SGEIRS -Chapter 398 Why Is This?

Gu Jingxi knew very well that although Wei Heng and his wife appeared normal on the surface, they were actually a pair of lunatics. With his little wife staying with the crazy Mei Qingyun, he couldn’t help but feel worried.

So when he saw Meng Jinyao, he looked her over and asked gently, “A-Yao, how did you get along with Madam Wei?”

Meng Jinyao answered honestly, “We got along quite well. I have to say, Madam Wei is very talkative and knows how to divert people’s attention. When I talk to her, I naturally end up following her train of thought.”

Gu Jingxi pulled her into his arms and sat her down. “Then what did she talk to you about?”

“Not much at first. She started by saying things to comfort me, then casually shifted to other topics—just everyday matters. But there’s one thing I found strange. Lord Wei seemed to dislike her staying with me. When she stayed, he looked a little unhappy. Or maybe I was just imagining it.”

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi frowned slightly. Those disgusting matters were not something he could bring himself to explain to A-Yao, lest they sully her ears. Wei Heng didn’t want Mei Qingyun to stay because of him. Their arguments were also because of him. Even during their intimate moments, they would drag him into it and complain. They didn’t find it awkward, but he certainly did.

He remained silent. Seeing this, Meng Jinyao didn’t think much of it and continued with a smile, “I also noticed that Madam Wei is especially fond of the study. She talked a lot about interesting things that happened between her and Lord Wei there—betting on books and splashing tea, composing poems, painting and writing inscriptions, playing the zither and flute, playing chess. Even their marital disputes happened there. Although she’s not a good person and even plotted against her husband’s children and concubines, from the way she described it, it seems she and Lord Wei were quite close. Does Lord Wei really not know what she’s done?”

Gu Jingxi was slightly stunned. “The study?”

“Yes,” Meng Jinyao nodded. “Everything she told me happened in the study, and every topic circled back to it. Even when I tried to change the subject, she would steer it back to the study. She even asked whether I had any interesting stories from the study. There’s really nothing special about it. Seeing how obsessed she was, I could only humor her and talk about childhood memories of studying and writing with my second brother.”

After hearing this, Gu Jingxi felt something was off. Normal conversations wouldn’t revolve around just one place. And when someone tried to change the topic, a talkative person like Mei Qingyun would usually follow along, not stubbornly force it back. Why was she so fixated on the study?

Meng Jinyao noticed his silence and asked, puzzled, “Husband, is there something wrong with Madam Wei?”

Gu Jingxi shook his head slightly. “I don’t know. I’m not sure.”

She didn’t ask further. Matters related to the case were beyond her help anyway. Since it was already lunchtime, she had the maidservants set the meal.

For Gu Jingxi’s convenience, Meng Jinyao had the food served in their room and dismissed the servants.

Gu Jingxi looked at the bowl of plain porridge in front of him, then at the rice and dishes in front of A-Yao. He fell silent at once. In the future, he really shouldn’t pretend to be sick—he needed a different excuse.

Seeing this, Meng Jinyao laughed. “Husband, I suggested eating in the room for your sake. If we’re putting on a show, we should do it properly. You’re ‘seriously ill,’ so you can only have porridge. Drink it obediently. But you can eat the dishes.”

Gu Jingxi smiled. “Alright.”

She picked up a slice of meat for him and asked, “You don’t need to pretend to have a high fever tonight, right? I was worried Lord Wei might actually invite a famous doctor and expose you. That’s why I told Madam Wei not to bother.”

“No need anymore,” Gu Jingxi replied. “But illness comes like a landslide and leaves like silk being drawn out. I’m still weak, so I’ll need at least ten days of rest before returning to the capital. We must find the account books as soon as possible and take them back to report.”

“Do you have any leads?” she asked.

“There should be some,” he paused, then added, “If not, we’ll dig three feet into the ground to find them.”

She was stunned. “What do you mean, ‘should be’?”

“It means I’m not sure yet. We’ll know after we search.”

That night.

Yu Chuan returned to report. He said he had already taken an imprint of the key hanging around Lord Wei’s neck and handed the mold to Gu Jingxi.

Gu Jingxi glanced at it and said calmly, “Well done. How did you manage it? Were you noticed?”

“Rest assured, Marquis,” Yu Chuan replied respectfully. “I used sleeping incense. Both Lord Wei and Madam Wei slept very deeply and didn’t notice anyone entering. I didn’t stay long—just took the mold and left. None of the servants noticed either.”

Gu Jingxi nodded in satisfaction. Then he asked, “After Madam Wei returned today, what did she say to Lord Wei?”

“They argued a little again,” Yu Chuan said. “Lord Wei was afraid she might let something slip and expose him. When he found out she hadn’t said anything, he finally relaxed. I think he’s worrying too much. No matter how crazy Madam Wei is, she knows where her interests lie. If Lord Wei falls, it won’t benefit her either.”

Gu Jingxi was silent for a moment, then asked, “You really searched every corner of his study?”

Yu Chuan nodded firmly. “Every place that could be searched was searched. There’s nothing useful there. No hidden compartments either. It’s just an ordinary study.”

Gu Jingxi said calmly, “I’ll search it myself tomorrow. If I find something, I’ll reward you.”

Yu Chuan froze. “Ah? What reward does Marquis plan to give me?”

Gu Jingxi spoke gently, saying something chilling, “Of course, I’ll reward you with a wife who has a temperament similar to Madam Wei. You’ll marry her, and then Chan’er will be married off to someone else.”

Yu Chuan was instantly horrified. “Marquis, please give me another chance! I’ll go search again!”

“So you didn’t search carefully before?” Gu Jingxi asked quietly.

“Marquis, please judge fairly!” Yu Chuan shook his head frantically. “I really did search everywhere. There was nothing!”

“I’ll check myself tomorrow,” Gu Jingxi said. “Have someone make the key as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Marquis.”

Yu Chuan quickly accepted the order and took the mold.

That night, he didn’t dare sleep. He went straight to Lord Wei’s study and searched it again from top to bottom, even more carefully than before, afraid he might have missed something. After all, he really didn’t want his master to “marry him off.”