SGEIRS -Chapter 600 Live Long and Prosper

Suddenly, Madam Zhang saw a familiar figure approaching from ahead. She withdrew her gaze, turned toward Meng Jinyao, and smiled: “Look, we were just talking about Third Brother, and here he comes.”

Meng Jinyao looked up and saw the man in a crimson official robe walking toward them. When Wanwan spotted her father, he called out in a tiny, squeaky voice, “Father!” and stretched out his little hands, wanting to be picked up.

Before long, Gu Jingxi reached them. He greeted Madam Zhang with “Sister-in-law” and then skillfully took the child from Meng Jinyao’s arms. Holding the child, he gauged his weight and said, “He’s gotten quite heavy. Next time, don’t spoil him. Let him walk by himself; at worst, he can walk slowly and keep up.”

Meng Jinyao smiled, watching him cradle the child in his arms without putting him down—a true case of pretending to complain while enjoying it—and couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

Gu Jingxi looked at her curiously: “What’s so funny, A-Yao?”

Meng Jinyao shook her head: “Nothing.”

Not wanting to interrupt the small family moment, Madam Zhang said, “Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law, I have something to attend to. I’ll take my leave first.”

Meng Jinyao nodded: “Take care, Sister-in-law.”

Once Madam Zhang had walked away, Gu Jingxi asked curiously, “A-Yao, what were you whispering to Sister-in-law just now?”

Meng Jinyao paused slightly before replying with a question of her own: “Why do you ask, Husband?”

Gu Jingxi explained, “I saw you and Sister-in-law huddled together from a distance. It looked like you were whispering something.”

Recalling what Madam Zhang had told her, Meng Jinyao’s gaze toward Gu Jingxi became subtle. Sometimes she even wished her husband were like Sister-in-law said—starting to decline after thirty—so she wouldn’t have to struggle to get out of bed every morning.

Gu Jingxi frowned slightly at her look. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

“It’s nothing, just some small talk,” Meng Jinyao replied, shaking her head lightly before changing the topic. “Husband, how come Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law suddenly agreed to let Xiuhong marry that girl?”

Gu Jingxi responded, “I’m not sure. Maybe Xiuhong insisted, and they had no choice but to agree.”

Curious about his opinion, Meng Jinyao asked, “What do you think of this marriage?”

Gu Jingxi offered a measured reply: “Matters of the heart are like drinking water—only the drinker knows its warmth. Just because others think a couple is mismatched doesn’t mean the parties involved feel the same. I admire Xiuhong’s current attitude toward love. If he hasn’t misjudged the girl, she’s truly a good one. And he’s someone who can stay true to his heart; he won’t regret not marrying someone of equal status. It could very well be a good marriage.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao suddenly thought of Gu Xiuming—he had run off to elope with Li Wan’er and, after being caught, refused to marry another woman for her sake, only to regret it later. Would Xiuhong regret it? Probably not. Xiuhong was responsible, unlike Gu Xiuming.

Seeing her absent-minded expression, Gu Jingxi furrowed his brow. “What are you thinking about? You look so lost in thought.”

Meng Jinyao replied, “Thinking about Gu Xiuming.”

Gu Jingxi frowned. “Why are you thinking about that troublemaker?”

Meng Jinyao said, “Xiuhong is different. He’ll fight with elders to get them to approve of marrying the one he loves. He wouldn’t do something disgraceful to the family.”

Gu Jingxi’s expression softened, secretly relieved that the troublemaker had revealed his true nature early on. Otherwise, by the time he passed away, if the Marquis residence had fallen into that troublemaker’s hands, the hundred-year legacy might have been destroyed. Even if Xiuming hadn’t run off and married Meng Jinyao, he wouldn’t have treated her well after marriage. Introducing Li Wan’er into the house would have been inevitable. Meng Jinyao would have gone from one fire pit to another—ruined for life.

He reached out to hold Meng Jinyao’s hand, speaking gently: “A-Yao, it’s all in the past. Don’t mention him—it’s unlucky.”

Meng Jinyao nodded and held his hand tightly, intertwining her fingers with his. Tilting her head, she smiled at him: “Husband, let’s go out for a walk tonight. Tomorrow is your day off; we don’t need to get up early. We can return home later, and I’ll take Wanwan to mother’s afterward.”

Gu Jingxi agreed without hesitation. Carrying the child and holding her hand, he went to Old Madam Gu’s courtyard, handed the child to her, and then returned to his own residence to change into casual clothes. The couple then headed out.

As the city lights came on, the capital was as bright as day.

Meng Jinyao relaxed as she watched the bustling night market, pulling him through the crowd, looking here and there, enjoying themselves immensely.

Meanwhile, Old Madam Gu held her recently heavier grandson and sighed to Nanny Feng: “Fortunately, they didn’t have children too late. If it had been a few years later, my body wouldn’t have been able to hold the child, let alone see my little grandson start a family.”

Nanny Feng said, “Madam, don’t say that. You’re healthy and will live to a ripe old age. Even if the Marquis and his wife have another son or daughter in a few years, you’ll still be able to hold them and witness their achievements.”

Old Madam Gu gave her a playful glare. “You’re just trying to please me. I know my own age. I’m open-minded about life and death. Seeing Yaoling have a child in my lifetime is already enough. Even if I were to die now, I’d have no regrets.”

Nanny Feng hurriedly said, “Nonsense! You’ll live a long life!”

At that moment, Wanwan’s soft baby voice chimed in: “Live long and prosper.” Not understanding, he saw his grandmother pause at his words, then repeated several times: “Live long and prosper, live long and prosper, live long and prosper.”

Old Madam Gu looked at her innocent, clueless grandson and suddenly felt tears well up, her voice choking: “Alright, alright. Grandmother will live long to watch our Wanwan grow up, marry, and have children.”

Wanwan, bewildered, offered her a slightly chewed bun, saying, “Eat, eat.”

Old Madam Gu took it without minding the saliva and began eating. She even corrected him gently: “Wanwan, it’s a bun, not ‘eat, eat.’ This is a bun.”

Wanwan blinked at her and replied, “Eat, eat.”

Patiently, Old Madam Gu corrected him: “It’s a bun.”

“Eat, eat! Eat, eat!” Wanwan insisted, repeating it twice more.

Old Madam Gu couldn’t help laughing. “Such a stubborn temper, just like your grandfather. Once you set your mind on something, no one can sway you. That won’t do—you’ll get into trouble later.”

Wanwan didn’t understand her words but blinked his big round eyes and laughed innocently and purely.

Seeing this, Old Madam Gu felt her heart melt. She looked at Nanny Feng and smiled: “Look at this little fellow. Was Yaoling ever this cute?”

Nanny Feng replied, “The Marquis was cute as a child too, just as cute as the little heir. You’ve simply forgotten over time.”

“Really?” Old Madam Gu scoffed. “But I still think Wanwan is cuter.”

Nanny Feng smiled silently. They say the affection between grandparents and grandchildren is stronger, and it’s certainly true.