Chapter 301 Returning Home
A dagger came hurtling through the air.
Wei Xun drew his sword sheath and knocked the dagger away in mid-air!
It was just an ordinary dagger that could be found anywhere.
Looking around at the crowd, they couldn't find any trace of the murderer!
Things happened too fast.
Suddenly, the once lively and festive entrance became so quiet that only the sound of breathing could be heard.
At that moment, someone in the crowd made a jeer.
"I've seen many women get married, but this is the first time I've seen a man get married."
"If the bride can't look, does that mean the groom can't look either?"
"Look at the groom!"
Laughter erupted from the crowd.
Meng Shilan turned around and drew Wei Xun's sword.
The wide sleeves drew an arc in mid-air.
Her face was not clearly visible under the thin veil, only her almond-shaped round eyes were filled with coldness.
"My Meng family is most unafraid of bloodshed, even in the face of danger."
"On such a fine day, if anyone tries to cause trouble, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
The crowd fell silent, trembling with fear.
Everyone was completely stunned by Meng Shilan's decisive and efficient methods.
They looked at the woman standing on the steps, her figure slender yet her aura powerful.
Those who had been egging them on immediately ducked down slightly, afraid of being noticed.
Meng Shilan coldly swept her gaze across the crowd.
After a moment, she slowly withdrew her gaze, turned around, and took Zhou Congxian's hand again.
Her palms were warm and dry, carrying a reassuring power.
Sister Guo's tense body instantly relaxed.
Meng Shilan nodded slightly towards Meng Yushan, who was sitting on the high platform.
A barely perceptible hint of approval flashed in Meng Yushan's cloudy old eyes.
His granddaughter has grown up.
That's enough to support this whole world.
"The auspicious time has arrived!"
With a loud shout from the emcee.
Meng Shilan, holding her "groom's" hand, walked proudly through the gates of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion amidst the awe-inspiring gazes of the crowd.
She stepped over the vermilion threshold in one stride.
Her gaze passed over the festive red silk before her, as if piercing through thousands of mountains and rivers, and landed on the northern border where yellow sand filled the sky.
Peace and tranquility prevail.
Zhou Congxian, never forget your vow.
...
Three days later, they returned to their parents' home.
According to custom, newlyweds return home together.
The carriage of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion once again stopped in front of the tightly closed vermilion gate of the Duke of Yingguo's mansion.
The red silk and lanterns at the entrance had long been removed, as if eager to distance themselves from a joyous occasion that had nothing to do with them.
The wind blew across the empty street corner, swirling up a few fallen leaves, creating an atmosphere of utter desolation.
The gatekeeper was taken aback when he saw the Meng family's carriage, then scrambled inside to report it.
Meng Shilan sat calmly in the car without urging him to hurry.
She knew that the Duke of England's mansion would not give her a friendly welcome.
She doesn't need it.
Zhao was reclining on the couch, resting with her eyes closed. Upon hearing this, she didn't even lift her eyelids.
The matron walked in quickly, lowering her voice.
"Madam, she...she's here, she's already at the courtyard gate."
Who's here?
Her voice was full of impatience.
“It’s…that one from the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion.” The old woman’s voice was even lower.
Zhao snorted coldly.
"Let her wait outside."
The old woman looked troubled. "Madam, this... isn't this against the rules? There are too many people watching outside..."
"rule?"
Zhao suddenly opened her eyes, her well-maintained eyes filled with icy rage.
"When Meng Shilan caused the Zhou family to lose face, forced Xian'er to marry into the family, and became the laughing stock of the entire capital, did she ever think about the rules?"
The old woman dared not try to persuade her any further.
Zhao's chest heaved violently, but she managed to suppress her anger.
She can't really shut people out.
The British government will be the only one to lose face.
"Never mind."
Zhao waved her hand impatiently.
"If we don't invite them in, are we really going to let them block the door and make a fool of the Duke of England's mansion?"
After a long while, the door creaked open a crack.
A middle-aged man who looked like a manager poked his head out, a forced smile plastered on his face.
"Miss Meng...you've arrived."
The fact that she was addressed as Miss Meng, rather than Young Madam, already indicated the attitude of the Duke of England's mansion.
Meng Shilan didn't care at all, and with Chunxing's help, she gracefully got out of the car.
Today she wore a pomegranate red jacket with gold trim on the sleeves, and a matching horse-face skirt. The hem of the skirt rippled with light and color as she walked.
She wore no makeup, yet her very presence made the desolate entrance to the Duke of England's mansion appear even more shabby.
Inside the mansion, the servants watched from afar, none daring to come forward.
This is where she lived for several years.
The carved beams and painted rafters remain unchanged.
But people's hearts have long since changed beyond recognition.
When Meng Shilan stepped into Rong'an Hall, Madam Zhao had already changed her posture.
She leaned against the rosewood daybed, holding a cup of tea in her hand, slowly skimming off the foam, her eyes sweeping over coldly from the corner of her eye.
With just one glance, her face darkened completely.
Why are you all alone?
Where is Xian'er?
Meng Shilan remained unmoved by her anger.
She stepped forward, bowed gracefully, her posture impeccable.
"Shi Lan greets Grandma..."
She paused for a moment.
No, she didn't enter the Zhou family or pay respects at the Zhou family ancestral hall, so she can't be considered a daughter-in-law of the Zhou family.
I can't bring myself to call her "mother-in-law," nor should I.
So be it.
When Meng Shilan raised her eyes, a very faint, almost imperceptible smile played on her lips.
"Calling her 'mother-in-law' is not appropriate. It's better to call her 'mother' like Congxian does, which sounds more intimate."
He was neither humble nor arrogant, fulfilling all the proper etiquette while also conveying a subtle sense of aloofness.
Zhao's expression darkened further.
Meng Shilan seemed not to notice and continued speaking on her own.
"My husband... caught a cold and developed some rashes. The doctor advised him not to be exposed to the wind."
"Therefore, you cannot accompany me on my return visit today. Please forgive me, Mother."
Zhao couldn't catch her breath.
"You! You!"
She stretched out a trembling finger and pointed it directly at Meng Shilan, her eyes filled with humiliation.
"Meng Shilan! How dare you!"
"Back when you were in my Duke of Ying's mansion, how could I ever mistreat you? Your food, clothing, and daily necessities were all of the highest quality. And you were the only one by Xian'er's side!"
"Now that you've gained power and become the young lady of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, is this how you come back to humiliate Xian'er and my Duke of Ying's mansion?!"
Zhao's voice was shrill, as if she had suffered a great injustice.
Meng Shilan listened quietly, without even raising an eyebrow.
Only when Zhao's voice gradually faded did she gently raise her eyes.
That one glance, calm and undisturbed, sent a chill down Zhao's spine.
"then?"
Meng Shilan chuckled softly, a sound like the clear sound of jade, yet carrying a chilling coldness.
"Which year is Mother referring to when she says 'back then'?"
"Do you mean the year when the eldest son of the second wife 'happened' to bring a jug of strong liquor to go drink with Zhou Congxian in the middle of the night?"
Zhao's pupils suddenly contracted.
Meng Shilan's voice remained calm and unhurried, as if she were recounting an old story that had nothing to do with her.
"If it weren't for your tacit approval, Mother, how could he have dared to get drunk with Zhou Congxian in the inner courtyard, and how could that unexpected twist of fate have happened later?"
"How could I possibly become Zhou Congxian's concubine?"
She gently raised her eyes, "This must be the thing you regret the most."
After all, it's not without her.
Therefore, there were no subsequent details.
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