Chapter 18 We can't let her see this as a joke.

Meng Huanyan did not sleep all night.

After Guan Yi'an vomited on her, he wiped his mouth with her veil, then collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep, leaving her screaming and crying on the floor.

Meng Huanyan first pretended to cry, but after crying for a long time, no one paid any attention. Disappointed and heartbroken, she finally burst into real tears. When she was tired of crying and wanted to clean herself up before going to bed, she found that the door had been locked from the outside.

She tried to break it open several times but couldn't. With her eyes swollen from crying, she took off her clothes, took out a clean set of clothes from her bundle, changed into them, and lay down next to Guan Yi'an.

Less than an hour after lying down with his eyes half-closed, the door was pushed open forcefully, and a woman stood by the door with her hands on her hips.

"What time is it? Aren't you getting up to pay your respects and prepare breakfast? You shameless thing, you howled like a ghost half the night before. What kind of woman howls so loudly on her wedding night? Those who know will know it's a concubine being taken in, but those who don't will think it's a pig being slaughtered."

Guan's mother made no attempt to hide her disgust. The thought of her son giving up his easy-to-obtain prestigious status and huge dowry for such a thing filled her with utter loathing for Meng Huanyan.

If it weren't for this vixen's seduction, her house would be overflowing with the dowry Meng Lingge brought.

However, everything has its pros and cons, and since things have come to this point, we can only try to look on the bright side.

If it had truly been Meng Lingge who married into the family yesterday, she would have received many benefits, but given her status, her mother-in-law would have had to consider her options and couldn't treat her arbitrarily. Meng Huanyan, however, was different. Her marriage was tainted by her own low status, and she didn't even have a maidservant with her, suggesting she was unfavored in the Meng household.

Such a woman is naturally at her mercy to be bullied.

When Guan's mother first entered her husband's family, she was tormented by her mother-in-law for over twenty years. Now that her parents-in-law have passed away, she has finally turned the tables and is eager to let her daughter-in-law experience all the hardships and suffering she endured.

Hearing Guan's mother's scolding, Meng Huanyan pushed Guan Yi'an forcefully, trying to get him to stand up for her. But Guan Yi'an was too drunk yesterday, and after being pushed, he just turned over and ignored her.

This commotion did not escape Guan's mother's notice.

"Why did you push him? He was exhausted from working half the night yesterday, and you wouldn't let him rest. Are you trying to kill him with work? You little bitch, get up and get to work, don't wait until I tell you a third time!"

Meng Huanyan was so annoyed and flustered by the noise that she sat up abruptly. "What work are you doing? Making a ruckus before dawn! If this were my Ya Cui Residence, I would have slapped you a few times already. I married into your family to be a lady, not a maid. I've never done any work in the Prime Minister's mansion, so why should I have to do it in your house?"

Madam Guan was taken aback by the outburst, then pointed at Meng Huanyan and started cursing, "Shameless little slut! You've only just entered the family and you already disrespect your mother-in-law, spewing filth. I don't care if you work in the Prime Minister's mansion or not, once you enter the Guan family, you have to work! A concubine dares to dream of becoming a lady, waiting to be served—dream on! Let me tell you the truth, An'er hired two maids to take care of me before, but I dismissed them both last night. You were just a maid in the Guan family before!"

Meng Huanyan never expected that not only would she not have a maid to take care of her, but she herself would become a maid, having to take care of Guan's parents.

The huge difference was unacceptable to her. She angrily kicked Guan Yi'an and said, "Get up! What did you tell me yesterday? You said that as long as I was yours, you would pamper and protect me, and even the eldest sister would have to come after me. Now that I've married into the family, you want to treat me like a free maid?"

She kicked hard, kicking away Guan Yi'an's drowsiness. He frowned and opened his eyes, seeing Meng Huanyan on the bed with her breasts half-exposed, her eyes swollen like walnuts, and tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. Guan's mother stood in front of the bed with her hands on her hips, looking fierce.

Guan Yi'an immediately understood what was going on.

Hearing Meng Huanyan recount the sweet nothings he had uttered in bed during their passionate moments to his mother, he felt embarrassed and a little angry. He wanted to lash out, but when he met Meng Huanyan's red and swollen eyes, he remembered vomiting on her the night before.

He was really angry yesterday, and his attitude towards Meng Huanyan was indeed a bit excessive. Even ordinary families don't subject their concubines to so much mistreatment.

Lowering his gaze, he pulled the lid over and placed it over Meng Huanyan's chest, then addressed Guan's mother.

“Mother, Huanyan is, after all, the daughter of a concubine in the Prime Minister’s mansion. Although she cannot compare to Meng Lingge, she was still pampered and spoiled and has never done any work since she was a child. Now that I have an official rank, it would not look good if I took a concubine to serve as a maid. My monthly salary can afford to hire a maid. From now on, let’s not quarrel over such a small matter and make a fool of ourselves.”

After waking up, Guan Yi'an regained her composure.

In truth, if it weren't for Meng Lingge's status as the legitimate daughter, he wouldn't have lost out by having the prime minister's concubine's daughter as his wife.

As far as he knew, Meng Xingyuan treated his two illegitimate daughters quite well. If Meng Huanyan hadn't had an affair with him this time, which broke Meng Xingyuan's heart, he probably wouldn't have treated her badly when she got married. Perhaps one day when Meng Xingyuan's anger subsided, he might even make it up to her a little.

Putting all that aside, Meng Huanyan's beauty alone would cost an ordinary family a hundred taels of silver to take as a concubine, while he only needed a few taels of silver as a betrothal gift to bring her into the inner quarters, which was a worthwhile deal.

Most importantly, he must now make his life better with Meng Huanyan in order to salvage his reputation. If the two of them quarrel constantly in the future, it's secondary to what others will say, but Meng Lingge will definitely feel happy and relieved to hear it.

He was waiting for Meng Lingge to regret her actions; he couldn't let her laugh at him.

Guan's mother did not expect Guan Yi'an to speak up for Meng Huanyan, but what Yi'an said made some sense. If the Guan family wanted to rise to prominence, they still had to rely on Yi'an.

Ruining An'er's reputation will do the Guan family no good.

Unable to lose her temper any longer, she gave a heavy snort and stormed out.

That little vixen has already won over An'er on her own terms in just one day since she joined the family. She's a real fox spirit. I wanted to teach her a lesson, but in the end, I ended up getting a good scolding from An'er myself.

Mother Guan was extremely disappointed with this marriage. She hadn't gained any benefits, and her son had ruined her chance to establish her authority over the little slut. She thought to herself that one day she would find an opportunity to teach that little slut a lesson.

"My husband, I knew you loved me. If I hadn't loved you so deeply, I wouldn't have had to compete with my elder sister and end up losing all face and being despised by everyone. If you don't show me some pity, I really can't go on living."

Meng Huanyan lay on An Yi'an's body, crying half-truthfully, "Husband, I was bullied by my mother and elder sister when I was still in my maiden home. Now I am yours. Please have pity on me and don't let me be bullied by my mother-in-law anymore."