Chapter 140 Grandmother's Favoritism
“She was already angry that I favored your mother. Before your mother got married, she and your aunt had some disagreements. Later, your mother married far away to the capital, and your father rose through the ranks. Only then did your aunt feel at ease, and her relationship with your mother improved again. Now that your cousin wants to marry you, she is worried that because of your high status, she, as a mother-in-law, cannot control you. She is also worried that you will take all the Du family's money to your family.”
"Is there some mistake?" Meng Lingge looked up in surprise. "My cousin wants to marry me? How is that possible?"
Was it because when she left, her older cousin couldn't find anyone to take the blame, so he wanted to marry her so she could continue to take the blame for him?
Aside from this reason, Meng Lingge really couldn't understand why her cousin would want to marry her. Du Yuanhua had never expressed his feelings to her, and in the past, when they were together, he would always try to trick her so that she would willingly take the blame for him.
If this is what you call liking someone, then this kind of liking is truly unique and completely unexpected.
Grandma Du patted Meng Lingge's head gently and said, "You are just as beautiful as your mother was when she was young, and you are also kind-hearted, dignified and virtuous. Yuanhua has good taste in marrying you."
"But your aunt was extremely unwilling and cried to your uncle every day. Your uncle had no choice but to tell Yuanhua that your family's status was too high to be attained, and unless he had great abilities, he should not even dream of it in this lifetime."
“After that, Yuanhua changed his ways. He originally wanted to take the imperial examinations, but he was not cut out for studying, so he had to give up literature and go into business. No one expected that he would more than double the Du family’s business in just two years. Not only in Jiangnan, but now our Du family has businesses in other places. I heard him say that his next step is to take the business to the capital.”
Meng Lingge said, "My father also said that my older cousin is a business genius."
Grandma Du nodded and continued, "Yuanhua is shrewd and experienced in business, but he is stubborn and devoted in matters of the heart. He is already twenty-five years old this year, but he doesn't even have a woman by his side. Before your wedding, your aunt kept it from him and only let your uncle go to congratulate you. He thought that if he waited until he made his business in the capital, he could go to the Meng family to propose to you. But one time, your uncle and aunt were chatting and he overheard that you were rejected on your wedding day and remarried to a mentally challenged prince."
Hearing this, Meng Lingge's heart skipped a beat. Although she hadn't yet processed the fact that her older cousin liked her, the thought of someone being deceived by their mother like this made her feel uneasy.
"In a fit of anger, he made a huge scene and ran off to the capital alone. Your aunt cried every day, fearing he had done something foolish, and sent people to look for him, but they couldn't find him. But after a month, he returned looking lost and confused. Later, he got drunk and started talking nonsense, and that's when we found out he was in the capital. Seeing that you and the prince were doing well, we didn't bother you."
“After that, Yuanhua’s relationship with your aunt became strained, and they wouldn’t speak to each other when they met. We all thought that things would get better after a while. Who knew that such a big thing would happen at the Prince Anshun’s Mansion, and you were forced to divorce, leaving you alone again. Your aunt was still worried that Yuanhua would make a fuss about marrying you again, so she neither dared to offend you nor liked you.”
"As for your second aunt, she's a fence-sitter. Now that your eldest aunt is in charge of the household and they all rely on the eldest son's family for money, of course she's in cahoots with your eldest aunt."
After Meng Lingge figured out the whole story, she also felt truly wronged.
She only found out today that her older cousin liked her. She hadn't done anything wrong, yet she was being treated coldly for no reason.
"This is simple. I'll just explain it to my older cousin. I won't marry him, so my aunt won't have to worry for nothing."
Grandma Du looked at Meng Lingge and said in a low voice, "I also thought before that with my granddaughter's looks and family background, what kind of good family couldn't she marry into? Why should she come to the Du family to suffer your aunt's temper? So I let your aunt do whatever she wanted and didn't bother with this matter."
"But times have changed. Your marriage prospects have been thwarted one after another, and Yuanhua is devoted to you. If you are willing, it's not impossible to settle for him. Firstly, your maternal grandmother and Yuanhua will protect you. Secondly, you can't win against the powerful. No matter how unwilling your aunt is, she will eventually have to give in if Yuanhua insists on marrying you. After all, Yuanhua is still unmarried at this age, and your aunt is very anxious about it."
Meng Lingge knew that her grandmother was genuinely looking out for her, and she was grateful. However, it was inconvenient for her to reveal her relationship with Wen Zhiming, so she said coquettishly, "I just missed my grandmother, so I came to spend some time with you under the pretext of celebrating your birthday. I've only been divorced for a short time, and I really have no plans to get married again."
Seeing that she looked calm and composed, Old Mrs. Du realized that she was not at all depressed.
The old woman felt a little relieved and said with a smile, "That's how it should be. It's always been us Lingge who get to choose others, not others. Your grandmother knows what you're thinking and knows what to do. Just stay here in peace. If anyone dares to gossip or Yuanhua dares to bother you, your grandmother will handle it."
My maternal grandmother always favored my mother and her the most, even though my eldest cousin was my grandmother's eldest grandson, he was ranked after her in my grandmother's heart.
No wonder her aunt was so wary of her and regarded her as a major enemy.
Meng Lingge nodded obediently, and remembering the maid from before, she couldn't help but ask, "Is that Qiaoling your aunt's maid?"
Judging from her attire and how people addressed her, she should be a maid, but her flamboyant and lively personality made her even more unconventional than a proper young lady.
Grandma Du said, "She used to be your eldest aunt's maid. But two years ago, your eldest aunt arranged for her to be sent to Yuanhua's room as a concubine. However, Yuanhua didn't want her and kicked her out. This girl is heartless and doesn't feel embarrassed or sad. She continues to serve your eldest aunt diligently. Now, in this mansion, she's neither a master nor a servant. Fortunately, she has a sweet tongue and is lively. Although she's not very smart, she serves people very attentively. Even your eldest aunt, who is so picky, is quite satisfied with her."
She was truly heartless. The First Madam was so wary of Meng Lingge, yet she spoke to the First Madam about how much the Old Madam liked Meng Lingge, without realizing anything was amiss. Even when the First Madam glared at her angrily, she still looked innocent, unaware of what she had done wrong.
I imagine the First Madam must have been about to give her a good scolding when she pulled her away.
Meng Lingge was thinking seriously when a little maid came in and whispered to Madam Du, "Madam, the eldest young master has arrived. He said he has come to pay his respects to you."
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