Chapter 79 Exposing Shortcomings: "For your sake."
"...It's hard for me to find someone to discuss poetry and painting with on ordinary days. That kid is like a wooden stake, with no poetic or artistic sentiment in his eyes!" Old Master Pei continued to ramble on.
Pei Xu instinctively felt that if he let his grandfather continue to expose his shortcomings, he would suffer even more criticism from Yao Yao in the future. So he cleared his throat and coughed.
Upon hearing the sound, Old Master Pei turned around and saw the person in question standing behind him. His face showed no sign of guilt for gossiping behind people's backs; instead, he was quite self-righteous: "Oh, you're back? Come and see! Young friend Meng's painting paired with my poem is such a perfect match!" He hurriedly held the scroll up to Pei Xu's eyes.
Meng Lingyao's gaze lightly swept over Pei Xu, her eyes filled with a strange smile. Clearly, she had heard every word the old man had said.
Pei Xu carefully examined the paper and praised, "Grandfather's poetic spirit is broad and open, and Miss Meng's brushwork is lively and agile. The two blend together, and the poetry and painting complement each other. It is indeed a rare masterpiece."
“You agreed,” Old Master Pei’s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately became wary, “Then…”
“Then it’s best if my grandson keeps it.” Pei Xu replied calmly, “My grandson is rather dull and needs this kind of poetic and artistic inspiration to immerse himself in it from time to time, which may enlighten him a bit.”
"No, no!" Old Master Pei was anxious upon hearing this, and he hugged the scroll tightly to his chest. "This poem and painting are a testament to my friendship with young friend Meng today! I want to treasure it in Zuimo Studio..." He looked anxiously at Meng Lingyao, hoping for help.
Meng Lingyao watched the play with great interest, smiling broadly. "As the old master just said, although the painting was started by Lingyao, it ultimately reflects your poetic vision, so it naturally belongs to you."
Seeing the old man's disappointed expression, she changed the subject slightly, "But don't worry, sir, your daughter will definitely come to visit often in the future, and we can discuss poetry and painting together. Who knows, we might even see you come up with another fine line, and your daughter will present her humble work again?"
Old Master Pei's eyes immediately lit up again. "Really? It's a deal! I couldn't be happier." He hugged the painting, beaming with joy, completely losing any semblance of the composure of a patriarch.
The old servant seized the opportunity and stepped forward, saying, "Master, it's time to take your medicine."
"Oh? Oh!" Old Master Pei suddenly realized, and stood up as if treasuring the scroll. "I'll go now, young friend Meng, please make yourself at home."
He glanced at his grandson and said, "Take good care of him." Then he left happily.
After the old master's figure disappeared outside the moon gate, Meng Lingyao's smile faded slightly as she looked at Pei Xu, "Is the old master feeling unwell?"
“It’s alright.” Pei Xu gestured for her to sit down. “Grandfather has been in good health in recent years, but the physician instructed that he needs to take the tonics to replenish his qi and blood on time as he gets older.”
Meng Lingyao finally felt relieved and sat down again. Her gaze couldn't help but linger on Pei Xu's indifferent face, then swept over the direction where the old man had disappeared outside the corridor. She really couldn't imagine how such a carefree old man could raise a grandson who was proficient in "silent meditation".
As she pondered, before she could even bring herself to speak, a servant hurried up from the other side of the pavilion to report, "Young Master, Madam Yang has arrived."
Upon hearing the name "Madam Yang," Meng Lingyao immediately began to search through the intricate family relationships in the capital.
Pei Xu's mother came from the Yang family of Hongnong and had a younger sister... who later married a son of the third son of the Cui family. Thinking of the renowned "romantic and talented man" of that Third Master Cui in the noble circles of the capital, she already understood Madam Yang's situation.
The phrase "entrusted to the wrong person" came to mind.
Pei Xu's expression remained unchanged, though his shoulders and back tensed for a moment before returning to normal in an instant.
