SGEIRS -Chapter 528 Meng Jinyao’s Father Faints

Yongchang Marquis Residence

Meng Dongyuan had married Madam Zhao out of sheer necessity. He did not like her, nor was he satisfied with her, and he had absolutely no interest in the bridal chamber. When guests offered him drinks, he would drink, and finally, the guests stopped insisting only because he was already drunk. Now, staggering with every step, he was supported by servants as they helped him back to the bridal chamber.

Madam Zhao had been waiting for some time. Seeing her husband reeking of alcohol and his face flushed bright red—obviously drunk—she had no choice but to have the servants lay him on the bed first, then quietly send them out.

She stepped forward and asked softly, “Husband, are you all right?”

Meng Dongyuan opened his eyes in a daze. Seeing Madam Zhao in her red wedding dress, he momentarily became confused, mistaking her for Madam Dong. He immediately reached out to take her hand, murmuring, “Huiyun… Huiyun…”

Hearing him call “Huiyun,” Madam Zhao’s expression darkened. She was not Huiyun, but she knew that her husband’s ex-wife, Madam Dong, was named Dong Huiyun.

When her husband divorced Dong Huiyun, rumors had swirled everywhere. Some said it was because the heir, Meng Chengxing, was involved. Others said it was because Meng Dongyuan’s fated marriages were weak, and none of his wives could live to old age—every marriage would end in misfortune.

Madam Zhao didn’t fully believe in fate. After all, when she married her previous husband, she had gone to a temple to draw a fortune slip, and it had been extremely favorable, yet her marriage was far from happy. Her ex-husband had died in his early thirties.

She had returned to her parental home with her daughter, and her family had shown little concern, leaving her to remarry. She had refused families with poor standing, believing Meng Dongyuan to be the best choice: a noble household, with a legitimate eldest daughter of the Changxing Marquis, and a second son, Meng Chengzhang, who had topped last year’s imperial exams. With the support of the Changxing Marquis family, he might achieve something in life, and she, as a stepmother, could benefit as well.

Moreover, her daughter Yunying was fourteen this year and coming of age next year. She needed a good family to elevate her daughter’s status and secure a favorable marriage. Considering her own family background, the Meng family was the best match she could find. Otherwise, as a widow with a daughter, even with her natal family’s support, finding a satisfactory match would be nearly impossible.

Being the stepdaughter of the Yongchang Marquis, and the stepsister of the Changxing Marquis’s wife, this was the highest status she could secure for her daughter.

With these thoughts in mind, Madam Zhao suppressed her frustrations. She could not quarrel with her husband yet and spoke softly: “Husband, I am not Huiyun. I am Qianyi.”

“Qianyi?”

Meng Dongyuan forced his eyes wide open to look at the bride before him. In a haze, he recalled that today was his wedding—but not with Huiyun. It was his mother’s will that he marry someone he did not like—Madam Zhao. Slowly, he became somewhat sober, frowning: “Zhao… why are you here? Get out! This is my room with Huiyun.”

Madam Zhao had initially thought she could endure it, but her husband actually wanted to expel her on their wedding night, causing her great humiliation. If she let him succeed tonight, the whole residence would ridicule her tomorrow. How could she continue to stay in the Meng household?

Angry and aggrieved, she could no longer restrain herself and snapped: “Husband, if you still care for your ex-wife, why did you divorce her and then marry me? Look carefully—I am now your legally wedded bride. This is our bridal chamber. I have done nothing wrong on our wedding night. If you insist on kicking me out, I will call mother to come and settle this!”

Hearing her mention her mother, Meng Dongyuan also became annoyed. Marrying Madam Zhao had been his mother’s wish, and he had been forced into it. Now she wanted to use his mother to pressure him. He dared not disobey his mother, but he could confront Madam Zhao; otherwise, he would seem weak.

Staggering to his feet, he pointed at her: “You dare? If you dare, I will divorce you tomorrow!”

Madam Zhao was stunned. Her husband’s barrage of shocking words left her momentarily speechless. But soon, realizing she had done nothing wrong, she calmed herself and faced him fearlessly: “I have not violated any of the Seven Grounds for Divorce. How dare you divorce me! Even if it goes to the authorities, it is you, Meng Dongyuan, who is unreasonable. If you are brave enough, let’s go to the magistrate right now!”

Meng Dongyuan had married several times. Every previous wife had been gentle and obedient. Even the venomous Madam Sun had been gentle most of the time. None had ever spoken to him like this. Now, Madam Zhao, newly married, was already acting like a shrew. Naturally, he could not tolerate her. Her threat of going to the authorities reminded him of his troublesome legitimate eldest daughter, who had once similarly defied him.

Anger surged through him. Raising his hand, he intended to slap her face. But Madam Zhao was not one to stand there and take a beating. Seeing him move to strike her, she was first shocked, then swiftly stepped back.

Meng Dongyuan missed his target, stumbled, and fell to the ground, hitting his head on a nearby table and immediately losing consciousness.

Seeing him lying motionless, Madam Zhao’s face went pale. Panic-stricken, she was at a loss, unsure how to react. After a moment, she steadied herself, crouched, and checked his breath—he was still alive. Then she called out to a maid: “Quick, fetch the house doctor! Lord Marquis fell after losing his balance from drunkenness.”

The maid was momentarily stunned but hurried to get the doctor.

On the wedding night, this kind of accident in the bridal chamber could not be concealed. A maid immediately went to inform Old Madam Meng at Rongfu Hall, and both Meng Chengxing and Meng Chengzhang received the news. Once the grandmother and grandsons learned of the situation, they rushed to Meng Dongyuan’s courtyard.

Although Old Madam Meng had many grievances with her son, he was now her only remaining child. She still cared about him. Moreover, such an incident on a day of great celebration was embarrassing if spread, and she only wished her son unharmed, hoping to avoid another tragedy.

She hurried to her son’s courtyard and saw the two grandsons had already arrived, and the house doctor had just arrived as well. Seeing the doctor bow to her, she quickly said: “No need for formalities. Go see how Lord Marquis is doing.”

The doctor nodded and immediately entered the inner chamber to examine Meng Dongyuan.

Upon entering, Old Madam Meng saw Madam Zhao, still in her red wedding dress, standing at the bedside with a worried expression. Seeing Madam Zhao unharmed, she was furious—why wasn’t it her daughter-in-law who had fallen, but her son?

She stiffened her face, glaring at Madam Zhao, and angrily scolded: “Madam Zhao, how do you take care of your husband? You just married in, and now my son has fallen and lost consciousness! If anything happens to him, I will not forgive you!”