SGEIRS -Chapter 39 I Trust My Wife

Meng Jinyao had no intention of explaining herself. She only wanted to argue her way out of it. Putting on a smile, she asked instead, “If I say I never said such a thing, would you believe me, husband?”

Gu Jingxi replied meaningfully, “Madam, are you speaking to me with your conscience in hand when you say you never said it?”

“Of course,” Meng Jinyao answered without hesitation. “How could I speak ill of my own husband in front of my friends?” She was determined to deny everything outright—her conscience could wait.

Seeing the young lady smiling at him so innocently, her eyes full of harmlessness, Gu Jingxi knew she would never admit it. He nodded and said, “Since Madam says she didn’t, then she didn’t. I believe you.”

Without the slightest guilt, Meng Jinyao said firmly, “I never said it.”

Gu Jingxi nodded and hummed in response, smiling gently. “Madam is a gentle and virtuous wife. You’re certainly not the kind who speaks badly of her husband behind his back.”

Meng Jinyao was left speechless. “……”

If you don’t believe me, just say so. Why insult me in such a roundabout way?

Gu Jingxi didn’t dwell on the topic any further. He lifted the carriage curtain and glanced outside, then let it fall again.

“It’s almost noon,” he said. “There’s Heshan Pavilion ahead. Shall we have lunch there before going home?”

Meng Jinyao had grown up poor in her natal family. Her stepmother, Madam Sun, always claimed the family wasn’t as well-off as before and needed to economize, so the children were given very little allowance. After all, they had food and clothing at home, and learning thrift was a good thing.

Of course, this “economizing” applied only to Meng Jinyao and her younger brother, Meng Chengzhang. Madam Sun’s own children were excluded. On the surface, everyone was treated the same, but privately, she subsidized her own children.

So when Meng Jinyao heard about Heshan Pavilion—a restaurant where one meal could cost more than her monthly allowance—she instinctively shook her head.

“There’s no need to waste money,” she said. “We’re not far from home anyway. Let’s just go back and eat there.”

Gu Jingxi looked at her thoughtfully, then smiled.

“Madam doesn’t need to be so frugal. Though I’m not especially capable, I can still afford to support my wife comfortably.”

Only then did Meng Jinyao realize that she now had someone beside her who could pay the bill.

She might be poor, but Gu Jingxi certainly wasn’t.

So she immediately changed her mind and smiled brightly.

“In that case, I won’t save money for my husband today. Let’s have lunch at Heshan Pavilion.”

After speaking, she called out to the driver, “Uncle Zhang, stop at Heshan Pavilion ahead.”

After lunch at Heshan Pavilion, Gu Jingxi ran into a colleague and had matters to attend to. Meng Jinyao then returned to Changxing Marquis Manor with her maids.

On the way back, Qingqiu suddenly said, “Madam, from my observations these past few days, His Lordship treats you very well. You really married the right man.”

Meng Jinyao paused slightly, then smiled and nodded.

“Back then, instead of choosing between the Second Young Master and Fourth Young Master, I chose him because I’d heard he was upright and responsible. If we can continue to respect each other and live peacefully like this for a lifetime, that wouldn’t be bad.”

Ningdong joined in, “His Lordship seems to have a good temper. You’ll surely live well together for life.”

Then she sighed a little. “The only drawback is His Lordship’s hidden illness. You can’t have children of your own, Madam. And the Heir is like that… He probably won’t be filial to you in the future.”

Qingqiu, worried about her mistress’s future, suggested softly, “Madam, why don’t you discuss with His Lordship about adopting a child? A child raised from young will surely be close to you and filial later.”

Meng Jinyao fell silent.

She hadn’t thought much about children before, but she knew that her so-called stepson, Gu Xiuming, would never treat her well. If Gu Jingxi were ever gone, her good days would likely be over.

Gu Xiuming would have children and grandchildren, but they would have nothing to do with her. Given their poor relationship, if his family ever turned against her when she was old and alone, she would be outnumbered and helpless, with a miserable old age.

All things considered, Qingqiu’s suggestion was excellent.

She nodded. “For now, I don’t want to raise a child. In two or three years, I’ll mention it to His Lordship.”

Ningdong immediately brightened, her voice full of excitement.

“Madam, the Heir is irresponsible and lacks virtue. If the Marquisate ends up in his hands, it’ll probably decline. If you adopt a young master and raise him well, he could even replace the Heir.”

Meng Jinyao’s face hardened.

“Ningdong, watch your words!”

Her sudden change in expression startled Ningdong. She stammered, “Madam, I just think that if you raise a child yourself, you should fight for what you deserve…”

Seeing that Ningdong still didn’t understand, Qingqiu reminded her gently.

“Ningdong, some things can be thought in your heart and acted on quietly, but must never be spoken. Walls have ears. If others hear you, disaster may follow. We are Madam’s trusted attendants. If we say the wrong thing or do the wrong thing, not only will we be punished, Madam will also be implicated.”

Ningdong immediately understood.

“Madam, I was wrong.”

Meng Jinyao knew both Qingqiu and Ningdong were loyal to her, but their personalities were very different. Qingqiu was calm and steady, while Ningdong was impulsive and outspoken. That was why important and delicate matters were usually entrusted to Qingqiu.

She said earnestly, “Ningdong, the Changxing Marquis Manor has many people and undercurrents. It’s even more complicated than the Yongchang Marquis Manor. Every word and action must be cautious, or you’ll hand others a handle against you.”

Ningdong nodded. “Madam, I’ll be careful next time.”

Meng Jinyao softened her expression.

“Not just next time—try to make sure there is no next time. Being careful with words and actions isn’t only necessary when you’re by my side. Even after you marry, you must do the same. Some things can stay in your heart but must not be said aloud. Being too straightforward can offend your parents-in-law and even lead to quarrels with your husband. In short, thinking twice before acting is never wrong.”

Ningdong’s cheeks flushed slightly.

“Madam, I don’t want to get married. I want to stay by your side for life.”

Meng Jinyao smiled. “That’s because you haven’t met someone you like yet. When you do, you’ll probably beg me to release your contract.”

Ningdong shook her head vigorously.

“I won’t fall for anyone! After marriage, I’d have to serve my husband and parents-in-law, and maybe deal with meddlesome sisters-in-law too. How could that be as comfortable as staying with you, Madam?”

Meng Jinyao looked at her with gentle eyes and smiled without replying.

Life was unpredictable. Who knew what the future held?

Perhaps fate would arrive quietly one day, changing one’s original thoughts without warning.