Chapter 330 A Show of Force
Brush, ink, paper, and inkstone—everything was provided.
The Zhao family member under the eaves remained motionless.
A faint, almost imperceptible, cold smile played at the corners of her lips.
She was happy to see this show of force.
Meng Shilan stood ramrod straight, her eyes lowered slightly as she glanced around.
There was even a stick of cheap sandalwood incense burning in the incense burner, the wisps of smoke carrying a hint of cheap mockery.
Mrs. Gao crossed her arms and slightly raised her chin.
She waited.
Wait and see how she loses face and becomes a laughing stock in front of the Duke's mansion, under the gaze of the entire capital.
However, Meng Shilan didn't even lift her eyelids.
Suddenly, she moved.
Instead of heading towards the incense table with the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
Instead, he turned to face the imposing, vermilion-lacquered, gold-plated gates of the British Duke's mansion.
Amidst everyone's astonished gazes, she lifted the hem of her skirt.
With a "plop".
He knelt heavily on the cold, hard bluestone slab.
The voice was deep and resolute, like a heavy hammer that struck the hearts of everyone present.
Immediately afterwards, she bowed deeply, her forehead touching the ground, performing an impeccable full prostration.
"Granddaughter-in-law, please visit your grandmother!"
Her voice wasn't loud, but it was incredibly clear, piercing through the cold wind and reaching everyone's ears clearly.
When she looked up again, her face was covered in tears, and her voice was filled with deep sorrow and sobs.
"Your granddaughter-in-law is unfilial!"
"Upon hearing that my grandmother was seriously ill, I was extremely anxious and wished I could fly to her bedside immediately to serve her medicine!"
"However, the granddaughter-in-law carries 'evil energy,' which may offend the grandmother and worsen her condition. This would be extremely unfilial!"
As she spoke, she gently wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.
"It is not my wish that my granddaughter-in-law cannot enter the mansion and cannot fulfill her filial duties at her grandmother's bedside!"
"Please forgive your grandmother for your filial impiety!"
"My granddaughter-in-law is here to pray for my grandmother! May Heaven have mercy on her and bless her with good health and longevity, and grant her a speedy recovery!"
These words were spoken with a plaintive tone, full of genuine emotion.
Every word is filled with the deep affection of a granddaughter-in-law and the sorrow of being unable to control her own destiny.
She cried so genuinely, so heartbrokenly, as if she were truly a pitiful person torn apart by immense injustice and filial piety.
The area in front of the British Duke's Mansion was already bustling with people, and such a commotion had already attracted passersby to stop and watch.
"What's going on? Why is a young woman kneeling at the gate of the Duke of England's mansion?"
"Your eyesight is bad! Isn't that Miss Meng from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion? The one who married into the Duke of Yingguo's family a few months ago!"
"Oh! I remember now! That wedding caused a sensation throughout half of the capital! Wasn't the heir of the Duke of Yingguo marrying into the Duke of Zhenguo's family? So why is Miss Meng kneeling at the Zhou family's door today?"
"From what she said, it seems that the old lady of the Duke of England's mansion is ill, but they won't let her in, saying that she has...evil energy?"
"A malevolent aura? What kind of logic is that? Miss Meng looks dignified and elegant to me, how could she be someone with malevolent energy?"
The discussions rose and fell, surging in like a tide.
At a speed visible to the naked eye, Gao's mother's face went from a triumphant blush to a shocked deathly pale, and finally turned into a liver-like ashen blue.
She never expected this!
Meng Shilan actually pulled this stunt!
She didn't respond, didn't argue, and didn't quietly kneel down to copy scriptures and endure the humiliation.
She actually knelt down and wailed, making a big scene and letting the whole capital laugh at the Duke of Ying's mansion!
Where is this the same concubine who used to be so timid and cautious in the backyard, not even daring to speak loudly?
This is clearly a shameless madman who dares to cause a huge mess!
Mrs. Gao was so angry that she trembled all over. She pointed at Meng Shilan, her lips quivering for a long time, but she couldn't utter a single word.
Because every word Meng Shilan said revolved around the concept of "filial piety".
By scolding her, she was preventing her from fulfilling her filial duties, which was disrespectful to the old lady!
Meng Shilan seemed not to hear, and continued to cry with genuine emotion and sorrow.
Deep within her slightly lowered eyes lay a chilling mockery and resolute determination.
cry?
Who can't do that?
She had seen plenty of people feigning helplessness and trying to gain sympathy back in the Zhou family's backyard.
It's embarrassing either way.
Why should she be left alone, quietly sitting here like a sinner, letting them humiliate her?
If we're going to lose face, then let's all lose face together!
Today, Meng Shilan will show everyone in the capital what kind of despicable faces are hidden beneath the veneers of these noble families and dukes' mansions!
Zhao, who was about to turn and leave, seemed to be nailed to the spot, unable to move an inch.
A growing crowd gathered outside the door, their probing, curious, and disdainful gazes like red-hot steel needles piercing her face.
She felt a burning pain on her face, as if she had been slapped countless times in public.
This can't go on any longer!
Alarm bells rang in Zhao's mind.
She took a deep breath, quickly putting together a perfectly measured expression of anxiety and concern, and hurriedly lifted her skirt to go out to greet them.
"Oh dear, what are you doing! Shi Lan, my good child, get up quickly!"
Zhao's voice was full of heartache, like a loving mother seeing her daughter who had suffered a great injustice.
She walked quickly to Meng Shilan's side, bent down, and reached out to help her.
"The ground is so cold, child, why are you kneeling here? Come inside with your mother!"
Meng Shilan seemed to notice her only then, and suddenly raised her head. Her eyes, brimming with tears, looked at Zhao Shi with a misty gaze, filled with grievance and helplessness.
"Mother……"
She choked back tears, which streamed down her face like a broken string of pearls.
"Mother, please forgive Shi Lan."
"It's all because Shi Lan is unfilial and has been tainted by evil energy, which is why she can't go in to fulfill her filial duty to her grandmother."
Zhao's hand, which was supporting her, stiffened slightly, and the smile on her face faltered.
Meng Shilan continued speaking in a voice that was both tearful and incredibly clear.
"The master is right, the malevolent aura on Shi Lan is far too strong."
She sniffed, her voice tinged with a sense of tragic sorrow.
"Shi Lan's maternal grandfather, Duke Meng Yushan, guarded the border for more than 30 years."
"In these thirty years, he led the Meng family army in hundreds of battles, large and small, against Wule and Chirong, killing countless enemies and slaughtering many people."
"Although, all of this is for the sake of protecting our homes and country, for the vast land of Dasheng, and for the peace and tranquility of the people in the capital."
"But...but the blood on my grandfather's hands was real."
"Shi Lan, as a daughter of the Meng family, grew up by her maternal grandfather's side since childhood. Perhaps... perhaps it was at that time that she was tainted with this 'fierce aura' of fighting for the country."
"Shi Lan was loyal to her maternal grandfather, but because of this, she was unable to fulfill her filial duties to her grandmother. Shi Lan... Shi Lan feels guilty!"
These words shocked everyone present.
The color drained from Zhao's face in an instant.
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