SGEIRS -Chapter 583 Arranging What Marriage?

The sun was setting over the western hills.

Gu Jingxi returned from outside. Just as he reached the door, before even stepping inside, he heard his son’s babyish voice calling out, “Sister… I like my sister!” He paused mid-step, and his mood instantly turned complicated.

Even though she had taken the contraceptive medicine, could A-Yao still be pregnant?

That incompetent imperial physician Wen’s medicine didn’t work at all—wasn’t it supposed to be a hundred percent effective?

The next moment, another sound came from inside: the cooing and babbling of a little infant. Gu Jingxi let out a sigh of relief—his son could talk. If it were just baby sounds, that meant there was a child in the house, not that A-Yao was pregnant.

Entering the room, Gu Jingxi followed the sounds and saw A-Yao sitting on the soft window seat, with two children beside her: one was Wanwan, and the other was a tiny infant of only a few months, wearing a pink little bellyband and pink shorts.

He stepped forward and asked, “A-Yao, whose child is this?”

A moment later, A-Yao, focused on the two children, only noticed him when she heard his voice. She turned and smiled: “Husband, you’re back! This is A-Yan’s daughter. Her nickname is Nuonuo.” Saying this, she scooped up the chubby little bundle. “Look—aren’t they adorable?”

Gu Jingxi bent down and studied the little girl carefully. Her eyes were large and round, her features delicate like carved jade. He nodded gently. “Mm, she really is cute.”

Seeing her father, Wanwan instinctively reached out for a hug and called out in a babyish voice, “Father!”

Gu Jingxi responded and bent down to lift his son, then asked, “Weren’t you supposed to go to the Wen family’s banquet today? When did the county princess arrive? How come I didn’t see her?”

A-Yao shook her head. “A-Yan didn’t come. I went to the Marquis of Shen’s residence and brought the child back myself.”

Gu Jingxi looked astonished. “A-Yao, why did you bring someone else’s daughter home?”

A-Yao replied, “It’s not that I don’t have a daughter of my own and am envious of others’—A-Yan was generous and let me take Nuonuo home for a few days. She could keep Wanwan company. At home, he had no playmates. Yunxin from the Xiuyuan family is a year older than Wanwan, but the two are close in age. However, Wanwan is Yunxin’s great-uncle, so Xiuyuan and his wife are very formal and cautious, afraid Yunxin might offend Wanwan as a senior. They supervise the children closely, so the kids can’t really play together.”

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi had no objections. His son, who interacted mostly with adults, was indeed lonely without a peer to play with. This little girl, though she couldn’t speak yet, was at least a playmate.

Elsewhere, Princess Jingning and her husband Shen Yunzhou had spent a few carefree days at the manor before reluctantly returning home.

These few days, since Nuonuo’s birth, had been the most relaxed and comfortable they had experienced: no daily exhaustion from taking care of a child, no sleepless nights, going to bed early and rising early. Their complexions had improved, and they felt refreshed and lively.

After entering the city, they did not go straight home but visited the Changxing Marquis’ residence to pick up their daughter.

Shen Yunzhou noticed his wife looking guilty and laughed. “Weren’t you in such a rush to leave the house that day, worried about who would return our daughter? And now you look guilty?”

Princess Jingning smiled sheepishly. “I do feel guilty. We’ve spent a few days as carefree parents, eating well, sleeping well, and now we’re energized. A-Yao and her husband helped take care of Nuonuo, but they must have been exhausted from sleepless nights.”

At the Marquis’ residence, Princess Jingning quietly asked the maid, “Has your lord and lady been doing well recently? Any signs of fatigue?”

The maid was slightly confused but answered truthfully, “Your Highness, our lord and lady are doing very well.”

“Very well?”

Princess Jingning was surprised, suspecting the maid wasn’t telling the whole truth. She knew how difficult it was to take care of Nuonuo.

The maid led them to the reception hall, respectfully serving tea, and said, “Please wait a moment, Your Highness and Master Shen. The Marquis and his lady will be here shortly.”

About a cup of tea later, A-Yao and Gu Jingxi arrived.

Princess Jingning and Shen Yunzhou both looked toward the couple entering the hall. They were smiling, showing no signs of fatigue. A-Yao carried Nuonuo, and Gu Jingxi held Wanwan, walking slowly into the hall.

Both Princess Jingning and Shen Yunzhou were momentarily stunned.

Was this right?

Gu Jingxi would be busy with official duties and probably wouldn’t help take care of Nuonuo at night, but A-Yao loved Nuonuo so much that she would certainly manage it. After all, the wet nurse couldn’t handle Nuonuo on her own.

When they had taken care of Nuonuo themselves, they hadn’t looked this refreshed.

Seeing them looking eagerly at the couple, A-Yao didn’t think much of it and assumed they were missing Nuonuo. She smiled. “A-Yan, didn’t I say I’d return her to you once I got tired of her? Only a few days have passed, and you two already can’t bear it, coming personally to pick her up?”

Princess Jingning felt guilty. “Nuonuo is difficult to take care of and cries a lot at night. We didn’t want to trouble you too long, so we’re taking her home today. Otherwise, we’d have exhausted you.”

A-Yao replied, “Nuonuo is very well-behaved. She usually doesn’t cry or fuss and sleeps through the night. Taking care of her isn’t much effort. Did you two perhaps misunderstand the child?”

Shen Yunzhou: “…”

Princess Jingning: “…”

Did they hear that correctly? Their baby, who cries all the time, was somehow considered well-behaved in someone else’s eyes?

Princess Jingning forced a smile. “A-Yao, are you really talking about our Nuonuo?”

A-Yao nodded. “Of course it’s Nuonuo. You can ask her wet nurse if you don’t believe me.”

Princess Jingning didn’t fully believe it but didn’t dwell on it either. After some polite conversation with the couple, they took Nuonuo and her wet nurse home.

Once home, Princess Jingning asked the wet nurse about Nuonuo’s recent behavior. From the wet nurse, they learned that Nuonuo had been very obedient over the past few days, hardly crying at all.

The couple exchanged surprised glances. Could it be that their incompetence as parents had caused Nuonuo’s previous fussiness?

Then the wet nurse added, “Perhaps it’s because the little marquis is with her. At night, she sleeps with him, and during the day, they play together. When tired, she sleeps, so she doesn’t fuss as much.”

Hearing this, the couple exchanged knowing looks.

But the next moment, Shen Yunzhou darkened his face. “Our Nuonuo is a little girl! How can she sleep with an outsider boy?”

Princess Jingning scolded him with a glance. “What are you saying? Nuonuo is only a few months old. Wanwan is still small too. There’s no need for such concerns.”

Shen Yunzhou retorted, “Isn’t a few months old still a little girl?”

Princess Jingning smiled and teased, “In that case, why not arrange their marriage? After all, they’ve already been sleeping together. If we don’t arrange a betrothal, how can Wanwan be held responsible? Don’t you think so?”

Shen Yunzhou was displeased. Frowning, he snapped, “Arrange what marriage? Gu’s little boy still hasn’t weaned, and our Nuonuo is a pure little girl. Just because they’ve slept together a few times, it doesn’t mean they’re betrothed!”