What happened next was pretty much what Princess Wuyang had expected: Empress Dowager Meng scolded Madam Wu'anhou and fined her half a year's salary as punishment, but she never mentioned Meng Bichen and his wife again.
Just talking about Meng Liyi and Meng Liti: "These two girls are so thoughtful at such a young age. They are really not as virtuous as my Meng daughter! It happened that they had reached the age of discussing marriage, so they were sent away from a distance. Since it was right There is an explanation for the flower viewing banquet, so as not to lead their nieces astray!"
Mrs. Wu'anhou and Mrs. Chengyanghou would naturally not object. Anyway, these two girls were not their biological children. They didn't care much if they were sent away far away or "suddenly died" directly.
At this moment Jun said: "What the Queen Mother said is that I will do it when I get back!"
Empress Dowager Meng glanced at Princess Wuyang and Empress Meng on the left and right, frowned and continued: "You can't treat the children of the Xu Sheng family badly! Especially the village head Ming Ning, a good girl, would do something like this. … If there is no good destination in the future, the Ai family will never rely on it!"
Mrs. Wu'an Hou said hurriedly: "Don't worry, Queen Mother! Even if you don't tell me, there is absolutely no way that I will not go to Ningwei Hou's house to plead guilty!"
Mrs. Cheng Yanghou sighed in her heart. Mrs. Wu Anhou was trying to cover up her biological daughter, so it was natural for her to make various compensations, but she was too unjust, right
Although she was unwilling to do so, she had no choice but to promise: "I will also go with my second sister-in-law to seek forgiveness from both families."
Princess Wuyang knew that the matter had almost ended here. The Meng family was now in the midst of employing people, and internal stability and unity were most needed. If it hadn't happened in her neutral eldest princess's palace, the Xu Sheng family involved was also inextricably linked to the Meng family and the Gaomi King. They were not the kind of people who could just press it down. This kind of thing would even The Empress Dowager would not be alarmed at all, and the matter was settled after a few discussions between the Marquis of Wu'an and his wife and the Marquis of Chengyang.
Although the culprit is still at large, the Wu'an House and the Chengyang House can at most make some reparations and apologize... But this is already the best result.
At least their visit to plead guilty will confirm the identities of Xu Baomo and Gongsun Yingjiang's victims, which will somewhat clear their innocence.
The eldest princess was about to say a few words to end the matter when Queen Meng suddenly said: "Should we also give the village head Ming Ning a first-level promotion as a sign of appeasement? After all, in the current situation, she will most likely become the wife of Marquis Ningwei. In the future, I will live in Chang'an forever, and when I go out to socialize... if I cover my face with Yizhi, I can at least avoid a lot of unnecessary gossip?"
As soon as these words came out, not only Mrs. Wu'anhou and Mrs. Chengyanghou felt that Queen Meng was too kind to the Sheng family, but even the eldest princess Wuyang muttered: "Meng Shishi has always been aloof. Although he never takes the initiative to trouble anyone, But I definitely won’t meddle in other people’s business... Why are you treating the girls of the Sheng family so deeply?”
However, Queen Mother Meng knew that this was because when Sheng Weiqiao's aunt and nephew rescued people, Sheng Weiqiao was the one who made the decision, and Gongsun Yingjiang was the one who contributed the most.
As a result, in order to cover up the queen, the matter could not be announced. Although Sheng Weiqiao was awarded the title of county lord, her two cousins Sheng Weirao and Sheng Weiwu, who had no merit at all, were honored to be the county lords. On the contrary, Gongsun Yingjiang only became the county lord because of his lower seniority. After losing the village owner... Empress Meng took the opportunity to make amends.
"It's just a matter of Yi's decree. It's good to make the child feel more comfortable!" Empress Dowager Meng thought so and nodded, "In that case, the Ai family will have someone draft the decree later... Oh, first send someone to Marquis Ningwei The government asked, if the Sheng and Xu families have already decided to get married, how much more glorious would it be to give their two children another marriage!"
When Queen Meng heard this, a smile appeared on her originally cold face, and she said, "Thank you, aunt!"
Then he said, "My aunt is still thoughtful!"
