Chapter 559 Each with their own agenda
Seeing that she remained silent for a long time, Zhao couldn't help but say again, "Ayao, give me some advice, I don't know what to do either."
Instead of answering, Meng Jinyao asked, "Mother, what's my father's current situation after Grandmother fell ill?"
Zhao replied, "He means we should just do what we normally do, pretend no one in the family is sick, and even Chengxing doesn't know about it yet. Right now, it seems like your grandmother is healthy and is chanting sutras and praying in the Buddhist hall, and no one is allowed to disturb her. But this self-deception will eventually get out, and what if something happens to your grandmother..."
Zhao stopped speaking halfway through her sentence and did not continue.
"Even Third Brother didn't know?"
Meng Jinyao was astonished. For the first time, she felt that her father was quite capable, managing to keep even her third brother in the dark. Her third brother had a strained relationship with their father, and his only support now was their grandmother. If something happened to their grandmother, her third brother would definitely be the most anxious one in the family.
Zhao glanced at her and gently shook her head: "It's not that your father is good at hiding it, but that Chengxing hasn't been home for the past few days, so he doesn't know what happened at home."
Meng Jinyao pressed further, "Why doesn't he go home? Unlike my second brother, who lives far from home and studies at an academy in the capital, he can go home every day after school."
Zhao replied truthfully, "I'm not quite sure about that. But your father knew he hadn't come home, but he didn't do anything about it. He even told me not to meddle, saying that he wasn't my biological son and I had no right to interfere. Since your father said that, I'm even less likely to interfere. But as far as I know, Chengxing has stayed away from home for several days before."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao understood after a moment's thought. Her father harbored resentment towards her third brother and wanted to completely ruin him so that he could find an opportunity to petition the emperor to remove her third brother from his position as heir apparent and appoint her second brother as heir apparent instead.
Thinking of this, Meng Jinyao's eyes flickered, and she said gently, "Mother, if word gets out that Father made Grandmother sick, it will be a disgrace to the Meng family. Grandmother values the family's reputation the most and considers it more important than anything else. I think we should wait until Grandmother wakes up before making a decision on this matter. For now, let's do as Father says. After Grandmother wakes up, how to deal with Father will depend on Grandmother's wishes. What do you think, Mother?"
After hearing this, Zhao looked at Meng Jinyao with a probing gaze. She didn't believe that Meng Jinyao was truly choosing not to expose Meng Dongyuan for the sake of the family's reputation. She must have other motives. She pretended not to see through Meng Jinyao's intentions and pretended to be deep in thought before replying, "Your grandmother does care a lot about the family's reputation. I think your suggestion is good. We'll make a decision after your grandmother wakes up."
"Mother, please keep a close eye on any servants who know the inside story, and send them away if necessary, to prevent them from gossiping and causing trouble." Meng Jinyao then asked, "Father angered Grandmother so much, what was his attitude after he sobered up?"
Zhao replied, "Have the family physician treat your grandmother with the best medicine." Thinking of the panicked yet ruthless expression on her husband's face when he woke up and saw his mother unconscious, she could guess that her husband wanted his mother dead, but he was also afraid that if his mother really died, he would be punished for being unfilial if the truth came out.
Meng Jinyao was slightly taken aback. Although her father was mediocre and incompetent, he was still somewhat clear-headed. If her grandmother really died, the fact that her father had angered her mother to death would eventually come out, and he would definitely be in deep trouble. The current emperor was a filial son and hated unfilial sons the most. An unfilial son who angered his mother to death would probably not even be able to keep his title.
Zhao expressed her concern: "Ayao, I'm worried that your grandmother won't wake up."
Meng Jinyao pretended to ponder for a moment, revealing a pained expression, and said with a dilemma, "Mother, if, if something really happens, then we can only follow Father's wishes. He is still my father. If I, as his daughter, were to report him, that would be unfilial. And you are his wife. If a wife reports her husband, she will also be punished and go to jail."
Upon hearing this, Zhao looked at her in surprise. The father and daughter were clearly at odds, and this was a handle to deal with Meng Dongyuan. Even if the old lady was really gone, Meng Jinyao would still pretend not to know and cover for Meng Dongyuan. What was she after?
Meng Jinyao lowered her eyes, her mind racing. It wasn't that she was truly filial to her father, so filial that she would go against her conscience for him, but rather that she wanted to protect the title that her ancestors had fought so hard for. She couldn't let a bad apple spoil the foundation laid by her ancestors.
In her eyes, her grandmother deserved to die. Once someone who deserved to die is dead, that's it. It's impossible for her to seek justice for someone who deserved to die. With her grandmother dead, her third brother lost his only support, and it would be easier for her father to petition the emperor to change the heir apparent. She could also use this matter to manipulate her father, which was a good thing for her.
Meng Jinyao then added meaningfully, "Mother, although Father and you don't get along, after what happened to Grandmother, I think he should know he was wrong and understand the seriousness of marital discord. He shouldn't dare to treat you like that again."
Zhao Shi understood the implied meaning and knew that Meng Jinyao was agreeing to protect her and prevent her father from bullying her. She gave Meng Jinyao a grateful look.
She was not loved by her husband. No matter how fierce or strong-willed she was, she was able to live comfortably in the Meng family and make her husband suffer at her hands because of her mother-in-law's support.
If her mother-in-law were to pass away, she and her daughter, a widow and orphan, would have no support in the Meng family, and life would be truly difficult. Although she could have a servant who knew the situation leak the news, causing her husband to suffer a terrible fate and be unable to deal with her, she didn't want to do that unless absolutely necessary.
It wasn't that she had feelings for her husband and couldn't bear to part with him, but rather it was for the sake of her daughter who was about to come of age. If she exposed the affair and divorced Meng Dongyuan, she could certainly extricate herself from the situation.
However, without the status of a countess, and with her family being of humble origins, she had no way to find a wealthy husband for her daughter. Her daughter might even be used as a tool by her family to seek their own interests, and they might arrange a marriage for her to gain benefits.
Now she is the wife of an earl, her stepdaughter is the wife of the Marquis of Changxing, and her stepson Chengzhang is hardworking and talented. With the Marquis of Changxing's support, he will definitely have a bright future. As long as she gets along well with these two children, others will give her some face because of her stepson and stepson. It will be much easier for her daughter to marry into a good family.
As a mother, she couldn't just think about her own comfort; she had to plan for her daughter's future. Since her stepdaughter could be her support, she would follow her stepdaughter's wishes. That way, their lives wouldn't be too difficult.
The two, each with their own agenda, reached a consensus: regardless of whether Madam Meng could wake up or not, they would pretend not to know the inside story and cover up the truth in accordance with Meng Dongyuan's wishes. If Madam Meng were to die like this, they would announce to the outside world that she had died of a sudden illness.
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