Chapter 375 Abandonment
Leng Tieyi waited until the doctor finished applying the medicine to Gu Yan and then comforted the old lady for a few more minutes before getting up to take his leave.
The elderly woman personally escorted the person to the door.
"I'm sorry to have troubled you with this family scandal. I'll have that brat come to thank me another day when he's better."
"You're too kind, Madam. I've watched this child grow up, and I hope he won't go astray. But he's young and impetuous, so please don't push him too hard. I'll find a suitable opportunity to gently persuade him."
After Leng Tieyi finished speaking, he got into the carriage and left in a grand procession with his doctors and subordinates.
The old woman stood at the door, carefully pondering Leng Tieyi's words from earlier that day.
She had initially thought that Meng Xiyao had gone to the palace to complain, and that her elder sister, Meng Lingge, had suggested finding Leng Tieyi to act as an intermediary. But now it seemed that wasn't the case.
Leng Tieyi didn't mention the Meng family at all, and his words were clearly in her favor. Just as Leng Tieyi said, he had only come for Gu Yan, this junior.
The old lady dared to say that Meng Xiyao was not virtuous in front of her, so she was not afraid of Meng Xiyao complaining. On the contrary, she hoped that Meng Xiyao would make a big fuss, and it would be best if Meng Xingyuan was also involved. The more ugly the conflict between the two families was, the less likely Meng Xiyao and Gu Yan would have a chance.
Now that the Meng family is completely silent, it seems that Meng Xiyao is swallowing her anger. Who could tolerate such words from a truly innocent and virtuous girl?
The old lady became increasingly certain that she had not wronged Meng Xiyao.
The three daughters of the Meng family are immoral and disreputable, and they dare not speak out because their shameful deeds have been exposed.
Although I beat my grandson quite badly today, if I can sever this ill-fated relationship from now on, it will be a timely way to cut my losses.
After leaving the Gu residence, Leng Tieyi went for a walk outside before returning to the palace to report to the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, Gu Yan is a tough fellow. Although he was severely beaten, it was all superficial injuries. He will recover in ten days or half a month. However, from what I heard from Madam Gu, she deeply resents the three daughters of the Meng family. If you and the Empress want to arrange this marriage, but cannot grant it by imperial decree, I'm afraid it will not be easy."
Wen Zhiming nodded and said, "I am aware of this matter. It is getting late, and General Leng has been traveling for a long time. You should retire and rest early."
"I obey the order."
After Leng Tieyi left, Wen Zhiming immediately returned to Fengyi Palace.
There were many matters to attend to in the court. Originally, it would have been sufficient to send someone to relay Leng Tieyi's words, but Wen Zhiming knew that Meng Lingge and Meng Xiyao were very close sisters and was afraid that she would worry, so he decided to go in person.
In the main hall of Fengyi Palace, the Meng sisters, Meng Lingge and Meng Xiyao, were still waiting for news. Meng Xiyao's eyes were red and swollen, and Meng Lingge was comforting her.
Upon seeing Wen Zhiming arrive, one person came over to greet him, while the other hurriedly bowed.
Wen Zhiming walked up to Meng Lingge, helped her sit down, and turned to Meng Xiyao, saying, "No need for formalities. General Leng has just returned to the palace to report. Gu Yan only suffered a minor injury and will recover after some rest."
Upon hearing this, Meng Xiyao's expression finally relaxed a little, and she still knelt down to express her gratitude.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Empress."
“From now on, when there are no outsiders, call me sister and brother-in-law,” Meng Lingge said, pointing to an embroidered stool on the side. “Sit down and talk.”
Meng Xiyao stood up, bowed her head and said, "Since General Lü is alright, I will take my leave and not disturb my sister and brother-in-law any longer."
Although Wen Zhiming and her eldest sister were not newlyweds, they were very close. Her presence here was too conspicuous. She should discuss her relationship with Gu Yan with her eldest sister privately another time.
"What's the rush?" Wen Zhiming tapped the table and asked proactively, "Your matter with Gu Yan is not yet resolved. If you go back now, are you going to continue meeting with him in private? General Leng can come to Gu Yan's door once or twice, but we can't expect him to do it every time."
General Leng is over sixty years old, and he always meddles in other people's family affairs. After a while, the old lady could guess that it was he and Meng Lingge who were stirring things up behind the scenes.
Wen Zhiming originally did not want to interfere in his subject's marriage, but Meng Lingge was already in her late pregnancy, and if Meng Xiyao made a few more trips like this, he was worried that his wife would be frightened or overly anxious.
Meng Xiyao's mind was already in turmoil, and when he swept her with his slightly sharp gaze, she became even more flustered and nervously twisted the hem of her clothes.
“I will never see General Gu again… He only has his grandmother as a relative. I cannot selfishly force him to make a choice. Besides, whether General Gu chooses me or his grandmother, both of us will have regrets.”
If the old lady doesn't agree, she and Gu Yan cannot get married.
Wen Zhiming had also stated in court that he would never grant her a marriage. Without the pressure of power, the old lady would never accept her, and there was no point in persisting any longer.
It seems that she and Gu Yan are destined to be together but not to stay together.
As soon as she finished speaking, Meng Xiyao couldn't help but shed tears again.
"Sit here." Meng Lingge pulled her to sit down. "Things haven't gotten that serious yet. Since your brother-in-law is keeping you here, he must already have a plan."
She turned to Wen Zhiming and smiled, "Third Sister and Guyan are in love. We should help them be together as much as we can. Your Majesty, please stop being so mysterious and just tell us."
Meng Xiyao's troubled marriage was somewhat related to the two of them. If the former emperor hadn't suspected that the Meng family still had dealings with Wen Zhiming, he wouldn't have brought Meng Xiyao into the harem, and naturally, the old lady wouldn't be looking down on Meng Xiyao for having been married before.
Meng Xiyao never complained about this, but Meng Lingge, as the older sister, always kept it in mind. When she learned that Meng Xiyao and Gu Yan were mutually attracted, she hoped that the two could get together more than anyone else, so she cared about this matter no less than Meng Xiyao.
“It is a fact that Third Sister was married. Regardless of whether she is a virgin or not, the old lady believes that she is not a virgin, so it is almost impossible to change her image in the old lady’s eyes.”
Wen Zhiming knew that Meng Xiyao was somewhat afraid of him, so he simply turned his head and looked at Meng Lingge with gentle eyes.
"The old lady believes that her grandson is strict with family rules, has a clean and upright character, and has a bright future in his career. That's why she is so critical of her third sister. But what if Gu Yan is dissolute and disorderly?"
It is quite difficult to improve someone's reputation, but it is easy to ruin it.
If this person were to do something excessive, it would be even more convincing.
Meng Lingge's eyes lit up. "The Emperor's intention is to ruin Gu Yan's reputation so that no girl in the capital will want to marry him, so that Old Madam Gu will have no choice but to agree to let him marry Third Sister?"
That's one way to do it.
The Gu family has only one son, and no matter how many rules the old lady has, it is still the same as continuing the family line. If there is no other choice, even if she doesn't like Meng Xiyao, she can only accept this granddaughter-in-law.
Not only do they have to accept it, but they also have to swallow their pride and accept it happily, otherwise no one will be willing to marry Gu Yan, and the Gu family line will end.
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