Chapter 237: Good News
The capital this year was a bit bleak, yet it also had a certain flavor.
In the west of the city, residents originally felt that living next door to the Goddess meant they were imbued with more spiritual energy. They were quite smug about it, and housing prices had even risen a bit.
A while ago, a house two doors down from the Goddess was resold at a price a full six percent higher than last year. Housing prices in the west of the city were already high, so another six percent increase meant a massive profit.
However, ever since Old Madam Meng brought people to splash that full bucket of night soil, it was as if the Goddess’s filter had been washed away.
The Goddess’s servants scrubbed for three days and three nights, but the stench still lingered.
When the Goddess was in her prime, no one dared to say anything, fearing that if they did, the Goddess might remark that their fate was bad or something similar.
But once someone opened the floodgates, the gossip followed.
There were already people who found her an eyesore.
There was a young lady who clearly had a fiancé, but when the Goddess was reading the fortune for another young lady, she actually claimed that the other lady’s destined match was that very man—the first lady’s fiancé.
I don’t know how it happened, but in the end, that man actually broke off his engagement and married that other young lady.
It seemed like a prophecy of a happy union, but at the same time, it ruined a marriage.
Anyone who enjoys the boost of a reputation is always accompanied by slander.
There were also many who were jealous.
The powerful and noble in the capital were already surrounded by various professional charlatans; Jiang Wan appearing out of thin air was equivalent to stealing their rice bowls.
It was said that the Emperor was preparing to summon Fairy Liu, but unexpectedly, after Old Madam Meng poured that bucket of night soil, there was no follow-up.
Moreover, Fairy Liu became a laughingstock.
Later, gossip spread that Liu Tong, the legitimate son of the Liu Family, was refusing to marry because of his adopted sister, Fairy Liu. He even ran to his fiancée, Miss Dong, and knelt to beg her to grant his wish…
Miss Dong broke off the engagement and also became a laughingstock in the capital.
However, the Goddess was truly worthy of the title “Goddess,” as she unexpectedly saved the First Prince’s only son.
The First Prince was currently the most popular candidate for Crown Prince.
He was not the legitimate son, but he was the eldest. The First Prince himself was heroic and handsome, tall and fierce, with a forthright personality that garnered much admiration.
It was just that he had his son late in life; he had only daughters before this. Finally, he had a son. Having a son was one of the conditions that made him a popular candidate for the Crown Prince position, as without an heir, the position of Crown Prince was basically out of reach.
Therefore, the First Prince was very grateful to Fairy Liu. In particular, the First Princess personally invited Fairy Liu as an honored guest, and the trend in the capital shifted once again.
Rumors and gossip quickly faded away.
Rumors grew wings of power; they feared the strong and bullied the weak.
On this day.
There were many people queuing at the city gate.
A dusty, travel-worn old soldier was also in the queue.
Holding the Meng Family token, he was already in the VIP queue for the powerful and noble. However, there were too many powerful people in the capital; even in the VIP priority lane, he still had to wait for a while.
It was already much better than the regular lane, where entering the city was sluggish and sometimes took one or two hours of waiting.
The old soldier waited for about half an hour before finally passing inspection, entering the capital, and then galloping toward the Meng Mansion.
Although Madam Meng had regained consciousness, for some reason, she was occasionally confused. She had been frightened by a nightmare where she dreamed her son died in battle and her daughter-in-law hanged herself. It terrified her so much she dared not close her eyes.
She didn’t dare to speak of it, fearing that others would worry.
She just kept it bottled up inside, feeling very distressed.
She looked much less energetic than before.
When the old soldier rushed home, dusty and travel-worn, his face beamed with joy.
“Madam, Master, Old Madam, great news! Young Madam has given birth! Two babies in one pregnancy, two little young masters!”
The old soldier didn’t even have time to take a sip of water, his mouth dry as he spoke.
However, upon hearing this, Madam Meng suddenly sat up straight.
“She really gave birth? And they are twins? Two sons? Hahaha, hahaha!”
“She had two in one go? As expected of my son, he has twice my heroic spirit!” Meng Qingshe also laughed heartily.
