Chapter 53 Penniless
Deep down, she harbored malicious thoughts, but dared not directly provoke Wen Zhiming.
She couldn't afford to offend Prince Wen because of his status, and she certainly couldn't afford to offend a sick prince.
But Meng Lingge is different. She used to be her elder sister, but now she's just a guest invited by her husband.
Today she is the host, and Meng Lingge is the guest, a guest she dislikes. What's wrong with her saying a few unpleasant things?
As Meng Lingge and Wen Zhiming walked up to her, she curled her lips into a cold smile and looked at Meng Lingge provocatively.
"Oh, eldest sister is here. I wonder what role you're here for today? If you're here to offer your congratulations, I'm certainly welcome. But if you're here to meet your lover, then that would be rather inappropriate."
Her injuries had healed for over half a month and were about 70-80% healed. However, some bruises remained on the back of her neck and wrists, which she could only cover with her clothes, preventing her from raising her head high when speaking or swinging her hands freely.
These words should have sounded impressive, but they've lost their impact.
Meng Lingge glanced at her indifferently. "So you're a concubine from Minister Guan's household. Concubine Meng, you're so young but your memory is terrible. Have you forgotten? The Meng family has severed ties with you. I'm no longer your elder sister. If I had known the Guan family was so unruly, sending a concubine of your lowly status who speaks without thinking, I wouldn't have come."
"You!" Meng Huanyan was both angry and resentful. Meng Lingge repeatedly emphasized her status as a concubine and even mentioned that the Meng family had severed ties with her, which was practically exposing her shortcomings in public.
But that's the truth, and she can't refute it.
Perhaps Meng Xingyuan still had some leniency towards her, and did not make the matter of severing ties with her public.
Most of the officials who came today still thought she was a concubine's daughter from the Meng family, and Meng Xingyuan did not specifically mention this during the banquet.
Fortunately, there was no one else around, and Meng Lingge's voice wasn't loud; otherwise, if someone else had heard her, Guan Yi'an would have been unhappy with her again.
Meng Huanyan was about to say something more to save face when Guan Yi'an, who was inside, heard the commotion and came out on his own.
"The Crown Prince and Crown Princess have arrived. Please come in quickly."
He had dressed up specially today, looking gentle and refined, with an elegant demeanor.
Seeing that Meng Lingge and Wen Zhiming were dressed in matching clothes, Guan Yi'an felt a pang of sadness, but still smiled gently and politely welcomed them inside.
He didn't look at Meng Huanyan even once throughout the entire process.
Meng Huanyan stomped her foot angrily and followed behind him.
Guan Yi'an arranged for Meng Lingge and Wen Zhiming to sit closest to him. He thought that Wen Zhiming disliked him and would definitely not sit next to him, so he could sit close to Meng Lingge.
Unexpectedly, Wen Zhiming protected Meng Lingge very well. After seeing his location, he pushed Meng Lingge to sit down in a place far away from him, and looked at him with a threatening expression.
Guan Yi'an smiled ingratiatingly, but inwardly he thought, "Wen Zhiming, that fool, really cares about Meng Lingge. Just in terms of protecting his wife, he's no match for this fool."
Before Meng Lingge and her companion arrived, the officials showered Guan Yi'an, their host, with compliments, praising him as a rising star with limitless potential. Even Meng Xingyuan uttered a few polite words.
Now that Meng Lingge has arrived, Guan Yi'an hopes that everyone can say a few more words, but the officials, whether because the topic has been interrupted and they don't want to continue, or because they know the relationship between the people and don't want to offend anyone, all fall silent.
He couldn't bring himself to brag, so he patiently waited for everyone to arrive before instructing his colleagues to bring the menu.
"I am deeply honored by your presence today. Although I have been promoted, I am aware of my limited knowledge and abilities, and I will need your guidance in the future. Today, I have prepared a banquet for you all. Please enjoy yourselves and have a good time. Please do not stand on ceremony. Order whatever you like without hesitation. I will make sure you all have a wonderful time!"
His hearty words quickly reignited the enthusiasm of the banquet.
"Young Master Guan, you are indeed a man of great spirit. I love the Dongpo pork from the South Opium Depot the most. It is fatty but not greasy, and the aroma is irresistible. I just want a taste of it!"
"Then I won't stand on ceremony. My family is very strict, and I haven't tasted wine for several days. Today, taking advantage of Vice Minister Guan's happy occasion, I must have a few drinks."
"Today is a joyous occasion for Vice Minister Guan, so we must prepare some festive dishes to accompany the drinks."
"..."
The officials discussed among themselves, and the waiter wrote down the names of the dishes and wines that everyone had suggested.
Guan Yi'an listened intently, silently calculating the amount of silver.
Although the emperor had granted him a residence, it was spacious, and he had recently acquired many things, plus hired more than a dozen servants, so he was actually already short of money.
The monthly salary he had kept with his mother was almost gone. To raise the five hundred taels of silver for this banquet, he pawned several valuable items that the officials had given him when they came to congratulate him.
After the officials finished ordering, Guan Yi'an carefully calculated that it would only cost a little over two hundred taels of silver, and felt much more at ease.
He always remembered what Meng Lingge said to him on the day they broke off their engagement: that he was a penniless good-for-nothing who tried to get ahead by relying on a woman.
In the dead of night, whenever he thought of those words, he felt a burning hatred.
Now he has finally become the Vice Minister of Rites through his own wisdom and resourcefulness. Given his age and background, no one in the court can match him in this position.
He wanted to prove to Meng Lingge what an outstanding young talent he was, that he had already reached a high position, and that he could freely enter and leave the most upscale restaurants in the capital, ordering the most expensive dishes and the most expensive wines.
If it weren't for Meng Lingge's pettiness and lack of tolerance, she would be sitting beside her as the hostess today, receiving compliments from everyone and enjoying unparalleled honor.
Instead of just staying by that fool's side.
No matter how illustrious Wen Shizi's status or how outstanding his appearance, it cannot change the fact that he is mentally challenged. If Meng Lingge discusses poetry and literature, can that fool understand? If Meng Lingge wants to play chess or paint, can that fool accompany her?
Even that fool doesn't understand the concept of marital relations, and he probably can't even give her a child.
Meng Lingge put on a brave face, maintaining the facade of a loving marriage, but in reality, she must have already regretted it.
Guan Yi'an's heart burned with desire as she thought about it, and she couldn't help but turn her gaze back to Meng Lingge and Wen Zhiming.
"Why didn't the Crown Prince and Princess order any dishes? You two are newly married and spend all your time in the palace, so you probably don't know what specialties Nan Yan Restaurant has. How about this, I'll have the waiter call out the dishes, and you can choose from them, is that alright?"
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