SGEIRS -Chapter 324 The New Stepmother

April 8th.

Eighth Lord of Yongchang, Meng Dongyuan, was marrying his third wife, and the Meng family’s relatives and friends came to celebrate with a wedding banquet. Since the household currently had no matriarch to oversee affairs, and the legitimate second daughter, Meng Jinyu, was inexperienced and not up to the task, the responsibility of managing the banquet fell entirely to Old Madam Meng herself.

Today, the Yongchang residence was filled with joyous celebration, as if the shadow cast last September had never existed.

Meng Dongyuan, the groom, was busy attending to matters, while Old Madam Meng energetically welcomed the female guests. Meng Jinyu assisted by entertaining the female guests of her own age. Meng Chengzhang, Meng Chengxing, and the household steward handled the male guests.

A father taking a new wife and a mother remarrying—these were major life events that children could not stop. Meng Jinyao felt no inner turbulence. When she and Gu Jingxi arrived at the Meng residence to attend the banquet, many guests had already arrived, making the house lively and bustling.

The couple first went to pay respects to their elders.

Seeing them, Old Madam Meng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although her eldest granddaughter could be ungrateful at times, in crucial moments she could uphold appearances. With the couple present at this event, the Meng family’s dignity was preserved. Earlier, Madam had inquired whether the couple had arrived, and her heart had been uneasy when they were not in sight.

“Granddaughter pays respects to Grandmother.”

“Grandson-in-law pays respects to Grandmother.”

In front of the guests, Meng Jinyao and her husband maintained appearances, showing full respect to Old Madam Meng, as if there had never been any discord between them.

Old Madam Meng responded kindly, “No need for formalities, please sit and speak.”

Upon seeing that the eldest sister and her husband had arrived, Meng Chengzhang and Meng Chengxing went to greet them.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Gu Jingxi was about to leave the rear courtyard to join the other male guests in the front courtyard.

“Chengxing, make sure to attend properly to your eldest brother-in-law,” said Old Madam Meng, giving her most beloved youngest grandson a meaningful glance. By cultivating a good relationship with the eldest granddaughter’s husband, he could benefit in the future.

Meng Chengxing understood his grandmother’s intention but felt intimidated by this brother-in-law and dared not try to get close, always keeping a respectful distance.

Meng Chengzhang, on the other hand, handled the situation with ease, neither servile nor overbearing. Gu Jingxi also treated Meng Chengzhang noticeably more kindly.

The rear courtyard was filled with female guests, but today, the highest-status attendees were Meng Jinyao and her husband. In previous visits, people had paid little attention to Meng Jinyao, showing more warmth toward Meng Jinyu. Now, the attention had shifted to Meng Jinyao.

Ever since the incident last September, Meng Jinyu realized she was no longer favored. Others, influenced by her mother’s position, looked at her with prejudice. Her younger brother, Meng Chengxing, was far less affected by this, and for the first time, she wished she had been born a boy.

After Meng Jinyao had dismissed the guests surrounding her, finally enjoying a moment of peace, Meng Jinyu slowly approached and whispered, “Big sister seems very pleased with yourself?”

Caught off guard, Meng Jinyao looked up at her, not understanding what kind of mischief her sister was up to, and replied casually, “If second sister thinks so, then so be it.”

Meng Jinyu scoffed, disdainfully remarking, “Your success today is only thanks to a man. What’s there to be proud of? One day, when you grow old and lose your charm, brother-in-law probably won’t spare a glance for you. Father loved my mother dearly, but when she aged and lost her beauty, his heart was taken by a young, beautiful concubine.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao smiled indifferently. “Second sister, life is short. Enjoy the present and make the most of it. No one can predict the future. At least for now, I can still rely on this face to win your brother-in-law’s favor, can’t I?”

Meng Jinyu sneered, “Relying on looks will never last.”

Meng Jinyao was unbothered, replying calmly, “Second sister, you’ve always had lofty ambitions and considerable talent. You can rely on your abilities to live well. Just make sure not to rely solely on your looks to please others, like I do.”

Meng Jinyu’s expression faltered slightly. “You—”

Meng Jinyao ignored her, turning to her maid, “Qingqiu, Ningdong, I’m tired. Let’s go rest in that pavilion over there.”

Ningdong frowned, “Madam, second young lady speaks too harshly. The Marquis doesn’t only like you for your looks.”

Meng Jinyao paid little attention. “She’s convinced herself of what she believes. It’s useless to argue. No point in wasting words. Besides, today is not the right time to quarrel. I cannot risk disrupting Father’s wedding and being deemed unfilial.”

At dusk, the sounds of celebration came from outside—gongs and drums signaling the groom’s arrival with the bride.

The auspicious hour was approaching, and all guests prepared to witness the ceremony.

Soon, everyone saw Meng Dongyuan, beaming with joy, and the bride holding opposite ends of the red silk cloth, walking slowly and gracefully into the hall.

As the wedding assistant announced, “The auspicious hour has arrived,” the ceremony reached its climax.

“First, bow to Heaven and Earth!”

“Second, bow to your elders!”

“Couple bows to each other!”

“Rite completed, send them to the bridal chamber!”

Amid cheers and congratulations, the newlyweds were led to the bridal chamber. Male guests stopped at the rear courtyard, but female guests were allowed to follow, curious about the bride. Meng Jinyao and her sister went along.

The bridal chamber was crowded and lively.

Meng Dongyuan, marrying for the third time, knew the procedure but still followed the wedding assistant’s instructions step by step.

When it came to lifting the red veil, everyone held their breath, watching as Meng Dongyuan lifted the red silk-covered scale bar and slowly unveiled the bride’s face.

Although Ms. Dong was twenty-five, she was still attractive: an oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, phoenix eyes, rosy cheeks, cherry lips, fair skin, and the maturity of a married woman rather than a young girl. Her demeanor was gentle, with a scholarly air.

As a second-time bride, Ms. Dong had none of the shyness of a newlywed girl. She looked up at her husband with a faint smile, exuding the charm of a mature woman.

Meng Dongyuan stared in admiration. Though he had taken young, beautiful concubines before, they had always seemed lacking. Now, seeing his new wife, he understood what had been missing.

Meng Jinyao was not surprised by Ms. Dong’s beauty—she had expected it. Otherwise, her father would not have married a twice-divorced woman. Judging by her father’s expression, he was very satisfied.

For Meng Jinyu, seeing her stepmother for the first time and then noticing her father’s reaction made her heart drop. A sense of crisis arose, and she instinctively glanced at Meng Jinyao standing beside her.

This stepmother had already captured their father’s heart. She also bore a striking resemblance in temperament to Meng Jinyao’s mother—both gentle, scholarly beauties. Meng Jinyao had seen a portrait of her own mother, which she had treasured before it was destroyed, and the resemblance was unmistakable.