CHAPTER 629: 242 A PIGEON OCCUPIES A MAGPIE’S NEST_2

Leng Baiwei traveled the world in her later years, and no one ever knew her whereabouts again. Some rumors said she had secluded herself in Queshan, but alas, Queshan is enveloped in miasma year-round, and no one can set foot there.

Mei Qingdai gently stroked her lower abdomen with one hand.

She had been married into the Yu family for ten years, yet she hadn’t borne a child. The old matriarch was worried, but she was even more anxious herself. In private, she had sought countless miracle doctors and remedies, but none had any effect.

Thank goodness she was her grandmother’s family by blood; otherwise, being childless after ten years of marriage would’ve gotten her kicked out long ago.

At least her grandmother still favored the Mei family.

"Grandmother, are you sure this person is Leng Baiwei’s heir? Surely they’re not just another fraud?" Over the past decade, she’d encountered enough of those.

Mei Lvge replied indifferently, "If you don’t trust them, then stop wasting your time and carry on with whatever it is you need to do."

"No, Grandmother, of course I trust them. I’ll meet them. I’ll definitely meet them tomorrow."

Mei Qingdai no longer cared about Mei Junzhe and Yu Ruohuan; her entire mind was consumed by the thought of whether she could ever conceive a child.

She’d consulted countless "miracle doctors" before, all to no avail. She even tried IVF – the transplant had succeeded, but at three months, the baby didn’t make it. She miscarried.

It was a boy.

Mei Qingdai glanced covertly at the elderly matriarch in front of her, holding a string of Buddha Beads and wearing a façade of "benevolence." At ninety years old, she was still remarkably spirited, with sharp speech and clear logic. The key was, she didn’t look ninety at all.

A sudden thought popped into Mei Qingdai’s mind: "Old witch."

She remembered years ago, when she had gone to offer incense at Chaning Temple and had seen a fortune-teller setting up a stall at the foot of the mountain. A haggard-looking middle-aged woman had approached the fortune-teller, complaining that she had been married into her husband’s family for over a decade yet had no children. Despite seeking numerous medical treatments, none succeeded, leaving her utterly hopeless. She asked the fortune-teller to check if she would ever have any descendants.

At the time, Mei Qingdai had just been married and didn’t yet know she would one day face the same issue. Hearing that, she had merely thought that the woman must have had an unbearable life in her husband’s household.

Out of curiosity, she stopped and watched.

The fortune-teller asked the woman to report her birth date and time, then began calculating by pinching his knuckles and studying her facial features.

"Does your family have any elderly in their twilight years?"

The woman didn’t understand: "Twilight what?"

"Elderly with long life spans."

"My husband’s grandmother is ninety-five this year."

"That explains it. Longevity in elders suppresses offspring. Just hang in there and wait a bit longer."

Wait for what? The fortune-teller didn’t elaborate, but both parties understood clearly.

At the time, Mei Qingdai sneered inwardly. A proper fortune-teller indeed – throwing out bogus nonsense with such conviction.

As the saying goes, "An elder at home is a treasure." Having elderly longevity is naturally a blessing, a joyous thing. How could it possibly suppress offspring?

But at this moment, staring at the elder before her, she couldn’t help but recall that scene from years ago at the Chaning Temple foothill.

She had no children. Could it be that her grandmother was suppressing her offspring?

Even if she had children, they wouldn’t survive.

Or was it the Feng Shui of the Yu family that was amiss?

Mei Qingdai didn’t dare think further. Hastily, she made her excuses and left the prayer room.

Lady Mei also excused herself and left.

Mei Lvge remained sitting alone, her Buddha Beads sliding slowly through her fingers.

"Such a useless thing."

"Yue."

A plainly dressed housemaid in her forties stepped forward and bowed respectfully, "Madam."

"Any word from over there?"

The maid shook her head. "None."

Mei Lvge’s brow furrowed tightly, her fingers gripping the Buddha Beads firmly. "How could this be?"

"Madam, please don’t worry. Good things don’t fear delays. Perhaps, in a few more days, there will be good news."

Mei Lvge said slowly, "Since we can’t rely on the second, we’ll have to look to the first."

The maid’s brow twitched slightly. "As for the elder madam..."

Mei Lvge snorted coldly. "Ignore her. After causing such disgraceful trouble, what face does she have to meddle further? But Yao Huixing’s grandson did surprise me. He matches well with our Huanhuan. It’s a proper match."

Being publicly rejected – what’s the big deal? Back when I climbed from the bottom of society as a lowly actress to where I am today, I never relied on so-called dignity or pride. Extraordinary situations call for extraordinary measures. A little ridicule doesn’t take a piece out of me; it only proves their envy.

Wei Zhuhua’s drama conveniently tested the Gu family’s attitude, yet this granddaughter-in-law of mine is still too soft-hearted, leaving the Gu family room to fight back.

"Where’s Huanhuan?"

The maid answered cautiously, "The eldest miss... she went to the Silent Garden."

Mei Lvge’s gaze darkened slightly, the corners of her lips curling faintly. She spoke leisurely, "And how is she?"