from wealthy or influential families and had sunk to associating only with the wives and daughters of lower-ranking officials. Moreover, Meng Jiny Yao disliked fawning over others, so many of the ladi...Changxing Houfu.

Not long after Meng Jinyo left, the steward of Yongchangbo's mansion arrived at Changxinghou's mansion and had been waiting in the front hall for a long time. He hadn't seen Meng Jinyo's figure for a long time, and he was also anxious. He paced back and forth in the hall to pass the time.

The maidservant serving tea nearby watched him pacing back and forth, wondering to herself: With the manner of the Yongchang Marquis's household, his wife wouldn't likely come back to see him.

The steward, without realizing it, looked up and saw Meng Jinyang. He immediately stopped his steps and quickly walked over, with a flattering smile, almost servile, and said: "Miss, you're back."

Meng Jin Yao nodded expressionlessly, strode to the main seat and sat down. Her gaze was cold as she glanced at the butler. Seeing the butler's smile falter and his face tense with anxiety, she wouldn't make things difficult for him. She got straight to the point: "Today is the tenth day. Has my father and Sun Shi prepared the silver notes"

The steward's lips twitched when she brought up money. He quickly replied, "Miss, everything is ready. For this matter, the mistress has pawned all her dowry."

Meng Jin Yao smiled with satisfaction. As for what the steward said afterwards, she ignored it. What did the Sun family pawning their dowry have to do with her It wasn't her who made the Sun family pawn their dowry. It was her good father and good grandmother who insisted on using the Sun family's dowry because they were unwilling to contribute themselves, even though they could have raised the money if they truly tried.

It's unknown whether Ms. Sun regrets her actions now. She took her mother's dowry and worked hard for her husband's family, but in the end, she didn't gain any benefits. Instead, she lost all of her dowry and ended up with a reputation for stealing the dowry of her stepsister.

Her voice softened a little, and she said in a low tone: "That's good then, just give it to me first. I'll check if the amount of silver notes is correct."

The steward responded with a nod, taking out a stack of silver notes from his bosom. Then, he rummaged through his purse and produced several ounces of broken silver and copper coins, respectfully presenting them: "Miss, please check if anything is missing."

Meng Jinyao was slightly stunned at the sight, then took it over and carefully counted.

That's good, they were really afraid of going to jail, and they truly paid her back every penny. No wonder there were a few taels of silver and over thirty copper coins, because the amount was too small for them to use silver notes with such a small denomination.

The steward asked anxiously, "Miss, I wonder if the number is incorrect"

Actually, on the way here he had been quietly counting, and the numbers were fine. If he was short a little money, he could make up the difference himself with three or five taels, no problem. As long as he completed this arduous task today, everything would be alright. Otherwise, returning to Yongchang Bo's mansion, he would inevitably be questioned by the master.

Meng Jinyao nodded and said, "The number is fine, thank you for your hard work, steward."

The steward let out a sigh of relief and shook his head hastily. "It's not hard work at all, it's what I should be doing," he said. Then, glancing at Meng Jin Yao, he hesitated and continued, "Miss, both Madam and the old mistress are ill."

Meng Jin Yao said with a calm face: "I'm not a doctor, so what use is it for you to tell me Just because you tell me, will their illnesses magically heal"

Seeing her like this, unfazed, he realized she truly hated the mistress and the old mistress. He quickly said, "The young lady is right, it was I who was foolish."

Meng Jiny Yao added, "If there's nothing else, you should go back. They must be waiting for you to return and report."

"Oh, well. "

The steward nodded in response and bade farewell to Meng Jinyang. Then he left Changxing Hou's mansion and headed back home to report to his master.

Meng Jinyao glanced at a few taels of silver and over thirty copper coins. She directly divided the silver among Chunliu, Qingqiu, and Ningdong, her three maidservants, while the thirty-odd copper coins were given to the little maid who had been serving tea by the side.

Several people received silver rewards and hurriedly thanked them.

On the way back to Huirui Pavilion, Ning Dong curiously asked, "Madam, do you think they are truly ill, or feigning illness"

Meng Jin Yao twitched the corner of her lips, mockingly smiling: "They're always getting sick when something happens. Probably their bodies are weak and can't handle anything, they get sick at the slightest thing."

Ning Dong listened, instantly understanding.Feigning illness not only garnered sympathy but also provided an excuse to stay home, avoiding ridicule. It was a win-win situation.

After passing through the Yue Dong Gate and the Chaoshou Corridor, two young girls' voices arguing suddenly reached Meng Jin Yao's ears. Meng Jin Yao stopped in her tracks and followed the sound. She saw Gu Xuan Yi, the eldest daughter of the main house, and Gu Xuan Ling, the second daughter of the concubine, arguing about something unknown.

They were both fifteen years old, one with a proud expression on her face and the other timid and fearful. The difference between a legitimate daughter and a concubine's daughter was more than just a title; their personalities were worlds apart.

Meng Jinyao nodded slightly and continued to watch. She saw Gu Xuanying with red eyes, her eyes overflowing with tears, accusingly saying, "Big sister, you did it on purpose!"

Gu Xuanyi raised her foot and crushed the pastry that had fallen to the ground. She looked up, chin slightly lifted, with a triumphant smirk on her face as she glared at Gu Xualing, sneering, "I did it on purpose. What are you going to do about it"

"You, you're too much!"

Gu Xuanying hesitated for a long time before managing to squeeze out a sentence. Her voice trembled with anger, and tears welled up in her eyes. She was so wronged she couldn't bear it.

Gu Xuanyi said sarcastically, "A concubine's daughter is always a concubine's daughter, obsessed with scheming. What use is it to please your grandmother She isn't your biological grandmother, and besides, you are illegitimate. You still think she will truly care for you"

"I've already given the pastries I made for my grandmother. Gu Xuanling is too lazy to argue with me about this," she muttered, crouching down to pick up the fallen pastries from the floor and putting them back into the food box. She even tossed the shattered dish into it.

"Mother" Gu Xuanyi sounded as if she'd heard a joke, letting out a light laugh. Without mercy, she continued to taunt, "Don't forget that you're an illegitimate child. Your second aunt isn't your biological mother. Your pitiful stepmother died long ago, and who knows if she's reincarnated yet If she has, she'd probably be about ten years younger than you."

Even a rabbit will bite when it's scared, let alone a human.

Previously, Gu Xuanying had endured everything, but when her cousin mentioned her deceased mother and spoke disrespectfully about her, she finally couldn't take it anymore. She suddenly stood up, pushed Gu Xuayi hard, and shouted, "Eldest sister, don't be too much!"

Gu Xuanyi was caught off guard and pushed directly to the ground, letting out a startled "ah!". Her maidservant nearby was also frightened and hurriedly helped her up, asking with concern, "Miss Gu, are you alright"

Gu Xuyan's palm was scraped, and her buttocks hurt when she landed. When she stood up, she gasped in pain, gritting her teeth and saying, "Gu Xuanying, you have such guts! I think you are looking for death!" The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She directly raised her palm to slap Gu Xuanying's face.

"Stop!"

At the moment of crisis, a voice, powerful and commanding, suddenly echoed through the air. Gu Xuanyi's hand froze mid-action, her face stiffening as she turned towards the source of the sound.onth before finally waiting for the matchmaker.Her parents both passed away, and she relied on her grandfather. Now that her grandfather has also passed away, a matchmaker found her, and she immediate...