Chapter 75 New Year's Eve "Why are you being so proactive today?"...

After a long pause, Meng Yanqing looked at Meng Yu, suddenly smiled, sat back in the armchair, forcefully suppressed the breath stuck in his throat, and pretended to leisurely take a sip of tea.

“Yu’er, you are young and don’t know the benefits of having a maternal family. Although you have received immense wealth and honor now, you are bound to be blinded by it. If there are no elders to remind you from time to time, you will not go far.” Meng Yanqing changed his tone and pretended to relax. “I am your father after all. I am much older and more experienced than you. I will not hold it against you.”

Meng Yu noticed the anger hidden in his gaze. She thought about how long she and Lu Xiuyi had been married, and when had he ever visited her?

"Father never comes to the temple without a reason. You must have something to ask of me today, right?" She said coldly, having no intention of dealing with him.

Meng Yanqing clicked his tongue and shamelessly raised his lips: "We are father and daughter, why bother with such a question? I came here today to talk to you and your son-in-law. Your fourth sister has been staying at the estate for two years. She has atoned for any sins she may have committed, and you have let go of any anger you may have felt. It's freezing cold here today, and the estate is very cold. Why don't you let us take her home?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Yu's face immediately darkened.

She looked at Meng Yanqing in disbelief yet with a sense of expectation, and subconsciously stood up slowly: "You've atoned for it? Your anger has subsided? Father, am I really your biological daughter?"

Meng Yanqing was startled by her reaction. She quickly put down her teacup, stood up, and frowned as she replied, "What nonsense are you talking about, child? Of course you are my biological daughter."

"Then why are you so biased?" Meng Yu shouted hoarsely.

“Do you know that if I hadn’t jumped off the carriage like I was risking my life that day, I would have been the one ruined, the one stripped naked and paraded through the streets? I didn’t retaliate against all the tricks she used against me; that was the biggest concession I could make out of consideration for our relationship. And yet you can still so casually say that her sins have been atoned for.”

Her brows furrowed, her eyes filled with coldness, and the grievances she had accumulated over the years burst forth like a raging storm.

Startled by her roar, Meng Yanqing's legs went weak, and he barely managed to grab the armrest of the chair to avoid falling to the ground. He looked around in a panic.

Besides him and Meng Yu, the only other people in the room were Steward Cao and Hua Yi. Two maids were standing outside, and although they all had their heads down, they had undoubtedly heard everything he said.

"There are so many people here, why are you saying these things?" Meng Yanqing pounded his chest and stamped his feet, sighed with a furrowed brow, lowered his eyelids, and looked embarrassed.

With tears welling up in her eyes, Meng Yu couldn't help but sneer upon hearing this: "Wasn't it you who brought these things up first? You think these are shameful things, you think these things have made you lose face, so why do you bring them up again? Why do you think that Meng Yin's two years at the manor can atone for her crimes?"

She wiped away her tears and looked at Meng Yanqing again. "You only feel ashamed because the whip is now falling on your face. If it weren't for that, you wouldn't care at all even if that person were your own daughter."

Meng Yanqing's face turned pale and then red. Meng Yu's words were like knives, slashing open the mask he had worn for many years and which had become one with him. The bright red blood seemed to flow all over his face, making him dizzy.

The room fell silent.

Outside, the wind and snow were howling. Although there was a charcoal brazier burning inside, she still felt the chill seep into her limbs and bones, as if she would not feel any warmth even if she used up all the charcoal.

After an unknown amount of time, Meng Yu took a deep breath, closed her eyes for a moment, and then opened them again. Her anger had completely dissipated: "Father, in the past twenty years, have you ever understood even a fraction of my sign language? If it weren't for your so-called face, would you have spared a single thought for me and Mother?"

After a long pause, she was met with the expected silence.

She felt utterly exhausted and had no energy left to question or pursue the matter, so she turned around and ordered, "Steward Cao, see the guest out."

Surprisingly, Meng Yanqing did not persist. Upon hearing this, he did not wait for Steward Cao to make a gesture, but gave Meng Yu a deep look and left.

