SGEIRS -Chapter 249 Complete Breakdown

On the other side, Old Madam Meng, as the birthday celebrant, was enjoying everyone’s congratulations, smiling so widely that her mouth nearly couldn’t close.

Madam Sun felt dizzy and muddled. Even so, she had no choice but to force herself to entertain the guests with a strained smile. Occasionally, she would lose focus and fail to hear what someone said. When that happened, she simply didn’t rush to respond, waiting for someone else to take over before joining in again. Fortunately, nothing had gone wrong so far.

Meng Jinyu took the young ladies who had come to the banquet to another area to have fun. Meng Chengzhang and Meng Chengxing also led the young gentlemen elsewhere. After all, they were young people and couldn’t really mingle with the elders.

As for the older male guests, Meng Dongyuan was hosting them. Here, only Madam Sun, Old Madam Meng, and the visiting ladies remained, chatting and laughing.

Seeing that most of the guests had arrived, yet her grandson had still not appeared, Old Madam Meng grew anxious. He was her daughter’s only flesh and blood. Her daughter had been her first child, whom she had dearly loved. Loving her daughter, she naturally cherished her grandson as well. Having not seen him for many years, she missed him greatly.

She said to Madam Sun, “Go take a look. See if Yong’an and the others have arrived.” After thinking for a moment, she added, “And check whether A-Yao and her husband are here as well.”

Madam Sun responded and stood up to go out, secretly glad for the chance to take a break. Her head was buzzing, and dealing with so many people was exhausting. In her heart, she complained that her mother-in-law was too concerned with appearances. It wasn’t even a major birthday, yet she insisted on holding such a grand banquet. In the end, it was Madam Sun who had to suffer.

Nanny Qiao, her personal attendant, followed her out.

Unexpectedly, not long after, a shrill scream rang out from outside.

“Ah—!”

The sound was sharp and piercing, filled with terror, as if she had been badly frightened.

Immediately afterward, everyone saw Madam Sun rush back in, her face deathly pale and full of panic, running as if she were fleeing for her life.

All those present were stunned, staring at her in confusion, not knowing what had happened.

Even Old Madam Meng was bewildered by this sudden turn of events. Not knowing what Madam Sun had encountered, she restrained herself from scolding her in front of the guests.

Soon, members of the Luo family and Meng Jinyao’s group entered hurriedly as well. Everyone shifted their gaze to them, but seeing their equally confused expressions, they became even more puzzled.

Meng Jinyao asked gently, “Mother, what’s wrong with you?”

Mother?

Madam Sun came back to her senses slightly. She stopped and turned her head.

She saw Meng Jinyao standing there with a faint smile, dignified and gentle. For a moment, Madam Sun was dazed—especially when she noticed the light-blue dress.

In her mind appeared the image of another woman.

That woman loved light blue. She often wore light-blue dresses, pearl earrings, and had her black hair arranged in a simple bun, adorned with a jade hairpin. She looked modest, gentle, and virtuous—like a proper wife and mother.

Yet Meng Dongyuan had once said that woman was nothing more than pretty, always the same, dull and boring.

Now, looking at the young married woman before her, Madam Sun felt the present figure gradually overlap with the one in her memory. She subconsciously stepped back, the fear on her face deepening.

Seeing this, Meng Jinyao’s smile grew even gentler, and she deliberately slowed her speech.

“What’s wrong with you?”

As she spoke, she stepped toward Madam Sun.

Madam Sun’s face turned even paler. She shook her head repeatedly.

“No… don’t come over!”

She kept retreating. In her panic, she stepped on her skirt and fell to the ground. Seeing that Meng Jinyao did not stop, she scrambled and crawled, trying to escape.

Old Madam Meng saw her daughter-in-law suddenly acting insane and humiliating herself. With a dark expression, she scolded, “Madam Sun, what are you doing?!”

But Madam Sun was completely immersed in her fear, almost possessed. She didn’t hear her mother-in-law at all. She crawled behind a lady, trying to use her as a shield.

