Chapter 128 The Only Wife
The next day.
Meng Jinyao thought that her second brother Chengzhang had arrived at the academy, but she didn't know how he was doing there or whether he was settling in. So she decided to write a letter to her second brother to ask him.
There is a study in Wei Rui Xuan, but Meng Jinyao only went to the study once when she first married into the family, wanting to familiarize herself with Wei Rui Xuan. She doesn't usually go in there, and when she needs to check the accounts, she does so in the small flower hall.
Today marks the second time she has entered the study.
Inside the study.
There was a mahogany box on the desk, very conspicuous, and could be seen as soon as you entered the study.
When Ningdong saw the box, she instinctively frowned, a nameless anger rising in her heart. Remembering that her master had scolded her last night, she didn't dare to say anything she shouldn't. She only said softly, "Madam, this mahogany box looks very familiar."
Meng Jinyao looked up and nodded slightly, "Mmm." The box was obviously the one containing the set of white jade jewelry. Gu Jingxi took the set of jewelry out of the storeroom and put it in the study. He must have been too busy to find a proper place to put it, so he just placed it on the desk.
Ning Dong observed her mistress's expression without showing any emotion. Seeing that her mistress's expression was normal, she pretended that the annoying box did not exist and said, "Madam, this servant will prepare writing materials for you."
Meng Jinyao nodded with a smile: "Okay, you go and grind the ink first."
After she finished speaking, she walked around the desk, sat down in the chair in front of it, and then reached out to pick up the mahogany box and gently placed it in the upper left corner of the desk, leaving the middle space empty so that she could write a letter later.
Seeing this, Ningdong felt very bad, but her master remained calm and composed, seemingly not caring much about such things, which gradually eased her mind.
After Ning Dong finished grinding the ink, Meng Jinyao picked up her brush and wrote three pages of letter before stopping. She hadn't realized she was being long-winded before, but now, looking at this letter, she suddenly realized that she wasn't old yet, but she was as long-winded as an old lady.
Indeed, the eldest sister is like a mother. When her younger brother went on a long trip, she, as the older sister, acted like an old mother.
After a while, the ink had dried. Meng Jinyao folded the letter, put it in an envelope, and handed it to Ningdong, instructing her, "Find someone to deliver this letter to the Second Young Master later."
Ningdong took the letter and replied, "Yes, Madam."
As she was about to leave the study, Ningdong glanced at the mahogany box, her eyes filled with resentment. She pursed her lips and looked away.
Meng Jinyao noticed the change in her expression and asked gently, "Are you still angry, girl?"
Ning Dong was slightly taken aback, then said frankly, "This servant is angry that since the Marquis has married you, he is still thinking about other people. It's just a set of jewelry that he couldn't give away, but he treasures it like it's something special and even puts it in his study. He treats things that others don't want as treasures. How can a dignified Marquis do such a disgraceful thing?"
Meng Jinyao smiled and said calmly, "This is not something we should concern ourselves with. As long as he doesn't bring it up to me, we should pretend we don't know anything. Sometimes it's better to expose things than to expose them."
Ning Dong nodded slightly, sighed inwardly, and then followed her master out of the study.
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As night fell, the sky had completely darkened.
Gu Jingxi returned to Wei Rui Xuan under the stars and moon. He entered the inner room and saw the young girl who had just finished bathing, sitting upright in a chair in her nightgown. Qing Qiu was using a handkerchief to wring out her hair.
When Qingqiu saw him enter, she paused in her work and quickly curtsied to him, saying, "My Lord."
Meng Jinyao turned her head and saw Gu Jingxi standing not far behind her, holding a sandalwood box in his hands, looking at her with a gentle expression and a faint smile on his lips.
Seeing that her hair was almost dry, Gu Jingxi said to Qingqiu, "You can go down now. I have something to say to Madam."
Qingqiu responded and quickly withdrew.
Meng Jinyao stood up, turned around, looked at him with a puzzled expression, and asked, "What do you want to tell me, my husband?"
Gu Jingxi stepped forward and handed her the sandalwood box, saying gently, "This is for Madam. Please take a look and see if you like it."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao glanced at him in surprise, then reached out and took the box with a look of doubt. Although she didn't open the box, she felt that the contents must be quite valuable, otherwise it wouldn't be packed in a sandalwood box. She asked, "Husband, what is this?"
"Madam, please take a look first." Gu Jingxi gestured for her to open the box.
Seeing that he didn't say anything, Meng Jinyao became even more puzzled. She took the box to the table next to her, put it down, opened the box, and looked down. Her gaze immediately froze, and she stared at the contents with surprise and astonishment.
It was a set of ruby and gold jewelry, consisting of twenty-three pieces. Each gemstone was about the size of a thumb, and the jewelry featured a peony pattern. It was dazzling and radiant, exquisite and eye-catching, and incredibly beautiful. It was also priceless.
Meng Jinyao stared blankly for a long time, then looked up at Gu Jingxi, her heart pounding, and asked uncertainly, "Husband, is this... is this for me?"
Gu Jingxi nodded with a smile: "Yes, does Madam like it?"
Having received an affirmative answer, Meng Jinyao lowered her eyes to look at the exquisite and dazzling headdress. Joy welled up in her heart, and she smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling with happiness. She nodded emphatically and answered crisply, "I like it!"
Tell me, which girl who receives such beautiful jewelry could possibly say she doesn't like it?
The little girl's eyes were curved in a smile, and she was so beautiful that Gu Jingxi was momentarily stunned. Looking into the little girl's smiling eyes, his gaze softened, and the curve of his lips deepened. He said gently, "I'm glad that Madam likes it. This is my mother's dowry when she got married."
Meng Jinyao was taken aback. She hadn't expected that this set of jewelry was actually her mother-in-law's dowry. Overwhelmed with gratitude, she asked, "Why did my husband suddenly send me such an expensive set of jewelry?"
Gu Jingxi replied, "The previous set of plum blossom-patterned mutton-fat jade headdress was too plain and did not suit Madam. Madam has a bright and beautiful appearance, and wearing brightly colored jewelry would better highlight Madam's temperament, so I went to my mother to ask for this set of headdress."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao was stunned again. She glanced at the man with an inscrutable expression, then looked down at the headpiece, her mind racing with thoughts.
She wondered if Gu Jingxi was trying to make it up to her.
The set of white jade jewelry left in the study must have been custom-made by Gu Jingxi. He didn't give his mother's dowry to the girl he liked, but gave her his mother's dowry instead.
The mother's dowry jewelry is of great significance. It is usually given to her daughter as part of her dowry, or passed down to her daughter-in-law after she enters the family, since sons do not wear jewelry.
In Gu Jingxi's heart, does that mean she is his only wife, and her position is unshakeable?
Gu Jingxi glanced at the jewelry in the box, then looked at the girl's beautiful face, and objectively commented: "Although the plum blossom is elegant, I think the peony style looks better on you, madam, and is more graceful and noble."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao looked up again, staring intently at the man's handsome face. For some unknown reason, she blurted out a very unromantic question: "Husband, do you have a girl you desire but cannot have?"
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