SGEIRS -Chapter 20 The Unfilial Son Returns

On the carriage.

Gu Jingxi looked at the young wife sitting opposite him. He saw her lips curved into a smile, her brows soft and her eyes crescent-shaped, clearly in high spirits. It was probably because she had finally vented her anger. He asked, “Very happy?”

The smile at the corner of Meng Jinyao’s lips would not fade. She admitted honestly, “I really am. People say that when civil officials want to flatter someone, they can make them feel over the moon. And when they want to anger someone, they can infuriate them to death without compensation. Today, I finally saw it for myself.”

After speaking, her smile deepened. She truly had not expected Gu Jingxi’s ‘combat power’ to be so strong, nor had she expected him to speak to her natal family like that. She had originally thought he would just deal with them politely and perfunctorily.

Gu Jingxi was momentarily speechless. When this little girl praised someone, why did it sound like she was scolding them? Amused, he said, “Aren’t you quite eloquent in front of me? Why did you become mute when you went back to your parents’ home?”

“My husband’s combat power is too strong. There was no room for me to show my skills,” Meng Jinyao replied seriously. Of course, she would never admit that she simply wanted to watch the show. Then she added, “It’s the first time I’ve seen them all suffer together. Thank you, Husband.”

Gu Jingxi replied, “What you said just now reminded me—if you lose face, I lose face too. I was helping myself. You don’t need to thank me.”

Meng Jinyao pressed her lips together, feeling that this man really couldn’t take thanks. She glanced at him and couldn’t help retorting, “I didn’t say you were helping me. I was just thanking you out of courtesy.”

Gu Jingxi choked. “…”

So blunt. Wasn’t this girl a bit unlikable? Forget it. It was rare for her to be this lively—he wouldn’t argue with her.

After a while, Gu Jingxi carefully asked, “Madam, you are the eldest legitimate daughter of your family and the first grandchild of the Meng family. You should have been valued. How did things end up like this?” Previously, when she was still the prospective daughter-in-law, he only paid attention because of his son. He hadn’t looked into her background. He only knew she was graceful and decent. He hadn’t expected her to be such a pitiful little thing.

Meng Jinyao paused slightly, then answered calmly, “My mother died when I was born. Grandmother believed I was a bringer of misfortune. Father didn’t value me, and my stepmother is kind on the surface but vicious at heart. My grandfather and your respected father were close friends. He feared that after his death, the Meng family would mistreat me, so he sought this marriage. For the sake of this promise, they wouldn’t go too far.”

Gu Jingxi found the Meng family absurd and frowned slightly. “Childbirth is inherently risky. Old Madam Meng is ignorant.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao gave a faint laugh. Her grandmother really was ignorant. Then, half-seriously and half-jokingly, she asked, “Husband, aren’t you afraid I’ll bring misfortune to you?”

Gu Jingxi raised an eyebrow and said calmly, “Even if I were to die unnaturally someday, it wouldn’t be something a little girl like you could control—unless you decide to murder your husband one day.”

Meng Jinyao replied frankly, “That won’t happen. It’s nice to rely on a big tree for shade.”

Gu Jingxi was slightly startled, then said, “Madam is quite clever.”

Meng Jinyao blinked and smiled innocently, without replying. She would have to be crazy to murder Gu Jingxi. If he died, she would become a widow—a childless widow at that—living in misery. With him around, at least she wouldn’t be easily bullied.

Not long after, Gu Jingxi had other matters to attend to and got off the carriage, letting Meng Jinyao return first.

It was still early, and she didn’t feel like going back so soon. She had lunch outside before heading home.

When Meng Jinyao had just returned to Weirui Courtyard and hadn’t even warmed her seat, Chunliu, formerly a first-rank maid there, tried to curry favor with her and reported in a low voice, “Madam, the young heir has just been brought back. And that girl who eloped with him has also been brought back. They’re being held in the study in the front courtyard.”

As soon as Chunliu finished speaking, Meng Jinyao’s eyes lit up. She suddenly became interested and said meaningfully, “My son has returned? Then I’ll go take a look first.”