SGEIRS -Chapter 86 Heart-to-Heart with a Close Friend

Cha Ran Residence

When Meng Jinyao arrived at the elegant room, Song Xinning was already waiting inside.

Song Xinning immediately poured her a cup of tea, smiling brightly: “A-Yao, you’re here! Come, sit down. It’s been so many days since we last met—I missed you!”

At that moment, Song Xinning’s face carried a joyful smile, and Meng Jinyao’s lips curved upward as well. She nodded slightly and sat down beside her, asking, “A-Ning, is Madam Shen feeling any better?”

The curve of Song Xinning’s mouth deepened, her tone cheerful: “A-Yao, your method really works. I followed your advice to comfort Madam Shen. I kept talking to her, and suddenly she perked up and didn’t want to die anymore. She takes her medicine on time every day, and her condition has improved.”

Meng Jinyao felt happy for her friend. As long as Madam Shen got better, the wedding could proceed as scheduled. She spoke warmly: “That’s good. Life always needs a goal. Without a goal, without hope, only despair remains, and the will to survive fades as well.”

Song Xinning said, “Madam Shen couldn’t accept her husband of many years suddenly taking a concubine—especially one who was pregnant—and bringing her into the household. Now she’s finally come to terms with it. Without her husband, she still has her son. I told her that if she were to die, Master Shen would remarry, and the new wife would mistreat her son and future daughter-in-law. That scared her into wanting to live rather than die. This also proves that, compared to Master Shen, Brother Shen and I are more important in Madam Shen’s heart.”

Meng Jinyao smiled gently. Naturally—after all she had done, if she were gone, a new wife would come in to torment her son, and her future daughter-in-law wouldn’t have peace. All the honor she earned would go to another woman, and her son would have to call someone else “mother.” Who could resign themselves to die in such circumstances?

After a while, Song Xinning asked, “By the way, A-Yao, I heard that the Changxing Marquis household has been quite unsettled lately. Are you alright?”

Meng Jinyao shook her head lightly and smiled: “I’m fine. It’s just that my so-called son caused such a big stir. One scandal after another from the Changxing Marquis household has become everyone’s gossip. The elders at home were quite upset with him.”

Song Xinning frowned: “Although Gu Xiuming isn’t a good man, he really is head over heels for that girl.”

Meng Jinyao agreed: “Exactly. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have caused such a big scene.”

Suddenly, Song Xinning recalled something. She snorted in annoyance, clenching her teeth: “A-Yao, I attended a gathering yesterday, and guess what? Quite a few people were envious of that girl. They even said that you, coming from a count’s household, were still outshone by a commoner woman. It really infuriated me! Even if they were with someone like Gu Xiuming, they wouldn’t have won.”

Meng Jinyao refilled her tea and pushed the cup toward her, speaking gently: “A-Ning, don’t be angry. This tea is good—have a cup to calm down.”

Song Xinning took a sip of tea and sneered: “What’s there to envy about being a concubine? A concubine never truly gets a place of honor.”

Meng Jinyao smiled: “It’s natural for them to envy her. A marquis’s heir giving his all for a commoner—this kind of love is rare in aristocratic families. In noble households, reputation and interest are everything. Even someone like the Hao family’s scoundrel wouldn’t dare act so recklessly.”

She paused, then shifted her tone: “But even though they might think Gu Xiuming is deeply devoted and envy Concubine Li for receiving his full attention, if they were to marry the current Gu Xiuming, they would avoid him like the plague.”

Song Xinning nodded: “That’s true. Even the Hao family scoundrel is an heir, and he’s the real son of Lord Hao—he still wouldn’t dare behave so recklessly. Gu Xiuming is foolish. After causing such a scene, no proper young lady would dare marry him now, right?”

Meng Jinyao replied: “Probably not. But he has also made it clear that he doesn’t intend to marry anyone else and will spend his life with Concubine Li.”

“Not marry anyone else?” Song Xinning’s eyes widened in disbelief. “The heir of a marquis’s household not taking a wife—then there won’t be a lady of the house to manage things. Even social engagements will have no hostess. What is he thinking?”

Meng Jinyao smiled: “What does it matter what he thinks? This is best—it avoids harming innocent girls.”

Song Xinning clicked her tongue twice: “Then he must stick to this decision. He mustn’t change his mind later, or he’ll harm good young women.”

Meng Jinyao said: “I don’t know about the future, but for now, it seems he can stick to it.”

Song Xinning looked at A-Yao, probably noticing how comfortable she seemed after marrying into the Changxing Marquis household—no need to constantly be wary of a stepmother. A-Yao’s face was rosy, and she had gained some flesh, looking healthy and energetic. She reached out and gently pinched her soft cheek, giggling: “Not bad! Since the last time we met, you’ve gained a bit of flesh. Looks like Marquis Gu has been taking good care of you.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao paused, instinctively touching her face: “I’ve gained weight?”

Song Xinning said softly: “Not weight, just a bit of flesh. You were too thin before, weak and fragile. Now the extra flesh suits you, and your complexion looks much better.”

Meng Jinyao was a little surprised. She looked in the mirror every day and felt she hadn’t changed much.

Song Xinning hesitated for a moment, then said cautiously: “A-Yao, there’s something I want to say, not sure if I should.”

Meng Jinyao gave her a playful glare, smiling: “What can’t we say to each other? Go ahead, A-Ning.”

Song Xinning spoke earnestly: “A-Yao, although your life is good now, I suggest you plan ahead. I think you should have a child. With someone like Gu Xiuming, if you don’t have a child of your own, your later years may be difficult. After all, Marquis Gu is thirteen years older than you. If he passes away before you, there will be no one to protect you.”

Meng Jinyao was surprised but felt a warm glow in her heart. Aside from her two personal maids, only A-Ning would think of such things for her. She replied softly: “I’ve thought about this. In a year or two, I’ll bring it up with Gu Jingxi, and maybe adopt a child from the clan. If that doesn’t work, we can adopt a baby from the nursery that we connect with.”

Song Xinning nodded: “As long as you have a plan. A child raised from infancy—even if not biologically yours—can be as dear as your own. If you have a son, and I have a daughter, we could even arrange a childhood betrothal. With you as her mother-in-law, my daughter will never be mistreated.”

“That’s out of the question!”

Meng Jinyao refused without thinking.

Song Xinning hadn’t expected her to reject it. She paused, both annoyed and amused: “You little rascal, are you rejecting my daughter? Brother Shen is handsome, I’m not bad-looking, and my daughter will definitely be beautiful too. What are you dissatisfied with?”

Seeing her flustered, Meng Jinyao giggled. While Song Xinning was preparing to argue, she hurriedly explained: “I’m not dissatisfied—I just think it’s not appropriate. Look at me, engaged at such a young age, and this is how things turned out. Marriage should wait until the child grows up, and we should ask the child’s opinion.”

Song Xinning fell silent: “…That’s true too.”