SGEIRS -Chapter 604 Beaten into Submission

The provincial examination had ended, but the results had not yet been announced.

Because Madam Zhang had been overly nervous, Gu Xiuyuan and Gu Xiuwen—originally not nervous at all—had also started to feel anxious. They locked themselves in the study to review their books, carefully timing their questions for Gu Jingxi after he returned home. If they did well in the provincial exam, they would still need to take the palace examination.

As a result, Wanwan had developed a strong dislike for her two older brothers. Every time those two tried to compete with him for their father’s attention, he would pout and sulk, burying himself in his mother’s arms and whining, afraid that she might be “taken away” by them too.

Seeing this, Gu Xiuwen scratched his head awkwardly and asked, “Third Aunt, does Fourth Brother not like us very much?”

Meng Jinyao affectionately patted her son on the head and said gently, “No, he’s just being playful and asking me to take him to the garden. You go chat with your third uncle; I’ll take your fourth brother with me.”

Gu Xiuwen’s expression instantly cleared. “Then Third Aunt and Fourth Brother, please go ahead.”

Meng Jinyao put her son down and held his hand as they left.

Wanwan waddled along behind his mother, but after only a few steps, he turned back to look at his father. Seeing his father smiling at him, and noticing that his two older brothers were watching too, he became unhappy again, puckering his lips and letting out a little whine.

Meng Jinyao hurriedly said, “Come on, Wanwan, let’s go catch the little butterflies in the garden. If we go too late, they’ll have gone home.”

Upon hearing this, Wanwan immediately forgot about his father entirely.

Seeing this, Gu Xiuyuan awkwardly rubbed his nose. “Third Brother, Fourth Brother really doesn’t seem to welcome us at all. Look at that little expression.”

Gu Jingxi looked at his two nephews and could only shake his head. But since he couldn’t ignore them, he said, “Children are like that. Later, give him some treats and toys and he’ll be friends with you again. Come with me to the study.”

The two brothers nodded and followed him.

During dinner, Wanwan refused to be fed by his wet nurse. He insisted on sitting on Gu Jingxi’s lap and having him feed the child; otherwise, he would throw a tantrum and refuse to eat.

Only after the child had been fed and handed back to the wet nurse could Gu Jingxi eat his own meal.

Meng Jinyao glanced at him and smiled. “It’s partly my fault. I told him to take a nap and that you would play with him when you returned. But his two older brothers didn’t spend time with him, so he threw a little fit. When I first took him to the garden, he was very happy and forgot all about it. But upon returning and seeing his two brothers, he remembered that you hadn’t played with him and pouted again.”

Gu Jingxi shook his head lightly. “It doesn’t matter. In a few days, it’ll be fine. It’s a good thing they are diligent in their studies; when they succeed, they can also help our little guy in the future.”

Meng Jinyao nodded. “That’s true.”

That morning, Meng Chengzhang came to the Changxing Marquis Residence.

Seeing her second brother arrive so early, Meng Jinyao immediately knew something had happened. Thinking of their unreliable father, her heart skipped a beat. Had that reckless man caused trouble? The provincial examination results weren’t out yet—if her second brother was involved, who knew what would happen.

She quickly asked, “Second Brother, did something happen at home?”

Meng Chengzhang nodded slightly. “Big Sister, yesterday Mother and Father had a quarrel… and even fought.”

At this, Meng Jinyao’s expression visibly darkened. She despised her father for being such a man, raising his hand against a woman. She asked, “Since Mother married into the family, she has always acted properly, keeping the household orderly, respectful to elders, and kind to younger ones. Why would he hit her?”

Meng Chengzhang hurriedly shook his head. “It wasn’t Father who hit Mother. It was Mother who fought with Father, because of Third Sister’s marriage.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao immediately pictured her stepsister politely calling her “Sister,” and her heart tightened. She asked again, “Whom did he intend to marry Third Sister to? Was there any exchange for a better match?”

Meng Chengzhang replied, “Father wanted to marry Third Sister off as a concubine to Minister Jiang of the Ministry of Personnel. Mother discovered it, got furious, and argued with Father. The quarrel escalated into a fight.”

Minister of Personnel?

Meng Jinyao furrowed her brows. She hadn’t expected Father to be so shameless. Even at his age, he still sought to advance himself through marriage. First he almost tricked Second Brother, and now he nearly ruined Third Sister’s future. Gritting her teeth, she cursed, “What a shameless old man! To marry a girl as beautiful as a flower to a man over forty as a concubine… how could he even think of such a thing?”

Meng Chengzhang also expressed his disgust. “Father has become utterly ridiculous. Even if Third Sister isn’t his biological daughter, she’s still a daughter in name. Selling a daughter for personal gain is shameful, and doing so to make her a concubine is even worse.”

Meng Jinyao became concerned again. “By the way, was Mother hurt?”

Meng Chengzhang shook his head. “Big Sister, don’t worry. Father didn’t get what he wanted. Mother wasn’t hurt. Father, however, sustained injuries—his forehead was cut, he had bruises. He’s been beaten into submission. Though he verbally scolded Mother as a shrew, he didn’t dare mention making Third Sister a concubine again. He even forbade the household from spreading this matter to protect his pride. This morning, Mother went to Su Shaoqing’s residence at the Honglu Temple, probably regarding Third Sister’s marriage.”

Meng Jinyao was stunned. She had known her stepmother was formidable, but she hadn’t expected her to be so bold as to beat her father into submission. Truly an extraordinary woman.

“It’s good that Mother wasn’t hurt,” Meng Jinyao said, suppressing her anger. Then she added, “Second Brother, you’re seventeen now, old enough to marry. After the spring provincial exams and the palace exam results, I’ll find a marriage for you. Once you’re married, we can begin preparations for Third Sister’s marriage, so that nothing drags on unnecessarily.”

Hearing this, Meng Chengzhang’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “I’ll leave it all to Big Sister.”

Meng Jinyao glanced at him with a teasing smile. “You’re already shy just from my mentioning it. What if you see a girl yourself? Won’t you be so nervous you can’t speak?”

Meng Chengzhang’s face turned even redder.

Meng Jinyao opened her mouth slightly but decided not to say more. She had already found a suitable girl. If Second Brother did well in the exams and became an official, she could confidently propose the match. Once Second Brother was married, preparations for Third Sister’s marriage could begin.

Feeling shy and wanting to avoid further teasing, Meng Chengzhang quickly changed the topic. “Big Sister, where’s Wanwan?”

Meng Jinyao replied, “At his grandmother’s. He slept there last night and hasn’t returned yet.”

Meng Chengzhang nodded. “I haven’t paid respects to our elders today. Let’s go greet Grandmother first, then see Wanwan. It’s been a while since I last saw the little guy. I wonder if he still remembers me.”

Meng Jinyao nodded. “Good. I’ll go with you. Xiuwen has been staying home lately, so after greeting the elders, you can also catch up with him.”