Chapter 296 The Plan Fails
The gossip at Qingyuxuan is just something for the masters of each courtyard to listen to and have some fun with.
In the blink of an eye, it's New Year's Eve.
The whole family enjoyed a sumptuous family feast. Men, women, and children gathered together to chat and laugh, and everyone stayed up late to welcome the New Year.
The three Gu brothers gathered to one side to talk, while Meng Jinyao and her two sisters-in-law, along with Madam Jiang, sat beside Old Madam Gu, keeping her company and talking about some interesting things that had recently happened in the capital.
The two girls, Gu Xuanyi and Gu Xuanling, have gotten married. Otherwise, Madam Jiang would have played with her two sisters-in-law. Accompanying elders is always a bit restrictive, and she doesn't feel quite at ease.
The four Gu brothers also gathered together, but subtle changes occurred between them. Ever since Gu Xiuming and Gu Xiuwen fought with Meng Chengzhang, even though Gu Xiuming apologized later, Gu Xiuwen and he could never go back to the way things were before.
Gu Xiuhong, who was previously closest to Gu Xiuming, became distant from him after Gu Xiuming's series of despicable actions, even though Gu Xiuming had already apologized to his elders. He was no longer as friendly as before, after all, they were not on the same path.
As for Gu Xiuyuan, as the eldest brother, he certainly wouldn't take the lead in isolating anyone. He would try his best to maintain good brotherhood and find topics to get all his younger brothers involved, so that no one would be isolated or neglected.
Gu Xiuming naturally noticed the changes in his brothers. He was furious. The girl he liked had become a stumbling block at a crucial moment, giving birth to his child. When would he ever be able to marry a proper wife and turn things around? No, he had to think of a way.
At midnight, everyone returned to their respective courtyards to rest.
Meng Jinyao yawned and urged, "Husband, I'm so sleepy, let's hurry up."
Gu Jingxi asked with a smile, "Are you that sleepy?"
What do you think?
Meng Jinyao glared at him, then couldn't help but yawn, tears welling up in her eyes. She looked so sleepy, as if she could fall asleep standing up, that she was truly exhausted.
Seeing this, Gu Jingxi squatted down in front of her.
Meng Jinyao was confused until a while later, when she heard him say, "Come up quickly."
Meng Jinyao then understood what he meant. Without being polite, she climbed onto his back, put her arms around his neck, and let him carry her back.
Before they had walked more than a few steps, Meng Jinyao had already fallen asleep.
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The second day of the Lunar New Year is the day when married daughters return to their parents' home.
No matter how bad Meng Jinyao's relationship with her family was, she still had to prepare gifts to send back to her family when it was time to go back, since her younger brother was still there.
Gu Jingxi accompanied her back, while Gu Xiuming, probably because he was irritable lately and couldn't pretend to be a dutiful son accompanying his mother back to her parents' home, didn't go back with her.
This time, Meng Dongyuan wasn't confused. He figured that with Sun Shi, who had been tormenting his eldest daughter, gone, his eldest daughter should have calmed down. In the future, the Meng family would still need the Gu family's support.
So, early in the morning, she instructed the kitchen to prepare a family feast, and also inquired about the snacks her eldest daughter liked, sending someone to buy them, in preparation for her daughter and son-in-law to visit her parents' home.
After learning about this, Meng Jinyu vented her anger in her room. She used to be the apple of her parents' eye, and they always catered to her preferences when it came to food. Now, her father went to great lengths to find out what Meng Jinyao liked and was catering to her preferences.
As a result, Meng Chengxing also suffered the consequences; for no reason, he was scolded by his sister as a useless thing.
After his mother's death, Meng Chengxing relied on his sister, who was born of the same mother. Now, for the first time, he felt dissatisfied with his sister and stormed off.
Meng Jinyu also came to her senses. Thinking that even if she got married in the future, she would still need a younger brother from her maternal family to support her, she quickly grabbed his sleeve and said something unusually soft: "Third brother, don't be angry with me. I'm just feeling down. We are siblings from the same mother. You won't be angry with me just because I'm in a bad mood, will you?"
Meng Chengxing's anger subsided: "Second sister, don't take it out on me again next time."
