Chapter 281 Using My Younger Brother
The Yongchang Earl's Mansion.
Ever since the incident at Madam Meng's birthday banquet, Meng Jinyu has not left the house, and she tries her best not to even step out of the courtyard gate.
People outside were saying that with a mother like Madam Sun, she couldn't be any better off. The servants in the mansion were looking at her strangely, and those looks made her feel uncomfortable.
On the other hand, her younger brother, who was born of the same mother, received far fewer rumors and gossip than she did, which made her angry. They were clearly children born of the same mother, so why should Chengxing receive preferential treatment just because he was a boy?
Just because Chengxing spent more time being taught by her teacher at the academy, while she spent more time being taught by her mother at home, people felt that she did not understand the principles of sages and was more influenced by her mother.
At this moment, Meng Jinyu was locked in her room, ignoring everything outside, so as not to hear any unpleasant comments and get upset.
The personal maid Qing'er came in and reported, "Second Miss, the young master has arrived."
Meng Jinyu was still angry with her younger brother and didn't want to see him now because he was a boy and was doing better than her. She immediately said, "Tell him to get lost. I don't want to see anyone!"
Qing'er knew that her mistress was in a bad mood, and she didn't expect that even her own younger brother didn't like her. So she advised, "Second Miss, no matter how upset you are, you can't fall out of touch with the young master. He is your closest younger brother. You two should support each other in the future."
Meng Jinyu was not going to listen to any advice and said irritably, "I said I wouldn't see him, so I won't see him. Tell him to get lost and stop bothering me. Does he think he has problems while I don't? I'm not a mother, and I can't appease him."
Seeing that she was completely unyielding, Qing'er shook her head helplessly and dared not try to persuade her anymore, lest the Second Miss take her anger out on her later.
Upon learning that his sister did not want to see anyone, Meng Chengxing disregarded everything else, pushed Qing'er aside, and barged into the room.
When Meng Jinyu saw him barge in like this, she frowned unhappily: "Didn't Qing'er tell you that I'm feeling annoyed and don't want to see anyone?"
Meng Chengxing didn't notice her anger directed at him. He sat down next to her and said, "Second sister, I know you're in a bad mood. I'm also in a bad mood after what happened. I've come to bother you because I have something to tell you."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyu lifted her eyelids, glanced at him, and asked with little interest, "What is it? Did you fail your studies again and get scolded by the teacher, so you've come to me for comfort?"
Meng Chengxing paused. He had indeed failed his homework yesterday, but the teacher, mindful of the misfortune he had suffered, did not scold him. Instead, the teacher comforted him, telling him not to think too much and to focus on his studies.
He shook his head: "It's not about that. It's that Father wants to find us a stepmother."
Meng Jinyu was startled and asked urgently, "What did you say?"
Meng Chengxing glanced at his sister, knowing that she had been locking herself in the courtyard these past few days, oblivious to everything happening outside, and certainly didn't know about this matter. So he said, "Father found a matchmaker to find a suitable unmarried girl for his remarriage. I heard this news from a few of my classmates."
Meng Jinyu's heart tightened: "Is the information wrong?"
Meng Chengxing said with certainty, "I think it's true. The young master of the Yin family spoke with great conviction. It was the matchmaker who let it slip, and the Yin family found out about this news first. The news came from the Yin family, so they wouldn't openly spread rumors."
Upon confirming the news, Meng Jinyu panicked instantly. She had a feeling that her father might remarry, but she didn't expect it to happen so soon. Her mother had only died last month, and her father was already looking for a new wife. Did he really have no feelings for her mother at all? With a stepmother, how could she possibly have a good life?
Seeing Meng Jinyu's flustered expression, Meng Chengxing, who was two years younger than her, became even more anxious and asked, "Second sister, what should we do? If Father marries a stepmother for us, we'll probably suffer at her hands. How many stepmothers are good people who would treat their husband's children from his previous marriage well?"
When he said this, he had already forgotten that his mother had been someone else's stepmother, and only thought about the hard days he would have with a stepmother in the future.
Meng Jinyu was feeling irritated and uneasy, and she didn't give him a good look either. She said irritably, "You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask? You're the heir apparent, and you'll inherit the title in the future. How can your stepmother treat you? As for me, I haven't even settled down yet. I don't know what kind of husband she'll find for me."
Meng Chengxing then realized that his sister was taking her anger out on him. Feeling a little wronged, he said dejectedly, "Second sister, your marriage is not settled, and neither is mine. Compared to you, how much better am I? She can find you a useless husband, and she can also find me a bad wife."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyu stared at her younger brother for a long time, then suddenly a brilliant idea flashed in her mind. She said, "Third brother, I have a plan. Would you be willing to give it a try?"
Meng Chengxing asked, "What plan?"
Meng Jinyu's expression softened slightly, and she said in a low voice, "Father has always valued you, and Grandmother also dotes on you. Among all of us siblings, Grandmother dotes on you the most. Why don't you go to Grandmother and object to Father's remarriage? Grandmother feels sorry for you and will try to persuade Father to postpone the remarriage."
Meng Chengxing was taken aback: "Put it aside for now? How long will that take?"
Meng Jinyu seemed thoughtful and replied, "At least wait two more years. Originally, we were supposed to observe three years of mourning after Mother's death, but since Mother was divorced, she was considered an abandoned mother, so her children only need to observe one year of mourning. Next year I will come of age, and my grandmother will arrange my marriage. In two years, I will be married, and I can help you then. Otherwise, my marriage will also be schemed against by my stepmother, and I will be in a bad situation. How can I help you then?"
As she spoke, she observed her younger brother's expression. Seeing that he seemed to agree with her, she continued, "Besides, if we wait another two years, you can also get engaged. Our marriages will be settled, so our stepmother won't be able to scheme against our marriages. What do you think?"
Meng Chengxing thought this made sense and nodded in agreement, then hesitated and said, "Second sister, shall I tell Grandmother this?"
Meng Jinyu's expression tightened. If her foolish younger brother said that to their grandmother, her grandmother might suspect that she had instigated it. She quickly said, "You definitely can't say that. If you say that, your grandmother will think you are overthinking it. Just say that you haven't recovered from the pain of losing your mother and can't accept your father remarrying. Just make a scene with her and say that you disagree. She will feel sorry for you and will naturally make your father put the matter aside."
Meng Chengxing nodded: "Then I'll go to Rongfu Hall now and tell Grandmother about this." After he finished speaking, he stood up.
Meng Jinyu nodded: "Go ahead, I'll be waiting for your good news."
Watching Meng Chengxing's departing figure, Meng Jinyu's gaze grew even deeper. She didn't want to do this either, but her importance in her grandmother's heart was far less than that of Chengxing.
Besides, Chengxing is the heir apparent. Even if his grandmother is angry, she won't do anything to him. In his grandmother's heart, Chengxing is her very flesh and blood.
She was different because she looked like her mother, and her grandmother was no longer as close to her as before, but she remained the same to Chengxing. That was the difference.
If she displeases her grandmother, she might lose her grandmother's favor. If a young woman loses the favor of her elders, wouldn't her fate be the same as Meng Jinyao's?
Meng Jinyao was just lucky; she managed to marry a marquis who was currently enjoying the emperor's favor, and only now is she living a good life.
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