Meng Changsong was truly exasperated by the sheer stupidity of these nephews, who seemed utterly ignorant of the ways of the world.
“Do you think His Majesty truly values you? Fools! From now on, our Huainan Marquis Mansion will have no foothold left in the court! Get out! All of you, get out!”
Meng Ruan clenched his teeth, refusing to back down.
On the way back to the mansion, Yu Tang had already told them—she had dreamed that all three of them possessed the talent to become marquises and ministers. Now, they only needed to strive with all their might to earn scholarly honors. In just a few years, the marquis’s mansion would reach its pinnacle because of them.
Thus, though they had initially been reluctant to relinquish their military authority, after hearing Yu Tang’s words and discussing it among themselves, they decided to sacrifice military power for a place in the study!
Watching her three older brothers trembling under their father’s impotent rage, Meng Yu Tang felt it was her duty to step forward. She knelt before Meng Changsong.
“Father, Yu Tang is willing to stake her own reputation. If you exchange military authority for their entry into Shangshufang, they will never let you down, nor will they disappoint the marquis’s mansion!”
“Father, Eldest Brother will achieve the title of zhuangyuan, Second Brother will become a great scholar of his generation, and Third Brother will rank as Third Place in the Imperial Examination. The glory of our marquis’s mansion will be earned by them. Father, please believe your daughter just this once!”
Meng Changsong trembled with rage, his teeth chattering. “If these three fools were truly capable, they wouldn’t be doing such idiotic things now. They dare to give up military authority—what great achievements can they possibly accomplish in the future?”
He was utterly disappointed in his nephews.
Turning to look out the window, his eyes burned with turbulent resentment and venom.
He understood all too well that the emperor was seizing on this pretext. Ultimately, it stemmed from dissatisfaction with his marriage to Madam Wen. In the end, it was that wretched woman who had brought this upon him.
“Uncle.”
Seeing Meng Changsong remain silent, Meng Nan spoke up.
He said calmly, “In truth, the military authority originally belonged to our father, not you. Now, using it to secure a future for his own sons is only right and proper.”
Meng Changsong’s eyes widened in shock, hardly able to believe these words came from the nephew he had doted on for years. “What did you say?”
“Nephew said!”
A cold glint flashed in Meng Nan’s eyes as he declared firmly, “If my father were still alive, he would have agreed to this exchange without hesitation. Even though Uncle is separated from us by a degree of blood relation, you should not be so selfish as to attempt to monopolize what belongs to our second branch and hinder the future of its descendants. With such sinister intentions, are you not deliberately disturbing my father’s peace in the afterlife?”
Meng Changsong pointed a trembling finger at him, stammering “you… you…” but unable to form a complete sentence. Finally, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
When he awoke again, Meng Yu Tang was kneeling by his bedside, her forehead nearly bruised from kowtowing.
“Father, I beg you…”
Meng Changsong looked at this daughter, whom he had raised with such care since childhood, with profound disappointment. “Yu Tang, what kind of spell have you fallen under? What does the future of your three cousins have to do with you?”
“Even if they become marquises and ministers someday, what benefit could you possibly gain from it? Yu Tang, if they treat even me this way, how much less would they care for a mere cousin like you…”
But Meng Yu Tang cut him off without hesitation. “Father, your daughter is different!”
She was reborn.
She knew that the day her cousins rose to prominence would be the day she ascended to greatness alongside them!
Meng Yunwan was accompanying the Empress Dowager in conversation, explaining a passage from the “Discourses on Salt and Iron” that the Grand Tutor had discussed the previous day in her own words, making it both profound and accessible. The Empress Dowager nodded repeatedly, thoroughly amused.
At that moment, Empress Dowager’s trusted confidante, Granny Sun, quietly entered and whispered a few words into her ear.
Empress Dowager’s hand, holding the teacup, paused slightly, her brows imperceptibly furrowing. She waved her hand to dismiss Granny Sun. “Yun Guan.”
“Imperial Grandmother, your granddaughter is here.”
Empress Dowager briefly summarized the matter, then took a sip of tea and said calmly, “Half an hour ago, the Marquis of Huainan has already surrendered his military authority. Yun Guan, look at your elder brothers and sisters—for their own selfish gains, they have implicated the entire family, causing it to lose its foundation. You are now being raised in the palace, so you must remember not to act in such a manner. Understand the principle that a great family shares a common fate—prosperity and loss are intertwined.”
Meng Yunwan took the lesson to heart. “Your granddaughter will remember this well. Please rest assured, Imperial Grandmother.”
“I know you are different from your brothers. I have full confidence in you.”
With that, Empress Dowager turned to Granny Sun and instructed, “Go and convey my decree. The Marquis of Huainan has demonstrated commendable loyalty. As a special favor, his children are permitted to attend Shangshufang as observers, to manifest the grace of heaven.”
Meng Yunwan lowered her gaze.
Empress Dowager gently placed the teacup on the table, producing a crisp sound. She sighed, “Their frantic scheming is nothing more than thinking that since you have entered the palace, they too should rise along with you. This is just as well. Keeping them under close watch will prevent them from stirring up trouble outside the palace, relying on their meager upbringing to pester you daily and hinder your proper duties.”
“Yun Guan, I am placing them before you not to trouble you, but to let you see clearly—and to let the world see clearly—that even if a loach is thrown into a golden dragon’s pond, it cannot stir up waves. Do you understand?”
Meng Yunwan felt a tumult of emotions in her heart. She nodded solemnly, “Thank you for your guidance, Imperial Grandmother.”
When the decree reached the Huainan Marquis Mansion, the four Meng siblings were overjoyed.
“It worked! As expected, Empress Dowager is reasonable!” Meng Fan exclaimed excitedly, waving his fist.
Though Meng Ruan was more composed, his eyes were also filled with pride. “It seems the palace ultimately values blood ties and familial affection.”
After speaking, the three of them turned to Meng Yu Tang with emotion. “Yu Tang, you truly are our lucky star!”
They had all witnessed Yu Tang’s defense of them today, especially after their uncle regained consciousness. Yu Tang knelt by his bedside and even offered her own marriage as an exchange, which finally forced him to relent.
Meng Yu Tang stroked the decree, unable to suppress the smile at the corner of her mouth.
Good, very good. She was now the benefactor of her three brothers.
In her previous life, Meng Yunwan did nothing, yet her three brothers still petitioned for her to be granted the title of princess, bringing her boundless glory. This was enough to prove that her brothers were the most grateful people in the world!
Now, she had sacrificed so much for them. When they achieved success and honor, they would surely not forget her kindness.
By then, they would undoubtedly treat her with even greater respect and gratitude than they had shown Meng Yunwan in her previous life. They might even petition to grant her the title of princess.
Just thinking about it filled her with immense anticipation for that day.
Her good days, Meng Yu Tang’s good days, were still ahead.
All night long, Meng Yu Tang laughed in her dreams. In her dreams were resplendent palaces, a gentle and handsome husband, and a life of honor and favor. She wore the attire of a princess, married into the Eastern Palace, and became the Crown Princess. In this life, she had finally seized the brilliant life that belonged to Meng Yunwan.
Things would only get better.
They certainly would.
On the first day the four Meng siblings entered the Shangshufang, they caused quite a spectacle.
It all started when Meng Yu Tang insisted on wearing her grand, layered crimson palace dress meant for festive occasions. The intricate layers took forever to put on, and just as she finally managed, Meng Fan, overwhelmed by nerves, made several frantic trips to the latrine.
By the time they hurried from outside the palace into the Shangshufang, Grand Tutor Zhou had already begun his lecture.