Chapter 1031 – Everyone’s Calculations (Part Seven)
The Lady/Wife placed her bowl down in confusion, murmuring, “Leave?”
Meng Heng let out a deep sigh, enveloping his wife’s hands in his large, warm palms, providing her a sense of reassurance.
“Cangzhou isn’t a place to linger for long. I’ve urged my father several times to concede, at least to spare the Common People of Cangzhou from the ravages of war—but—” a faint bitterness crept into Meng Heng’s smile, “my father no longer sees the Common People. Cangzhou is bound to suffer the flames of war. Huang Song is manageable, but with cousin Xi involved, Cangzhou has no chance at all—”
His wife pressed her lips tightly together, her gaze clouded with uncertainty about the future.
“Cousin Xi? You mention her often. Since you’re relatives, why can’t you speak to her calmly?”
Meng Heng chuckled wryly, gently stroking his wife’s hair as he sighed heavily.
“It’s not that simple, Zhao Di—don’t say she’s just a cousin. Even blood relatives can crumble before the world.” Meng Heng said, “My father’s stubbornness will inevitably bring disaster to all the Common People of Cangzhou, leading to slaughter.”
If the Cangzhou Meng Clan still carried the grace of their ancestors, Meng Heng wouldn’t have had to persuade his father to yield to others.
The current Meng Clan has already lost the support of the people; they can’t last much longer.
His wife turned to fetch her cosmetics box, the bottom layer hiding the family’s meager savings.
“But there are only thirty taels here— amidst all this chaos outside, where can we go?”
Meng Heng looked at the broken silver, then at his wife’s cautious demeanor, his heart twisted in pain.
He repressed his feelings and spoke solemnly, “Spend fifteen taels on nurturing you and ensuring the baby is safe. The remaining fifteen will go toward preparing a carriage, rations, and water bags. We will head to Han Chang Pass. Once we’re through, we will make for Hede County, where we’ll settle temporarily—”
His wife’s eyes went wide in shock, her hands trembling around the cosmetics box.
“Young Master, isn’t that place embroiled in battle?”
“Exactly because it’s at war that we must go there. Our savings won’t last to even Hejian County, let alone Wanzhou or Chongzhou.” Meng Heng said, “Huang Song has allied with cousin Xi and is assisting her in delaying the Meng Clan’s forces. With the northern front’s battles settled, Huang Song will soon be restless and write to cousin Xi for help. We don’t need to venture far; we just need to wait in Hede County.”
His wife felt uncertain, but she was used to being obedient, so she would do as Meng Heng said.
Seeing his wife’s slightly bulging belly, Meng Heng felt a sudden swell of realization.
If it weren’t for the lack of trustworthy people in Cangzhou, he would prefer not to take his wife through a war zone; the risks were too great.
Meng Heng, though the sole son of Meng Zhan, held a very awkward position within the Meng Clan, even falling beneath the favored side branch’s bastard sons.
Years ago, the elders of the Meng Clan had treated him decently.
But as time progressed, Meng Zhan’s oppression of him grew heavier, and seeing this, the elders of the Meng Clan started considering replacements for the direct lineage.
His wife, by rights, should be a lady of the Meng Clan.
Yet Meng Zhan was unwilling to arrange a marriage for him, leading to him marrying at twenty-three, which was only possible because the clan elders couldn’t bear to watch any longer and stepped in. They were wed, but the wife’s origins were quite dubious—a daughter from a fallen gentry’s side branch—
That’s the nicer way to put it; the harsher truth was that his wife was nothing more than a butcher’s daughter.
Gentry came in all ranks.
Prominent gentry could manipulate the winds and clouds, while the fallen would fare worse than the Common People; aside from having a respectable ancestor, there was almost nothing left. Meng Heng’s wife came from such a fallen branch; his grandfather had taken up butchery out of necessity, abandoning his dignity.
Without the family tree, his wife’s family was no different from ordinary peasants.
Meng Heng didn’t look down on his wife’s origins, but there was no denying that this marriage was indeed a humiliation to him by the Meng Clan.
He tolerated all this.
Now reflecting on it, he felt overwhelming guilt.
No matter how things were in the past, Zhao Di was already his wife; he had the responsibility and obligation to ensure her well-being. Yet, what happened instead?
Fortunately, it was not too late to awaken to reality.
Meng Zhan was not a good father, but he could not be an irresponsible husband and father.
Living in a remote area, they had little to pack, so it was easy to prepare.
Meng Heng personally drove the carriage away from Cangzhou Meng County with his wife. It was only when they reached the edge of Meng County that Meng Zhan learned of their departure.
His subordinates waited anxiously, fearing Meng Zhan’s wrath.
“You mean—he took that lowly woman and left Meng County for Han Chang Pass?” Meng Zhan asked coldly with a smirk.
His subordinate was sweating, nervously trying to ascertain, “Should I send someone to bring Young Master back?”
Meng Zhan shot a cold glance at the subordinate, his eyes dark with warning.
“When did it become your place to make decisions for me?” Meng Zhan scoffed, cruelly declaring, “Since he doesn’t acknowledge me as his father, I’ll act like he doesn’t exist. Send word to the elders—hold a family meeting and remove him from the clan—”
The subordinate’s eyes went wide in shock.
Under any circumstances, Meng Heng was still the direct descendant. Historically, how could one remove a direct descendant from the family record?
Seeing the subordinate’s thoughts, Meng Zhan laughed cruelly, “Direct descendant? Just look at his disgraceful butcher’s wife! Can the Meng Clan’s lady be a woman of her caliber? Since he has abandoned the Meng Clan, then let it be—oh, and send someone after him, but also relay this message—once he leaves the Meng Clan, don’t come back. He’s no longer worthy of the Meng surname, so strip him of it!”
The subordinate replied, “Understood!”
To ensure safety, Meng Heng tried to stick to the main roads and moved slowly to care for his wife.
With only three days left to Han Chang Pass, the soldiers dispatched by the Meng Clan caught up with Meng Heng, bringing along Meng Zhan’s message.
Meng Heng turned pale as he listened, the blood drained from his lips.
The left eyelid, which should have been healing, throbbed painfully, the scenery before him flickering. He nearly lost his footing.
“Young Master—you’d best return and yield to the clan leader—there can’t be overnight grudges between father and son.”
His subordinate watched Meng Heng’s ghostly face, feeling remorseful.
Meng Heng’s talent was among the best of his peers.
If any family had such a promising heir, they would already be overjoyed, yet their family leader was a peculiar case.
Meng Zhan felt no pride nor honor, instead taking Meng Heng as a shameful burden, regularly scolding and suppressing him.
This was not the bond of a father and son, but clearly the hatred of adversaries!
“There is no overnight grudge between father and son—but what if they are not father and son?” Meng Heng forced a bitter smile, holding back the tears welling in his eyes. With a grim tone, he said, “Allow me to bow one last time… for over twenty years of nurturing and care, I will definitely repay every kindness if given the chance!”
Meng Heng knelt towards Cangzhou Meng County, heavily bowing three times until his forehead turned red and bruised.
The subordinate sighed as he watched Meng Heng stagger to his feet.
“Young Master! With the ongoing chaos ahead, you should really change your route for safety.”
But Meng Heng replied, “No—life and death are in fate—”