When she realized that the person had already left, Meng Yu's legs went weak, and she quickly grabbed the armrest of the chair. Seeing this, Hua Yi immediately stepped forward to help her sit down in the armchair.

“My hometown is in a remote mountainous area. The land there is barren and the people are poor. It is common for people to sell their children,” Huayi poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to her. “Someone like Lord Meng is already considered to have some conscience. But please don’t misunderstand, Madam. I’m not saying this to ask you to forgive him. Rather, I think you don’t need to be sad for such a person. As the saying goes, life is full of disappointments. Some people, you don’t need to care what they say or do. Just let it go. In the end, people’s emotions are determined by their hearts. If you let your heart go, nothing can hurt you.”

Meng Yu took the tea, glanced at Hua Yi with some surprise, and smiled: "I didn't expect these words to come from your mouth."

The admiration in her eyes was so obvious that Huayi smiled a little shyly: "How could I have thought of such things? This is what my mother told me."

Meng Yu took a sip of hot tea, and the warmth flowed into her heart, calming her rollercoaster-like emotions slightly: "By the way, I've been back for so long, and I've never heard you mention your family before."

Upon hearing this, Hua Yi said with a hint of sadness, "My father passed away when I was very young. Three years ago, there was a severe drought in our home, and my mother collapsed from exhaustion and also passed away. That's when I left my hometown, thinking of going to the capital to find a job and make a living."

Meng Yu put down his teacup and squeezed her hand to comfort her.

Hua Yi lowered her head, swallowed back her tears, and smiled as she looked up: "Fortunately, I met Steward Cao. He is a kind and good-hearted man. The manor originally did not accept people from remote areas, but because the investigation was a bit troublesome, the general found out about it. He did not find it troublesome and had someone arrange for me to live in the servants' quarters. After the person sent to investigate my background returned, he had Steward Cao arrange work for me."

Meng Yu blurted out instinctively, "Are you happy working here?"

"I'm so happy!"

Hua Yi blurted out without even a second's hesitation, her eyebrows dancing as she raised her finger, "Not only are there three full meals a day here, but there's also a monthly allowance of one string of cash. In winter, there's a thick allowance of clothing. The eaves don't leak, the windows don't let in drafts, and the bedding is warm and thick. The lady is kind and gentle, and as for the general, although he doesn't say much to us, I can tell that he genuinely loves the lady. I can't imagine how bad a man who truly cherishes his wife could be."

She counted the good things about the mansion on her fingers. When Meng Yu saw the light in her eyes, he suddenly felt that this place wasn't so bad after all.

***

Weiye.

Lu Xiuyi had just returned from the West Camp. Seeing that all the lights in the room were off, he quietly pushed the door open and went in. As soon as he entered, he felt a cold wind blowing in from the half-open window.

He shook his head and sighed silently. She always did this, never worrying about the wind blowing in and making her feel cold, just leaving the window open without a care.

Lu Xiuyi quietly closed the window and warmed himself in front of the charcoal stove for a while until the chill on his body dissipated before taking off his shoes and socks, lifting the curtain, and getting into bed.

The bed was warm, and she lay on her side with her back to him. Not hearing her even breathing, Lu Xiuyi knew she wasn't asleep yet. He put his arm around her waist and whispered, "Why aren't you asleep so late? What are you thinking about?"

After a long pause and still no reply, Lu Xiuyi impatiently tried to turn her face over, but suddenly felt a dampness in his palm.

He was startled and quickly turned her over to lie on her back, asking anxiously, "What's wrong?"

Meng Yu kept her eyes closed and shook her head: "It's nothing, I, I just, I just miss my mother a little."

She thinks of her mother from her past life, and also of Aunt Shen in this life.

She doesn't look like she's alright at all.

Lu Xiuyi recalled the guard's report today and couldn't help but feel angry: "What did Meng Yanqing say about you again? I'll settle the score with him tomorrow. How dare he bully my wife? I think he's tired of living."

His tone was like coaxing a child, which made Meng Yu burst out laughing.

After a pause, she said, "How could he dare to bully me? He just came to see me after I've been back for so long, but..."

