you all go?”

Another voice followed. “Anyone still breathing? Come out and make a sound!”

Lively, innocent, and bold, these were two of her usual favorites Cheng’er and Ping’er whose straight forwardness she loved, but tonight they were about to walk right into trouble.

Meinang bit her lip and lowered her head toward her tea bowl. Cui Xi and Cui Si exchanged a quick glance, then both kneeled and bowed respectfully before hurrying out. The sound of the door opening followed, and Cui Jian rushed in from the next room, speaking quickly in a low voice, with Cui Xi and Cui Si joining in. Then one of the little maids let out a quiet “Ah,” likely having been pinched.

Xu Jun Ying sighed. “You can’t even manage the maidservants. Wang Mama seems to be ineffective too. Tomorrow, find someone more capable to teach the new maidservant.”

Meinang didn’t respond immediately, her mind already set. She could teach them a lesson. It wasn’t like she was afraid of this, and after all, she was the one in charge here. When the time came, she’d deal with things.

She wasn’t worried.

Xu Jun Ying looked at her. She sat properly, quiet and gentle, her lashes casting shadows over her eyes, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.