SGEIRS -Chapter 130 Why the Lady Is in a Hurry

He answered decisively, without a trace of hesitation.

Meng Jinyao was certain that he no longer had any feelings for his former fiancée. She glanced at Gu Jingxi and asked, “Husband, what do you plan to do with that set of head ornaments?”

Gu Jingxi replied in a calm voice, “Throw it away.”

Meng Jinyao was taken aback, then said, “But it’s fine white jade of the highest quality. Throwing it away seems a waste.”

She didn’t mean anything else—she simply thought the jade was exquisite, finely crafted, and since the Mei family girl was already married, what harm was there in keeping it? She didn’t care for things discarded by others, but they could still be put to good use—she could gift them to the servants, or even convert them to silver and donate to the charity hall.

Gu Jingxi was momentarily surprised. He caught sight of a hint of regret on the young lady’s face and then smiled: “Then let’s take it to the pawnshop, sell it for silver, and buy a new set of jewelry for some child as compensation. After all, it was my fault, leaving that child upset for so many days.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao twitched the corner of her mouth and glared at him irritably. “Who’s a child? I wasn’t upset! It’s just a set of head ornaments; why would I be upset? You promised me once that you wouldn’t take a concubine. Even if you had feelings for her, it wouldn’t affect me at all.”

Gu Jingxi looked at the young lady flustered and hurriedly defending herself, sensing a hint of feigned innocence. He smiled teasingly and said, “I never said who it was. Lady, why the hurry?”

Meng Jinyao’s expression stiffened, and her aura instantly softened. “…I’m not in a hurry.”

Gu Jingxi followed her words and smiled in response, “Alright, if the Lady isn’t in a hurry, then your husband is.”

Meng Jinyao pressed her lips together and averted her gaze, not wanting to engage with him.

The young lady looked slightly annoyed, her cherry lips tightly pressed, chin raised just a little, with a hint of tsundere pride.

This was how a girl in her early teens should look—previously, she had always been calm and composed, lacking the liveliness and charm of youth.

Gu Jingxi’s gaze softened further, his smile gentle, his voice warm: “Rest assured, Lady. Your husband has no chaotic desires threatening your position, nor am I interested in chasing after other women.”

Meng Jinyao nodded: “Mm, I understand.”

Most men are lecherous, but if they lack the means or opportunity, where would their interest come from?

Gu Jingxi raised an eyebrow: “And you think you understand this?”

Meng Jinyao shook her head: “I don’t understand anything.”

Gu Jingxi frowned slightly, staring at her for a while, then parted his thin lips: “Lady, don’t guess wildly. If you have a question, ask me directly. Misunderstandings like today aren’t good.”

Meng Jinyao nodded earnestly, replying: “Alright, next time I will ask my husband directly if I have any questions.”

Seeing this, Gu Jingxi said nothing further. It was getting late, so he said: “I’ll go take a bath first. Lady, if you’re tired, go rest early. You don’t need to wait for me.”

Meng Jinyao said, “Then I’ll instruct the maids to prepare the bath for my husband.”

Gu Jingxi replied: “No need, Lady. Before entering the room, I’ve already instructed the maids to prepare the water.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao let it go and went to prepare his nightclothes. This wasn’t the first time she had done such a thing. Initially, it was to fulfill her duties as a wife; later, it became a habit. If the maids weren’t around, she would prepare his clothes herself.

Gu Jingxi had also grown accustomed to her occasional attentiveness. Watching the petite figure standing in front of the wardrobe, his eyes unconsciously softened.

After a short while, he took the clothes from her hands and turned to the bathing room.

Meng Jinyao watched his back, then shifted her gaze to the ruby-and-gold headpiece. A slight smile curved her lips as she walked over, taking it out to examine it carefully. The more she looked, the more she liked it.

The next morning

Meng Jinyao woke up leisurely. The man beside her had already left for court. She summoned the maids to attend to her.

Her mood was clearly good that day. Qingqiu and Ningdong noticed it, exchanging a glance of curiosity.

While helping Meng Jinyao with her hair, Ningdong asked: “Lady, you seem very happy today. May I ask why?”

Meng Jinyao was surprised and asked back: “Am I very happy?”

Ningdong nodded repeatedly: “Since you woke up, your smile hasn’t faded. It seems you’ve encountered something pleasant.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao was again taken aback, looking at her reflection in the mirror. The young lady in the mirror, with cloud-like hair and elegant eyebrows, smiled brightly, clearly in a good mood.

She replied: “Probably because I got a very beautiful set of head ornaments last night. It put me in a good mood.”

Qingqiu and Ningdong froze. Their mistress had received a set of head ornaments, and they hadn’t known?

Meng Jinyao pointed to the zitan wood box on the dressing table and said with a smile: “Here, take a look. It’s so pretty, it’s hard not to like it.”

Qingqiu brought the box over, placed it on the table, and opened it. A dazzling ruby headpiece, shining brilliantly and clearly of high value, came into view.

The two maids’ eyes widened. Although they were senior maids by their mistress’s side, the Marquis’s household had declined, and they rarely saw such fine items.

Recalling the previous night when the marquis returned with a box, Qingqiu suddenly had a realization: “Lady, did the Marquis give you this set of head ornaments?”

Meng Jinyao nodded with a smile. Knowing her two maids were always anxious for her, she briefly recounted last night’s events to put their minds at ease.

After hearing it, the maids’ worries dissipated, and smiles appeared on their faces.

Ningdong was overjoyed: “Lady, now my heart can finally be at ease.”

Meng Jinyao chided her: “You, don’t overthink things. I wasn’t worried at all, yet you frown so often.”

Although Ningdong no longer mentioned that matter, occasionally Meng Jinyao still saw her frowning absentmindedly. Ningdong was a worrier, but it came from concern for her—afraid that Gu Jingxi might favor another and neglect her, worried about her returning to life in the inner chambers.

Ningdong pressed her lips in a smile. Looking at the ruby-and-gold headpiece, she was suddenly inspired. She removed the pearl hairpin from Meng Jinyao’s hair and inserted one of the pins from the zitan box into her hair to see how it looked.

Seeing that the ruby complemented their mistress’s complexion better than the pearl hairpin, Ningdong’s hands itched. Eagerly, she suggested: “Lady, this set of head ornaments is beautiful and suits your temperament. Why don’t I redo your hairstyle and try the full set on you?”

Meng Jinyao replied gently: “We’ll try it next time. Now it’s time for breakfast.”

Ningdong responded: “Ah, I forgot—you haven’t had breakfast yet. But this hairpin really suits you, Lady. Since you’re wearing the begonia-red dress today, it matches perfectly.”

Meng Jinyao glanced at herself in the mirror, very satisfied, and nodded: “Then let’s use it.”