At this point, she suddenly paused, looked up at him, and said, "Lu Xiuyi, I have lost my mother and now I have lost my father. If I treat you with sincerity, you cannot let me down."

All the lights in the room were off, and it was pitch black all around, so dark that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. But Lu Xiuyi could clearly see the starlight in her eyes. He didn't have time to think about the meaning of her previous words. He was just stunned and immersed in the starlight.

Thinking of the Solomon's Seal Rose Cream she sent today, his heart warmed a little more, and the palms holding her waist grew even hotter. Lu Xiuyi finally couldn't control himself and rolled over to press himself against her.

"Yu'er, I promise you, I will never betray you," in the darkness, Meng Yu felt him close to her ear, his voice breathless. She swallowed hard, and gently probed below, her voice trembling, "It's been twelve days. I want it, is that alright?"

If the bait is left out for too long, the fish will lose interest.

Meng Yu didn't refuse him again, but nodded gently.

The room was filled with enchanting fragrance, permeating every corner. Outside the window, the winter moon shone coldly, while inside, it was as hot as fire.

Afterwards, it was already early morning. Meng Yu made an excuse to go wash up, and Lu Xiuyi, upon hearing this, dragged his tired body to get up as well.

Meng Yu quickly pressed him down: "You've been working hard lately, so rest a bit longer. I'll fetch some water for you after I'm done washing."

But after she finished speaking, she saw that he was still going to move. Meng Yu had no choice but to lean down and kiss his forehead.

But as soon as he straightened up, he grabbed her hand again, half-reproachfully and half-satisfied, and said, "Don't think you can get rid of me like this. There's still this."

As he spoke, he pulled her hand down, and when his fingertips touched her lips, he suddenly stuck out his tongue and licked her fingertips.

Meng Yu was so frightened that she immediately pulled her hand back, but Lu Xiuyi had anticipated her reaction, so he held her hand tightly and laughed teasingly: "What are you afraid of, Yu'er? There's still this place to comfort you."

"..."

Unable to resist him, Meng Yu had no choice but to lean down again. But as soon as he touched those wet lips, he immediately took them and became the one in control.

He kissed her until her face was flushed and she was breathless before reluctantly letting go, like a hawk after catching its prey: "Alright, remember to fetch me some water."

Meng Yu responded softly, then put on her cloak and fled to the bathhouse as if escaping.

The bath is filled with warm water all year round, similar to the hot springs in her previous life, and it is cleaned every day, so even though the servants are asleep, she can still take a warm bath.

But Meng Yu did not immediately go into the water. Instead, he took out a piece of sweet flag from inside his cloak, put it in his mouth, chewed it slowly, and swallowed it in one gulp.

This is why she didn't want to come here with Lu Xiuyi.

After quickly washing herself, Meng Yu filled a basin with water and went back to her room. Lu Xiuyi was still awake, and he had turned on two lights in the room.

She brought in a basin of water and looked up to see him shirtless, lying on his side facing her, his temples propped up.

In the dim light, the man's body was lean and strong, with well-defined abdominal muscles and smooth, taut lines.

Meng Yu immediately understood his intention, and for a moment her legs went weak. She quickly wrung out a towel and took the initiative to wipe his body.

Seeing this, Lu Xiuyi grabbed her hand, his eyes full of smiles: "Why are you being so proactive today?"

“It’s late, I want to rest, so naturally I have to cool you down.” She said bluntly without any hesitation, pulling her hand back and lifting the quilt to continue.

"hiss……"

A chill settled over him, and Lu Xiuyi frowned, letting out a low growl. He quickly grabbed the towel from Meng Yu's hand, stood up, and said, "Um, I'll do it myself! It's late, you go to sleep first, I'll come over as soon as I'm done."

Meng Yu glanced at him and nodded.

Lu Xiuyi quickly finished wiping himself off and lay naked in the quilt, shamelessly pressing himself against her. Meng Yu pushed him away in disgust, but he took the opportunity to tighten his grip on her hand, narrowed his eyes, and curled the corners of his lips: "It's really late, go to sleep!"

Unable to resist his advances, she had no choice but to give in and let him hold her.

