SGEIRS -Chapter 243 The Girl in the Painting

“What’s wrong, husband?”

Meng Jinyao looked at him with innocent eyes, her expression full of confusion.

Gu Jingxi’s tone grew increasingly aggrieved. “Now that you’ve married me, you’ve become his elder. You’re the only one who can bully him now, and you’ve already gotten your revenge. Don’t you have any other thoughts?”

Meng Jinyao immediately understood and couldn’t help laughing. Her voice carried amusement.
“My husband is handsome. Just looking at you is pleasing to the eye. I like you very much.”

“You only like my face?”

Gu Jingxi subconsciously touched his face, feeling a little disappointed. No matter how good-looking someone was, age would eventually take its toll. He was almost thirty already—how long could he keep this appearance? In another ten years or so, wrinkles would probably start appearing.

Meng Jinyao answered honestly, “At first, yes. If you had been ugly, I probably would’ve chosen Xiuhong, who’s only a year older than me. Xiuwen is even younger than me—I didn’t want to marry someone younger.”

As she spoke, she noticed his gaze becoming even more resentful, his brows slightly furrowed. She quickly changed the subject.

“Overall, it started with looks, fell for talent, and stayed for character. I’ve been to your study and read your manuscripts. There are many poems and essays—just as the rumors say, you’re truly gifted and eloquent. Your paintings are good too.”

Gu Jingxi smiled gently. “The study at Weirui Pavilion? Most of those are from my youth. Later, I became busy with official duties and rarely worked on them.”

“I could tell,” Meng Jinyao replied. “Some of the paper has already yellowed. They’re clearly quite old.”

Besides the yellowed paper, she could also sense a trace of melancholy in his writing. That must have been after his injury, when he was suffering inwardly. He couldn’t show it in front of others, so he vented through his words. Though he never wrote about it directly, he expressed his feelings through scenery.

Such an outstanding and proud man had been struck by an illness that hurt his dignity. His fiancée had abandoned him, and others mocked him. How could he not feel miserable?

Later, however, that gloom gradually faded from his poems. Eventually, he truly let go and stopped caring. His writing became broad-minded and open.

Gu Jingxi glanced at her and hesitated before asking, “You read all those poems and essays?”

“Yes,” Meng Jinyao admitted. “I was bored at the time, so I read everything.”

Gu Jingxi fell silent, a trace of awkwardness flashing across his face. Those youthful thoughts—things even his mother didn’t know about—had all been seen by his wife. His mood instantly became complicated.

When he was young, he had been sensitive and stubborn. Later, as he grew older and handled more cases, seeing the ups and downs of life, he realized those things weren’t worth dwelling on and gradually let go.

Meng Jinyao continued, “Besides that, I also saw your paintings. You’re very good at painting.”

Most of the paintings were landscapes. But one was special.

It was dated twelve years ago and depicted a little girl of four or five, wearing a pink dress with two small buns in her hair. Only her back could be seen as she chased butterflies, lively and adorable.

At the time, Meng Jinyao thought that Gu Jingxi must like daughters. Otherwise, why paint a girl instead of a boy? As for why he didn’t paint her face, it was probably because he knew he wouldn’t have children.

Gu Jingxi asked softly, “Do you like me like this, A-Yao?”

“Yes,” she replied honestly. “With such talent, it’s hard not to like you.”

A trace of bitterness rose in his heart. He murmured softly, “Silly girl.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “You’re the silly one. You’re a talented scholar, I’m a beauty. I think we’re quite a good match. Don’t you like someone like me?”

He smiled with pursed lips. “I do.”

“Then that settles it.”

Meng Jinyao yawned and said, “I’m sleepy. Let’s sleep first. We’ll talk about anything else tomorrow.”

Gu Jingxi smiled. “Alright. Sleep.”

Qingyu Pavilion

Meanwhile, Gu Xiuming returned to Qingyu Pavilion.

Li Wan’er hadn’t been qualified to attend the family banquet and hadn’t even gone out that day, but she had already heard the examination results.

This time, the Changxing Marquis Residence had gained great prestige.

Three young masters had taken the Autumn Examination. Two— the eldest and second—had passed. The one who failed was her Xiuming.

She found this result hard to believe.

When she saw the young man enter, looking dejected, she waved her hand to dismiss the maids. Smelling alcohol on him, she asked gently, “Brother Xiuming, there was a family banquet today. I guessed you’d drink, so I had sobering soup prepared in advance. Would you like a bowl?”

Seeing her gentle care, Gu Xiuming finally felt a bit comforted. He shook his head lightly.

“No need. I didn’t drink much.”

He took her hand and smiled bitterly. “Wan’er, you’ve heard about it, haven’t you?”

She nodded softly. “Yes.”

He asked again, “I didn’t pass, but both my brothers did. Do you also think I’m useless? That I’m inferior to them?”

“Brother Xiuming, how can you think that?” she said tenderly. “In my heart, you’re the best.”

She continued kindly, “You’re quick-witted and not worse than them at all. Don’t you remember how people used to say you were the most talented among the four young masters? You’re just younger and had less time to study. They only won in age and time. If you take the exam again in three years, you’ll definitely pass.”

Gu Xiuming shook his head. “No. It’s not because of age.”

As he spoke, he tightly grasped her hand. His face was tense, and his eyes burned with resentment.

Her hand hurt from his grip. She frowned and cried out, “It hurts.”

He immediately reacted and released her. Seeing the redness on her fair hand, guilt surged in his heart.

“Wan’er, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine,” she said quickly, shaking her head. Then she asked curiously, “If it’s not age, then… did someone secretly interfere and deliberately stop you from passing?”

Gu Xiuming’s face darkened. “That’s exactly it.”

Her heart jumped in shock. She knew officialdom was corrupt, but she hadn’t realized how dark it could be. With Gu Xiuming’s status and his father’s backing, would examiners really tamper with his paper?

Could it be that the Marquis’s political enemies were behind it?

She asked hesitantly, “Doesn’t the Marquis intervene?”

At this, Gu Xiuming’s expression grew even darker. He clenched his teeth and said in a low, hateful voice,

“He’s the one who did it. Why would he interfere? He’d be happiest if I were useless, so he could make room for someone else.”