Chapter 205 Song Jiyun Returns to the Duke of Ying's Mansion
By the time Meng Shilan was finally able to stop using her crutches, summer had already arrived.
The old man bought more than a dozen truckloads of ice for Fu'er, just so the child could play on the ice sled for more than an hour.
The ice, which had barely melted, was carried to the cellar for preservation.
Although we can't eat the ice anymore, it's perfect for cooling off right now.
The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has no shortage of ice throughout the entire summer.
Even Fu'er, who loved going out to play, no longer liked to go out.
She was at home tinkering with her little woodworking projects.
As long as she doesn't get hurt, Meng Shilan will let her go.
"Mother, look what I made!"
Fu'er proudly brought over the little stool that she had been working on herself for several days.
The stool surface is small, and the legs are thin.
As she spoke, she plopped down on it.
Then, with a "click".
The mortise and tenon joint of the small stool broke.
Fu'er, looking completely bewildered, fell flat on her backside.
Meng Shilan helped her daughter up. "Fu'er is amazing! She can make her own stool now!"
"But it's broken."
She was hoping to surprise her mother, but she accidentally sat on it and broke it.
"Next time, Fu'er can ask Father how to make it stronger."
Fu'er's voice was muffled, "Father hasn't come for several days."
Meng Shilan had been busy checking the quarterly accounts of the mansion these past few days, and only then did she realize that she hadn't seen him for several days.
Zhou Congxian is currently busy for a while and idle for a while.
She's gotten used to it by now.
"Miss, a letter has arrived from Ding County."
Chuntao walked in carrying a thick letter.
The mother and daughter looked over at the same time.
"Is that your uncle?"
The gloom on Fu'er's face vanished instantly.
The letter was thick; Meng Xingjiang had also written a separate copy for Fu'er and tucked it inside.
The little girl happily took the letter and went back to the side room next door.
This is the first time the brother and sister have written a letter in the past six months.
After reading the letter, Meng Shilan instructed Chunxing to take good care of Fu'er, and then left the mansion alone through the back door.
Just then, Zhou Congxian entered through the front door.
The two missed each other, one after the other.
The Qin residence and the Zhenguo Duke's residence are only one street apart. This is Meng Shilan's first visit, but the steward at the gate already recognizes her.
Qin Daolin also received a letter from Ding County.
Meng Shilan took two pieces of paper from the letter and handed them to him.
"Lord Qin, my brother said these two are for you."
Qin Daolin stroked his beard and chuckled, "I've been waiting for these two."
As he spoke, he picked up the envelope on the desk, took out the letter and combined it with the letter that Meng Shilan had sent.
Then align it with the lampshade, and the same words in the same position on the top and bottom images will overlap and appear.
The secret message was then sent out from Ding County.
A seemingly ordinary family letter actually contains a secret message.
Meng Shilan then understood and slapped her forehead.
"If I had known this would happen, I should have brought something with me. Wouldn't going empty-handed arouse suspicion?"
Qin Daolin smiled and said, "Your brother is doing this to guard against thieves on the road."
"There are still such thieves even after entering the capital. They are underestimating His Majesty's swift and decisive actions over the past two years."
He quickly wrote down the secret letter and then destroyed the two "family letters".
After Qin Daolin entered the palace, Meng Shilan returned to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion via the same route.
The two houses were close by, so she didn't take a car.
Just as she stepped out of the intersection near the Qin family's house, a familiar figure blocked her way.
"haven't seen you for a long time."
The other person's voice and appearance remained unchanged.
Song Jiyun doesn't seem to be doing well.
Gone are the fine silks and satins of the past, along with the servants and maids; she has also become much thinner.
A flash of hatred quickly crossed her eyes.
Meng Shilan never expected to see Song Jiyun again under such circumstances.
Her eyes narrowed slightly; the hatred from her past life had not diminished.
"We meet again. It seems Miss Song hasn't given up yet."
Song Jiyun smiled and said, "You win."
"I'm just offering belated congratulations."
Meng Shilan's smile didn't reach her eyes.
"Thank you, but it is a great pity that I will not be able to see Miss Song at the banquets in various mansions in the future."
Song Jiyun's smile cracked for a moment, and she gritted her teeth to force herself to continue speaking.
"When will this cycle of revenge end? I never imagined that Miss Meng would still hold such a grudge."
As she finished speaking, a slight tremor of grievance lingered in her voice.
Meng Shilan subconsciously narrowed her eyes.
Song Jiyun is good at pretending; after several years, he still hasn't made any progress.
A smile played on her lips, but the coldness in her eyes intensified. "Miss Song, it seems you still don't understand me after all these years."
“I hold a grudge more than that.”
She took a few steps forward, closing in. Seeing the coldness on her face, Song Jiyun subconsciously took a few steps back.
Meng Shilan stared intently into her eyes, "And I will hold a grudge."
Song Jiyun's lips trembled slightly. In just over two years, she remembered how Jiang Shiyao had been forced into a helpless and pathetic state.
It has now turned into something that is somewhat chilling.
Meng Shilan moved forward step by step.
Song Jiyun retreated step by step.
The former strong and the latter weak have now reversed their positions.
"Ha, Miss Song is actually afraid."
Meng Shilan suddenly sneered, realizing that Song Jiyun was nothing special after all, without the protection of the Song family.
Those who rely on others' power will ultimately only become street rats.
Looking at the glaring smile on her face, Song Jiyun felt a deep hatred in his heart.
