SGEIRS -Chapter 418 Falling into a Wolf’s Den

As soon as the words left her mouth, Princess Jingning’s face flushed red. She shot her a shy glare, opened her mouth as if to speak, but in the end swallowed her words, afraid that the two of them would tease her again.

Seeing her lowering her head bashfully, Meng Jinyao refused to let her off and asked with a smile, “A-Yan, didn’t you used to get so angry whenever Lord Shen was mentioned that your teeth itched? How did you end up agreeing to marry him?”

Song Xinning also teased, “That’s right. Didn’t you say before that he was petty and vindictive? So why did you agree to marry such a stingy man?”

Princess Jingning blushed even harder and stammered, “Th-that was before. Back then, I didn’t know him well and misunderstood him.” Her face grew hotter as she spoke, and her voice grew softer. “Actually, he’s quite good. My father and mother also think he’s decent.”

Seeing her lovestruck expression, Meng Jinyao and Song Xinning exchanged a smile.

Princess Jingning continued, “He’s the legitimate eldest son. After marrying him, I’ll have to manage the household and handle social relations with all the families. My mother is actually worried that I won’t do well. She never planned to marry me to another family’s eldest son to be their main wife. She only thought about marrying me to a second or youngest legitimate son.”

Song Xinning said gently, “It’s fine. You’ll learn little by little. I also learned slowly. Look at me now—I’m doing pretty well, aren’t I? I haven’t made any major mistakes. When you get married, the Princess Consort will surely arrange some reliable nannies to help you.”

Princess Jingning nodded.

Meng Jinyao suddenly asked, “A-Yan, can Madam Shen, the Duchess, really not last until next spring?”

“How could that be?” Princess Jingning smiled faintly, her tone meaningful. “She’s such a good person. A kind-hearted elder like her will surely live to be a hundred.”

As soon as she said this, Meng Jinyao and Song Xinning exchanged glances and understood the hidden meaning.

Madam Shen’s illness must have been caused by Young Lord Shen. And he would not let her die—only keep her half-alive.

That was actually quite good. It allowed her to continue occupying the position of Duchess, preventing Duke Shen, who was not yet forty, from taking another wife after her death.

For a mother, it was normal to seek benefits for her own children. But harming others and seizing what belonged to them for one’s own children—that made her a vicious woman.

Princess Jingning sighed helplessly. “She’s obsessed with having another son, almost like she’s possessed. Now that she’s sick, she can barely speak clearly, yet she still talks about trying hard to have another son once she recovers.”

Meng Jinyao said, “That’s good. Having hope helps people live longer.”

Princess Jingning nodded in agreement. “Yes, it’s good. I’m just afraid she’ll find it too painful and won’t want to live anymore.”

Yongchang Marquis’s Residence

When the Meng family learned that their eldest son-in-law had recovered from his illness and that their eldest daughter was pregnant—with a fifty percent chance of carrying a boy—they were overjoyed.

If it was a son, he would be the legitimate eldest heir and inherit the title in the future.

Their blood-related grandson would become the future Heir of Marquis Changxing, and after the son-in-law passed away, he would be the next Marquis.

A biological grandson was very different from an adopted one with no blood ties.

Meng Dongyuan was extremely excited. But when he thought about his poor relationship with his eldest daughter, it was like being splashed with cold water.

It felt as though immense fortune had waved at him, only to disappear in the blink of an eye.

He regretted having indulged Madam Sun in the past and resented her for tormenting his daughter, causing her to cut off contact with her natal family. She had not even sent word about her pregnancy—they had heard it from others.

Seeing her son like this, Old Madam Meng said irritably, “You’re her father. If she dares give you attitude, she’s unfilial. Who cares whether she wants to be close to us? As long as we try to be close to her, she won’t dare shut us out. Otherwise, she’ll be drowned in criticism.”

Turning to her daughter-in-law, she said firmly, “You’ll go to the Marquis’s residence to see her tomorrow. You’re her mother. A mother caring for her daughter is only natural. Let’s see if that unfilial girl dares to shut her own mother out.”

Madam Dong felt troubled. Before marrying in, she thought the eldest daughter only had grudges against Madam Sun, not the Meng family. But after entering the family, she realized the girl disliked almost everyone in the Meng household and even harbored resentment—except for Second Young Master Chengzhang, who had been registered under the original wife Madam Zhou’s name.

With her mother-in-law’s command, she dared not refuse and replied obediently, “I’ll go to visit her tomorrow. Since she’s pregnant, her natal family should show concern.”

Old Madam Meng nodded in satisfaction and said to her son, “A-Yu’s marriage should also be settled soon. Don’t drag it out and cause trouble. Even if she’s unwilling, there’s nothing to be done. With a mother like hers, her reputation is damaged. A high marriage is impossible, and even a well-matched one is unlikely. She can only marry down. That young man may be a merchant, but he’s handsome.”

Meng Dongyuan nodded. “Mother, I was thinking of settling it in the next few days.”

Madam Dong said nothing. The stepdaughter was distant and often made things difficult for her. She had no intention of playing the good person and offending both her husband and mother-in-law.

She also understood that they valued the wealthy merchant’s money. Otherwise, marrying a scholar would have been possible. How could a noble daughter of an marquis’s house end up marrying a merchant, given that merchants had the lowest status in this dynasty?

After leaving Rongfu Hall, Meng Dongyuan said gently, “Wife, that rebellious girl A-Yao has been defiant since childhood and never listens. When you visit her tomorrow, if she dares give you attitude, tell me. I’ll teach her a lesson and stand up for you.”

Madam Dong glanced at him. After months of marriage, she knew exactly what kind of man he was—greedy for profit and afraid of the strong.

In the past, he might have dared to reprimand his eldest daughter. But now, with her powerful husband backing her, how could he dare?

She smiled softly and said, “Husband, the eldest young lady always seemed cultured and reasonable. How would she give me attitude? Perhaps you misunderstood her before.”

Meng Dongyuan had nothing to say and only replied, “Then please persuade her properly. What daughter stays angry with her father and grandmother for so long? We didn’t know Madam Sun was such a person. When she asked for a divorce, I agreed and gave Madam Sun a letter of repudiation. Yet she still resents us.”

He sighed deeply, as if burdened with countless unspeakable grievances.

“I understand, husband,” Madam Dong replied.

On the surface, she agreed, but in her heart she knew there was no point in persuading anyone.

She could see that her mother-in-law wanted the eldest daughter to support the natal family, yet she disliked her and felt no genuine affection. No wonder the girl had grown distant.

After marrying into the Meng family, Madam Dong felt as though she had fallen straight into a wolf’s den.