Chapter 77: Past Events

In the dark, Meinang softly asked, “What Mother said… is it true? Heng Ge’er really isn’t Lord Hou’s biological son? Meinang… I actually did that with the late Seventh Master?”

Mama Wang spoke in a hoarse voice, “It’s true. On the wedding night, Lord Hou was drunk and unaware. The second night, your period came, and at that time, Lord Hou treated you very well. The handkerchief on the pillow was actually soaked in water from the plant, and he hid it for you. Only the three of us knew about this. Lord Hou said he would soon be heading to the battlefield, and without that handkerchief, your position would be unstable. If the people in the mansion looked down on you, they might mistreat you. The dirty clothes were cleaned by me. I hid and washed them… It’s all my fault, I should have kept a better watch over you… At that time, your cousin came to keep you company, always taking you to the East Courtyard study to read and paint, not allowing us to follow. I never expected there was another door in the East Courtyard, and so… you and the Seventh Master…”

Meinang was somewhat confused. “So, Lord Hou was actually kind to Meinang, but… why did I end up falling for the Seventh Master? And have Heng Ge’er with him?”

Mama Wang sighed. “At the time, it wasn’t your fault, my lady. After that incident, you cried terribly when you returned. Cui Xi and the others were too afraid to tell anyone. You were so desperate, you wanted to die, but I held you back. The Seventh Master came to see you once, and your mother said if he came again, she would die. After that, the first wife kept sending gifts, but you were troubled and afraid to meet anyone. You cried every night until you fell ill. I didn’t think much, hurriedly reporting it to the first wife. She brought a doctor, and it turned out you were pregnant. That night, your mother almost hanged herself. I knelt down, begging her to spare the Qin family, as only the eldest son remained. If you died with a child, it would bring disaster to the family. Lord Hou was away at the borders, and if your mother died in such an unclear manner, it would affect the family. The first wife would never be able to live peacefully. After all, the eldest son had worked hard for ten years. If the family collapsed, there would be no future. It’s always the case that most soldiers don’t return from war. Lord Hou’s life was uncertain, so I asked your mother to stay alive and see if things could change.”

Mama Wang’s voice trembled. “Your mother listened to me, crying terribly, but finally agreed. Afterward, your cousin kept coming, and I knew the Seventh Master was also there. Your mother had been looked down upon in the mansion, but with the Seventh Master by her side, she started to smile again.”

Meinang was silent, then said, “So, the Seventh Master really loved my mother. But why did I… fall for him? I even had Heng Ge’er with him?”

Mama Wang continued, “Your mother’s belly grew bigger, and she dared to go to the East Courtyard without her cousin. She even met the Seventh Master there. After Heng Ge’er was born, the Seventh Master came to see her a few times, holding Heng Ge’er and giving her many clothes and jewelry. Once, the Seventh Master was dragged away by the first wife. Cui Xi, Cui Jian, and Cui Si saw it.”

Meinang felt her face heat up, touching her cheek. “An affair… even the timid Qin Meinang dared to experience it.”

Mama Wang sighed. “I don’t know what the Seventh Master said to her, but after that, your mother seemed determined. Even when Lord Hou returned, your mother wasn’t afraid. To her, Lord Hou’s anger didn’t matter as much as Heng Ge’er’s crying.”

Meinang shrugged in the dark. “A mother’s love is strong. There’s nothing to be done. Poor Xu Jun Ying, he married a beautiful wife, but it was all in vain. He’s been pushed out like this.”

Her previous resentment and disgust toward him faded, replaced by sympathy. The man who had been betrayed by both his wife and brother, he really couldn’t take it.

Mama Wang continued, “When the Seventh Master went to the front lines, your mother didn’t seem too upset. She just told Heng Ge’er, ‘Wait, my son. When your father returns from the battlefield with honor, it’ll be our family’s reunion.’”

Meinang now understood. Xu Jun Ying’s motive for going to war was to gain military merit and return to compete with his brother for the wife.

Meinang bit her lip, unsure of what to say. The Seventh Master truly had some wild ideas. He didn’t understand his brother. Xu Jun Ying, who valued his reputation and honor, would probably prefer to kill Qin Meinang than let her marry his brother.

“The news of the Seventh Master’s death came, and the first wife fainted from grief. Your mother also fainted a few times. Those days, I didn’t eat or sleep, staying by your side, not letting Cui Xi and the others come near. I just told them your mother was ill with a broken heart. When Lord Hou returned with the Seventh Master’s coffin, you went crazy and tried to run out, but I, Cui Xi, and the others stopped you, and you didn’t get to cry at his funeral. Afterward, you became seriously ill, refusing to eat or drink, wanting to die. Even Heng Ge’er’s crying couldn’t bring you back.”

Mama Wang sobbed as she spoke. Meinang remained silent, then sighed and asked, “I don’t remember any of this. Why didn’t you tell me before? Why tell me now?”

Mama Wang choked up, “After your mother died, I thought everything was over. I didn’t care what Lord Hou did with me, I didn’t complain. But when your mother woke up and had no memory of the past, Lord Hou privately told me, ‘You should be like her, forgetting everything.’ He thought Cui Xi and the others knew what had happened, but I explained it to him, and he understood. He then said, ‘Your life can only be in the Hou mansion, and you can only be the Hou wife. The Qin family will be safe if you stay, but if you leave, both you and your mother will die, and the Qin family won’t survive either.’ That’s why I didn’t help you remember earlier. Now, I have to let you know.”

Meinang clenched her teeth. “Damn Xu Jun Ying! He actually threatened you like that!”

Mama Wang hurried to cover her mouth. “My lady, please don’t say that. If someone hears you…”

Meinang stopped herself. Mama Wang continued, “Lord Hou, although he did this for face, he was actually kind enough to let you live well and let Heng Ge’er live. You and your son occupy the positions of his legitimate wife and eldest son. Your mother doesn’t remember, but I do. Lord Hou treated her kindly when they first married. But fate is such. Now your mother has changed. She’s more capable and strategic and no longer tolerates being looked down upon. But we, we are different. We must always keep our heads low and endure. For Heng Ge’er, for the Qin family, for the future of the eldest son.”

Meinang bit her lip in frustration. “That damn Xu Jun Ying!”

Mama Wang tried to calm her down, “Please be patient, my lady. Your mother thought this through. Don’t act rashly. Think of the Qin family’s future, the eldest son’s prospects.”

Meinang sighed and rubbed her temples. “I understand. Let me rest for a bit. I can’t sleep right now. I need to think things through. It’s all too much.”

Mama Wang nodded and helped her settle into bed, then left her alone to think.

Meinang lay in bed, her mind still in a whirl. She closed her eyes, trying to ignore everything, but eventually, she drifted off to sleep.

Meanwhile, in the East Courtyard study, Xu Jun Ying sat awake at his desk, staring at an open book. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of several people his mother’s loving face, Zhuang Yu Lan’s pale, shy smile, and Meinang’s beautiful features sometimes dignified, sometimes playful, sometimes looking at him with affection, and sometimes with careful deference.

That night, he officially told Meinang that he intended to marry a new wife. When she asked why, accusing him of finding a new love and leaving her to endure years of loneliness, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. He couldn’t understand how she could say such things.

He almost wanted to say, “If you knew this day would come, why didn’t you act differently back then?”

But in the end, he said nothing and walked away coldly.