SGEIRS -Chapter 383 Hinting for Husband

Before long, the evening banquet began.

Since it was all relatives from the same clan, it could be considered a family gathering, so it was relatively casual. At first, some of the guests were a bit restrained, but seeing that the couple were gentle and easygoing, they gradually relaxed.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of dishes, the banquet was nearing its end.

Once the banquet concluded, the steward saw the guests off.

Meng Jinyao and Gu Jingxi, however, remained, chatting with a few elder relatives of the clan. These elders were all around eighty years old and had never advanced beyond the imperial examinations, instead spending decades teaching at academies. Now elderly, they were retired at home, carrying a strong scholarly aura.

After all the guests had left, Gu Jingxi and Meng Jinyao each went to bathe.

In the bedroom.

Gu Jingxi was massaging Meng Jinyao’s shoulders and asked softly, “A-Yao, how did you find tonight? Did anything seem off about them?”

Meng Jinyao shook her head, puzzled. “No, they were all very proper. Not a single one even tried to ask me for favors. I might not be able to do much for anyone, but I could hint subtly… yet no one said a word. That’s odd.”

Gu Jingxi replied, “Unless someone in their family has committed some misdeed, they wouldn’t be able to ask us for help.”

Meng Jinyao looked shocked. “Why not?”

Gu Jingxi explained, “Like I told you before, the relatives who settled down in Huzhou are generally ordinary. They either run small businesses, teach at academies, study diligently for the imperial exams, or are regular commoners. Even if some family members have become officials elsewhere or joined the military, who would suddenly come to us asking for connections or favors?”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao thought of the Gu clan members based in the capital. Those who settled there had done well, and those who were officials elsewhere were also competent. But the ones still in Huzhou were relatively ordinary compared to relatives elsewhere.

Gu Jingxi continued, “Tonight, the elders who spoke with us have taught for decades. In Huzhou, they are respected by the clan, and they keep the younger generation in check. Most clan members wouldn’t act out of line. Of course, a few troublemakers exist, but they weren’t allowed to come tonight.”

Meng Jinyao nodded lightly, then smiled after a moment. “By the way, husband, I saw a little fellow from Xiuyuan tonight. He’s a generation younger than us, very handsome and well-behaved—just the kind of child one would naturally like.”

Gu Jingxi asked, “A-Yao, what are you trying to say?”

Meng Jinyao replied, “I was thinking, if we had a child, he or she would surely be as delicate and charming as Xiuyuan. And I’ve noticed, the Gu family generally has good-looking members; there’s no one who’s particularly unattractive.”

Gu Jingxi, sensing another meaning, asked with a knowing tone, “A-Yao, are you hinting for husband?”

Meng Jinyao: “???”

Hinting… what? What was she hinting at? She was just talking normally!

Gu Jingxi continued, “A-Yao, your husband understands now. It seems he has been at fault and still needed your reminder.”

Meng Jinyao was still confused. She didn’t understand herself, so how did this man understand anything?

Soon, Gu Jingxi acted on what he interpreted, fulfilling her wish to have a child as delicate and lovely as Xiuyuan.

Meng Jinyao then realized, feeling frustrated. After a day of ancestral worship and the evening banquet, how did he still have the energy for such things? Although she was thirteen years younger, her stamina was no match for his thirty years. Was her body too weak?

Gu Jingxi, rare in his restraint, only pressed once before letting her be, carrying her to the purification room.

Meng Jinyao recalled their previous indiscretions there and instinctively refused. “Husband, I’ll bathe myself. The day after tomorrow I’m visiting my uncle in Deqing County, and tomorrow I need to buy gifts for him.”

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi pinched her cheek, half exasperated and half amused. “What do you take your husband for? I am not some beast.”

Meng Jinyao glared at him. “Because of past experiences, I must stay cautious. Otherwise, if I naively trusted you, I’d end up suffering.”

“Your husband guarantees it. This time, it’s truly just a bath.”

After speaking, Gu Jingxi carried her to the purification room without further argument. True to his word, it was a simple bath, and nothing else happened.

After bathing, the couple returned to the bedroom to rest.

Outside, Qingqiu, hearing the quiet inside, knew the masters were resting. There was no need to wait on them tonight, so she retired as well. With the couple’s love so evident, perhaps news of a happy event would reach the capital soon.

At the Wei residence.

Lord Wei’s attendants reported the Gu family’s ancestral rites and the evening banquet for the clan relatives.

Lord Wei frowned slightly. Gu Jingxi’s visit to Huzhou seemed genuinely for the ancestral rites. Normally, he either traveled with his wife for leisure or stayed home and didn’t see anyone. Nothing appeared unusual.

An attendant asked, “Sir, should we continue to watch him?”

Lord Wei pondered briefly. He felt they could not let their guard down. Gu Jingxi was a sly old fox. He instructed, “Keep an eye on his movements. See where he goes, if he meets anyone secretly—make sure he doesn’t notice.”

The attendant responded, “Yes, sir.”

At the same time, a beautiful woman was standing outside the study, having overheard their entire conversation. She was both shocked and startled. Soon, she realized something and her expression darkened slightly.

Just as she was about to leave after the conversation ended, the study door opened.

The attendant froze upon seeing her and quickly bowed. “Your ladyship.”

Mei Qingyun nodded slightly. “No need for formalities. Go about your duties. I have business with the master.”

The attendant bowed and left.

Lord Wei suddenly looked toward the door. Upon seeing Mei Qingyun, he furrowed his brows again. Did she overhear their conversation? She had always been infatuated with Gu Jingxi for years. If she knew they were monitoring him, she might tell Gu Jingxi. If that happened, Gu Jingxi would know everything—what then?

However, Mei Qingyun, clearly having eavesdropped, stepped into the study as if nothing had happened, closing the door behind her. Smiling softly, she walked gracefully toward him, her steps measured, and asked gently, “Husband, why are you looking at me like that? You seem nervous. Even if I scolded you a few times, that shouldn’t make you afraid of me, right? I’d look like some she-tiger.”

Seeing his wife so tender, Lord Wei felt a chill. His frown deepened, unsure what madness she was up to, and asked in a low voice, “Why are you here?”