SGEIRS -Chapter 215 A Virtuous Husband and Good Father

Gu Jingxi saw the young lady widening her apricot-like eyes, staring at him in a daze, her expression a little blank. He smiled and asked, “Madam, what’s wrong?”

Meng Jinyao came back to her senses and shook her head repeatedly. “N-nothing… it’s just a bit hot.”

Looking at her small face flushed from the sun, Gu Jingxi spoke gently, “From now on, on days this hot, Madam doesn’t need to bring me meals. The Dali Temple provides lunch too. It may not be as good as home-cooked food, but it’s enough to eat.”

Meng Jinyao knew he was worried she might get heatstroke. Her heart warmed, and a subtle happiness bloomed.

After a moment, she glanced at the gentle and warm man. Acting on impulse, she couldn’t resist trying to take advantage of the moment, lingering a little longer with him, speaking without thinking: “Husband, I’m hungry.”

Qingqiu: “?”

Ningdong: “?”

The two maids silently muttered in their hearts: Madam, you skipped lunch to deliver food to the Marquis, yet you’re already hungry? Even the greediest pigs don’t get hungry that fast.

Gu Jingxi was momentarily stunned. Without suspicion, he said gently, “Then let’s go inside and eat together.”

Meng Jinyao wasn’t afraid of overeating, but as her mind cleared, she hesitated. “But I’m just a woman—would it be improper for me to enter the Dali Temple? What if my presence hinders official duties? I should probably go back and eat.”

Gu Jingxi replied, “Everyone’s already heading to the Dali Temple cafeteria for lunch, and there’s nothing else to do right now. It’s just the time to eat; it won’t be a problem.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao’s worries eased, and she followed him inside. After a few steps, she stole a glance at the man beside her—tall, elegant, like a towering tree—and timidly reached out her small hand, cautiously tugging at his sleeve. The instant her fingers touched the fabric, her heart fluttered.

Gu Jingxi paused, looked down at the small hand holding his sleeve, and assuming she was shy because it was her first visit, he gently grasped her wrist and said softly, “Don’t be afraid.”

Meng Jinyao’s fluttering heart calmed. She glanced at his large hand, a small smile tugging at her lips. Indeed, Gu Jingxi cared for her; she hadn’t misunderstood.

Qingqiu and Ningdong exchanged a glance. They had hoped Madam would respond a little, but she was far more proactive than expected. Well, that would help strengthen the couple’s bond. As the Marquis and Madam’s relationship deepened, Madam’s life would only get better.

Meanwhile, the two court clerks guarding the door were a bit dumbfounded. The Temple Minister was usually stern and unsmiling, impartial and strict. But with Madam, he was a different man—earlier, he had personally wiped her sweat, and now he was holding her hand. It was as if “favoritism” were written across his face.

Gu Jingxi cast them a faint glance, and they immediately looked away, pretending to see nothing.

Once inside the Dali Temple, they quickly reached Gu Jingxi’s office. As the Minister of the Dali Temple, he had a private workspace. Meng Jinyao quickly scanned it and saw the desk piled high with documents—no guess was needed to know how busy his official duties usually were.

All the documents were confidential, so Gu Jingxi had arranged them himself, not allowing Qingqiu or Ningdong to help. They simply stood outside, keeping watch. The door remained open, so passersby could see inside, yet there was no fear of gossip—he ensured no one could misinterpret the situation.

Lunch consisted of three dishes and a soup—more than one person could eat, so having two eat together was perfect.

Gu Jingxi placed a bowl of lotus root and red date chicken soup in front of Meng Jinyao and said gently, “Madam, here’s some soup for you.”

Meng Jinyao refused, “Husband, your work is busy and tiring. You should drink it yourself.”

Gu Jingxi did not allow refusal: “The court physician mentioned that your constitution is weak. Drinking nourishing soup is good for your health. I don’t need it.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao’s heart warmed. She didn’t refuse again. Though she had already eaten, she could eat casually and use the hot weather as an excuse to eat less.

She glanced at the chicken and lotus root in the soup and silently picked them out to place in Gu Jingxi’s bowl. She liked the soup itself, but not the ingredients.

Gu Jingxi, having spent time with her, knew her habits and quietly ate the chicken and lotus root she had picked out.

Halfway through the soup, Meng Jinyao felt full and set down her spoon.

Gu Jingxi asked, “Madam, why not drink a bit more?”

Meng Jinyao kept her expression calm. “It’s too hot, I don’t have much appetite. I drank some soup and feel less hungry, so I don’t want to eat for now.” She thought a moment and added, “I’ll be fine. If I get hungry again at home, I can eat then.”

Gu Jingxi said nothing, continuing his meal. After eating, he packed up the leftovers, let her sit and rest for a while, then escorted her out of the Dali Temple. Watching her climb into the carriage, he finally turned back.

Once inside, someone suddenly tapped Gu Jingxi’s shoulder. Turning, he saw his friend’s smiling face, tinged with teasing. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, “You need something?”

Qi Yunwen chuckled: “Nothing. It’s just that my sister-in-law came to deliver your lunch for the first time. Curious, I came out to watch. I asked the clerks at the door and learned that the usually stern and unsmiling Temple Minister is actually a gentle and considerate man. He even personally wiped Madam’s sweat! If it weren’t broad daylight with blazing sun, the most yang-filled time of day, people would think they were seeing a ghost.”

Gu Jingxi found his tone odd and shrugged it off. “What’s the problem? Don’t you need your sweat wiped?”

Qi Yunwen was momentarily taken aback. Wiping sweat is normal, and wiping one’s wife’s sweat is also normal—but with Gu Jingxi, it was shocking. He had never been so gentle with a woman.

He shook his head. “No problem.”

After speaking, Qi Yunwen patted his shoulder again and sighed: “Having known you so long, it’s the first time I realize you have the potential to be a virtuous husband and good father. Even if you didn’t hold office, staying at home, you’d be the kind to care for and educate your family well.”

Virtuous husband and good father?

Gu Jingxi was stunned. He didn’t think of himself as a virtuous husband, but “good father” was closer. Raising a young lady required more care and patience than raising a son.

Qi Yunwen stopped teasing and got to business: “By the way, Yaoling, I still think there are doubts about that case. Should we re-interrogate the suspect?”

Gu Jingxi’s expression darkened slightly, and he nodded gently. “I think that’s necessary. The statements seemed off to me too. I was about to discuss it with you after lunch.”

Qi Yunwen said, “Let’s go to the prison and pay that old fellow another visit.”