Empress Dowager Meng smiled and said a few words to her, and then said: "You came here early in the morning and you are tired of thinking about it. Now that the matter is over, let's go back and have a rest!"
Seeing Empress Meng's resignation with good intentions, the Empress Dowager said to Princess Wuyang: "Since Deping is also involved in what happened at the flower appreciation banquet, you should probably go to see Concubine Mo too, right? Why don't you go now and wait until later?" I’m afraid it will disturb Concubine Mo’s nap.”
After sending Princess Wuyang away, Mrs. Wu'anhou and Mrs. Chengyanghou came down to talk: "Why are you so stupid?!"
Empress Dowager Meng's face was full of hatred, "What did the Ai family do to choose the fourteenth to become the head of Wangchun Palace? Do you think the Ai family just favored the eldest family?! It's also because of her nature of repaying kindness! You are the ones who Isn’t it strange, why is the Ai family so favoring to the girls of the Sheng family recently?! And why is Shishi now personally going to battle to compensate the girls of the Sheng family?!"
"In the final analysis, isn't it because Kang Zhao and Aunt Ming Ning helped Shi Shi before?!"
"Then the two outsiders, let alone talk about their feelings for Fourteen before, they didn't even say hello to anyone in particular, and they didn't even talk to each other in private!"
"Just because I saved Fourteen, Fourteen still protects them in every possible way!"
"As uncles, aunts, and cousins, if you are kind to her, how can she not remember it?!"
"That brainless thing Bichen!"
"You actually use the same methods you use to treat outsiders on Fourteen, thinking you can subdue Fourteen?!"
"She also doesn't want to think about it. Even if Fourteen is her cousin, now she is the queen of my Damu. Sooner or later, she will take over from the Ai family and become the master of Xinshou Palace!"
"What does Bichen mean?!"
"Above the future Queen Mother?!"
"Then is she still thinking about letting the Aijia be her puppet?!"
"Right now, I'm just letting the whole family be affectionate and harmonious, and I'm just thinking about being competitive!"
"This will be great. The girls from the Sheng family are more affectionate than their own sisters!"
"If you were nice to her, the Ai family could still blame her for not being able to distinguish between inside and outside; now? The Ai family has no shame to help you!"
"You are such an old man, and you don't even have such a sharp eye. He is simply an old fool even more stupid than the Ai family!"
The two ladies did not dare to raise their heads after being scolded by the Queen Mother. Their expressions were respectful, but they also felt a little disapproving in their hearts. When Queen Mother Meng had to choose a successor from her natal family's juniors, she chose from the main room from beginning to end. I have considered two-bedroom, three-bedroom and four-bedroom apartments.
Nowadays, the so-called "Xingzi who repays his kindness because of the fourteenth generation" is just a high-sounding rhetoric!
However, the Queen Mother mentioned that the reason why Queen Meng was good to the girls of the Sheng family was because Sheng Wei Qiao's aunt and nephew saved Queen Meng, which moved them: "Because of the sweet words of the eldest brother, the fourteenth is the stepdaughter, but She has always been dissatisfied. That’s why we didn’t pay much attention to her before... If she is really a soft-spoken person, then you can get so many benefits by coaxing her, so why not do it?”
Immediately he said: "What the Queen Mother taught me is that when I look back, I will always go to Jingshao Palace and get close to the Queen Mother!"
The Empress Dowager Meng was very clear about her thoughts on the two sisters-in-law, but as long as they were willing to please Empress Meng, it would be fine. The Empress Dowager was old, and although everyone under her said, "You will get stronger when you get older," she knew that her body would not last more than a few years. .
The only son, Emperor Xuan Jing, looked like this, and the Queen Mother really didn't expect any grandchildren, so the one she was most concerned about right now was her mother's family.
In order to take care of her younger brother, she chose Meng Bijun as her successor, but she didn't expect that before the serious problem of King Gaomi was eliminated, the Meng family had to fight against him several times. In particular, the young Queen Meng was originally very cold towards Duke Zheng because her biological father spoiled his concubines and killed his wife. Now the second and third wives are also disrespectful to the queen. Isn't this deliberately planting hidden dangers for the future of the Meng family? !
