SGEIRS -Chapter 299 Thinking Up a Plan

Mansion affairs over at Qingyu Courtyard had always been closely followed by Meng Jinyao. Ningdong often went out to gather gossip and then came back to share it with her. Yu Chuan kept an eye on Gu Xiuming, and whenever Gu Jingxi learned anything, he would also tell her.

Listening to the man beside her, Meng Jinyao curved her lips into a meaningful smile. “Things are really getting more and more interesting.”

Gu Jingxi hummed in agreement. “They really are.”

Meng Jinyao sighed with emotion. “It’s really the young ones who can stir up trouble. People like us can’t afford to mess around anymore. We can only watch them do it.”

Seeing that she still looked shy and tender, yet spoke with the air of an elder, Gu Jingxi couldn’t help laughing. He reminded her, “You’re only two months younger than Xiuming. If you started making trouble, I think you’d be just as capable as he is.”

Meng Jinyao shot him a glare. “Don’t talk nonsense. I’m nothing like your son.”

Gu Jingxi smiled. “Alright, alright, my fault. A-Yao is the most well-behaved.”

She glanced at him lightly. Seeing how perfunctory he looked, she snorted twice and turned her back on him, refusing to speak anymore.

Gu Jingxi wrapped his arms around her from behind and coaxed her gently. “A-Yao, I have some news. Do you want to hear it?”

Without thinking, she replied, “I don’t.”

“Really don’t?” After waiting a while without hearing her answer, he sighed regretfully. “I thought you’d be interested, so I specially went to ask around.”

Hearing this, her curiosity was instantly piqued. She turned around to look at him and said reluctantly, “Since you worked so hard to find out, it would be heartless not to listen. Fine, I’ll give you a chance. Go on, I’m listening.”

Gu Jingxi said calmly, “Your father has sent people to the Dong family to propose. The earliest wedding would be in April or May, the latest in October. They won’t choose November or December. I heard it’s because when Second Miss Dong had her first marriage, it was in early December. The weather was cold, her wedding dress was thick, and she looked bulky and unattractive. So for her second marriage, they’re avoiding that time.”

Meng Jinyao was surprised. “They can even do that? Make up for regrets from the first marriage in the second?”

Gu Jingxi found the remark oddly strange. Regrets from the first marriage… made up in the second?

Very soon, he understood why it felt strange.

He thought of their own wedding.

That day had been absurd and rushed, turning into a laughingstock across the capital. Even now, people still occasionally brought it up to mock them.

For anyone, such a wedding would be a lifelong regret.

For most people, there was only one wedding in their life. Who wouldn’t want it to be grand and dignified?

Looking at his young wife in her prime, Gu Jingxi fell silent.

He thought: I must live longer. I can’t let another man be the one to make up for her regrets. In the future, I’ll work harder, earn her a noble title, and give her the dignity she deserves.

Seeing his expression suddenly turn strange, Meng Jinyao asked in confusion, “Husband, why are you looking at me like that?”

Gu Jingxi shook his head. “Nothing. I just feel sorry for you.”

Hearing this out of nowhere, she frowned slightly and stared at him. “Did you do something shameful outside?”

His eyebrows twitched. “Do you think I’m that kind of person?”

She shook her head. “Doesn’t look like it.”

“Exactly.”

She didn’t pursue the matter and returned to the topic. “I feel that my future stepmother will probably be better than Madam Sun.”

Gu Jingxi paused. “Why do you say that?”

She replied, “Just from how much she loves beauty, she already seems better than Madam Sun. She gives me a more simple, straightforward feeling. Of course, that’s only my first impression. We’ll have to see how she behaves after she marries in.”

Just as she finished speaking, she yawned.

Gu Jingxi said gently, “Are you sleepy? Let’s rest first. Don’t think about these things for now.”

She answered softly, found a comfortable position in his arms, and closed her eyes.

That day, Gu Xiuming came to Weirui Courtyard to pay his respects.

