Chapter 442 Mother and Daughter Safe
The next day.
It was nearly 9 a.m. when Meng Jinyao woke up. When she opened her eyes, she saw Gu Jingxi sitting in front of the bed, holding a book and looking at it intently, seemingly unaware that she had already woken up.
The man was gentle and refined, exuding a scholarly air; at first glance, one would think he was a serious person well-versed in classical texts.
However, that's not actually the case. This scoundrel doesn't even spare pregnant women. He thought that by taking away the book, he wouldn't be able to see and learn those tricks, but last night he did something bad to her, using tricks from the book.
Feeling annoyed, she asked what happened, only to hear this rascal say, "Ah Yao, I've read that book before. I have a good memory, so I remembered it."
She was furious, and that scoundrel said, "Ayao, I promise you I won't read that book again, but I have a good memory, that's not my fault, it's innate, not something I wanted."
What a perfect phrase, "born with it."
It's irrefutable.
Looking at Gu Jingxi now, Meng Jinyao's eyes became increasingly resentful.
Gu Jingxi's senses were sharp, and he had already noticed a resentful gaze directed at him. He turned his head and looked over, meeting the pregnant woman's unfriendly gaze. He then put down his book and said gently and considerately, "Ayao is awake? Let your husband help you get up."
Meng Jinyao kept a straight face and said in a low voice, "You bullied me last night, and I haven't forgiven you yet. I don't want to talk to you for the time being, so don't try to get close to me."
Gu Jingxi looked innocent and aggrieved: "It's all my fault, I shouldn't have remembered so well."
Meng Jinyao: "..."
Listen to this!
What kind of talk is this person giving? They're even acting all wronged. If they're wronged, fine, but why are they praising their good memory? It's infuriating. Besides, even if you remember something, you don't necessarily have to do it, but this person just insists on doing it.
Gu Jingxi reached out and took her hand, his attitude of admitting his mistake sincere: "Ayao, I was wrong, please forgive me this time, okay?"
Meng Jinyao glanced at her hands, then, remembering what happened last night, quickly looked away, not wanting to look directly at her hands, or even her legs...
He bullied her, provoked her, and then refused to give it to her, making her do it herself. The man just lay there giving orders.
Gu Jingxi noticed her subtle expression and saw that her cheeks were still slightly flushed, probably because she was shy about what happened last night. He said gently, "Ayao, don't be angry. Let your husband dress you."
Meng Jinyao glared at him, annoyed: "Gu Jingxi, tell me, whose personality do you take after? Your mother isn't like this, so do you take after your father?"
Gu Jingxi honestly replied, "No, my father's personality is very different from mine."
Seeing his "I know I was wrong, I really know I was wrong" expression, Meng Jinyao felt annoyed. This man was always like this, always saying "I know I was wrong, but I'll do it again next time."
Meng Jinyao stared at him with a displeased expression for a long time, and finally gave up and said, "I wanted to wear a pale yellow dress today, so I gave him a way out."
Gu Jingxi responded and immediately went to find her a pale yellow dress. He personally helped her put it on, then had a maid bring in water to serve her washing up. He did everything himself and even styled her hair into a pretty bun, finally making her happy.
Gu Jingxi also took good care of her during breakfast.
Meng Jinyao suddenly remembered something important and said, "Husband, today is the first day of the month. We are going to pay our respects to Mother. I got up late, and by the time we finish breakfast, it will be quite late."
Gu Jingxi said gently, "It's alright. I'll have someone tell Mother that you went to bed late last night and got up late this morning, so you can't go to pay your respects this morning. Mother replied that you should rest well and that you can pay your respects another day."
Meng Jinyao nodded and continued eating.
After breakfast, Gu Jingxi had some things to take care of, so he had someone summon Yu Chuan.
When Gu Jingxi saw Yu Chuan's bruised and swollen face, she was stunned and asked, "Yu Chuan, you were fine yesterday. Who did you fight with and you got into this mess? To be beaten like this, it's clear that your kung fu is not good enough. You need to practice more and spar with Zhou Yun more often in the future."
Yu Chuan paused, recalling the embarrassing incident from last night, and felt somewhat ashamed. He quickly tried to explain, "My lord, I didn't fight with anyone. I just tripped and fell."
Gu Jingxi didn't believe a word of it, but after a moment she thought of a possibility and laughed instantly. She teased, "You fell pretty skillfully. Anyone who didn't know better would think you fell into someone's fist. Most people couldn't fall like that."
Yu Chuan: "..."
Gu Jingxi added, "Alright, go back and take good care of your injuries. It's quite pitiful to have fallen like this."
Yu Chuan looked bewildered: "My lord, didn't you have something to tell me to do? I'm fine, it's just a minor injury. Please tell me what you need, and I will take care of it."
Gu Jingxi looked at his face and asked, "You went out with a bruised and swollen face. Were you there to help me or to embarrass me?"
Yu Chuan: "..."
Gu Jingxi said, "Go and call Zhou Yun over here."
Yu Chuan considered suggesting that it wouldn't be a problem for him to go out with his face covered, but in the end, he didn't say anything. He simply replied "Yes" and then left to find Zhou Yun.
-
News came from the Liu family that Gu Xuanling gave birth to a daughter yesterday evening, and both mother and daughter are safe and sound.
This is also a joyous occasion, as the Gu family has a granddaughter.
Tomorrow is the baby's third-day celebration for the eldest granddaughter of the Liu family. Old Madam Gu will not be attending, but she has had a gift prepared. Madam Zhang and Meng Jinyao have also prepared gifts, which will be sent over tomorrow.
Gu Xuanling was born out of wedlock, and as the legal mother, Madam Chen was not required to attend the baby's third-day celebration. However, Madam Chen stated that she would attend the celebration tomorrow.
When Meng Jinyao, Zhang, and Chen were chatting together, they brought up this matter.
When Zhang learned that Chen was attending the baby's third-day celebration for her illegitimate daughter the next day, she laughed and said, "Second sister-in-law, Xuanling is not your biological daughter, and the child she gave birth to is not your legitimate granddaughter. You can just send someone to deliver a gift tomorrow. Is there any need to make such a big deal out of her?"
Madam Chen had a different idea. Her son-in-law, Liu Zifang, had already passed the provincial examination and might even become a Jinshi in the next spring examination. Once Liu Zifang entered the court as an official, her son would have another person to look out for and help. It was always right to maintain good relations between the two families now.
Even if Liu Zifang fails to pass the imperial examination in the future, it doesn't matter. Xuanling is the child she has raised for more than ten years. She is usually filial to her. Now she is willing to give Xuanling face and support her, so that the Liu family will pay more attention to Xuanling.
She replied, "Even though Xuanling isn't my biological daughter, she's called me 'Mother' for over ten years."
Upon hearing this, Zhang looked at her with disdain: "A child born to a concubine, whose birth mother was a maid. Only my second sister-in-law is kind-hearted and willing to promote her."
Upon hearing this, Madam Chen's face turned ugly. Although she came from a prestigious family and her maternal family was a good match for the Gu family, she was still a concubine's daughter. Madam Zhang's disdain for concubine's daughters was tantamount to disdain for her as well. She might be using the excuse of slandering Xuanling to also slander Madam Chen.
She retorted in an unhappy tone, "Sister-in-law, don't forget that both my eldest brother and our second master were born to concubines, both are illegitimate sons. If you look down on illegitimate children like this, then aren't you also looking down on my eldest brother?"
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