29

She was not trying to make things difficult for anyone; she was simply determined to protect her daughter’s belongings with all her might.

In the main hall of the Marquis’s residence, Meng Qingyue sat alone, expressionless and emotionless, like a lifeless wooden carving.

Only when Madam Hou was supported in by Meng Changle did she show the slightest reaction.

She struggled to lift her head and forced a smile, more pitiful than tears could convey. “Mother.”

Madam Meng, now looking at the daughter she once cherished most, felt nothing but disappointment.

A deep, profound disappointment mixed with unmistakable anger and resentment stabbed at Meng Qingyue’s heart.

She suppressed the sting in her nose and asked, “Mother, where is my brother?”

Before Madam Meng could reply, Meng Changle, unable to hold back her sobbing tone, interrupted.

“Sister, at this point, do you still expect our brother to come to your rescue? What you have done is clearly to ruin the honor of the Marquis’s household and to destroy my marriage prospects!”

Meng Qingyue opened her mouth in vain, shaking her head as she tried to explain to her mother.

But Madam Meng turned her face away, resolute in her refusal to look at her. “Qingyue, I won’t hold your falling into the pond that day against you—that was an accident, and the young master saved you. But what about the matter with the Prince of Zhao today? Could that be an accident as well?”

“Your clothes were perfectly fine—did you tear them yourself? And it just so happened to be beside the Prince of Zhao? Qingyue, do you really think your mother is a fool?”

Madam Hou had once felt some pity for her daughter, unable to punish her harshly. But when Meng Changle mentioned how her actions had “broken her marriage prospects,” she finally woke from her delusion.

First the young master, then the Prince of Zhao—could these all be mere coincidences?

Or had Qingyue truly nurtured ambitions to climb atop the powerful, committing such a shameful act today to secure her future?

If that were the case, then Madam Meng would show no mercy.

Meng Qingyue’s eyes were tinged with sorrow. She forced a bitter smile and then asked, “Where is Meng Xingzhou?”

“Why do you want to see your brother?” Madam Meng’s gaze was icy, the last trace of pity for Meng Qingyue all but extinguished.

“I have something to ask him.”

Madam Meng’s expression darkened. “Whatever it is, it’s no rush. Right now, the most important thing is that Madam Qiao is angry. We have to show we acknowledge the issue, or else your sister’s marriage might be jeopardized…”

Meng Qingyue found it somewhat laughable.

The distinction between the Marquis of Huainan’s household and the Duke of Zhen Guo’s was vast, yet they clung so tightly to the Duke’s family, afraid of offending their in-laws even slightly.

But was such a servile marriage truly a lasting solution?

In other words, if Qiao Xian turned out to be a scoundrel in the future, and Meng Changle suffered grievances in her marriage, was she also expected to silently endure with her natal family?

Madam Meng clearly could not understand these thoughts. She was consumed by thoughts of how to appease Madam Qiao’s anger.

“If your father finds out about this, he will certainly punish you. Before he returns, you must go to the Qiao family and apologize, beg for the Duke’s forgiveness. That way, your father won’t be able to say anything.”

Meng Qingyue fixed her gaze on her mother. “Mother, are you more afraid that Father will punish me, or that this will ruin Meng Changle’s marriage?”

Madam Meng frowned, displeased. “What difference does it make? You are all my daughters, and I love you all the same.”

Suddenly, Meng Qingyue laughed bitterly.

To be pushed to this point yet still claim equal love.

How had she never realized before how hypocritical her mother truly was?

She sighed softly, choosing to say no more, only repeating, “But before I apologize, I must meet with Meng Xingzhou. I have questions for him.”

“Don’t expect your brother to save you! He loves you and protects you everywhere, but I will not tolerate your reckless behavior!”

Madam Meng’s voice had a hint of sorrow, and Meng Qingyue finally could not hold back.

“Mother, what are you really afraid of? Why won’t you let me see my brother? Are you afraid he will protect me, or that this will affect your beloved son?”

With a sharp slap, Madam Meng struck her cheek, her voice trembling with restrained sobs. “You wicked child, are you trying to kill me with grief?” Her chest heaved violently, overcome with anger.

Meng Qingyue’s cheeks flushed swiftly, a sickly pallor mingling with the redness. She covered her face, her voice dropping but still stubbornly resolute. “I will not leave until I see Meng Xingzhou today.”

At the Duke’s residence, “Is your cousin really returning to the capital today?”

Qiao Xian nodded, calming the nearly ecstatic Madam Qiao. “Uncle knows how much Mother misses her daughter, so he specially sent cousin ahead to inform us of her whereabouts.”

“In about two hours, his carriage will arrive.”

Madam Qiao said nothing more, clutching her chest, her eyes rimmed red.

“Heaven be kind, then we shall wait two more hours before sleeping.”

As night fell, Lord Qiao, Madam Qiao, and Qiao Xian waited in the main hall, their eyes fixed intently on the door.

Suddenly, a servant hurried in with news: “My lord, madam, young master, the Second Miss of the Marquis of Huainan’s residence requests an audience!”

Madam Qiao’s eyes brightened with hope at the servant’s entrance.

But upon hearing who it was, she was utterly disappointed and sneered coldly, “She actually dared to come!”

Lord Qiao, unaware of the palace banquet incident, frowned curiously. “Madam, why? Has this Meng Qingyue offended you somehow?”

The Duchess of Zhen Guo’s face darkened as she recounted the events of the palace banquet.

Hearing this, Lord Qiao’s expression also grew stern.

“A young lady behaving so disgracefully—it truly brings shame upon our family’s reputation…”

Qiao Xian had once pitied Meng Qingyue for being wrongly punished by the Imperial Noble Consort, but after her scheme at the banquet to tear her clothes, he resumed his initial contempt.

Daring to snatch his sister’s fiancé—it was reckless beyond reason!

“Let her in!” Qiao Xian’s voice was as cold as ice, determined to teach this arrogant woman a harsh lesson.

When Meng Qingyue was ushered into the Duke’s residence by the servant, she was still somewhat puzzled.

After all, last time she had knelt for three full hours.

How was it that this time, in less than a quarter of an hour, she was admitted?

With a mixture of apprehension and unease, she followed the servant to the main hall of the Duke’s residence. From afar, she saw Qiao Xian’s face, dark as the bottom of a pot.

That creeping sense of dread in her heart grew heavier still.