SGEIRS -Chapter 74 Feeling Out the Situation

Gu Jingxi saw the young lady’s expression shift from sudden realization to a slight frown. He wasn’t sure what thoughts were running through her mind.

He spoke plainly: “In the future, if you have any doubts, don’t keep guessing in your head. Just ask me directly. Anything I can openly discuss with you, I will.”

Meng Jinyao was taken aback. She lifted her head slightly, her gaze falling once more on his refined features, and asked curiously, “May I ask, husband, what kind of matters cannot be discussed openly?”

Gu Jingxi replied, “Those related to official business cannot be discussed.”

Meng Jinyao looked surprised. “So anything unrelated to official business can be discussed?”

Gu Jingxi’s expression paused for a moment, thoughtful, then added a condition: “It depends on the situation.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao pressed her lips together and let out a rather unenthusiastic “Oh.” If it depended on the situation, there were probably many things she couldn’t ask or speak about—like what he thought of Gu Xiuming, his wayward son. That, she assumed, would also be off-limits.

Seeing her look so listless, Gu Jingxi felt a bit puzzled. Considering that such a young girl had married him, it wasn’t easy for her. Since he had some free time now, he decided to ask a few more questions: “I’m often busy with official matters and can’t always attend to you. Has anyone bullied you or made you uncomfortable recently?”

Meng Jinyao rolled her eyes. “Apart from our eldest son, who would dare make me uncomfortable?”

To anyone else listening, it sounded like the young lady harbored a deep grudge.

Gu Jingxi thought his unfilial son didn’t have the ability to trouble her, so he smiled: “If Xiuming ever bullies you, or you have a conflict with him, just tell me.”

Meng Jinyao regained her interest in the conversation and looked at him intently: “If I tell you, whose side will you take?”

Gu Jingxi raised an eyebrow. “I take the side of reason. Whoever is right, I will help them.”

The answer was expected, so Meng Jinyao was not disappointed. She said, “Indeed, husband, you are fair and just in your dealings. No wonder you can serve as Minister of Justice.”

Gu Jingxi smiled gently. “You are well-read and reasonable, not the type to make trouble for no reason. And as a senior, you wouldn’t intentionally pick a fight with a junior, right?”

His voice was soft, with a hint of coaxing her to behave.

Meng Jinyao pouted but, seeing his gentle gaze, forced a smile. “How can I not? There aren’t many mothers as kind as me. Make sure your son treats me well.”

Gu Jingxi asked in return, “Isn’t Xiuming also your son?”

Meng Jinyao smiled more deeply. “Yes, Xiuming is our good eldest son.”

Her gentle smile and warm tone were like a mother genuinely doting on her child—but Gu Jingxi detected a hint of teeth-gritting undertone. He sighed softly and almost inaudibly: “I’ve been busy with official matters lately. If anything happens that I can’t address in time, please be careful, okay?”

Meng Jinyao smiled innocently. “Husband, what are you saying? I’m not the type to stir up trouble, so careful or not, what difference does it make?”

Gu Jingxi chuckled softly. “Then please continue as you are. I have some matters to attend to and will be out. I won’t be back for lunch.” With that, he stood, ready to leave.

Meng Jinyao nodded with a smile. “Alright, husband, take care.”

Meanwhile, after leaving Weirui Hall, Gu Xiuming went to Shou’an Hall to pay respects to Old Madam Gu. Madam Feng informed him that Old Madam Gu hadn’t slept well last night and was now resting.

Gu Xiuming had no choice but to return. Thinking that his father had already approved his request, he eagerly sent someone to fetch a matchmaker to visit the Li family.

Li Wan’er had been sent back to her home a month ago. At first, she was happy, but as time passed, Gu Xiuming didn’t send her even a single message. She couldn’t help but feel anxious, waiting nervously for over half a month—until finally, the matchmaker arrived.

Having lost both parents and depending on her grandfather, who had also passed away, Li Wan’er accepted immediately. After all, she had already given herself to Gu Xiuming and feared that delaying or pretending to hesitate might make the Gu family change their mind.

Taking a concubine differed from marrying a wife. There was no formal ceremony, no “Three Letters and Six Etiquettes,” and no marriage contract. The matchmaker only needed to make a visit. If the woman agreed, a date would be chosen to bring her to the man’s household in a small sedan chair, entering through a side door rather than the main entrance.

A lucky date was chosen ten days later. Gu Xiuming sought his father’s approval, which was granted, and thus Li Wan’er was set to be brought into the household on that day.

The news that Gu Xiuming would take a concubine ten days later—the girl he had eloped with—reached the first and second branches of the family, shocking them. He hadn’t even married a wife yet and was already taking a concubine. What sort of propriety was this?

Recently, Madam Zhang, the wife of the first branch, had been trying to get closer to Meng Jinyao. Learning of this news, she personally went to Weirui Hall to subtly probe.

With a worried expression, she asked, “Third Sister-in-law, Xiuming wants to take a concubine before marrying a wife. Such a big matter—why didn’t you and your third brother stop him?”

Meng Jinyao smiled faintly, unhurriedly pouring a cup of tea for Madam Zhang, placing it before her, and speaking warmly: “Sister-in-law, we, as parents, did try to stop him. But the child has grown and has his own ideas. We cannot prevent him and can only let him be.”

Madam Zhang frowned. “The main wife hasn’t even entered the household, and the concubine comes first. What proper young lady would dare marry him?”

“He wants to cut off his own path. What can we, as parents, do?” Meng Jinyao said, lightly sighing. “Children have their own fortunes. We cannot interfere. It’s just a pity my husband and I won’t get to drink this ‘daughter-in-law tea.’”

Hearing her sigh regretfully, anyone would think Gu Xiuming was her own son.

Madam Zhang’s mouth twitched slightly. She thought: in terms of hypocrisy, Meng Jinyao is unmatched—even Madam Chen, who had contended with her for over ten years, couldn’t compare.

Following Meng Jinyao’s words, Madam Zhang continued: “Third brother must be furious. He had high hopes for Xiuming, and now Xiuming is doing such a ridiculous thing.”

Meng Jinyao answered truthfully: “How could my husband not be angry? But the child is stubborn. There’s nothing the elders can do.”

Hearing useful information, Madam Zhang’s eyes lit up. This must be because he was disappointed in Gu Xiuming. Even agreeing to such an absurd act as taking a concubine before marrying a wife—thinking of how her mother-in-law wanted her younger brother-in-law to help her son enter Lingshan Academy—she was secretly pleased. Her suspicions had been correct.

Seeing Meng Jinyao frown as if truly troubled by the unfilial son, Madam Zhang sighed along: “Ah, sometimes children are so stubborn that not even ten oxen can drag them back.”

“Yes,” Meng Jinyao replied, unwilling to continue discussing Gu Xiuming. Otherwise, she couldn’t maintain her ‘caring mother’ image. She shifted the topic: “Sister-in-law, first try the tea I made. The temperature is just right. If it cools, it will affect the flavor.”

Madam Zhang nodded lightly, lifted the cup, and took a sip. The warm tea was fragrant and mellow, lingering in her mouth. Even someone not skilled at tasting tea could tell it was good, and the brewing was skillfully done.