SGEIRS -Chapter 289 A Vicious Mother-in-Law

After the banquet ended, the guests gradually dispersed.

After bidding farewell to Princess Jingning, Meng Jinyao went to rejoin her family and prepared to return home with them.

Today was the wedding of Official Song’s daughter. The Changxing Marquisate had also been invited. Except for Old Madam Gu, who rarely went out, Madam Jiang, who was heavily pregnant and inconvenient to travel, and Gu Xiuwen, who was still studying at the academy and had not yet returned for the holidays, everyone else had come to attend the celebration.

Not only the Changxing Marquisate, but also the Marquis Wu’an’s Residence—the family of Gu Xuanyi’s husband—had been invited.

When Madam Zhang saw the Madam of the Marquis Wu’an’s Residence and her own daughter together, and noticed how harmoniously the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were getting along in public, she found no opportunity to speak up for her daughter. Unless she saw her daughter being mistreated, there was nothing she could say.

Seeing this, Madam Zhang could only pretend nothing was wrong and exchange pleasantries with her in-law. Before parting, she said, “Dear in-law, Xuanyi has been spoiled by me since childhood. If she ever does anything wrong, please feel free to tell me. I will certainly discipline her properly.”

Madam Wu’an understood what Madam Zhang meant. Even if Xuanyi made mistakes, it was ultimately her mother’s responsibility. She glanced at her daughter-in-law, saw her standing with her head slightly lowered and an obedient expression, and replied with a smile, “What are you saying? Xuanyi is filial and sensible. She suits me very well. I should be thanking you for raising such a good daughter and giving me such a wonderful daughter-in-law.”

“That’s good. I’m just afraid she might be immature and cause you trouble,” Madam Zhang said. Then she looked at her daughter with heartache.

Her two sons had never made her worry like this, yet her daughter had been willful and ended up marrying into such a family. It made Madam Zhang anxious and unable to feel at ease.

Gu Xuanyi felt her anger rising as she listened to her mother-in-law praise her.

Just yesterday, her mother-in-law had criticized her for having a bad temper, told her to correct herself, and said no other daughter-in-law was as unfilial as she was.

What made her feel even more aggrieved was that when she told her husband about it, he only said that juniors should yield to elders. Being scolded a little wouldn’t hurt. She should be tolerant and not argue with elders, or else she would truly be unfilial.

After exchanging a few more words, Madam Zhang said goodbye and went to join her sisters-in-law.

After Madam Zhang left, Madam Wu’an looked at her daughter-in-law.

This daughter-in-law had been her second choice. She wasn’t very satisfied, but at least Xuanyi came from the Changxing Marquisate and had the Marquis as her uncle.

Under her scrutinizing gaze, Gu Xuanyi felt her scalp tighten. She said gently, “Mother, shall we go back? My husband and the others should be waiting at the gate.”

Madam Wu’an responded with a faint “Mm.”

Seeing her cold attitude—so different from the friendliness she had shown toward her mother—Gu Xuanyi felt uneasy. Had she really angered her so badly yesterday even though she hadn’t talked back?

Madam Wu’an said again, “Xuanyi, in front of your mother, I gave you face and didn’t mention your disrespect toward elders. I even spoke well of you before my son. But you still need to correct your temperament.”

Gu Xuanyi didn’t dare argue and could only nod.

“Yesterday was my fault. Thank you, Mother, for being magnanimous and not holding it against me.”

Seeing her behave obediently, Madam Wu’an finally smiled.

“Let’s go.”

Gu Xuanyi followed behind her, her anger rising again.

Yesterday, her hand had been hurting, so she didn’t want to peel chestnuts. Yet her mother-in-law had accused her of being unfilial and ill-tempered, saying she wouldn’t even help elders peel chestnuts and was throwing a tantrum.

As a junior, she dared not protest and could only endure the pain and continue peeling.

Who would dare bear the label of “unfilial”?

If word got out that she wouldn’t even peel chestnuts for her mother-in-law, people’s spit alone would drown her.

She truly had terrible luck—to run into such a vicious mother-in-law.

In mid-to-late December, as the New Year approached, the residence became busy again.

There were purchases to be made, preparations for the new year, and exchanges of gifts and favors with other families.

Madam Zhang managed the household accounts and was extremely busy handling affairs with the stewards in the reception hall. Madam Chen, who merely assisted her, had it much easier.

While her two sisters-in-law were busy, Meng Jinyao spent her days in Weirui Pavilion making tea and reading, enjoying her leisure time.

Her days were exceptionally comfortable.

While she was deeply absorbed in her book, Qingqiu came over with a bowl of medicine and said softly, “Madam, it’s time to take your medicine.”

The bitter smell reached her nose, and Meng Jinyao frowned instinctively. She stared at the dark liquid in the bowl for a long while before putting down her book.

Resigned, she took the bowl and drank it in one go. The urge to vomit surged up again.

Seeing this, Ningdong quickly fed her a piece of preserved fruit to suppress the bitterness and keep her from throwing up. Otherwise, the medicine would be wasted.

Qingqiu took the empty bowl and asked worriedly, “Madam, are you all right?”

After eating the fruit, the sweetness dispersed most of the bitterness. She felt much better and shook her head slightly.

“I’m fine.”

Ningdong looked at her with heartache and said, “It’s fortunate you didn’t take over the household affairs back then. Otherwise, you’d be exhausted from work, mentally drained, and still drinking medicine. With your weak health, it would all be in vain. Now you only manage the Marquis’s private assets and your own dowry. You have plenty of free time to recuperate properly.”

Meng Jinyao smiled.

“I didn’t think that much. I just felt my past life was too tense. I didn’t want to exhaust myself anymore. A life of leisure suits me.”

Just then, Xiazhu came in to report, “Madam, Fourth Young Master has returned, and Second Young Master Meng has come as well.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao’s eyes lit up with joy.

She knew the academy would be on break around this time and hadn’t expected her younger brother to come so quickly.

When Meng Chengzhang arrived at Weirui Pavilion, he saw his elder sister about to go out. She hurried toward him and asked after his health.

“Don’t worry, Elder Sister. I’m doing well.”

She nodded.

“That’s good. It’s cold outside. Let’s go inside and talk.”

He caught a faint medicinal scent from her and immediately frowned.

“Elder Sister, are you sick?”

She paused, then replied lightly, “No. If I were sick, how would I have any energy? I’ve always been sensitive to cold. The doctor said I lack qi and blood, so I’m just taking some tonics.”

Only then did he relax.

After entering the room, he said proudly, “Elder Sister, I got top grade in this year’s annual exam. The teacher said my level is good enough to take next year’s academy exam.”

Meng Jinyao beamed.

“If your teacher says so, then give it a try. Who knows? Our family might produce the top scholar next year.”

He smiled modestly.

“Elder Sister, being top is probably unlikely, but I should be able to pass and become a xiucai.”

She replied, “You’ll only be fourteen next year. Becoming a xiucai at fourteen is already excellent.”

While chatting, she learned that he hadn’t even gone home yet and had come to see her first. She felt deeply moved.

Thinking of their family, she added, “By the way, Father is preparing to remarry. He’s currently looking for a stepmother for us. You should prepare yourself mentally.”

Meng Chengzhang was startled.

“It hasn’t been that long since everything happened, and he’s already looking for a new wife?”

She nodded.

“Madam Sun died in September. He hired a matchmaker in October.”

Hearing this, Meng Chengzhang fell silent.

His father and Madam Sun had been married for over ten years and seemed affectionate. Yet in the end, there was not even a trace of sentiment left.

Such coldness and self-interest were completely opposite to their grandfather’s character.