Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 166

Chapter 166: Take a Breath

Old Madam Feng was Meng Jie’s grandmother, but there were some things she couldn’t say directly, like calling Meng Jie narrow-minded.

Meng Jie felt dazed. “Grandmother, I still don’t quite understand. They are who they are, and I’m not their biological mother.”

“But you’re their legitimate mother!” Old Madam Feng raised her voice. “As long as they’re serving in the court, they can’t be branded as unfilial. Take the former Weiyuan Marquis, which is closest to you, for example. Madam An was also a stepmother. When she was there, didn’t everyone give her face?”

Meng Jie nodded. Indeed, that was the case.

“That’s all because Madam An is so good at saving face.” Old Ladam Feng sighed, “Jie’er, Grandmother won’t harm you. If it’s those clueless, incompetent stepsons, you shouldn’t bother with them at all. The more capable they are, the more you should act like a stepmother, because capable people don’t bother with petty matters.”

Meng Jie began to understand.

Old Madam Feng continued, “Of course, it would be best if you could give birth to a son yourself. So you have to be at ease. There’s no such thing as a hopeless situation. Look at our family right now. Even with all the hardships, we’re still alive.”

Meng Jie thought of her exiled second uncle. Now, without a single adult male in the family, they relied entirely on the fourteen-year-old cousin to keep the family afloat. It was truly difficult.

She turned and pulled out a small drawer from under the bed, taking out two banknotes. “Take this money, Grandmother. I just noticed my brother has lost a lot of weight. No matter how hard it is, we have to keep up with the food.”

Even though Old Madam Feng had some vanity, she had to bow to reality. With a flushed face, she took the banknote. “Things are tough at home right now. Your second aunt can’t take care of Hao’er. I hope this old thing like me can live a few more years. Jie’er, please don’t get hurt. For Hao’er’s sake, and for your own.”

“I’ll take care of myself.” Although Meng Jie still had reservations about An Xu and An Jing, she understood one thing: she had to live well to have a future.

Old Madam Feng felt a little relieved at her granddaughter’s words. “By the way, there’s one more thing. Hao’er is already six years old. His eldest brother used to teach him, but now the family is busy and no one can take care of him. Isn’t your illegitimate son in school? Can Hao’er keep him company?”

Meng Jie was willing to help her own brother. “I’ll talk to my husband. It shouldn’t be a problem.”

“That’s good.” Old Madam Feng spoke with her granddaughter for a while, then, seeing she was tired, took her outside for tea.

Three days after Old Madam Feng’s arrival, Meng Jie’s daughter passed away.

An Zhi was making tea when she heard the news. The cup in her hand fell onto the table with a clatter, flipped over, and finally rolled to the floor, shattering.

She hurried to the main courtyard with Binglu.

The maid had already taken the child to bury the deceased. When An Zhi reached the inner room, her father was already comforting her. He stepped forward and offered a few soothing words before retreating with Concubine Cheng.

“How pitiful!” Concubine Cheng sighed. She had always been kind-hearted. After having a child herself, she knew that a child was a mother’s destiny. Seeing Madam crying, she couldn’t help but cry too.

An Zhi felt a little bad, too. “Madam is still young. There will be more children in the future.”

“The future is the future.” Concubine Cheng thought for a moment and decided that since An Zhi hadn’t married and had no children, she probably didn’t understand the feelings of being a mother. She dropped her remaining objections and turned to Concubine Zhang. “Sister Zhang wanted to ask the Young Lady something. Now that Madam’s own child is gone, she wants to ask the Young Lady, what will become of Third Young Lady?”

In some families outside, children born to concubines were raised by the legitimate wife, while other families leave their daughters to be raised by concubines.

Originally, Meng Jie already had her own child and certainly wouldn’t want Concubine Zhang’s child.

Now that Meng Jie’s child was gone, it was very likely that Third Young Lady would be adopted.

In reality, if a legitimate mother was kind, a concubine’s daughter raised by her could have a better future. However, such legitimate mothers were rare, and Meng Jie clearly wasn’t one.

“Isn’t Aunt Zhang about to finish her confinement? Once she does, let her take the child to Madam,” An Zhi said.

“Miss, are you suggesting asking Madam to raise the Third Miss?” Concubine Cheng knew what Concubine Zhang was thinking; she wanted to keep her child by her side.

“If Aunt Zhang wants to raise the Third Miss herself, she’ll have to go to Madam and get her word. That way, she won’t have to worry about it. Reassure Aunt Zhang. Madam just lost her own child and is still recovering in her confinement. She won’t raise the Third Miss,” An Zhi said.

At this point, the two reached a fork in the road and parted ways.

Before returning to her own courtyard, An Zhi went to the garden to get some fresh air.

The loss of a younger sister had taken a toll on her.

Meanwhile, in the inner hall of Renzheng Hall, Pei Que wasn’t feeling well either.

Although the Emperor’s face had shown some color, he was still exhausted and unable to get out of bed.

Pei Que knelt on the ground, flanked by Minister Lin, Lin Fan, and Duke Cheng.

“You are all my trusted ministers, my current support.” The Emperor finished his words, paused for a moment, and then continued, “Lin Fan, you wrote to the Emperor accusing Pei Que of reckless disregard for human life. You must provide evidence. Otherwise, even if you are Minister Lin’s son, I will still chop off your head.”

“I dare not act recklessly.” Lin Fan knelt like Pei Que. “Yuan Beiming was indeed killed by Lord Pei. I have the confessions of those who were in the courtyard at the time, and the witnesses are already with the Imperial Guard.”

“Oh, is that so?” The Emperor’s gaze shifted to Pei Que’s face. “My dear Pei, what do you say?”

Though the Emperor looked weary, his eyes remained sharp after years of serving in the Imperial Court.

Pei Que’s expression remained calm. “Since Commander Lin has both witnesses and evidence, Your Majesty, please suspend me. Once the Imperial Guard has thoroughly investigated, we can determine who is at fault and then directly convict.”

The Emperor smiled at Pei Que’s composure. “No need for suspension. Leave this matter to Commander Lin and Duke Cheng. I’ll give you five days. I’m tired, so please withdraw.”

Now that the Emperor was unable to oversee the overall situation, government affairs relied on Prime Minister Pei. The Prefectural Office was finally managed by Pei Que, and the Emperor would not suspend him until he was well again.

However, if Lin Fan could truly defeat Pei Que, the Emperor would naturally welcome it.

The four left Renzheng Hall together.

Duke Cheng walked first, clearly unwilling to speak to the three of them.

Minister Lin and his son exchanged a glance and then left, leaving Pei Que and Lin Fan alone. “After three days of absence, one really starts to look at people with new eyes,” Pei Que sighed.

“Thank you, Fourth Master Pei, for the compliment.” That day at Chunfeng Tower, Lin Fan secretly vowed to make Pei Que pay.

“But your efforts are truly misdirected.” Pei Que tilted his head, looking at Lin Fan with a half-smile. “Do you know who will be implicated in Yuan Beiming’s death?”