th froze for a moment.The next moment, Zhang saw her own daughter crying for breath, her face instantly darkened. She quickly walked over and, without asking the reason, scolded, "Xuanling, how could...Jingning County Princess saw that she remained silent and questioned, "A Yao, what's wrong"
Meng Jin Yao shook her head slightly. "It's nothing."
Jingning County Princess looked at her, thoughtfully, hesitatingly asked: “You wouldn't be overthinking things, would you”
"What"
Meng Jin Yao looked at her in confusion, not understanding what she meant.
Jingning County Princess replied, "There were rumors before that Marquis Gu remained unmarried for many years because he couldn't forget his former fiancee. But since you and Marquis Gu have children, and he treats you so well, it proves that those rumors are definitely not true.
Meng Jin Yao nodded understandingly, then said, "That rumor is indeed not true. When I was in Huizhou Prefecture, Lord Hou had told me that he harbored no romantic feelings for her. The engagement back then was solely a matter arranged by our parents."
Upon hearing this, Princess Jingning also let out a sigh of relief: “That’s good. I was afraid you were thinking too much.”
Meng Jin Yao smiled softly: "Don't worry, I haven't been thinking too much." Her voice paused for a moment, "I was just a little surprised that Mr. Wei divorced Mrs. Wei. But then again, it feels quite normal considering everything."
The Princess Jingning nodded: "Being abandoned after ten years of marriage without a child is indeed normal. Some are even abandoned after three years without a child."
Meng Jinyáo understood in her heart that Mrs. Wei was not abandoned because she had no children, but she didn't say much. The reason the Wei family gave was that she had no children, so it must be because she had no children.
Master Wei truly loved his wife. Being abandoned at this crucial moment, she must be facing ridicule now that nobody knows the truth. However, when Master Wei is escorted back to the capital for trial, people will rejoice for Mrs. Wei, thinking that being divorced was a blessing in disguise – escaping the misery of the Wei family.
Then, Meng Jiny Yao asked, “Ayan, how did you know about this”
Princess Jingning replied, "There was once a woman from the Mei family who held the titles of 'First Beauty' and 'First Talented Woman' in the capital city. Though she returned to the capital in a low-key manner, rumors still spread about her. Given her past fame, it's natural for people to pay attention to her. Don't underestimate my mother's dignified and virtuous demeanor; she actually enjoys gossip quite a bit. My mother has a maidservant dedicated to gathering gossip from other households and relaying it to her. As I grew up beside my mother, I also heard my share of these tales."
Meng Jinyao nodded in understanding.
Jing Ning County Lord pondered for a while, mumbling to herself, "She's probably almost thirty years old"
Meng Jinyao replied, "She is a year younger than the Marquis and is twenty-nine years old this year."
Quiet Ning County Lord let out a soft sigh: "To be abandoned at this age is quite miserable. It would be difficult to marry a good family again. Younger men wouldn't even consider her, and those around her age would want someone younger. Now that Old Madam Mei is still alive, when she passes away, the brothers in the house will likely despise her for being an old maid living at home.
"That's not necessarily true," Meng Jinyao shook her head. "Madam Wei... no, it should be Miss Mei now. Though she is nearing thirty, she looks only about twenty-four or five. She is beautiful and talented. Back then, so many men admired her. If there were any widowers who still had feelings for her, they would likely propose marriage. After all, men this age usually have children and wouldn't mind if she couldn't bear them."
Quiet Princess Ning was startled, then said: "That's also true.
A moment later, Princess Jingning changed the subject: "Ayo, let's go pay our respects to the old lady. I came over today and haven't paid my respects to the elders yet."
Meng Jin Yao laughed and said, “You're not very lucky to come today, my mother-in-law is out of the house.
Quiet Princess Jingning was surprised: "Madam rarely goes out, she doesn't even participate in banquets most of the time. Why is she free to go out today"
Meng Jinyao replied, "It used to be like that, but recently she has been going out more often. Today it seems like she went to burn incense and pray for blessings. Let's go for a walk in the back garden, the chrysanthemums there are blooming quite nicely."
Jingning County Princess nodded. "Alright."
The garden in autumn is quite desolate. The grass and trees have withered, and only flowers in season are blooming.
The two strolled leisurely through the garden, chatting about amusing anecdotes, while a maidservant trailed behind them a few steps.
Suddenly, Meng Jin Yao heard voices arguing in the distance ahead. She stopped her steps, and Princess Jingning also stopped.
Only Zhang's exasperated voice could be heard from the front: “What is wrong with you I asked you to make a good impression, and you just eat! How come I never noticed how much you love to eat before Did we not feed you enough at home You're acting like you haven't eaten in three days!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Xuanying's voice came, responding with a nonchalant tone: "Their food is delicious, I eat more to give them face, isn't that right"
"You...you're trying to make me mad"
Gu Xuanyi replied, "Mother, I'm not planning to get married right now. You don't have to worry about it. My older brother and I are twins. He's just one minute older than me, and he hasn't gotten married yet. Why would I be in a hurry"
Zhang was furious: "Xiuwen is a man, you are a woman, how can this be the same Look at your third uncle, he's almost thirty and still has beautiful young wives willing to marry him. If your third uncle were a woman, who would want to marry him at nearly thirty"
Gu Xuanyi replied, "Anyway, I don't care. I just don't want to. If you say any more, I'll go find Grandma to mediate."
"You dare to use my grandmother to pressure me"
Gu Xuyan: "I'm tired, I'll go back to sleep for a while. My mother has scolded me for so long, she must be tired too. Let her have a good rest when she gets back."
"......You, child"
……
Listening to their bickering, it seemed that Zhang was trying to find a better husband for Gu Xuanyi, but Gu Xuanyi wasn't cooperating and had messed things up. Zhang was angry about it, but Gu Xuanyi didn't care at all.
Jingning County Princess whispered, "Ayao, listening to your eldest daughter's words, it seems she is not very willing to get married."
Meng Jin Yao gently nodded her head and replied in a low voice, "Xuan Yi has been hurt. She was deceived into marriage by her former husband and even beaten. She is afraid of marriage. However, Xuan Yi is only sixteen years old this year, and as a mother, your elder sister-in-law must be worried about her marriage and afraid that she will have difficulty finding a good family when she gets older."
Quietly, Princess Jingning said: “Gu's former husband has also received the punishment he deserved. After his divorce from Gu, his father went straight to the palace to petition the emperor and stripped him of his title of Prince. His reputation was ruined, so he couldn't stay in the capital city. He left the capital, and the Peng family abandoned him. Now, he is a castaway.”
Meng Jinyao replied, "Having a fondness for dragon yang means even with a wife, he can't consummate the marriage and have children. He would also bring shame upon the family. For the family, he is already useless, and he certainly cannot continue as the crown prince. Furthermore, he bullied Miss Gu's family, so the Marquis will not let him off without some retribution."
Quiet Princess was very puzzled, she leaned in Meng Jin Yao's ear and whispered: "It's really strange, he can have sex with men, but why can't he with women"
On hearing this, Meng Jingyao was taken aback for a moment before shaking her head. "I don't really know,"ur Ayu is blessed; she will surely enjoy prosperity and have many descendants in the future."Meng Jinyu, upon hearing this, felt the knot of distress in her heart loosen. She was certain that her husb...