SGEIRS -Chapter 510 Jealous Again

The banquet ended, and the guests departed.

Back at Weirui Pavilion, Meng Jinyao picked up the imperial edict and read its contents. Hearing footsteps, she looked up and saw her husband approaching. She smiled and said, “Husband, I’ve discovered that you’re also someone whose words don’t match your heart. You verbally complain about Wanwan, but in your heart, you’re fond of him. That’s why you had him officially titled the heir so early.”

Gu Jingxi glanced at the edict and then shook his head lightly. “A-Yao, this wasn’t me requesting the title for Wanwan.”

Meng Jinyao shot him a teasing look. “If it wasn’t you, then who else could it be?”

Gu Jingxi was momentarily at a loss. He couldn’t very well admit that he had been busy competing for his son’s attention and hadn’t even thought about the matter before the edict arrived.

After a moment, he regained his composure and replied calmly, “It really wasn’t me. I had planned to request the title for Wanwan later, but I didn’t expect the emperor to issue the edict directly. That’s the emperor’s grace.”

Meng Jinyao was stunned.

Gu Jingxi continued, “Earlier, the emperor asked me Wanwan’s full name. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but today I realized why.”

Meng Jinyao put down the edict. “Husband, I’ve realized that there’s an enormous difference between being highly favored by the emperor and being neglected by him, even for the same matter.”

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi looked puzzled. “Hm?”

Meng Jinyao explained, “When my grandfather passed away, and my father inherited the title, he had to request the heir title for my third brother. The edict for his appointment was delayed for a long time, which made Madam Sun anxious. But because you are favored by the emperor, our Wanwan didn’t even need you to petition for it—the edict was issued immediately.”

Gu Jingxi paused slightly, then glanced at their son, sleeping soundly in the little bed, and smiled. “Well, this little one has benefited from my favor. As the heir of the marquisate, he’ll eventually have to support the entire household, so he needs to start learning independence early. Tonight, he’ll sleep by himself.”

Meng Jinyao was taken aback. “Ah?”

Gu Jingxi continued, “Anyway, the wet nurse is watching him, so you don’t need to worry. Even if he sleeps with us, we’d still have to hand him back to the wet nurse when he wakes up hungry. Isn’t that more troublesome?”

Meng Jinyao, having spent the last two nights sleeping with their son and still not feeling satisfied, felt reluctant. “But…”

Gu Jingxi interrupted firmly, “The heir of a marquisate must learn independence from a young age. Otherwise, when he grows up, if he clings to his parents and doesn’t achieve anything, how could I confidently hand over the marquisate to him?”

At first, Meng Jinyao felt he had a point and nodded hesitantly.

The wet nurse, who had been standing silently to the side, suddenly realized how strict life is for children of noble families. Even a newborn marquis’s son must be trained to be independent, and the father—having his first child after thirty—is already so demanding. In a normal family, who would dare to be this strict?

Gu Jingxi didn’t look at their son again and instructed the wet nurse, “Take the heir downstairs.”

The wet nurse nodded obediently. “Yes, Marquis.” She bent down, lifted the little heir from the bed, bowed slightly to the couple, and then stepped back.

Meng Jinyao watched her take Wanwan away and complained softly, “Husband, it’s not even bedtime yet. Wanwan will wake up soon. I wanted to hold him a bit longer and pass the time. Why did you have the wet nurse take him?”

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi suddenly turned to look at her, his gaze even more plaintive than hers. “A-Yao, your husband is a grown man standing right here. If you’re bored, can’t you hold me instead? Why insist on holding Gu Xiuheng?”

Meng Jinyao froze. “Ah?”

Then she sized him up and stammered, “Husband, I’d love to hold you, but I can’t lift you.”

“Is that a problem?” Gu Jingxi smiled gently, stepped forward, and scooped her up in his arms. “Holding A-Yao is just the same as holding him.”

Caught off guard, Meng Jinyao let out a soft gasp and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. Looking up, her gaze met his gentle, smiling eyes. Her lips curled slightly as she cupped his face and teased, “Jealous of our child again? So all that nonsense you just said was just an excuse not to have Wanwan sleep with us tonight.”

Gu Jingxi nodded honestly. “As long as you understand, A-Yao. From now on, everything must be treated equally.”

Meng Jinyao hadn’t expected him to be so jealous, especially over their son. Suppressing her laughter, she coaxed him, “Wanwan isn’t more important than you. I can choose not to sleep with him, but I can’t not sleep with you. If you’re not beside me, I won’t be able to sleep.”

Gu Jingxi replied, “I’m used to having you by my side. If there’s another person between us, I wouldn’t be able to sleep either.”

Meng Jinyao complied. “Alright, alright. Tonight, we won’t have Gu Xiuheng sleep with us. Just us tonight.”

Gu Jingxi, clever as always, wasn’t easily appeased. His voice lowered slightly. “Just tonight? Not tomorrow night?”

Meng Jinyao hurriedly said, “Not tomorrow either. He’s a full month old; he needs to learn independence. Didn’t you say that after my confinement, you’d take me to the estate to play? When you have a day off, we’ll go, and leave Gu Xiuheng at home.”

Having said that, Meng Jinyao tilted her head to kiss him on the cheek. Unexpectedly, he leaned down and kissed her instead. She froze for a moment, then closed her eyes and returned his kiss.

They hadn’t been this intimate for some time. Previously, because of her late pregnancy, Gu Jingxi only gave light, fleeting kisses. Later, during her confinement, she needed to rest properly, so indulging in such behavior would have been reckless.

After a long while, Gu Jingxi finally let her go.

Meng Jinyao groggily opened her eyes and realized she was pinned on the soft couch. Seeing his restrained expression, she felt a bit tenderhearted and whispered, “Husband, Wanwan is already a month old.”

Gu Jingxi understood her meaning, kissed her cheek, and then adjusted her open robes gently. His voice was warm, “No rush, A-Yao. We have plenty of time ahead.”

Meng Jinyao nodded. “That’s true; it’s still not dark.”

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi chuckled softly. “When has your husband ever cared about whether it’s dark or not? We’ve done this in broad daylight before.”

Meng Jinyao’s cheeks flushed.

Gu Jingxi brushed her nose gently and said warmly, “Silly girl, although you’ve finished your confinement, your body isn’t fully recovered yet. Rest a little longer.”

Meng Jinyao felt a wave of warmth in her heart. Her husband cared for her, so she would care for him in return.

That night, at bedtime:

Meng Jinyao lay in bed, rubbing her wrists, silently scolding herself for worrying over her husband. This man, once started, had no sense of moderation—her hands were sore.

Gu Jingxi, perceptive as always, immediately held her small hands and began gently massaging them, apologizing at the same time. “A-Yao, don’t be angry. I know my mistake.”

Meng Jinyao glared at him. “You always apologize sincerely, but then repeat it next time?”

Gu Jingxi looked at her helplessly, not daring to promise there wouldn’t be a next time. He knew his own tendencies all too well; as she said, he could acknowledge a mistake now, yet still dare to repeat it later.

Seeing this, Meng Jinyao gave up arguing and instructed, “Keep massaging. Don’t stop.”

Gu Jingxi responded, “At once, my wife. Is the pressure alright?”

Meng Jinyao shot him a teasing glance. “It’s passable. Keep going.”