Chapter 1077 – The Grief of the Meng Clan (Part 4)
The entire audience in the live stream was dumbfounded.
When had they ever seen Meng Zhan?
Jiang Pengji noticed the barrage of comments, her brows furrowing and lifting in curiosity.
Meng Zhan lived long in Cangzhou while she spent her years fighting.
She hadn’t even met Meng Zhan, so the viewers in the live stream could hardly have seen him either.
However, upon seeing the color of the comments, Jiang Pengji suddenly remembered something, and instantly realized.
The blue audience originally belonged to the stream of a time-traveling girl; while Jiang Pengji hadn’t met Meng Zhan, it didn’t mean the time-traveling girl hadn’t. Perhaps when the time-traveling girl encountered Meng Zhan, she was live streaming, so viewers from that world had seen him?
With a thought, Jiang Pengji figured this possibility was the most likely.
It turned out her guess was correct.
Not only that, through the comments from this viewer, she could somewhat infer why Meng Zhan valued the bastard son Meng Liang so greatly.
【Orange Lemon Candy】: So, uh— that was ancient history from a long time ago. Back then, I was a freshman in high school, and I accidentally stumbled into this live stream—ugh, not this host’s stream, the colorful one before—though the content was quite embarrassing, the viewership was high, with both the male and female leads being gorgeous, I’d watch it now and then to relieve my study stress—
This viewer rambled on about old stories for quite a while before getting to the point.
【Orange Lemon Candy】: I remember back then, a wealthy patron in the stream issued a task for the host to play a courtesan and seduce a noble son. The host initially aimed for Liu Zhi, but for some unknown reason, it switched to Meng Zhan. Honestly, I was quite impressed by Meng Zhan; not because of his high status or good looks, but simply because he was the first man to put the host in her place. True man!
Jiang Pengji was taken aback.
She had thought Meng Zhan was just a footman of the time-traveling girl, but it turned out he wasn’t. He had even rejected her!
Then what happened next?
The audience was aligned with Jiang Pengji’s curiosity, eagerly wanting to hear the rest of the gossip.
That viewer didn’t make them wait long, sending another comment shortly after.
【Orange Lemon Candy】: The host was also quite proud, how could a little fairy like her accept rejection from a mere mortal? They had a big fallout, and during their argument, the host accused Meng Zhan of having weak vitality and even called him a “heavenly eunuch.” Later, she even sent a young doctor to attack Meng Zhan. I remember Meng Zhan had a few warm bed maids serving him for years, and there were really no children—
Reading these comments, Jiang Pengji pieced together bits of the truth from back then.
If Meng Zhan indeed had weak vitality, it would be quite challenging for him to father a child, so it wasn’t without reason that he suspected the bloodlines of Meng Heng and Nie Xun.
You see, under the design of the time-traveling girl, on the eve of Gu Zhen’s marriage to Meng Zhan, their wedding procession was once ambushed by bandits.
Though reinforcements arrived just in time to rescue them, it was impossible for Meng Zhan not to feel a thorn in his heart.
Moreover, on their wedding night, Gu Zhen didn’t shed blood, seemingly reinforcing the fact that she had been defiled by the bandits.
Subsequently, Gu Zhen was found to be pregnant.
Calculating the timeline, it coincided perfectly with the time around their wedding night.
Meng Zhan was well aware of his physical issues; though he had the ability to conceive, the chances were exceedingly slim, making it too coincidental.
At this moment, the time-traveling girl created an illusion, making Meng Zhan witness a scene of Gu Zhen “trysting” with a servant—
If Meng Zhan could tolerate things up to this point, then Gu Zhen’s unwillingness to abort the child instead deepened Meng Zhan’s suspicions.
A series of combined blows led to Gu Zhen and Meng Zhan growing apart, making it seem only natural.
The time-traveling girl was messing with Gu Zhen, possibly for Gu Min’s sake, but also perhaps due to Meng Zhan.
