Chapter 208 Protect Her
Meng Shilan first went to the flower hall to congratulate Madam Zhang on her birthday.
The old lady was in good spirits, but the sudden influx of people today made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.
"This is Miss Meng. She's quite a beautiful young lady."
"I heard you injured your foot a while ago, is it feeling better?"
Madam Zhang had a silver tongue and stayed by the old lady's side to help deal with the people from various households who came to offer birthday greetings.
When Meng Shilan was injured, the Empress sent gifts, and the Zhang family also sent gifts.
She first wished Madam Zhang a happy birthday before responding.
"I'm all better now. I was saved thanks to the century-old ginseng that Her Majesty the Empress bestowed upon me!"
Madam Zhang affectionately pulled her hand and sat her down. "Those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortune! I think Miss Meng is destined for great luck!"
Meng Shilan had been in the capital for so long, but he had never met such a warm and welcoming lady.
She smiled and said, "Thank you for your kind words, Madam."
Another person came in, and Madam Zhang beckoned to her youngest daughter, who was standing next to the old lady.
"Ning'er, Miss Meng is a distinguished guest. Please entertain her well for your mother."
After giving her instructions, Madam Zhang, busy as a spinning top, left again.
Zhang Yuning is still two years away from reaching marriageable age; she's still a young girl.
It seems the Zhang family really doesn't have many capable people; they've even brought in young girls to help entertain guests.
However, what His Majesty valued was the Zhang family's simplicity.
Therefore, the Zhang family does not dare to cause trouble using the Empress's family status for the time being.
"Sister, is Dingxian fun?"
Meng Shilan looked at the round-faced, round-eyed girl with surprise. She was a girl who could make people feel happy at first glance.
You know about Ding County too?
Zhang Yuning nodded, "I know, my elder brother was sent to Ding County by His Majesty."
Meng Shilan knew that an iron mine had been discovered in Ding County, and that the imperial court must have sent someone.
The young master of the Zhang family was among them.
She smiled and said, "Dingxian is a good place. My older brother lives there too."
"There are lots of delicious foods and lots of fun things to do."
The two were talking.
Several familiar figures entered.
"Why did Old Madam Zhou come to visit in person?"
Madam Zhang's voice rose in pitch, and could be heard almost throughout the entire flower hall.
Meng Shilan looked up and saw the Zhou family members.
When her gaze fell upon the figure behind Madam Zhou, her brows furrowed slightly, and she looked away.
Song Jiyun had already seen Meng Shilan talking to Miss Zhang San.
Her eyes flickered slightly, then she quickly lowered them again.
Zhou Congxian also came.
After exchanging greetings with Madam Zhang, he glanced at Meng Shilan several times.
But she just wouldn't look at him.
The flower hall was full of women, so he couldn't stay long.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Madam Zhang, he could only turn around and leave the flower hall.
Madam Zhou also saw Meng Shilan.
She patted Song Jiyun reassuringly, signaling her not to be afraid.
Song Jiyun forced a smile at Old Madam Zhou, then gently shook his head to indicate that she was alright.
Madam Zhou pursed her lips even tighter.
She wasn't unaware that Xian'er's gaze had been fixed on Jiang Shi the entire time.
What a fine young lady from the Meng family.
If it weren't for the British Duke's mansion, she would have died far from home long ago.
I used to think he was a clever guy.
Now that they've entered into a prestigious family, they've completely forgotten the kindness shown to them by the Duke of England.
As expected of someone raised in the countryside, they don't know the slightest bit about respecting the elderly and virtuous.
The Marquis of Wanning's residence hired an opera troupe.
Because the mansion was not big enough, the three rooms between the second and third courtyards were demolished.
That's why the stage was set up in the backyard.
When everyone gathered together to watch the play, there was no spaciousness or seclusion like in other mansions.
Instead, it created a lively atmosphere reminiscent of a traditional opera house.
The ladies who were on good terms sat together, watching the play and chatting.
Surprisingly, this intimacy took on a different kind of charm.
Zhang Yuning became attached to Meng Shilan.
It was as if the clearer her questions were, the more likely she was to get to Dingxian.
Song Jiyun sat with Old Madam Zhou at the front.
Meng Shilan was diagonally behind her.
Zhou Congxian sat on the other side of Old Madam Zhou, a little distance from Meng Shilan.
But he would look back every now and then.
Even the most clueless person around would realize that there's something going on between the two of them...
Song Jiyun slowly curled her lips into a smile.
With perfect timing, favorable location, and harmonious relationships, even Heaven seems to be on her side.
Halfway through the play, Song Jiyun whispered something in Madam Zhou's ear before getting up and leaving.
Before leaving, he gave Meng Shilan a meaningful look.
Meng Shilan frowned slightly.
What is this crazy woman up to now?
In the past, I was framed time and time again, and put in a passive position time and time again.
The strings in her heart were stretched taut.
Song Jiyun is a madman; she can't help but be wary of madmen.
She raised her hand and called Chunxing over, asking Chunxing to go and take a look.
Chunxing was gone for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. When she returned, she didn't look too good.
Chunxing whispered in the young lady's ear and quickly said what she had heard.
Meng Shilan's face instantly turned ashen.
That crazy woman, Song Jiyun, actually dared to do evil at the Empress's birthday banquet.
This madman actually bribed the servants to poison the food at the banquet!
A short while later, Song Jiyun returned.
This time, she openly met Meng Shilan's gaze, her smile deepening even further.
Meng Shilan watched her graceful figure as she sat down, then pulled Zhang Yuning up and left.
