Chapter 9: Something big happened to the Meng family

The hedgehog on the ground suddenly let out two hoarse "coughs" as if an old man was wheezing in his throat.

Ansheng couldn't help but smile, "Maybe it's been fed too much salt, why is it still coughing non-stop?"

Anran gently patted her chest, still feeling palpitations, "Don't talk about it. It really scared me. The hoarse voice of this little thing doesn't resemble you at all. Just now, Mother personally came to check, and I started to doubt. It really gave me a cold sweat, but I didn't dare to stop it, so it came all the way into the house."

Ansheng didn't care at all, "Didn't I tell you, if asked, just say I hurt my throat and covered myself with a blanket to sweat, naturally stuffy."

Anran nodded repeatedly, "That's what I said, but Mother didn't believe it. She even opened a gap in the quilt. Thanks to this little thing being restless and struggling in a pile of blankets. Mother was afraid of being infected and didn't investigate further, just gave some instructions and left."

Only then did Ansheng completely relax and whispered a few words to Anran, teasing her to prepare for marriage early, not to trip when getting on the sedan chair.

Joking aside, the two sisters also felt reluctant to part. Anran couldn't help shedding a few tears, worrying and unable to let go of Ansheng.

Ansheng pretended to be relaxed, but she had another plan in mind. Everything seemed to be ready now, just waiting for the right moment, like a good show tomorrow!

However, can fate really be reversed? Will it deviate from the path and still lead to the same destination? She was uncertain.

If something unexpected happens, or if Xue's plan fails, how should she respond? She had to consider everything carefully for the sake of her sister Anran, truly putting in a lot of effort and losing sleep over it.

The Xia Mansion was bustling all night, as they say, with as much joy as sorrow.

Xue, with great respect, welcomed Mrs. Qi into the mansion, serving her with great humility. She quickly reported the important matters regarding Xia Zihuan's marriage to her mother-in-law, and also showed Mrs. Qi the betrothal gifts from the Meng Mansion, Zihuan's dowry, and the menu for the guests.

Mrs. Qi sat down, handed the additional makeup and jewelry for Zihuan to Xue, and then began to criticize and nitpick, as if she was finding fault in everything.

Mrs. Qi looked down on Xue's humble background, but because Xue had given birth to Xia Er Ye's only son, Zihuan, she reluctantly welcomed her into the family. However, she often found fault and was very picky.

Xue endured it all, and it wasn't until midnight that she finally finished and went to bed, exhausted.

The next day, she was up early, busy with trivial matters all morning, and with the coming and going of guests, her head was spinning, and her right eyelid kept twitching.

She tore a small piece of white paper, moistened it with saliva, and stuck it on her eyelid, thinking that there was still more than an hour before the bridal sedan from the Meng Mansion arrived, and she hadn't had a chance to go to Zihuan's room to see her. There were some things that a mother should remind her daughter of before she got married.

She went back to her room, opened the wardrobe, and found the treasure hidden at the bottom of the box, wrapped it tightly in a handkerchief, and went straight to Zihuan's boudoir.

Xia Zihuan had been eagerly waiting in her boudoir, dressed in a bright red phoenix coronet and robes, with delicate makeup and a shy smile. Many elders came in, praised her, said auspicious words, and then left in high spirits.

She was proud, arrogant, and a little embarrassed, with a sense of fulfillment in finally stepping on Ansheng and Anran.

The door was pushed open again, and her mother, Xue, came in with a joyful expression, waving away the attendants, "You all wait outside, no one is allowed to come in."

The attendants all tactfully withdrew, and Xue sat down in front of Zihuan, scrutinizing her, and then whispered a few words about the rules and etiquette of the husband's family, before mysteriously pulling out the treasure hidden at the bottom of the box from her sleeve.

It was a white jade-carved pomegranate with cinnabar, and when Xue lifted it, it split in half, revealing two intertwined red and naked little figures, demonstrating the relationship between men and women.

Zihuan immediately understood, lowered her head, stole a glance, and blushed.

Xue was about to speak in detail, when there was a hurried and urgent footstep outside the courtyard, and the door was pounded on from the outside.

"Who is it?"

Xue asked impatiently.

"It's me, open the door, something big has happened!"

The voice outside was none other than Xue's younger brother, Xue Zhao.

Xue Zhao was a scoundrel and ruffian, but he was Xue's right-hand man, always consulted on major matters and minor affairs in the mansion. Including Zihuan's marriage this time, it was all planned by Xue Zhao two years ago. Today, as Zihuan's maternal uncle, he was responsible for escorting her to her new home.

Xue stood up, and Zihuan snatched the jade box from her hand, hurriedly hiding it under the brocade quilt. Xue then opened the door, and Xue Zhao rushed in.

She took a few steps back and stood still, teasing, "In such a hurry, are you trying to be reborn?"

Xue Zhao stomped his foot and ignored Zihuan, "Oh my good sister, you still have the leisure to joke. There's a big problem at the Meng family!"

Xue was startled, and her right eyelid began to twitch uncontrollably.

"What's the big problem?" Zihuan asked nervously.

Xue Zhao stretched his neck and grabbed the teapot from the table, pouring a bowl of cold tea and gulping it down in one breath. "I've been running around all morning trying to find out about this. It's exhausting, brother!"

Xue Shi was so anxious that she grabbed Xue Zhao's sleeve and urged, "Just spit it out, stop beating around the bush!"

Xue Zhao cleared his throat, glanced at Xia Ziyu, and decided not to hide anything. He got straight to the point, "Last night, the eldest son of the Meng family and a few classmates went to the Drunken Life Tower to have fun, but he accidentally fell from the upper floor and broke his leg!"

"What?"

Xia Ziyu was shocked, her heart trembling, "It can't be!"

"When I first heard the news, I also found it unbelievable. After all, the eldest son of the Meng family is usually very well-behaved. He wouldn't even glance at the brothel when passing by. How could such a ridiculous thing happen?"

Xue Zhao paused and continued, "So today, the Drunken Life Tower hasn't opened yet, and I immediately rushed there to inquire about the situation from the manager inside. It's true. Many people in the Drunken Life Tower witnessed it with their own eyes. Meng Jinglun was flirting with a girl and fell from the second-floor steps. At that time, he couldn't move, and it was his classmates who carried him back to the Meng family in a carriage."

Xue Shi felt like her heart, liver, and lungs were all trembling violently. She slapped her thigh and cursed angrily, "Damn it, my daughter is getting married tomorrow, and he can't stop causing such trouble. Where will our family's face go?"

"Oh, my dear sister, it's already at this point, why do you still care about face?"

"People care about their reputation. The bridal sedan chair will arrive soon, and the gossip from relatives and friends will be embarrassing."

Xue Zhao paced back and forth in place and exclaimed, "Are you still planning to marry my niece to the Meng family?"

Xue Shi was taken aback, "Why not?"

Xue Zhao clicked his tongue twice, "Think about it. Even if Meng Jinglun's broken leg is treated properly later and he won't be paralyzed, it's still a stain on his reputation. His future prospects will be ruined. Can you still expect him to make waves in the court? Our niece is an exceptional person. Even if she can't marry a high-ranking official, she should at least marry someone decent, right?"