The scent of cedar filled Meng Yu's nostrils, and she felt inexplicably at ease, not even realizing when she had fallen asleep.

***

When she woke up, the sun was already high in the sky, and Lu Xiuyi was no longer by the bedside.

Hearing the noise, Hua Yi came over and pulled back the curtain. The maids filed in, carrying washbasins, face towels, salt, spittoons, and other items.

After finishing her makeup, Meng Yu sat down at the dining table and asked, "Where is the general?"

“The general has finished his meal and gone to the West Camp,” Huayi put some food into her bowl. “He also said that the Solomon’s Seal Rose Cream that Madam sent yesterday was very effective. His face didn’t hurt after applying it. He asked Madam to make him two more boxes if she had time.”

Meng Yu took a bite of food and raised an eyebrow: "His face isn't that big, one box would be enough for a whole winter, why bother with so many?"

"The general is probably worried that the lady is too bored," Hua Yi said with a smile, trying to smooth things over, and then served her another bowl of mutton soup.

Meng Yu raised her eyebrows and said nothing more.

He's the one who's idle.

As the year drew to a close, the manor received a large influx of new New Year's goods, and people from the estate also came to report on the year's harvest. Throughout the day, Steward Cao was so busy that he barely had time to breathe. Even if he were asked to arrange a carriage, it would take quite a while.

Meng Yu feigned dissatisfaction and mentioned it to Lu Xiuyi. He thought about it all night before agreeing to loosen his authority a little, allowing the coachman to directly obey her orders. However, every time they went out, there were always eight guards accompanying them.

Although she was followed by a long tail, she was already quite content that there were no obstacles to going out. She couldn't ask for too much at once, so she happily accepted it.

On this day, Huaiyin rarely left the palace, and coincidentally, Zhimian's leg had almost recovered. Mengyu invited Ning Sui to have a barbecue at a manor in the eastern suburbs.

The village in the eastern suburbs is situated on high ground, and the back mountain is covered with plum blossoms. A few people set up a table under the eaves of the rooftop, placed a stove on it, and enjoyed roasting meat, drinking wine, playing drinking games, and admiring the snow and plum blossoms.

Halfway through the game, Huaiyin suddenly lost interest and sat back inside with a heavy expression.

Meng Yu and Ning Sui looked at each other in bewilderment. Wang Mama, who was standing next to them, sighed and explained, "This morning, news came from Chengde Palace that the second prince of Luolin Kingdom has petitioned to marry a princess of our dynasty. However, looking around the harem, the only princess who is of marriageable age and has not yet been married is Princess Mingyi."

Meng Yu had heard of the Kingdom of Luolin. Although the country was small, its weapon-making skills were first-rate. Nearly 70% of the weapons of the Great Qi were supplied by the Kingdom of Luolin. When the Great Qi and the Northern Liang fought a great war, if it were not for the weapons provided by the Kingdom of Luolin, the Northern Liang would probably have already besieged the city.

The two countries interacted not only through trade in goods and weapons, but also through political alliances built on the connections of women.

For a moment, Meng Yu and Ning Sui were speechless. The relationship between them and their relatives had existed since ancient times, and with their own strength, they could not shake it in the slightest.

***

Late at night, Lu Xiuyi returned from the western camp, took a bath, and went to bed.

In the darkness, Meng Yu was seen clutching a corner of the quilt, staring at the top of the tent with her eyes open. She was completely unaware of when he had gotten into bed.

"Didn't you go to the manor for a barbecue with Huaiyin and Ning Sui today? Why are you still so unhappy?" Lu Xiuyi brushed aside the stray hairs by her temples and smoothed the knot between her brows that was furrowed with worry.

Meng Yu was taken aback by his words. She turned her head to look at him. The man's facial features were distinct, and his brows exuded the majesty of a superior. Suddenly, she thought of something and immediately turned to face him, taking his hand and saying seriously, "Lu Xiuyi, are you aware that the second prince of Luo Lin Kingdom has come to propose marriage to our princess?"

When the topic turned to politics, his gentle expression vanished completely, his eyebrows furrowed, and he said, "Yes, I know."

"There's a 90% chance that the princess sent for a political marriage will be Huaiyin, right?" Meng Yu continued to press.

