SGEIRS -Chapter 239 The Last Time

After all that commotion, Meng Jinyao was sweating again.

Gu Jingxi had a maid on night duty bring a basin of warm water. He carried it back to the bedroom and personally helped the young lady wipe herself down.

When his hands touched her skin, Meng Jinyao shivered, feeling embarrassed. But since every inch of her had already been seen—what should be seen and what shouldn’t—she gave up on modesty and let him wipe her.

At this moment, Gu Jingxi had no ulterior motives; he was simply helping her clean up. Afterwards, he dressed her properly and then held her in his arms to sleep.

The softness and warmth in his embrace gave a satisfaction that was hard to describe.

Meng Jinyao nestled in Gu Jingxi’s arms without moving. The sense of shame occupied her mind, making it difficult to look directly at him.

Gu Jingxi called her softly, “A-Yao.”

Confused, Meng Jinyao asked, “Husband, why have you been calling me by my given name all evening?”

Gu Jingxi paused. In truth, calling her by her given name felt more intimate. Still, he said aloud, “A-Yao is a pretty name, but it comes from Jin Jing Linglong Yingyao Qiong, Xuancao Yinyin Rui Conglong, doesn’t it?”

Hearing the origin of her name made Meng Jinyao think of her grandfather. For a moment, her shame was suppressed, and she replied, “Yes, it comes from that poem. My grandfather gave me this name.”

Gu Jingxi said, “If he gave you this name, your grandfather must have really liked you.”

“My grandfather likes me the most,” Meng Jinyao said, smiling faintly as she lifted her head to look at him. “I think he would also like his grandson-in-law.”

Gu Jingxi laughed. “Not necessarily.”

Meng Jinyao scolded him with a glance. “You’re not him. How would you know?”

Gu Jingxi replied, “After we were married, I once heard my mother say that when our families arranged the engagement, my father wanted me to be betrothed to you. But your grandfather didn’t favor me. I was young then, and he didn’t think much of me. Now, at my age, he would like me even less.”

Meng Jinyao was surprised. “Did that really happen?”

Gu Jingxi nodded gently. “It did, a little interlude like that.”

He continued, “Eventually, the engagement was agreed upon. My father asked your grandfather which of his four grandsons he wanted as a grandson-in-law. But your grandfather said the children were still young and couldn’t be chosen yet. They decided to set the engagement first.”

Meng Jinyao knew about this because the engagement had been arranged by the old marquis. The Gu family also paid it attention. Later, it was tacitly agreed that the grandson of highest status, Gu Xiuming, would be the match. Gu Xiuming never opposed it—until the wedding day, when he tried to escape.

After a moment, she smiled. “Even with that little episode with Gu Xiuming, my husband and I are still quite fated to each other.”

“Yes, we are,” Gu Jingxi agreed. He had never imagined that back then, that fearless little girl would eventually marry him.

Afterwards, Meng Jinyao chatted with him lightly and, without realizing it, fell asleep.

Gu Jingxi saw that she was asleep and closed his own eyes as well.

The next morning

For once, Meng Jinyao woke before Gu Jingxi. Her eyes traced his handsome sleeping face, landing on his lightly pink lips. She couldn’t help but blush, recalling the embarrassing events of last night.

But upon reflection, she felt a little wronged.

She had been completely naked while Gu Jingxi had seen everything, yet he had remained fully clothed. She hadn’t seen a single thing of what a man looked like.

Gu Jingxi slowly opened his eyes and saw his young wife staring at him, unblinking, seemingly unaware that he was awake. He smiled and asked, “A-Yao, how long do you want to keep looking?”

Startled back to reality, Meng Jinyao replied calmly, “Husband, you’re awake. Get up quickly—you still have to attend court at the Dali Temple.”

Gu Jingxi said softly, “I have a day off today. I can sleep a little longer.”

Meng Jinyao was surprised. “Already a day off?”

Gu Jingxi gave her a resentful look and asked, “You stayed home while going to the manor for two days. Lost in fun, forgot the time. If you count those two days, do you still think it’s soon?”

Hearing his tone, Meng Jinyao felt he was like a little wife clinging to her husband—completely a resentful wife. Meeting his melancholic eyes, she felt a bit guilty, quickly looked away, and asked, “Husband, what day is it today?”

“The tenth,” Gu Jingxi answered. Then, as if worried she might forget the month, he added, “The tenth of September.”

Her eyes lit up. “September 10th—that’s the day the autumn exams results are announced!”

Gu Jingxi nodded. “Exactly.”

Meng Jinyao’s excitement showed immediately. She wanted to see if her confident little son had passed, and also to check how her eldest and second nephews had fared.

She said eagerly, “Husband, today is an important day. No sleeping in—we should get up now.”

With that, she pushed Gu Jingxi out of her embrace, sitting up straight like a carp leaping from water.

Seeing this, Gu Jingxi chuckled. “So excited—someone might think you’re taking the exams too.”

Meng Jinyao composed herself and assumed the demeanor of a caring mother, speaking softly, “I’m not taking them, but my son is. As his mother, I care. You’re his father; don’t you care whether our son’s name appears on the list?”

Gu Jingxi said flatly, “Let it be. If he passes, it’s good. If he fails, it’s not disappointing.”

Meng Jinyao understood immediately: he had no expectations for this son, so whether he passed or failed would not stir a single emotion in him.

After a moment of silence, she cautiously asked, “Since you’ve long given up on him and don’t intend for him to inherit the title, why let him be the heir at all?”

Gu Jingxi replied, “Mother said, ‘Give him one more chance.’”

Meng Jinyao suddenly remembered the day Xuanyi got married, when Gu Xiuming’s father also came to the wedding. When her husband said “the last time,” it probably meant exactly this.

Thoughtful, she asked again, “What if he’s been pretending all along? Then when you report to the Emperor, there would be no reason to remove him as heir, right?”

Gu Jingxi said firmly, “His nature being what it is, if he hasn’t genuinely changed, even the best disguise will slip eventually. I’ve also had someone watch his every move recently.”

Meng Jinyao was surprised. No wonder he remained so calm. She grew curious: “When did you start watching him?”

Gu Jingxi asked softly, “Last month, after Xuanyi’s wedding, Xiuwen returned from the academy on leave to attend the wedding feast and came to see me. Do you remember?”

Meng Jinyao nodded gently. “I remember. He said he wanted your guidance on studies. Was there something else?”

Gu Jingxi replied calmly, “Xiuwen said Xiuming was acting a little off. Eldest and second sister-in-laws have never gotten along; it was evident when Xuanyi returned to her home that she’d suffered some grievances, but the second sister-in-law did not take the chance to undermine the eldest, who loved her daughter. Instead, Xiuming seemed a bit schadenfreude-like.”

He paused, then continued, “However, I couldn’t understand it—what grudge could those siblings have? Maybe Xiuwen was overthinking, but I still had someone watch Xiuming. Even if he tries some scheme later, I can know in advance.”

Meng Jinyao was slightly stunned. In a flash, something raced through her mind so fast she couldn’t grasp it, leaving her a little bewildered.