SGEIRS -Chapter 10 She Has Her Own Intentions

Weirui Pavilion.

When the servants in the courtyard saw Meng Jinyao return from Old Madam Gu’s place with only her personal maid by her side—and without the Marquis accompanying her—their gazes toward her subtly changed.

After all, she was the one who had forced the Marquis to marry her, causing him to lose face and become the subject of ridicule. How could he possibly care about the culprit behind it all?

She was merely the daughter of a fallen noble family. Relying on a marriage arrangement made in the previous generation, being able to marry the heir was already a great honor. When the heir fled from the marriage, the Marquis’ household still held the wedding as scheduled and welcomed her in—that alone was giving her face.

Who would have thought she would stir up trouble and do something so shocking? Instead of marrying the heir, she shamelessly married the Marquis himself. Who knew if she had done it to take revenge on the heir—choosing not to be his wife, but directly becoming his mother instead?

The heir certainly had his faults, but marrying her former prospective father-in-law was absurd to the extreme. If she didn’t want to marry the heir, she could have married the second or fourth young master instead.

As soon as she entered the room, Ningdong couldn’t help complaining, “Madam, they saluted you, but there wasn’t much respect on their faces. You’re the mistress, and they’re just maids. You’re being too kind to them. Why did you stop me from scolding them just now?”

Meng Jinyao replied, “They weren’t very respectful, but they didn’t actually do anything wrong. Now is not the time to make an example of them.”

Ningdong was puzzled. “Then when will it be?”

Meng Jinyao smiled faintly. “You’ll know when the Marquis comes back.”

Hearing this, Ningdong felt heartbroken. Before marriage, her young lady had lived carefully under her stepmother’s control. After marriage, she still had to mind others’ expressions.

Not long after, Gu Jingxi returned from Shou’an Hall. As soon as he entered, he saw his newlywed wife resting her chin on her hand, wearing a troubled expression. Remembering his mother’s advice, he fulfilled his duty as a husband and asked, “Madam, are you having any difficulties? Since you’ve married into this family, you’re now part of the Gu family. If there’s any problem, we won’t stand by and do nothing.”

Meng Jinyao lifted her head at his words, glanced around the room, and replied cautiously, “It’s nothing. I just feel that the furnishings in your room are rather plain.”

Gu Jingxi immediately caught her meaning. “If you think it’s too plain, you may redecorate it according to your preferences,” he said, then added, “I have no particular requirements.”

She asked again, “Then is there anywhere in this courtyard that I’m not allowed to go?”

Without hesitation, Gu Jingxi replied, “You are the mistress of Weirui Pavilion. You may go to every corner of this courtyard.”

Only then did a trace of a smile appear on Meng Jinyao’s face. Pushing her luck, she continued, “What about the maids in the courtyard? If they make mistakes, how should they be dealt with?”

Gu Jingxi was slightly taken aback and guessed that some maid must have offended her. Looking at his clever-eyed little wife, he found her quite interesting—smart and perceptive.

She was clearly bold enough to act first and report later, yet she still came to test his attitude. If his answer satisfied her, things would be easy. If not, she would surely find a way to make it satisfy her anyway.

In any case, she wanted his approval first, so she could act without worries. Even if she handled something improperly later, he wouldn’t be in a position to criticize her. This showed how steady and calculating she was—step by step, always cautious. At the same age, she was far more capable than his unfilial son.

He smiled and said, “Even if Xiuming makes a mistake, you, as his mother, may punish him. Let alone a maid. If any maid does something wrong, you may deal with her as you see fit.”