Chapter 232 Everyone is deceiving her
As dusk fell.
Meng Shilan had Chunxing hang a colorful rope knot with the character "福" (fortune) on the front gate.
That night, Zhou Congxian climbed over the wall and came in.
Chunxing was startled.
"Why are you so late?" Meng Shilan asked as she combed her hair as she came out of the inner room.
Zhou Congxian placed the food basket he was carrying on the table.
"The roast chicken at Dexinglou is freshly roasted, so I had to wait a little longer."
He lifted the lid, and the aroma of roasted chicken, fragrant with pepper, wafted out.
"Try the new flavor from Dexinglou."
Meng Shilan rolled her eyes at him. "I have important business to attend to."
"I know, it won't delay our meal."
As Zhou Congxian tore off a chicken leg and handed it to her, he asked, "We agreed to pretend we didn't get along, so why did you call me here so soon? What's the matter?"
"Shuang'er said she saw Song Jiyun at the Song residence in Ruyi Lane in the south of the city."
She took the chicken leg from Zhou Congxian's hand.
“No wonder Xiaoman lost her today.” Zhou Congxian frowned.
“Song Jiyun is arrogant; if she wanted to perform the rites, she would never do it secretly.”
“He would even perform for three days straight in front of my grandmother.”
Meng Shilan took a bite of the chicken leg.
The peppery and numbing flavor, along with a hint of spiciness, instantly awakens the taste buds.
She hurriedly swallowed the slightly hot chicken.
He took two deep breaths before speaking, "You and His Majesty are going to put on a show, and I've already set up the stage for you. Just don't let me down."
Zhou Congxian said, "Everyone in the manor is my man. They can't do anything under my nose."
She gave a soft "heh," and said, "Be careful not to capsize in a ditch."
Zhou Congxian, “…”
Meng Shilan finished a chicken leg with lingering enjoyment. "This tastes good. I can take Fu'er to try it."
"Sure, I'll take you tomorrow."
"What do you mean 'okay'? Don't forget we're not on good terms yet. If you want to sing, then sing properly."
"If that crazy woman Song Jiyun finds out that we've all been deceiving her, she might set the capital on fire!"
Meng Shilan kicked his foot. "Then I'll just tell you this one thing. You can leave now."
"You're kicking me out so soon? I was so kind as to bring you roast chicken."
"Stop dawdling and let's go. He Ran will find out soon."
This was kept from everyone.
No one else knows.
When Zhou Congxian came to see her in Weichang, she instinctively wanted to refuse.
His Majesty secretly summoned her before telling her the true situation at the border.
Meng Shilan felt that Song Jiyun had an extreme personality.
If they can't provoke her, she might not stay at the British Duke's mansion as they envision.
Their original plan was to embarrass Song Jiyun in front of everyone at the victory banquet after the hunt.
Finally, give Song Jiyun another opportunity to make her realize that staying in the Duke of Ying's mansion is the only way to secure her position.
An unexpected black bear incident.
Since Song Jiyun was able to step forward, His Majesty readily granted her a promise.
They then hastily changed their strategy.
Use bear paws as bait.
He instructed Zhou Congxian to treat the two differently, thereby provoking Song Jiyun.
This led to Song Jiyun's later request to voluntarily become a concubine.
For the smooth progress of this matter.
Meng Shilan returned to Beijing ahead of schedule and even refused to see Zhou Congxian.
The next day.
Chunxing walked in with a puzzled look on her face. "The 'Fu' character knot that was hung up yesterday evening, how come it's gone after just one night?"
Meng Shilan put down her eyebrow pencil. "It was probably stolen by some thief."
The "thief" from the British Duke's mansion sneezed several times.
Zhao asked with concern, "The temperature has dropped recently, I'm afraid you've caught a cold."
Zhou Congxian waved his hand, "My son is fine."
Seeing that he showed no sign of anything amiss, Zhao continued, "The betrothal gifts are all ready, given before..."
She paused, realizing her words were inappropriate.
"The items are all top-quality, but some have been out of condition for two or three years and are not in good condition, so I've arranged for them to be replaced..."
"no."
Zhou Congxian refused decisively, saying, "The betrothal gifts will all be prepared anew."
"This is a joyous occasion that the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has only had once in many years. Duke Meng will certainly hold a grand celebration for it."
"By offering such a meager betrothal gift, you are making others gossip about your son for the rest of their lives."
Zhao had not anticipated this.
Not to mention now, even in the past, the Song family and the Meng family were incomparable.
The betrothal gifts that were prepared for Song Jiyun in the past must not be given to Meng Shilan now.
“My son has accumulated quite a bit of wealth over the years. If it’s not enough, I’ll give it all to you.”
Mrs. Zhao patted her son's hand.
"These are all your private savings, how could I possibly take them?"
"Go to work without worry, your mother will take care of everything."
Zhou Congxian, “My mother worked hard to arrange my marriage.”
Zhao watched her son's departing figure.
"I wonder who this child takes after, to be so devoted."
From maidservant to concubine, and now to wife.
I've always been alone.
She thought of the present moment, of the person now living in the old lady's courtyard.
In the end, she could only sigh.
"It's a tangled mess, impossible to unravel."
"It's all a tragic fate."
On my way to work.
Zhou Congxian spotted Meng Shilan's carriage at a glance.
He'd been back for over half a year, and he'd never run into someone so coincidentally on the street before.
Just yesterday they said they would carry on the pretense of discord to the very end.
I ran into it today.
Just then, Meng Shilan lifted the carriage curtain.
Their eyes met in mid-air.
Meng Shilan reacted the fastest, not only giving him a big eye roll but also letting out a cold "humph" before lowering the curtain.
Zhou Congxian, “…”
Ji Xiaoman followed behind him, "Sir, this might not be easy to appease."
Zhou Congxian glanced at the departing carriage and said, "What are you worrying about, kid?"
She turned around and glared at him, saying, "Mind your own business. If your skills haven't improved, you're going back to the Yanwei Camp."
Ji Xiaoman immediately put on a bitter face, "Sir, it's perfectly normal that I can't beat Brother Wei!"
Zhou Congxian said, "Let's not even talk about Wei Xun's lightness skill. You can't even beat him with his poor skills. What face do you have to cry here?"
"You're not allowed to go back until you give me two hundred stone locks today."
Each stone weight weighs 100 jin (approximately 50 kg). Hold one in each hand, slowly raise them horizontally, and then lower them.
This is to take a stone lock.
She had to make two hundred of them. In the days that followed, Ji Xiaoman could barely hold her chopsticks.
Meng Shilan arrived at the shop.
Zhou Wanqing happened to be there as well.
Her face lit up with joy as soon as she saw her. "It's just in time that you've come. I've brought you my most treasured treasure, the Yingluo."
After all the twists and turns, we're still family.
Zhou Wanqing then generously took out her treasured cloisonné enamel necklace.
Meng Shilan looked at her and said, "Isn't this the dowry that the old lady gave you? You're willing to give it to me now?"
“If you’re willing to give up something, you’re willing to give it up! How can you not be willing to give it up!” Zhou Wanqing smiled, her eyes crinkling.
"The old lady has a lot of good things."
“But since you and Song Jiyun entered the family at the same time, she has always favored her niece from her own family, so she probably won’t be willing to give you anything good.”
"I'll just give it to you in advance."
Seeing that she was generous, Meng Shilan simply accepted it in return.
"Since Miss Zhou is so generous, I will gladly accept it."
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