Chapter 639: Little Brother
Chapter 639: Little Brother
The news of Meng Qianqian's return to the Meng Clan Estate after her wedding spread quickly throughout the estate.
Although the servants dared not speak out of turn, their feet were quite honest, rushing to witness the scene where Meng Laoye was making things difficult for Lu Yuan.
More people gathered to watch Lu Yuan being tormented by Meng Laoye than to welcome Meng Qianqian.
Lu Yuan, who had lived for over twenty years, had never felt so humiliated.
Shangguan Ling sighed deeply.
It was a rare sight indeed.
A grand commander reduced to this.
How amusing.
Meng Qianqian's old quarters had been kept for her, with Lady Ji often sending people to clean them, so they were quite tidy.
However, since no one had lived there for a long time, there was some dampness, and the soft furnishings needed to be rearranged.
So, Lady Ji had Meng Qianqian stay with her for a while.
Lady Yan grumbled, "Sister-in-law, let Qianqian stay at my place for a few nights. You're so busy, how can you take care of her?"
Lady Ji shot her a glare. "You should take care of yourself first. Is the place where you fell last time not still sore?"
Meng Qianqian quickly looked at Lady Yan. "Third Aunt, where did you fall?"
Lady Yan muttered, "Why must you expose my weaknesses in front of the children, Sister-in-law?"
She didn't say more.
Lady Ji spoke up for her. "At your age, you still climb trees like a little girl to pick peaches. You fell on your bottom and had to lie in bed for several days, crying and moaning that you would be paralyzed for the rest of your life."
Lady Yan was so embarrassed that she wished she could find a crack to hide in.
Meng Qianqian couldn't help but laugh.
She was reminded of the old General's Mansion, where her mother and the aunts were just as close.
The family bonds she had lost seemed to be continuing in a different way.
Many things had changed in the Meng Clan Estate over the years, and she could sense it as soon as she entered. However, the two aunts were more concerned about her well-being.
They both tactfully avoided mentioning Lu Lingxiao and the Lu family, as if they didn't want her to recall those painful memories.
Actually, she didn't mind.
But their care still touched her deeply.
Lady Yan said, "If you had come earlier, you could have seen your eldest brother and the others. They were taken to the Yu family for a short stay."
Lady Ji replied, "It's not far. I'll send a message to the Yu family to have them come back."
Mentioning the Yu family made the two aunts think of Yu Li, who was far away in the Imperial Capital, and they inquired about his situation.
"Did he really enter the National Academy?"
Lady Yan asked.
Meng Qianqian nodded.
Lady Yan whispered, "It's not because of... the groom, is it?"
Meng Qianqian understood her meaning and smiled. "Cousin Yu entered the National Academy on his own and was even taken as a disciple by the Chancellor."
Lady Yan gasped. "My goodness, the Yu family has a literary star now!"
Meng Qianqian smiled, feeling proud of her cousin and happy for the Yu family.
Suddenly, Lady Yan thought of something and her eyes darted around as she asked timidly, "Qianqian, did you see—"
Lady Ji sternly interrupted her. "Do you have nothing better to say?"
Lady Yan pouted. "I can't even ask a question."
Meng Qianqian spoke openly. "I saw him, and we've cut ties."
Lady Yan was speechless.
Lady Ji paused and said, "Good."
Lady Yan looked at Lady Ji in surprise, then at Meng Qianqian, feeling a thousand emotions but suddenly speechless.
Meng Tianlan had returned from the Imperial Capital and shared many stories about what had happened there. The changes in the third young miss were significant, almost unrecognizable from the little glutton she used to be.
From their brief conversation, both aunts were convinced of Meng Tianlan's words.
Lady Ji tightly held Meng Qianqian's hand.
Lady Yan also took her other hand and held it warmly.
One must endure great pain to transform completely.
"By the way, how are my elder sisters?"
Meng Qianqian smiled and changed the subject.
Lady Yan turned away, wiping away a tear.
Lady Ji said calmly, "They're married to local families in Youzhou, with their parents nearby, so their lives are not bad. I'll send a message to your sisters and their husbands."
Meng Qianqian's eyes sparkled, and she nodded with a smile. "That's great. I haven't seen my elder sisters in a long time, and it would be nice to meet their husbands as well."
Lady Ji patted her hand.
She had two younger brothers: Meng Xuan, her second brother, and Meng Lang, her youngest brother.
Meng Xuan was the son of her second uncle and aunt, while Meng Lang was her father's and Concubine Lin's son.
Concubine Lin was a good woman, and she passed away when Meng Lang was ten. Since then, Meng Lang had been raised in the Third Courtyard.
Over the years, Lady Yan had treated Meng Lang as if he were her own son.
Both brothers attended the Youzhou Academy, returning home only during their monthly breaks.
Meng Xuan was relatively well-behaved.
Meng Lang, however, was a bit wild, often skipping classes and getting beaten by his third uncle more than once.
"It's your fault for spoiling him."
Lady Ji said to Lady Yan.
Lady Yan dared not argue.
Meng Qianqian smiled.
The relationship between the two aunts was quite amusing. Lady Yan was often suppressed by Lady Ji, like a little scolded child.
But upon closer observation, it was clear that Lady Ji was only strict in words.
Her sudden return had caught the aunts off guard, but the quality of Lady Yan's clothes and jewelry showed how much Lady Ji cared for her.
Moreover, how many sisters-in-law could remain so carefree after years of living together?
A few rounds of family conflicts would have destroyed such innocence.
Meng Qianqian recalled something Nanny Li had mentioned.
When her third uncle was young, he was quite a playboy, but none of his antics reached Lady Yan, as they were all quashed by Lady Ji.
Her third uncle's reformation was also due to the guidance of her second uncle and aunt.
When Concubine Lin passed away, Meng Lang should have been raised by her second uncle and aunt, but Lady Ji, feeling sorry for Lady Yan's childlessness, suggested that Meng Lang be raised by Lady Yan.
"Where has that boy gone?"
Lady Yan looked around for Meng Lang.
Meng Qianqian asked, "Isn't Little Brother at the academy?"
Lady Yan scoffed, "Ha, he wouldn't even read a dog's book!"
Meng Qianqian: "..."
The moon was bright, and the stars were sparse.
Lu Yuan was still being kept out by Meng Laoye.
Ji Li, having had his fill of the spectacle, stretched and went to rest.
As a friend of Meng Qianqian, he was treated much better than a pig that had eaten the family's vegetables.
The Meng Clan Estate had prepared a quiet and elegant courtyard for him.
The servants who had been watching were also sent away by Meng Bo.
Only Shangguan Ling remained steadfast by his grand commander's side.
If one ignored Yu Zi Chuan, who was polishing his bow on the rooftop.
Yu Zi Chuan had found the perfect vantage point to enjoy Lu Yuan's past humiliations.
Suddenly, a faint but unmistakable aura of killing intent rippled through the night air, almost imperceptible.
Yu Zi Chuan raised his eyes in confusion.
But he saw nothing and continued polishing his bow.
Lu Yuan's right ear twitched.
Whoosh!
A projectile flew toward them.
"What is this?!"
Shangguan Ling sliced with his saber, only to find it was a peach pit.
A handsome young man, lying lazily on a branch of a parasol tree, looked at them with a half-smile.
"Are you... my sister's husband who is neither good-looking nor useful?"(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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