SGEIRS -Chapter 126 What Does He Mean?

Gu Jingxi saw the young lady smiling brightly, her eyes curved like crescent moons, and a clear, sparkling light dancing in her lively gaze. His lips lifted slightly, and in a gentle voice he said, “Madam, I still have some matters to attend to. You play on your own.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao almost rolled her eyes at him. What a thing to say—it’s as if he would actually stay and play with her.

Though her heart was thinking that, her words remained soft and considerate: “Since husband still has matters to attend to, you should go first. Will you be back for lunch? If you are, I’ll instruct the kitchen to prepare two dishes you love.”

Gu Jingxi thought for a moment and replied, “I won’t have time to return for lunch. Madam need not wait for me.”

After saying this, seeing the young lady opening her mouth to speak, he added, “I’ll return early in the evening to have dinner with you.”

Meng Jinyao: “….”

It wasn’t necessary for him to specifically come back early for dinner; she could eat alone. She just didn’t say that aloud to avoid spoiling the mood.

After Gu Jingxi left, she instructed Qingqiu to bring over the unfinished account books. Some accounts were reconciled monthly, some quarterly, and those far outside the capital were checked only once a year.

Looking at the thick stack of books, Meng Jinyao let out a soft sigh: “Luckily, I’m clear-headed today and didn’t give myself trouble.”

Qingqiu asked, puzzled, “Madam, what is it?”

Meng Jinyao nodded toward the stack of books and replied, “Luckily, I didn’t agree to manage the inner household accounts. Otherwise, I’d already be busy enough that even looking at these accounts would give me a headache. Once in charge of the accounts, it would be several times more troublesome—much more headache-inducing.”

Qingqiu smiled: “Madam, probably only you would refuse such a good opportunity. Anyone else would jump at it. Such troubles are hard to come by, even if one wanted them.”

Meng Jinyao waved it off: “Exactly. I’ll leave these troubles to those who like them.”

Qingqiu, still concerned, said, “Even so, once the family is divided, you’ll have to take over. Without experience, wouldn’t that be chaotic?”

“Am I not gaining experience now?”

Meng Jinyao gently tapped the account books on her left, then added, “As for the banquets, I’ll learn when there’s a gathering at the residence, by observing my eldest and second sisters-in-law. As for gifts to relatives and friends during festivals, there are records of gift lists I can reference. No need to worry. For now, let me enjoy a little leisure.”

Qingqiu paused briefly, then said, “I completely forgot about that.”

Afternoon, You hour.

Gu Jingxi returned from outside.

At this time, Meng Jinyao had just finished reconciling all the accounts. She twisted her neck, stretched, and was about to lie down for a rest when the figure, graceful as orchid and jade, appeared in her sight.

She called softly, “Husband, you’re back.”

Gu Jingxi nodded lightly, stepped toward her, and said gently, “Madam, give me the key to the storeroom.”

Meng Jinyao was momentarily startled, then asked, “Do you need to look for something, husband?”

Gu Jingxi nodded: “I need to fetch a painting or calligraphy work.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao did not ask further. She replied softly, “I’ve rearranged the calligraphy and paintings in the storeroom. I’ll have Ningdong help you find it.” She then went to get the key and instructed Ningdong to assist.

Ningdong took the key and followed Gu Jingxi to the storeroom. The calligraphy and paintings had been categorized by Ningdong according to type.

After asking what kind of work Gu Jingxi wanted, Ningdong quickly found it for him.

Gu Jingxi took the artwork and was about to leave the storeroom when his gaze accidentally fell on an inconspicuous corner, where he saw a familiar-looking redwood box. His eyes paused.

Then, he stepped over and, upon seeing the box fully, recognized it as the one the young lady had shown him a few days ago. Inside was a custom set of white mutton-fat jade hair ornaments.

Ningdong, seeing this, assumed he was looking for something else and stepped after him. She hadn’t expected to see this redwood box, and froze, secretly cursing her luck.

Quickly, she regained composure. Afraid he would become nostalgic and think of another young lady, forgetting their master, she hurried to distract him: “My lord, do you need anything else? I can fetch it for you.”

“No need. I only needed a piece of calligraphy, and now I’ve found it.”

After saying this, Gu Jingxi glanced at the redwood box, hesitated for a moment, then bent down, picked up the box, and took it with him.

Ningdong’s eyes widened. She stared at the redwood box, her mind momentarily blank.

If she remembered correctly, this was the box containing the mutton-fat jade hair ornaments. The lord might have intended to gift them to his beloved, but for some reason, never did, leaving them stored away in the storeroom without being recorded.

Now the lord was taking them—what could this mean?

By the time she came to her senses, Gu Jingxi had already walked away. She hurried to follow, locking the storeroom door behind her, her thoughts in a whirl. Seeing him enter Weirui Pavilion’s study, she quickly went to the main residence to find her master.

After entering, Ningdong closed the door.

Qingqiu, puzzled, asked, “Ningdong, why did you close the door for no reason?”

Ningdong didn’t answer but instead asked, “Qingqiu, where did Madam go?”

“She just lay down not long ago.”

Qingqiu said this while glancing toward the windowed couch.

On the couch lay the beautiful young lady, feigning sleep. Hearing the commotion, she slowly opened her eyes, propped her head with her hand, and looked toward them.

Seeing this, Ningdong hurried over and lowered her voice: “Madam, something bad has happened.”

Meng Jinyao, noticing her furrowed brow and serious expression, thought something major had occurred. She immediately sat up and asked anxiously: “Ningdong, what happened?”

Qingqiu also looked at Ningdong with concern.

Ningdong frowned: “Madam, just now when I went to find a piece of calligraphy for the lord, guess what happened?”

Meng Jinyao was slightly stunned, then shook her head, her eyes questioning as she smiled: “What could happen in the storeroom? Could it be that the calligraphy the lord wanted was gnawed by mice?”

Ningdong snorted: “I wish the calligraphy had been gnawed by mice.”

“What is it then?” Meng Jinyao saw anger brewing between her brows and asked gently, “Did the lord trouble you? If so, I’ll talk to him. You belong to me. Even if you make a mistake, I should deal with it. He has no right to interfere.”

Ningdong shook her head and said, “Madam, do you remember the set of hair ornaments made of white mutton-fat jade?”

Meng Jinyao was taken aback and asked, “Of course I remember. What about them?”

Recalling what had just happened made Ningdong angry. She grit her teeth and said in irritation: “Just now in the storeroom, the lord saw that set tucked in the corner, and he took it. Then I saw the lord go to the study—the Weirui Pavilion study. That set of hair ornaments should have been taken there as well.”

As she finished, Meng Jinyao froze again, her expression unreadable.

Qingqiu’s expression also shifted subtly.

The set had been safely stored in the storeroom. Now that Gu Jingxi had taken it out, the action was rather intriguing. Was it that he couldn’t bear to let it gather dust any longer?