Rebirth: I Became The Villain's Dark Moon Chapter 116: Support and Marital Pressure - Novel Cool

Chapter 116: Support and Marital Pressure

Chapter 116: Support and Marital Pressure

Two representatives from the Meng family had arrived. One was a confidante of Old Master Meng, who had endured a tumultuous upbringing. His mother, unable to support him, sold him to Old Master Meng, who allowed him to take on the Meng surname.

Meng Qianqian addressed him respectfully as Meng Bo.

The other visitor was an elderly clan member of similar age to Meng Bo but held a much higher status within the clan. Meng Qianqian respectfully referred to him as Seventh Uncle-Grandfather.

Accompanying them were several servants and a young man in a long robe, his face as fair as jade, giving him the appearance of a scholarly gentleman.

Meng Qianqian withdrew her gaze and greeted the two elders with a respectful bow. "Meng Bo, Seventh Uncle-Grandfather."

"No, no, don't be so formal!" Meng Bo quickly helped Meng Qianqian up.

Although he was considered Old Master Meng's surrogate son, Meng Qianqian had always respected him. However, he never carried himself with the air of a senior family member, always seeing himself as merely the Meng family's manager.

His eyes reddened as he looked at Meng Qianqian, his voice thick with emotion. "Third Young Miss, you've lost weight..."

Before coming to the capital, Meng Qianqian had been a chubby young girl. Now, she had blossomed into a graceful young lady, but her slender frame evoked a sense of heartache.

Li Mama wiped her tears and said, "She's gained some weight these past two months. When she was at the Lu family, she was so thin it was pitiful."

Meng Bo's heart ached, and although Seventh Uncle-Grandfather didn't share the same deep bond with Meng Qianqian as Meng Bo did, he was still very fond of her as a junior member of the Meng family. He, too, felt both distressed and indignant.

"Who are they...?" Meng Qianqian asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she regarded the rest of the group.

"Third Young Miss, it's me, Zhuzi!" One of the servants smiled. "Don't you remember? When you were little, the young masters took you to poke a hornet's nest, and I was the one holding the stick!"

"You still dare to bring that up!" Meng Bo playfully tapped him on the forehead.

Zhuzi laughed sheepishly.

"The young miss fell into the water half a year ago and has forgotten some things," Li Mama explained.

Seventh Uncle-Grandfather sighed.

Meng Bo, suppressing his own emotions, pointed to the young scholar and said to Meng Qianqian, "Third Young Miss, you must remember your cousin, don't you? You lived in his household for two years."

Meng Qianqian's gaze fell upon the young man, and she shook her head slightly.

Yu Li smiled shyly.

"Cousin," Meng Bo prompted, "didn't you bring a gift for Third Young Miss?"

Yu Li handed a large box of sugar cakes to Meng Qianqian. He dared not meet her gaze, his demeanor that of a shy and reserved scholar.

Meng Qianqian, however, calmly accepted the gift. "Thank you, Cousin."

The remaining members of the group had arrived at the Meng family after Meng Qianqian's departure, and Meng Bo introduced them to her as well.

Meng Bo's expression turned serious as he said, "From now on, Third Young Miss is also your master. Do you understand?"

"Yes!" the group replied in unison.

Ban Xia led them away to rest and have something to eat, taking the opportunity to feed the horses as well.

Meng Qianqian inquired about the reason for Seventh Uncle-Grandfather and Meng Bo's sudden visit to the capital. They explained that there had been some issues back home.

"Didn't you receive my letter saying everything was fine?" Meng Qianqian asked, puzzled. "I mentioned that Lu Lingxiao had returned safely from the border, and I asked the family not to worry."

Meng Bo looked confused. "But didn't you say in your letter that you endured a lot of hardship during your years with the Lu family? You mentioned that they seized your dowry, and that your husband brought back a mute woman from the border, forcing you to divorce him?"

Meng Qianqian frowned. "I never wrote such a letter."

Meng Bo was taken aback. "Then who could have written it?"

Meng Qianqian turned to the two elders. "Meng Bo, Seventh Uncle-Grandfather, do you still have the letter?"

Seventh Uncle-Grandfather shook his head. "The letter is with your grandfather. After reading it, he was so furious that he took to his bed for three days. We almost lost him... The first thing he did after recovering was to send us to the capital to demand an explanation from the Lu family. Your granduncles were supposed to come, but they are too old to travel at great speed."

