Chapter 142 – Young Master, This Is Quite Dangerous!
This tiny box, no larger than a fingernail, was filled not just with the powdered ingredients previously ground to perfection, but also mixed in with other potent spices that would leave one parched, raise skin temperature, and induce hallucinations—akin to the legendary aphrodisiac!
Tsk, tsk! Despite the mediocre technology of this era, such reproductive-related products were surprisingly well-developed.
Wiping off the powdered residue with a napkin, Jiang Pengji sealed the box again and asked, “Is this all there is?”
Seeing her expression was normal and her gaze clear, the Old Steward couldn’t help but let out a small sigh of relief.
Thinking of the young servant’s report, his old face flushed with embarrassment. “Of course there’s more, but there are other… rather absurd and improper items. However, to avoid sullying Young Master’s ears and alerting the snake in the grass, I kept those out of sight.”
Jiang Pengji raised an eyebrow, guessing what the Old Steward referred to as “absurd and improper items,” likely some scandalous little toys.
Don’t think just because she had been single for years that she was completely clueless.
“Mention this to Father; he should know what to do. That Meng Liang is no good—bringing such things into Liu Residence. Who knows what ill intentions he might have?” She said, tucking the box into her purse.
The Old Steward had intended to reach out and take the item, but found his hand frozen halfway: “…”
Because Meng Liang was the Stepmother’s “son” and had entered the household as the Stepmother’s niece’s son, he had the perfect excuse to dine with her under the guise of “filial piety.” Seeing the elegant woman sitting at the head of the table, she was undoubtedly parched.
This was his father’s former lawful wife and his so-called “biological mother,” two taboo identities that made him feel exhilarated; just thinking about it sent shivers down his spine, but here in the Liu Residence, he dared not act rashly.
Compared to being aggressive, he preferred to be coy and indirect; it added to the intrigue.
Just the thought that the Lady of Liu Residence became his woman while everyone else remained clueless brought a smile to his face.
The Stepmother sat at the head, casting cold eyes at the demure “wife” who bowed her head slightly, a wave of nausea washing over her.
“What are you so happy about?”
She dropped her chopsticks, and seeing such an aggravating person, it was a miracle her appetite held.
Meng Liang came back to his senses, tucking away that fleeting thought in his heart, respectful as he replied, “While at Meng Residence, I was always dreaming of reuniting with you, Mother. Day and night, I longed for this moment, and now that it has come to fruition, I can hardly contain my joy… please excuse my rudeness.”
Tsk, this boy could talk just like his father, but who didn’t know the color of his true intentions?
The Stepmother was disgusted but maintained her indifferent demeanor, “You must have suffered a lot.”
“Now that Mother is in good health, no amount of suffering feels burdensome, everything is worth it.”
In a normal mother-son relationship, if a mother heard such words, she would at least feel comforted, if not moved. However, just thinking about the child she had painstakingly carried, the son with the birthmark on his forehead being overshadowed by this concubine’s brat, enjoying the privileged status of a legitimate child of the Meng Clan, while her own son had died at the hands of that wretched woman, nameless after death—made her heart burn with hatred.
Each time she thought of this, a flame of vengeance roared within her, edging her sanity to the brink of collapse.
In a foul mood, the Stepmother found an excuse to send Meng Liang away, and he was too cowed to disobey.
Yet, while he couldn’t vent his anger on the Stepmother, did he not have the right to unleash it on the young servant by his side?
That young servant, favored by Meng Liang, still lived quite comfortably, and certainly had his methods to placate Meng Liang.
“For Young Master to hit a servant is an honor,” the young servant said as he received a few slaps to the face, his cheeks quickly swelling—a stark contrast against his fair skin, making the marks quite obvious. “But if others were to see, mistaking it for something else, wouldn’t that be my fault? Please calm down; once we’re inside, you can scold me however you wish—just don’t hurt your hand.”
Meng Liang snorted in frustration, storming into the room and plopping down, gulping down two cups of tea.
The young servant knew Meng Liang well; once he displayed such demeanor, it was clear he had suffered somewhere.
“Hmph! What a cold-hearted, unfeeling woman! No wonder Father hated her so deeply!”
Recalling the Stepmother’s apathetic attitude over the years, Meng Liang felt a surge of anger. He had never shown such filial piety towards his own biological mother, yet this woman dared to act aloof, dismissing him so quickly—it was humiliating.
The young servant thought for a moment and said, “Young Master, don’t be upset. She raised you under the Lord’s care; it’s natural that she doesn’t feel close to you.”
“What can I do then? She’s always on guard, refusing to drink the porridge I send her… won’t even let me near her…”
After pondering, the young servant suggested, “In my opinion, Young Master could take a roundabout approach. She lost favor soon after giving birth, and then remarried Liu Zhongqing, showering affection on her son. This surely means her motherly instincts still exist. Why not draw closer to Young Master Liu? If you win his affection, the Stepmother’s attitude will certainly soften.”
Meng Liang looked up, suspiciously eyeing the young servant, “You, oh wise advisor, do you really think this will work?”
The young servant sighed in relief, “Why not give it a try? If it doesn’t pan out, you can still hold me accountable. After all, you’re her ‘real son’—no matter how cold she acts, she will still consider you in her heart. Moreover, Young Master Liu is the legitimate son born of Liu Zhongqing’s first wife. If she were to have another child, then he would surely rank lower!”
Seeing Meng Liang’s expression soften a bit, the young servant added fuel to the fire, “In other words, no matter how much she dotes on Young Master Liu, who knows how much she despises him deep down? Yet you two, despite your distance, are still blood-related ‘mother and son.’”
After some reflection, Meng Liang found some logic in it.
“Fine, let’s give this a try. If it flops, mind your own skin.”
The young servant smiled and flattered him, secretly relieved.
He thought he was cleverly shifting the focus, entirely unaware that he was dancing to Jiang Pengji’s tune. She had already dug numerous pits waiting for Meng Liang to jump in, planning to squeeze out every last bit of his worth before making sure he vanished without a trace.
That night, a few shadows stealthily entered the farmstead.
One of them spotted a neatly stacked pile in the kitchen corner and approached for a closer look—several blankets, a few warm clothes, and some medicinal herbs for treating colds and healing wounds. It startled him, “Captain, this…”