Lu Xiuyi paused, then lowered his eyes: "Yes."

Meng Yu's heart sank, and without thinking, she blurted out, "Can you help her? Even just say a word for her in front of the Emperor."

The person who had been avoiding her gaze suddenly looked up.

Lu Xiuyi didn't speak, but the helplessness and regret in his eyes said it all.

A chill instantly enveloped her entire body, a sense of powerlessness washed over her, and the hand that was tightly gripping him slowly fell to her sides.

She lay back, her eyes reflecting the black tent ceiling, and said blankly, "Yes, if the well-being of the nation can be achieved through the women's clothing, who would be willing to wage war?"

Lu Xiuyi sighed deeply: "Sixteen years ago, the war between Daqi and Beiliang depleted too much of their strength. Now, Prince Rui and Prince Yu are vying for supremacy, and His Majesty is watching the tigers fight. The court is in turmoil. At this time, it is really not advisable for Daqi to start a war. Rest and recuperation is the best policy."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "So, in the end, it's because Daqi is too weak. It even has to rely on other countries to produce the weapons to protect its homeland. If it were strong enough, why would it have to come to this?"

Meng Yu was somewhat comforted by his words: "Is there really no solution?"

"have."

"I'm trying."

In the darkness, Meng Yu couldn't see his expression, but from his resolute tone, she seemed to see his determined look, those resolute brows and eyes that could inspire so much hope.

A strange feeling stirred within her, and her voice softened slightly: "So, you're so busy because of this?"

"Um."

Hearing his soft reply, her heart softened, and she turned to hug him tightly again.

Lu Xiuyi didn't say anything more, but his eyebrows twitched slightly, and his tense heart relaxed. He hugged her back in the same way.

The night was still and quiet, the winter snow weighed down the branches, and the sycamore tree in the courtyard let out a muffled groan.

***

The next day was Lunar New Year's Eve.

That night, the general's mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers. Servants and maids hurried about, and the atmosphere was festive. The crackling sound of firecrackers came from outside the mansion, and the shouts of vendors going from street to street were long and drawn out. The dazzling fireworks lit up the entire starry sky, but they soon fell silent.

After dinner, Lu Xiuyi suggested, "I heard that they release lanterns at Yunlou. We happen to have some free time today, so why don't we go for a stroll together?"

Meng Yu nestled on the warm couch, holding a book and shaking her head: "No, it's too cold outside."

Lu Xiuyi was about to laugh at her, but before he could speak, Steward Cao came to report: "General, Madam, Old Madam Meng has arrived."

Meng Yu raised an eyebrow and subconsciously lifted her eyelids from the book, only to meet Lu Xiuyi's slightly surprised gaze.

"It's New Year's Eve today, Grandmother, what brings you here?" As soon as she entered the front hall, Meng Yu saw that Old Madam Meng was standing with her back to the door, and she smiled first.

Upon hearing the voice, Madam Meng's eyes widened in surprise. She quickly turned around and saw that the newcomer was dressed in a magnificent gown, with her hair neatly styled in a bun. Her demeanor was dignified and graceful. Every move she made, every smile she gave, showed no trace of the timidity she had shown before. Even the renowned and ruthless General Huaiyuan was following behind her.

After only a moment of surprise, Madam Meng quickly recovered and said with a smile, "It's been a long time since I've seen the Third Miss. She's become more and more like the mistress of the house, even her voice is so loud."

Meng Yu showed no politeness, bypassing Old Madam Meng and sitting down in the main seat like Lu Xiuyi before raising an eyebrow: "Grandmother is too kind. But Grandmother's legs are not good, why are you standing? Ruan Mama, please help Grandmother to sit down."

As she spoke, her gaze fell on the armchair to her lower right. Madam Ruan had her head bowed, humble and respectful, no longer the imposing figure she had been when she forced her to marry in her place.

Madam Meng raised her hand to stop Madam Ruan from coming over to help her, and sat down to her right, leaning on her cane.

After a long silence, Lu Xiuyi finally spoke: "On New Year's Eve, the old lady is not at home with her family. How did she find the time to come over?"

