SGEIRS -Chapter 55 Selling Everything

That day, the sun shone warmly, and the spring scenery was bright and cheerful.

Gu Jingxi’s wedding leave had ended. He left at the fourth quarter of the hour at dawn and only returned around dusk, just in time for dinner.

Meng Jinyao only saw him at dusk. Sometimes, he didn’t even return by then, coming home under the stars after she had fallen asleep, but she didn’t mind much—she simply focused on her own affairs.

At that moment, Meng Jinyao was flipping through Gu Jingxi’s private account books, reviewing his annual income. She wanted to understand it well so she could fulfill her duties as a wife and help manage the household.

Chunliu came in holding a note, respectfully handing it to Meng Jinyao. “Madam, this is a note sent from the Duke Rong Mansion.”

Meng Jinyao paused her reading. It had been more than half a month since she married into the Changxing Marquis household, and this was the first time she had received a note from another family. It seemed those people had been waiting and observing; now that they knew the Changxing Marquis household treated her reasonably well, they were inviting her as a guest.

She took the note and glanced at it. It was an invitation to a tea gathering hosted by Duke Rong’s wife, asking her to attend tomorrow. She set the note down and looked up at Chunliu. “What is the relationship between the Duke Rong Mansion and the Changxing Marquis household?”

Chunliu answered truthfully, “They are not very close; just casual acquaintances.”

Meng Jinyao nodded lightly. “Mm, I see.”

Chunliu hesitated, unsure of her meaning, and asked, “Madam, do you intend to go?”

Meng Jinyao smiled gently. “Of course, since the Duke’s wife invited me, why wouldn’t I go?”

“But…”

Chunliu stopped mid-sentence, worriedly glancing at her.

Meng Jinyao chuckled softly, smiling as she asked, “You mean they didn’t sincerely invite me, only want to make a fool of me? Not only laugh at me, but maybe even humiliate me?”

Chunliu said nothing, only nodding slightly. That was indeed the case. The other ladies surely wanted to see what kind of jokes the young mistress of their house would make. Every incident involving her recently was something others would hardly ever encounter in a lifetime—and every single one was scandalous. People outside had not stopped talking about her; some sympathized, some despised her.

Meng Jinyao was unconcerned. “Laugh at me for what? Am I not doing quite well? I retrieved my mother’s dowry, my husband holds a high and powerful position and has neither concubines nor secondary wives, and my mother-in-law is gentle and kind. The only small flaw is an immature son.”

Chunliu was speechless. “…”

So what others see as disgraceful, you see as something wonderful?

Meng Jinyao glanced at her and said with a smile, “I used to think you were quite clever, but now I see there are still things you aren’t seeing clearly. It’s better to relax your mind and look at problems from another angle. Getting stuck on trivial points can blind you.”

Chunliu pondered for a moment, then understood, nodding quickly. “You are right, Madam. I was focusing only on the negatives and overlooked the positives.”

Meng Jinyao waved her hand, signaling her to step back, and returned to her account books.

Chunliu bowed and withdrew.

Ningdong, who was attending nearby, asked, “Madam, you can always look at the account books another day. Why not let me pick out your dress and jewelry for tomorrow’s banquet now? That way, you won’t have to choose again in the morning.”

Meng Jinyao thought for a moment and nodded. “Alright.”

Ningdong smiled. “I will dress you like a celestial fairy; tomorrow, you will outshine all others.”

The next day, approaching the hour of the snake (around 9–11 a.m.), Meng Jinyao, accompanied by Qingqiu and Ningdong, went to the Duke Rong Mansion for the banquet.

She thought she had arrived not too late, but when she got there, she realized she was rather late. Many official wives and noblewomen had already gathered in the flower hall.

Everyone had assumed she wouldn’t dare to come, so they didn’t expect her at all. When she appeared, nearly all eyes turned toward her, expressions mixed with surprise and a momentary pause before they began scrutinizing her.

She was wearing a pleated Ruyi Moon gown in a pale sky-water green, her black hair arranged in a simple coiled bun, adorned with a pearl and jade hairpin, and pearl earrings. Her makeup was modest, yet her features were delicate and charming—graceful, elegant, and poised.

When she smiled, it was radiant enough to outshine the flowers—a rare beauty.

No wonder the rule-conscious Changxing Marquis married her. With such a delicate wife by his side, why should they care what the world said? The Marquis had a hidden illness, and no noblewomen had wished to marry him. Now his son ran off from an engagement, so he ended up with a great catch, keeping the advantages within the family.

Meng Jinyao ignored their scrutinizing eyes and smiled warmly. “Ladies, I am truly sorry for arriving late.”

The women politely replied, “Not late, not late, it is we who came early.”

Duke Rong’s wife was of the same generation as Gu Jingxi. If the families were close, Gu Jingxi would address her as sister-in-law. Since the two families were merely acquaintances, Duke Rong’s wife said kindly, “Madam Gu, please, have a seat first.”

Immediately, a maid led Meng Jinyao to her seat.

Seating was not first-come-first-served; it depended on the social status of each lady. Otherwise, high-status guests arriving late might end up in a corner, which would appear disrespectful.

Since Gu Jingxi held high rank and enjoyed imperial favor, Meng Jinyao’s seat was at the front.

The Yongchang Marquis household had declined and could no longer secure invitations from high-ranking families. They were only associating with mid- and lower-level officials’ families. Meng Jinyao also disliked ingratiating herself, so most of the women present were strangers to her.

If anyone was familiar, it was actually Meng Jinyu who knew more people. Though two years younger, she was ambitious, liked scheming, and acted as a follower to gain entrance into high society and marry well.

The Duke Rong’s wife, as a good host, introduced Meng Jinyao to several official wives. Meng Jinyao greeted them politely, neither over-friendly nor distant, which earned the admiration of many ladies. A daughter from a fallen household who behaved graciously—she was indeed proper and dignified.

Suddenly, one lady said, “Madam Gu, I heard your maternal family, the Yongchang Marquis household, has been raising funds as if selling everything, even Madam Meng’s dowry has been sold for cash. Is that true?”

At these words, all eyes once again turned toward Meng Jinyao, this time with the intent to watch a spectacle.

The story of her stepmother, Madam Sun, seizing her birth mother’s dowry had long spread across the capital. It was said that Meng Jinyao retrieved her mother’s dowry using the official list, and Madam Sun hadn’t realized there were two lists, ending up losing out instead of gaining.

In recent days, Madam Sun had pawned the dowry for cash, likely misappropriating Meng Jinyao’s mother Madam Zhou’s dowry. Now, she had no choice but to return the money.