SGEIRS -Chapter 436 Not Short of Money

At the Changxing Marquis’ Residence.

As soon as Gu Jingxi returned home, he first went to Shou’an Hall to pay his respects to his elderly mother. The mother and son had not seen each other for nearly three months, and she must have missed him greatly.

Old Madam Gu had received news that morning that her son had returned. However, he had gone to the palace early to see the emperor, so she did not mind. Important matters came first, and it was fine if they met a little later.

Inside the Buddhist hall, sandalwood incense drifted gently in the air.

Old Madam Gu held a wooden fish in one hand and prayer beads in the other, softly chanting scriptures.

Nanny Feng hurried in and reported, “Old Madam, the Marquis has come.”

Old Madam Gu paused in striking the wooden fish and turned to her. “He’s back from the palace?”

“Yes,” Nanny Feng replied with a nod. “This servant has already invited the Marquis to wait in the hall.”

Old Madam Gu smiled. “I’ll go over at once.”

She rose and left the Buddhist hall with Nanny Feng to meet her son.

Upon entering the hall, Old Madam Gu looked carefully at Gu Jingxi. He had also stood up. After examining him closely, she found that he had not changed much in the past three months, though he looked somewhat tired. Clearly, the journey had been exhausting, and life in Hangzhou had not been easy either.

Gu Jingxi stepped forward and saluted. “Your son greets Mother. Have you been well lately?”

Old Madam Gu nodded gently, her smile kind. “I’ve been quite well. A-Yao is such a filial child. Look at the clothes I’m wearing—they were made by her. I told her before not to tire herself out, but she wouldn’t listen. She even made two more sets afterward.

“Not only these clothes—even my shoes and socks are made by her. When I go out and meet my old sisters, they’re all so envious that I have such a devoted daughter-in-law.”

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi examined his mother’s clothes and smiled more deeply. Knowing that his mother and A-Yao got along well in his absence, he said gently, “Since A-Yao made them for you, Mother, you should just accept them.”

Old Madam Gu replied, “I’m just afraid she’ll tire herself out. She’s pregnant, after all. Fortunately, she hasn’t had much discomfort, and the doctor said the baby is doing very well.”

Then she added, “Don’t just stand there. Let’s sit and talk.”

Gu Jingxi agreed, helped his mother to the seat of honor, and then sat below her.

Old Madam Gu asked with concern, “Yaoling, did you run into any trouble while you were in Hangzhou?”

“No,” Gu Jingxi replied without hesitation. “Everything went smoothly. Mother needn’t worry.”

She glared at him lightly. “You always report good news and hide bad things. Even if the sky were falling, you’d say nothing happened. No matter what, you must ensure your own safety. You’re not alone now. A-Yao and the child depend on you. If anything happens to you, an old woman like me, already half-buried in the ground, won’t be able to help much.”

Gu Jingxi comforted her softly. “Mother, don’t worry. You know your son—I always act with restraint and won’t put myself in danger.”

Old Madam Gu snorted. “That’s not necessarily true. When you lose your sense of restraint, you can scare me half to death.”

Gu Jingxi choked slightly and coughed to ease the awkwardness. “Mother, that was in the past. I was young and reckless. Now that I’m older, how could I still act so thoughtlessly?”

Old Madam Gu glared at him again.

Her son had been clever since childhood, a favorite among teachers, quick at learning anything. But he could also be troublesome. He often sneaked out to drink, race horses, and even hunt deep in the forest.

Once, when she learned he had disappeared in the woods, she was terrified out of her wits.

She and her husband searched desperately and finally found Yaoling running toward them, covered in blood. He said casually that he hadn’t gotten lost—he had gone deeper to hunt a black bear. He had actually fought one and killed it. The blood was the bear’s.

He spoke lightly, but she and her husband were frightened to the core.

After returning home, they punished him severely. Only then did he restrain himself somewhat. They said, “Like father, like son.” She wondered if her grandson would be the same in the future.

Old Madam Gu asked, “This time, when the emperor sent you to Hangzhou, what exactly was it for? You wouldn’t tell me before. Now that it’s settled, you can say it, can’t you?”

Gu Jingxi replied, “The Governor of Zhejiang was involved in corruption and bribery. Many subordinate officials were implicated as well.”

Old Madam Gu was surprised. “The Governor of Zhejiang—wasn’t that Han Jin, the State Duke’s uncle?”

Gu Jingxi nodded. “Yes. The Han family is finished this time. When His Majesty sent me to Hangzhou, he had already made up his mind to deal with them.”

Old Madam Gu sighed softly.

The Gu and Han families had once been on good terms. The current State Duke’s father had been her husband’s friend. The old Duke had been decent, but his son was too arrogant. Otherwise, Yaoling and the current Duke might still have maintained contact.

Now, even Han Jin, the most promising of the family, had fallen. The Han family was doomed.

She said, “Yaoling, when educating descendants, ability is secondary. Character comes first. Even if they’re mediocre, they won’t destroy the family.”

Gu Jingxi replied, “Rest assured, Mother. I understand.”

Suddenly, Old Madam Gu thought of something and asked kindly, “By the way, Yaoling, do you have enough money?”

Gu Jingxi was stunned. “???”

Did he look like someone who lacked money? Hadn’t his mother known him for thirty years?

Seeing his confusion, Old Madam Gu added, “I’ve saved quite a lot over the years. Your maternal grandparents also gave me a generous dowry back then. If you’re short of money, just tell me. No need to be polite.”

Gu Jingxi shook his head. “Mother, I’m not short of money. I don’t have many expenses, and I have private assets. How could I be lacking?”

Hearing this, Old Madam Gu believed him.

In the past two months of “raising her daughter-in-law,” she had truly experienced what it meant to spend money like flowing water. But she was happy to spend it—it was worth it.

Even so, when Gu Jingxi was about to leave, Old Madam Gu still forced the prepared banknotes into his hand and said, “I know you have enough money. But this is from me. If you don’t need it, then spend it on A-Yao and the child.”

Unable to refuse, Gu Jingxi accepted it.

After leaving Shou’an Hall, he was still a little dazed.

Since childhood, his mother had never taken the initiative to give him money. She had always taught him to be frugal and not extravagant. And since he wasn’t wasteful, his monthly allowance had always been enough.

Now that he was grown, he had private property and imperial rewards for his merits. His family wealth was considerable.

Yet his mother had just given him ten thousand taels in one go.

Why?

She had always loved him, but this sudden display of maternal affection left him completely puzzled.