SGEIRS -Chapter 128 The Only Wife

The next day.

Meng Jinyao thought about her second younger brother, Chengzhang, who had already arrived at the academy. She wondered how he was doing there now, whether he had adapted, and decided to write him a letter to ask.

Inside Weirui Pavilion, there was a study. Meng Jinyao had only gone there once when she first married in, just to get familiar with the pavilion; usually, she didn’t enter it. Even when she needed to check the account books, she did so in the side Hall.

Today was her second time in the study.

Inside the study.

On the desk sat a redwood box, very eye-catching. Upon entering the study, it immediately drew one’s attention.

Ningdong saw the box and instinctively frowned. A surge of inexplicable irritation rose in her heart. Thinking about how her master had scolded her last night, she didn’t dare speak recklessly. She merely said in a soft voice, “Madam, this redwood box looks very familiar.”

Meng Jinyao looked up and nodded lightly, “Mm.” The box was clearly meant to hold the set of white jade headdresses. Gu Jingxi had taken the set from the storage room and placed it on the desk in the study. He probably didn’t have time to find a proper place for it, so he had set it there temporarily.

Ningdong observed her master’s expression without revealing emotion. Seeing that Meng Jinyao remained calm, she decided to act as if the irritating box didn’t exist and said, “Madam, I’ve prepared the ink and brushes for you.”

Meng Jinyao smiled and nodded. “Good. Go grind the ink first.”

With that, she stepped around the desk and sat in the chair in front of it. Then she reached for the redwood box and gently placed it in the upper-left corner of the desk, leaving space in the middle for writing the letter.

Seeing this, Ningdong felt uneasy inside, but since her master remained composed and seemingly unconcerned, her heart gradually relaxed.

Once Ningdong had ground the ink, Meng Jinyao picked up her brush and wrote fluidly across three pages of stationery before stopping. She had never realized how talkative she was, but now, reading this family letter, she suddenly noticed she was being as verbose as an elderly matron.

Truly, the eldest sister is like a mother. When a younger brother travels far, the elder sister naturally becomes like a caring mother.

After a while, once the ink had dried, Meng Jinyao folded the letter, placed it in an envelope, and handed it to Ningdong. She instructed, “Have someone deliver this to Second Master later.”

Ningdong took the letter and replied, “Yes, Madam.”

As she was about to leave the study, Ningdong glanced at the redwood box, her eyes full of quiet grievance. She pursed her lips and then looked away.

Meng Jinyao noticed the change in her expression and asked gently, “Are you still upset, girl?”

Ningdong paused, then spoke frankly, “I’m just angry that the Marquis, since he has married you, still has thoughts for someone else. Isn’t it just a set of headdresses that hasn’t been sent out? Something he treats like a treasure, placing it in the study. Why would the Marquis of the house do such a thing, lowering his dignity like that?”

Meng Jinyao smiled faintly and said calmly, “This isn’t for us to concern ourselves with. As long as he hasn’t brought it to me, it’s as if we never knew. Sometimes revealing these things isn’t a good idea.”

Ningdong nodded softly, letting out a quiet sigh, and followed her master out of the study.

By nightfall, darkness had fully settled.

Gu Jingxi returned to Weirui Pavilion after a long day. Entering the inner room, he saw the young lady who had just finished bathing, sitting neatly in her nightclothes while Qingqiu wrung out her hair with a towel.

Qingqiu froze at his entrance and quickly performed a polite bow. “Marquis.”

Meng Jinyao turned her head and saw Gu Jingxi standing not far behind her, holding a zitan (rosewood) box in his hands, wearing a gentle expression with a faint smile.

Seeing that her hair was nearly dry, Gu Jingxi said to Qingqiu, “You may leave now. I have something to discuss with Madam.”

Qingqiu responded and left promptly.

Meng Jinyao stood and turned toward him, eyes full of curiosity. “Husband, what do you wish to tell me?”

Gu Jingxi stepped forward and handed her the zitan box. “This is for you, Madam. Do you like it?”

Surprised, Meng Jinyao glanced at him and hesitantly reached for the box. Though she didn’t open it yet, she sensed it was valuable; otherwise, it wouldn’t be kept in such a fine box. She asked, “Husband, what is this?”

“Open it and see for yourself,” Gu Jingxi instructed.

Seeing that he wouldn’t say more, Meng Jinyao placed the box on a nearby table and opened it. Her gaze froze immediately, astonished at what she saw inside.

It was a set of ruby and red-gold headdresses—twenty-three pieces in total. Each gemstone was roughly the size of a thumb, designed with peony patterns. Golden light sparkled and shimmered, exquisitely brilliant, dazzlingly beautiful, and priceless.

Meng Jinyao stared for a long moment, then looked up at Gu Jingxi, her heart pounding. She hesitated but asked, “Husband… this… this is for me?”

Gu Jingxi smiled and nodded. “Yes. Do you like it?”

Receiving a positive answer, Meng Jinyao’s gaze returned to the exquisite headdresses. Joy welled up in her chest. She smiled brightly, her eyes shining with delight, and nodded vigorously. In a clear, cheerful voice, she said, “I like it!”

Indeed, which young lady could receive such beautiful headdresses and say she didn’t like them?

At this moment, the young lady’s eyebrows curved, her smile radiant and bright. Gu Jingxi was momentarily dazzled. Seeing her laughing eyes, his gaze softened further, the corners of his mouth curving deeper. He spoke warmly, “As long as you like it, Madam. This was my mother’s dowry.”

Meng Jinyao was stunned. She hadn’t expected the set to be her mother-in-law’s dowry. Surprised, she asked, “Husband, why would you suddenly give me such a precious set?”

Gu Jingxi replied, “The previous set of white jade headdresses with plum blossom patterns was too plain, not suitable for you. Madam is naturally bright and beautiful; wearing jewelry with vivid colors accentuates your elegance. So I requested this set from my mother.”

Meng Jinyao was again taken aback, her expression unreadable. She glanced at him and then lowered her eyes back to the headdresses, thoughts swirling.

She wondered if Gu Jingxi was trying to make it up to her.

The white jade set left in the study was likely custom-made by Gu Jingxi. He had not given his mother’s dowry to the girls he liked, but he had given it to her.

A mother’s dowry has extraordinary significance—usually meant to embellish a daughter, or passed to a daughter-in-law upon marriage, since sons do not wear jewelry.

In Gu Jingxi’s mind, did this mean she was his one and only wife, with an untouchable status?

Glancing at the jewelry in the box and then at her radiant, peach-blossom-like face, he objectively evaluated, “The plum blossom style is elegant, but I think the peony style suits you better—majestic and luxurious.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao looked up again, staring intently at his clear, handsome face. For some inexplicable reason, she impulsively asked a rather awkward question, “Husband, is there a girl you ever wanted but couldn’t have?”