SGEIRS -Chapter 170 Exposing the Secret

Early the next morning.

After finishing breakfast, Meng Jinyao prepared to set out for Lingyun Temple with Qingqiu and Ningdong.

Although there was a coachman, Gu Jingxi was still worried. With only three young women and one coachman, if anything happened, the coachman would be of little help. So he instructed ten household servants who knew martial arts to accompany them.

Looking at those ten strong and sturdy servants, Meng Jinyao felt that the “lineup” was quite impressive. Apart from her wedding day, she had never gone out with such a grand escort before. It felt a little unfamiliar, so she said softly, “Husband, isn’t this unnecessary?”

Gu Jingxi glanced at her lightly. Without asking, he already knew what she was thinking, and replied calmly, “Which madam goes out without maids, servant women, and guards? They all know some martial arts. If anything happens, they can protect you.”

Meng Jinyao was surprised. “I’ve been to Lingyun Temple before. What could possibly happen?”

Gu Jingxi said in a tone that brooked no refusal, “Madam, take them with you. Aren’t you staying at the temple for a day or two? With them around, you can order them to do things if needed. If nothing happens, just pretend they’re not there.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao no longer objected and set off with the ten servants.

Lingyun Temple was famous for its efficacy, and its incense offerings were always flourishing.

When Meng Jinyao arrived, it was the busiest time for worshippers. Not wanting to squeeze in with the crowd, she asked Qingqiu to find the monk in charge of guest rooms and arranged a room to rest first.

At noon, the three of them had a vegetarian meal in the guest room and rested for a while, preparing to go burn incense. However, summer weather was as changeable as a child’s face. Suddenly, a heavy rain poured down, so they had to wait until it stopped.

After the rain, the afternoon was even hotter than before.

The three went to the main hall to offer incense and donate money, then headed to the Hall of Rebirth.

The Hall of Rebirth was where memorial tablets were enshrined, specifically for the deceased. These were called “Lotus Tablets of Rebirth,” placed there in hopes that the Buddha would bless the departed and grant them a good destination in the next life.

The memorial tablet of Meng Jinyao’s biological mother, Madam Zhou, was enshrined there. This had been decided by her maternal grandfather, Old Master Zhou, who hoped his prematurely deceased daughter would receive the Buddha’s protection. The Meng family had agreed as well.

Because of this, it was much more convenient for Meng Jinyao to pay her respects to her mother. She did not need to go to the Meng ancestral hall.

It had been a year since her last visit. She had originally wanted to come before her marriage to tell her mother that she was about to wed, but she had fallen ill with a cold beforehand and spent a long time recovering. As soon as she recovered, it was time for her wedding.

After marriage, she encountered many upsetting matters, and so it was delayed again and again. Only now did she finally come to offer incense to her mother.

A monk led them to the outside of the Hall of Rebirth and then left. There were no monks stationed inside, because visitors sometimes wanted to speak privately to the departed, and it would be inconvenient if someone were present.

The door of the hall was lightly closed. Just as Meng Jinyao was about to push it open, she suddenly heard a woman’s voice from inside. She paused and did not enter, afraid of disturbing someone who might be offering incense.

After all, there were many tablets inside, not only her mother’s.

She said softly, “Let’s wait for a moment.”

Qingqiu and Ningdong nodded quietly.

Just as Meng Jinyao was about to step aside, she suddenly heard a voice filled with guilt and relief: “Madam, rest in peace. Although the eldest young lady did not marry the Heir of Changxing Marquis, the Marquis treats her very well.”

Hearing this, she stopped at once and gestured for Qingqiu and Ningdong to stay silent as she listened carefully.

There was only one Changxing Marquis in the dynasty—her husband.

And the “eldest young lady” mentioned by the woman could only be herself.

Who else would come to burn incense for her mother besides her?

And someone who addressed her mother as “Madam” had to be a servant. Could it be someone who had served her mother back then?

The next moment, she heard the voice again, much softer. Pressing close to the door crack, she barely caught it: “Madam, about what happened back then… this servant was forced. Now I’m already nearing the end of my life. When I go down there soon, I’ll personally apologize to you…”

After that, the woman began to sob softly and said no more.

“What happened back then?”

Meng Jinyao’s mind echoed with those words. Her head buzzed, and countless possibilities flashed through her thoughts. The most likely one was her mother’s death.

But hadn’t her mother died from complications during childbirth?

Could there be another hidden truth?

Her heart tightened.

Suddenly, she reached out and pushed the door open.

Her gaze locked onto the middle-aged woman kneeling on a cushion. The woman wore faded, repeatedly washed clothes, was thin and slightly hunched.

Forcing herself to stay calm, Meng Jinyao asked in a low voice, “Who are you?”

Startled, the woman stiffened. She was facing away, so her expression could not be seen, but her frantic wiping of tears revealed her panic.

She was flustered.

And panic meant guilt.

Meng Jinyao asked again, “Who exactly are you?”

The woman steadied herself and slowly turned around.

At first glance, she froze.

Seeing Meng Jinyao standing against the light, her face somewhat blurred yet strikingly similar to the one in her memories, the woman’s already pale face turned ashen. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the ground, staring with dilated pupils as she trembled, “Ma… Madam?”

Meng Jinyao frowned.

She was certain the woman was calling her mother. Because Meng Jinyao resembled her mother by seven parts, the woman had mistaken her in her unstable state.

Half-closing her eyes, Meng Jinyao examined her. The woman’s eye sockets were sunken, her body emaciated, her spirit extremely poor—she looked critically ill.

Taking advantage of her confusion, Meng Jinyao decided to play along.

She replied softly, “Yes, it’s me. But how did you become like this?”

Then her expression suddenly changed. She glared coldly, her face twisted with fury, like a vengeful ghost demanding retribution.

“You want to apologize to me? With what? I treated you well—why did you betray me?!”

Seeing this, the already dazed woman completely fell into the illusion. She hurriedly crawled up and knelt again, panicked and helpless.

“Madam, I was forced! They threatened me with my family’s lives. I had no choice!”

“Who was it?” Meng Jinyao stepped forward slowly. “Who threatened you?”

As she advanced, the woman subconsciously shuffled backward on her knees, terrified. With her soul nearly gone, she dared not hide anything and burst into tears.

“It was—it was the Heir! No, no, not him—it was the Marquis! Yes, the Marquis!”

She kowtowed repeatedly.

“Madam, please spare me! Please spare my family! It was my fault. You can take my life if you want, but my family is innocent!”