"I have come here for this very reason. New Year's Eve is a night for family reunion, but without Yu'er, it is not a true reunion. Therefore, I have come in person to invite the General and Yu'er's family to have a reunion dinner." Madam Meng sat upright, speaking with neither servility nor arrogance.

Lu Xiuyi turned his head and glanced at Meng Yu.

She immediately understood and said with a smile, "Grandmother may have forgotten that Yu'er has been a member of the Lu family for two years. Since it is a family reunion dinner, she should stay at the General's Mansion to eat. There is no reason in the world to eat a family reunion dinner at someone else's house."

At this point, Meng Yu paused, noticing that Old Madam Meng's face, which resembled dried orange peel, was alternating between pale and flushed. She glanced at Lu Xiuyi out of the corner of her eye and couldn't help but smile: "However, Grandmother is already over seventy years old, yet she still went to the trouble of making this trip. She is truly kind-hearted, and how can we, as her juniors, refuse?"

Madam Meng's expression changed slightly, then immediately turned to joy.

Meng Yu then said, "Grandmother, please wait a moment while the general and I go back to our room to change our clothes."

With that, the two got up and left the front hall, heading straight for Longxiang Pavilion.

Meng Yu walked side by side with Lu Xiuyi, away from the front hall, and around to the backyard before saying with a hint of reproach, "Why did you let me do all the talking just now?"

Lu Xiuyi smiled and said, "If it's a thorn in your heart, how can you remove it if I interfere?"

Bang!

The dazzling fireworks reflected under the eaves, casting shadows on the sharply defined face of the person beside him. In that instant, he also turned his head to look over.

Their eyes suddenly met.

With just one glance, my heart felt like it was about to jump out of my chest.

Meng Yu looked away somewhat flusteredly, feigning composure: "I won't thank you."

Seeing the panic in her eyes, Lu Xiuyi's heart blossomed. He looked straight ahead and replied seriously, "I never thought of asking you for thanks. Everything I've done for you, including all the sadness, heartache, and sorrow, I've done with all my heart."

Meng Yu suddenly stopped and blurted out, "What if you die because of me?"

Lu Xiuyi also stopped, the orange light shining on his dark pupils as if making a vow. He solemnly said, word by word, "No different from him, and I will never regret it."

The light in his eyes was more dazzling than fireworks and more splendid than the sunset.

Although Meng Yu was slightly moved, her expression remained unchanged. She paused for a moment, then turned and continued walking forward.

Lu Xiuyi hurriedly caught up and chuckled, "So, Yu'er, were you moved by me?"

Meng Yu straightened her back, staring straight ahead, not giving him a second glance: "I never believe a word of what he says."

Lu Xiuyi is truly a malignant tumor.

Even its mouth was poisonous.

The person beside her laughed and followed in her footsteps: "Whether it's a joke or not, you'll know in the future."

***

After changing their clothes in their room, the two boarded the carriage and returned to the Meng family home with Old Madam Meng.

Anticipating that his mother would be able to invite Lu Xiuyi and Meng Yu, Meng Yanqing had prepared a table full of dishes early on, waiting for them to arrive.

Having not returned to the Meng family for two years, everything in the mansion remained unchanged, not even the vases in the front hall had been moved. This time, Meng Yu also met Cheng Yao, the second young master of the Duke of Longguo's mansion, who was also Meng Shuang's husband.

This man was quite handsome, with delicate features, and his moon-white brocade robe accentuated his noble air as a young master from a prominent family. However, the dark circles under his eyes were particularly striking when compared to his surroundings.

"Back then, the fire at Qingli Courtyard was so intense that General Lu almost perished in the flames while searching for my third sister. Even the Emperor was alarmed. Yet my third sister survived. This is a fortunate event that probably no one in the world can match. It is truly something to celebrate."

Sitting opposite her was Meng Shuang, who wore a pleated lotus-root-colored brocade dress with floral patterns. Her long, ink-black hair was adorned with a pair of pearl butterfly hairpins. The pearls were round and smooth, shining brightly under the lamplight, which made her skin appear even whiter than snow.