Gu Jingxi had little to say. Moreover, he had practically given up on this son, so there was even less to talk about.

Instead, Meng Jinyao was in the mood to tease him.

She asked softly, “Xiuming, I heard that Concubine Li has severe morning sickness and little appetite. Is the child stable?”

Gu Xiuming replied gently, “Thank you, Mother, for your concern. The child is stable now, with no major issues. The household physician went back to his hometown for ancestor worship and hasn’t returned yet. Seeing how hard her pregnancy has been and how little she eats, I took her out to relax and see another doctor. The doctor said it would improve after some time.”

Meng Jinyao nodded lightly and continued, “That’s good. The child in her belly will be your father’s and my first grandchild. We’re all hoping for a safe birth. Nothing must go wrong. You must treat her well. Don’t quarrel like before. I’ve heard that a pregnant woman’s mood affects the child too.”

Gu Xiuming’s expression stiffened for a moment. “It was my fault for being immature and worrying Father and Mother. She’s pregnant now. I won’t argue with her again. Please rest assured.”

Meng Jinyao smiled with relief. “It’s good that you think this way. Even though she’s just a concubine, the child is still Gu family blood. Pregnant women can be temperamental. For the child’s sake, be more accommodating.”

“I understand,” he replied.

All the while, Meng Jinyao had been secretly observing him. Whenever the topic of the child came up, his expression became subtly strange.

Seeing that he was about to lose composure, she said, “Alright, there’s nothing else. You may go now. I’m busy too—I still have account books to check.”

Gu Xiuming felt greatly relieved. After saluting, he left.

Watching his back, Gu Jingxi saw the sly smile in her eyes and laughed helplessly. “You… why tease him like that?”

She blinked playfully and laughed. “Because he has a guilty conscience. Otherwise, why would I tease him? It’s only fun when the person has something to hide.”

Gu Jingxi sighed softly. This was probably how a “kind stepmother” and a “filial son” interacted—constantly poking each other’s sore spots while maintaining a façade of harmony.

After a while, Gu Jingxi stood up and patted her head. “I have things to attend to. Play by yourself.”

“Go, go. I have something to think about too.”

He nodded and left.

Ningdong, who had been standing nearby, noticed that her mistress had been smiling strangely for a long time.

Unable to help herself, she asked, “Madam, what are you thinking about?”

Meng Jinyao looked at her deeply. “Thinking up a plan.”

“A plan? What kind?”

“Just a preliminary idea. It’s not time to act yet.”

Ningdong was confused, but seeing that her mistress wouldn’t explain, she said earnestly, “Madam, I’m not very clever and often overlook things. But Marquis is meticulous. If you plan anything, you must discuss it with him first.”

Meng Jinyao nodded without hesitation. “Of course. Anything that requires taking the initiative, I’ll definitely discuss with him and make sure it’s foolproof.”

After thinking for a moment, Ningdong lowered her voice. “Madam… are you planning to deal with the heir?”

Meng Jinyao only smiled meaningfully.

Ningdong’s heart skipped a beat. Her tone became excited. “Madam, are you serious about this?”

Meng Jinyao laughed and asked, “Ningdong, do you think I’m a good person?”

Without hesitation, Ningdong nodded. “Of course you are.”

Meng Jinyao chuckled. “I think I’m quite a bad person.”

Ningdong said solemnly, “How could you be bad? Would a bad person give away all her monthly allowance to help others seek medical treatment? Back when you were unmarried, you only had one or two taels of silver. You were going to buy rouge, but when you saw a grandfather and grandson who couldn’t afford medicine, you gave them the money without hesitation and went home without buying anything. And you’ve done many other good deeds too.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao pondered for a moment. “Then I suppose I can count as a good person. But even good people have their own plans. Let me think a bit more. Don’t disturb me.”

Ningdong was left speechless.

What did she mean, “can count as” a good person? She clearly was one.