SGEIRS -Chapter 445 Second Young Master Meng

Seeing her in such a sour mood, Meng Jinyao completely ignored it and, as if nothing had happened, said, “Second Younger Sister, today is your happy day. Allow me to first congratulate you on finding a suitable husband. May you and your second brother-in-law live in harmony, enjoy a long and happy marriage, and have children soon.”

Hearing her blessings, Meng Jinyu felt nothing but biting sarcasm. She was a marquis’s wife, recently granted the third-rank noble title, now officially a titled lady. Yet she herself was marrying a mere merchant. Clearly, this was Meng Jinyao flaunting her status and mocking her.

Meng Jinyu asked coldly, “Are you here to make fun of me?”

Meng Jinyao didn’t indulge her: “If Second Younger Sister thinks so, then so be it.”

At this, Meng Jinyu froze, clearly not expecting such a response.

Meng Jinyao paid no mind to what she thought. She gave Qingqiu a subtle glance and then said, “Today you are marrying, so I’ve prepared a small gift. I don’t know if Second Younger Sister will like it, but I hope you won’t disdain it.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Qingqiu stepped forward and set down a wooden box in her hands.

Meng Jinyu didn’t look at the gift, her gaze dark as she glared at Meng Jinyao and snapped, “Take your things back! Who cares about your congratulatory gift? Clearly, you have ill intentions!”

“The gift has been delivered. How it is used is up to Second Younger Sister,” Meng Jinyao replied dismissively, unwilling to argue, then turned to her maids: “Chan’er, Qingqiu, let’s go.”

With that, Meng Jinyao left without looking back.

Meng Jinyu was furious, feeling like she had punched cotton instead of someone solid. If Meng Jinyao had argued with her just a little, she wouldn’t be this angry. She ordered her maid, “Qing’er, throw out the things she brought—don’t dirty my floor.”

Qing’er was taken aback, clearly not expecting such extremity from her mistress. She stepped forward, picked up the wooden box, opened it, and looked inside. Then, in a sincere tone, she advised, “Second Miss, Eldest Miss sent a pair of jade bracelets. They look fine and are worth some silver. You are marrying into the Deng family and, after three days, will go to Yangzhou with your husband. Who knows what the situation will be there? A bride’s dowry is important. If you don’t like these bracelets, you can pawn them later for silver.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyu thought of her own dowry list—it was meager and not much of value.

She had complained to her grandmother, but her grandmother said the Meng family was not what it used to be and asked her to be understanding. She said that marrying into the Deng family meant she wouldn’t lack food or clothing. Many girls married into wealthy households and didn’t lack necessities, but without a substantial dowry, they had no confidence in their in-laws and would still be short on money.

Just perfect—the Meng family sold her at a good price but didn’t even give her a respectable dowry. She didn’t know if this was her father’s and grandmother’s idea, or if Madam Dong had stirred things up.

At this point, she couldn’t quarrel over silver. Taking a deep breath and narrowing her eyes, she endured the humiliation and replied, “Let’s accept it for now. Today is a joyous occasion; it would be unlucky to throw away a gift.”

Qing’er nodded in agreement. As the accompanying maid, she naturally wanted what was best for her mistress. Even if she later became the second wife of her mistress’s husband in the Deng household, she would still belong to her mistress, and her bond remained in her mistress’s hands.

Meanwhile, Meng Jinyao had not gone far from Meng Jinyu’s boudoir before overhearing some guests whispering:

“Is the Sun family not here today? I haven’t seen anyone from the Sun family.”

“What would they even come for?”

“Although Madam Sun was dismissed, Second Miss Meng is still their niece. When a niece marries, and they are in the capital, shouldn’t they come for a wedding drink or send a gift?”

“The Sun family doesn’t even acknowledge Madam Sun, let alone their niece. Madam Sun ran headfirst into the Sun household gate and died, bringing misfortune. The Sun family was furious. Second Miss Meng and Master Meng refused to handle her body. The Sun family had no choice but to take it themselves and bury her elsewhere.”

“I’d say Master Meng and Second Miss Meng are heartless. Madam Sun wronged others, but never them. They didn’t even take care of their mother’s body.”

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Bad mother, bad children. Look at Eldest Miss Meng—she’s good, and Second Young Master Meng is also virtuous. They weren’t born to Madam Sun.”

“No wonder the Meng family married Second Miss Meng far away, to a merchant husband. A merchant has lower status, so she wouldn’t be looked down on. If it were a family of equal standing, no one would have married her.”

“Yes, enough of that. Let’s talk about something else.”

…

Meng Jinyao stood there, watching the two slowly walk away, and quietly said, “They got one thing wrong.”

Qingqiu asked, “Madam, what did they get wrong?”

Meng Jinyao replied, “It’s not just the mother who’s bad—the father isn’t much better either.”

Qingqiu nodded in agreement, finding it reasonable.

About half an hour later, the sound of drums and gongs came from ahead—the Deng family had arrived to fetch the bride. Everyone caught their first glimpse of the Meng family’s second young son-in-law.

Deng Yuanqing was a young man of about twenty, dressed in a bright red wedding robe. Tall and slender, handsome, and poised, he looked every bit the scholar.

On closer inspection, his phoenix-shaped eyes revealed the shrewdness typical of a merchant—a clever man indeed.

Meng Dongyuan introduced his eldest daughter and son-in-law: “Yuanqing, this is your eldest sister, and this is your eldest brother-in-law.”

Deng Yuanqing looked at the couple, assessed them politely with a single glance, and cupped his hands in greeting: “Yuanqing pays respects to Eldest Sister and Eldest Brother-in-law.”

Gu Jingxi nodded in acknowledgment.

Meng Jinyao politely praised, “I’ve long heard that the elders in your family hold Second Brother-in-law in high regard. Seeing you today, you truly are a remarkable man. You and Second Younger Sister are a match made in heaven.”

Deng Yuanqing replied, “Eldest Sister flatters me.”

Meng Jinyao said gently, “The auspicious hour has arrived. Go quickly to fetch the bride—don’t delay the timing.”

Deng Yuanqing, seeing that there was plenty of time ahead, didn’t try to be overly familiar. He acknowledged and followed the servants to Meng Jinyu’s boudoir to fetch her.

Meng Jinyu, without causing a scene, immediately covered her face with the red bridal veil. Amidst the festive commotion, she left the boudoir to bid farewell to her parents, then was carried to the bridal sedan.

Meng Chengzhang was a year older than Meng Chengxing, so by custom he should have carried her. But Meng Jinyu didn’t get along with him, so she had her full-blooded younger brother, Meng Chengxing, carry her instead.

Meng Chengxing was happy about this at first, but after carrying her a dozen steps, he regretted agreeing. Yet he couldn’t let others think him weak.

Thus, the pampered, weak thirteen-year-old boy gritted his teeth and carried his fifteen-year-old sister, step by step out the door. Finally, he couldn’t help but whisper, “Second Sister, why are you so heavy?”

Which young lady could be happy hearing that?

Meng Jinyu, already in a sour mood, was now even more furious. If it weren’t for the occasion, she would have jumped down and scolded her brother thoroughly. How dare he call her heavy?

Once Meng Chengxing had placed her in the bridal sedan, he breathed a sigh of relief, sweating from the early winter exertion, sweat beading on his forehead.