SGEIRS -Chapter 488 Unwilling to Divorce

Divorce?

Meng Jinyao froze for a moment, but quickly came to her senses. In her heart, she supported her stepmother’s decision. Her father was not worthy of her stepmother; it would be better for her stepmother to leave the Meng household. Staying in the family under these circumstances would only continue to torment her spirit.

She asked gently, “Mother, have you truly made up your mind?”

Madam Dong nodded slightly. “By the time I sent Xianglan to fetch you, I had already made my decision.”

She had grown weary of life in the Meng household. Those days had felt hopeless. It was only because of the child’s arrival that her life had gained some meaning. But now that the child was gone, she had completely given up.

She clearly understood the situation in the Meng family. Meng Chengxing would not have an easy future; how could the eldest daughter allow someone like him to inherit the title smoothly? Therefore, there was no need for her to act personally. She did not have to waste the rest of her life in the Meng household—it was not worth it and would only be a torment. Taking this opportunity to withdraw was the best option.

Meng Jinyao asked again, “Have you mentioned this to Father?”

Madam Dong shook her head. “Not yet. If I had, Xianglan wouldn’t have been able to leave the house to come find you today. The gatekeepers would never have let her out.”

Meng Jinyao agreed with her. “Father truly is not worthy of you. I support your decision. Since you’ve made up your mind, I will go with my husband later to speak to Father and Grandmother about this matter.”

Seeing her stepdaughter so decisively stand on her side, Madam Dong was moved. Her voice choked with emotion: “A-Yao, thank you so much.”

Meng Jinyao replied, “There’s no need to be polite. It is our Meng family who has wronged you. Rest for a while. My husband and I will go find Father and Grandmother. I cannot guarantee the outcome, but I will do my best.”

Madam Dong nodded lightly. “Very well.”

Soon after, Meng Jinyao and her husband left Madam Dong’s room. Xianglan escorted them out of the courtyard and then quickly ran back to Madam Dong’s room.

Seeing her hurry in, Madam Dong asked, “What is it?”

Xianglan replied, “Madam, I saw Chunjiao lingering about. I suspect she wanted to eavesdrop on your conversation with Eldest Miss.”

Madam Dong’s expression darkened. Chunjiao and Caijiao were both maids in her household. Despite the similar names, they were not sisters. Caijiao was the one who had tried to poison her, and as for Chunjiao, it was unclear whose servant she really was—yet she had been spying on her.

Xianglan continued, “Fortunately, when I went out today, I cleverly avoided them and left through the back gate. If I had gone through the front, it wouldn’t have gone as smoothly.”

Madam Dong said calmly, “It doesn’t matter. We didn’t say much earlier. They will soon learn about the divorce. In hindsight, leaving is the correct choice. I suspect Chunjiao has been spying on me even before this matter. I wonder whether she’s working for the Old Madam or for Meng Chengxing.”

She let out a soft snort. Managing this leaky household was thankless, and to be spied on as well—it felt as if she were an outsider.

Meanwhile, Meng Chengxing was in a panic upon learning that Meng Jinyao and Gu Jingxi had arrived. The eldest sister and brother-in-law would not come unannounced; they must be here regarding Madam Dong’s miscarriage.

In the Rongfu Hall, Old Madam Meng was speaking with her son. Before she had even spoken a few words, her youngest grandson rushed over in a fluster. Without waiting for her question, he blurted out, “Grandmother, Eldest Sister and her husband are here!”

Meng Dongyuan was surprised: “Why have they come?”

Old Madam Meng immediately guessed it was related to Madam Dong’s miscarriage. The next moment, hearing her son’s words, she furrowed her brow slightly. Were he not her son, she would have scolded him for being so slow-witted. How could news of Madam Dong’s miscarriage have reached the eldest granddaughter so quickly?

She asked, “Where are they now?”

Meng Chengxing looked flustered. “They just arrived and went to Mother. What should we do?”

Old Madam Meng soothed him gently. “Caijiao attempted to harm Madam, but she has already died to atone for it. Your mother suffered this, and your eldest sister merely came to check on her. Who could have imagined Caijiao would bear a grudge for a few words of reproach and commit such a deed? That child was never meant to be part of our Meng family.”

Upon hearing this, Meng Chengxing’s anxiety slowly eased. Caijiao was dead, with no witnesses—nothing would be linked to him.

Meng Dongyuan’s face darkened. He shot his son a look of displeasure, silently furious. But his mother’s words were not entirely wrong. If news spread that Chengxing had harmed his stepmother, it would ruin the family’s reputation. He had already lost one child; he could not afford to lose another. Once Madam Dong recovered, she could still have another child.

Meng Chengxing noticed his father’s sharp gaze and shrank his neck slightly, fear flickering in his eyes. His father knew the truth about his attempt to harm his stepmother’s unborn child. Only because of the grandmother’s pressure had he avoided punishment. Facing his father now, he felt a chill in his heart.

Old Madam Meng noticed the subtle interactions between her son and youngest grandson. She cleared her throat gently. “Son, I know it pains you to lose a child, but fate also matters. This child was not meant to be. There will be others in the future; do not be too sad.”

Meng Dongyuan withdrew his gaze. “Mother is right.”

Satisfied with her son’s obedience, Old Madam Meng turned to her youngest grandson. “Chengxing, come sit by Grandmother.”

Meng Chengxing complied and took a seat beside Old Madam Meng.

Seeing this, Meng Dongyuan’s face darkened further, and he suppressed a rising anger. Watching his mother treat Chengxing this way reminded him of how she had treated his second brother many years ago. She had indulged him endlessly, excusing his gambling as the influence of others. Reflecting on his second brother and Chengxing, he realized they were similar—both capable of using words to please their mother.

Not long after, Meng Jinyao and Gu Jingxi arrived at Rongfu Hall. Seeing her father and third brother there, Meng Jinyao was slightly surprised.

Old Madam Meng gestured for her eldest granddaughter and her husband to sit, then asked, “A-Yao, you know about your mother’s miscarriage?”

Meng Jinyao replied truthfully, “This morning, Xianglan, who serves my mother, came to inform me at the Changxing Marquis residence. Only then did I learn of the matter and went to visit her.”

Old Madam Meng’s brow furrowed subtly, then she sighed lightly. “This child was not fated with our Meng family. A-Yao, please comfort your mother. She must not be too saddened. There will be other children in the future.”

Meng Jinyao said, “I have already spoken with Mother. She has only one thought now.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Meng Dongyuan’s heart sank, sensing something was amiss. He hurriedly asked, “What thought does she have?”

Meng Jinyao spoke plainly, “The Meng family’s actions have chilled her heart and made her completely give up on the Meng household. She now wishes to divorce Father. As a younger generation who understands the situation, I respect and support Mother’s decision.”

At her words, Old Madam Meng, Meng Dongyuan, and Meng Chengxing were all stunned. They had never imagined Madam Dong would think this way.

Meng Dongyuan quickly recovered and flatly refused, “I will not agree to a divorce!”