In fact, not only the granduncles but even Old Master Meng himself had wanted to come to the capital, but the family had dissuaded him.

Li Mama spoke in an odd tone, "Young Miss... could it be that..."

Meng Qianqian knew exactly who was behind this.

She had intended to keep it a secret for a while, but it seemed that was no longer an option.

"Since Seventh Uncle-Grandfather and Meng Bo have traveled so far to reach the capital, Qianqian will be frank with you. I did not divorce Lu Lingxiao."

The two elders breathed a sigh of relief.

Before they could fully relax, Meng Qianqian continued, "I have severed ties with him."

"What?"

The two elders exclaimed in unison, and even Yu Li, who was standing by, widened his eyes in surprise.

Meng Qianqian shared the important details with the two elders, briefly touching on the ups and downs of her relationship with the Lu family. She acknowledged that while her dowry had been used to support them over the years, Lady Lu and her mother-in-law had treated her like their own daughter, and her time with the Lu family hadn't been entirely unpleasant.

It wasn't that she wanted to defend the Lu family, but having already cut ties with them, going back now to demand an explanation would only make her seem unwilling to let go and eager to regain something.

The two elders asked about Lu Lingxiao bringing a woman back from the border, and Meng Qianqian confirmed it after a moment's thought.

Seventh Uncle-Grandfather asked, "For such a significant matter, why didn't you discuss it with the clan before making a decision?"

Meng Qianqian replied, "It was an imperial decree from the retired emperor. The fault lies with him, not me. If anyone brings it up in the future, the Lu family will be in the wrong. As for my dowry that was used to support them, I've almost recovered it all, and the remainder is covered by an IOU."

Hearing that the retired emperor had ensured justice for Meng Qianqian, Seventh Uncle-Grandfather and Meng Bo felt much more at ease.

When they had received that letter, the Meng family had been devastated. They had been furious at how their young miss had been wronged, and now their worries melted away.

"The past five years were like a nightmare," Meng Qianqian said. "But now, I'm doing very well, so Seventh Uncle-Grandfather and Meng Bo, please don't worry about me anymore."

Seventh Uncle-Grandfather, filled with grief and shame, said, "It's Meng family's fault for not being able to protect you! The Lu family holds official power, while we are just merchants..."

Li Mama wanted to say something but hesitated.

Meng Qianqian shook her head at her, not wanting to bring up the matter of the border. If word of it reached Old Master Meng, it would only cause him more distress.

While many of her memories of the Meng family had faded, she clearly remembered Old Master Meng's kindness towards her.

A moment of silence filled the room.

Suddenly, Meng Bo snapped his fingers and exclaimed, "I almost forgot about your Third Uncle!"

Meng Qianqian's expression changed slightly. "Third Uncle is also in the capital?"

"He went to cause trouble for the Lu family!" Meng Bo explained. "When we entered the city, he said he wanted to beat Lu Lingxiao to a pulp and went straight to the Lu family's residence!"

Third Uncle was no match for Lu Lingxiao, and his impulsive visit might have gotten him killed as an assassin.

Meng Qianqian quickly stood up and called out, "Tanyue!"

Tanyue's voice came from the courtyard, "I know! I'll go help Third Uncle!"

Meng Bo asked, "Can a little girl like her handle it?"

Meng Qianqian nodded confidently. "Tanyue is very capable. Don't worry, Meng Bo."

Hearing her assurance, Meng Bo didn't press further. "This time, we came to the capital not only to demand justice for you on your grandmother's orders but also to bring you back to Youzhou."

"Back to Youzhou?" Meng Qianqian asked.

"Yes," Meng Bo replied. "Now that you've severed ties with the Lu family, there's no reason to stay in the capital."

What had to come eventually had arrived—the Meng family wanted to take her back.

Seeing her silence, Seventh Uncle-Grandfather gently said, "Third Young Miss, you don't have to be afraid. Even if you've severed ties with your husband's family, your grandfather will find you another good match when you return to Youzhou. This time, we'll be careful in our choice and make sure they treat you with undivided loyalty and upright conduct. You won't suffer any more grievances!"

Cen Guanshi: How about my master? What do you think of him?

(End of Chapter)

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