SGEIRS -Chapter 477 Taking a Maidservant

Around noon, Meng Dongyuan and the other two left the study and went to the hall for lunch.

After lunch, Meng Jinyao sat idly for a while before finding an excuse to return with Gu Jingxi, without lingering any longer.

Once the couple had left, Old Madam Meng asked her son in a gentle voice, “You three spent so long in the study talking. Did you ask your eldest son-in-law to help with connections so that Chengxing could get into Lingshan Academy?”

Meng Dongyuan’s expression faltered for a moment, then he replied truthfully, “Mother, I haven’t had the chance to bring it up yet.”

Old Madam Meng frowned, her tone sharp with disapproval. “You spent so long in the study and didn’t have the chance to mention it? Then what did you talk about all that time?”

Hearing his mother’s questioning tone, Meng Dongyuan felt a bit uncomfortable.

She then asked her youngest grandson, “Chengxing, what did your father and your eldest brother-in-law talk about?”

Meng Chengxing, knowing the art of speaking, answered honestly while subtly tattling on his father to his grandmother: “Father showed his calligraphy to my eldest brother-in-law. After seeing it, he praised Father, and they ended up talking about calligraphy, so they forgot about this matter. But it’s not Father’s fault—it’s because my eldest brother-in-law likes calligraphy, so Father shared his insights.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Meng was displeased with her son. Her eldest was indeed no match for the cleverness of her youngest. Praised a little and he became dazed, forgetting the important matter entirely. No wonder her late husband used to say the eldest was unreliable. Now she finally understood just how undependable her eldest son was.

Meng Dongyuan, hearing his youngest son speak with a hint of grievance, felt stung. He immediately launched into a scolding: “How dare you feel wronged? If you weren’t useless, would your grandmother and I be so worried? Can’t you be more like your second brother, study hard, and pass the exams on your own? Even if you can’t pass, you could still become a Xiucai; I’m not asking you to be top of the exams like your second brother.”

As soon as he finished, Old Madam Meng turned to her youngest grandson, and seeing him hang his head, felt a pang of sympathy. She quickly defended him: “You always say how outstanding Chengzhang is, but look where he studies! If Chengxing had studied at Lingshan Academy, he wouldn’t have failed last year’s exam. And now, with such a good opportunity, you talked about your calligraphy and forgot your son’s studies. Is this how a father behaves?”

Seeing his mother angry, Meng Dongyuan hurriedly said, “Mother, calm down. It’s not that I forgot. I did bring up Lingshan Academy, but he politely declined, so I didn’t press the matter further, to avoid putting him in an awkward position.”

He was telling the truth, but to Old Madam Meng, it sounded like an excuse. She held back but ultimately gave her son some face, not scolding him in front of his grandson, though her dissatisfaction grew.

Meng Dongyuan met his mother’s gaze and could clearly see the disapproval in her eyes—she didn’t believe him and thought he was making excuses. He suddenly felt a silent frustration: telling the truth and not being believed—it was an excruciating feeling.

Madam Dong remained silent, offering no opinion. No matter what happened, this was a matter between mother and son; if she interfered, she might just become the target of their venting.

After a moment of silence, Meng Dongyuan used his wife as an excuse to leave, saying to his mother, “Mother, Huiyun has been busy all morning and is tired. I’ll accompany her back to rest.”

Old Madam Meng didn’t want to face the couple either. Seeing no endearment in them now, she waved her hand: “Go back. I’m tired as well.”

Meng Chengxing watched his father and stepmother leave, his mind racing.

Seeing this, Old Madam Meng spoke gently to soothe him: “Chengxing, don’t lose heart. You’ve been clever and bright since you were young. As long as you study diligently, you can definitely pass the exams at Lingshan Academy.”

Hearing this, Meng Chengxing lowered his eyelids, hiding the hesitation in his eyes. He didn’t have much confidence. If he had never experienced failure, he would have been confident, but now he wasn’t.

This was the reality of enthusiasm fading: the first effort succeeds, the second wanes, the third exhausts.

He had failed the Lingshan Academy exam the year before last, flunked the academy exam last year, and this year, when Lingshan Academy recruited students again, he no longer wanted to participate. Another failure would mean further ridicule, especially compared to his second brother.

He whispered, “Grandmother, your grandson doesn’t want to go to Lingshan Academy. I just want to stay by your side. Studying at a local academy in the capital is fine too.”

Old Madam Meng felt comforted. Among the younger generation, her youngest grandson was the most filial. She once thought A-Yu was obedient and filial, but later realized she wasn’t—A-Yu was a handful, just not as troublesome as that stubborn Jinyao.

She said earnestly, “Chengxing, I appreciate your filial heart, but for your own future, you must go to Lingshan Academy. You are the heir; one day you will inherit the title and the heavy responsibilities that come with it.”

Meng Chengxing agreed seriously, but inwardly planned to find a reason on exam day to be unable to attend, so that if he failed to enter Lingshan Academy, it would be due to circumstances, not lack of effort.

In the afternoon, near dusk.

Meng Dongyuan saw his youngest son idling in the courtyard and became furious. His second son, unless ill or occupied, was already studying. Yet his youngest lazed about. Despite repeated reminders to study hard, the boy paid no attention. Meng Dongyuan couldn’t understand where this laziness came from.

He scolded sternly: “Chengxing, the Lingshan Academy exam is only a few months away. Why aren’t you in your study working hard? Why are you wandering about?”

Meng Chengxing had just stepped out for some air and was immediately scolded. He felt very aggrieved.

Seeing him silent, Meng Dongyuan’s anger grew: “Your mother really spoiled you. You can’t even endure the hardships of studying and only seek pleasure. If you weren’t so disappointing, your grandmother and I wouldn’t be so troubled about your studies. You’re only a year younger than your second brother—how can the gap be so great? If you were even half as reliable as your second brother, I wouldn’t be so worried.”

A few months ago, Meng Chengxing might have argued back, but now he understood that contradicting his father would only make him less favorable in his father’s eyes. He quickly said, “Father, don’t be angry. I will study properly in my room this time.”

However, once back in his courtyard, he didn’t open a book. Frustrated, he drowned his sorrows in wine, drinking himself six or seven tenths drunk, and allowed a maidservant with ambition and initiative to successfully become his first woman—his personal maidservant.

The next morning, Madam Dong learned from a trusted maid that her stepson, Meng Chengxing, had taken a maidservant the night before.

She was very surprised. In a prominent household, when a young master turned fourteen or fifteen, the matron would usually arrange for a personal maid to teach him proper conduct. Chengxing was only fourteen. Before she could even seek Old Madam Meng’s opinion, he had already taken the initiative himself.

Chengzhang, now fifteen, still hadn’t requested a personal maid. Last year, when asked, he politely refused, prioritizing study, which she admired, so she hadn’t arranged one.

Comparing the two brothers, the difference was striking.

Madam Dong instructed, “Send that maid a bowl of contraceptive soup immediately. The young master’s wife hasn’t entered the household yet. A personal maid cannot become pregnant.”