Chapter 196 Brother Knows
Meng Yan didn't rush to answer. She just picked up the purple clay plum blossom teapot and filled Meng Changyuan's tea bowl. Then she smiled and said, "Did you hear anything, brother?"
Meng Changyuan chuckled, with a look of embarrassment on his face. "Well, sister, Fangchu is a little bit temperamental, quiet and timid. She has never seen a big scene, and she can't speak well when there are many people around. If she offends you in any way, please don't take it to heart for my sake. Duke Anguo passed away early, and now the Zheng family is left with orphans and widows. My brother is a man, he can't just leave them alone."
It turned out that ever since the mother and daughter of the Zheng family suffered a loss in Shanghe Garden, after returning home, Madam Zheng claimed to be ill and refused to go out, closing the door to visitors, for fear that Concubine Meng would force her to cancel the engagement.
But later an epidemic broke out in the capital, and Meng Yan fainted for several months while making medicine. Coincidentally, the old patriarch of the Zheng clan suffered a stroke and became paralyzed, and no one paid any attention to the matter anymore.
Madam Zheng inquired about the news and heard that Meng Changyuan had returned to the capital with his army and was stationed in a large camp outside the capital. She urged her daughter to take advantage of this opportunity to entangle Meng Changyuan, hoping to win him over before the two siblings met. As long as Meng Changyuan was determined to marry Zheng Fangchu, Meng Yan, as a sister, would have no say, even if she was a noble concubine.
Zheng Fangchu was caught red-handed meeting her lover in Shanghe Garden by Meng Yan. She was terrified when she returned home and fell seriously ill. Lonely during her illness, she couldn't help but miss the gentleness and thoughtfulness of her powerful brother. She secretly sent her maids and servants around, giving him money and soft words.
However, after what happened before, Zhuo Shiquan finally saw her true colors, and he refused to let her in and stopped caring about the Zheng family's affairs.
Seeing his indifference, Zheng Fangchu gave up all hope. Helplessly, she obeyed her mother's orders and resumed her plans for Meng Changyuan. She wrote a long, earnest letter, expounding on her past. She made no mention of her own impoliteness, explaining only that she had carelessly offended the Imperial Concubine at the flower-viewing banquet and was being pressured by her to cancel the engagement. Her letter was filled with tenderness, recalling their former love and affection, then recounting her reluctance to part with him. She considered her mother and daughter fragile, her younger brother still young, and her only support for Meng Changyuan. She also expressed the devastation the Duke of Anguo's mansion would face if she canceled the engagement.
Zheng Fangchu had been in contact with Meng Changyuan for some time and was familiar with his temper. Although he did not like his rudeness, he knew that he was a righteous man who helped the poor and the weak. The letter described the situation in the Duke of Anguo's mansion as pitiful and miserable, and compared himself to a drifting duckweed, which would surely touch his heart.
When Meng Changyuan returned from the Western Expedition, he was still unaware of the romantic scandal she had committed in the capital. When he received the letter and read it, he found it was indeed full of tenderness. Then he saw that the paper was wrinkled, every word was stained with tears, and was stained with a faint scent of powder. Zheng Fangchu's pitiful posture suddenly jumped out of the paper, and he couldn't help but feel very troubled.
According to his original plan, he would marry Zheng Fangchu after returning to Beijing after this great victory.
Who could have known that such a commotion would arise in the capital? His beloved sister had a quarrel with a woman he hadn't married yet, and she even insisted on canceling the marriage. He was deeply troubled by the situation.
Meng Changyuan knew his sister's personality. She was always cheerful and straightforward and would never deliberately make things difficult for others. However, in his heart, Zheng Fangchu was also a gentle and lovely woman. He really couldn't understand why the two of them had a conflict.
After thinking about it, he just thought that Zheng Fangchu was shy in his speech and had caused his sister to misunderstand him somewhere. So he decided to explain everything to Meng Yan when he met her.
Meng Yan sneered, "So, brother thought that sister was deliberately making things difficult for her? Is this what she told you?"
