SGEIRS -Chapter 424 To My Husband

Weirui Pavilion

Looking at the courtyard, which had grown increasingly desolate with the changing seasons, Meng Jinyao suddenly felt a wave of melancholy.

A moment ago, she had been smiling brightly, but now her smile had vanished. Seeing this, Chunliu immediately grew nervous.

At present, Madam was the most precious person in the household. Everyone treated her like a treasure, watching over her with utmost care. Even a small sneeze made people anxious. If her mood was low, that was even more worrying. A pregnant woman couldn’t be unhappy—how could that be allowed?

After thinking for a moment, Chunliu suggested, “Madam, if you’re feeling bored, how about inviting an opera troupe to perform? It might help lift your spirits.”

Meng Jinyao shook her head at once. She didn’t dislike opera, but whenever she listened to it, she would feel drowsy. Every time, she ended up wanting to sleep.

Chunliu tried again. “Then how about I tell you some recent news from the capital?”

Meng Jinyao nodded half-heartedly. “All right. Let’s go inside and sit down. You can tell me slowly.”

With that, she turned and went indoors.

Chunliu followed her in, sat on an embroidered stool beside her, and began racking her brain to recount various happenings among noble families—good things, bad things, and amusing stories alike—just to pass the time.

After finishing a story about which families were arranging marriages, Meng Jinyao suddenly looked at Chunliu.

“Chunliu, do you have someone you like?”

The sudden question stunned Chunliu. Seeing her mistress look at her seriously, as if intending to arrange a match for her, she felt both touched and grateful.

She answered honestly, “Madam, I don’t have anyone in mind right now.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao sighed with regret and nodded. “If you ever do, tell me. I’ll decide things for you.”

Chunliu smiled and thanked her. “Thank you, Madam. If I ever have someone I like, I’ll definitely tell you.”

Meng Jinyao added, “If you want to get married, you can tell me too. I’ll help you find a good man and arrange a meeting.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Madam, but I don’t want to get married yet,” Chunliu replied. Then she smiled and said, “You won’t laugh at me, will you? I want to wait until I’m twenty before marrying. It’s a bit late, but I don’t want to rush. I’d like to be a girl for a few more years.”

Meng Jinyao said, “I remember last year you said you were sixteen. So this year you’re seventeen.”

“Yes,” Chunliu nodded. “Madam has a good memory.”

Meng Jinyao looked at her expectantly and asked curiously, “Then what kind of man do you like?”

Chunliu’s cheeks flushed slightly. Lowering her voice, she replied, “I like someone honest and dependable, and who always puts me first. I think I’m not stupid myself, so as long as one of us is smart, that’s enough. If he’s too clever, I wouldn’t be able to control him. I’d rather have someone simple and sincere.”

Meng Jinyao was surprised. She hadn’t expected the usually clever Chunliu to prefer such a man.

She reminded her, “Sometimes, honest people can be very annoying too. What matters is whether you can accept his way of dealing with things.”

Chunliu nodded gently. “I understand.”

Meng Jinyao then thought of Chan’er and Yu Chuan. Yu Chuan liked Chan’er, but she had never asked whether Chan’er felt the same.

After chatting with Chunliu for a while, she dismissed her and summoned Chan’er.

Chan’er was rarely called in alone by Madam. Being summoned so suddenly, she was confused.

After paying her respects, she asked, “Madam, what do you need from me?”

Meng Jinyao went straight to the point. “Chan’er, do you have someone you like?”

Chan’er was stunned. “Madam, why do you ask?”

Meng Jinyao replied gently, “I feel you’re at marriageable age. Maybe you already have someone in mind. If you like each other, I’ll arrange your marriage.

“If you don’t, someone has come to the Marquis to propose. He asked me to ask for your opinion. If you’re willing, we’ll decide things for you.”

Chan’er froze. After a long moment, she asked, “Madam, who is it that came to the Marquis?”

“It’s Yu Chuan,” Meng Jinyao answered.

Chan’er was stunned again, then said, “Madam, when Yu Chuan comes back, please let him talk to me in person.”

Now it was Meng Jinyao’s turn to be confused. She couldn’t tell whether Chan’er liked Yu Chuan or not.

Hangzhou Prefecture, Post Station

After arriving in Hangzhou, Gu Jingxi stayed at the post station.

After a long, exhausting day, he was just about to wash up and go to sleep when he saw Yu Chuan running toward him excitedly.

He frowned. “Yu Chuan, you’re not a three-year-old child. Why are you still running around like this?”

Caught off guard, Yu Chuan immediately stopped, nearly stumbling forward. After steadying himself, he looked at his master with grievance.

He had always thought his master was gentle before, but now he was completely different.

Since Madam wasn’t around, the master was in a bad mood and couldn’t stand seeing others happy.

Especially these past two days, he kept asking, “Any letters from Madam?”

And every time Yu Chuan replied, “No,” his master would silently go off to work and make life miserable for the officials.

Some of those officials were corrupt, guilty of bribery and embezzlement. Even when his master uncovered evidence, he didn’t confront them.

When some tried to probe indirectly, he only smiled and praised their “merits” lavishly.

But that smile was terrifying. It made people uneasy rather than happy. Many were so frightened that they almost wanted to confess on their own, yet still clung to a bit of hope.

Seeing Yu Chuan staring at him, Gu Jingxi frowned. “What are you staring at me for?”

Yu Chuan stepped forward and presented a letter. “Marquis, Madam has written to you.”

At once, Gu Jingxi’s gloomy expression brightened. He took the letter and said gently, “If she’s written, she’s written. Why are you in such a hurry? Running so fast—you might fall.”

Yu Chuan shuddered all over.

Wasn’t this change of attitude too fast?

Being treated gently—even if it was fake—made him uncomfortable. Two words of concern from his master, and he already felt he couldn’t take it.

After a moment, Yu Chuan handed over the bundle on his shoulder. “Marquis, this came with the letter.”

“I know. You may go,” Gu Jingxi said.

Holding the letter and bundle, he turned and walked briskly into the room.

Watching his back, Yu Chuan knew his master was in a good mood now. When the master was happy, their lives were easier.

Inside the Room

Gu Jingxi set down the bundle and looked at the letter in his hand.

On the envelope, besides the address, four delicate characters were written in elegant script:

“To My Husband”

He gently traced the words with his fingers, a smile spreading across his face.

After a while, he carefully opened the envelope, afraid of damaging the letter inside.

When he took out the thin sheet of paper, he felt a brief disappointment.

Only one page?

Did that mean there were only a few words? Didn’t A-Yao miss him? Did she have nothing to say?

Slowly unfolding the paper, he read its contents. Soon, a smile returned to his face, warmth filling his heart.

Last time, he had written her a letter. This time, she had replied with a poem.

On the letter was written:

Man Ting Fang

After receiving my husband’s letter, I was overjoyed and composed this in reply.

Bright corridors in clear daylight,
Magpies chatter beneath painted eaves.
By a brocade window, lone incense curls.
I unfold your letter again—
Sure proof our longing is deep.

Willows in the courtyard have faded,
Autumn winds bring chill and light frost.
In the vast sky, lines of geese—
Soon or late, will they reach your riverside home?

I think of you.
Where your boat is moored,
Reeds line the shore, dew wets the mulberries.
Cold waves carry fallen leaves—
Do not forget to add warm clothes.

Still, we share this bright moon,
Beneath drifting clouds, easing lonely hearts.
When you return,
In a quiet pavilion we’ll sit together,
Listening to rain, tuning silk strings.