Chapter 555 Many Changes
It was late at night.
After all that fuss, Gu Jingxi held the soft, fragrant woman in his arms with a satisfied look on his face. He felt very content. These days, he hadn't been used to sleeping alone. If he wasn't really tired, he would definitely have trouble falling asleep.
Seeing that he was about to kiss her again, Meng Jinyao was afraid that he would keep going until dawn, so she quickly reached out and pushed against his chest, moved her body back as far away from him as possible, and said softly, "Husband, it's late, let's rest early."
Gu Jingxi held her tightly in his arms, kissed her lips in a way that wouldn't let her refuse, and placed one hand on her waist, massaging her with just the right amount of pressure, asking, "Ayao, are you tired?"
Meng Jinyao glared at him: "I'm just worried about my husband. You rushed back today and haven't rested yet."
"I am not tired as a husband."
As Gu Jingxi spoke, he put his words into action to prove it.
After a long while, Meng Jinyao was too tired to move. Looking at the man who still seemed to be in good spirits, she was extremely annoyed: "Who's thirty-two, you or me?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Jingxi paused, pinched her cheek, and asked in a low voice, "Ayao, do you think your husband is too old? So what if I'm thirty-two?"
Meng Jinyao shook her head repeatedly: "Husband, don't overthink it. I didn't mean to complain. I just think you have a lot of energy. It's so late and you're not sleepy yet."
Gu Jingxi replied, "If A Yao knows martial arts, her physical strength will also be good. Like Chan'er, she can lift a table with one hand without any problem."
Meng Jinyao: "...I didn't mention physical strength."
Gu Jingxi nodded: "Yes, I know. Ayao is saying that I can withstand any hardship."
Meng Jinyao's lips twitched, and she said irritably, "Who's been bothering you?"
Gu Jingxi changed his tune, saying, "It was I who made things difficult for A Yao."
Meng Jinyao was speechless. Wasn't this implying that she was weak and couldn't withstand any hardship?
Meng Jinyao instantly didn't want to talk to him anymore, leaving him hanging for a while. After he hugged her and coaxed her with gentle words for a while, she finally paid attention to him and directly changed the subject: "Husband, why did you suddenly want to leave the capital half a month ago?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Jingxi hesitated for a moment, but finally told her the truth: "It is related to Consort Xiao's maternal family."
Meng Jinyao then asked, "Then the Xiao family will probably be in trouble, right?"
Gu Jingxi smiled meaningfully, his meaning unspoken.
Seeing this, Meng Jinyao understood. The Xiao family was the maternal clan of the Second Prince. If something happened to the Xiao family, the Second Prince would also suffer. The Emperor's sudden move against the Xiao family must have a reason.
In a flash, Meng Jinyao suddenly remembered something and asked softly, "Husband, is it related to the death of Crown Prince Huizhao?"
Gu Jingxi replied, "The incident itself is unrelated to the death of Crown Prince Huizhao, but the Emperor's decision to take action against the Xiao family is indeed related to the death of Crown Prince Huizhao. This time, the investigation is focused on Madam Xiao's maternal family. This is a case of pulling one thread and affecting the whole body. Those in the Second Prince's faction, especially those closely related to the Xiao family, will not have a good ending if they are not clean behind the scenes."
Meng Jinyao grasped the key point: "Was the death of Crown Prince Huizhao caused by the Xiao family?"
Gu Jingxi replied, "It was also the Second Prince's idea."
Meng Jinyao remained silent. When Crown Prince Huizhao was assassinated, many people privately suspected the Second Prince. After all, with the Crown Prince gone, the Second Prince, who was at the height of his power, had a chance to ascend to the throne. However, without evidence, no one dared to speak recklessly.
To ascend to the throne, fratricide is inevitable. No emperor has ever sat on the dragon throne without blood on his hands. It's just a pity for Crown Prince Huizhao, such a virtuous and capable heir, who died at the hands of his brother before he could realize his ambitions.
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During his three-day leave, Gu Jingxi didn't concern himself with official duties. He stayed home to be with his wife, children, and elderly mother, and didn't even leave the house. Qi Yunwen did try to contact him, but he refused to see anyone.
Holding her grandson, Madam Gu looked at her son and daughter-in-law playing chess beside her. She felt that her son had changed a lot since he had a wife and child. He was more attached to home than before. In the past, when would her son have time to spend with his old mother? He devoted himself to his official duties every day.
Suddenly, she realized that this was true family bliss. She preferred quiet, and her younger relatives didn't usually come to visit her often, which she enjoyed. But now, with her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson by her side, she loved it even more.
At noon, Gu Jingxi and his wife also stayed for lunch.
After lunch, Madam Gu wanted to take a nap, so the couple left with the child.
Granny Feng smiled and said, "Madam, everyone says that men change after they get married, and the Marquis has changed a lot now."
Madam Gu replied, "Before he had a wife, he devoted himself entirely to his official duties, only thinking about how to solve cases. Now that he has a wife, there is a little wife waiting for him to come home every day, so naturally it's different."
Granny Feng nodded gently: "That's true. The Marquis used to think about the case even while eating." As she spoke, she suddenly remembered the rumors circulating in the capital these past two days, and added, "Madam, these past two days everyone has been talking about the Seventh Princess of Anguo and the Marquis."
Madam Gu frowned: "What could Yaoling possibly have to do with the Seventh Princess?"
Granny Feng replied, "The Marquis and the Seventh Princess are naturally fine. It's just that people outside are saying that the Marquis was frightened by the Seventh Princess. In order to prevent another young girl from falling in love with him without knowing his age, he deliberately ruined his appearance and now he has a stubble beard."
Hearing this, Old Madam Gu chuckled helplessly: "I think they're just bored and making things up. Gu Yaoling is so concerned about his face, afraid that he looks too old to be worthy of A Yao. It's impossible for him to ruin his face just because a new admirer suddenly appears. Right now, he wants to dress up like a peacock every day and show off his feathers in front of A Yao."
No one knows a son better than his mother. Madam Gu continued, "When he came back a couple of days ago, he had a beard, but now he's shaved it off. He probably had a beard a couple of days ago because he was too busy to take care of himself."
Granny Feng continued, "I also think that's the truth. It's just that people outside are saying that the Seventh Princess feels guilty about it. Moreover, she has now fallen for the Third Prince of our dynasty and went to ask the Emperor for a marriage decree. I guess she wants to settle the marriage as soon as possible and suppress those gossips."
Madam Gu paused for a moment, then said, “That’s good. If it weren’t for Yao Ling’s incident, the Seventh Princess would have been engaged to a member of the royal family more than half a month ago. Only through a marriage alliance between Anguo and Zhaoguo could they gain greater benefits. I think even if the Seventh Princess had chosen another young and promising unmarried minister or a minister’s son instead of Yao Ling, Anguo would not have agreed to her marrying into a minister’s family. She would have had no choice but to marry into the royal family.”
After listening, Granny Feng nodded in agreement. Although Anguo was a vassal state, it was not to be underestimated now. A marriage alliance could bring considerable benefits. And Anguo's third prince probably wanted Zhao's assistance, just as the old lady had mentioned unintentionally before.
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