Chapter 118 Bitten by a Dog
Upon hearing this, Song Xinning's expression also turned grim: "No wonder she pretended to be kind to you; it turns out she was just feeling guilty."
Seeing her friend's gloomy face, she softened her tone and comforted her, "Ayao, don't be angry. It's better to save her. Otherwise, if she falls, she'll blame you, and Princess Jingning will also help her. Then she'll ruin your reputation and say that you murdered your own sister. You'll have no way to defend yourself then."
Meng Jinyao sighed: "Fine, I'll just consider today as bad luck because I didn't check the almanac before going out and got bitten by a dog."
“Yes, just pretend I was bitten by a vicious dog.” Song Xinning nodded repeatedly, stepped forward and took her arm. “Ayao, come with me to choose some rouge and lipstick. The color you chose last time suited me very well. Pick me a new one this time.”
Meng Jinyao responded and was about to accompany her into the rouge shop when she stopped and asked softly about Madam Shen's condition: "By the way, Aning, is Madam Shen feeling any better?"
Song Xinning smiled and said, "Aunt Shen is much better, but she was seriously ill and her health was greatly depleted. She needs to rest and recuperate."
As soon as she finished speaking, she remembered another matter concerning the Shen family, and her smile froze. She scoffed, "Uncle Shen's concubine, the one who was pregnant with twins, is now Uncle Shen's concubine. Because she is pregnant with twins and is favored by Uncle Shen, she is arrogant and conceited. She wants to match Aunt Shen's rations in everything she eats, wears, and uses. She doesn't even know her own status."
Meng Jinyao was taken aback: "The household affairs are still in Madam Shen's hands. How could Madam Shen allow her to bypass me?"
Song Xinning quickly shook her head and whispered, "Of course Aunt Shen is unwilling. Although the Shen family has the surname Shen, Uncle Shen came from a poor family and his original salary was not much. He was promoted and his salary was increased only last year, so there is not much property belonging to the Zhonggong family. Almost all the property in the mansion is Aunt Shen's dowry."
"Over the years, Aunt Shen has managed her dowry shops and estates well, which is why the family's wealth has increased so much. The Shen family's prosperity is all thanks to Aunt Shen's dowry, which belongs to her and she can take it back at any time. No matter how much Uncle Shen dotes on that concubine, he can't make the decisions unless he uses his own private money to subsidize her. However, Uncle Shen also values his reputation and wouldn't do something like favoring a concubine over his wife. Because the concubine was spoiled, he even scolded her."
Meng Jinyao replied, "That's good. Madam Shen is strong-willed, and Young Master Shen has already established himself. That concubine can't cause any trouble."
Song Xinning's face lit up with a smile again: "That's right, Brother Shen is already twenty-two and has entered officialdom. Even if the concubine is lucky enough to give birth to twins, they'll just be infants, and it's hard to say whether they'll amount to anything in the future. Ah Yao, let's go in first." With that, she took Meng Jinyao's hand and entered the rouge shop.
Meng Jinyao nodded with a smile, and was also happy for her friend. As long as Madam Shen was firm, the concubines would not be able to cause any trouble, and the inner quarters would not be in chaos. Young Master Shen should have married long ago at his age, but he waited for A-Ning to grow up. He waited for several years. Once A-Ning marries into the family, she will definitely be cherished like a precious jewel.
Afterwards, Meng Jinyao accompanied Song Xinning to buy rouge and lipstick, and then accompanied her back to the Shen residence.
Meng Jinyao had visited the Shen residence before, invited by Madam Shen, and came with Song Xinning.
Before going to the Shen residence, Meng Jinyao bought some tonics that the patient could use, otherwise it would be inappropriate to visit empty-handed.
When Meng Jinyao saw Madam Shen, she was slightly taken aback. She had met Madam Shen once before her marriage, and at that time Madam Shen was radiant and did not look like she was nearly forty years old. She was very different from the middle-aged woman in front of her now who was bedridden, looked sickly, thin, and aged several years.
When Madam Shen saw her, she smiled gently and said, "Ayao, you've come. Please have a seat."
Meng Jinyao curtsied, then sat down on a small stool in front of the bed and asked with concern, "Madam Chen, are you alright?"
"Much better," Madam Shen said, smiling as she looked at her future daughter-in-law beside her. She teased, "You don't need to worry about me. I'm still waiting for Aning to marry into the family so I can have a cup of 'bride tea.' I've been waiting for this cup of tea for so long, I have to drink it. I can't let someone else drink it for me. Besides, it would be a pity if I died before I could even hold my grandson."
Song Xinning blushed and said coquettishly, "Aunt Shen, maybe I won't be able to give birth to a son, but instead have a daughter?"
After saying that, her face turned even redder. What kind of things were she saying? What was with all this talk about having children? She had no shame!
Madam Shen was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "My daughter is quite good too. She is as thoughtful and lovable as Aning. I have always regretted not being able to give birth to a daughter as well-behaved and sensible as Aning."
Song Xinning opened her mouth, but then simply didn't reply. She lowered her head shyly and gently tugged at her friend's sleeve, signaling her to change the subject and save the day for her.
Meng Jinyao thoughtfully changed the subject and chatted with Madam Shen for a while. Madam Shen was still ill and had limited energy, so she quickly became tired and needed to rest.
After Madam Shen rested, it was already noon.
Meng Jinyao and Song Xinning both had lunch in Madam Shen's courtyard.
Meng Jinyao asked, "A-Ning, Madam Shen took a nap at noon and didn't eat lunch. Won't she be hungry?"
Song Xinning replied, "No, Aunt Shen eats small meals frequently these days. She probably just ate before we arrived."
After having lunch at the Shen residence, Meng Jinyao and Song Xinning left and rented a painted boat to cruise the lake to pass the time. As evening fell and the lights came on, the lake presented a different kind of scenery.
Song Xinning suggested having dinner on the pleasure boat and enjoying the night view later when it was completely dark.
Meng Jinyao agreed without hesitation: "Okay, that's exactly what I was thinking."
Hearing her answer so readily, Song Xinning hesitated for a moment and asked, "But how strict is Lord Gu with you? Can you not go back after nightfall?"
Meng Jinyao smiled nonchalantly: "He and I aren't a normal married couple, so what difference does it make whether I go back or not? It's not like I'm having an affair; I'm just having dinner with my best friend."
Song Xinning's expression froze. At first glance, there seemed to be nothing wrong with what she said, but upon closer inspection, it felt strange. She stared at Meng Jinyao with a probing look in her eyes for a long time, but couldn't figure out anything. She asked softly, "Ayao, is Lord Gu not good to you?"
Meng Jinyao countered, "He's been very good to me, why do you ask that?"
Song Xinning shook her head and said earnestly, "It's nothing, I was just asking. Ayao, if you've been wronged at the Gu family, don't keep it to yourself."
Meng Jinyao's lips curled up into a faint smile: "Don't worry, Aning, no one in the Gu family will make me suffer. At most, it's just that rebellious son Gu Xiuming who will provoke me a bit, but he can't provoke me for a while because he's been confined to his quarters for making a mistake."
Song Xinning was taken aback, then chuckled lightly: "Your son is really something, making one mistake after another, it never ends."
Meng Jinyao raised an eyebrow: "Otherwise, how could he be a rebellious son?"
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