Chapter 234 Only He Can See It
A gentle autumn breeze blows, carrying a hint of coolness.
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the autumn wind grows colder day by day, and in another month, we will enter early winter.
Meng Jinyao was too full after dinner, so Gu Jingxi accompanied her for a walk in the back garden of their home. The autumn breeze carried the fragrance of flowers.
Seeing her rubbing her tummy as she walked, Gu Jingxi laughed and said, "I told you not to eat so much, but you wouldn't listen. Now you know you're feeling uncomfortable?"
Meng Jinyao replied, "But my mouth was satisfied."
After hearing this, Gu Jingxi chuckled helplessly. His little wife really loved to eat and had a strong appetite. She liked anything that tasted good and ate more than him. Her little belly was round and full from eating so much that she would drag him out for a walk.
Meng Jinyao glared at him: "What are you laughing at, husband?"
Gu Jingxi said with a smile, "If others see this, they'll think I've been mistreating you, that I don't let you eat your fill."
Meng Jinyao: "..."
After a long silence, she muttered, "I didn't do that in front of other people."
Gu Jingxi paused, a sense of satisfaction rising in her heart, and her smile became even gentler.
His little girl is the dignified and proper Mrs. Gu in front of others, but she has a childlike side in front of him, and her charming and cuteness is only seen by him.
The next moment, Meng Jinyao's hand was grasped by a large, dry, and warm hand.
Meng Jinyao was slightly taken aback. He was much more affectionate towards her in Weirui Pavilion, especially when there were no maids around. But once they left Weirui Pavilion, they stopped holding hands.
Meng Jinyao raised her head slightly and saw the man's gentle, smiling face, his eyes filled with tenderness as he looked at her.
She didn't know when it started, but she really liked those eyes. Whenever she was looked at by those eyes, she felt like she was being cherished, and she grew more and more attached to that feeling.
She scratched Gu Jingxi's palm with her finger, but Gu Jingxi held her hand tightly, making it impossible for her to move.
Immediately afterwards, Gu Jingxi's voice rang out: "Stop it, it tickles."
Meng Jinyao gave a soft "Oh".
Meanwhile, Gu Xiuming saw the couple from afar. His eyes were unfathomable as he watched them walk toward him, chatting and laughing. He also saw his father take Meng Jinyao's hand.
Everyone has witnessed the changes in the father's attitude towards Meng Jinyao during this period. He dotes on her and cherishes her, and it's highly likely that he has genuinely fallen in love with her.
Fortunately, his father had a hidden illness; otherwise, if he and Meng Jinyao had a son together, his position as heir apparent would probably have been in jeopardy.
As the couple approached, Gu Xiuming calmly emerged from behind the artificial hill, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully, saying, "Xiuming greets Father and Mother."
Gu Jingxi responded casually, "Yes, you're taking a walk too?"
Gu Xiuming replied, "I'm just passing through, so I won't disturb your enjoyment any longer." After saying that, he bowed again and left.
Meng Jinyao didn't pay attention to Gu Xiuming's appearance. Remembering something important, she said, "Husband, Princess Jingning has acquired a manor with a hot spring. The manor also grows a lot of seasonal fruits and vegetables, which are now ripe. She invited me and Aning to visit for a couple of days, but I haven't given her an answer yet."
Is this asking him what he means?
Gu Jingxi agreed without hesitation: "Go ahead, you're just idling at home anyway, it'll be good to play with girls your own age."
Meng Jinyao smiled and said, "Then I will give her an answer tomorrow and leave the day after tomorrow morning."
Gu Jingxi asked, "Does Madam like soaking in hot springs?"
Meng Jinyao gently shook her head and replied, "I don't know. I just haven't tried it before and it seems novel, so I want to go and have some fun. My mother left me a manor as part of my dowry, but it didn't have a hot spring."
