Chapter 373: Sharp Reprimand

Since Du Wan was already four months pregnant and unable to travel by carriage, and Zhang Qing was occupied due to Lady Lu’s sudden illness, Princess Chenliu, Zhu Ning, had no choice but to take Xiao Wu and Bao Xia, who had come specially from their families, along in a carriage to the Meng household.

The house remained the same old one, and the same people were still there. The white mourning tents used during the funeral had been removed, but as Zhu Ning observed coldly, she felt a colder atmosphere in the Meng household, with many unfamiliar faces. Especially when she saw the strange-looking girl by Meng Min’s side, she hesitated to speak. It wasn’t until they reached the second gate and were about to part that she took Meng Min’s hand and sighed deeply.

“Anything said now is meaningless. Use these three years of mourning to properly guide your younger brothers. If they succeed in life someday, then as their elder sister, you’ll be able to rest easy.”

Meng Min felt Zhu Ning squeeze her hand firmly, which made her thoughts clear. Even if she had not understood the hardships of the world or the wickedness of people before, after this experience, even the slowest to comprehend could grasp the truth. After nodding firmly, she felt Cui Mo gently tug at her sleeve, so she didn’t say much more.

Bao Xia, who often came and went with Zhang Qing, certainly had no trouble finding opportunities to talk. Before parting, she simply advised Meng Min to take care of herself. Xiao Wu also gradually understood these matters. Seeing that the situation was not right, she didn’t say anything like “Come visit me after you give birth safely,” but instead suggested that Meng Min try out the few nourishing remedies she had brought.

After some heartfelt farewells, Zhu Ning and the others were led away by the butler. Meng Min stood there for a while before turning back to her own courtyard. Cui Mo lifted the curtain, and as Meng Min bent to step over the threshold, she saw no one in the room—very different from when several maids and servants were present during the visit. Her brows furrowed slightly.

“Miss, it’s not that I intended to stop you from talking to the princess. It’s really because of those two maids behind…”

Meng Min turned and glanced at the flustered Cui Mo, then smiled bitterly. “I know you’re doing this for my own good. I almost lost my head back then. Even if I don’t think of my own family, I must consider the princess. She’s already going through so much, yet still came to see me. There are all kinds of people in the family now. Whatever I say here will be known clearly by everyone by tomorrow. Although I dealt with them once before, they dare not go too far, but they will definitely be cautious about such important matters.”

Cui Mo nodded, feeling relieved. She had only stayed in the prince’s mansion for two years, but everything she saw shattered her illusions about wealthy families. Her brother, just a few months old, died because the servants there wouldn’t allow them to hire a doctor easily. Her mother lost her son and was then taken into the palace as a wet nurse, never seeing her father again. She herself had to face countless malicious eyes, wishing every day to escape that place. So, although her parents remained at the Anyang Prince’s mansion and she received stern warnings from the prince before leaving, it was her mother’s words that mattered most to her.
“The fourth daughter of the Meng family is a good person. I can never repay her kindness, so you must not disappoint her.”
Because Princess Zhai Che was too eye-catching, Zhu Ning stopped using it after arriving in the capital and now used an ordinary green-curtained carriage for travel. To avoid drawing attention, she even chose a guard with good martial skills as the driver, bringing no other attendants. After leaving the Meng family, she sent Bao Xia back first and then got into the carriage with Xiao Wu.
After the carriage moved slowly for a while, she suddenly sighed, “There are some things I really can’t say there. Judging from the situation at the Meng family, Prince Zhao is using Lord Meng while being wary of him—this isn’t a good sign. If he’s smart, he should find a way to resign or be transferred as soon as he’s settled the guards in Changshan. Otherwise, who knows what will happen in the future.”
“It’s frustrating not even being able to speak freely at the Meng family.”
With a master like Du Wan, Xiao Wu rarely worried about state affairs, but thinking about how strange everything was at the Meng family, she instinctively muttered something. It wasn’t until she heard Zhu Ning mention that the Imperial Clan Office and the Court Ceremonial Bureau were once again actively selecting suitors for her, with a list of forty-two candidates, that she exclaimed in surprise.
“With so many choices, Princess, have you picked anyone?”
“Although there are many noble descendants on the list, they’re just for show. As a princess, I can only choose from the junior scholars of the Hanlin Academy or the students of the Imperial University. The former have studied hard for decades for their future, and marrying me would be beneficial for them. The latter might be worth considering… But I really have no interest right now. So later, I’ll go to your house and ask your daughter to help me choose—her judgment is better than mine.”

