[Nü Jie: “Nu Jie,” a classical Chinese text instructing women on moral conduct.]
Oh what oh!
Madam Meng raised her hand to press her temples, and asked Li Yue, “Did you even hear what I just said?”
“I did.” Li Yue nodded, “You said the late emperor prepared quite a bit of betrothal gifts.”
Madam Meng had never felt so exhausted talking to her own eldest daughter before. What did the late emperor preparing betrothal gifts have to do with her? Back then, the late emperor merely intended to form a marital alliance with the Meng family. As for who would ultimately be chosen as the Crown Princess, it had never been decided. Otherwise, Meng Fu’s engagement with the Marquis of Xuanping wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.
Madam Meng poured herself another cup of tea, and said to Li Yue, “…What’s the use of hearing that? It has nothing to do with you anymore.”
Li Yue ignored Madam Meng, so Madam Meng could only continue: “Calamity and blessing depend on each other; blessing and calamity lie within one another. If back then you had married the late Crown Prince, perhaps you wouldn’t have the good fortune you enjoy today.”
Li Yue very much wanted to reply with, “Then do you want this good fortune?” But after thinking about it, it was possible Madam Meng really would say yes.
Madam Meng lowered her head and said a bit sorrowfully, “It’s just pitiful for A’Yu. She still hasn’t married. She can’t just stay at home forever—what will become of her in the future?”
“You can’t say that. Back then Meng—” Li Yue paused, and casually continued, “Back then if I had married the late Crown Prince, maybe the Crown Prince wouldn’t even be dead now.”
After saying that, Li Yue cursed herself inwardly—what kind of strange statement is that? If the late Crown Prince heard it, he’d probably jump out of the coffin to hit someone.
Madam Meng rarely got angry, but today she was truly infuriated by Li Yue. Even so, despite her fury, Madam Meng’s face still didn’t show obvious signs of rage. In that regard, Meng Fu somewhat resembled her. Except Meng Fu genuinely didn’t know how to get angry.
She pressed her throbbing temples and said to Li Yue, “All of this was destined. It was already set in the unseen realms; how could we mortals change it as we please?”
Li Yue immediately followed up smoothly, “Since that’s the case, the fact that Meng Yu still can’t get married is also destined in the unseen. So stop worrying. Worrying won’t help anyway, don’t you think?”
Madam Meng opened her mouth. Originally, she had a whole pile of reasoning prepared. But after what Li Yue said, she didn’t know how to continue. After a long while, she only managed to say, “Meng Yu is your younger sister, after all. Back then, it was also for your sake that she ended up like this.”
Li Yue laughed, but there was no smile on her face. Coldly, she said, “That was something Meng Yu brought upon herself. What does that have to do with me?”
Madam Meng’s face flushed red. She took a deep breath and said, “If not for Meng Yu wronging herself back then and not telling us about her matter with Xie Wenzhao, how would you have ended up marrying Xie Wenzhao?”
“Saying it as if Meng Fu was actually willing to marry Xie Wenzhao?” Li Yue’s expression darkened as she asked, “Did any of you ever ask whether she truly wanted to marry him?”
Madam Meng was so angry her hands were trembling slightly. For a moment, she didn’t even catch the problem in Li Yue’s words. Suppressing her voice, she said, “At the time, there were servants who saw you secretly meeting with Xie Wenzhao. They even found the token of love he gave you in your room.”
Li Yue gave an “ah” and nodded, then said to Madam Meng, “So you all really didn’t ask me.”
Madam Meng sighed and said, “Things have already come to this point, what’s the use in asking anymore?”
Back then, after hearing that Meng Fu had secretly met with Xie Wenzhao, Madam Meng had initially wanted to ask her about it. But Meng Yu advised her that if it were brought up directly, Meng Fu might feel embarrassed and, as a young maiden, likely wouldn’t admit to it. Madam Meng found the reasoning sound, so she had the servants secretly observe for a time. Indeed, after Meng Fu left the house, she would often be found staying in the same location as Xie Wenzhao. The maid had also discovered in Meng Fu’s room a bracelet that Xie Wenzhao had spent a great sum to purchase some time prior.
With that, there was no way for the marriage with the Crown Prince to proceed. Madam Meng fretted over it for a long while. Meng Yu persuaded her that Xie Wenzhao’s family background was still a good match for the Meng family, so they might as well let Meng Fu marry him. After discussing it with Meng Yanxing, Madam Meng presented the marriage proposal to Meng Fu. Meng Fu did not oppose it.
Thinking of this, Madam Meng sighed again.
Back then, she had arranged the marriage for Meng Fu with good intentions. How did it now end up being her fault?
Li Yue didn’t know what Madam Meng had been thinking at the time, nor did he want to know what she was thinking now. With some sarcasm, he said, “There’s nothing left to ask, so what did you call me back for today?”
Madam Meng held back her anger and said, “A’Fu, you don’t have to speak so unpleasantly. If you don’t want to help, then so be it. Mother won’t force you.”
Li Yue felt that this Madam Meng was truly far too naive. Even though Meng Yanxing had resigned from his official post, over the years, he had taught so many students—among them were quite a few high-ranking officials in court. So even if Meng Yanxing was no longer in court, the Meng family would not collapse just like that. He didn’t believe that in all these years, no one had come to propose marriage—it was just that Meng Yu looked down on them all, that’s all. She just wanted to move closer in front of Xie Wenzhao, even if a Great Luo Immortal came, he still wouldn’t be able to do anything about her.
