Ch 127: Jumping Clown

Meng Tingyue’s eyes were gentle, and she softly said, “I haven’t yet mentioned it to my uncle and maternal grandfather, but I have found Meng Dongliang’s whereabouts.”

Xiao Huaifeng remembered this name vividly.

Old Master Xiao, though elderly and forgetful, upon hearing the surname “Meng,” had a few speculations. He composed himself, and solemnly asked, “Is this person a relative of Meng Ci?”

Meng Tingyue nodded slightly, her voice soft yet firm, “Indeed, he is currently residing in the West Garden under the guise of an uncle.”

“How dare he stay in the Crown Prince’s Mansion!” Upon hearing this, a flash of barely perceptible coldness crossed Xiao Huaifeng’s eyes, which quickly turned into deep worry.

He slowly turned to Meng Tingyue, his eyes full of concern, and softly asked, “I hear he is of questionable character, and on his way to Jingdu, he harassed many virtuous women. Did he act improperly towards you, or cause you any trouble?”

Meng Tingyue gently shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips, “He’s just a jumped-up clown, not worth worrying about.”

Changing the subject, she said, “Besides, I have also found the Meng Elders, that is, my deceased grandfather and grandmother. I have sent people to bring them to Jingdu.”

“I’ll give my father a surprise on his birthday next month.”

Meng Tingyue had a faint smile on her face, her eyes full of composure and confidence.

Old Master Xiao and Xiao Huaifeng understood her plan and intentions.

“Good, Tingyue’s thoughts are indeed meticulous. Once those two step into Jingdu, Meng Ci’s painstakingly crafted image of an orphan and his mask of deep affection will dissipate like morning mist under the sun.”

“At that time, we will appear at the right moment, personally reveal his hypocritical facade, and see if we can use this opportunity to allow your mother’s memorial tablet to leave that filthy place in Meng Mansion and regain peace.”

A look of satisfaction flashed across Xiao Huaifeng’s eyes.

Old Master Xiao also nodded approvingly, “That’s right, we can’t let Chang Le’s memorial tablet remain in that smoky and foul place. The Xiao Family has made merits in disaster relief, and His Majesty will ask about rewards. We haven’t spoken yet, and we can use this opportunity to achieve two goals at once.”

At this point, Old Master Xiao’s emotions suddenly fluctuated, with faint tears in his eyes, as if a thousand words were choked in his throat.

At that moment, a rough and hurried noise came from outside the courtyard, like a gust of wind breaking the tranquility.

“Get out of the way! I want to see which audacious fellow dares to impersonate my niece’s relative. How come I’ve never heard that my niece has other relatives?”

Old Master Xiao quickly wiped away the moisture from the corner of his eyes with his sleeve, and looked at Meng Tingyue with a hint of doubt.

Meng Tingyue slightly curled her lips; her smile, however, held deep obscurity, devoid of genuine joy. “What a coincidence.”

She uttered three words to the Xiao Family, concise yet sufficient to freeze their expressions.

Their eyes instantly turned cold, their gaze towards the outside of the courtyard filled with chilling coldness and undisguised hatred.

Meng Dongliang had just noticed the servants in the mansion hurrying and busying themselves with tidying the rooms. He couldn’t help but feel curious.

He casually asked, and upon learning that they were cleaning the rooms to receive the Crown Princess’ relatives, he immediately became restless.

He was about to become an Imperial Uncle; he couldn’t let other random people compete with him.

As soon as he stepped across the threshold, his eyes were as sharp as a hawk’s, scanning around, finally locking onto Old Master Xiao and Xiao Huaifeng without error.

His gaze pierced through the air, examining these two unfamiliar faces carefully. Then, a disdainful smile curled his lips. “Humph, where did you two stray dogs come from, daring to impersonate my niece’s close relatives?”

His words were full of arrogance and nobility. “I am her genuine uncle, and even the future Imperial Uncle. You dare to be so audacious as to impersonate us; you are simply courting death.”

After speaking, Meng Dongliang pointed at Old Master Xiao and Xiao Huaifeng, then turned his gaze to Meng Tingyue, his eyes full of admonition and warning.

“Niece, you must be careful not to be deceived by these people of unknown origin. I don’t know these two people, and they are not our relatives.”

His constant mentioning of being an Imperial Uncle, his words full of vulgarity, his demeanor frivolous, made him hard to look at.

This scene, in the eyes of Old Master Xiao and Xiao Huaifeng, made their faces even more gloomy.

Such a person of low character could actually live in the Crown Prince’s Mansion. How could this not arouse suspicion? Had he added many troubles for Tingyue?

It was probably because Tingyue was gentle and too tolerant.

Xiao Huaifeng snorted coldly, his tone filled with undeniable disdain, “I didn’t know that Tingyue had such a vulgar and uncouth relative.”

Meng Dongliang responded with arrogance, seemingly not taking Xiao Huaifeng seriously. “Humph, I am the younger brother of her father, her legitimate uncle. Who are you to dare to speak such nonsense?”

Xiao Huaifeng slowly said, “We are the Xiao Family.”

Hearing this, Meng Dongliang couldn’t help but sneer, his tone full of mockery. “The Xiao Family? This is hilarious! My niece is surnamed Meng. Where did the Xiao relatives come from?”

“We are her maternal relatives,” Xiao Huaifeng explained calmly.

“Don’t treat me like a naive child!” Meng Dongliang snorted coldly, his tone full of disdain. “Her mother is from the Jiang Family. What does she have to do with the Xiao Family…?”

Before he could finish, a crisp sound of shattering porcelain suddenly exploded in his ears.

A delicate teacup instantly shattered at his feet, startling him.

Meng Dongliang’s eyes widened, looking at the scattered porcelain pieces, and said sharply, “Niece, I am your own uncle. Do you want to beat me to death?”

Meng Tingyue’s face was grim and cold, her eyes full of frost. “I didn’t know when Jiang Qingrou became my mother?”

Seeing her anger, Meng Dongliang was stunned, his eyes flickering, as if he was thinking rapidly.

In an instant, a look of understanding flashed in his eyes, and he obviously realized his slip of the tongue.

“No, I misspoke… I meant… no, it’s Mu…”

With each word he uttered, Meng Tingyue’s face grew darker.

Not only Meng Tingyue, but also Old Master Xiao and Xiao Huaifeng had grim expressions.