Although it was about her own life’s decision, Zhu Ning showed complete indifference. As the sound of the wheels continued, her thoughts wandered far away. Before dying, Princess Wang asked the emperor for two things: first, to spare the dozens of people in the Xiuchun Pavilion from being buried with her, which made those eunuchs and maids who thought they were doomed to death extremely grateful; second, to find her a suitable husband—yet she never mentioned anyone else from the Wang family. She was naturally very thankful to this kind princess, but she knew that such a “suitable” husband was nothing but an illusion.
In the imperial family, how could there be anything that went as planned?
She casually pulled back the curtain beside her and saw rows of government-built pavilions and residential houses on one side of the alley. This reminded her of the rumors about the imperial treasury—although it wasn’t the duty of the Imperial Secretariat, that greedy Huang Yan had interfered to embezzle money. After all, that old eunuch had once seriously offended the crown prince—what use was all that money? At that moment, she spotted two people looking around in front of a house not far away. After a brief pause, she softly shouted, “Stop the carriage!”
The carriage came to a halt, and Xiao Wu inside finally snapped out of his daze. Zhu Ning then pulled back the curtain slightly and nodded at her, “Take a look. Are these the two servants following Zhang Yue?”
At that, Xiao Wu quickly stepped forward. After just one glance, she nodded firmly, “That’s right—Liansheng and Lianhu. They follow my husband everywhere. It’s already noon; what are they doing here? And they’re acting so sneaky—there’s definitely nothing good about it. Let’s go down and check!”
“There are four horses in total. Even if we count those two, Zhang Yue, and one more person inside, there must be someone else,” Zhu Ning said, frowning as she watched again. After thinking for a while, she decided not to meddle and smiled, “Maybe Zhang Yue came here with a friend to look for someone. It’s none of our business. Forget it, let’s keep going.”
Yet as soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Wu, who hadn’t taken her eyes off, suddenly exclaimed, “They’re coming out—it’s my husband and… the eldest young master?”

Although she had just said not to meddle, upon hearing it was Zhang Chao, Zhu Ning was instantly stunned. Following the direction pointed by Xiao Wu, she saw Zhang Chao and Zhang Yue standing in front of that door. In front of them was a woman dressed in silver-red clothes. Though her face couldn’t be seen clearly, her graceful figure was evident. When she saw the woman stepping forward to adjust Zhang Chao’s clothes affectionately, she was shocked beyond measure, her previously relaxed brows tightening completely. Just then, Xiao Wu next to her jumped out of the car.

“Brother-in-law!”

The previous evening, when Zhang Chao met Zhang Yue at his doorstep, he learned that Zhang Yue wasn’t on duty that day, so he persuaded him at great length and dragged him out early that morning. To his delight, Feng Ying was extremely gentle and considerate today—handling things flawlessly and exuding the demeanor of a refined lady. Although Zhang Yue had always remained indifferent, he thought it wouldn’t be hard to convince his younger brother, so he felt relieved. Yet, upon hearing that sudden call and seeing the person rushing over angrily, he was stunned.

“Xiao Wu!”

Zhang Yue knew something was wrong when he saw Xiao Wu’s furrowed brows. Though he believed he had done nothing wrong and was honest, being dragged out by Zhang Chao meant he was at fault. Sure enough, after rushing over in a few steps, Xiao Wu glared at him and Zhang Chao with a sharp gaze like a knife before fixing her eyes on the woman.

Feng Ying had dressed up carefully that day—wearing a silver-red chiffon top and a white silk skirt. She had lightly shaded her eyebrows and applied rouge to conceal her worldly aura, making her look a few years younger. Since she had met Zhang Yue before, but he had never seen her, she hadn’t expected her identity to be exposed. She never anticipated another group of people appearing out of nowhere. Hearing Zhang Yue call this pretty girl Xiao Wu, though she didn’t know his identity, she became even more pitiful in her demeanor.

Thinking of Zhang Chao’s intimate behavior with that woman earlier, Xiao Wu was filled with anger. After all, everyone in the Zhang family liked Li Yun for her kindness and generosity. If it were someone else, they would remember Zhang Chao’s status, but Xiao Wu was impulsive and blunt. She immediately sneered at Zhang Chao, “Young master, who is she? Why haven’t you told the family?”

Although Zhang Chao hadn’t had much to do with Xiao Wu, he knew she wasn’t part of his family, so he couldn’t act like a spoiled young master at this moment. He stammered, “I originally thought of telling A Yun after some time…”
Just then, Zhang Yue saw the carriage parked not far away slowly approaching. Through the lifted curtain, he could see the person inside, and he was instantly stunned. Sure enough, when the carriage stopped, Zhu Ning leaped down nimbly.
“After some time? Do you mean you’ll wait until she’s pregnant before bringing her in openly?”
Zhu Ning, who had just steadied herself, glared coldly at Zhang Chao and rebuked him harshly, “You know your ancestors’ temper. How could they tolerate such a thing? If anything bad happens because of this, you’ll be considered unfilial! As a member of a prominent family, doing such outrageous things—how will you face your mother and your wife? Only two years into marriage and already having a mistress… The Zhang family has never produced someone so worthless!”