Meng Jinyao hurried forward, bent down, and reached out to help her up. Before she could touch her, Madam Sun dodged away, muttering:

“Madam Zhou, don’t blame me. I never thought you’d die in childbirth. I… I only pushed you once. I never meant for you to die…”

Everyone present was stunned again.

Dying in childbirth?

What did that mean?

“Mother, what are you talking about?” Meng Jinyao frowned.

Glancing at the guests and seeing their curious, gossiping expressions, she hurriedly reached out and tried to forcefully pull Madam Sun up.

Madam Sun was terrified out of her wits. She suddenly shoved Meng Jinyao away and screamed, “No! Don’t touch me!”

Meng Jinyao fell to the ground accordingly, staring at the deranged Madam Sun in bewilderment.

Seeing her like this, the maids who wanted to help hesitated and dared not approach.

Chan’er stepped forward at the right moment to help Meng Jinyao up, then reached out to support Madam Sun.

But when Madam Sun saw Chan’er, her pupils shrank sharply.

“T–Third… Third Concubine Du?” she stammered, struggling desperately.

Chan’er knew martial arts and easily restrained her. In a low voice that only the two of them could hear, she said coldly: “Madam Sun, today, Madam and I will take the lives of you and your two children.”

Madam Sun’s face turned ashen. She had long been tortured to the brink of mental collapse. Hearing this, she finally broke completely.

Ignoring all dignity, she dropped to her knees and begged: “Concubine Du, Chengyu was killed by me. Debts and grudges should be settled with the culprit. Take my life instead. But Chengxing is innocent! Please spare my Chengxing!”

Her words shocked everyone.

Old Madam Meng, who had been about to order the maids to drag Madam Sun away, swallowed her words back, her face full of disbelief.

Madam Sun shuffled forward on her knees and grabbed the hem of Meng Jinyao’s skirt, choking with sobs.

“Elder Sister Zhou, I really didn’t know that pushing you once would make you fall. I never imagined you’d die in childbirth from just that fall. I’ll repay you with my life. For the sake of me raising A-Yao, please spare my A-Yu. Please… I beg you…”

Everyone was stunned once more.

A-Yao?

Wasn’t that the eldest Miss Meng, now the Marchioness of Changxing?

And the “Elder Sister Zhou” Madam Sun mentioned—wasn’t she Meng Dongyuan’s first wife, Madam Zhou?

So Madam Zhou’s death in childbirth was caused by Madam Sun?

She murdered her and took her place?

And later even murdered a concubine’s son?

The gentle and virtuous Madam Sun was actually a venomous woman with two lives on her hands?

Meng Jinyao stared at her in shock, trembling.

“Y–You… what did you say?”

Tears streamed down Madam Sun’s face as she confessed: “Elder Sister Zhou, I regret it. I shouldn’t have harmed you because of that heartless man, Meng Dongyuan. I really didn’t mean it. I never thought you’d die. I was blinded by greed. I was wrong. Please, let Chengxing and A-Yu go. I’ll die to atone for my sins. I beg you…”

Meng Jinyao’s face tightened. Her eyes reddened, filled with hatred.

She glared at Madam Sun and demanded angrily, “My mother was killed by you? And Chengyu—he too was killed by you?!”

Looking at the face so similar to Madam Zhou’s, Madam Sun became dazed again.

“I was wrong… I was wrong… I really was wrong…”

Suddenly, Meng Jinyao turned toward the stunned Old Madam Meng. Her thoughts raced, and inspiration struck.

She spoke first, seizing the initiative: “Grandmother, you always said my mother was killed by me, that Chengyu was also killed by me. You branded me as a jinx. So it turns out you were just covering up Madam Sun’s crimes.”

She laughed bitterly, tears streaming down.

“Grandmother, I know you don’t like me. But I never imagined you would place two human lives on my shoulders just to protect Madam Sun.”