Meng Jinyu nodded and said, "My brother-in-law and sister should be arriving soon. Let's go see them."
Meng Chengxing glanced at her and asked, "Second sister, don't you dislike her? If she's back, why should we go and join in the fun?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyu's temples throbbed. She felt that her younger brother was still living in the past. If it were before Meng Jinyao married into the Changxing Marquis's mansion, they would indeed not need to pay attention to Meng Jinyao. But now it was different. She glared at him and said, "Father is trying to please the two of them now. We have to put on a show and not cause any conflict with her. If we lose Father's favor, who will benefit in the end?"
Meng Chengxing was instantly enlightened.
Not long after, Meng Jinyao and Gu Jingxi returned to the Yongchang Marquis's residence and found that her father and grandmother were kind to her. Chengzhang was good to her, which goes without saying. What was even more remarkable was that Meng Chengxing and Meng Jinyu were also very well-behaved.
After the luncheon, Meng Jinyu found Meng Jinyao and asked bluntly, "Elder sister, you must have heard that Father is looking for a stepmother for us, right?"
Meng Jinyao nodded: "I heard about it, what happened?"
Meng Jinyu said sincerely, "I was ignorant before and always made you unhappy, so I apologize to you."
Meng Jinyao smiled and pursed her lips: "It's all in the past, why is Second Sister bringing it up again?"
“I know you don’t like me, and I don’t expect you to forgive my ignorance when I was young.” Meng Jinyu lowered her head dejectedly, sighed softly, and after a while raised her head again, and continued, “But we are sisters who are connected by blood, and we are sisters who stand on the same side no matter what. What do you think, eldest sister?”
Meng Jinyao glanced at her indifferently: "Yes, we are half-sisters, I don't deny that, but what exactly is my second sister trying to say?"
Meng Jinyu looked around and, seeing that no one was coming, lowered her voice and said, "I think eldest sister doesn't want a stepmother to marry into the family either, right? The future stepmother is our common enemy. Father wants to remarry, and my third brother and I can't persuade him. But if eldest sister and brother-in-law put pressure on Father, he might give up on remarrying."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao gave her a strange look, feeling that this younger sister was treating her like a fool, and smiled knowingly: "So, second sister wants me and the Marquis to stop Father from remarrying?"
Meng Jinyu said, "Only my eldest sister and brother-in-law have this ability."
Meng Jinyao chuckled softly, feigning confusion as she asked, "Second sister, you're really strange. Didn't you tell me before that a stepmother is also a mother, and that we should treat our stepmothers as filial as our own mothers? Why are you telling me now that stepmothers are enemies?"
Meng Jinyu was speechless at her words.
Seeing that she was speechless and embarrassed, Meng Jinyao smiled mockingly and continued, "Father is only in his thirties and grandmother is getting old. The household affairs need a young mistress to take over. It is only right that he remarries. Does Second Sister want Father to be left without anyone who cares about him?"
Hearing her say this, Meng Jinyu knew that she would never object to her father remarrying, so she simply stopped pretending and said in a deep voice, "Eldest sister, you are a married woman and you are not worried about being mistreated by your stepmother, but aren't you worried about your second brother? You usually have the best relationship with your second brother. It's fine if you're not worried about me and my third brother, but can you bear to see your second brother being mistreated by your stepmother?"
Meng Jinyao said calmly, "My second brother is now registered under my mother's name. He is the legitimate son of the first wife, and with me as his elder sister to protect him, even if my stepmother wants to mistreat him, she will have to think twice."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyu's expression changed drastically.
Meng Jinyao's smile deepened: "However, it's different for Second Sister and Third Brother. Second Sister should pray that we can meet a gentle and kind stepmother."
Meng Jinyu was speechless with anger: "You..."
Meng Jinyao teased, "Second sister, if you don't want to be disliked by Father, you'd better not talk nonsense. Otherwise, my past is your future. Second sister should know very well what kind of life it is to not be liked by the elders in the Meng family, right?"
After saying that, Meng Jinyao ignored her and left on her own.
Meng Jinyu's plan failed, and watching her receding figure, she stomped her feet in anger.
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