Seeing Meng Yan's unhappy expression, Meng Changyuan scratched his head and said bluntly, "She...she told me in the letter that she was caught by you with her words on the day of the flower viewing banquet, and she accidentally offended you. She wanted to apologize in person. But the daughter of an external minister cannot enter the palace without being summoned, so she asked me to apologize to you. Sister, please listen to my brother. I know that Fangchu's behavior is a bit petty. However, this engagement was made with our father when the Duke of Anguo was still alive. It would be bad if we turned our backs on her now that the old man is gone, and then people would accuse us of bullying an orphan and a widow. Fangchu is just a little delicate in life, and she doesn't have any bad intentions."
As he spoke, fearing that Meng Yan would be angry, he quickly added, "Don't worry, sister. If you really refuse to forgive her, after we get married, I won't bring her into the palace to see you."
Meng Changyuan was a talented general, an expert at deploying troops, but he was a complete novice when it came to handling the household affairs. His only plan was to prevent the two from meeting again.
"Nothing bad in mind."
Meng Yan smiled as she recited each word. She leaned forward slightly, her bright eyes fixed on Meng Changyuan, and said softly, "Brother, this unmarried woman is having an affair with a man outside her family behind her future husband's back. Is that considered bad intentions?"
Of course she knew that telling the truth would be a huge blow to the prince, but given Meng Changyuan's straightforward and righteous character, it would be better to tell the truth and cut the Gordian knot quickly, so that the pain could be dealt with thoroughly.
As expected, as soon as she finished speaking, Meng Changyuan immediately jumped up in anger, his eyes bloodshot, and shouted, "Sister, don't say such things! She is an unmarried girl, and she will be ashamed in the future if she is hurt by such rumors! You... this must be a villain's trick. How could Fangchu, such a quiet and chaste person, do such a thing! Sister, don't believe it!"
It turned out that, out of her dislike and fear for Meng Changyuan, she often hid whenever he visited her. Later, when Duke Anguo passed away, Old Madam Zheng, determined to keep her son-in-law, instigated and pressured Zheng Fangchu into meeting him, often leaving them alone. Zheng Fangchu was always timid and cowardly around Meng Changyuan. This behavior, in Meng Changyuan's eyes, came across as coy and serene. Considering they were already engaged, how could she, still so sensitive about the distinction between men and women, have she ever considered engaging with a man outside her family?
Meng Yan looked at her brother, feeling extremely sorry for him. Her beautiful brows knitted slightly, but she still spoke, "It wasn't some villain who instigated this, brother. I caught her having an affair with my own hands. Who her adulterer was, and what they confessed that day, I can tell you everything." As she spoke, she recounted the entire situation of that day.
These words were like a bolt from the blue to Meng Changyuan.
His original plan was to return from this expedition with great merit, so he could marry Zheng Fangchu with great fanfare. Her father had passed away early, and the influence of the Duke of Anguo's mansion had waned. He intended to win honor for her, making her the most distinguished bride in the capital.
After all, she was the wife his father had chosen for him, and she was also the girl he truly cared for.
But, she actually did such a shameful thing behind his back? !
Moreover, according to Meng Yan's description, she and Zhuo Shiquan had been having an affair for a long time. They had even been having an affair when he was still in the capital!
Meng Changyuan was completely bewildered. He refused to believe Zheng Fangchu could be so shameless as to betray him, yet he knew his sister wasn't one for gossip. Meng Yan would never lie or slander about such a thing, especially with so many witnesses.
He fell on the stool, his eyes blank, silent, his big hands clenched into fists, his thick knuckles protruding and veins exposed.
Meng Yan looked closely at her brother's expression, and her heart ached as if it were being stabbed by a knife.
Brothers and sisters are connected by heart, how could she not know what Meng Changyuan is feeling right now?
Her brother had always been straightforward and honest, treating others with sincerity, and was especially devoted to Zheng Fangchu. How could he have expected her to repay him in this way...
In his previous life, the prince eventually fell into the abyss of self-abandonment, and Zheng Fangchu played a great role in this.
However, this life is not the same as the previous one. The prince's legs are intact, he has made great contributions, and he was personally named Duke Protector of the Country by the emperor. His bright future is still ahead of him. Zheng Fangchu is just a setback in front of him.
