SGEIRS -Chapter 354 Seeing Through the Smallest Details

After dinner on the painted boat, Meng Jinyao and Gu Jingxi stood by the window, enjoying the night view along the river. Though it wasn’t any festival, the capital was lively everywhere, and the river now was bustling enough to hear the soft strains of music from a neighboring boat.

The pitch-black sky was sprinkled with stars, dazzling like flames, reflected in the river. Gentle ripples spread across the water, scattering the starlight like fragments of gold, brilliant and eye-catching.

Leaning against the window, Meng Jinyao felt the gentle river breeze, watched the scenery outside, and, with her beloved by her side, her heart was light and happy, her smile never fading.

After a moment, Meng Jinyao glanced sideways at the man beside her. Seeing him looking at her tenderly, her smile grew even brighter. Without a sound, she reached out and lightly scratched the palm of his hand with her fingertips.

Gu Jingxi suddenly felt a tickle in his palm, as if a feather had brushed across it. Instinctively, he looked at his little wife, who was smiling at him while continuing to tickle his palm.

His palm tingled pleasantly.

He quickly held her mischievous little hand in his own. Seeing her smile falter and her face show a hint of displeasure, he pulled her closer, hugging her from behind. “No more mischief,” he said softly.

Meng Jinyao let out a small “oh,” and didn’t continue her mischief. She felt like all her bones had melted away, leaning into his embrace, tilting her head to look at the starry sky above. Suddenly, she asked, “Husband, what do you think the world beyond the capital is like?”

Gu Jingxi replied, “It’s mostly as the books describe, but even more wonderful. If we have the chance, we’ll go see the world outside the capital together.”

Meng Jinyao’s heart leapt with joy, but thinking of his usual busy schedule, the happiness quickly faded. She sighed softly, “That will take a long, long time… at least until after you retire, you’ll have the time.”

Gu Jingxi’s expression faltered. As a government official, he really couldn’t leave the capital without the emperor’s permission, except if sent on official business elsewhere. Otherwise, he’d have to wait until old age, retiring at home.

After a while, a smile returned to Meng Jinyao’s face. She turned to him, “But it doesn’t matter, the capital is wonderful too—it’s the most bustling place in Zhao.”

Gu Jingxi lowered his head and kissed her forehead, speaking gently: “In our lifetime, I’ll take A-Yao to see the world beyond the capital.”

Meng Jinyao nodded with a smile. “Alright.” Then she added, “Actually, as long as we’re together, it’s fine wherever we are. Going far away is just fate—if we can, we will; if not, it doesn’t matter.”

Gu Jingxi said, “Life is still long; we will have the chance.”

—

Changxing Marquis Mansion

After returning to the mansion, Meng Jinyao went to bathe, accompanied by Qingqiu.

Gu Jingxi noticed that his little wife had been a bit unusual today. With his years of experience handling cases, he sensed that something had likely affected A-Yao today, though it probably wasn’t anything serious—just a matter of her mood.

Regardless, he felt uneasy. Privately, he asked Ningdong, “Ningdong, did anything happen to the madam today?”

Ningdong shook her head gently, confused. “Marquis, nothing happened today. Why do you ask?”

Gu Jingxi pressed on, “Then what did the madam do today?”

Still puzzled, Ningdong recounted truthfully: in the morning, the madam learned household management from the elder madam; in the afternoon, she visited her cousin; then she went to the Court of Justice to meet him. That was all she did today.

Gu Jingxi didn’t hear anything useful, so he asked, “Did she have any disagreements with the elder madam?”

Ningdong shook her head, “No, Marquis. She gets along well with the elder madam. The elder madam answers her questions, though she tried to see if the madam planned to take over the household affairs. But the madam said she had no such intention, only wanted to learn.”

Gu Jingxi thought nothing of it, then asked again, “Did anything unpleasant happen when she visited her cousin?”

Ningdong’s expression flickered. Remembering what the cousin had said to her mistress, she knew it must never be told to the Marquis. “Nothing unpleasant happened,” she said honestly.

Gu Jingxi observed her subtle expression and knew roughly where the problem lay. He pressed, “How long did the madam stay at Charan Residence with her cousin?”

“Two ke,” Ningdong replied.

Two ke?

Gu Jingxi narrowed his eyes. Two ke was a short time. The day before, A-Yao had told him they got along well. They hadn’t seen each other for over a year, so surely there would be much to discuss. How could she leave after just two ke? That meant something unpleasant must have happened. But Ningdong, being A-Yao’s servant, wouldn’t reveal the details without her mistress’ permission. Otherwise, she would have told him in the afternoon.

Seeing him silent, Ningdong nervously asked, “Marquis, is there a problem?”

Gu Jingxi’s tone was calm. “Nothing. Just don’t mention our conversation to the madam. Understand?”

Although puzzled, Ningdong felt a silent pressure and nodded quickly. “Yes, Marquis.”

“Then you may go,” Gu Jingxi said.

Ningdong bowed and left. Once outside, she pondered the conversation. She hadn’t said anything wrong, so why did the Marquis ask these questions? Could it be he was jealous of the madam meeting another man? But it didn’t seem like jealousy—A-Yao’s visit to her cousin was with his knowledge.

Unable to figure it out, Ningdong shook her head and let it go.

After bathing, Meng Jinyao wrung out her hair and lay on the bed, waiting for Gu Jingxi to return.

Soon after, Gu Jingxi finished bathing and entered the inner room. His little wife looked at him from the bed. He stepped over and sat at the edge. The cloth she had been using to wring her hair was quickly taken by A-Yao.

Sitting up, she began wringing his hair with the cloth while chatting about amusing stories she had heard from the maidservants about other households.

At first, they laughed and talked. Gradually, it became unclear who seduced whom first—their lips met, cutting off the rest of their words.

After a long while, their lips parted. Gu Jingxi’s lips were slightly sore, tasting faintly metallic and sweet. No mirror was needed—he knew his lips had been chapped, and the culprit was the woman sitting on his lap.

Looking at his little wife, sitting innocently on his waist, he spoke with a mix of indulgence and exasperation, “A-Yao, was that on purpose?”