SGEIRS -Chapter 584 The Autumn Examination Approaches

Princess Jingning was just teasing him. Although she thought it would be good if her daughter eventually married into the Gu family—so her close friend could become her daughter’s mother-in-law—it was still too hasty to arrange an engagement when the children were so young. At the very least, they should wait until both children were older and mutually interested before arranging a betrothal.

She glanced at Shen Yunzhou and returned to the main topic: “The important thing now isn’t that. Nuonuo lacks playmates. Let’s select two children around three or four years old from our household to come over and play with Nuonuo. After all, we adults don’t understand children’s psychological needs; only children can truly understand other children.”

Shen Yunzhou nodded lightly. “You choose them. Pick two well-behaved, good-tempered little girls to grow up with Nuonuo. Later, they can serve as her main maids. Having grown up together, they will naturally be loyal to Nuonuo.”

Princess Jingning said, “I’ll choose them tomorrow.”

While this matter was resolved on their side, at the Changxing Marquis residence, Wanwan, who was usually obedient, was making a fuss, crying and demanding her little sister. No amount of soothing would calm her.

Wanwan had initially obeyed her mother’s instructions—her mother had said her sister would be coming home and she would see her next time—so she had quietly seen her sister off. But when night came and her sister didn’t appear, she began to wail.

Meng Jinyao had a headache from her son’s crying and handed him to Gu Jingxi. “This is your son. You calm him down.”

Gu Jingxi smiled. “Weren’t you planning to bring a little girl over for him to develop a bond with? Maybe they could even become a couple in the future. Now, the bond is formed, but the girl ran away. Of course he’s crying! This is all the trouble you caused as his mother.”

Meng Jinyao looked at her wailing son with a worried expression. “Then what should we do? We can’t send Wanwan to the Shen family, and they certainly won’t let Nuonuo come over again.”

Gu Jingxi wiped their son’s tears and said, “Jinyao, go bring Yunxin from the Xiuyuan household to play with him. Children forget quickly; as long as they have a new playmate, they’ll be fine.”

Meng Jinyao nodded. For now, the only solution was to go to the eldest brother’s household. Yunxin was the only child close in age to Wanwan.

After bringing Yunxin over, the couple, together with Yunxin, coaxed Wanwan for a long while until he was finally pacified.

Yunxin was lively and adorable, and Wanwan soon accepted him as a playmate. Every day he followed Yunxin everywhere, calling him “brother,” while Yunxin called him “Fourth Uncle’s child.” The two little ones called each other in their own ways, making the adults at home chuckle.

Hearing her son call Yunxin “brother” again, Meng Jinyao couldn’t help laughing. She turned to her husband and said, “Husband, when our son grows up, will he blame us for not stopping him from calling his nephew ‘brother’?”

Gu Jingxi raised an eyebrow. “That’s only his own fault. We, as parents, already corrected him. He insisted on calling him ‘brother.’ Who else could you blame?”

Meng Jinyao nodded. “That’s true. This little dummy just insisted on it.” Then she brought up another matter: “Husband, are you free tomorrow, on your day off?”

Gu Jingxi said warmly, “Of course. I’ll accompany you out for a walk tomorrow.”

Meng Jinyao shook her head gently. “Xiuwen will be home today, and second brother is also back. Tomorrow, you should test their knowledge, see their essays, and give them some guidance.”

Gu Xiuwen and Meng Chengzhang shared the same teacher. Last year they had traveled for study with the teacher and hadn’t returned for the New Year. Now, with the autumn examination approaching, they had returned to prepare for it.

Gu Jingxi agreed happily. “Very well. Then we’ll go out on our next day off.”

Meng Jinyao said, “I’ll have someone send a message to Second Brother at the Marquis residence, so he can come over tomorrow.”

The Next Day

After breakfast, Meng Chengzhang brought along the interesting little toys he had bought for his nephew during their study trip, and went to the Changxing Marquis residence. Even without his elder sister’s invitation, he had planned to visit her and his nephew today.

The siblings hadn’t seen each other for a long time and missed each other greatly.

Meng Jinyao looked at her younger brother, who had tanned and grown taller from the trip, and had become much more composed. She felt a sense of pride, as if her younger brother had truly grown up.

After some sibling greetings, the wet nurse entered carrying Wanwan.

Meng Jinyao took the child and said gently, “Wanwan, this is your Second Uncle. Go call him ‘Second Uncle.’”

Wanwan opened his eyes wide, curiously staring at Meng Chengzhang. After a moment, he reached out, signaling he wanted to be picked up.

Meng Chengzhang was momentarily stunned, then quickly reached out, took Wanwan from Meng Jinyao’s arms, and coaxed him. Soon he called out “Second Uncle” in his childish voice. Hearing his soft, babyish tone, he melted inside. “Before I went on my trip, Wanwan couldn’t even speak. Now he can.”

Meng Jinyao laughed. “Second Brother, if you had returned earlier, this little dummy still couldn’t speak. He started talking and walking later than others. I almost thought I had a foolish child. I didn’t expect him to suddenly be able to walk and talk.”

Meng Chengzhang shook his head with a smile. “Elder sister and brother-in-law are both wise. How could Wanwan be foolish? This little one looks clever, and when he studies, the teacher will surely like him.”

Meng Jinyao disagreed. “Even smart children can frustrate their teachers. For example, your elder brother-in-law caused his father and teachers many headaches when he was young.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Gu Jingxi choked on his tea and coughed violently. Seeing his wife glance at him, he looked at her with mock grievance, as if saying: Jinyao, don’t bring up old stories!

The couple exchanged mischievous glances. Meng Chengzhang pretended not to notice and diverted attention, playing with his little nephew. “Elder sister, when I returned yesterday, I found that Third Brother was still under house arrest and hadn’t left the courtyard.”

Meng Jinyao’s expression froze, then she said, “If nothing unexpected happens, he won’t be allowed out during our father’s lifetime.”

Their father had blamed Third Brother for their grandmother’s illness, fulfilling his own grudge by reporting to the emperor and stripping Third Brother of the heir position, releasing his anger. Now, seeing Third Brother reminded him of his son’s betrayal; he would never want to see him again in his life.

Meng Chengzhang was surprised. “But… Third Brother will be of marriageable age in a few years. He will want to marry and have children. Will Father really keep him locked up then?”

Meng Jinyao said meaningfully, “He is already the family’s discarded son, notorious. No decent girl will marry him. Whatever happens then will still be decided by Father. If Father says he won’t allow his own rebellious son to harm a good girl, how could he marry and have children?”

Meng Chengzhang fell silent. If he could treat his once most-loved son with such cold ruthlessness, he would be even harsher with others. Fortunately, their father was mediocre and incompetent. If he had high rank and power, who knows how many people he would have harmed.