Her gaze inadvertently swept over a horse-drawn carriage parked by the roadside.
Finally, he forced a bitter smile, "It's all my own fault, and Miss Meng's refusal to forgive me is the retribution I deserve."
Looking at her clumsy acting, Meng Shilan suddenly lost the will to continue watching.
"It's a pity that Miss Song, with such outstanding singing, recitation, acting and acrobatics, doesn't go to the opera stage."
With that, she gave her one last cold glance and walked straight past her toward the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
Song Jiyun remained where he was.
She remained motionless.
Her hands were clenched into fists inside her sleeves, her palms calloused from working in the meditation room these past few days.
On the horse-drawn carriage by the roadside.
Mrs. Gao sighed almost imperceptibly, then looked at Mrs. Zhou.
“Madam Jiang…Miss Meng lived a life of constant danger back then, and also had to deal with Miss Biao’s difficult behavior.”
"Her current state is understandable..."
Madam Zhou looked displeased.
"In such a vast city as the capital, who isn't walking on thin ice?"
"Once she gains power, she becomes arrogant and domineering. Even if she were surnamed Xiao, I would not allow her to enter the Zhou family again, let alone her surname Meng."
Mrs. Gao lowered her head.
The young master's heart is set on Miss Meng.
The Duke was again thinking of currying favor with the Meng family.
The old lady had no say in this marriage.
Madam Zhou looked at the figure that remained motionless for a long time, and then she sighed softly.
"Tell her to get into the carriage."
Madam Gao hesitated for a moment, "Madam, if we take Miss Song back, I'm afraid the Duke will..."
Madam Zhou said, "It's been almost half a year since the Duke kicked her out; her anger should have subsided by now."
“If a young woman can’t make a living on her own, and I don’t protect her, who will?”
Song Jiyun was called to the carriage, her eyes reddening.
Seeing Madam Zhou's forced smile, she said, "Grandmother, Yun'er is fine, don't worry."
"The monks at Baima Temple are all very kind. The temple's daily evening drum and morning bell bring peace of mind."
Old Mrs. Zhou was so heartbroken that she kept shedding tears.
"What's so good about it? You've lost so much weight!"
"How can your great-aunt have the face to go to the underworld to meet your grandfather?"
Madam Zhou and Old Master Song were not siblings, but relatives.
His parents had both passed away, so he later went to Beijing to seek refuge.
Madam Zhou lived in the Song family for three years. The marriage to the Zhou family was arranged by the old master himself.
When she married Master Zhou, he was just a low-ranking military officer of the sixth grade in the capital.
No one expected that the junior military officer would be posthumously granted the title of Duke.
Madam Zhou has always been grateful to the Song family for her current status and life.
Now, he feels even more heartbroken for Song Jiyun, who is in dire straits.
Song Jiyun smiled and said, "The Song family has made a mistake. It is already a blessing that Yun'er has been spared."
“Yun’er can still pray for her great-aunt at the temple every day, how can she complain about this?”
Madam Zhou pulled her into her arms.
"Go home! Go home with your great-aunt!"
"Anyone who dares to say a word against it will be kicked out along with me!"
Song Jiyun buried her face in Old Madam Zhou's arms, and no one saw the venomous look in her eyes.
She knew everything about Madam Zhou's whereabouts.
She originally intended to give alms to beggars here, putting on a show for Old Madam Zhou.
Unexpectedly, I met Jiang Shiyao.
In that instant, she changed her strategy.
The Song family has been kind to Madam Zhou; it would be terrible if the descendants of their benefactor were to be humiliated in the street.
Only then can we evoke the greatest sense of guilt in Madam Zhou.
She wanted to return to the British Duke's mansion.
She wanted to avenge herself.
Jiang Shiyao, no, Meng Shilan, she still wants to see her empire collapse!
As soon as Meng Shilan entered the door, she saw Zhou Congxian.
Memories of the past flooded his mind, and all he could do was tell her to be patient and give in.
"Doesn't Prince Zhou have a home of his own?"
"We come every day; people who don't know us might think we have something going on!"
"Don't ruin my reputation, get out of here!"
Zhou Congxian was helping his daughter improve her fragile little stool when he looked up, looking completely bewildered.
Then I saw Meng Shilan's furious expression.
He...he doesn't seem to have provoked her...
He didn't dare to ask directly, and cautiously nudged his daughter's elbow.
"What happened to your mother...?"
Fu'er looked up at her mother and immediately knew that her mother was not angry with her.
“Mother received a letter from Uncle today. Father, it would be more appropriate for you to ask Uncle.”
Meng Shilan grabbed Zhou Congxian by the ear and walked out.
"Get out of here right now! I don't want to see you right now. I hate you!"
Zhou Congxian was being pulled by the ear and could only bend over to cooperate with her gestures.
"Where did I go wrong?!"
He was dragged all the way to the main gate, a sight the servants of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion were already used to.
Meng Shilan pushed him toward the door.
"You're wrong in every way, you're completely wrong!"
"Huh? I..."
Just as Zhou Congxian was about to open his mouth to argue, the gate of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion slammed shut in front of him.
"..."
"Your Highness!"
A servant from the British Duke's mansion rushed over to deliver the news.
"The old lady brought Miss Song back, and the Duke and the old lady started arguing."
"The old lady fainted in a fit of anger."
Zhou Congxian frowned, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes.
He turned and walked towards the Duke of Ying's mansion. "Let's go back and take a look."
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