A pair of soft hands covered the rough back of Meng Changyuan's hand, and Meng Yan said softly, "Brother, I know you feel bad. But, things have come to this point, it's better to break it off sooner..."
"I don't understand."
Meng Changyuan suddenly raised his head, his eyes, which were very similar to Meng Yan's, turned red as he stared at his sister, "I can't figure it out!"
He growled, stood up suddenly, and strode out.
"Brother!"
Meng Yan chased to the door and watched her brother's tall and straight back gradually disappear into the distance.
"Ruizhu," Meng Yan hurriedly called over to her personal maid, "Go tell Eunuch Xiao Tang that Prince Meng is leaving the palace. Tell him to follow her and avoid any trouble."
Ruizhu quickly agreed and followed.
Yunxiang saw her master's anxious face and advised, "Your Majesty, please relax. The prince is always steady and will not do anything rash."
Meng Yan shook her head, frowned and said nothing, and after a while she sighed softly.
In the end, the prince was still hurt.
The people of the Meng family are straightforward. Once they fall in love, they will give their all, but they will also be deeply hurt when they encounter such things.
But even if it would make her brother sad, she was unwilling to let him be deceived by a fickle and promiscuous woman like Zheng Fangchu.
After a few days, I think Brother will figure it out...
Meng Yan leaned against the door, staring at the frozen icicles on the eaves, lost in thought.
In this life, she and Lu Haozhi walked out of the quagmire, and also hoped that her brother could have his own happiness.
There was laughter and joy in Shoukang Palace.
Bai Yuxin heard the Empress Dowager say that the woman in front of her was actually the Second Young Miss of the Zhenyuan Marquisate, so she quickly said with a smile, "So it's the Second Young Miss of the Liu Family. I'm sorry for the rudeness."
As he said this, he thought that anyone who could catch the eye of the Empress Dowager must have some extraordinary qualities, so he took a closer look.
Liu Milan had an oval face, beautiful eyes and long eyebrows, fair skin and a beautiful complexion. Her hair was as black as raven feathers, combed into a bun, with sideburns. Her hair was simple, with a freshly picked red plum blossom branch inserted as a hairpin, and a gold hairpin embedded with a finger-sized Dong pearl. The Dong pearl was round and flawless, gleaming with a soft, delicate white luster against her black hair.
She wore a dark blue bodice with cranes and auspicious clouds embroidered on it, a white satin jacket underneath, and a peach pink plain skirt that covered the ground. Her figure was slender and graceful, and she was a rare and stunning beauty.
Bai Yuxin carefully examined her from head to toe and said to Empress Dowager Jiang with a smile, "Where did the Empress Dowager find such a beauty? When I first came in, I thought she was a fairy from heaven, and she said that the palace would have another beautiful sister."
It turned out that when she saw such a beautiful woman suddenly coming into the Empress Dowager's palace, she was a little worried about Meng Yan, so she tried to test her with some words.
Liu Qilan was a lady from a prominent family. After hearing her words, her face flushed slightly and she said softly, "Your Excellency Bai, you are too kind. I am actually just an ordinary person."
After sitting for a while, Princess He'an changed her clothes with the help of the palace maids, brought her little friend over and pulled Liu Milan, saying that she wanted to go play shuttlecock.
Liu Qilan sat still, just looking at Empress Dowager Jiang.
Empress Dowager Jiang nodded and said, "Go ahead. I'm afraid you'll be bored sitting alone with an old woman like me, a young lady. It's enough for you to have Noble Lady Bai here to chat with you."
Liu Qilan thanked him and stood up to follow the two children.
After she walked away, Queen Mother Jiang saw Bai Yuxin staring at her back in a trance and smiled, "You don't have to worry about your sister. I'm telling you the truth, it's not what you think."
Bai Yuxin quickly laughed and said, "Your Majesty the Queen Mother, you are joking. I just thought this girl was pretty and said it casually."
Empress Dowager Jiang ignored the question and only asked with a smile, "Yuxin, what do you think of the second young lady of the Liu family? How does her appearance compare to that of Miss Yan?"