Old Madam Meng’s eyes turned red, and tears suddenly fell.
She was already full of white hair.
That day, when she wore her heavy official robes and poured night soil in front of that so-called Fairy Liu’s door in front of the people of the capital, Old Madam Meng had smiled on the outside, but her heart was filled with boundless sorrow.
“Generals die in a hundred battles, warriors return after ten years.”
Her old man had not yet returned, and might never return.
Even clowns dared to spout filth over their heads.
Upon hearing the good news, Old Madam Meng immediately wanted to go to the ancestral hall to burn incense and kowtow to the ancestors.
The ancestors had blessed them; the Meng Family had heirs! Two at once! From now on, there was no need to worry about watching the Meng Family line wither away, unable to continue.
The white-haired Old Madam Meng longed to kneel before the ancestral tablets and have a good cry.
She also wanted to rummage through her storehouse; she wanted to send gifts to her granddaughter-in-law.
And Madam Meng, upon hearing this news, suddenly felt that her body was free of illness and pain, free of disaster and trouble; she felt entirely at ease.
She also wanted to rummage through her storehouse, wishing she could move everything to her daughter-in-law.
Xiaoyu actually gave birth to two sons in one go. From now on, whatever her daughter-in-law wanted, she would give; she would even serve her as if she were an honored guest. She was so impressive!
If not for the messenger saying they were already on their way to the capital, but just needed to wait for the postpartum confinement period first, Madam Meng and Old Madam Meng would have wanted to rush to Jingzhou overnight.
“Young Madam almost met with disaster; someone poisoned her. Fortunately, Young Madam was sharp and uncovered it, but she was so frightened that she went into premature labor. Yet, it was a blessing in disguise, as she gave birth to two big, healthy boys. Otherwise, if it had gone on any longer, the babies would have been too big and difficult to deliver.”
The old soldier caught his breath, drank some tea to moisten his throat, and continued to describe the scene.
It made the listeners’ hearts jump with shock.
“And then what happened?” Old Madam Meng asked nervously.
“Was the person who poisoned her caught?” Meng Qingshe asked.
“They deserve to be sliced into a thousand pieces!” Madam Meng cursed.
“The waiter who delivered the food committed suicide.”
Madam Meng frowned, “Doesn’t that mean there’s no proof? And it happened on the road.”
Old Madam Meng also felt stifled.
Meng Qingshe said gloomily, “My in-law is said to be an upright and honorable man. Although he was forced to rebel before, he never fought or killed anyone. He always helped maintain order in the county, and even in Jingzhou, he worked diligently. Even someone as impartial and incorruptible as Censor He praised Commander Jiang as a good official after returning from Jingzhou. In this world, the kind-hearted are bullied. They are bullying us because they think the Meng Family has no one left.”
The old soldier was also very angry, but there was nothing he could do. He had received the news of the Young Madam giving birth and had returned to report it immediately.
However, he felt helpless. That Lord Jiang looked too handsome; he appeared to be a typical civil official who only knew how to reason. He probably would faint at the sight of blood, unlike their Meng Family.
That Madam Jiang also looked kind-hearted and gentle. Young Master Jiang also looked like a very well-behaved youth.
It was no wonder the family wanted their Young Master to stay with them; he guessed that without their Young Master, they would have been bullied to death.
“By the way, this is the baby hair of the little young masters. Young Madam cut it and asked me to bring it back.” The old soldier took out two identical pouches and handed them over.
Old Madam Meng opened them to find two tufts of hair; she touched them and couldn’t bear to put them down.
The two ordinary pouches were passed around among two generations of the family.
Madam Meng felt even more affection for her daughter-in-law. She was truly thoughtful; knowing they would surely miss the children, she had sent the baby hair. Even gold, jade, or treasures could not compare to the value of these two pouches; it was the thought that counted.
“Mother, I’m going to go check again to see what else needs to be arranged. When Xiaoyu returns, I want to add a few more things for her.”
“Go ahead. Move that large coral from my room to my granddaughter-in-law’s room; it’s auspicious.”
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