Chapter Thirty-Nine: I Trust My Wife
Meng Jinyao didn't want to explain; she only wanted to make excuses. She forced a smile and asked, "If I said I never said such a thing, would my husband believe me?"
Gu Jingxi said meaningfully, "Is Madam telling me with her hand on her heart that you never said such a thing?"
"Of course! How could I talk about my husband like that in front of my friends?" Meng Jinyao replied without hesitation, sticking to her guns and putting her conscience aside for the moment.
Seeing the little girl looking at him with a beaming smile, her eyes filled with utter innocence, Gu Jingxi knew that she would never admit it, so he nodded and said, "If Madam says no, then no. I believe Madam."
Meng Jinyao showed no guilt whatsoever, her tone firm: "I never said that."
Gu Jingxi nodded and smiled, saying, "Madam is a gentle and virtuous wife, not the kind of person who speaks ill of her husband behind his back."
Meng Jinyao choked: "..."
If you don't believe it, just don't believe it. Why resort to such roundabout insults?
Gu Jingxi stopped dwelling on the topic, lifted the curtain of the carriage window to look outside, then lowered the curtain and said to Meng Jinyao, "It's almost noon. There's a restaurant called Heshanlou ahead. Shall we have lunch before going back?"
Meng Jinyao was used to poverty in her maternal home. Her stepmother, Sun, said that the family was not as well off as before and they needed to increase income and reduce expenditure. Therefore, she could not give the children too much allowance. In any case, the children had enough to eat and wear at home, and it was good for them to develop the habit of diligence and thrift.
Of course, this cost-cutting measure only applied to her and her second brother Meng Chengzhang; Sun's two children were not included. On the surface, they were treated equally, but in private, Sun would provide subsidies.
So when she heard that a meal at a restaurant like Heshanlou cost more than her monthly allowance, she instinctively shook her head and replied, "There's no need to waste money. It's not far from home. Let's have lunch at home."
Gu Jingxi glanced at her thoughtfully, then smiled and said, "Madam, there's no need to be so frugal. Although I don't have any great abilities, I can easily support you."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao belatedly realized that there was someone beside her who would pay the bill for her.
She was very poor, but Gu Jingxi was not.
Therefore, she immediately changed her mind and said with a smile, "In that case, I won't save money for my husband. Let's have lunch at He Shan Lou today."
After she finished speaking, she called out to the driver, "Uncle Zhang, stop at the restaurant up ahead."
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After having lunch at Heshanlou, Gu Jingxi ran into a colleague who had something to attend to, so Meng Jinyao took her maid and returned to the Changxing Marquis's residence.
On the way back to the manor, Qingqiu suddenly said, "Madam, based on my observations over the past few days, the Marquis treats you quite well. You really made the right choice in marrying him."
Meng Jinyao was slightly taken aback, then nodded with a smile: "Back then, I didn't choose between the Second Young Master and the Fourth Young Master, but chose him instead because I heard that he was of good character and had a strong sense of responsibility. If we can continue to treat each other with respect and live peacefully for the rest of our lives, that would be good too."
Ningdong interjected, "The Marquis seems to have a good temper, he'll definitely live a good life." Then, she added with a hint of regret, "The only drawback is that the Marquis has a hidden illness, which prevents the Madam from having her own children. And the Heir Apparent is that kind of person, he probably won't be filial to the Madam in the future."
Qingqiu was also worried about her mistress's future, and a faint sorrow lingered between her brows. She suggested, "Madam, why don't you discuss with the Marquis about adopting another child? A child raised from a young age will surely be close to you and will be filial to you in the future."
Meng Jinyao remained silent. Although she hadn't thought about the child, she knew that Gu Xiuming's adopted son would definitely not treat her well. If Gu Jingxi were gone one day, her good days would probably be over.
Her adopted son, Gu Xiuming, will have many children and grandchildren, but they will have little to do with her. In addition, Gu Xiuming and she don't get along well. In the future, if Gu Xiuming's family gangs up on her, an old woman, she will be outnumbered and have a truly miserable old age.
Taking everything into consideration, Qingqiu's suggestion was excellent. She nodded and said, "I don't want to take care of the child right now. I'll bring it up with the Marquis again in two or three years."
Upon hearing this, