Meng Qinrui’s heart wavered again.
It was true that Ji Shi had always doted on Meng Nanyi as if she were the apple of her eye, sometimes to such an extent that even he felt it was excessive. It was only during the period when Meng Nanyi had left the manor that Ji Shi’s relationship with her eldest daughter had improved slightly.
She truly had no reason to fabricate such accusations and pin them on the daughter she cherished the most.
Given this, either there was some misunderstanding in between, or Meng Nanyi was lying.
If she were truly lying, then sending an ambiguous, poorly explained letter to the Crown Prince’s residence would make it impossible for him to escape unscathed.
Meng Qinrui was, by nature, a mediocre man. He had inherited his title solely due to his ancestors’ legacy. He possessed little talent for officialdom and basically muddled through his duties day by day.
It was precisely because of this that the Hou Manor had been on a steady decline over the years.
Thus, when his eldest daughter was divined to have the Phoenix Fate, he was overjoyed. Even if only for the Empress’s sake, the future of the Hou Manor would not be too bleak.
Now, the Crown Prince was his greatest support, and he had to proceed with extreme caution.
What if the Crown Prince had merely encountered “Meng Nanyi” on the road and, out of kindness, sent her back?
If he were to send a letter saying something like: “My daughter claims she rendered a great service to the court, and that’s why you dispatched your Guards to personally escort her back. Is that true?”
He would undoubtedly offend the Crown Prince!
Meng Qinrui suddenly felt caught in a dilemma. He was reluctant to let go of the potential opportunity “Meng Nanyi” might bring, yet he feared that if the matter were untrue, any misstep could lead to disaster.
Seeing Meng Qinrui’s troubled expression, Ji Shi pleaded even more emotionally, even kneeling down in tears: “Master, it is my failure in discipline that led her astray… All the blame is mine. I beg you, please spare her life!”
Meng Qinrui sighed. So be it. After all, he was already the future emperor’s father-in-law. While adding icing on the cake would be nice, lacking it… wouldn’t harm the foundation.
But how should “Meng Nanyi” be dealt with?
Without verification, it would remain a muddled account. Punish her? There was no proper justification. Not punish her? Then the rules of the Meng Family would become a laughingstock.
However, as a child, Meng Nanyi had dared to leave the manor without permission and stay away for several days, even causing the mistress to lie and cover up for her. For this alone, severe punishment was not unwarranted.
It would also serve to temper her character.
Even though he had noticed a hint of resilience and courage in her eyes today, as a daughter of the Meng Family, she was still far from ready to pave the way for the family’s future!
Meng Qinrui turned and walked away, his hands clasped behind his back, his voice tinged with detached indifference: “You know best how to handle this.”
The crowd dispersed accordingly.
After acknowledging Meng Qinrui’s retreating figure with a “Yes,” Ji Shi turned her gaze to Meng Xizhou.
Seeing her pinned down firmly by the servants yet remaining eerily quiet, Ji Shi gently stroked her cheek with a jade-like hand and whispered in her ear, “Why aren’t you struggling? I thought you dared to return because you had some cards up your sleeve. How disappointing.”
Ji Shi did not order the servants to release their grip on Meng Xizhou, naturally not expecting an answer.
Yet, in this situation where life and death rested entirely on Ji Shi’s whim, Meng Xizhou’s eyes remained calm, even carrying a faint hint of a smile.
As if she were watching a farcical monkey show.
“She won’t shed tears until she sees the coffin,” Ji Shi remarked lightly upon seeing her demeanor. She then ordered, “Take her to the Ancestral Hall.”
In the Ancestral Hall, candlelight flickered, casting an austere and solemn atmosphere.
After Meng Xizhou was taken to the Ancestral Hall, Ji Shi raised her hand, and all the other servants withdrew, leaving only her trusted maid Xiulan.
Ji Shi stood with her back to Meng Xizhou, lit a stick of incense, and bowed before the memorial tablets.
“Kneel,” she said, her voice not loud but leaving no room for doubt.
Time seemed to freeze.
After a long moment, the expected sound of knees hitting the ground did not come. Ji Shi turned around and swept an impatient glance toward Meng Xizhou.
Meng Xizhou remained standing as straight as a pine tree, her eyes deep and cold as ice, yet the corners of her lips held a trace of a nearly provocative smile! Where was the shadow of the bright young girl she once was?
Meeting Ji Shi’s gaze, Meng Xizhou slowly spoke: “Oh? Kneel to whom? If it’s to the ancestors, I would naturally prostrate myself with reverence.” Her tone suddenly shifted, sharp and cold. “But if it’s to you, given what you owe me, the fact that I haven’t demanded you kneel and repay your debt is already the last bit of respect I’m giving you as the wife of Zhongyong Hou.”
“Outrageous!” Xiulan trembled with anger, pointing at Meng Xizhou and shrieking, “The debt of giving birth to you is greater than heaven! You unfilial wretch! Even if you paid with your life, it would only be what you owe Madam!”
Ji Shi placed the incense in the holder and reached out to soothingly press Xiulan’s hand, but her gaze remained fixed on Meng Xizhou’s face, as if examining a detestable object.
The corners of her lips lifted into a faint, cold smile. “I had thought that letting you go out into the world would wear away some of your foolishness and broaden your horizons. It seems now that my efforts were wasted.”
“Efforts?” Meng Xizhou sneered. “Efforts to make me suffer every kind of misery? Mother still dares to act but not admit it. With such behavior, are you even worthy of being called the wife of Zhongyong Hou? In my eyes—”
Meng Xizhou’s gaze swept over the solemn memorial tablets before locking back onto Ji Shi’s face, each word falling like a heavy hammer: “You aren’t even fit to be called the wife of Zhongyong Hou!”
The moment the words “Zhongyong Hou” left her lips, Ji Shi’s usually composed face twisted violently!
The calm in her eyes shattered, replaced by a storm of shame and fury!
This had undoubtedly struck the most hidden, most unbearable sore spot in her heart!
Meng Xizhou did not flinch, her gaze sharp as a blade, piercing directly into the other’s discomfiture.
The air in the Ancestral Hall grew unbearably tense!
Ji Shi’s chest heaved several times, her eyes fixed fiercely on Meng Xizhou’s face, unsure whether she was laughing in extreme anger or had finally shed all pretense.
“Heh… The young do love to show off with their tongues,” she slowly shook her head, her eyes now filled only with a ruthless chill. “Little do they know that trouble comes from the mouth.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Ji Shi flipped her wrist and handed a whip to Xiulan, her voice icy:
“Xiulan! Beat her! Beat her until she can no longer stand… then she’ll kneel naturally!”
Meanwhile, in Lan Zhi Courtyard, Meng Nanyi received yet another banquet invitation from Meng Xizhou’s close friends.
The gilded floral stationery was casually slapped onto the table, like an unshakable piece of stubborn plaster.
This invitation wasn’t formal; it was more like a half-letter, filled with intimate words between sisters: “Meng Xizhou, have you buried your head in books until you’ve gone dull? We’ve called for you so many times, and you still won’t show your face? Tomorrow at the Jiang residence, they’ve prepared your favorite things—come quickly!”
Their enthusiasm felt like a death sentence to her, an imposter.
“Enough is enough!” Utterly exasperated, Meng Nanyi uncharacteristically ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. She dipped the brush in ink but couldn’t bring herself to write for the longest time.
Refuse? On what grounds? Claim illness?
But if she kept using illness as an excuse, even a fool would grow suspicious!
Accept the invitation? That would be like walking right into a trap!
Just as her thoughts tangled into knots, a sudden announcement came from outside: “The Princess has arrived—”
The shrill proclamation pierced through the doors, but to Meng Nanyi’s ears, it sounded like heavenly music!
Meng Nanyi jerked her head up, her eyes instantly blazing with wild joy!