“That wretch Meng Yanzhi thinks she’s living in a beautiful dream. Just wait until after her wedding—she’ll get what’s coming to her!”
Meng Anxian let out a disdainful snort and spat fiercely before turning back to her own Lingxi Courtyard.
The moment Meng Yanzhi stepped into Qinghe Courtyard, she understood that Meng’s Mother had truly invested heavily this time.
How pitiful—in her previous life, she hadn’t even heard of Qinghe Courtyard. After all, her daily routines had always been confined to the kitchen and laundry rooms. When would she ever have had the privilege to stroll through the front courtyards?
“Yanzhi, do you like this courtyard?” Meng’s Mother suppressed her anger as she asked.
Though she appeared to be inquiring about Meng Yanzhi’s opinion, she was actually speaking for the benefit of the Four Sisters of the Lu Family standing behind her.
With red-rimmed eyes, Meng Yanzhi cautiously replied, “Mother, I’m all alone. Wouldn’t living in such a large courtyard be too extravagant?”
“The Young Miss is being overly cautious. This is merely a barely habitable courtyard—nothing extraordinary about it!”
As soon as these words were spoken, Meng’s Mother’s expression darkened further. Yet she could do nothing—Lu Huan was from the Crown Prince’s Residence. Not only was her contract of servitude not in Meng’s Mother’s possession, but even her monthly allowance wasn’t paid by the Meng household. She had absolutely no control over this young maid.
Understanding that haste makes waste, Lu Ping looked somewhat displeased at Lu Huan and scolded in a low voice, “Don’t talk nonsense in front of the Madam!”
“Madam, my younger sister has always been tactless in her speech. Please forgive her offense.” Lu Ping handled matters and conversations with impeccable precision.
No matter how inappropriate Lu Huan’s behavior was, it wasn’t Meng’s Mother’s place to reprimand her.
Knowing she couldn’t gain any advantage here, Meng’s Mother could only force an awkward smile and say, “Alright, alright, these are all trivial matters. Yanzhi, if you need anything, just come find your mother, alright?”
“Isn’t it obvious what’s missing? Our Young Miss has neither proper clothing nor jewelry. Look at how plainly she’s dressed—it’s heartbreaking to see.” Lu Huan’s words always managed to precisely pierce through Meng’s Mother’s facade.
Taking a deep breath, Meng’s Mother struggled to calm herself before finally agreeing to send clothing and jewelry to Meng Yanzhi. She even included numerous rolls of the most fashionable fabrics, filling Qinghe Courtyard to the brim before finally stopping.
Even though the Meng family wasn’t short of money, giving away so much at once—especially to her least favorite daughter—still made Meng’s Mother’s heart ache terribly.
Looking at all these items, Meng Yanzhi curled her lips slightly upward. She selected some of the prettiest pieces and directly gifted them to the Four Sisters of the Lu Family before taking Mingchu’s hand and returning to the bedroom.
The difference between this place and her previous small courtyard was like heaven and earth. Her first step had been successfully completed.
But Mingchu looked around as if she were dreaming—everything felt too unreal.
Foolishly, she pinched her own thigh and cried out in pain before finally believing that everything before her eyes was real!
“Miss, how did you manage this? You’re truly amazing!”
“This… why would the Madam suddenly give us so many fine things? Miss, you… seem different from before?”
As the person who cared most about Meng Yanzhi, Mingchu was naturally the first to notice that she had changed.
Meng Yanzhi let out a soft chuckle before speaking directly, “Actually, it’s nothing too serious. I’ve just grown tired of living such a wretched life!”
“Mingchu, do you know? I used to think I was born to endure hardship, but now I understand—no one is destined for a life of suffering. I deserve to live well!”
Meng Yanzhi held Mingchu’s hand, gazing at her tenderly.
Upon hearing this, Mingchu was stunned, but she still nodded and said, “Young Mistress, you are a very, very good person. You truly deserve a good life.”
Silly girl.
Meng Yanzhi chuckled softly and murmured, “But very, very good people often can’t live good lives!”
There was a time when Meng Yanzhi was just as naive as Mingchu is now. She believed that by being a good person, she would one day live a good life. She thought she could exchange sincerity for sincerity, but in the end, she realized that those people had no hearts at all!
In their eyes, she was nothing but a worn-out rag—used when needed, avoided when not, and tossed far away when discarded. It’s truly laughable!
Seeing Meng Yanzhi like this, Mingchu couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
“Young Mistress, I’m truly happy that you have these fine things. I’m just afraid that some people might not be as pleased.”
“Young Mistress, you must be careful.”
Mingchu looked at Meng Yanzhi with concern.
The Young Mistress was too naive, which was why she always ended up suffering.
Yet, as a lowly servant, she could offer nothing more than these words of caution.
“I know what I’m doing.”
No sooner had she spoken than Xu Yunrou walked in cheerfully. Her eyes lingered on the fine items for a moment, her expression twisting slightly.
“Congratulations, Cousin. The Madam has been so generous to you.” Xu Yunrou smiled warmly at her before lowering her head dejectedly. “Once Cousin marries into the Xu family, you’ll be the proper Madam Xu. These fine things are rightfully yours. Unlike me—a mere concubine—I’m simply not worthy of such treasures.”
In the past, Meng Yanzhi would have felt deeply sorry for her and willingly given all those fine things away. But now, Meng Yanzhi was no longer foolish enough to do such things.
Hearing this, Mingchu’s expression darkened, and she spoke up, “Miss Cousin, aren’t your own belongings good enough? Are you implying that the Madam has treated you unfairly?”
Her words were meant to defend Meng Yanzhi, as Mingchu was genuinely worried that her mistress, being too kind and soft-hearted, would foolishly give away her possessions.
Xu Yunrou’s face stiffened, and she glared at Mingchu with displeasure before saying, “Cousin, even if I am to be your subordinate concubine in the future, I am still a mistress. How can you allow a servant to speak to me like this? Cousin, since you’re from the countryside, you might not know—some servants are all talk, skilled at sweet-talking and sowing discord!”
This was a blatant insult directed at Mingchu.
Meng Yanzhi neither grew angry nor anxious, merely offering a faint smile: “Cousin Yunrou, you’re truly joking. These are just ordinary trinkets. I’ve heard Young Master Xu gifted you a fine jade disc—come to think of it, I’ve never seen one. Why not show it to me? I’ll borrow it for a few days before returning it?”
“Absolutely not!”
Xu Yunrou refused without a second thought!