SGEIRS -Chapter 553 He’s Been Stimulated

As the sun sank behind the western hills, the fading glow of dusk spread across the sky.

Old Madam Gu held her little grandson in her arms and, seeing her daughter-in-law lost in thought, smiled and asked, “Missing Yaoling?”

Hearing her voice, Meng Jinyao snapped back to her senses. Seeing her mother-in-law smiling at her, she asked in return, “Mother, what did you just say? I didn’t quite hear you.”

Old Madam Gu repeated herself with a smile. “Are you missing Yaoling?”

Meng Jinyao paused for a moment, then nodded shyly. She really was missing him. Just now, she had been wondering whether her husband was eating properly outside, whether he was so busy that he didn’t even have time for meals.

Old Madam Gu comforted her, “Didn’t he say before he left that he’d be back in ten days or half a month? In just a few more days, he’ll return. You don’t need to worry about him—he knows how to take care of himself. If you feel bored with him away from home, go attend some banquets. Chat and laugh with the other madams; the day will pass in no time.”

Meng Jinyao shook her head instinctively. She had attended banquets for several days in a row, chatting endlessly with those ladies, and she was already tired of it. She said, “This daughter-in-law has been slacking off these past few days, and you’ve been the one taking care of Wanwan. How can I keep letting you tire yourself out?”

Old Madam Gu smiled and shook her head. “Ay, A-Yao, you’re worrying too much. I don’t feel tired at all. Wanwan is much more well-behaved than Yaoling was when he was little. He hardly gives any trouble, and looking after him doesn’t take much effort. With him keeping me company, the days are far more interesting.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: So this is what they mean by affection skipping a generation—truly different.

Seeing that her little grandson had fallen asleep, Old Madam Gu handed the child to the wet nurse to carry away, then added, “A-Yao, there’s no need for you to have misgivings. While I’m still strong, it’s good that I can help you with the child. You should also go out more, mingle with those noble ladies, get familiar with them. That way, when there are banquets in the future, you won’t feel bored—you’ll be surrounded by familiar faces.”

Meng Jinyao thought for a moment, then nodded. “This daughter-in-law understands.”

Seeing that it was getting late, Old Madam Gu said, “A-Yao, stay for dinner tonight. Eat with me before you go back.”

Meng Jinyao readily agreed. In the past, her husband would return after court, and they would have dinner together almost every day. Now that he was away, eating alone felt unfamiliar. With her mother-in-law’s company, even the food tasted better.

After dinner, Meng Jinyao carried Wanwan back with her.

Old Madam Gu said to Nanny Feng, “This child is quite clingy. I didn’t notice it before, but now I see it.”

Nanny Feng chuckled. “Indeed—very clingy.”

Just earlier, when the old madam had picked up some food for the young madam, the young madam hadn’t reacted and had instinctively called out, “Husband.” It amused the old madam so much that she couldn’t help laughing aloud. Only then did the young madam realize she’d called the wrong person and blush bright red.

From this, one could see just how sweet and inseparable the marquis and his wife usually were.

—

That afternoon.

Gu Jingxi returned to the capital, but instead of going home right away, he went straight to the palace. He sent Yu Chuan and the others back, instructing them to inform the household that he had returned safely.

At this time, Meng Jinyao was in Old Madam Gu’s Shou’an Hall, playing with Wanwan. When a maid reported that Gu Jingxi had returned, both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were overjoyed, smiles lighting up their faces.

Meng Jinyao stood up at once. “Mother, I’ll go see where my husband is. Please watch Wanwan for me.”

The maid hadn’t yet withdrawn when she hurriedly said, “Madam, the marquis has returned, but he didn’t come home—he went into the palace. Young Master Yu Chuan told this servant just now.”

Meng Jinyao’s expression froze for a moment, then she quickly smiled again. “It’s good that he’s back. Official business comes first.” With that, she instructed the maid to pass a message to the kitchen, asking them to prepare several dishes her husband liked for dinner.

Old Madam Gu teased her, “If I pick food for you now, you won’t call me ‘husband,’ will you?”

At that, Meng Jinyao’s cheeks flushed. She said shyly, “Mother, please don’t tease your daughter-in-law anymore.”

Old Madam Gu smiled. “Alright, alright, I won’t say another word.”

—

The Imperial Study.

Upon learning that Gu Jingxi had returned and was outside the Imperial Study, Emperor Jingwen immediately set aside the memorials in his hands and summoned him.

Before long, Emperor Jingwen saw Gu Jingxi enter the hall, his beard unshaven, and kneel to salute. “Your servant greets Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor, long live, long live.”

Emperor Jingwen was taken aback. This minister of his usually paid great attention to his appearance—why hadn’t he even shaved his beard? Could it be that he had been frightened by the Seventh Princess of Anguo?

After a moment, Emperor Jingwen said, “Rise, my dear minister.” Looking at his face, which he found oddly unfamiliar, he couldn’t help adding, “My dear minister, there’s no need to mistreat yourself like this.”

Gu Jingxi was slightly startled, not understanding what the emperor meant. After a brief thought, he assumed the emperor was expressing concern and replied, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. Your servant is well in all respects.”

Emperor Jingwen asked again, “My dear minister, how did the matter I assigned to you go?”

Gu Jingxi promptly presented a wooden box with both hands and said respectfully, “I have lived up to Your Majesty’s trust. Everything has been handled properly. Please examine it.”

The emperor gave a look to the eunuch beside him. The eunuch quickly stepped forward, took the wooden box, and presented it to Emperor Jingwen.

Emperor Jingwen lifted the lid and looked at what was inside. His expression soon darkened, but he said nothing. Silently, he closed the box and said, “You’ve worked hard on this journey.”

Gu Jingxi said, “Your Majesty, I wish to—”

Emperor Jingwen glanced at him and cut him off before he could finish, smiling as he said, “Alright, I know you want leave. Starting tomorrow, I grant you three days off. Go back and rest properly.”

Gu Jingxi immediately knelt and thanked him. “Your servant thanks Your Majesty for your consideration.”

Hearing this, Emperor Jingwen’s smile deepened. As a ruler, being able to see through the thoughts of those beneath him—especially the thoughts of a minister as deep and guarded as Gu Jingxi—was a gratifying thing. It gave him a sense of accomplishment. Previously, when Gu Jingxi had asked for leave, he had thought the man was truly exhausted. Only later did he realize Gu Jingxi wanted time off to accompany his delicate wife. Indeed, once a man married, things were different.

After leaving the palace, Gu Jingxi still didn’t go home. Instead, he went to the Court of Judicial Review. Since his three-day leave would begin tomorrow, he wanted to finish handling everything that needed attention today so he wouldn’t have to come in tomorrow.

When the officials of the Court learned of his return, they all came to see him, waiting for his instructions.

But when they saw Gu Jingxi, they were all stunned. Everyone knew how much the Minister valued his appearance—no matter how busy he was, he would never leave himself unkempt. They had always believed that this concern for grooming was because of Madam Gu, that he paid special attention to his looks for her sake.

Now, seeing him like this, they assumed he must have suffered some sort of shock. And that shock was likely what had happened at the palace banquet half a month ago: the Seventh Princess of Anguo, failing to realize that the Minister was already thirty-two, had set her sights on him. So the Minister must have deliberately ruined his own face.

Gu Jingxi paid no attention to their expressions. He gave all the necessary instructions, sent them off to attend to their own duties, and then bent over his desk to work as well—hoping to finish early and go home early for dinner.