Chapter 429 Schadenfreude
The news that Mei Qingyun, the most beautiful and talented woman in the capital, had been divorced spread throughout the capital in just a few days. Although she kept a low profile when she returned to the capital and never went out afterward, the rumors still spread. As more people discussed it in private, the news spread throughout the capital.
Mei Qingyun was once considered the epitome of a refined young lady in the capital. She was outstanding in appearance, gentle in nature, and exceptionally talented. She was proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Even the Empress Dowager praised her musical skills. Many sons of officials admired her, while she also aroused the envy and jealousy of many young ladies.
This girl was engaged to Gu Jingxi, who was known as the most handsome man in the capital. While many people envied her, many young men and women were heartbroken. However, when people thought that two people of exceptional talent and beauty were together, they were not so unwilling to accept it. After all, they were truly a perfect match, and no one could be more worthy of each other than them.
Later, when Gu Jingxi got into trouble, the Mei family broke off the engagement.
Gu Jingxi has no young ladies willing to marry him, but Mei Qingyun still has many suitors, and matchmakers are practically wearing out the Mei family's doorstep.
However, Mei Qingyun married Wei Heng.
Many sons of officials were resentful: What makes Wei Heng so special? He's just a little better looking, isn't he? Can he really be better looking than Gu Jingxi?
Not long after, Wei Heng passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).
Everyone fell silent.
She passed the imperial examination at the age of nineteen. Although she did not become the top scholar at the age of fifteen or sixteen like Gu Jingxi, she was still a very outstanding young man. Old Master Mei had a discerning eye and chose a talented husband for his daughter.
Not long after Mei Qingyun married Wei Heng, she went to take up her post with her husband, and people stopped paying attention to Mei Qingyun's affairs.
The next time I paid attention to Mei Qingyun was now. She had been married for more than ten years without children and was divorced by her husband's family. She returned from Huzhou Prefecture in disgrace, probably because she was too ashamed to even leave the house.
The young ladies who were once overshadowed by her now, upon learning of her downfall, gossiped behind her back, all gloating.
Many people say privately, "What's the use of being beautiful? What's the use of being talented? If a woman can't have children and can't carry on her husband's family line, what's the difference between her and a hen that doesn't lay eggs?"
Some people say, "Back then, the Mei family disliked Lord Gu because of his injury. As a result, their daughter was unable to have children. More than ten years later, Lord Gu was cured by Imperial Physician Wen, and she was divorced because she had no children. If she had married the injured Lord Gu back then, she wouldn't have ended up being divorced."
The man who admired her back then was somewhat relieved to learn that she had been divorced by her husband's family because she was childless. He was glad that the Mei family had not agreed to his marriage proposal, otherwise, not being able to have children after marrying into the family would have been a problem.
Some men also saw this as an opportunity. The girl they admired in their youth had been divorced and was nearly thirty years old. Moreover, she was unable to have children and would have difficulty finding a husband. If she was still attractive, why not make her their concubine?
Just thinking about how the girl he once wanted to cherish and love for a lifetime never even glanced at him, and was eventually divorced and became his concubine, gave him an indescribable sense of pleasure, as if he had avenged his humiliation.
As a result, some men from families with far better backgrounds than the Mei family were actually considering whether they should take this opportunity to find a matchmaker to go to the Mei family to propose marriage and take Mei Qingyun as a concubine.
Meng Jinyao rarely went out for a stroll. While resting at a teahouse, she overheard people discussing Mei Qingyun's nearing thirty years old and subsequent divorce from her husband's family. Some felt sorry for her, others slandered her, and still others gloated.
Meng Jinyao took a sip of tea and shook her head dismissively. If others knew the inside story, they would know that Mei Qingyun was not abandoned, but only protected by a letter of divorce because Lord Wei loved her.
Hearing the chatter, Meng Jinyao found it annoying and left the teahouse in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
The maids and old women followed closely behind, and Ningdong went to settle the tea bill.
Meng Jinyao usually didn't have much of a entourage when she went out; she only had a coachman and maids with her. After all, people wouldn't dare to cause trouble if they saw a carriage bearing the Gu family's logo.
But things are different now. She is pregnant, and this child is hard-won. Her family doesn't feel comfortable letting her go out unless she brings a few people with her.
The highly skilled Chan'er followed half a step behind her, followed by Qingqiu and Ningdong. Behind them were two second-class maids and two old women. There were also six guards who knew martial arts, so no one else could get close to her.
A young and beautiful woman went out with more than a dozen servants. Such a grand procession attracted the attention of passersby.
Meng Jinyao felt a little uncomfortable and whispered to Qingqiu, "It seems I should go out less often in the future. I feel uneasy with this kind of pomp and circumstance."
Qingqiu replied, "Madam, there's no need for this when the Marquis returns and accompanies you out."
Meng Jinyao sighed softly, "I wonder if the Marquis will be able to return when winter comes."
Qingqiu didn't know how to answer this question, so she simply said, "Lord Marquis will definitely be back before the New Year."
Meng Jinyao nodded: "It should be possible before the New Year. Before the Marquis left, he said it would take at least two or three months, and at most nearly half a year. We've taken a tour, so it's about time. Let's go back to the manor."
After she finished speaking, she strode forward, where the carriage of the Marquis of Changxing's residence was parked not far ahead.
A lady who had just come out of the rouge shop saw them and said to the lady next to her, "Whose wife is that over there? She has quite the grand procession, going out with more than a dozen servants."
The lady next to her glanced at the emblem on the carriage, which belonged to the Marquis of Changxing's mansion, and replied, "Look at that emblem, it's the carriage of the Marquis of Changxing's mansion. That lady looks young from behind, she should be the wife of the Marquis of Changxing. The eldest son's daughter-in-law would never have such a grand procession when she goes out."
The lady glanced at the carriage and said with annoyance, "This is too high-profile. They bring so many people with them when they go out. I thought they were going to buy something. The servants aren't carrying anything."
The lady beside her laughed and said, "The baby in Madam Gu's belly is the golden grandson that Old Madam Gu has been hoping for for many years. She will definitely bring servants with her when she goes out to serve and protect her. Otherwise, what if he or she gets bumped or hurt?"
For some reason, the lady suddenly thought of Mei Qingyun and laughed, "Back then, the Mei family rejected the engagement because they disliked her. Now, Mei Qingyun has been divorced because she has no children, while Marquis Changxing has a wife and children. What do you think she will feel when she returns to the capital and finds out about this?"
"What other feeling could there be besides regret?"
The lady beside her gently shook her head and said, "However, it's normal for the Mei family to break off the engagement. Who would marry a man who can't perform? When Old Master Mei was alive, the Mei family was doing quite well. Mei Qingyun was both beautiful and talented; how could she marry such a man? But who knew things would turn out this way?"
The lady chuckled, gloating, "She was so arrogant back then. Who would have thought that at her age, she would be rejected because she couldn't have children, and a letter of divorce would send her back to her parents' home. I wonder if she can still be so arrogant now."
The lady next to her replied, "I guess it's impossible. She's too ashamed to go out now, and she won't see any guests."
The lady smiled even more: "I'll host a banquet for her in a while and send her an invitation. Let's see if she comes."
The woman beside her gave her a reproachful look and said helplessly, "You, after all these years, you still hold a grudge against her?"
Upon hearing this, the lady's smile froze. Although she had already married her cousin as she wished, her cousin's concubine bore a striking resemblance to Mei Qingyun and was also quite talented. This proved that her cousin still couldn't forget Mei Qingyun, which made her hate him.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com