SGEIRS -Chapter 190 Madam Yang Is Put in Her Place

“You—”

Madam Yang’s face turned alternately pale and flushed from the mockery. Her eyes burned with anger as she glared at Meng Jinyao. For a long while, she could not find any words to refute her.

Every time she had come to the Marquis’s residence before, this girl had always been obedient and mild. When had she ever spoken to her like this? Sure enough, after climbing up the social ladder, her arrogance had grown as well.

After a moment, Madam Yang flew into a rage from humiliation and scolded angrily: “How dare you! Is this how you speak to your elders? Even if you’ve married into the Marquis’ household and become a Marchioness, you still cannot disregard filial piety and talk back to your elders! Even His Majesty and the Empress must show respect to their seniors—let alone you! Today, I’ll discipline you on behalf of your mother, you unfilial thing!”

“Madam, that’s not quite right, is it?”

At that moment, a man’s voice sounded from behind Madam Yang. Hearing the familiar tone, she turned around abruptly and saw Gu Jingxi and Gu Xiuming standing not far away.

Gu Xiuming’s expression was blank, while Gu Jingxi looked cold and solemn. His deep gaze fixed on her, carrying an invisible pressure that bore down on her.

She instantly panicked. She did not even dare to call him “nephew-in-law” and stammered instead: “M-Marquis Gu…”

Gu Jingxi asked calmly, “What A-Yao said was correct. Even if she has shortcomings, she still has her parents and grandmother above her. It is not yet Madam’s place to overstep and discipline her. Speaking honestly—is that considered talking back to elders?”

Madam Yang gave an awkward smile. “What the Marquis says is right. I was just worried because her mother was busy today and had no time to teach her, so I meddled unnecessarily.”

Before she finished speaking, Gu Xiuming interjected: “Great-Aunt, I also heard what my mother said just now. She was clearly concerned about Grandmother. How could she be embarrassing her? Could it be that Great-Aunt misunderstood something? Since the guests haven’t left yet, why not invite Grandmother and everyone else to clarify things? That way, the misunderstanding can be resolved, and Great-Aunt won’t keep thinking wrongly of my mother.”

As soon as he said this, Meng Jinyao looked at her “good son” in shock. Thunder seemed to roll in her mind.

This rebellious son was actually defending her one day?

If she didn’t know his real intentions, she might have thought he had truly turned over a new leaf. Still, she had to admit—he had improved a lot and even knew how to speak like this now.

Perhaps he had always known how. After all, he had been raised by Gu Jingxi as an heir for many years. His studies were decent, and he had managed to please the Old Madam. He wasn’t truly stupid.

All those foolish things he had done before were probably because, in his youthful infatuation, he had fallen hopelessly in love and lost his head. Once he learned his status might be in danger, he immediately sobered up.

Madam Yang had previously been wondering whether this mother and son were really close. Now it seemed they truly were. Otherwise, Gu Xiuming would not have spoken up for Meng Jinyao.

Her face flushed red from embarrassment. How could she possibly allow him to summon the guests?

She hurriedly said, “It was my misunderstanding. There’s no need to invite anyone.”

Then she turned to Meng Jinyao and said gently: “A-Yao, after thinking it over, I really did misunderstand you just now. Don’t blame your aunt. Your mother is your uncle’s only sister, and I’ve always treated her like my own. I was just too anxious.”

Since she had already spoken so humbly, Meng Jinyao did not press the matter further.

She replied lightly, “They say the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother. You are my mother’s elder sister-in-law, so it’s natural for you to worry about her.”

Then her tone suddenly shifted.

“However, Aunt, you must be more careful with your words and actions next time. This time, we didn’t pursue it because we’re family. If it were outsiders, they wouldn’t be so forgiving.”

Madam Yang gave an awkward smile. “You’re right.”

Not wanting to tangle with her further, Meng Jinyao said, “Aunt, my grandmother should be awake by now. We’ll go pay our respects first. Please excuse yourself.”

“All right, go ahead,” Madam Yang replied.

After the family of three had gone far away, Madam Yang snorted angrily.

“Bah! Just because she married into a good family, she thinks she can show off in front of elders!”

Madam Sun had barely slept the night before. Recently, she hadn’t been resting well at all. After spending half the day entertaining guests, she was exhausted and had stepped out for some fresh air—just in time to hear this.

She hurried over. “Sister-in-law, what happened?”

Madam Yang complained, “Sister, your stepdaughter is truly lawless. She relies on marrying into a good family to act arrogantly before elders.”

Madam Sun was stunned. “What did she do now?”

Madam Yang recounted what had happened and concluded angrily, “It makes me furious! Even though we’re not blood-related, I’m still her aunt. How can she speak to me like that?”

Madam Sun’s gaze darkened.

She had once hoped that after that little slut lost Gu Jingxi’s favor and her backing, Gu Xiuming would deal with Meng Jinyao. But seeing how affectionate this mother and son were now was something she had never expected.

Looking at her still-angry sister-in-law, she said gently: “Why bother arguing with her? That little ungrateful wretch—Chengxing is her own brother, yet she wouldn’t even help him ask Marquis Gu to get into Lingshan Academy. She’s long forgotten her own surname.”

Madam Yang sighed regretfully.

She had originally hoped that this bargain niece, after marrying well, could help support the Meng family, and that the Meng family’s revival could in turn help Madam Sun. Who would have thought she was such an ungrateful person?

Madam Sun asked, “By the way, Sister-in-law, will Bojun take part in this year’s autumn examination?”

Bojun was Madam Yang’s eldest legitimate son, born to Madam Sun’s brother. His full name was Sun Bojun. He was eighteen this year and had already obtained the xiucai degree.

Mentioning her son eased Madam Yang’s anger. She smiled.

“Yes, he will. The tutor says that if he performs well, he might even pass and become a juren.”

Madam Sun felt greatly comforted.

If her nephew passed the provincial exam, then succeeded in the metropolitan exam next year and became a jinshi, he could enter officialdom and help her son Chengxing in the future.

Thinking of this, her tone grew gentler.

“That would be wonderful. Even if the tutor says he’s fine, he mustn’t slack off before the exam ends.”

“After the autumn exam, Bojun will get married. You know Old Madam Sun’s situation,” Madam Yang said, looking at Madam Sun hesitantly. “Sister, what do you think…?”

Madam Sun naturally understood.

In recent years, the Yongchang Marquis’s residence had at least relied on Madam Zhou’s dowry to fill financial gaps. But Madam Sun had no such generous dowry and lived far less comfortably.

She used to secretly help her natal family. But now, her own dowry had been used to make up for the money previously taken from Madam Zhou’s dowry, and even that was not enough. She had also taken funds from the household’s public accounts to patch things up.

The Marquis’s residence was now far worse off than when Meng Jinyao was unmarried. Any semblance of dignity was maintained with difficulty.

Under such circumstances, how could she squeeze out any extra silver to support her natal family?