SGEIRS -Chapter 474 Chengzhang Is Sick

Gu Jingxi nodded in agreement and then changed the subject. “A-Yao, didn’t you say before that you wanted a painting of your pregnancy? We happen to have some free time today. How about I paint it for you myself?”

Meng Jinyao’s eyes lit up at this, and she nodded repeatedly. “Yes, please!”

Gu Jingxi immediately instructed the maid to prepare the painting supplies and then led his young wife to a scenic spot within the residence to begin painting.

However, he didn’t expect that his recently dismissed niece would see them, and she excitedly ran over, standing beside him and watching him paint, occasionally offering comments—which ended up frustrating him, because the niece wasn’t complimenting his skills.

For example, she suddenly said, “Third Uncle, clearly you are gazing at Third Aunt with affection, so why is it that in your painting, Third Aunt is staring affectionately straight ahead? That’s not realistic. Right now, her eyes are gentle and loving; she must be thinking of my unborn little brother, not looking at you.”

Gu Jingxi: “……”

He suddenly didn’t like children.

The next moment, Gu Xuanyi added, “Oh, I see! There’s still a blank spot ahead. Third Uncle, you plan to paint yourself in too, so you and Third Aunt can gaze at each other lovingly?”

Gu Jingxi: “……”

This child was indeed tiresome—she said everything exactly as she thought.

Meng Jinyao, noticing her husband’s frustrated expression, couldn’t help laughing. “Xuanyi is right. I am indeed thinking of the baby, but if husband wants it painted this way, that’s actually fine.”

Gu Jingxi gave a soft “hm” and continued focusing on his painting. Eventually, just as Xuanyi said, he painted himself in as well, with the two of them gazing at each other affectionately.

Looking at the painting, Gu Xuanyi first praised it, then said, “I used to think Third Aunt would be clingy, but it turns out it’s Third Uncle! Even when painting, he puts himself in to cling to Third Aunt.”

Gu Jingxi put down the brush and began to hold her accountable. “Xuanyi, didn’t you say you were going to apologize to your eldest sister-in-law? It hasn’t even been long, and here you are again. Did you finish apologizing already?”

At this, Gu Xuanyi’s expression tightened, and she hurriedly said, “Mother was busy and didn’t have time to see me, so I went out for a walk. I didn’t expect to run into Third Uncle and Third Aunt, so I came over.”

Gu Jingxi said, “If that’s the case, then let’s continue with the earlier matter. I’ll quiz you on your knowledge first.”

Gu Xuanyi was confused. “?”

Hadn’t this already been settled?

In the end, Gu Xuanyi couldn’t escape. Her uncle quizzed her on several questions, none of which she could answer. The only one she could have answered she didn’t, due to lack of confidence.

Gu Jingxi said earnestly, “Xuanyi, although you’re a girl and don’t need to take the imperial exams, you cannot be too careless in your studies. You must set a good example for your unborn brother or sister.”

Xuanyi, looking dejected, nodded repeatedly. “Third Uncle, I will study diligently in my free time from now on.”

Gu Jingxi didn’t allow for objections. “I asked you about the Book of Songs, and you couldn’t answer. Your punishment is to copy the Book of Songs once.”

Xuanyi’s eyes widened in disbelief. She never imagined that at seventeen, she could still be punished with copying books.

Seeing this, Gu Jingxi’s tone darkened. “What’s the matter? Don’t want to?”

Xuanyi dared not refuse. She quickly nodded. “I will, Third Uncle. I didn’t study properly before. Copying and memorizing will help me. That way, the next time you quiz me, I can answer correctly.”

The moment she said this, she immediately regretted it, wishing she could turn back time. How could she have been so confident as to say she’d answer next time? If she got it wrong again, she’d have to copy it all over. What would she do then?

Gu Jingxi, however, was satisfied. “Then go copy it now. Make sure your handwriting is neat. If I find you’ve done it sloppily, you’ll have to do it all over again.”

Xuanyi didn’t dare delay and hurriedly took her leave. If he quizzed her further and she couldn’t answer, she would only face more punishment.

Meng Jinyao watched her niece flee in a panic and said helplessly, “Husband, why are you being so harsh with the child?”

Gu Jingxi was unbothered. “I don’t think I’m being harsh. She’s a girl of the Gu family, and she can’t be so ignorant. She’s idle now anyway; it’s better for her to study. Practicing her handwriting and memorizing texts, she won’t waste time doing nothing. Otherwise, what kind of example is that?”

Meng Jinyao paused, suddenly realizing his excuse made sense.

On the second day of the first month, it was the day for married daughters and their husbands to visit the bride’s family. All the daughters of the Gu family went with their husbands.

No matter how dissatisfied Meng Jinyao was with her family, appearances had to be maintained. Moreover, her second brother was there, so in the morning she went with Gu Jingxi, taking gifts to visit her family.

Meng Jinyu had married far away and returned to Yangzhou with her husband. She did not visit her parents this day. In fact, daughters who married far away rarely got the chance to return home; some went decades without a visit.

Early in the morning, Madam Dong had already given the kitchen the menu, preparing dishes to suit Meng Jinyao and Gu Jingxi’s tastes. Previously, she had paid attention to what the stepdaughter liked when eating a banquet, and for the son-in-law, she asked him directly, since he had eaten with the husband at the same table.

Upon arriving at the residence of the Marquis of Yongchang, Meng Jinyao greeted her grandmother, but did not see Chengzhang. Feeling strange, she asked Madam Dong, “Mother, where’s second brother? Why don’t I see him?”

Madam Dong answered truthfully, “That child Chengzhang is sick. We were afraid he’d pass the illness to you, so he didn’t come over.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao’s heart tightened, and she anxiously asked, “Second brother was fine just now. How did he get sick?”

Old Madam Meng was about to speak, but Madam Dong replied first, straightforwardly, “On New Year’s Eve, Chengzhang knelt in the ancestral hall all night. There was no fire inside, and he caught a chill and developed a high fever. But now the fever has subsided.”

Madam Dong’s words annoyed Old Madam Meng. On the one hand, she was clever; on the other hand, sometimes she seemed brainless, answering exactly what she was asked, making it seem deliberate.

Meng Jinyao’s expression darkened. She had thought that since her second brother had become a scholar, even the top scholar, the Meng family would begin to value him more. She hadn’t expected that even on New Year’s Eve, he’d have to kneel in the ancestral hall. Her voice serious and accusing, she asked, “On New Year’s Eve, a day meant for the family to stay up together, what exactly did second brother do wrong that you made him kneel in the ancestral hall?”

Her tone, like she was launching an inquiry, greatly displeased Old Madam Meng, but with Gu Jingxi present, she dared not show her anger.

Meng Chengxing, being considerate, eased the situation for his grandmother. He lightly said, “Eldest sister, it was because second brother was disrespectful at the time and offended grandmother. She was angered, so she had him kneel in the ancestral hall to reflect. No one expected he would catch a chill. Once grandmother learned he was sick, she immediately had the household doctor attend to him.”