SGEIRS -Chapter 475 The Timing Isn’t Right

When Meng Jinyao heard this, she immediately sensed something was wrong and asked, “Your second brother has always been sensible. How could he possibly have gone against our elders?”

“If he were truly sensible, would he even dare to contradict our elders?”

Old Madam Meng’s face was stern, as if she were angry at her grandson’s lack of sense. When she looked at Meng Jinyao, her expression softened, and she said, “A-Yao, you’ve come back rarely. Let’s not dwell on unpleasant matters. Let’s, as grandmother and granddaughter, have a proper talk.”

But Meng Jinyao didn’t follow her lead. She replied gently, “Grandmother, even if second brother really did something wrong, he’s sick now. As his elder sister, I’ve come back and should go see him. We’ll have plenty of time to talk later.”

Old Madam Meng frowned, disapprovingly, “He’s ill, and you’re pregnant. What if you catch something from him?”

Meng Jinyao replied, “It’s fine. I’ll just keep my distance.” Saying this, she stood up, not waiting for Old Madam Meng’s consent, ready to leave.

Gu Jingxi also stood and offered his attentive support, clearly intending to accompany her to see the sick Meng Chengzhang.

Seeing this, Meng Dongyuan felt frustrated. He had originally wanted to have a proper talk with his son-in-law, but now the son-in-law was heading straight to see his son. Everyone envied him for having Gu Jingxi as a son-in-law, but only he knew the frustration: Gu Jingxi didn’t treat him as an elder at all, and he couldn’t assert his authority in front of him. He felt suppressed by an invisible pressure.

Old Madam Meng, seeing the couple leave just like that, was furious. Not caring that her grandson was still there, she scolded Madam Dong, “Do you have any sense at all? You’re in your twenties! Don’t you know what words should or shouldn’t be spoken?”

Madam Dong looked innocent. “Mother, A-Yao is family. She asked about Chengzhang, and as your daughter-in-law, I told her honestly. What’s the problem?”

Old Madam Meng said, “Their sibling bond is strong, and they’ve always misunderstood the elders in the family. By saying this, you might have led her to think wrongly—that we, as elders, treated Chengzhang unfairly.”

Madam Dong was unconcerned. “Mother, A-Yao is reasonable. How could she think like that? Don’t overthink it. I’ll go check on how the lunch preparations are going.”

Watching everyone leave, Old Madam Meng’s frustration grew. Ever since that wretched girl married into the Gu family, the Meng household had not been at peace. She had long said that girl was a jinx to the family, yet the old man treated her like a treasure.

Meng Dongyuan tried to soothe her, “Mother, don’t be angry. Huiyun isn’t familiar with A-Yao; they’ve met only a few times. How could she know A-Yao’s temperament? What she said just now wasn’t thought through.”

Hearing her son defend his wife, Old Madam Meng was even more annoyed. In a low voice, she said, “If Chengzhang exaggerates and complains later, and that girl comes again to demand an explanation, with our son-in-law present, what will he think of the Meng family?”

Meng Dongyuan didn’t see it as a big problem. “Mother, you only want our son-in-law to help Chengxing get into Lingshan Academy. If he’s willing, he helps; if not, so be it. It’s not a big deal.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Meng glanced at him and thought nostalgically of her late youngest son. In many ways, her eldest son never matched his younger brother’s cleverness.

Meanwhile, Meng Chengzhang lay sickly in bed. The ancestral hall was cold, and after staying there all night, he developed a high fever. It only subsided that morning, leaving him weak and listless.

Hearing that his elder sister and brother-in-law had arrived, he worried she might be concerned and asked the young servant at his side, “Do I look bad?”

The servant glanced at his face and replied truthfully, “Second Young Master, your face is pale.”

Meng Chengzhang was about to speak when he saw his elder sister and brother-in-law being shown in by another servant. He quickly sat up and forced a smile. “Big sister, brother-in-law.”

Seeing her brother smile but looking weak—his pale face and slightly dry lips showing the aftermath of a high fever—Meng Jinyao felt a pang of concern. She asked, “Second brother, how are you feeling now?”

Meng Chengzhang shook his head slightly. “I’m fine. Big sister, don’t worry.”

Meng Jinyao waved her hand, signaling the two servants to leave. Once they had gone, she asked, “Second brother, what exactly happened on New Year’s Eve?”

Not wanting her to worry, he said, “It wasn’t much, just a small argument. Grandmother got angry and made me kneel in the ancestral hall.”

Meng Jinyao thought for a moment, then asked, “Second brother, does this have anything to do with me? What really happened? If you don’t tell me, I can ask mother and find out myself.”

Meng Chengzhang was momentarily stunned, then told her about that night: “Grandmother told me to tell you to hint to brother-in-law, so that Third Brother could get into Lingshan Academy through connections. I didn’t agree. Grandmother said I was jealous and didn’t want him to succeed, that brother-in-law should help me, but I didn’t want Third Brother to get in.”

Meng Jinyao frowned. “So besides her little grandson, anyone else who enters Lingshan Academy must do so through connections.”

“In Grandmother’s mind, Third Brother is the most outstanding among our siblings. It’s not surprising she thinks that way,” Meng Chengzhang said, then changed the subject. “By the way, Big Sister, Mother is over a month pregnant. It was diagnosed on New Year’s Eve by the Ling family doctor.”

Meng Jinyao was slightly surprised, then nodded. “A child is good. Father is unreliable, and Grandmother is like that. If she has a child of her own, life will have hope.”

Looking at the sickly Meng Chengzhang, she said meaningfully, “Second brother, endure a little longer. The timing isn’t right yet.”

Meng Chengzhang looked at her blankly, not understanding.

Meng Jinyao didn’t explain further. Her mother’s revenge was only half complete, Madam Sun was dead, but her father, one of the killers, was still at large. Next year would be the triennial autumn imperial exam. There couldn’t be any mourning that might delay her brother’s exam. Meanwhile, the stepmother was pregnant and needed to take care of herself; any illness in the family would burden her.

If Second Brother’s exams went well, he could pass the autumn exam next year and the spring exam the year after, already at the right age to marry. Whether or not he passed, preparations for marriage would need to start. So it was better to wait; the next few years weren’t a good time.

She said, “Second brother, brother-in-law says that if you study diligently and don’t slack off, your chances of passing next year’s autumn exam are very high.”

Meng Chengzhang was surprised and looked at Gu Jingxi. He hadn’t expected his brother-in-law to have such confidence in him. He planned to take the exam next year with a try-it-out attitude; if he passed, he would take the spring exam the following year. If he failed, he would study even harder.

Gu Jingxi lightly patted his shoulder in encouragement. “Study hard, stay humble and calm. Next year should bring good results.”

Meng Chengzhang’s confidence grew, and he nodded repeatedly. “Big sister, brother-in-law, I’ll study hard.”

Meng Jinyao nodded. Seeing him so weak, she said, “Second brother, rest well. We’ll be leaving now.”

Meng Chengzhang didn’t try to stop them. After all, he truly had no energy and was a bit drowsy.