SGEIRS -Chapter 569 Suspicions Arise

Madam Zhao originally wanted to answer, but when the words reached her lips, they felt scorching hot. She swallowed them back down. Better to leave such lies for Meng Dongyuan to tell. As for the truth, once Meng Chengzhang met Meng Jinyao, he would naturally learn it for himself.

Meng Dongyuan looked at his son. The young man stood tall and straight, handsome in appearance, with a sense of upright integrity between his brows—clearly a kind-hearted child by nature. It was all that vicious woman Madam Sun’s fault. If she hadn’t poisoned his ears with malicious gossip about the boy, how could he have neglected him for so many years? Thankfully, it was not too late to make amends. He had even petitioned for Chengzhang to be named heir. No matter how dissatisfied Chengzhang had once been with him as a father, he should be able to let it go now.

With a long sigh, he patted his son on the shoulder and said earnestly, “Chengzhang, your younger brother is a disappointment. When your father grows old, our Meng family will have to rely on you.”

Meng Chengzhang asked, “What exactly did Third Brother do?”

Anger crept into Meng Dongyuan’s voice. “Your third brother is useless and ignorant. He’s been keeping bad company, skipping his studies in secret, spending nights at brothels, and he angered your grandmother so badly that she suffered a stroke and became paralyzed. Now she’s so ill she can’t even speak—she’ll probably never stand again and will be bedridden for the rest of her life.”

Meng Chengzhang froze, feeling that something about this didn’t add up.

His grandmother had indeed placed great hopes on Third Brother, but given how much she doted on him, even if he skipped school and stayed overnight at brothels—or even brought a brothel woman home—she wouldn’t have been so angry as to fall gravely ill. At most, she would have scolded those so-called friends for leading him astray.

In her heart, Third Brother was the perfect child. No matter what he did, it was always others who instigated him or corrupted him—he himself could never be at fault. Even back when Third Brother caused Aunt Dong to miscarry, Grandmother hadn’t shown the slightest anger toward him. Compared to that, what did skipping school or staying at brothels even count for?

Meng Dongyuan added, “Enough. Don’t mention that wretch anymore. Let’s go to the ancestral hall first and enshrine the imperial edict.”

Meng Chengzhang didn’t ask further questions. He followed his father to the ancestral hall to place the edict there, then went on to Rongfu Hall to visit Old Madam Meng.

When he saw Old Madam Meng’s sickly appearance—her mouth crooked, one eye askew—Meng Chengzhang couldn’t help but pause. She really was as gravely ill as his father had said. But was it truly Third Brother who had angered her into this state?

Fearing his mother might cause trouble, Meng Dongyuan hurried ahead, sat by the bedside, and took her hand. “Mother, Chengzhang was worried about you. As soon as he learned you were ill, he took leave and rushed back. You must get better.”

Meng Chengzhang stepped forward and greeted her gently. “Grandmother, your grandson has returned. How are you feeling now?”

Old Madam Meng glanced at her son. How could she dare show that anything was wrong now? If she showed even the slightest sign of distress, her precious grandson would remain locked in the ancestral hall. Thinking of Chengxing, her heart ached so badly that tears welled up at once and soon slid down from the corners of her eyes. She gently shook her head to indicate she was fine, signaling for the younger generation not to worry.

Seeing this, Meng Dongyuan quickly said, “Mother, don’t cry. I know you miss your grandson. Don’t worry—Chengzhang will stay for a few days this time.”

Meeting her son’s warning gaze, Old Madam Meng felt both furious and helpless. She could only force her tears back, nodding lightly.

Unable to speak, Old Madam Meng could only look at them helplessly. Meng Chengzhang had never felt particularly close to this grandmother; now that she couldn’t speak, he was even more at a loss for words. He merely offered a few words of concern, urging her to rest and recover.

Afraid his mother might stir up trouble, Meng Dongyuan said, “Chengzhang, your grandmother is tired. Let her rest. You’ve traveled a long way back—go wash up as well.”

Meng Chengzhang acknowledged and left.

When only mother and son remained in the room, Meng Dongyuan stood up and looked down at his mother, a smile lifting his lips. “Mother, I almost forgot to tell you—there was a happy event in our family today. An imperial edict arrived from the palace.”

Old Madam Meng looked at her son in confusion. The Meng family had fallen into decline—would the Emperor still remember them?

Meng Dongyuan said calmly, “Chengxing behaved improperly and was unfilial to his elders, angering you into this state. At court this morning, I petitioned His Majesty to change the heir. The Emperor granted my request and named Chengzhang as the new heir, to inherit the title in the future. As for Chengxing, His Majesty stripped him of his heirship and ordered him flogged thirty times. But rest assured—your precious grandson wasn’t beaten to death. He only fainted from the pain.”

As his words fell, Old Madam Meng was so furious she nearly burst with rage, yet there was nothing she could do. She could only glare at him. She hadn’t expected him to petition the Emperor to depose Chengxing. And when he spoke of Chengxing fainting from pain, he did so so lightly, as if that weren’t his own son at all. How cruel-hearted! Even if Madam Dong’s pregnancy had been a son, it was still an unformed child—how could it compare to Chengxing? For the sake of a seductress and an unborn child, to treat Chengxing like this—did he have any heart at all?

Meng Dongyuan’s smile deepened. “Mother, rest well. I’ll come see you again tomorrow. Oh, and from now on, you must behave. Otherwise, whether anything unfortunate might happen to Chengxing in the future—I can’t guarantee.”

With that, he turned and left.

Old Madam Meng was overwhelmed with grief. What a fine son she had raised! Why was it not this unfilial beast who died back then? If her younger son were still alive, he would never have treated her like this.

Elsewhere, Meng Chengzhang privately questioned the household servants about what had happened recently. Their answers matched his father’s account, and they even said his father was exceptionally filial—an exemplary son who had cared for the old madam day and night, never removing his clothes, growing haggard and thin in just a few days.

Meng Chengzhang still felt this wasn’t the whole truth, but he couldn’t get anything more out of the servants. Perhaps his eldest sister knew something. He decided to visit Changxing Marquis Manor the next day.

That night, Meng Chengxing developed a high fever from his injuries and fell unconscious.

A servant came to report this to Meng Dongyuan, who said angrily, “That unfilial brat still doesn’t know to admit his fault? Go back and tell him to stop playing these pitiful tricks. If he’s really sick, call a doctor. I’m not a physician—why come to me?”

The servant didn’t think much of it, assuming the Marquis was simply furious. After all, the Marquis was known to be filial, and the old madam’s condition was blamed on Third Young Master—it was only natural for him to be angry. The servant withdrew to fetch the household physician and then informed the madam of Third Young Master’s high fever and unconsciousness.

By morning, Meng Chengxing’s fever still hadn’t subsided, and he remained unconscious. Physician Ling looked grave as he said to Madam Zhao, “Madam, if Third Young Master’s high fever continues, I fear his life may be in danger.”

Madam Zhao frowned. “Is it truly that serious? Is there a way to bring the fever down?”

“There is a method,” Physician Ling replied, “but it may not work. I will do my utmost.”

“Then I’ll trouble you to take extra care,” Madam Zhao said. She glanced at Meng Chengxing lying face-down on the bed, eyes tightly shut. The young man’s lips were dry and cracked, his face flushed from the high fever. Whether he could survive this ordeal would depend on how strong his vitality truly was.