She raised her wine cup and toasted Meng Yu.

Meng Yu calmly picked up the teacup in front of her and smiled, "Thanks to Second Sister, I was able to survive. However, I am not good at drinking, so I can only use tea instead of wine to toast Second Sister."

Meng Shuang's gaze remained calm and undisturbed, but she raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly: "When Third Sister first returned, there was a rumor in the capital that Third Sister had been kidnapped by thieves and hidden in the mountains for two years. I wonder if Third Sister has heard of this? And if this is true?"

The room fell silent as soon as he finished speaking.

Meng Yanqing coughed lightly, about to reprimand Meng Shuang, but then heard Meng Yu say nonchalantly, "Of course I've heard it, but rumors can be devastating. Since it's just gossip, how can we take it seriously? Second sister has always been discerning; she can see through truth and falsehood at a glance. Why bother asking me?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Yu's mountain-like eyebrows drooped slightly.

“Today is New Year’s Eve, a day for family reunion and joyful celebration. Although you two sisters can be by Father’s side, he will still feel regret if one of you is missing,” Meng Yanqing said immediately upon seeing this.

The meaning behind his words was self-evident. Meng Yu frowned, slammed down her teacup, and sneered, "Father is right. I have already shared my family time with you, so I will take my leave now."

As she spoke, Meng Yu stood up.

Lu Xiuyi reacted quickly and immediately pulled out a chair for her.

Meng Yanqing frowned: "You rarely come back, and it's a family reunion night, so where are you going now?"

Hearing this, Meng Yu, who had already turned around, glanced at him knowingly and asked strangely, "I have already had a family reunion with my grandmother and father. Now I should go and offer incense to my aunt. Could it be that there isn't even a memorial tablet for my aunt in the side room?"

Concubines were not allowed to enter the ancestral hall, but they could have a memorial tablet erected in the side room next to the ancestral hall. This had been the Meng family's rule for many years.

After she left, apart from the burial site being chosen by Lu Xiuyi, all of Aunt Shen's funeral arrangements were handled by Madam Yuan. Outwardly, for the sake of appearances, everything was done thoroughly, but how could outsiders know what really happened inside?

Meng Yanqing was speechless when asked the question. Judging from his expression, Meng Yu guessed what was going on. There was no need to ask. She knew that Madam Yuan would not agree to set up Aunt Shen's memorial tablet in the side room.

Meng Yu knew that Aunt Shen didn't care about these things, so after returning to the capital, she only visited Aunt Shen's grave to pay her respects and didn't go back to the Meng family to demand an explanation.

But they've gone too far these days.

Seeing that the situation was not going well, Meng Zhangzhou hurriedly stepped forward to mediate: "Third sister, Auntie may not be willing to stay in the side room. Your brother-in-law has also found her a good place with good feng shui. In that case, what does it matter whether the memorial tablet is set up in the side room or not?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Yu turned her head to look at him. She saw that Meng Zhangzhou had his hair tied up with a jade crown, and his demeanor was no longer the same as before. She remembered that Lu Xiuyi had mentioned that he was now apparently the Junior Supervisor of the State Government, in charge of household registration and population.

Meng Yu's expression softened slightly, and she said directly, "Second brother, I heard that although fourth sister is not doing as well as before in the manor, she is not lacking in food and clothing, and she also has two mothers serving her. Such a situation is many times better than when my aunt and I were in Xuzhou. So what does it matter whether we bring her back or not?"

After a long silence, Madam Yuan couldn't help but say, "How can you be the same as her?"

“Madam is right, of course it’s different,” Meng Yu glanced at her and blurted out sharply, “Your daughter didn’t suffer from hunger and cold on winter nights, your daughter wasn’t forced to stand for two hours under the scorching sun, your daughter stole her grandmother’s things but didn’t have to kneel in the ancestral hall all night, because I took care of everything for her, and she only needed to nestle at her father’s knees and say a few nice words, and she would be fine. Now, none of you have the right to say forgiveness on my behalf.”

Her words were resounding, and her heart, which had been beating violently, was cold and hard. Lu Xiuyi stood behind her with his hands behind his back, gently stroking her back.