She rubbed between her legs, barely alleviating the pain, and closed her eyes. Her mind was filled with the memory of those large, roaming hands that had burned against her body the night before, and the man’s cold yet captivating breath.
A sudden tightness gripped her chest. She had taken the wrong first step, and it was a grave mistake.
But she quickly shook her head, dispelling the disheartening thoughts.
So what if she had slept with the wrong man? She could still seduce the Crown Prince.
There were plenty of ways to conceal the fact that she was no longer a virgin.
She was no longer the Meng Yanzhi of her past life. All notions of chastity were nothing but worthless scraps of paper in her eyes.
But who exactly was that man? How could he be staying in the Crown Prince’s main residence?
None of that mattered now. It had been dark and windy last night; she hadn’t seen the man’s face clearly, and likely, he hadn’t seen hers either.
Besides, with her current capabilities, she couldn’t investigate the man’s identity without risking exposure. She couldn’t recklessly deliver herself to him.
Meng Yanzhi’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, her eyes hardening with resolve.
A short while later, after Meng Yanzhi had finished washing up, a maid sent by Meng’s Mother summoned her to the main residence.
Meng Yanzhi changed her clothes, ensuring all traces were concealed, and hurried to Meng’s Mother’s quarters.
“Sister, you’re finally here,” a sweet, lively voice called out.
Meng Anxian stepped forward and took Meng Yanzhi’s hand with exaggerated warmth, her eyes feigning innocence.
That very same hypocritical face from her past life was performing flawlessly.
Meng Yanzhi smiled gently. “Little Sister…”
“Mother has wonderful news to share with you,” Meng Anxian said, her eyes crinkling with a smile.
“Oh?” Meng Yanzhi pretended not to know.
At that moment, Meng’s Mother, seated nearby, beckoned her over.
Meng Yanzhi approached.
Meng’s Mother took her hand, beaming with joy. “Yanzhi, do you remember Lu Shize? The scholar who was originally betrothed to your sister? Yesterday, your father went through great efforts on your behalf, and Scholar Lu has agreed to marry you!”In her past life, when she learned that Lu Shize was to marry her, her first reaction had been one of panic and unease.”
She never imagined that a respected scholar would be willing to marry a woman who couldn’t bear children, and even offer her the position of principal wife. At the time, she had felt immense gratitude.
It was only later that she discovered the truth: the Meng family, fearing Lu Shize would reveal his previous engagement to Meng Anxian, had transferred the marriage arrangement to her. They had also promised Lu Shize considerable benefits and gifted him two concubines on the wedding day to secure his silence.
Back then, unaware of all this, she had only wanted to serve her husband dutifully and repay the Meng family’s kindness.
Looking back now, she had been utterly naive.
Meng Yanzhi smiled faintly. “Oh? If I marry him, how many concubines does Mother plan to send along with me to Scholar Lu?”
Meng’s Mother was slightly taken aback. How did she know about the plan to include concubines?
“How did you… know?”
Meng Yanzhi smiled. “I cannot bear children. If I marry Scholar Lu, I naturally won’t be able to continue his lineage. It’s only proper to arrange for concubines.”
Meng’s Mother had intended to arrange this discreetly but hadn’t expected Meng Yanzhi to bring it up herself.
This wild girl brought back from the countryside understood propriety after all.
Her expression softened. “It is indeed appropriate. I plan to send the maids Qiu Ju and Yue Mei with you. Rest assured, they are both well-trained by me and will never overstep their place.”
She patted her hand as she spoke.
A picture of maternal affection.
As if genuinely planning for her future.
She had once fantasized that her birth mother would embrace her with these warm hands, granting her even a single joyful smile.
It wasn’t until she was nearing death that she discovered the nourishing medicine she had diligently taken all these years had actually been bowl after bowl of sterility drugs delivered by her mother. And all the harsh treatment she received was to protect Meng Anxian.
Only then did she realize that blood ties were nothing but an absurd joke.
No matter how hard she tried, she could never compare to a single tear or a moment of coquettishness from Meng Anxian…
“Mother has truly calculated everything perfectly.” She suddenly smiled, lifting her gaze to meet Meng’s Mother’s eyes.
These eyes contained too many complex emotions, making Meng’s Mother momentarily stunned and inexplicably flustered. She immediately added, “Of course you’re my daughter, I naturally consider everything for you.”
Meng Yanzhi’s smile grew more sarcastic. “Are you really considering things for me or for younger sister? Everyone in Jiangzhou knows the Lu scholar has formed a marriage alliance with the Meng family. Since the Crown Prince has agreed to marry younger sister as Crown Princess Consort, naturally one daughter must marry the Lu scholar. Otherwise, if this matter reaches the Crown Prince’s ears, how could this favorable marriage possibly remain? So Mother chose me.”
Every word she spoke made both Meng’s Mother and Meng Anxian startle in surprise.
Since when had this country girl become so clever?
Shouldn’t she be weeping with gratitude?
Meng Anxian beside them hurriedly spoke, “Elder sister, how cruel your words are! Mother has exhausted herself planning your marriage, seeking out so many good matches. Only the Lu scholar was willing to marry you. How in your ears has this become us taking advantage of you? This is truly heartbreaking…”
Having said this, Meng’s Mother beside her also looked at Meng Yanzhi with disappointment in her eyes. “I never thought that after raising you for three years, in your eyes I would be so despicable?”
Before, Meng Yanzhi had been terribly afraid of disappointing the Meng family.
So even when she felt extremely uncomfortable inside, she would endure it with fear and trepidation.
But she was no longer who she used to be.
Meng Yanzhi’s long eyelashes fluttered, her dark and clear eyes gaining an additional emotion. “Mother, since childhood you’ve doted on younger sister, complying with her every wish, making me yield to her. This time, could you please dote on me? I don’t want to marry Lu Shize.”
Meng’s Mother was taken aback.
Hearing these words, Meng Anxian felt a twist of distortion in her heart. That wretched girl! Truly discontented and ambitious—she must still be coveting my position as Crown Princess Consort!
Meng’s Mother: “This…”
Meng Anxian cut in first, “Elder sister, you’re confused. Besides the Lu scholar, who else would be willing to marry a woman who cannot bear children? If you reach marriageable age and still can’t marry, how many people will look down on our Meng family then?”
Meng’s Mother came to her senses, that trace of softheartedness instantly extinguished. “Preposterous! Since ancient times, marriages follow parental orders and matchmaker’s words. How could there be any principle of you refusing to marry just because you don’t want to? Your younger sister is right—reaching marriageable age without marrying would ruin our Meng family’s reputation. Do you want your younger sister to face criticism in the imperial palace?”
Meng Yanzhi felt another wave of sarcastic mockery in her heart.
Was it really about ruining the Meng family’s reputation, or about ruining Meng Anxian’s advantageous marriage to the Crown Prince?
Meng Yanzhi smiled gracefully. “Mother is absolutely right. This daughter was shallow and failed to consider this aspect. Mother may handle the marriage as you see fit. However, Yanzhi has only one request: I hope Yunrou cousin can be among the accompanying concubines in my dowry.”
“Yunrou…?” Meng’s Mother’s face slightly changed.
Meng Yanzhi nodded. “I want Yun Rou to accompany me. After all, it will be lonely marrying into the Lu family. Mother, surely you won’t refuse even this?”