The weather was getting hot, and Meili was waiting for the imperial edict outside Cining Palace. She stood under the corridor in a dignified manner, with the scorching sun shining on her body in the afternoon, and she didn't dare to wipe away the fine sweat on her forehead. When Yu'an came to take her in, Tianning's face showed a hint of approval. In the past, Meili would often recklessly rush in without waiting for the imperial edict, and even if she encountered the old emperor meeting with guests, she wouldn't honestly wait outside, but instead ran around in the courtyard, causing a commotion, lacking tact and decorum.

  Perhaps she herself didn't know that her little tricks in the palace, in the eyes of those aunts and sisters-in-law, were just childish play. She was so deliberately making trouble just to show everyone how much favor the old ancestor had for her, that she could be so reckless and unscrupulous, hoping others would look up to her. Little did she know that such ignorance and recklessness only made people more disgusted, and made them think she was ridiculous.

  Now... she probably understands.

  "Go ahead." She smiled calmly at Mirei.

  Xiangzhuang took a look at the eunuch carrying Meili's luggage behind her, and saw that there was only a small bundle. She felt a pang of distress in her heart. Poor child... Meili is really pitiful. Especially now, she's so gentle and obedient, it's even more heartbreaking! Perhaps this medicine is too potent for her, it has even injured her vital energy. Xiangzhu couldn't help but sigh.

  "Come and have some iced tea, aren't you hot?" She invited Meiuri to sit down beside her on the kang, and couldn't help but gently wipe the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief.

  Meili smiled and shook her head gently.

  "Stay here with me for the time being!" Xiaozhuang frowned and instructed, "There's no one at home to take good care of you! Your body..." She took a glance at Mei Li's slender figure, her eyes returning to her pale but even more delicate small face, "Must be well taken care of."

  She paused, and Empress Dowager Ci Xi's tone was unusual, her eyes also shone with a hint of guilt, "You should also let Yu An and the others teach you some common sense and skills for daily life, you're not young anymore."

  Meili stood up and bowed to thank him, she again remembered the words of those men behind the slope in the arena, the old ancestor wanted to marry her off... Everyone dodged and didn't know who would be so unlucky to be chosen. She smiled bitterly, no matter who it was, although she had no backing from her natal family, no generous dowry, she would strive to fulfill her duties as a wife, treat him like her own kin... This was the only way she could repay, the only way she could repay.

  Outside, the sound of greetings and bows filled the air as Kangxi walked in with a faint smile amidst the crowd of people kneeling down. Mei Li also bowed to him respectfully, preparing to exit with the others.

  "Sit down, no need to leave." The emperor rarely smiled and spoke to her, although his eyes didn't look at her, and his tone was very casual.

  Meili had no choice but to sit down and gently massage her ancestor's legs, so as not to sit there in awkward silence.

  The old man and his grandson chatted for a while, then Kangxi suddenly smiled, "What does the old ancestor think of Su Yinxia?"

  Xiao Zhuang was slightly stunned, somewhat understanding the implication of Kangxi's earlier refusal to let Mei Li step down. Although she couldn't bear to have Mei Li clarify things in front of her, she also didn't want to go against her grandson's wishes. "Fortunately, you're gentle and good-looking," she casually praised.

  "With the military expenses being tight, the finances of Jiangnan are especially important. This matter cannot be handled by anyone else but Zamu Lang. He has been serving in Jiangnan for many years and is the best person for this task." Kangxi said a few words lightly. Meili didn't quite understand, but she grasped the emperor's meaning. The imperial court was about to go to war with Dzungar, and money was needed everywhere. Half of the silver in the national treasury came from Jiangnan, so they had to find someone who was willing to work hard and was familiar with the situation to collect more wealth for the Qing dynasty. Meili couldn't imagine how deep the water was here, but she knew that Su Yinxin's Ama was such a person.

  Recently, Za Mulang has been doing a great job in the Ministry of Revenue, and I was thinking of giving his daughter a good marriage to encourage him. However, there isn't anyone suitable in the imperial family, except for Jing Xuan. In terms of status, talent, and appearance, they are a good match. Since the alliance with Mongolia has been cancelled, his marriage has also been put on hold.

  The ancestors must have seen this too - Jing Xuan and Su Yan both have feelings for each other. Kangxi smiled, "I've already spoken to Jing Xuan about this privately, and he understands the pros and cons. Putting those aside, he is very fond of Su Yan herself. So I'm coming to ask you, venerable ancestor, to act as matchmaker. Wouldn't that be more auspicious and joyful than asking for a grandson?"

  Meili still smiled and massaged the old ancestor's legs, her expression unchanged. When she heard the emperor mention Jingxuan's name, her hands did indeed tremble slightly, but she tried to restrain herself and continued to massage his legs as if nothing had happened.

  The emperor didn't let her go, just to make her hear these words, did she hear them clearly? The smile at the corner of her mouth deepened slightly. In fact, the emperor was overthinking. Even if she was foolish, it would take two years for her to figure things out.