Upon hearing this, Gu Jingxi thought of the wretched Meng family. As an unloved child, even if the Meng family wanted to go to such a manor, they wouldn't take his little girl with them. He said gently, "I also have a manor with hot springs outside the city. I'll take you there after I'm done with this busy period."
Meng Jinyao smiled brightly and said crisply, "Okay."
-
On that day, the autumn sky was clear and the air was crisp, with not a cloud in sight.
After having breakfast, Meng Jinyao set off and met up with Princess Jingning and Song Xinning at the city gate before heading to the estate together.
Princess Jingning's estate isn't large, but it's filled with various fruits and vegetables. The most unique feature is the hot spring. With the Cold Dew solar term just past and late autumn approaching, the temperature difference between day and night is significant, making it a perfect place for a soak in the hot spring.
Outside the village is a maple forest. After the Cold Dew solar term, the maple leaves turn red, and now is the perfect time to admire them.
After putting their luggage away at the manor, the group left, taking their servants and maids with them, and prepared to visit the maple forest. As for the manor, they could explore it later when they returned.
Song Xinning looked around at the scenery and nodded secretly: "Ayan, your estate is nice, the surrounding scenery is quite good."
Princess Jingning was in a very good mood: "The previous owner of this estate was a wealthy merchant. My father knew that I liked hot springs, so he bought it and gave it to me, saying that it would be part of my future dowry. This is my first time here, and it looks pretty good."
Just then, the sound of actors singing opera drifted from the neighboring village. The sound wasn't loud, but it could be faintly heard. It was probably because the owner of the neighboring village had set up a stage and invited actors to perform.
Meng Jinyao asked, "Ayan, whose estate is next door? And there are people performing opera there."
Princess Jingning replied, "My father said that the manor next door is the estate of the Marquis of Wu'an. I guess the Marquis of Wu'an's heir lives there. I heard that he loves listening to operas, can sing himself, is a big opera fan, a regular at the opera house, and even employs several actors to perform for him."
Meng Jinyao was surprised: "He also keeps entertainers?"
"yes."
Princess Jingning nodded and smiled, "There's nothing strange about that. Wealthy families in the capital who love opera will keep actors so they can listen to it whenever they want. They can also have actors perform for entertainment when entertaining guests."
Meng Jinyao nodded: "That's true."
Princess Jingning asked, "This Marquis of Wu'an's son is a man of integrity and doesn't even have a maidservant by his side. It's just that his family environment is a bit of a mess. My mother said before that it was a pity. How has your eldest daughter been doing since she married him?"
When Gu Xuanyi returned to her parents' home, it seemed that something unpleasant had happened, but Gu Xuanyi didn't say anything, so Meng Jinyao just pretended not to and replied, "It should be fine. On the day of her return, Xuanyi didn't say anything bad, and she and the Marquis of Wu'an's son were very affectionate."
Princess Jingning didn't think much of it and smiled, "That's good, let's go."
As she walked, Song Xinning suddenly sighed softly, "This is probably the last chance I'll have to play for two days before I get married and not come home at night. I had to beg my mother for a long time before she let me out."
Princess Jingning asked in surprise, "Is Madam Song so strict?"
Song Xinning shook her head: "In the past, the management was not very strict, but this year it is more strict. My future mother-in-law was seriously ill and is not in good health now. She needs to rest and should not overwork. When I get married at the end of the year, I will have to take over the management of the household."
She sighed again, her face contorted with bitterness: "My mother has made me her assistant in order to train me. Now I'm in charge of everything at home, and it's exhausting. Whenever I get dizzy looking at the accounts, I envy Ayao. Before she wanted to take over, she had two sisters-in-law helping her manage things."
Princess Jingning looked at me with sympathy: "My mother said I'm not cut out to be a matriarch, so she's looking for an outstanding second or youngest son from another family so I won't have to manage the household affairs in the future."
Song Xinning looked at her with a resentful gaze: "Don't provoke me."
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