Li Yue sincerely asked, “Moreover, you were all worried about the royal family finding out about Meng Fu and Xie Wenzhao secretly meeting—so you’re not afraid the late Crown Prince might find out about the feelings between Meng Yu and Xie Wenzhao?”
Madam Meng was slightly stunned—she had never thought of this question. She replied, “A’Yu did have some feelings for Xie Wenzhao, but later on, she also cut off those feelings.”
Li Yue was nearly amused to death by this Madam Meng. She really had boundless trust in her youngest daughter. He sneered coldly: “If she had really cut it off, how could she still be entangled with Xie Wenzhao now? Madam Meng, your heart is far too biased.”
Madam Meng pressed her lips together and, surprisingly, did not refute him. In her heart, she knew that she truly was a bit more partial toward Meng Yu.
Maybe it was because giving birth to her eldest daughter had been difficult, and later, she didn’t grow up by her side, so Madam Meng always felt a sense of distance from Meng Fu. Back then, a fortune-teller even said she was in conflict with the Meng family’s fate, and it seemed that was indeed the case. From the moment Meng Fu was brought back to the Meng family from Xuzhou, there was a small fire in the rear court. Not long after, Meng Yanxing, who had once been highly favored by the emperor, suffered an unexpected calamity and was thrown into prison, only getting out after being tossed around for more than three months.
Even so, Madam Meng still reminded herself not to hold too much resentment toward a child—she didn’t know anything. But later, when Meng Yanxing brought both daughters to study, Meng Yu was more mischievous and couldn’t settle down, so naturally, Meng Yanxing poured more of his energy into Meng Fu. Madam Meng felt that Meng Yanxing neglected the younger daughter and feared she’d feel hurt, so she doted on Meng Yu all the more.
She didn’t feel that anything was wrong with what she did. In raising children, parents must pay attention to the word balance. Since Meng Fu received more attention from Meng Yanxing, then she, naturally, must protect Meng Yu more.
Seeing Madam Meng looking completely unapologetic, Li Yue thought to himself that he really shouldn’t have come here today. Just then, a servant came in to report: “Madam, Master has returned.”
Madam Meng looked up in surprise and said, “Didn’t Master say he would return tomorrow? How is he already back?”
The servant said, “This little one does not know.”
Then he turned to look at Li Yue and said, “Master says for Eldest Miss to come to his study.”
Originally, Li Yue hadn’t wanted to see Meng Yanxing, but after chatting with Madam Meng, he became even more curious about what kind of life Meng Fu had lived in the Meng residence in the past.
Li Yue stood up and headed out, but after only a few steps, he suddenly stopped in his tracks, startling Qingping behind him. She thought something had happened to him. The next moment, she heard the Madam ask her: “Where is that Meng Yanxing’s study?”
Qingping: “…”
Even if Madam hadn’t returned to the Meng residence for a while, she shouldn’t have forgotten so thoroughly, right?
She could only walk ahead to lead the way. Meng Yanxing’s study was built on the east side of the small garden in the Meng residence. The place was surrounded by lush greenery and small paths that connected the various parts of the residence. It was a peaceful corner amid the bustle. Upon entering the courtyard, one could look up and see a plaque hanging above the main door, with three characters written on it: “Ting Yu Xuan” (听雨轩). [Ting Yu Xuan literally means “Listening to the Rain Pavilion/Xuan,” a common poetic name for a quiet study.]
Li Yue pushed the door open and walked in. Meng Yanxing was sitting on a chair reading. His age was slightly older than Madam Meng’s, and because of the taxing years of scholarly work, he had grown quite a few white hairs.
Li Yue waited for a while after entering, only to find that Meng Yanxing didn’t react at all. He seemed completely absorbed in his book, not knowing someone had come in.
Li Yue sneered internally. This old man used to pull this trick back when he taught in the palace—he’d make students wait on purpose to test their manners. Now even after coming home, he was still pulling this act? Truly boring.
Li Yue had never humored him with this kind of habit. He took a step forward and slapped the table hard with his palm.
Meng Yanxing actually had already known that Meng Fu had come in, but he hadn’t expected his always gentle and well-mannered eldest daughter to come in and slap his desk. It startled him so much that the book in his hand fell. He frowned and asked: “Meng Fu, what are you doing?”
Li Yue sat down on the chair behind and replied coolly: “Reminding you that someone has arrived.”
“Is that how you remind someone?” Meng Yanxing was extremely displeased. The gentle, proper daughter he used to have—how had she turned into this?
“Of course it is.” That was how he had reminded Meng Yanxing back in the day too.
Meng Yanxing thought for a moment—there really was such a person, but that one had already become the current emperor.
He glanced at Li Yue, who didn’t wait for him to speak and had already found a chair to sit down in. His brows furrowed even deeper as he opened his mouth: “I heard people say that during this time, not only have you stopped managing affairs in the marquis residence, you’ve also been out playing around all day.”
Li Yue didn’t answer Meng Yanxing’s question, but instead asked him, “Who did you hear that from? Who’s so annoying?”