Chapter 86 Day 8
Mother Guo straightened up and listened to Mother Kong talking about how Wang had arranged for her to investigate Su Qingniang's matter when Wanxiang complained last time.
"So, after Su Qingniang sold Su Qing, she redeemed herself from Ruyi Pavilion?"
"Yes, he left after a few days, and no one knew where he went."
"Since you have the money to redeem yourself, why do you want to sell your daughter? Even if she is not your biological daughter, it will be difficult for them to have another daughter with the way they make a living. Wouldn't it be better to keep her by your side?" Mother Guo said softly.
"Yes, the people who went to inquire also said that Su Qing's mother was not kind to Su Qing at all. She was punished to stand in the snow in winter at such a young age, not to mention that she didn't even have a place to sleep in the house in summer. The food she used was the worst in the hotel, and she would pinch and bite her when she was in a bad mood. Alas, this girl is lucky to be alive."
"What's her mother's name?"
"Call me Pretty Girl."
"No, I mean my real name."
"I don't know. I didn't ask about it. When I heard that she left, I didn't ask any more." Mother Kong looked at Mother Guo and said, "Why? But that girl..."
"No, it has nothing to do with that girl. Sister, you can ask someone to check in the next few days, no, go tomorrow, to check Su Qing's mother's past and real name. It would be best if you could find out where she went and where she is now. If it's difficult to find out, spend money to hire someone to check it out. Make sure you find it out thoroughly."
Mother Kong looked at Mother Guo's serious expression and nodded.
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"Is your wife okay?" Meng Changfeng sat on the armchair with his eyes half closed.
"Yes, Shao's wife just served him medicine and he is asleep now." Meng Yuan said softly while standing beside him.
"You are already in your forties, how can you act without thinking? If you had really hit Wang with that blow just now, not to mention whether her body could bear it, with so many juniors and servants, how would you let her save face?"
Meng Yuan quickly stepped forward and said, "My son was too impatient and couldn't control himself for a moment, so... I know I was wrong."
"When Wang wakes up, go and make an apology. Although she, as a mother, has a lot of responsibility for what the fourth girl did, what about you? As a father, you have no responsibility? Go travel around the world. I heard that you bought a famous painting from the previous dynasty a few days ago and were cheated?"
Meng Yuan tugged at the corner of his clothes nervously but said nothing.
"Open your eyes in the future. Others may not know our family's financial situation, but don't you? The more you spend now, the less you will get in the future. No matter what, the second son has been promoted, and there is still some money to be made. Not to mention the third son, just look at the things I brought back from the northwest for the mother and daughter. You are just a fool, you spend happily, but you don't know that you are just taking money from your left pocket and putting it in your right pocket. And there are people who support you. You are trying to cover your ears and steal the bell, huh."
After Meng Changfeng said the last sentence, he glanced at Song. Song lowered her head guiltily and dared not say a word.
Seeing that Meng Changfeng had finished his scolding, Meng Yuan rubbed his hands and poured a cup of tea for Meng Changfeng, "Father, what should we do now?"
"Wait."
"Wait?" the mother and daughter asked at the same time.
"Yes, wait and see the attitude of the Prince Shen's Mansion. If there is no movement within a month, it means that Mr. Zhou Er has acquiesced to this matter and will not care about it anymore. We should just pretend that nothing happened. Keep Sister Qi under strict supervision and do not allow her to leave the mansion before she gets married. Just prepare some valuable gifts in the next two days and go to the Prince Shen's Mansion to apologize first."
"What if the Prince's Mansion comes to cancel the engagement?"
"Then we should go to Baron Bo's mansion and confirm the relationship between Sister Qi and Mr. Hong San. We should tell the public that a master predicted that Sister Qi and Mr. Zhou Er are not compatible, and that the older they get, the less suitable they are. However, we cannot say it out loud, so we can only cancel the engagement secretly. Of course, the prerequisite is that we go to the Prince's mansion to apologize."
