SGEIRS -Chapter 176 A Racing Heart

She was suddenly lifted into the air. The momentary sensation of weightlessness made Meng Jinyao feel insecure. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around Gu Jingxi’s neck. After freezing for a moment, she realized that he was carrying her in his arms.

She parted her lips slightly, wanting to say that she could walk by herself. But when she saw the mixture of anger and helplessness on the man’s face, she pressed her lips together and obediently leaned against his chest without saying a word.

Gu Jingxi turned his gaze to the two maids standing nearby, who were still shaken and pale with fright. In a calm voice, he asked, “Where are the guest rooms? Lead the way.”

Qingqiu was the first to regain her senses and quickly responded. However, as a maid, she did not dare walk ahead of her master. She only pointed out the direction and then followed behind him together with Ningdong.

Along the way, the atmosphere was silent.

Meng Jinyao secretly lifted her head to glance at him a few times. His expression was indifferent, giving away no hint of emotion. Feeling a little timid, she chose her words carefully and said, “Husband, if you and Lord Qi had to personally pursue that criminal, he must be very important. Why don’t you go back and deal with official matters first?”

Gu Jingxi stopped in his tracks. He lowered his eyes to look at the person in his arms. Her palm-sized face was still pale, and the fear in her eyes had not yet faded. She had clearly been badly frightened. She had even fallen near the wishing pool earlier. It had looked like a heavy fall. Though no injuries were visible on the surface, she was probably hurt somewhere.

Thinking of this, his brows furrowed slightly, and he said gently, “Nothing is more important than you.”

Interrogating a criminal was nothing compared to his wife. Besides, it was not as if only he could do it—he had colleagues.

As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Jinyao suddenly lifted her head and looked at him.

Those simple four words stirred up waves in her heart. She stared blankly at his handsome face. From her right ear came the strong, steady sound of his heartbeat—thump, thump, thump—so loud that her mind buzzed. Her own heart began to race unconsciously, losing its rhythm.

Noticing her gaze, Gu Jingxi smiled and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Meng Jinyao gently shook her head and buried her face in his broad chest, continuing to listen to his heartbeat. For some reason, she felt at ease. Her chaotic heartbeat gradually calmed down and returned to normal.

She felt that something about her wasn’t quite right.

Yet she couldn’t deny that she felt a little happy, along with an indescribable emotion. She didn’t resist this unfamiliar feeling.

Seeing her bury her face against him, Gu Jingxi thought she was still frightened and chuckled helplessly. “Now you know fear? Just now, you were bold enough to follow a stranger without hesitation.”

Meng Jinyao blinked and played dead, offering no response.

Seeing this, Gu Jingxi smiled faintly and continued walking with steady steps, holding her in his arms.

Qingqiu and Ningdong followed behind them. Listening to their conversation, they could clearly tell how much the Marquis cared about their young mistress. Because she had been frightened, he had even set aside his official duties to stay with her. In his heart, work was far less important than her.

When they returned to the guest room, Gu Jingxi gently set her down on a chair and asked softly, “Where are you hurt?”

Meng Jinyao let out a confused “Ah?” She had not reacted at all.

Gu Jingxi asked again, “You fell near the wishing pool. Where did you get hurt?”

Only then did Meng Jinyao realize what he meant. She hurriedly moved her limbs. The movement tugged at her wounds, making her hiss in pain. She pointed to her right knee and elbow and replied, “Here… and here.”

Her delicate brows furrowed, and her voice was soft and tinged with grievance, like a child seeking comfort after falling.

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi’s heart softened. He said gently, “Let me see,” and squatted down, lifting her skirt to examine her injuries.

Meng Jinyao’s expression froze for a moment. She was about to stop him, but then thought better of it. They were husband and wife who even shared a bed—there was nothing improper about this.

Gu Jingxi lifted her skirt, held her ankle with one hand, and rolled up her trouser leg with the other. When it reached above her knee, he saw that her knee was bruised from the fall, but it wasn’t serious.

Seeing that it wasn’t severe, he lowered her leg and went to check her elbow.

Since she had fallen forward, her elbow injury was more obvious. The thin summer fabric showed clear signs of abrasion.

He rolled up her sleeve, revealing her fair arm. Turning it over, he saw that the skin on both elbows was scraped and bleeding, with slight redness and swelling around it. Against her originally flawless, lotus-root-like skin, the wounds looked especially severe.

His brows knitted together. He instructed, “Qingqiu, go ask the temple master for some medicine and bandages. Ningdong, fetch a basin of clean water.”

The two maids responded and hurried off.

Seeing his tightly furrowed brows, Meng Jinyao knew he was worried about her. She smiled and said, “It’s really fine. It just hurts a little. Compared to losing my life, this is nothing.”

As soon as she said that, Gu Jingxi shot her a sharp look and scolded her in a low voice, “Don’t act impulsively again. Do you know that if I hadn’t arrived in time tonight—if I’d been just a little slower—you would have died by his sword?”

Meng Jinyao lowered her head and didn’t dare talk back. She had indeed been impulsive. Thinking back to the image of that cold, gleaming sword stabbing toward her, she still felt afraid.

Seeing her hang her head like a child who had done wrong, Gu Jingxi softened his tone. “Madam, next time you face danger, don’t overestimate your husband. Don’t act rashly. Make sure you’re safe before doing anything else, because even I can make mistakes.”

Like an obedient child, Meng Jinyao nodded. “I understand.”

Suddenly, Gu Jingxi noticed bloodstains on her palms. He took her hand and examined it closely. Both palms were scraped, with the right hand more severely injured. There were also several crescent-shaped wounds—marks left by her fingernails digging into her skin.

Fresh blood was seeping out, yet her fingernails were clean, and some of the wounds had already scabbed over. Clearly, they weren’t caused just now. The bleeding came from the recent fall, while the nail marks must have been made earlier in the day.

He remembered that the last time he saw her injure herself like this was when she blamed herself over Chengyu’s death. Unable to take revenge and suppressing her emotions, she had hurt herself.

Following his gaze, Meng Jinyao looked down and only then noticed her injured palms. They had been hurting earlier, but she hadn’t paid much attention.

Seeing his brows knit even tighter, she felt warmth flow through her heart and said, “Husband, don’t worry. It’s really fine. I didn’t even notice it myself, so it can’t hurt much.”

Gu Jingxi looked at her steadily and asked softly, “Madam, what happened today?”