SGEIRS -Chapter 529 Like a Dire Message

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhao was momentarily stunned. Her mother-in-law, without distinguishing right from wrong or asking a single question, immediately unleashed a torrent of scolding, pinning all the blame on her. Such an unreasonable old lady, behaving like a common shrew, made Zhao think: wasn’t the Meng family supposed to be a family of distinguished lineage?

Seeing the elder behave in this manner, it was no wonder Meng Dongyuan was so ill-mannered. Even on their wedding night, he treated her this way. Truly, like mother, like son. She wondered whether the other children were the same.

She glanced at her husband lying unconscious on the bed and replied, “Mother, my husband was drunk and wanted to go see someone. He lost his balance and fell. It all happened so suddenly, I didn’t have time to support him.”

Old Madam Meng questioned sharply, “Madam Zhao, if you want to shirk responsibility, there’s no need to tell such lies that even a three-year-old wouldn’t believe. Tonight is your wedding night—who could he possibly have gone to see?”

“My husband wanted to see…” Madam Zhao hesitated, then continued, “I believe Mother wouldn’t want me to say who it was right now.”

At these words, Old Madam Meng froze, sensing something. Her intuition told her that Madam Zhao’s intended person could not be named in front of the family doctor. Her tone softened slightly: “Then I’ll listen to your excuses later!”

The Ling family doctor was taking Meng Dongyuan’s pulse. Listening to the conversation between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, he felt tense, worried he might overhear something he shouldn’t. After examining the pulse, he said, “Madam, the Young Master should be fine. He only fainted from the head impact. However, since he’s drunk, he probably won’t wake until tomorrow. I’ve prescribed medicine to invigorate the blood and disperse bruising. Once he wakes, he should take it, and apply the ointment to the swollen area on his head.”

Old Madam Meng exhaled in relief. “Thank you, Doctor Ling.”

Doctor Ling replied politely, “Madam, you’re too kind.”

After giving the prescription, the doctor left. Old Madam Meng instructed the maid to fetch the herbs and prepare the medicine.

Although Madam Zhao was angry at her husband’s behavior, it was still fortunate that he was unharmed. Otherwise, losing her husband on her wedding night would have branded her as a “jinx to men,” and the Meng family’s wrath could have been unbearable.

Meng Chengzhang also felt relieved on Madam Zhao’s behalf. At least his father was fine; otherwise, with Grandmother’s temper, the stepmother would surely suffer.

Meng Chengxing, however, was deeply disappointed. When he learned that his father had fallen and fainted, he had been overjoyed, rushing to see if his father might die that very night.

He had been thinking that if his father died tonight, it would be the greatest fortune. His stepmother would be branded as a jinx, and Grandmother would never let her off easily. As heir, he would then naturally inherit the title of Young Marquis. He could finally rid himself of the obstruction his father posed.

But now, after the doctor’s examination, learning that his father was mostly unharmed and would wake tomorrow, the news hit him like a calamity. Just as the title had seemed within reach, he now had to remain the heir.

Old Madam Meng looked at Madam Zhao. Now that outsiders had left, it was time to deal with her. The matchmaker had praised Madam Zhao, but she was clearly not as expected—she couldn’t even care for her husband properly. Old Madam Meng signaled for the maids to leave and said, “The doctor has gone, the maids have retired. Now, let’s hear how you intend to explain yourself.”

Madam Zhao glanced at her two stepsons and hesitated. “Mother, are you sure you want me to speak of such things in front of the children?”

Old Madam Meng replied, “They are all Meng family. What could they not hear? Speak now. Don’t beat around the bush. If you fail to provide a reasonable explanation today, I won’t forgive you!”

Madam Zhao lowered her head, her face full of grievance. “Mother, I was formally married into the Meng family, brought in with the grandest of processions. Yet I did not expect my husband, on our wedding night, to talk about expelling me, even saying he wanted to divorce me.”

Old Madam Meng frowned, instinctively thinking Madam Zhao was lying. “What nonsense are you talking about? Didn’t you say my son went to see someone?”

Madam Zhao added, “He wanted to see someone. He kept shouting a name, Huiyun. I don’t even know who Huiyun is. When I asked my husband, he said I wasn’t worthy to mention Huiyun and told me to get out. Then he pushed me aside to go find this Huiyun, saying they were a perfect match. But he lost his balance, stumbled, hit his head on the table, and fainted.”

Upon hearing this, Meng Chengzhang frowned. His father’s belated display of devotion was frankly nauseating. Aunt Dong had already divorced his father, yet her name was still on his lips—how unlucky.

Meng Chengxing felt a slight relief, grateful that he had acted first. Otherwise, given how favored Miss Dong had been, once she bore a son, his position as heir would have been at risk.

Old Madam Meng’s face darkened, her gaze full of suppressed anger as she glared at her son on the bed. There was a hint of “how could you be so foolish?” in her eyes. If Dong Huiyun still had this foolish son, she wouldn’t have divorced. Yet here was her foolish son, still thinking of Dong Huiyun on his wedding night with his new wife. Having seen many “little vixens,” she hadn’t expected Dong Huiyun to be such a cunning fox, capable of enthralling her son at over twenty years old.

If this incident became public, what would become of the Meng family’s reputation? Initially, Dong divorced her son, which had caused gossip. Then her son still thought of Dong Huiyun, prompting her to urgently find a new match for him—both to give him a new love to forget the old, and to restore the family’s face: he would marry a virtuous wife while Dong Huiyun remained unmarried.

After a moment, Old Madam Meng asked sternly, “Who was present? Who saw my son say such things?”

Madam Zhao replied, “It was only my husband and I in the room. No one else was present.”

Old Madam Meng thought for a moment, eyes flashing a warning, and lied outright: “Tonight, my son’s wedding night, he thought of his late father and wanted to pay respects to him, telling his father the good news. But having drunk too much, he lost his balance, fell, hit his head, and fainted.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhao knew the matter was settled. The mother-in-law would not blame her further and wished to cover up the truth to avoid scandal. She obediently said, “I understand. My husband’s filial heart would surely comfort his father in the afterlife.”

Old Madam Meng was pleased by her tact, thinking this daughter-in-law was easy to handle. Moreover, since her son did not favor Madam Zhao, he wouldn’t defend her. She could treat her well, as long as Madam Zhao obeyed and did not act like that beguiling Dong girl.

Old Madam Meng said kindly, “Qianyi, tonight was supposed to be your wedding night, yet this happened. You must feel wronged.”

Madam Zhao lowered her eyes, hiding a trace of mockery. Skilled in navigating situations, she replied softly, “Mother, I do not feel wronged. My husband’s filial heart, and being able to marry such a fine husband, is my honor. I should be happy.”