After all, Meng Zhan had rejected the irresistible charms of the time-traveling girl and turned to marry Gu Min’s bastard sister. How could the time-traveling girl possibly let this slide?
If she didn’t stir up trouble, she wouldn’t rest easy.
With this thought, Jiang Pengji felt even more disgusted with the time-traveling girl; all of this had thrown her into a frenzy and benefitted that woman.
【Pffft Haha】: Ugh— weak vitality? It almost feels like Meng Zhan could keep sheep on his head!
【Orange Lemon Candy】: Weak vitality isn’t absolute infertility; it just means the chances of pregnancy are much lower than normal. This condition can still be improved through nurturing—so all in all, Meng Zhan still has hope of becoming a dad—
As it turned out, this viewer wasn’t wrong.
The time-traveling girl pointing out Meng Zhan’s physical flaw led him to consult doctors, seeking ways to improve his health.
Though it wasn’t on par with a normal person, repeated encounters could still yield his own children.
That child of Meng Zhan’s bastard son came about in just such a manner.
After Gu Zhen lost favor, the women in Meng Zhan’s household multiplied significantly, with each one’s movements being strictly monitored to eliminate the possibility of cuckolding.
Over the years, only the concubine and Gu Zhen became pregnant, giving birth to the later Meng Liang and Nie Xun.
Meng Zhan didn’t believe that Gu Zhen’s child was his.
First, Gu Zhen was quite unfit back then; his own condition was also such that their chances of conception were minimal.
Secondly, under the influence of the time-traveling girl, he saw Gu Zhen mingling with the young servant, deepening his hatred for Gu Zhen.
Had it not been for the Liu and Gu families’ reputation, Meng Zhan would have long since ended Gu Zhen’s life, rather than leaving her breathing.
As the live stream buzzed with excitement over the gossip, Jiang Pengji lowered her gaze, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.
Meng Zhan had plotted against her not long ago; if she didn’t return the favor, wouldn’t that be too generous to this old scoundrel?
In this era, there was a customary practice of sparing those who surrendered; Meng Zhan surrendered to Huang Song, and logically, Huang Song shouldn’t want his life.
However, Jiang Pengji cared little for that!
Jiang Pengji was exceptionally tough; Huang Song might not know her thoroughly but understood her enough. Thus, after accepting Meng Zhan’s surrender, he didn’t let him go but instead imprisoned him. The rest of the Meng clan were downgraded to commoners, closely monitored—
“I’ve heard Meng County is incredibly wealthy, but now seeing it, it seems the name doesn’t match the reality.”
Though imprisoned, the cell was clean and tidy, with bedding exuding a scent of sunlight.
With three meals a day, Meng Zhan’s life was still quite decent.
Even though he had surrendered Meng County, Meng Zhan still held too many secrets in his mind that Huang Song needed to know, compelling him to engage with this man.
The more they interacted, the more curious Huang Song grew—
Meng Zhan was clearly a cunning old fox; why did he behave so recklessly?
If he had softened towards Jiang Pengji, while Meng Zhan might not retain his former glory, ensuring the continuation of the Meng clan would have been no problem.
But now it had turned out well, step by step sinking into a trap, losing all his cards.
Meng Zhan sneered, “Governor Huang, you truly reap the benefits while pretending to be virtuous— as for ambition, I’m not your match— in appetite, I’m even more self-deprecating.”
Meng Zhan’s face was marked with fatigue, looking much older than his actual age.
His eye sockets were sunken, heavy bags under his eyes, and a pair of gloomy orbs that looked ghostly, unsettling whoever gazed upon them.
Huang Song chuckled, “Meng Old Sir, you’ve got it wrong— while yam may be good, it’s also scalding hot— Lan Ting’s temper flares easily; having suffered a huge loss this time, she will not let it go easily. You’ve fulfilled your aspirations, but I must bear all her wrath. This deal may not be so profitable—”
