SGEIRS -Chapter 56 Getting Nowhere

Meng Jinyao had heard of this matter before, but she wasn’t surprised. The roots of the Yongchang Marquis Mansion were already rotten. If they dared to use her mother’s dowry, how could they not dare to use Madam Sun’s? So forcing Madam Sun to use her dowry to fill the gap was only to be expected.

Madam Sun had to pour out everything she had, and whatever was still lacking, the Yongchang Marquis Mansion would make up the difference.

However, this lady had reminded her that today was the deadline. Since she had gone out early, she didn’t know whether the Yongchang Marquis Mansion had sent the money over yet.

She set down her teacup, lifted the corner of her mouth in a faint smile, and replied calmly, “Probably true. But debts must be repaid; that’s only natural. If she doesn’t have enough cash on hand and has to pawn her dowry to return the money to me, that’s perfectly reasonable.”

Hearing her speak in such a matter-of-fact tone—though her words were logical—the air of inevitability carried a chill, revealing her coldness.

Everyone exchanged glances. Which daughter would treat her maternal family in such a way?

Wasn’t that a little too cruel? No matter how flawed her maternal family was, they had given her life. What good would it do to humiliate them?

The lady spoke again: “Madam Gu, they are still your elders, your parents. Isn’t it improper for you to treat them this way?”

Another lady added, disagreeing: “Yes, Madam Gu, forcing your mother to pawn her dowry to repay you isn’t right. Madam Meng also raised you; even if you took a little money from her, it shouldn’t be like this.”

Meng Jinyao countered, “Ladies, do you think I did something wrong?”

The two ladies were momentarily speechless.

Soon, the first lady said, “That’s not what we mean. Madam Gu is still young and may not understand these social rules. A daughter should avoid creating irreparable conflict with her maternal family, lest anything happen without their support—it could be very disadvantageous.”

“Is that so?” Meng Jinyao covered her mouth and let out a quiet laugh, then said coolly, “Your families sound very kind. It’s a pity my luck is thin, and I’ve never met such good maternal relatives.”

The lady awkwardly replied, “Perhaps Madam Gu has misunderstood her maternal family.”

Meng Jinyao’s expression turned cold, her voice icy: “Misunderstood? And what would count as not misunderstanding? I’m not afraid to say it, since you’ve probably heard the story already: I was refused entry when I visited my maternal home three days after marriage. Only when my husband accompanied me did they open the door. Do you think a maternal family like that would support me?”

She glanced lightly over those present and continued, “In our dynasty, there are clear laws stating that a woman’s dowry is her private property. The husband’s family may not appropriate it; only her legitimate children may inherit it. If there are no legitimate children, it reverts to the maternal family’s descendants. My mother has me, her legitimate daughter. Madam Sun’s appropriation of my mother’s dowry violates the law. I didn’t report it to the authorities to send her to prison, which is already leniency. Since she dared to do it, she must bear the consequences.”

Hearing this, the lady had no reply, her face slightly embarrassed.

Meng Jinyao glanced at them but didn’t intend to let it slide. Since they were picking a fight, she wouldn’t speak kindly. In a calm, deliberate tone, she asked, “Ladies, are you perhaps close with my stepmother and took this opportunity to attack me, hoping I’d back down and no longer pursue justice?”

The two ladies quickly shook their heads, explaining, “Madam Gu, that’s a misunderstanding.”

“Yes, Madam Gu, we are not close with Madam Meng.”

Meng Jinyao regarded them suspiciously. “I thought you were friendly with her and couldn’t bear to see me seek justice, but it turns out it was just a misunderstanding.”

The two ladies looked embarrassed. Everyone else exchanged glances; no one expected Meng Jinyao to speak so bluntly, especially since these two ladies were older than her.

The Duchess Rong quickly smoothed things over: “Madam Gu, since it’s a misunderstanding, let’s not mention it again. The flowers in our back garden are blooming beautifully—why don’t we all go enjoy them?”

Other ladies also expressed interest. The group left the flower hall and prepared to move to the back garden.

Just as they stepped out, Meng Jinyao saw Chunliu quickly approaching. She whispered a few words in her ear, her eyes brightening. Then she turned to the Duchess Rong and said, “Your Grace, I have matters to attend to at home, so I must take my leave.”

The Duchess Rong nodded: “Since Madam Gu has affairs at home, you may go first. We’ll meet another time.”

Meng Jinyao nodded lightly, said goodbye to the other ladies, and left with Qingqiu, Ningdong, and Chunliu.

After the four of them departed, the remaining ladies couldn’t help but whisper among themselves.

“I thought she wouldn’t come today, but she actually did.”

“Exactly. Marrying her fiancé’s father is already shocking enough, but then she pushes her maternal family into a corner? There’s probably no one else like her in the capital.”

“She just spoke to Madam Zhang and Madam Wang so bluntly and forcefully.”

“That’s precisely why she could pressure the Yongchang Marquis Mansion. Even her stepmother had to pawn her dowry—truly unfilial.”

Hearing such criticism of Meng Jinyao, someone spoke in her favor: “Don’t say that. If the elders aren’t kind, how could the younger ones be filial? She was probably cornered. Is it her fault that the Yongchang Marquis Mansion lost face? The real problem lies with the husband and wife of the mansion.”

“True, but she is still the junior—how could she treat her elders this way?”

“I say, you only talk like this because the knife hasn’t cut you—you don’t know the pain, so you can blather on.”

The Duchess Rong saw that both sides were taking their positions and might argue, so she quickly intervened: “Enough. Let’s not discuss others’ affairs. The husband is right, the wife is right—we are not involved, so how could we judge?”

Her words prompted immediate agreement: “The Duchess is right.”

Others tactfully changed the topic. The back garden of the Duke Rong Mansion was beautiful, and in spring, the blooming flowers drew their attention, pushing Meng Jinyao’s matters out of mind.

Meanwhile, after Ningdong got into the carriage, she could no longer contain her emotions. Her face darkened, and she angrily vented for her mistress: “Madam, those two ladies were deliberate—they intentionally picked a fight to ridicule you.”

Meng Jinyao was unbothered, soothing her gently: “It’s alright. They got nothing in the end. In the end, who’s left embarrassed? It’s them.”

Chunliu, who had just come with news, didn’t know what had happened earlier. From their conversation, she guessed that someone must have spoken rudely to her mistress, and she dared to suggest: “Madam, if someone is disrespectful, perhaps you could tell the Marquis?”

Meng Jinyao smiled and shook her head gently: “No need. They can’t bully me anyway. The Marquis is so busy every day; I shouldn’t trouble him over such trivial matters.”

Ningdong nodded in agreement: “Chunliu, don’t worry about this. Madam has a sharp tongue. They can’t outtalk her. I’m just angry that they deliberately brought up her past wounds to amuse themselves.”

Chunliu hesitated, then nodded. If her mistress said so, there was no need for her to worry.