  The emperor also overestimated her persistence, she was just a girl, how could she not give up on the man who didn't even come to see her for two years? She spent the last few taels of silver by her side, begging the little eunuch to go to the emperor and intercept him, asking him to come and see her... He didn't come, and he didn't even let the eunuch bring back a single word.

  She didn't want to recall the scene where she held onto the little eunuch and asked "What did he say?" over and over again, with the little eunuch impatiently repeating "He didn't say anything!" or "He just hummed in agreement!", feeling lost and sad at that time. But that feeling was still so clear and bitter in her heart now. Hadn't she suffered enough? She almost wanted to mock herself!

  She suddenly realized that the emperor had actually hinted to her many times before, but at that time she was so foolish that she didn't understand, and she was confused and stubbornly insisted on her own way. No wonder nobody sympathized with her when she was heartbroken, probably everyone had been driven half dead by her slowness and didn't bother to care about her, and she felt that her misfortune was well-deserved.

  Now she understands, and very clearly, it's good this way, so from now on she won't get hurt again, won't be sad again.

  "Ah, this is good news. Jingxuan should get married and start a family too." Xiaozhuang nodded, but in front of Meili, she couldn't muster up much enthusiasm.

  "The grandson thought that after the spring hunt, he would ask the old ancestor to issue a decree of joy, and before going on an expedition against Dzungar, he would settle the happy event, and both Zhamulang and I would put down one worry."

  Xiang Zhuang nodded.

  She came out of the bedroom and went to the side hall, quietly packing up her personal belongings. There were not many things, and she was done in a moment. She was very satisfied with her mood at this time, calm and indifferent, hearing his marriage news was like hearing a stranger's.

  Before she could even take a sip of tea, the palace maid came to summon her to the Empress Dowager's quarters again. Mei Li was somewhat perplexed - hadn't the old ancestor just instructed her to rest on her own? Could there be some urgent matter?

  Not yet inside the door, I heard people laughing and chatting in hushed tones in the room. Are there guests?

  In the palace, Empress Dowager Cixi was smiling and supporting a palace maid standing beside her favorite flower stand. A woman with a familiar back view was carefully pouring water on the blooming flowers from a small pot. They were chatting intimately, even Yu An, who rarely smiled, had a faint smile on her face and spoke in a low voice.

  "Come here, girl." Xiaozhuang nodded at Meri, and the woman, hearing her voice, also smiled and turned around, looking at her kindly.

  Meili hesitated for a moment before remembering that she was Yonghe's mother, and because she was very grateful for Yonghe's kindness to her, she asked after his well-being with extra sincerity.

  "You'd still be tending to flowers and plants." Xiaozhuang said with a smile as she walked back to sit on the kang, "Yu'an doesn't have your skills in these two areas."

  "The slave just likes to play with these." Ying Ruo smiled and said humbly.

  "It's often said that a woman who knows how to cultivate flowers will also know how to choose men, and Yu An is at a disadvantage in this regard." Xiangzhuang teased, causing Yingru and Yu An to both laugh.

  Yu An also pleaded: "That was a slave's sincere devotion to serving the ancestors for her whole life."

  "Welcome back, I'm really glad you're here! Come visit me often! Take good care of the flower seedlings in my garden, those florists can't be trusted." Xiangzhuang said while sipping tea, Yingru smiled and repeatedly nodded in agreement.

  "This is Xiaomei Li, it's time for her to get married. She's a child I've always kept by my side." Empress Dowager Ci Xi smiled and lovingly pointed at Meili. "You should teach her well, so she can get along with you in the future. Your skills in teaching your husband and children are trustworthy, just look at how well you taught Yonghe!"

  Yu Rong seemed taken aback, apparently catching some hint from the Empress Dowager's half-joking and half-serious words.

  Meili looked at Ying Ruo's face, which was slowly turning white, and the stiff smile on her lips. She felt a pang of apology in her heart. Although the old ancestor had spoken very euphemistically, those who were supposed to understand had understood. She even saw Ying Ruo secretly revealing a worried look towards Yu An, as if seeking confirmation from her. Yu An nodded somewhat helplessly.

  Her ancestors were worried about her, and she seemed to have suddenly realized it recently. Mei Li lowered her head and bit her lip. For her, the rumors in the capital city, the contempt and disdain from the imperial family... Her ancestors naturally understood, fearing that she would marry into another family and suffer, so they thought and chose Ying Ru as her mother-in-law, with a gentle face... Even if Ying Ru was unwilling in her heart, she wouldn't treat Mei Li harshly.

  She also deeply empathized with the difficulties of her ancestors, fearing that if she responded like Fu Jun, things would become complicated and she would be the one to suffer, so she made such obscure hints, leaving room for herself.

  Meili clenched her fists, she should cherish the ancestors' painstaking efforts. If she doesn't behave and listen, she will owe nobody an apology. If only she could understand earlier, how would it have ended up like this today?

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