SGEIRS -Chapter 370 Former Fiancée

In the evening, Gu Jingxi and Meng Jinyao returned from a boat outing on Tai Lake. As soon as they arrived back at Qinyaxuan, Steward Liu came over and presented an invitation, bowing respectfully: “My lord, this is an invitation delivered by the Huzhou Prefect.”

Huzhou Prefect?

Gu Jingxi furrowed his brows slightly and reached out to take the invitation. Glancing at its content, he saw that it was brief and to the point: the day after tomorrow was the Huzhou Prefect’s mother’s fifty-sixth birthday. A birthday banquet would be held at the residence, and they—the couple—were invited to attend.

The Huzhou Prefect was a fourth-rank official. He himself was a third-rank official. Logically, someone of his rank would not normally be invited to congratulate a lower-ranking official’s mother on her birthday.

However, the Huzhou Prefect’s brother-in-law was the Zhejiang Governor, a genuinely high-ranking official of second rank. Even Gu Jingxi would have to pay his respects upon meeting him. With such a powerful connection backing him, it made sense for the Huzhou Prefect to extend an invitation. After all, on the day of the birthday banquet, the Governor, as the son-in-law of the elderly lady, would personally visit to offer congratulations.

If the Governor were attending and he refused, it would clearly be seen as a slight.

Seeing his lord frown, Steward Liu felt uneasy. “My lord… is there something amiss?” he asked. Then he looked toward Madam Meng, as if suddenly realizing something, and quickly lowered his head.

Gu Jingxi replied in a calm voice, “Nothing. You may step aside for now.”

Steward Liu responded and withdrew: “Yes, my lord.”

Meng Jinyao took the invitation from her husband’s hand, read it, and then asked, “Husband, what connection does the Huzhou Prefect have with our family?”

Gu Jingxi shook his head. “None.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao nodded slightly. “Then should we prepare a birthday gift and send it the day after tomorrow? Though he ranks lower than you, they are all officials. Who knows, he might be promoted later and become your equal. It’s best to show a bit of courtesy. What do you think, husband?”

“You’re very thoughtful, Jinyao,” Gu Jingxi praised. Then he added, “However, for the banquet the day after tomorrow, we will both send the gift and attend the celebration.”

Meng Jinyao was momentarily taken aback, but she did not dwell on it. “Then I’ll have Steward Liu prepare the gift tomorrow. We’ll attend the banquet the day after, and I’d like to see what a birthday banquet is like here in Huzhou.”

Gu Jingxi asked, “Jinyao, do you know the background of the Huzhou Prefect? And who his wife is?”

Meng Jinyao shook her head. She didn’t know much about officials’ circles, let alone the Huzhou Prefect’s background or the identity of his wife. Even if she had known, it would have been limited to circles in the capital; she knew nothing about local officials.

Gu Jingxi spoke calmly, “The Huzhou Prefect’s surname is Wei. He originally came from the capital and married a daughter of the Mei family. After passing the imperial examination, he was assigned to a local post. After his father and elder brother passed away, he brought his mother to live with him. He has an elder sister, who is married to Governor Han of Zhejiang.”

After hearing this, Meng Jinyao nodded in understanding. “So his brother-in-law is the Governor. No wonder you’ll attend the banquet. He can be ignored, but the Governor must be shown courtesy, especially since the elderly lady is the Governor’s mother-in-law.”

Seeing that his young wife had yet to realize something, Gu Jingxi reminded her: “Jinyao, do you remember which family my former fiancée was from?”

Without thinking, Meng Jinyao replied, “The Mei family. Why?”

The moment she said it, realization struck her. Her husband’s former fiancée was from the Mei family—and the Huzhou Prefect’s wife was also from the Mei family. Could they be the same person, or perhaps sisters?

Seeing this, Gu Jingxi knew she had pieced it together. He said, “Madam Wei is my former fiancée.”

Although she had guessed, hearing it from him sent shockwaves through Meng Jinyao’s heart. She hadn’t expected such a coincidence: Madam Wei was her husband’s former fiancée.

In an instant, countless images flashed through her mind—old lovers meeting, comparisons between the former love and the new one. She couldn’t help but wonder if her husband still harbored feelings and if he planned to meet his old fiancée in Huzhou.

She lowered her eyes slightly and asked softly, “Th-then what does my husband mean by this?”

Gu Jingxi replied, “I just mean that I should tell you in advance, so that at the banquet you’re not the last to find out and feel awkward.”

Meng Jinyao clenched her fists, then raised her head to look at Gu Jingxi and, mustering courage, asked the question weighing on her heart: “Is it… that you are attending the banquet to see her?”

Her voice wavered with unease.

Gu Jingxi paused for a moment, then lifted her onto his lap, holding her gently. He spoke warmly: “Silly girl, what are you imagining? I told you last year, there was nothing between her and me. We were only once engaged. Now, we have each gone our separate ways. This banquet has nothing to do with her. Even if Madam Wei weren’t her, I would still attend.”

Meng Jinyao asked again, “It’s fine after she’s married, but what about before? You even had a set of plum blossom-style hair ornaments made for her, though you never gave them. The day after tomorrow you’ll see her again—what are your thoughts now?”

Gu Jingxi paused slightly, then explained in a gentle voice: “When we were setting a wedding date, my mother said I was like a block of wood, not winning a girl’s favor. She told me to give a gift on the fiancée’s birthday. She said the girl liked plum blossoms, so I should give something she liked to build rapport. That’s how the set of ornaments came about. Later, I was injured, and the ornaments were never delivered.”

Seeing that he didn’t seem to be lying, Meng Jinyao’s anxious heart gradually calmed, but she still had questions. “But the Mei family had already broken off the engagement. Why did you keep the ornaments?”

Gu Jingxi answered honestly: “After my injury, the imperial physician told me about my condition, and I thought about breaking off the engagement so as not to waste the girl’s life. I threw the set into the storage room, and before I could formally suggest ending the engagement, the Mei family came to break it off themselves. I had forgotten about the set in storage until you found it later.”

Meng Jinyao was stunned. She hadn’t expected it to be for such a reason. No wonder, when she discovered the set, it had been in an inconspicuous corner, long covered in dust—the husband had simply forgotten about it.

Gu Jingxi said gently: “Jinyao, I never had any romantic feelings for her. The engagement was arranged by our elders. I thought the Mei family girl was elegant and virtuous—a good girl—so I didn’t refuse.”

Meng Jinyao believed him and, feeling ashamed, said: “Husband, was I being unreasonable?”

Gu Jingxi shook his head lightly. “How could it be unreasonable? You asked directly when you had doubts—that’s perfectly fine. I’d rather you ask than imagine things on your own.”

He reached out, cupped her face in his hands, looked into her eyes, and said softly: “Jinyao, don’t let your mind wander. Your husband has grown up liking only you.”