Chapter 25 Favoritism
At the morning banquet, Meng Huanyan's smile never stopped.
Especially when Meng Qingyu and Wen Zhiming arrived, while Meng Lingge had not yet appeared, her smile became even more charming and smug.
She knew that Meng Lingge would definitely have dinner with Du Shiyin, and that Meng Lingge would definitely taste her favorite dish, the Agaricus blazei mushroom and chicken soup.
I heard from those江湖人 (jianghu people) that as long as the pink-clad woman's cries enter her throat, even the most loyal and righteous woman will turn into a cheap slut who only knows how to seek pleasure.
Meng Lingge and Du Shiyin had always been high and mighty in front of her, but now that they had been violated by a group of brutes, they would probably never be able to hold their heads up again, not only in front of her but also in front of the servants in the mansion.
If this matter gets out, not only will Meng Lingge be returned by the Prince of Anshun's Mansion, but Du Shiyin's position as the mistress of the household will also be in jeopardy, and the power to manage the household may fall into the hands of her mother, Aunt Lu.
My mother has always been timid. If it weren't for her daughter's scheming, she would have spent her whole life working as Du Shiyin's assistant. Once this matter is accomplished, my mother will realize how good she is. At that time, she can easily get anything she wants in the Prime Minister's mansion.
Meng Huanyan's gaze flickered and landed on Wen Zhiming, who was engrossed in eating. She couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.
Still want to eat?
What a fool! His wife is about to die, and he can still eat. Who knows what he'll do when he sees Meng Lingge as a broken woman? She'll just have to wait and see.
Perhaps sensing her gaze, Wen Zhiming turned to look at her, frowning.
"It's so noisy."
Perhaps she was in a good mood, or perhaps she was eager to show off. Meng Huanyan was either busy serving food to Guan Yi'an or chatting with Meng Xingyuan and Meng Qingyu, her laughter ringing out. She was charming and tactful, and quite noisy.
Meng Xingyuan had long been displeased, but had not spoken up to stop it because Wen Zhiming and Guan Yi'an were present. Now that he saw Wen Zhiming's annoyance, he immediately put on a stern face and said unhappily, "This is not proper. If you keep trembling, you will have to eat in the side room."
The side rooms were where the servants of the mansion ate.
Meng Huanyan bit her lip, her face flushed crimson. Her father was still the same; he would scold her in front of the servants just because of a single word from her elder sister's husband.
In her father's heart, she was not only inferior to her eldest sister, but even inferior to her eldest sister's mentally challenged husband.
Meng Huanyan slowly lowered her head, her eyes filled with hatred.
Father is such a biased person, he deserves to have his wife and legitimate daughter ruined and become the laughingstock of the entire capital. He'll regret it soon. When Father can't take the blow anymore, she and Mother will help him pull himself together, and then Father will know who to favor.
Seeing that she lowered her head and remained silent, Meng Xingyuan assumed that she knew she was wrong.
Little did Meng Huanyan know that the time was almost up, and she was already scheming how to lead everyone to Zhufeng Residence without arousing suspicion, so that they could witness the ugly behavior of Du Shiyin and Meng Lingge.
She glanced furtively at Guan Yi'an beside her, only to find him completely calm, showing no intention of helping her out of the predicament or making any move.
Meng Huanyan was a little anxious. She was the one who came up with the idea today, but Guan Yi'an had found the medicine and those martial arts figures. The plan was rather hasty, only going as far as the murder itself. She hadn't yet discussed with Guan Yi'an how to uncover the plot without leaving a trace.
She couldn't just wait and let Meng Lingge and Du Shiyin wake up and handle everything; otherwise, all her efforts would be in vain.
She was sweating profusely with anxiety, but fortunately the housekeeper arrived with others in time.
"My lord, something terrible has happened at Zhufeng Residence! You must go and see!"
Meng Xingyuan stood up: "What is it?"
The butler hesitated, then said, "Madam and Miss, well, you should go and see for yourself..."
The steward was always very proper in his speech and actions, never so secretive before. Before Meng Xingyuan could ask further, Meng Huanyan rushed forward: "It seems Mother's condition has worsened. I'll go with Father to see her. Young Master Wen and your husband should go too..."
It was truly a stroke of luck for her.
It seems this scandalous affair has already been discovered, which is why the steward is being so vague in inviting Father over.
She was about to witness Meng Lingge and Du Shiyin's disgraceful state, and she couldn't miss it. No one in the entire manor should miss it either.
“I’ll go with my brother-in-law.” Meng Qingyu pulled Wen Zhiming to the front.
Guan Yi'an cupped his hands and said, "It concerns my mother-in-law's illness, so it is my duty to go."
Meng Xingyuan instinctively felt that such a large-scale effort should not be made, but Wen Zhiming and Guan Yi'an had already set off, and Meng Huanyan was pulling him along, so he had no choice but to follow passively.
And so, a large group of people, including the master and his servants, hurried toward Zhufeng Residence.
Throughout the journey, Meng Huanyan desperately suppressed the upward curve of her lips, feigning concern and worry, while in her mind she repeatedly practiced her words of questioning and scolding.
As they drew closer, she quickened her pace, pulling Meng Xingyuan past Meng Qingyu and Wen Zhiming to the front.
Finally reaching the master bedroom, she strode into the room, and the words "Where did these adulterers come from?" almost slipped out. But when she looked up at the scene inside, the words caught in her throat, and she swallowed them back down.
The situation inside the room was not what she had expected.
A group of guards surrounded several bound martial arts men. Meng Lingge and Du Shiyin, dressed neatly and with calm expressions, looked at her with smiles, as if they had been waiting for her arrival.
On the table sat Meng Qingyu's favorite little fox, its mouth still stained with blood, seemingly lifeless.
Her heart skipped a beat; she realized the plan had failed.
Meng Huanyan didn't know where things had gone wrong. She felt regretful but also fearful. She didn't know how much backbone these people in the martial arts world had, or whether they would betray her.
"Mother, I heard from the steward that something happened to you here. I'm very worried. What happened?" She pretended to be confused and calmly walked over.
Meng Xingyuan was also somewhat surprised, looking at the several men who were tied up: "Who are these people?"
Du Shiyin sneered and remained silent.
At this moment, Meng Qingyu, Wen Zhiming, and Guan Yi'an entered the room one after another.
When Meng Qingyu saw the little fox on the table, she went over and hugged it: "Lingzhi, what happened to my Lingzhi? Mother, who harmed my Lingzhi?"
Wen Zhiming walked to Meng Lingge's side and said unhappily, "Wife, you haven't spent time with me in a long time. Is it these people who are bothering you? I'll kill them all."
He pointed at the martial arts man on the ground, which frightened the men so much that they begged for mercy.
Meng Lingge gently coaxed, "I'm fine. I still have some things to take care of. Sit here and wait for me for a while. I'll keep you company after I'm done."
"Alright! I'll wait for you here, my wife." He pulled up a soft stool and sat down next to Meng Lingge, very close to her. He stood guard, looking as if they were kindred spirits.
Guan Yi'an found this scene extremely jarring.
He appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was in turmoil. He agreed to Meng Huanyan's plan, feeling a little relieved but mostly bitter and ashamed.
It is not the act of a man to give away the woman he loves to someone else to be defiled.
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