SGEIRS -Chapter 13 The Maid in the Inner Chamber

With the matter settled, calm returned to the room. Gu Jingxi noticed Meng Jinyao looking at him with a probing gaze and asked, “Why is my wife looking at me like that?”

Meng Jinyao shook her head slightly. “Nothing. I just thought you might be reluctant to send them off to the estate.”

Gu Jingxi replied matter-of-factly, “Maidservants who spread gossip shouldn’t be kept. There’s nothing to be reluctant about.”

After speaking, he glanced at his young wife. This girl, who was originally supposed to become his daughter-in-law, had ended up becoming his wife by a twist of fate. Even the maids of Weirui Pavilion dared to gossip behind her back. In the future, there would probably be no shortage of rumors.

“With your status, having a few pleasing maidservants in your chambers would be quite normal. Those two just now were each distinctive and very good-looking,” Meng Jinyao said.
Recalling their appearances, she had to admit they were truly pretty—one slender, one full-figured, each with her own charm. Maids that attractive were usually not meant to be just ordinary servants.

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi frowned slightly, almost imperceptibly, and asked meaningfully, “Do you think I would have such maids? All the servants in this courtyard were chosen by Mother. If you don’t like them, you can simply send them elsewhere.”

Meng Jinyao was instantly speechless. “……”

She suddenly remembered that her new husband was… incapable. Immediately, she regretted speaking at all. Why did she have to open her mouth and touch on such a sensitive topic? Talking about concubine maids to a man who was practically like a ‘sister’—wasn’t that just humiliating him?

The maids of Weirui Pavilion were all beautiful and pleasing to the eye. Even the rough servants were fairly pretty. There was a reason for this: Gu Jingxi had a hidden ailment, and beautiful maids might stimulate his interest somewhat and help with treatment.

Now, however, all these beautiful maids had become mere decorations, none of them of any use. This proved that his condition still hadn’t improved, and it was uncertain whether it could ever be cured in this lifetime.

Gu Jingxi added, “I’ve wronged you.”

Meng Jinyao hurriedly shook her head. “Husband, I don’t mind. Such things are neither here nor there for me.”

Gu Jingxi asked in confusion, “Such things?”

Her cheeks flushed red. Slightly annoyed that he was pretending not to know, she replied shyly, “Marital matters.”

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi looked at her with a strange expression and said calmly, “I meant that you’ve only just married in and already have to endure such gossip. That’s unfair to you. It’s also because I’m usually busy with official duties and neglect management, allowing them to dare to spread rumors.”

“Uh… ah?”

Meng Jinyao’s face instantly turned crimson. Her head buzzed. Facing his complicated expression, she was so embarrassed she wished she could dig a hole with her toes and crawl into it. He was talking about serious matters, yet she had taken it in that direction. Anyone would think she was desperate for it.

Her tongue felt tied in knots as she stammered, “H-Husband, I… I didn’t mean to bring that up on purpose.”

Gu Jingxi said indifferently, “It’s fine. That is the truth. As long as you don’t mind.”

After that, he began to examine the room, which felt both familiar and unfamiliar. He wasn’t used to it. His room now looked like a young girl’s boudoir, completely different from before, giving him the illusion that he had wandered into a maiden’s chamber.

Meng Jinyao also looked around and said, “If you don’t like it, I’ll have the maids restore it to how it was.”

“No need. As long as you like it,” Gu Jingxi replied.

He was busy with official business during the day and only came back at night. This was merely a place to sleep, and he had no special requirements. How it was arranged was up to Meng Jinyao.

After marrying into the Gu family, this little girl had suffered some grievances. He could at least satisfy this small request. He had already raised a son—now it was like raising an extra daughter.