The beauty of the Hou family and the king's plan

"No. My mother has been praying to gods and Buddhas for Feiyan recently, hoping that the delivery will go smoothly. I don't want her to be upset by my affairs anymore."

"Then have you told Mei Qianhe?"

"No. My husband has to work hard every day in the government office. How can I bother him with such a small matter? Besides, my mother-in-law is his mother. If I tell him, won't it embarrass him?"

Shen Baozhao was really angry at her for not fighting for it. Why didn't she see that Duan Ning had the potential to be a big shot?

"So you are sulking alone?"

"Duan Ning, this is not like your style. Where is the county lady who dared to love and hate and dominated the capital?"

Duan Ning felt uncomfortable because of what they said. She didn't want to do that. Her husband was so good to her, how could she say bad things about her mother-in-law?

Besides, apart from the gossip that made her feel uncomfortable every day and unwilling to leave the yard, the Mei family had never treated her badly in any other way.

Shen Baozhao also guessed some of her thoughts. Since Duan Ning herself did nothing, even if she wanted to stand up for her, she was afraid of being accused of meddling in other people's affairs.

But Caiwei suddenly fell to her knees and begged.

"Empress, please help our county lady."

Duan Ning glanced over and scolded with a stern face: "Caiwei, what are you doing?"

Although Duan Ning is usually nice to people around her, she is also spoiled and willful like a noble lady, and can be quite intimidating when she gets angry.

But today Caiwei didn't listen to her. She just kowtowed three times and cried to Shen Baozhao: "Empress, I really can't hold it in any longer."

"After today's discussion, if the county lady wants to beat or kill me, Caiwei will have no complaints."

When Shen Baozhao saw Caiwei, who was usually calm and composed, now like this, he secretly felt that there must be more to the Mei family than what Duan Ning said.

"Go ahead and tell me everything your master didn't make clear."

Caiwei wiped her tears with her sleeves, stopped crying, and slowly said, "The Mei family prides themselves on being noble and elegant, and every meal is limited.

The master is not allowed to order dishes. We, the county lady, must eat whatever the kitchen gives us."

“And the meals delivered by the kitchen every day are mostly vegetarian, even worse than what the servants eat in the princess’s mansion.

The county lady has been living a life of luxury since she was a child, how could she tolerate this? We went to the kitchen to argue, but the maids said that even Old Master Mei and Madam Mei ate this.

The county lord, a junior, is really going to go beyond the elders."

"We can only get some decent food by spending extra money on the kitchen. And the appetite of the kitchen manager is getting bigger and bigger. The money we spend every day can buy several tables of wine and food.

Although the county lady is not short of money, she cannot afford to be taken advantage of like this."

Shen Baozhao was surprised. The Mei family actually used such a low-brow method to torment Duan Ning? This didn't look like the work of Mei Hanlin.

"What does Mei Qianhe eat every day? Does he know about this?"

Caiwei did not dare to hide it, and only said: "The son-in-law gets up early to pay his respects and eats in Madam Mei's room. And after leaving the government office, he often goes to the courtyard of the old master or Madam Mei.

It is rare for us to have meals in our courtyard. Every time the son-in-law comes to the courtyard for a meal, the county lady cherishes the time she spends with him and doesn’t like us to complain.”

"I sent someone to check, and the maid in the kitchen lied. Madam Mei and Miss Mei eat very well every day, with bird's nests and snow clam all the time. Not to mention three meals a day."

So, Duan Ning is being targeted?

"Bao Zhao, don't listen to her nonsense." Duan Ning was so anxious that she even forgot to address her as Queen.

If Shen Baozhao was just a little surprised just now, he was furious at this moment. He frowned and scolded, "Shut up and listen to Caiwei!"

"Caiwei, tell me. The county lady and Lord Mei are husband and wife. Now that they are newlyweds, shouldn't they spend all their time together except when they go to the government office? Why do they have to cherish even the time for a meal?"

Speaking of this, Caiwei became even more angry.

He said angrily: "Madam Mei said that a man who wants to be a man should first cultivate himself and not dwell in the backyard every day.

It was stipulated that the son-in-law was only allowed to enter the county lady's room on the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month. The rest of the time he had to stay in the study, and two beautiful maids were assigned to serve him in the study."

Shen Baozhao laughed angrily, poked Duan Ning's forehead with his hand, and said through gritted teeth: "You can endure this?"

Duan Ning felt pain and put her hands on her forehead, saying with a guilty conscience: "Mother-in-law is also doing this for my husband's good."

Well, she was too angry to preach anymore.

"Qingkong, go to the Princess's residence right now and tell her everything Caiwei said today."

Let the princess teach herself. She had protected Duan Ning too well in the past, and she didn't learn any tricks from the inner house, so she was bullied by others.

Qingkong received the order and went to do it immediately. Duan Ning wanted to stop him but after seeing Shen Baozhao's expression, he gave up.

Cui Mingzhu really didn't expect how much Duan Ning loved Mei Qianhe that he could be so compromised.

I’m afraid if the eldest princess knew about this, she would be very sad.

"Caiwei, send the county princess directly to the Princess's residence. I want to have a good chat with Master Mei."

Caiwei bowed to Shen Baozhao again and again.

Duan Ning looked a little lost. Did she really do something wrong? She just didn't want to embarrass her husband.

But seeing Bao Zhao's angry look, it seemed that he had really disappointed everyone.

Duan Ning followed the palace maid out of the palace, bypassed the Qinzheng Hall, and the carriage went straight to the Princess's Mansion.

After Chen Chen picked up Cui Mingzhu, the couple naturally went back first, leaving Mei Qianhe waiting anxiously.

He pulled Eunuch Zhao and asked, "Eunuch Zhao, where is the county lady?"

Then he saw Shen Baozhao approaching, followed by a group of palace servants. Mei Qianhe stretched his neck but still couldn't see Duan Ning.

"Don't look for it anymore. I've sent Duan Ning to the Princess's residence."

Mei Qianhe was stunned. She bowed to Shen Baozhao and asked in confusion, "Does Duan Ning not know that I'm here to pick her up?"

"Or is there something wrong with the Princess's residence?"

Although Duan Ning's situation was somewhat self-inflicted, Shen Baozhao was very protective of her. Naturally, he took all his anger out on Mei Qianhe.

He sneered, "Lord Mei should look forward to the Princess's Mansion."

When Xiao Yuanhuai heard Shen Baozhao's voice outside the palace, he hurriedly stood up and walked out, pinched Shen Baozhao's hand and said, "Zhaozhao, it's still chilly in spring. It's windy at night, what are you doing standing outside? Come into the palace quickly."

Pulling Shen Baozhao to the Qinzheng Palace, Shen Baozhao paused, turned around and told Mei Qianhe: "Master Mei, please follow me. I have something to tell you."

Mei Qianhe was confused and just followed the emperor and empress into the palace.

Xiao Yuanhuai ignored the fact that Mei Qianhe was still there, and he kept serving Shen Baozhao, putting a cushion on his waist and asking people to serve him tea and snacks, for fear that his baby would go hungry.

Mei Qianhe couldn't bear to look at him. Was this still the cousin he knew? Where was his usual cold and calm appearance, his unstoppable presence in front of the court officials?

His face was tense, but he was smiling in his heart. He went out of the palace to talk to Xue Fox and Jin Duoduo about how His Majesty was worthless in front of the Queen.

But soon, Mei Qianhe could no longer laugh.