Meng Lingyao understood the implication; his aunt's visit was not a pleasant thing for him.
He looked at Meng Lingyao, "The Pei family's garden is far less charming than the Meng family's. However, the newly established medicinal herb garden has several rare herbs transplanted from Jiangnan. Why don't you go take a look first, Lingyao, and wait a moment..."
"Does Shaoqing find me unworthy?" Meng Lingyao interrupted him with a smile. "It would be against the rules for a junior to avoid seeing an elder who has come to visit."
Her eyes sparkled as she looked directly into his. "Or... does Shaoqing think I am of lowly status and not qualified to pay my respects to your aunt?"
A flicker of helplessness crossed Pei Xu's eyes, but more than that, there was an unwillingness to argue and a sense of indulgence. "...In that case, let's go see her together." He knew she was doing it on purpose, but he could only go along with her.
Passing through a secluded path lined with flowers and trees, we entered an open hall. A woman dressed in a dark blue dress was already seated there, holding a cup of tea. She was quite beautiful, with a delicate bone structure faintly resembling Pei Xu's in her features. It was clear that his refined appearance was more akin to his mother's.
But the deep lines between Madam Yang's brows, as if carved by a knife and axe, ruined her original elegance; they were marks of years of unhappiness and pent-up sorrow. Even in her finest clothes, she could not hide her melancholy.
This gives a glimpse into the lives of the three wives of the Cui family.
When Madam Yang saw Pei Xu enter, she was about to get up and force a smile to greet him when her gaze was fixed on the graceful figure behind him.
An unnamed anger shot straight to my head!
On the day of the lotus appreciation banquet, she was not in the capital. Instead, she had learned that Third Master Cui was keeping a mistress in Tongzhou who was almost full-term. She rushed there to catch them in the act and only returned to the capital yesterday, where she was subjected to a barrage of sarcastic remarks at the Cui family.
They made veiled insults, mocking her for not only being unable to control her husband but also her nephew. They claimed her good nephew sided with outsiders, making a mess of the house, showing that he had no respect for her as his aunt!
"This must be Miss Meng?" Madam Yang slammed down her teacup, looked Meng Lingyao up and down, her disdain and contempt almost tangible. "An unmarried girl, instead of staying at home and behaving herself, runs off to the young master's residence to fool around... Ha, is she that impatient?"
Pei Xu's eyes darkened, and he subtly moved to shield Meng Lingyao behind him, meeting her gaze. "Aunt, please be careful with your words. Miss Meng is a distinguished guest whom Grandfather specially invited to our residence today to discuss poetry and painting. If you have any questions for me, please ask Grandfather directly when he comes out in a little while."
Madam Yang felt as if she had been choked, her face flushing red and then turning pale. She wouldn't dare question Old Master Pei even if she had ten lives. The pent-up anger in her chest had nowhere to go, and her eyes reddened. She resorted to her usual tactic: "You...you're going to talk back to me for this outsider? Yanxing, have you forgotten who stayed up all night by your sickbed when you were little? Who raised you like their own son? Who else could it be but your aunt?"
She pounded her chest, heartbroken, "Now you've done this for something like this... Where is your conscience? How can you face my painstaking efforts?"
"I will never forget my aunt's kindness to me," Pei Xu said calmly. "What brings you here today?"
"What is it?" Seeing him protect Meng Lingyao, Madam Yang's anger intensified. "It's all because she's shameless. She stirred up trouble at the lotus viewing banquet, instigating Fifth Brother's wife to threaten suicide and demand a divorce, turning the manor into a mess. I've lost all face. Everyone's pointing fingers at me and laughing, saying I'm blind to have raised such an ungrateful nephew! For an unrelated outsider, I've ruined our family ties."
She only cared about her own face and her grievances, never mentioning the Cui family's mistreatment or Zhuo Ling's blood and tears.
Meng Lingyao, who had been standing quietly to the side, finally took a small step forward, crossing the boundary protected by Pei Xu. Her expression was calm and her eyes were clear and bright as she looked directly into Madam Yang's eyes, which were filled with resentment.
