Chapter 336 Meng He's Wedding
Spring is in full bloom, and it's already May.
The capital city has shed its winter desolation, and is now filled with blooming flowers and lush green willows.
The joyous occasion at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, like the spring scenery, grew more and more vibrant each day.
However, in stark contrast to the bustling activity here, the atmosphere inside the British Duke's mansion was becoming increasingly oppressive.
After the start of spring, Madam Zhou's condition took a sharp turn for the worse.
The medicine was poured down his throat like water, but there was no improvement whatsoever. He grew thinner and thinner day by day, and it looked as if he was about to die.
As the eldest grandson of the eldest son, Zhou Congxian naturally had an inescapable responsibility.
Filial piety is of paramount importance.
During the day, he would handle official business at the government office. After finishing his shift, he would go straight back to the Duke of Ying's mansion and personally serve the old lady her medicine at her bedside, often staying there for the entire night.
He spent less and less time returning to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
Occasionally, when he returned home late at night, he always carried a lingering, strong, and bitter smell of medicine.
Meng Shilan never uttered a single complaint.
She simply prepared hot water for him, allowing him to wash away his fatigue and chill.
Then serve him a bowl of warm lotus seed soup to soothe his mind and reduce internal heat.
"As children and grandchildren, we should naturally fulfill our filial duties."
She sat under the lamp, gently massaging his tense brow, her voice as soft as the moonlight outside the window.
"Don't worry about us, everything in the manor is taken care of by me and Grandfather."
Zhou Congxian took her hand that was gently stroking his forehead, placed it to his lips, and kissed it lightly.
His eyes held an overwhelming weariness and guilt.
"I'm sorry to have troubled you."
He knew he owed her a real, stable home.
Meng Shilan shook her head, leaned down, and pressed her cheek against the back of his hand.
"I'm not wronged."
"We'll go home once you're done with your work."
Her voice carried a barely perceptible sob.
Home.
This word carried immense weight for both of them.
...
Meng Xingjiang and He Ran got married.
On this day, the weather was perfect, with a gentle breeze blowing.
The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful ribbons, and red silk fluttered everywhere, spreading a festive red hue from street to alley.
The wedding procession, accompanied by music and fanfare, escorted He Ran, dressed in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, from the He residence into the gates of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
They stepped over the fire basin, passed over the saddle, and bowed to heaven and earth.
The elaborate rituals, performed step by step, are the most solemn promise to this marriage.
Meng Shilan stood in the crowd, watching her tall and handsome brother, dressed in a bright red wedding robe, lead his bride, who was shy and radiant under her red veil, step by step into the main hall.
Her eyes welled up with tears once again.
very nice.
My brother finally has his own home and a good man who will stay with him for life.
As night fell, the wedding banquet began.
The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was brightly lit, filled with guests, and the atmosphere was lively and bustling.
Although Meng Xingjiang was the eldest grandson of the Duke of Zhenguo's family, he had only been back in the capital for a few months and spent most of his time in the army, so he was not very familiar with the sons of these noble families in the capital.
Therefore, people who make a ruckus in the bridal chamber are much more restrained than those in ordinary families.
It's nothing more than having the groom compose a few poems to urge the bride to get ready, and having the bride draw her eyebrows through her veil, and then it's over after a few auspicious omens.
This actually gave the two newcomers a bit of breathing room, preventing them from being too embarrassed.
Looking at the festive atmosphere in the courtyard, and seeing her brother surrounded by everyone, his face showing a hint of shyness but also an undeniable smile of happiness, Meng Shilan's eyebrows also curved upwards.
When she turned around, she saw Zhou Congxian surrounded by several brothers of the He family, He Xun, He Xuan, and He Zhuo.
"General Zhou, today is my sister's wedding day. We won't make things difficult for the newlyweds, but you must drink this cup on behalf of your brother-in-law!" He Xun, the eldest brother of the He family, held up a wine bowl, looking very heroic.
"That's right! I've heard that General Zhou has a huge capacity for alcohol, so we must drink until we drop today!" He Xuan, the second brother of the He family, also chimed in.
Zhou Congxian was the main person to shield Meng Xingjiang from drinking today.
He already held a high position and had a powerful aura, so ordinary people dared not approach him.
These men from the He family were the bride's own brothers and were also well-known for their forthrightness and military prowess, so naturally they had no reservations.
Zhou Congxian smiled and accepted all comers.
"My brothers-in-law, you're too kind. This toast is for you."
He drank one cup after another, emptying the bowl without hesitation.
Meng Shilan felt a pang of sympathy and wanted to step forward to dissuade him, but Meng Yushan stopped her with a look.
"It's a joyous occasion today, let him drink."
The old man stroked his beard, his face beaming with smiles.
"Young man, if you're happy, you should enjoy it to the fullest."
Meng Shilan had no choice but to give up and watch him from afar.
He was dressed gracefully, chatting and laughing. Even as people surrounded him and poured wine for him, he remained upright and composed. However, a thin layer of intoxication gradually appeared in his deep eyes.
The banquet ended late at night.
Zhou Congxian was indeed drunk and passed out.
Guo Fan and several servants half-carried, half-lifted him back to the warm pavilion.
He was so drunk he was completely unconscious, yet he was still mumbling incoherently.
Meng Shilan leaned down and brought her lips close to his before she could hear him clearly.
"Revenge... I must get revenge..."
"This Meng Xingjiang... on his wedding night... he should also... taste... the feeling of being alone in an empty room..."
Meng Shilan was both angry and amused.
Even though he's so drunk, he still remembers the grudge of being locked out and having to climb over the wall in the middle of the night.
She carefully wiped his face and hands, and then changed his robe, which reeked of alcohol.
After settling him in, Meng Shilan was not sleepy at all.
She opened the window, and the night breeze, carrying a hint of coolness, brushed against her face, dispelling the restlessness that had risen in her heart due to the effects of the alcohol.
In the courtyard, the hazy glow of the red lanterns enveloped everything in a warm orange hue.
In the distance, a few suppressed laughs could still be faintly heard.
Everything was so peaceful and beautiful.
Meng Shilan has been having a lot of dreams lately.
What I dream about are all things from the past.
Those past events are so vivid in my dreams that they seem to have happened just yesterday.
But when she opened her eyes, she saw Zhou Congxian sleeping soundly beside her, Fu'er and Xiao Pangxi playing in the courtyard, and the magnificent splendor of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
Those dreams now seem like a distant memory.
She was no longer the concubine Meng Shilan who was bullied by everyone and couldn't even control her own destiny.
She is the daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Meng Xingjiang's younger sister, and the mother of Fu'er and Xiao Pangxi.
She was the person Zhou Congxian held dearest in his heart.
"elder sister."
A soft call interrupted her thoughts.
Shuang'er quietly walked in, carrying a bowl of soup.
"It's late at night, and the wind is strong. Be careful not to catch a cold."
As she spoke, she placed the hangover soup she was holding on the table.
"I figured my son-in-law would drink a lot tonight, so I made some soup in advance."
Meng Shilan snapped out of her daze and turned to look at her.
Under the lamplight, Shuang'er's face was also filled with joy, and her eyebrows and eyes were brimming with unconcealed smiles.
Over the years, Shuang'er has suffered a lot following her.
Now that the hardships have come to an end, seeing such a joyous occasion in the household, she was genuinely happy for her young mistress and young master.
Meng Shilan's heart stirred, and he took her hand, making her sit down beside him.
"Look at you, you're happier than anyone else."
When do you plan to settle things with Wei Xun?
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