SGEIRS -Chapter 313 It’s the Young Miss

Half a month passed.

Gu Jingxi resumed his daily duties at the Dali Temple. Since he had been reprimanded for being lax in managing his household and failing in educating his son, the first thing he did when he was allowed out was to go to the palace and offer his apologies to the emperor.

Emperor Jingwen, Zhao Shuo, greatly favored Gu Jingxi as a minister. He was loyal and talented. If he hadn’t been punished, other court officials would have complained, so the last time, the emperor had even refrained from punishing him.

To Gu Jingxi, the emperor also felt a sense of debt. After all, he had injured himself to save Gu Jingxi in the past. If Gu Jingxi had had his own child, there would have been no need to adopt someone else’s; he would already have a complete family.

Looking at his trusted minister, the emperor recalled how Gu Jingxi had initially been forced to marry—a daughter-in-law who was actually his son’s intended fiancée. Such a ridiculous affair had been the talk of the capital for a long time. Back then, the emperor had hesitated to mention it, but now he curiously asked, “Yaoling seems to have a good relationship with Madam, does she?”

Gu Jingxi was slightly taken aback, not expecting the emperor to ask such a question, but he answered truthfully, “Over time, feelings grew. Now, we are in harmony, like a well-tuned zither and lute.”

The emperor’s curiosity was piqued: “For Madam to win Yaoling’s favor, she must have some remarkable qualities, right?”

Gu Jingxi didn’t go into details, thinking it wasn’t fair to A-Yao. After all, it had been A-Yao who made the astonishing request to marry him. He only said, “She’s just a young miss, but gentle and virtuous, clear about right and wrong. She respects her elders and is kind to the younger ones.”

At first glance, it didn’t sound particularly special—just like any ordinary, well-bred young lady.

The emperor remarked, “Marrying a virtuous wife is good. If a woman can be so, she is indeed a fine wife.”

Gu Jingxi’s expression softened. “That is exactly what I thought. So I didn’t overthink it at first. I approached it with a calm heart, and over time, feelings naturally developed. This marriage has turned out well.”

After some conversation, Gu Jingxi took his leave and returned to his duties at the Dali Temple.

The temple officials, who hadn’t seen their lord minister for half a month, all came forward to greet him and cast curious, scrutinizing glances.

The incident at the Changxing Marquis Mansion, just half a month ago, had spread like wildfire across the capital by the next day. From palace nobles to street beggars, everyone had heard of this scandal.

Every wealthy household had its dirty secrets, but a son scheming against his mother? Such blatant disobedience and betrayal were almost unheard of—a once-in-ten-years event. Gu Xiuming was already the heir apparent. No matter how angry he was about Meng Jinyao becoming his mother, he should never have destroyed his own future. Yet he was exiled and stripped of his clan status—a deserved outcome.

Even their minister, Gu Jingxi, had been humiliated in connection with his son over the past year. Truly, it was a burden to have raised such a son.

Qi Yunwen glanced at him with lingering resentment. “Yaoling, you’re something else. In these past two weeks, I came to see you three times—and all three times, you shut the door on me.”

Gu Jingxi replied seriously, “The emperor ordered me to reflect on my mistakes. During this period, I should focus on self-reflection, not receive visitors. Do you want me to defy the imperial decree?”

Qi Yunwen rolled his eyes and lowered his voice: “Gu Yaoling, don’t give me that. I know you. You’re not reflecting—you’re spending time with your young wife and enjoying it.”

Gu Jingxi looked at him and, without explanation, tacitly confirmed it.

Qi Yunwen, half exasperated, half amused, said, “You really value pleasure over friendship. I told you it was urgent, yet you were lost in love and didn’t even see me.”

Gu Jingxi, unfazed, asked, “Did you manage to resolve the matter in the end?”

Qi Yunwen snorted, “After all this time? Of course it’s resolved. What else could happen?”

Gu Jingxi glanced at him calmly. “You see, you could solve it without me. That proves I wasn’t necessary—you simply rely on me too much.”

Qi Yunwen, fuming, wanted to hit him. “Who relies on you? You don’t know how embarrassed I was that day, chased for miles by a pack of ferocious dogs.”

Gu Jingxi replied matter-of-factly, “And if I had sneaked out to help you, would the dogs have spared us? When it’s time to be chased, you will be chased. Better to have one person chased than two. Don’t you think?”

Qi Yunwen: “…”

He felt unsatisfied. No one had shared his embarrassment, and it left him uneasy.

Qi Yunwen dropped the topic and simply briefed him on the temple’s cases over the past half-month, including those already solved. Once finished, during some casual conversation, he said, “Yaoling, you care more about sister-in-law than I imagined. Was your anger on her behalf?”

Gu Jingxi did not deny his concern and replied, “Xiuming’s previous actions were unworthy of an heir. This time, the evidence was conclusive, witnesses and proof alike. The emperor’s decision to depose him was justified. He brought it upon himself. Even if the victim weren’t A-Yao, I would have acted the same.”

Qi Yunwen was momentarily stunned. This suited his friend’s character perfectly: fair and upright, siding with justice rather than blood, which is why the emperor had transferred him from the Hanlin Academy to the Dali Temple—an institution that needed such an official.

After a while, Qi Yunwen asked curiously, “Now that Xiuming has been exiled and stripped of clan status, with you and your wife childless, are you considering adopting another child?”

Gu Jingxi shook his head lightly. “No, I’m not thinking about adoption for now.”

Qi Yunwen was surprised, thinking perhaps the Xiuming incident had disheartened him, making him unwilling to adopt another child for fear of being betrayed again. He asked, “Then what about the title? You still need an heir.”

Gu Jingxi smiled gently. “I haven’t given much thought to long-term matters. I just want to live well in the present. I’m quite satisfied with life now. As for children, we’ll consider it later. A-Yao is still young, the age for play, not for raising a child.”

Qi Yunwen was again taken aback but, seeing his carefree expression, realized his friend wasn’t disappointed by Xiuming, just broad-minded.

Gu Jingxi added, “I’ll look over the files. You may proceed as you wish.”

At the hour of Shen, as the officials were finishing their duties, Gu Jingxi had nothing pressing and left on time.

He remembered that last night his young wife had mentioned wanting to eat wontons. So he went to the old Xu Wonton shop they used to frequent and bought some to bring home.

As he entered the courtyard, he hadn’t walked far before he saw a familiar figure running toward him. His lips curved into a gentle smile. He handed the wontons to a maid and opened his arms to embrace her.

Soon, Meng Jinyao leapt into his arms, lifting her head with a radiant smile, her voice crisp and lively: “Husband, I won last night’s chess game!”

Gu Jingxi lavishly praised her, “A-Yao, you’re amazing.”