So now that he saw Mrs. Wu'anhou and Mrs. Chengyanghou being taught, he didn't bother to ask them to treat Queen Meng sincerely. He waved his hands and said: "You guys go back! Go to Ningweihou's Mansion to explain to both of them as soon as possible. Don't delay. The procrastination makes people suspicious that Meng is using his power to bully others!"
The two of them excused themselves. After leaving the Xinshou Palace, Mrs. Chengyanghou's face turned ugly: "Second sister-in-law! What Bichen did, dragging us and the third room together to be scolded and punished, this is too unethical, isn't it? ?!”
"Third brother and sister, don't feel wronged." However, Mrs. Wu'anhou sneered when she heard this, "If you want to make it clear, I also want to talk to you carefully: What kind of virtues does Li Ming in my room have that you don't know yet? That's a loser who can't even fight with Princess Deping! If Liti in your room hadn't been there to give her some advice, she would have been talking behind her back. How could she have come up with the tricks at the flower viewing banquet to plot against people?! "
Mrs. Chengyang Hou said happily: "If it weren't for the temptation of Bichen and his wife, I don't believe Liti would do this!"
"But she always has a wrong mind." Mrs. Wu Anhou didn't want her to let her go at first, but then she thought about the fact that the Queen Mother had left the two of them specifically in order to hope that the Meng family would put down their internal fighting and work together. If she and Cheng Yang are now The people in the Hou family were at loggerheads, so they turned around and called the Queen Mother to find out, which would definitely not be a favor.
Then he softened his tone and said, "Brothers and sisters, our husbands and sons-in-law are brothers, and we always advance and retreat together. You, my sister-in-law, and Jiraiya are closer than the elder sister-in-law and the four missing brothers and sisters. What's going on right now It has already happened, there is no point in pursuing these matters anymore, the key is to put this matter to rest quickly, lest the Queen Mother upset us!"
Mrs. Chengyang Hou said with a stern face: "You make it easy! The matter was caused by your room. When I went to the Ningwei Hou Mansion to apologize, we had to be accompanied by our third room... Are you happy if it's you?!"
She deliberately emphasized the word "property", and Mrs. Wu'an Hou finally understood what she meant and sighed: "Okay, I'll make an apology to the Xu Sheng family later. The third bedroom's share will be paid by our second bedroom!"
Mrs. Cheng Yanghou was then satisfied, smiled and said, "Thank you so much, Second Sister-in-law!"
They wanted to appease Empress Dowager Meng's anger. After returning that day, they prepared generous gifts and brought their concubines to the Ningwei Hou Mansion to plead guilty.
When they arrived, they saw that Princess Wuyang was there first. She had explained Concubine Mo's attitude to the two families and conveyed the Queen Mother's decision to them.
Although both the Sheng family and the Xu family were very dissatisfied with the result that Meng Bichen and his wife were left out, they also knew that there was nothing they could do to the couple until the Meng family collapsed.
So after putting on his face for a while, he reluctantly agreed to let it go... There was nothing he could do if he didn't agree, the situation was stronger than the person.
After seeing off the guests that day, Mr. Xu and Mrs. Sheng comforted each other: "Feng Shui has changed, and this couple is so vicious. Sooner or later, there will be no good end!"
"Caikui's wedding is just around the corner, and Bao Mo and Ying Jiang's engagement, I think, how about setting it at the beginning of May?" After cursing Meng Bichen and his wife, they started discussing business, "If it's set for this month, It's really too late. I'm afraid that the whole process will be too busy, and I won't be able to do everything comprehensively, and I will feel wronged by Ying Jiang."
Mr. Xu Laohou said, "But we can let the news out now so that both internal and external people can learn about it, so that Ying Jiang will not be discussed."
"Didn't Her Royal Highness the Eldest Princess whisper just now that the Queen Mother still plans to give marriage to the two children?" Old Master Sheng reminded, "How about waiting for Yizhi to come down and take a look? Although it is not easy to delay this matter for too long, Marquis Wu An just now Both Madam and Madam Cheng Yanghou have brought their daughters to pay homage to her, so it’s nothing to delay for just a few days.”
The old Marquis thought it was right, so he gave up for now.
However, before the Queen Mother's decree came down, Queen Meng sent another oral edict and summoned Sheng Weiqiao to the palace to speak.