SGEIRS -Chapter 377 She Is Cunning

As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Jinyao instinctively recalled the events at the banquet earlier that day, reflecting on Madam Wei and Madam Han’s words and actions. There didn’t seem to be anything particularly alarming.

She asked, “Husband, why do you say that?”

Gu Jingxi replied, “I’ll tell you when we get home.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao didn’t press further.

Back at the Gu residence, in the room they stayed in—Qinya Pavilion—Gu Jingxi dismissed the maid and returned to the earlier topic: “Madam Wei isn’t as gentle and kind as you perceived at the banquet. What you saw was only the surface. When she’s ruthless, even infants aren’t spared. She’s responsible for the deaths of several people. No matter what her reasons were, innocent children are always blameless. If you encounter her again in the future, stay alert.”

Meng Jinyao was shocked by his words. She recalled Madam Wei’s seemingly cordial attitude toward Madam Han, while Madam Han remained polite but distant in return. It was clear Madam Wei was another ‘soft-faced, hard-hearted’ type.

Her previous stepmother, Madam Sun, had been similar, but at least Madam Sun’s flaws could be detected in small details.

Madam Wei, however, was different. Her gaze was gentle and clear, her smile warm, her manner meticulous and attentive. Occasionally, Meng Jinyao even overheard guests privately praising Madam Wei, and she herself had begun to appreciate her—a natural admiration for someone elegant and refined.

It was evident that Madam Wei was far more cunning and calculating than Madam Sun.

A moment later, Meng Jinyao felt curious again. “Husband, how do you know she’s done such things?”

Gu Jingxi did not conceal anything and replied truthfully: “After we arrived in Huzhou Prefecture, I had Zhou Yun and Yu Chuan secretly investigate matters related to Lord Wei, including his household. Madam Wei has caused the deaths of three children, a concubine who accidentally drowned, and some who died in childbirth.”

Meng Jinyao’s expression grew solemn. Deaths of children and women from palace conflicts were common among prominent families, but she never expected someone who appeared so beautiful and kind to commit such acts. What shocked her even more was another matter: her husband was here investigating a case, and if he could uncover Lord Wei’s involvement, didn’t that suggest the case was connected to Lord Wei?

Gu Jingxi glanced at her and calmly said, “I don’t believe in superstition. I also had the previous two magistrates of Deqing County investigated. They were upright officials, not corrupt, yet their deaths were mysterious. Clearly, they knew something and were silenced. The culprits were unlikely ordinary people—only someone from officialdom could have done it. That points directly to Lord Wei.”

Meng Jinyao’s expression grew even graver. She asked, “Husband, are you certain their deaths are truly related to Lord Wei?”

“Currently, there’s no evidence, so it’s too soon to draw a conclusion,” Gu Jingxi said, pausing before continuing, “I also must be careful not to act prematurely, so as not to alert anyone. Zhou Yun and the others investigate first in secret. Fang Xuan and Fang Ce can’t show themselves yet either.”

Meng Jinyao then asked, “What about Madam Han?”

Gu Jingxi replied, “Madam Han is indeed kind. Her family background was simple before marriage, and after she joined the household, the inner quarters remained clean. Although Lord Han had a servant, he didn’t take concubines and wasn’t involved in scheming.”

Meng Jinyao nodded, then asked, “Husband, how do you know so much about Lord Han in Hangzhou?”

“He’s Madam Wei’s brother-in-law and also her superior. The more you know about him, the less likely you are to be wrong,” Gu Jingxi smiled faintly. “To investigate a case, you must not only examine the suspect but also their network of connections.”

Meng Jinyao’s heart raced. If Lord Han were also involved, this case could be enormous. She softly asked, “Husband, how long will it take to investigate this case?”

Gu Jingxi replied, “After the ancestral rites, we’ll need to visit Deqing County. Some matters can only be clarified there. Your maternal uncle is the newly appointed magistrate of Deqing County, and your aunt was kind to you while alive. Since we’re already in Huzhou Prefecture, visiting your uncle is proper—and it also provides a convenient cover for our real purpose.”

Meng Jinyao nodded again. She didn’t ask further; she couldn’t help with the investigation anyway. She would treat it as a sightseeing trip and return to the capital afterward.

Gu Jingxi, not wanting her burdened with such matters, changed the subject. “A-Yao, play a game of chess with me. I want to see if your skills have improved.”

Meng Jinyao’s competitive spirit was immediately aroused. She asked a maid to fetch the chessboard.

She was skilled at chess, but her husband was even better. He never deliberately let her win, so if she wanted to succeed, she would have to think carefully and plan each move.

The first game ended with no surprise—Gu Jingxi won.

Seeing his wife’s disappointed expression as she gazed at the finished board, seeming to regret missed opportunities, he reached out to pat her head reassuringly. “A-Yao, I’ve told you before, hesitating at the right moment, overthinking and holding back, leads to missed opportunities and eventual regret.”

Meng Jinyao, unwilling to admit defeat, said, “Husband, let’s play again!”

Gu Jingxi indulged her. But her cautious style—careful to ensure every move is safe—was deeply ingrained from her upbringing. It couldn’t change overnight.

Unsurprisingly, she lost again.

Gu Jingxi said, “You seized the first opportunity, so logically, the second should have resulted in a tie. But you hesitated the second time, giving me the chance to win. Let’s play another round.”

She lost again, but with undiminished spirit, playing one more round. Finally, the game ended in a tie. She smiled with satisfaction, stretched her neck, and glanced at the sky outside. It was already late.

She hadn’t eaten much at the banquet, so she instructed a maid to make a bowl of noodles. After eating, she took a bath and prepared to rest.

Yet the person beside her was restless.

The man, already accustomed to indulgence, teased and coaxed her, turning the evening into another bout of mischief.

When it ended, Meng Jinyao was drenched in sweat, exhausted, unable to move. Seeing that Gu Jingxi still seemed energetic enough to carry her to the dressing room, she asked, “Husband, aren’t you tired?”

Gu Jingxi looked at her meaningfully and asked in return, “A-Yao, are you doubting your husband?”

Meng Jinyao blinked in confusion, “Huh?” She was about to speak when her lips were blocked by his.

The bathing room quickly descended into chaos, water splashing everywhere.

After dressing and preparing to leave, Meng Jinyao saw the mess. Considering the noise they’d made, the maids would surely know what had happened. She instantly blushed, glaring at him in mock anger. “Gu Jingxi, you promised we’d only bathe!”

Gu Jingxi held her gently and coaxed, “A-Yao, don’t be angry. It’s my fault. I misunderstood you, thinking you were questioning me… Will you forgive me this time?”

Meng Jinyao was momentarily speechless, suspecting he had intentionally misinterpreted her words to tease her. When he asked if she preferred the bedroom or the bath, she didn’t want to answer, but the ordeal forced her to respond.

Pouting, she said firmly, “Gu Jingxi, you naughty man! You did it on purpose!”

Gu Jingxi looked innocently at her, a hint of wronged expression in his eyes. “A-Yao, I didn’t. You’ve misunderstood me.”

Meng Jinyao knew he was playing innocent, but she couldn’t help but fall for it. She shot him a glare. “I’m tired. I don’t want to argue with you.”

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi promptly lifted her in his arms, returned to the room, and thoughtfully massaged her waist, finally calming her. Tonight, he dared not cause further trouble.