Bai Yuxin was speechless for a moment, and after a while she said, "Don't be afraid of the Queen Mother laughing at you. In my heart, no one can compare to Sister Yan."
Empress Dowager Jiang laughed heartily. "You are a sincere child. To tell you the truth, I think the same. Even if you can't compare to Miss Yan, your beauty is still considered to be quite prestigious in the capital."
At this point, she sighed again, "What a pity! As the saying goes, beauty is envied by heaven, and heaven has to make things difficult for people like this. Her parents passed away early, and now she only relies on her brother and sister-in-law to make a living. When the Marquis of Zhenyuan was still alive, he arranged a marriage for her with the young master of the Ding'an family. They were a perfect match, but who knew that little evildoer would get involved with a distant cousin of his who came to live with him, and even got the girl pregnant, causing all sorts of chaos and confusion."
Bai Yuxin was shocked and couldn't help saying, "How can it be so ridiculous when they are not even married yet? She...wouldn't Miss Liu be embarrassed and sad?" As she spoke, she glanced outside the curtain.
I saw Liu Qilan kicking a shuttlecock. The shuttlecock with colorful feathers was flying up and down on her toes. Her slender figure was turning and moving with a unique and agile posture.
Looking at her, I thought to myself that it was a good thing that she could still hold it in. If it were another woman, she would have probably cried herself to death and would never want to go out and see anyone again.
Empress Dowager Jiang nodded and sighed, "Who says it's not true? Her brother and sister-in-law are furious. They refuse to give their sister to such a playboy and want to break off the engagement. But the Anding mansion won't agree, saying only that useless cousin can be the concubine. Mi Lan was once the principal wife. So this side is in trouble."
Bai Yuxin was also angry after hearing this and blurted out, "This is really ridiculous. How can there be a concubine waiting for the main wife before she even gets married?!"
Empress Dowager Jiang waved her hand. "Who says it's not? It's just that this is a family affair, and outsiders shouldn't meddle rashly. Her mother and I were very familiar with each other, and we were considered sisters for many years. When something like this happened, I was worried that she would become depressed without anyone to comfort her, so I often brought her to the palace to relax. Fortunately, in the past two days, she doesn't seem to be bothered by it. She can be considered a very open-minded person."
Speaking of this, she changed the subject and asked, "Yuxin, on the way here, I heard that Concubine Liang gave you a hard time?"
Bai Yuxin smiled slightly and recounted the situation just now. She added, "Luckily, Princess He'an came to rescue me. Otherwise, I would be on trial in Yikun Palace right now."
Empress Dowager Jiang fiddled with the lid of the teacup in her hand, then turned to ask Zang Xiu, "Have you asked them yet?"
Zang Xiu replied, "Talk to the princess's former maid, and she said the same thing as Miss Bai."
Empress Dowager Jiang smiled. "That's good. Concubine Liang has become so domineering that she even dares to ignore my family. Good, domineering is good, rampant is good." She then comforted Bai Yuxin, "Good child, since Miss Yan can't come out, you have become their punching bag. They want to dig something out of you, or force you to accuse others and pin some false accusations on Miss Yan."
Bai Yuxin smiled and said, "Your Majesty, your words are too serious. I understand the importance of this matter. As long as I can bring down the Liang family, I won't feel wronged."
Empress Dowager Jiang smiled faintly. "Having a sister like you to help me is a blessing in my life." As she spoke, she took off a string of sandalwood Buddhist beads from her wrist. "These beads were presented to me by the abbot of Jing'an Temple. I have worn them for over ten years. Now I give them to you. In this harem, a mind as calm as water is rare."
Bai Yuxin quickly took it with both hands and stood up to thank the Queen Mother for her grace.
After sitting for a while, they saw the sky getting dark with a few leaden clouds floating by, which meant it was going to snow again, so the aunt and nephew of the Liu family came over to say goodbye.
Bai Yuxin also wanted to go back to Lezhixuan, so they took their leave together.
Several people walked together to the long street, and suddenly saw a tall man striding out from the Ganqing Gate.
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