Chapter Thirty-Four: Sowing Discord
The Changxing Marquis's Mansion occupies a larger area than the Yongchang Earl's Mansion. It has everything: carved beams and painted rafters, pavilions and towers, small bridges and flowing water. The prosperity of the mansion is incomparable to that of the now-declining Yongchang Earl's Mansion, which can only maintain its superficial dignity by relying on its ancestral foundation.
Meng Jinyao strolled around the mansion where she would, barring any unforeseen circumstances, live for the rest of her life. Apart from the main house, the second house, and Old Madam Gu's Shou'an Hall, she made a general appearance to familiarize herself with the surroundings.
As Meng Jinyao descended the small bridge, she saw Zhang Shi approaching and paused slightly before walking towards her, calling out softly, "Sister-in-law."
Madam Zhang had actually seen her strolling with two maids from afar, and deliberately walked towards her, giving her a slight nod before asking, "It's springtime, and the flowers in this courtyard are in full bloom. Third sister-in-law, are you here to admire the flowers too?"
Meng Jinyao replied, "I'll take advantage of this free time to stroll around the mansion, familiarize myself with the surroundings, and admire the flowers in the garden along the way."
"Then I'll accompany my third sister-in-law for a stroll."
As Zhang spoke, she glanced at her. Seeing that she readily agreed, she joined her in admiring the flowers. After walking a few steps, she asked, seemingly casually, "I heard that Xiuming had a high fever last night. Did your wife visit him this morning?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao paused slightly, instantly understanding Zhang's intention to accompany her shopping. She readily replied, "My son is sick, how can a mother not worry? I went to check on his condition, but fortunately it's nothing serious."
Zhang sighed, “Third sister-in-law is truly kind-hearted. Xiuming treated you so badly, yet you still don’t hold a grudge. It’s really rare.”
Meng Jinyao smiled gently and said softly, "My sister-in-law is also a mother, so she should be able to understand me. What mother would hold a grudge against her own son?"
Zhang choked, then glanced at her discreetly. She saw that the woman had gentle eyes and a smile on her lips, and there was nothing unusual about her. She seemed to be a kind mother who would not hold a grudge against her child.
She was more composed than she had imagined. Despite harboring resentment towards Gu Xiuming and being younger than him, she could still feign the demeanor of a loving mother. However, it was unclear how long she could maintain this facade. Given Gu Xiuming's personality, no matter how well she acted, this incongruous mother and son would inevitably clash sooner or later.
Thinking this, Zhang sighed softly and continued, "That's true, but Xiuming is spoiled and willful, and he's also stubborn. Once he's made up his mind, it's hard to change it, which has caused my third sister-in-law to suffer."
What has been determined?
Could it be that Miss Wan'er?
Meng Jinyao pretended not to understand Zhang's attempt to sow discord and said without changing her expression, "Actually, I can understand. My husband is usually busy with official duties and has neglected to discipline him. After he was adopted, he did not have a mother to educate him. Now that he has a mother, I will educate him properly."
Zhang sneered inwardly, finding her hypocritical, but outwardly she went along with her words: "With your patient guidance, Xiu Ming will definitely get better and better. By the way, your third brother just got married and has his wedding leave, why didn't you show him around the house?"
"My husband has other matters to attend to, so he left the manor after lunch." Meng Jinyao did not hide anything and told the truth. After all, Zhang Shi was in charge of the household affairs and even knew that she had gone to the ancestral hall that morning. As for Gu Jingxi leaving the manor, she could find out by asking the gatekeeper.
Upon hearing this, Madam Zhang frowned slightly, feeling indignant on Meng Jinyao's behalf: "Third brother is really something, he was like that..." She hesitated, looking at Meng Jinyao's beautiful face, and sighed regretfully, then continued, "This marriage was already unfair to Third Brother's wife, yet he still devoted himself to official duties and didn't even know to spend more time with her to make amends."
Meng Jinyao, understanding and considerate, said, "My husband is an important official in the court, and he is very busy with official duties. How can he often stay in the inner quarters with a young woman like me?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang thought of her useless husband, who only held a sinecure position thanks to the family's protection and had not made a name for himself after so many years. Her third brother was deeply favored by the emperor, but he did not seek a good future for his elder brother, so her husband had only held a low-ranking sinecure position with no real power for many years.
He has been very idle over the years, only going to the government office to report for duty every day. The rest of the time he either goes to so-called social events or stays at home. In the early years, he would accompany her, but now that she is old and faded, she spends her time in the rooms of those vixen concubines. Fortunately, she has always kept a close eye on her and has never produced any illegitimate children to annoy people.
After a moment, Zhang forced a smile: "Third brother's wife is so understanding. Third brother is so lucky to have married a wife like you."
Meng Jinyao replied with a smile, "Brother is so lucky to have married such a virtuous wife as sister-in-law. Who in the capital doesn't know how well she manages the household?"
Upon hearing this, alarm bells rang in Zhang's heart. She involuntarily turned to look at her and saw her smiling gently. A strand of hair fell from her temple as the spring breeze blew by. She reached out and tucked the strand of hair behind her ear. When she raised her hand, her sleeve fell down, revealing her fair and delicate wrist. A pool of emerald green clung to her wrist, and the lush green made her slender hand appear even whiter.
Seeing this, Zhang felt even more threatened. That bracelet was priceless and had been passed down through generations of the Gu family. It was a symbol of the matriarch of the family. Were Meng Jinyao's words and her meaningful actions a subtle reminder that she should relinquish her power over managing the household affairs?
That won't do. The second son is at least a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Rites. Even if his wife doesn't help her manage the household affairs, it won't be a big loss. But her husband is not. He is the least capable of the three brothers. If the eldest son loses his power to manage the household, how can he have any confidence in speaking and acting in the mansion?
In that short moment, Zhang's mind raced, and she finally decided to retreat in order to advance: "Speaking of managing the household, it was because my third brother was not married that the management of the household fell into my hands, and I managed it on his behalf. Now that my third brother is married, the management of the household should rightfully be handed over to my third brother's wife."
Meng Jinyao was slightly taken aback. As the saying goes, the speaker may not mean it, but the listener may take it to heart. It was clearly not what she meant, but she made people think that.
Her words were just literal, but she didn't expect Zhang to overthink them. So she smiled and said, "I'm still young and I'm afraid I can't handle it. My sister-in-law has a lot of experience in managing the household, so she should continue to manage the household affairs."
Seeing her bright and sincere smile, without revealing any unusual behavior, Zhang thought to herself that she was really good at keeping her composure. She clearly wanted it very much, but she pretended to refuse, just so that Zhang would persuade her to do so, and then she could take over the power of managing the household affairs with a clear conscience.
But he wouldn't indulge her or be polite to her. He reluctantly said, "Since that's the case, I'll continue to manage it for my third sister-in-law for now, and hand it back to her when she gets older."
Meng Jinyao nodded and said, "Then I'll continue to trouble you, sister-in-law."
Seeing that Meng Jinyao was still smiling, Zhang frowned almost imperceptibly. Meng Jinyao was more difficult to deal with than she had imagined. She was like a cunning fox, leaving no room for error and making it impossible for anyone to find fault with her.
She replied gently, "Of course, why be so polite with your sister-in-law?"
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