SGEIRS -Chapter 160 Madam Zhang Is Shocked

After a moment, Song Xinning said, “Sure enough, having a wealthy husband is not as good as being wealthy yourself.”

As she spoke, she gave a light laugh and said somewhat gleefully, “Take my Aunt Shen, for example. She has money, so she has confidence and doesn’t rely on my Master Shen to live. Now that she’s fallen out with him, his life has become much harder. As the saying goes, it’s easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go back. These days, he’s even shamelessly gone to apologize to her and beg for forgiveness, but she ignores him completely.”

Meng Jinyao paused slightly and said, “Not all mistakes can be forgiven.”

Like Madam Shen—who had once been deeply in love in her youth and had enjoyed many years of marital harmony—she suffered a devastating blow when the old illness relapsed and nearly lost her life. How could she possibly forgive Lord Shen’s betrayal?

To Madam Shen now, Lord Shen was nothing more than the father of her children. In her eyes, he was no longer her husband. She merely relied on his official position to pave the way for their children’s future. By keeping her place as his wife and preventing him from remarrying, her son would not have a stepmother, and her future daughter-in-law would not have a stepmother-in-law to oppress her.

Princess Jingning asked, “A-Ning, are the Uncle and Aunt Shen you mentioned the Vice Minister of Works and his wife?”

Song Xinning nodded. “Yes. That’s my future in-laws.”

Princess Jingning said, “Some time ago, my mother even said that Lord Shen and Madam Shen had been loving for many years and didn’t even have a single concubine, which was admirable. But now he suddenly took a concubine. She felt that all men in the world are the same and was upset for quite a while.”

At these words, Meng Jinyao and Song Xinning were both stunned.

They had heard that Prince Liang and his consort were childhood sweethearts who had loved each other deeply and married. Yet Prince Liang had several concubines and many children born of them. Though Princess Liang appeared glamorous on the surface, she must have suffered in her heart—loving her husband while he shared himself with other women.

For the sake of her children, she had endured for many years. She never mistreated the concubines and treated their children kindly, striving to maintain marital harmony so she would not fall out of favor and so her own children would remain beloved.

She truly succeeded. Though Prince Liang had concubines, he gave Princess Liang all the dignity and honor due to a principal wife. He doted on her two daughters and valued her children the most, even praising her publicly as gentle and virtuous.

It was common knowledge in the capital that Princess Liang was deeply favored by Prince Liang. Yet outsiders did not know how much she suffered inside. Compared to the reputation of being gentle and magnanimous, she likely would have preferred to be known as jealous if it meant having Prince Liang to herself alone.

Princess Jingning, unaware of their thoughts, continued, “My mother has been choosing a husband for me lately. She’s more worried than I am. If she picks someone outstanding, she fears I won’t be able to control him. If she picks someone weak, she feels he’s unworthy of me. If she picks someone average, she worries he’ll use me as a stepping stone.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao and Song Xinning were again taken aback.

Meng Jinyao asked, “A-Yan, you know so many young masters from noble families. Isn’t there anyone you fancy?”

Princess Jingning shook her head. “They all seem about the same. None really stands out to me. So I’ll leave everything to my father and mother. Once they’ve chosen someone and I’ve met him, if I have no objections, we’ll settle the marriage.”

Meng Jinyao said gently, “Then let Her Highness take her time. She’ll surely choose the most suitable gentleman for you.”

Princess Jingning nodded. “Enough of that. Let’s play leaf cards for a while. We’ll go eat at noon. I booked a private room at a restaurant in advance.”

The two agreed and instructed the maids to bring the cards.

Changxing Marquis’s Residence

After returning home, Meng Jinyao went straight to Madam Zhang’s courtyard.

What she had seen while boating today needed to be mentioned. If Madam Zhang already knew, then she had simply meddled unnecessarily. But if she didn’t know, learning early would allow her to prepare and prevent Gu Xuanyi from stepping into a pit of fire. Otherwise, by the time she learned from Gu Xuanyi herself, it might already be too late.

Ningdong asked, “Madam, why do you care so much about the main branch’s affairs?”

Meng Jinyao replied, “I’m a young woman too. Since I know about this, I can’t just watch her jump into trouble. Besides, Old Madam doesn’t think highly of the Wu’an Marquis’s household.”

Ningdong froze, then nodded.

When Madam Zhang learned that Meng Jinyao had come to see her, she felt unexpectedly flattered. Usually, she was the one visiting Weiwei Pavilion; Meng Jinyao had never come to her before. She quickly instructed the maids to prepare tea and fresh fruit.

Madam Zhang asked warmly, “Third sister-in-law, what brings you here today?”

“Elder sister-in-law, I have something to discuss with you,” Meng Jinyao said, glancing lightly at the maids in the room.

Madam Zhang immediately understood and waved them away. “What is it? You’re being so mysterious.”

Meng Jinyao asked, “Elder sister-in-law, are you interested in having the Wu’an Marquis’s heir as your son-in-law?”

She observed Madam Zhang’s expression carefully. Madam Zhang first froze, then shook her head repeatedly. Meng Jinyao immediately understood—she had not known about this, and Gu Xuanyi had been secretly meeting the heir.

Madam Zhang frowned. “Why do you ask? Mother said he wasn’t suitable, and I agreed. I only met his mother because we had already arranged it.”

Meng Jinyao asked again, “So after that meeting, you declined?”

Madam Zhang shook her head. “She never brought up the marriage afterward. I figured the heir didn’t fancy Xuanyi, so we just let it drop. Why bring it up now?”

Meng Jinyao replied, “Today, I went boating with friends and saw Xuanyi together with the heir. They seemed very close. I thought you favored him.”

Madam Zhang suddenly raised her voice. “What?!”

She stared at Meng Jinyao in shock. “Are you sure? It was really Xuanyi and the heir?”

“I’m certain,” Meng Jinyao said firmly. “If you doubt it, you can ask Xuanyi yourself.”

“No, I believe you. You wouldn’t lie about this,” Madam Zhang said angrily. “I warned her long ago that the Wu’an household is complicated. And yet she still secretly met him!”

Meng Jinyao said gently, “Don’t be angry. When girls first fall in love, they often take wrong paths. Parents just need to guide them properly.”

Madam Zhang frowned anxiously. “Third sister-in-law, forgive my poor hospitality today. Let’s talk another time. I’ll go see if Xuanyi is back.”

Meng Jinyao nodded. “Alright.”