Jinyao, hearing her sighs and sobs, asked, "Sister-in-law, is something troubling you"Zhang was deeply troubled: "Xuan Yi's disposition, marrying into the Duke of Wuan's residence, who knows how muc...Luxuriant Pavilion.

When Meng Jin yao returned to Weiruixuan, it was almost lunchtime. But she didn't really feel like eating. She had the meal set aside for a few maidservants to share and instructed the kitchen to make chicken congee, so it would take a while longer to eat. She first ate two pieces of pastries to tide her over.

Qing Qiu entered the room and saw her sitting on the noblewoman's chair by the window. One hand was resting on the windowsill, her chin propped against her palm, staring blankly at the vast blue sky. Her eyes were vacant, lost in thought.

Qing Qiu walked up to her and asked with concern, "Madam, what's wrong"

At the sound, Meng Jinyao came to her senses. Her eyes gradually regained their clarity and she smiled faintly: "It's nothing, just thinking about some things."

Qing Qiu was unsure, but her master didn't want to speak on it, so she didn't dwell on the issue. Instead, she asked curiously, "Madam, you usually don't concern yourself with such trivial matters. Why are you involved today"

Meng Jin Yao said lightly, "I guess he has been rained on before. He must be able to empathize, right"

Qing Qiu listened, and instantly understood.

The wife has been rained on before, so she wants to give others an umbrella.

Gu Xuanyi and Gu Xuanying, aren't they just replicas of their master and Meng Jingyu

Gu Xuanyi and Meng Jinyu have similar personalities. Luckily, their masters are not as weak and easily bullied as Gu Xualing's. Otherwise, their fates would be much worse than Gu Xualing's. Gu Xualing was luckier than them because she had a supportive stepmother.

And what of their masters

Old Madam Meng disliked her granddaughter from the moment she was born, believing her to be a harbinger of misfortune. She targeted her constantly, and it is said that she once even considered sending her away to ensure the safety of the family. Luckily, Old Master Hou stopped her.

Therefore, whenever Meng Jin Yu bullied her mistress, Lady Meng would not inquire about the truth and would only listen to Meng Jin Yu's words, directly deciding that it was the mistress's fault and should be punished for being unruly. Otherwise, if she behaved this way even after marrying into the Gu family, the Gu family would say that the Meng family had failed to teach their daughters properly.

While Mrs. Sun always knew how to appear to be speaking up for her mistress, in reality she would push her into the fire pit, causing the old lady to scold her severely. She acted as a pawn for killing, and still managed to earn a reputation as a good mother.

Over the years, the master had been beaten, scolded, and made to copy the household rules by Old Madam Meng. He had also been confined to his room as punishment, and even once forced to kneel in the courtyard of Rongfu Hall during a bitter winter.

Originally, she was only supposed to kneel for an hour. But because of Mrs. Sun's words, it once again ignited Old Madam Meng's anger, and she made her kneel the entire day until the master fainted. Only when a maidservant noticed something was wrong did she go and inform Old Madam Meng.

Therefore, Madam Meng only then remembered that their mistress was still kneeling outside. Afraid of getting a reputation for abusing her granddaughter to death, and since the mistress was still betrothed to the Gu family, she quickly sent a doctor to treat her.

The master came down with a high fever, burning for three days and three nights before it finally subsided. He was lucky to be alive, but it took several months to recover fully. However, the evil cold had invaded his body, leaving behind a permanent ailment. Every winter, he would suffer from the old condition, a pain only those who have experienced it can truly understand.

If the old master lived for ten more years, that would be wonderful. He could protect his young mistress until she got married. Then she wouldn't have to suffer abuse at her husband's family.

The troubles these past years are simply too numerous to count, whether from her mistress or the second young master. But the second young master fares much better than his mistress because he hasn't been as disliked by the old lady as she has.

Meng Jinyao saw her reddened eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. She was taken aback. This maidservant had always been composed and rarely showed her emotions. She hurriedly asked, "Qingqiu, why are you crying"

Qīngqiū hurriedly wiped the tears from her cheeks, sniffed, and forced the tears back: "The servant is fine, Madam is a blessed person, and she will be well in the future

">

Meng Jinyo smiled and said, "I'll be fine. I'll still have to find a good match for both of you and Ningdong, and send you both off to your weddings."

Qīngqiū hurriedly shook her head: "I don't want to get married, I want to stay by the mistress's side for life.

Meng Jinyao listened and shook her head disapprovingly, saying softly, "Silly girl, don't think that way. No one can make you waste your life. When you meet a good husband you like, you can consider marriage. I am the Houfu's mistress, this status can also support you and prevent your in-laws from bullying you even half a point."

Qīng Qiū replied, "Madam, I don't feel that staying by your side is a waste of my life. To be frank with you, these past two years I've already made up my mind not to get married."

Meng Jinyao was astonished and very puzzled: "Why"

"I don't really have any interest in getting married," Qingqiu said, a faint smile playing on her lips. "There's nothing good about it, you know You have to serve your in-laws and take care of the whole family. It's so much more comfortable staying by your side."

Meng Jin Yao was stunned, then replied: "As long as you meet the right person, getting married is actually pretty good. But this isn't something to rush. If you meet someone in the future, get married; if not, just stay and keep me company."

Qing Qiu nodded: "Servant girl will listen to Madam's

Meng Jinyao shook her head slightly and said earnestly, "Life's big decisions, don't just listen to me. That's your life, you have to feel it with your own heart. Even if I think a certain gentleman is good and suitable for you, I'm not you after all. It's like knowing if shoes fit or not, only you yourself can tell."

Qingqiu nodded again: "This servant knows."

-

Peace Ancestral Hall.

Today's commotion caused quite a stir. Even Old Madam Gu received the news and was so angered that she lost her appetite for lunch. She merely ate a few bites before dismissing the maidservant.

When Feng saw this, she gently soothed her and said: “Madam, don’t be angry. It’s not worth it to ruin your health for them. Just let them do as they please.”

How could I not be angry They are all such a headache.

Grandma Gu's brows furrowed, her face grim. She said in a low voice: "Zhang Shi has raised her daughter to be arrogant and domineering, with no regard for others. She has ruined a good child. It's a misfortune for the family to have married Zhang Shi. If I had known this would happen, I should not have gone along with the eldest son's wishes and agreed to his marriage. Since she came back, she has been causing trouble, and I have just turned a blind eye."

Grandma Feng remained silent. In fact, back then, the old matriarch had found a good match for the eldest grandson. Although she was the legitimate daughter of a minor official of the sixth rank, her family wasn't prominent, but she was gentle and kind, dignified and proper. She was a virtuous wife and mother. As it turned out, the old matriarch had excellent vision. The girl was now happily married, raising children, being filial to her elders, and well-loved by both her husband and in-laws. The children she raised were also very outstanding; last year, at the age of sixteen, one of them passed the imperial examination and became a jinshi.

Feng MaMa sighed softly and advised, "Madam, the matter is settled. Getting angry won't change anything. You should try to relax your mind.

Elder Gu took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in her heart, and said: "Go get Zhang over here."

Hearing this, Granny Feng hurriedly stopped her: "Madam, you can't do that! The eldest mistress has already punished the eldest daughter. If you intervene again and accuse the eldest mistress of being a bad teacher, she might resent you."

“Who said I was going to blame her” Old Madam Gu gave her a strange look and shook her head helplessly, “What’s the point of blaming her Even if I scolded her, she wouldn’t change. The child is already like this; scolding her would be pointless.”ways been very loving and had never quarreled. It was only in recent months that their father had been spending every day in his mistress's room, but he hadn't quarreled with their mother.But today th...