Zhang Yuning, who was watching the exciting part, looked at her in a daze.
"elder sister?"
Meng Shilan, "Was your family's birthday banquet booked out to a restaurant today?"
“Yes.” Zhang Yuning didn’t know how he knew, but she nodded nonetheless.
No wonder.
Who would dare to be bribed so easily?
If it was a temporary worker hired by a restaurant outside, then it makes sense.
The kitchen was bustling with activity.
Chunxing couldn't find the person she had just seen.
"Miss, that person has disappeared!"
"Has it been poisoned?!"
"Poisoning?" Zhang Yuning was shocked.
Meng Shilan said, "We don't know if it's true or not yet, but this matter should not be underestimated."
"Go and inform your mother immediately."
"Oh, okay!" Zhang Yuning hurriedly ran away.
"What's wrong?"
Zhou Congxian saw that they had been gone for a long time, so he caught up with them.
Chunxing recounted what she had heard.
Meng Shilan glared angrily, "If the Duke of Ying's mansion wants to protect Song Jiyun, no one can interfere."
"Please keep yourselves in check and don't let yourselves harm people!"
Zhou Congxian's expression was grim. "I'm going to find her!"
Zhang Yuning also called her mother over, in case someone really died at their family banquet.
I'm afraid even the Empress will be implicated.
The father repeatedly warned them that they could not help the Empress, but they could not hold her back.
Madam Zhang's face turned deathly pale. "Have you found that villain?!"
Chunxing shook her head.
She is now the only one who has seen that scoundrel.
She and the Zhang family steward searched the entire kitchen, but they couldn't find the person who had been talking to Song Jiyun.
The person hasn't been arrested yet.
The banquet is about to begin.
At this time, we dare not let people eat.
They wouldn't dare refuse to eat it.
"What's going on?! Why isn't the food on the table yet?!"
Marquis Wanning also rushed over with a furious expression.
The tables and chairs were all set up, but the food was still not served.
He had no choice but to ask the opera troupe to add another performance at the last minute.
Madam Zhang looked panicked. "Someone has poisoned the food, but we haven't caught them yet. We don't even know which dish is poisoned, so how can we dare to put it on the table!"
"Poisoning?!"
"Who dares to be so bold!" Marquis Wanning's face turned ashen.
Zhou Congxian searched the entire Zhang residence, but Song Jiyun seemed to have vanished into thin air.
"Not found."
Marquis Wanning was so angry he almost vomited blood. He pointed his trembling finger in mid-air.
"Lord Zhou, our two families have no enmity whatsoever, why are you harming me like this!"
The banquet has not yet started.
Even Madam Zhang couldn't help but come and inquire about it herself.
She saw the group of people in the kitchen looking grim. "What are you doing?"
The guests were left unattended.
The Marquis and his wife were in the kitchen.
Although my son is not ambitious, he has never made such a big mistake before.
Even on Madam Zhang's usually amiable face, a hint of anger could not be ignored.
"To abandon our guests, what kind of behavior is that!"
The banquet was delayed, and the Marquis, his wife, and even the old woman all left their seats one by one.
People, unaware of what had happened at the Zhang residence, gradually came to see what was going on.
At this moment, among the people who came in later, Chunxing finally found that familiar figure.
"Miss, it's him!"
If Chunxing remembered correctly, this person had a mole on the corner of his lip.
He simply changed his clothes and followed behind Song Jiyun.
Song Jiyun glanced at Chunxing for no apparent reason.
He then glanced at the man behind him and asked, "Do you know this young lady?"
The man shook his head. "I don't know him."
Chunxing: "Miss, persimmons, the two of them said they're going to poison the food."
"I'd rather kill a hundred innocent people than let the young lady die!"
Song Jiyun looked utterly astonished. "What are you talking about?"
Chunxing saw that she denied it outright, "That's where I heard you talking about poisoning the food at the banquet."
"You also told this servant that the money and carriage are already prepared at the south gate."
Song Jiyun glanced at Meng Shilan with tears welling up in her eyes.
“He is a medicine boy at the Jishantang pharmacy in the city. He is skilled in massage for headaches. I specially invited him back for the old lady.”
"I don't know why Miss instructed the maid to bring such a serious crime upon me."
“Even if I have had some past conflicts with Miss, I would not disregard the lives of so many people.”
Madam Zhou's face also turned cold. "Why would Miss Meng frame the Duke of Ying's mansion like this?"
Everyone present was stunned.
Who framed whom?
This is a fight between the Duke of Yingguo's mansion and the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and the Marquis of Wanning's mansion is innocently caught in the crossfire.
Meng Shilan realized something was wrong, and she pulled Chunxing, who was getting agitated.
Song Jiyun did it on purpose.
She knew that if she heard the news of being framed, she would be like a frightened bird.
To frame someone under false pretenses.
In reality, they wanted to put her in the spotlight.
Zhou Congxian stepped forward and stood in front of her.
"I must have misheard you."
All eyes turned to him again.
Meng Shilan was somewhat taken aback.
She looked at his broad back.
Her lips were slightly pursed.
With so many guests at the Zhang residence, today's events will surely be widely publicized.
Now he's taking the blame himself.
Old Madam Zhou stared at him with a livid expression.
Do you even know what you're saying?!
Her gaze went past her grandson's shoulder to Meng Shilan, who was hiding behind him.
"You're still protecting her! It was her all along..."
"grandmother!"
Zhou Congxian interrupted her, and finally repeated it again with a sullen expression.
"What happened today was all my fault, and I will take full responsibility!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
