SGEIRS -Chapter 33 An Unfilial Son Is Unworthy

“Behave yourself. I might not be around next time.”

When he said this, the man looked calm. There was a hint of helplessness in his tone, but no sign of anger.

Meng Jinyao paused slightly, then smiled and asked, “Husband, are you worried that I’ll be bullied by your son?”

Gu Jingxi glanced at her indifferently and did not reply.

Meng Jinyao didn’t mind whether he answered or not. Still smiling, she said lightly, “Don’t worry, Husband. With just him, he can’t bully me.”

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi’s face twitched. He knew she would never behave herself. In fact, she might even enjoy teasing Xiuming and treating him like entertainment.

Helplessly, he said, “Madam, why must you provoke him for no reason?”

Meng Jinyao immediately disagreed.

“When did I provoke him? I heard he had a high fever that wouldn’t go down, so I specially went to check on him.”

She said this in a dignified and righteous manner, but Gu Jingxi didn’t believe a single word. Looking at her gentle and kind expression—just like a loving mother caring for her son—he shook his head and chuckled.

“With that, Madam, you should worry about him less. That unfilial son isn’t worthy.”

“I’m an elder. Why would I argue with a junior?”

Meng Jinyao didn’t care much. After all, when arguing with Gu Xiuming, his verbal skills were no match for hers.

She lifted her head slightly and looked at him with a bright smile.

“Besides, if he doesn’t listen, don’t I still have you to discipline him?”

Gu Jingxi asked in return, “What if I’m not around next time?”

“That’s simple,” Meng Jinyao replied naturally. “Then I’ll discipline him myself. If a son disrespects his elders, it’s only right for his mother to teach him.”

Gu Jingxi had no way to deal with her and could only let her do as she pleased.

Judging from Xiuming’s attitude today, he clearly had no intention of admitting his mistakes. Even if she didn’t deliberately seek him out, he would still provoke her when he saw her. Asking her to avoid him would only reduce the number of conflicts slightly.

Meng Jinyao asked again, “Our dear son is injured and had a high fever last night. You didn’t even have time to ask about his condition just now. Should we go back and check on him?”

“No need,” Gu Jingxi replied calmly. “He still has the energy to curse people, so he can’t be that bad.”

Meng Jinyao nodded in agreement.

“I think so too. Our son should be fine. Then let’s go back and have lunch. I’m hungry.”

After speaking, she walked off without waiting for his reply.

Her light footsteps showed just how good her mood was.

Gu Jingxi rubbed his forehead helplessly.

One real unfilial son, one fake kind mother. Their household would surely be lively in the future.

Weirui Pavilion

After receiving the Marquis’s signal, Chunliu had no choice but to return first.

On the way back, she felt extremely uneasy, afraid that the Marquis would later question her for secretly informing Madam. When she arrived at Weirui Pavilion, she didn’t dare show her anxiety.

It wasn’t until she saw the two masters return one after the other—Madam smiling brightly and the Marquis following behind her indulgently—that Chunliu finally relaxed.

Madam really had her ways. In no time, she had soothed the Marquis.

Chunliu became even more convinced that clinging tightly to Madam was the right choice. If she wanted to remain a respectable senior maid, she had to work even harder.

After lunch, Gu Jingxi left the residence on official business.

In the spring afternoon, the sunlight was gentle and warm. A soft breeze brushed against one’s face.

Meng Jinyao sat by the window, propping up her head, gazing at the cloudless sky. She felt extremely comfortable.

For the first time, she truly felt the benefits of being married.

She no longer had to guard against her seemingly kind but ruthless stepmother, nor did she have to endure her grandmother’s harsh scrutiny every day.

At her husband’s home, aside from the troublesome wedding day, and aside from her husband being a bit older and having an unfilial son, everything else was fine.

That unfilial son couldn’t bully her anyway—her status was higher than his.

Ningdong, Qingqiu, and Chunliu were attending her at the side.

Suddenly, Meng Jinyao asked, “Chunliu, how old are you this year? How long have you been in this household?”

Chunliu answered honestly, “I’m sixteen this year. I was bought by Old Madam together with Xiazhu. I’ve been in the Marquis’s residence for four years. I used to serve by Old Madam’s side and was sent to Weirui Pavilion last year.”

Meng Jinyao asked again, “You should know quite a lot about the household, right? Tell me in detail.”

Chunliu responded and spoke freely, describing the personalities of the various masters and mistresses.

After listening, Meng Jinyao frowned slightly.

Gu Xiuming was gentle, refined, polite, and well-mannered, deeply loved by his elders?

Which part of that matched Gu Xiuming?

He was clearly irresponsible, ill-behaved, unrepentant after making mistakes, and even shifted blame onto the victim.

Such a junior—whether others liked him or not, she didn’t know. But as his “mother,” she felt no affection for him at all.

Seeing her frown silently, Chunliu asked uneasily, “Madam, is there anything else you’d like to know?”

Meng Jinyao replied calmly, “Others may be as you described, but my son Xiuming and the person you spoke of are clearly two different people.”

Chunliu was stunned.

Thinking of the two times Madam had met the heir—both times full of confrontation—he really didn’t seem gentle or well-mannered at all.

Meng Jinyao yawned, feeling sleepy.

“I’m tired. I’ll rest for a while. You may all go about your duties.”

The three maids responded and withdrew.

Outside

Xiazhu looked down on Chunliu’s flattering behavior and whispered to her, “Do you really have to be so obsequious to Madam? We’re senior maids of Weirui Pavilion. You weren’t even this flattering in front of the Marquis.”

Chunliu replied, “We are senior maids, but now Madam runs Weirui Pavilion. As for the Marquis, he never lets maids attend him closely. Before, we could still do some things, but after Madam married in, most tasks are handled by her dowry maids. What do we do now?”

Xiazhu said, “We just do whatever Madam tells us.”

“You’re really a blockhead,” Chunliu scoffed. “If you don’t show your face in front of Madam and win her favor, how can you be valued?”

She glanced at Xiazhu and continued, “Did you notice the bracelet Madam is wearing? That’s the symbol of the head matron of the Gu family. The First Madam managed household affairs for years and never got it. Madam received it right after marrying in. She might take over the household soon.”

Xiazhu was shocked. “That’s unlikely, right? The First Madam manages things quite well.”

“Why not?” Chunliu lowered her voice. “Even though the First Madam manages affairs now and the Second Madam assists her, both the First and Second branches are from concubines. The Marquis is legitimate. Madam is the rightful head matron. Even if the heir marries in the future, he can’t outrank her.”

Xiazhu finally understood.

Seeing that she had grasped the point, Chunliu added, “We’re sisters, so I’m reminding you. If you want Madam to value you, be smarter. If she likes you, she might even add to your dowry when you marry. And whether we get to marry at all depends on her word.”

Xiazhu nodded gently.