“Madam Yang,” Meng Lingyao began, “you just rebuked me for being shameless and ruining someone else’s marriage. I am young, but I have often heard my elders admonish me: do not do to others what you would not have them do to you. May I ask, Madam, are you aware of what happened that day? Cui Wulang favored his concubine over his wife, allowing his concubine to slap his wife in public. Madam Zhuo recounted her years of suffering, each word filled with tears.”
Madam Yang's eyes darted away as she argued, "What decent couple doesn't have their disagreements? Every wife has to go through hardships. Marriage is a major life event..."
"It was an arranged marriage, a matter of parents' wishes and matchmaker's words, so we should accept it, no matter if it leads to a pit of fire or a cauldron of boiling oil, right?" Meng Lingyao interrupted her, looking at her with a hint of pity, "Just like you, Madam?"
The pity on her face pierced Madam Yang's eyes. "What...what do you mean?"
Madam Yang's face drained of color, and she subconsciously clenched the handkerchief in her hand, as if her deepest hidden pain had been touched.
"Doesn't Madam understand what I mean?" Meng Lingyao spoke slowly, but her words were like needles, piercing Madam Yang's defenses. "Madam, did you really lose face in the Cui family because of Lord Pei? Or... because of the actions of that Third Master Cui, which had already made you lose face both inside and outside the Cui household? When you force a smile in front of others, the bitterness in your heart and the pointing fingers of others must have become ingrained in your bones."
She paused, her gaze gently falling on the deep crease of sorrow between Madam Yang's brows. "Forgive my presumption, but may I ask you, Madam, is this feeling one you have tasted more deeply and for longer than that of Madam Cui the other day in the Buddhist hall?"
The words landed like a thunderclap.
All of Madam Yang's anger froze instantly. Her eyes widened, and her mouth opened as if an invisible boulder was blocking her throat. She couldn't utter a single word of rebuttal, only heavy breathing.
Meng Lingyao didn't stop. Her gaze seemed to penetrate the gorgeous clothes and see the countless wounds inside. "Madam, the sorrow between your brows is etched too deeply. Why do you suffer like this? A melon forced into a mold will not be sweet, and a mirror with dust will not reflect clearly. What is this so-called title and status but a heavy chain? It binds you for the next few decades."
"Madam Zhuo has broken free of her shackles. Though the road ahead may be difficult, the sky is high and the earth is wide, and the light is already clear. But you, how much longer will you continue to wallow in this sea of suffering?"
Before Madam Yang could respond, she changed the subject, "Madam just now repeatedly mentioned that she had a debt of gratitude to Lord Pei for raising her. What Lord Pei did at the Cui residence that day was to uphold justice. His stepping forward was a righteous act of upholding the law and justice, and a testament to his conscience. Isn't this uprightness exactly what Madam hoped for when she 'painstakingly raised' him?"
"If we force Lord Pei to succumb to personal desires and disregard the law simply because of blood ties, wouldn't that so-called 'repaying kindness' turn into pushing him into a fire pit? Wouldn't such 'kindness' be like holding a sharp blade and wounding someone's heart? Madam, you've come here today to defend Cui Wulang. Are you truly concerned for Lord Pei's future and reputation as an 'aunt,' or... are you just trying to save your own meager dignity?"
Madam Yang's face turned deathly pale. Meng Lingyao's words were like an extremely sharp blade, mercilessly slicing away the layers of self-deception she had hidden deep inside her.
"No...no..." She staggered backward, and if there hadn't been a chair behind her, she probably would have fallen to the ground.
Meng Lingyao sighed softly, looking at her current appearance, narrowed her eyes, and delivered the final blow with neither too much nor too little force, "Madam Yang, Lord Pei spoke up for justice that day not only for Madam Zhuo, but also—"
"For you."
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Author's Note: Let's get down to the topic of Yaoyao's verbal sparring. / [Okay]
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