"What if, what if Mr. Hong San doesn't agree?" Meng Yuan thought about how Hong Zhe looked today when he was driving the carriage and told them with disdain that Meng Qi was in the carriage. He didn't believe that Hong Zhe would agree to marry Meng Qi.
"Then Sister Qi should just cut her hair and go to the temple."
Song was startled at first, then lowered her head with a sad look.
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Mother Guo endured the pain in her waist and directed the maid to carefully move Wang to the chaise longue in the east room of Shanzhi Hall. Qingrui quickly placed the pillow behind Wang's head.
"Are you feeling better? Have you asked the doctor to take a look?" Wang's face still looked bad, but at least it had some color.
"I'm fine now. I've been given medicine and they massaged me. I'm old now, so I'll need some time to recover."
"Just sit down and let them do these things. Where's Mother Kong? Leave the yard matters to her for the time being. Just ask her."
"Yes, I asked Mama Kong to go out and do something."
"What? Is there anything?"
Mother Guo watched the maid being taken out by Hua Rui, walked up to Wang, picked up the quilt to cover Wang's lower body, and whispered: "This old servant has something to tell you, Madam. Yesterday..."
"Madam, the prince is here."
Mother Guo shut up, stood up and walked behind Wang.
Meng Yuan walked in, accompanied by his concubines. Wang frowned and was about to say something when Mother Guo gently pressed the soles of her feet while covering her with the quilt.
"I think you look better today than yesterday." Meng Yuan walked to the table and sat down. The youngest aunt, who had been particularly favored recently, twisted her waist and came forward to fill Meng Yuan's cup with tea.
"I have selected a few who are attentive and skillful and have them serve you for a while. If you find it annoying to have too many people, you can arrange shifts for them. It's time to let them do their best."
As soon as Meng Yuan finished his words, the beautiful concubine came forward and said, "Let me give the Crown Prince's wife a massage. My hands are very strong. The Crown Prince praised me last night." As she spoke, she was about to extend her hand.
Wang thought that such a big thing happened to Meng Qi yesterday, and it was really disgusting that Meng Yuan still had the mood to sleep with his concubine.
"No need. The doctor and Su Qing said yesterday that my illness is not suitable for being in the presence of many people or being moved, so there is no need to press. However, I would like to ask for a favor from the prince."
"You say." Meng Yuan picked up the teacup and took a sip.
"Mother Guo was hit hard by the prince yesterday for my sake. Why don't you go and give her a massage? Mother Guo will be considered to have suffered for me. Isn't that too much?"
When the aunt heard that she was asked to give a servant a massage, her face immediately turned unhappy. She twisted her waist to look at Meng Yuan. Meng Yuan recalled his impulsiveness yesterday and said, "Why not? From today on, you come here at this time every day. The massage will be completed when you are done."
When the remaining aunts heard Meng Yuan say this, they all covered their mouths and laughed, while Mother Guo stepped forward to thank him.
When the couple were the only ones in the room, Meng Yuan told Wang about Meng Changfeng's decision yesterday.
"Sir, do you think Mr. Zhou Er will come to cancel the engagement?"
"I don't know. I don't want it to happen, but which man can stand it? What kind of thing is this? Sister Qi is too bold."
"Does the prince also believe what Mr. Hong San said? Sister Qi is indeed a little willful on weekdays, but if she is not given hope or hints, do you think Sister Qi will do such a thing? She is not one of those ignorant girls in the market."
Meng Yuan nodded, "I told my father the same thing, but Mr. Hong insisted that he was the one who helped stop the frightened horse in the first month of the year. You saw it yesterday, too, and Sister Qi didn't say anything."
"She was just frightened." Wang defended her daughter.
Meng Yuan stood up and said, "No matter what, Sister Qi's behavior has brought shame to our Huainan Marquisate. Although not many people know about it, and they are all from aristocratic families, there is no wall that is impenetrable. Mother has already sent the eldest maid by her side to Qin Garden."
After saying that, he walked out and said, "Just rest assured and take care of it. Father said that we need to wait at least ten days to see what the Shenjunwang Mansion is like before we can take the next step."