SGEIRS -Chapter 413 Children’s Marriage Prospects

That night, exhausted from the journey, Meng Jinyao should have been able to sleep well after finally returning home. Instead, she lay awake, unable to fall asleep.

She knew her husband had official duties to attend to, yet she still couldn’t bear the coming separation. It was probably because this would be the first time they would be apart for so long, and she wasn’t used to it. She kept wriggling into his arms and tossing restlessly.

Gu Jingxi couldn’t sleep either because of her movements. He wrapped his arms around her to stop her from fidgeting and said with a smile, “A-Yao, I’m not leaving the capital until the day after tomorrow. If you can’t sleep tonight, won’t you sleep even worse tomorrow?”

Meng Jinyao argued stubbornly, “It’s probably because I haven’t slept in my own bed for so long. I’m just not used to it.”

Gu Jingxi didn’t expose her and suggested, “Then how about I tell you a story?”

She nodded. “Alright, go ahead.”

His voice was indeed pleasant, but his storytelling was truly dull—no different from a monk chanting scriptures. It made people sleepy just listening to it.

Before long, Meng Jinyao drifted off.

The next morning, as soon as dawn broke, she forced herself out of bed to wash and dress, yawning several times in the process.

Seeing this, Gu Jingxi said, “A-Yao, why don’t you sleep a little longer?”

She shook her head immediately. “No. Today is the day to pay respects to Mother. I can sleep after we come back.”

Seeing her insistence, he let her be.

After getting dressed and having breakfast, the couple went to pay their respects to Old Madam Gu.

Afterward, Gu Jingxi and his two elder brothers left for their respective offices. Gu Xiuhong followed closely—he had recently secured a post in the Ministry of Revenue and needed to report for duty.

Gu Xiuyuan accompanied Madam Jiang back to her parents’ home. After paying respects, he left with his wife and son for the Jiang residence.

That left only Old Madam Gu, the three daughters-in-law, and Gu Xuanyi—who had returned home after her divorce—in the room.

Having been apart for some time, Gu Xuanyi was still very warm toward Meng Jinyao. She was cold toward her father, who had always put profit first and neglected her well-being, but her attitude toward her mother was still fairly good. At least her mother hadn’t abandoned her.

Gu Xuanyi hadn’t gone back to their hometown in Huzhou and asked curiously, “Third Aunt, is Huzhou fun?”

Meng Jinyao replied, “It is. The scenery is like a painting, and there’s plenty of delicious food. The clan members there are also very easygoing.”

Gu Xuanyi sighed regretfully. “If I’d known, I would’ve gone back with you to worship the ancestors.”

Meng Jinyao smiled. “There will be plenty of chances in the future.”

Listening to them, Madam Zhang suddenly had an idea and said, “Xuanyi, remember Madam Zhou mentioned her nephew last time? He’s from Huzhou, and I think he’s quite good. He’s in the capital now. If you’re willing to meet him, I can bring it up in front of the elders today and let your grandmother give her opinion.”

Gu Xuanyi didn’t respond. She only looked at Old Madam Gu for help.

Regardless of whether that young man was good or not, she instinctively resisted marriage. Her previous marriage had been to a man who preferred men, and she had even been beaten—how could she not fear it?

Old Madam Gu frowned at once and said disapprovingly, “Our ancestral home may be in Huzhou, and we have relatives there, but they’re still distant relations. In my opinion, it’s better to find someone in the capital. If anything happens, she can return to her parents’ home the same day, and her family can immediately seek justice for her.”

Madam Chen echoed, “Eldest Sister-in-law, Mother is right. Our family is rooted in the capital. We should find Xuanyi a husband here. If she marries into Huzhou, wouldn’t that be a distant marriage? It takes more than half a month just to come back once. Girls who marry far away hardly get to return home in their lifetime. Look at our Xuanling—she’s come back several times this year and always visits her elders when passing by.”

Madam Zhang was stunned.

She hadn’t thought that far. She only felt that young man was talented: from an official family, seventeen years old, already a xiucai, well-off, unmarried, and unconcerned about Xuanyi’s past. He was in the capital now, so a meeting could easily be arranged.

Old Madam Gu glanced at her helplessly. “Eldest Daughter-in-law, Xuanyi is only sixteen and has been divorced for just a few months. There’s no need to rush. A second marriage must be even more careful than the first. Don’t just look at appearances—an aunt will naturally praise her nephew. Besides, if he’s from Huzhou, why didn’t his family find him a bride there? Why did his aunt rush to match him here? Could it be that he’s gained a bad reputation back home and wants to find an uninformed girl from elsewhere?”

Madam Zhang froze again. Realizing her mistake, she nodded repeatedly. “Mother is right. I was careless. Next time I’ll investigate thoroughly first. If he’s truly good, I’ll let you decide before arranging a meeting.”

Old Madam Gu didn’t say more.

Her eldest daughter-in-law looked clever, but she was only sharp over petty gains. When it came to major matters, she often lacked judgment.

Knowing her mother-in-law didn’t want to dwell on the topic, Madam Chen tactfully changed the subject. “Eldest Sister-in-law, Xuanyi really doesn’t need to rush. If anyone should be anxious, it’s her second brother first. Xiuhong is two years older than her.”

Old Madam Gu nodded. “Xiuhong has entered officialdom. It’s time for him to start a family. Second Daughter-in-law, have you found any candidates?”

Madam Chen sighed. “I’ve found quite a few—good girls with fine character and appearance. But he keeps refusing, saying he doesn’t want to marry yet. He says he’s just started his career and wants to achieve something first.”

Old Madam Gu said gently, “His ambition is a good thing. If he’s unwilling now, waiting another year or two won’t hurt.”

Madam Chen shook her head helplessly. “He’s grown up and has his own ideas. I can’t control him. His father agrees with you, Mother. It’s just me—I get anxious when relatives keep asking about his marriage.”

Old Madam Gu comforted her, “When fate hasn’t arrived, you can’t force it. If you make him marry someone he doesn’t like, they’ll quarrel in the future. Xiuhong succeeded through the imperial exams at a young age. He’s promising—he won’t lack a wife.”

Madam Chen sighed softly. “I hope so.”

Listening to their conversation, Meng Jinyao couldn’t find a chance to speak.

She had no children yet and couldn’t truly understand the anxiety parents felt over their children’s marriages. She could only sit quietly and listen.

Gu Xuanyi also kept silent, afraid the topic might turn back to her. What she feared most now was the elders arranging another marriage.

Only after getting married once did she realize how carefree and happy life as a young girl had been.

After marrying into another family, just learning the household rules had nearly broken her. Especially in winter—she had to rise early in the freezing cold, go serve her mother-in-law before even eating breakfast, and sometimes wait outside if her mother-in-law hadn’t woken up yet.

These were things she had never done even for her own mother, yet she had to do them for her mother-in-law. It made her feel unbearably aggrieved.

Not only that—if she went out too often, her mother-in-law would criticize her for not staying at home, calling her childish and irresponsible, unfit as a wife and daughter-in-law.

So, if she ever remarried, she would never marry into a family with a living mother-in-law.

She didn’t want to endure those rules again.

Even though she knew there were kind mothers-in-law, she was afraid she wouldn’t be lucky enough to meet one.

The word “filial piety” weighed heavily on her.

No matter what her mother-in-law asked her to do or how she scolded her, she couldn’t resist or talk back. Otherwise, she would be labeled unfilial, and people would say she had no upbringing and that her natal family had failed to teach her properly.