Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 819 - 655: Mrs. Ke’s Origins

She and Doctor Li would soon return to Jingyuan Prefecture and wouldn’t be able to help their niece much, so they only let Chichi help with whatever little tasks he could do.

"Then I’ll come here to get my medicine in the future." Yao Mengxian didn’t actually intend to ask the clinic for help; she just wanted to support her uncle’s apprentice’s business.

"Aunt just mentioned that Doctor Gu’s brother works as an official in the court, is it Mr. Gu Jinyu?"

Yao Mengxian suddenly remembered that Doctor Li’s apprentice had the surname Gu, and considering Doctor Gu wasn’t very old, it was likely that the young official she was thinking of was Gu Chengyu.

"That’s him, why? Do you know him?" Mrs. Yao found it somewhat strange, but as soon as she spoke, she realized.

"Could it be that his teacher is your maternal grandfather, Chief Minister Liang?"

After settling in Shangling Village, Mrs. Yao and Doctor Li hadn’t left much. Later, they heard that Gu Chengyu apprenticed with a Great Scholar from the Capital, but they hadn’t paid much attention.

They also didn’t know that Liang Zhirui had once taught at the Prefecture School in Jingyuan Prefecture. The world is vast, yet sometimes unexpectedly small.

"Grandfather hasn’t been the Grand Secretary for a long time now," Yao Mengxian replied forlornly.

"Alas! I heard about this after coming to the Capital. Now the Grand Secretary position has gone to Xia Qing."

Mrs. Yao was also filled with emotion, no wonder her niece was having a hard time in the Duke Mansion.

If Old Master Liang were still the Grand Secretary, how could those people in the Duke Mansion dare to bully her?

She looked at her niece’s delicate brows and eyes and suddenly had an idea.

"That Gu Chengyu is indeed capable. Although his background isn’t very distinguished, he’s already a Standard Sixth Rank at such a young age. His future prospects shouldn’t be bad."

Her eyes were fixed on Yao Mengxian’s face, and she began to make plans in her heart.

"Grandfather often praises Mr. Gu’s capability and honesty. He’s also extremely filial to them."

Speaking of Gu Chengyu’s character, Yao Mengxian couldn’t help but nod in approval.

Her grandfather considered it a great fortune to have such an excellent student.

With Gu Chengyu, she didn’t worry too much about her grandfather and grandmother’s future life.

People often say raising sons prevents loneliness in old age. Her grandfather’s family only had an aunt left, and she had been quite worried about them.

But now, with Gu Chengyu, "once a teacher, always a father," her grandfather and grandmother’s later years had found some reliance.

As for her, she laughed at herself.

A young lady who could only rely on her maternal family to protect herself would drift like duckweed on the stormy waters for the rest of her life. Her maternal family couldn’t depend on her.

"Is your stepmother from the Capital?" Mrs. Yao recalled her niece’s stepmother and wondered who her brother had married later on.

"My stepmother is from Sunan Prefecture, originally from a renowned family though now fallen somewhat. My stepmother’s branch of the family is a side branch, and her next generation has already fallen out of the family’s protective circle."

Yao Mengxian spoke a few words about Mrs. Ke’s background, her expression somewhat awkward.

"What? How could Father agree to this marriage? Can Mrs. Ke still be counted as from a noble family? That might have held true a hundred years ago, but what’s left of the Ke Family today? Besides, your stepmother’s lineage is a side branch; if they’ve fallen out of the protective circle, they’re no different from ordinary families."

Mrs. Yao was utterly stunned; how could such a background suit the role of the primary Lady of the Clan in the Duke Mansion? Saying that the Ke Family was thriving was all past glories of the previous dynasty, and things had long since changed.

Even if just a second wife, how could a girl from such a family take on such an important duty?

"My stepmother’s elder brother currently serves as the Deputy in Tianjing Prefecture. Their family is related through marriage to Mr. Ma, the Left Vice Minister of the Dali Temple’s family in the Capital. My stepmother’s niece is now the wife of Mr. Ma’s second son born of a concubine."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Yao understood. This must have been arranged by the Ma Family.

Being neighbors, Sunan Prefecture and Yingnan Mansion were both far from the Capital, and without the Ma Family’s matchmaking, how would her brother have married Mrs. Ke?

Yet, a background like that was truly unimpressive, no wonder Mrs. Ke made things difficult for her niece.

After all, coming from a small family, her guidance for a daughter’s conduct was surely lacking.

In any well-regarded family, even a second wife wouldn’t oppress the legitimate daughter left behind by the first wife; face matters after all.

With Mrs. Ke’s background, it’s not surprising she made things difficult for her niece. Her brother probably married her for her looks; Mrs. Ke is likely a beauty.

"Does your stepmother have any children?" Mrs. Yao was no longer interested in why her brother married Mrs. Ke since it was done. What mattered now was if Mrs. Ke had given birth to any sons.

If she had, and had ambitions she shouldn’t, that would be troublesome.

"A few years ago, my stepmother lost a child, and it harmed her health, so she didn’t have any other children until two months ago when she found out she was pregnant."

While Yao Mengxian’s face remained calm as she spoke, her feelings were tumultuous inside.

This child had appeared in her dreams, and when the child was born, her life would become more challenging.

It was going to be a boy, and her older brother and sister-in-law would do anything behind the scenes to harm her for the sake of inheriting the title.

Her mother had passed, and she and her brother should have been relying on each other, but her brother and sister-in-law didn’t think so.

"You should warn your brother to be very cautious. He’s a man, ultimately unable to manage the inner quarters, and you and your sister-in-law should work together in resistance."

Mrs. Yao spoke with a face full of worry, lamenting how the Liang Family had left a pair of children to suffer in the world.

Yao Mengxian’s lips moved, but she ultimately said nothing.

The mistress wanted to keep it under wraps, but Lianxin and Mrs. Gao were indignant.

"How could the young master need reminding? He never asked how you’ve been since you’ve had a tough time in the mansion, yet plotted a lot behind your back, always currying favor with the first wife," Mrs. Gao fumed.

"Mrs. Gao!" Yao Mengxian frowned and scolded. Why say things that would worry Aunt?

"Mrs. Gao is right, miss! The servant and Mrs. Gao couldn’t hold it in today. Even if you punish us, we accept it. In the Liang Mansion, you were worried about upsetting Old Master Liang, so you only reported the good news, not the bad. But even now, facing your grand aunt, you’re still hiding it. Holding it in will only make you sick. Didn’t Mr. Li say so? Miss carries a heavy heart, keeping everything inside; how could your body be healthy?"

Lianxin rattled off her mistress’s grievances and even shed tears, causing Yao Mengxian to sigh helplessly.

She knew Mrs. Gao and the others sought justice for her, and looking at their sadness, she couldn’t bring herself to reprimand them.

"What? Your brother treats you poorly?" Mrs. Yao was truly surprised; these were blood siblings!

"My brother is a man and isn’t involved with the inner quarters’ affairs. I have an independent nature and am not close to my sister-in-law, so it’s only expected she wouldn’t help me."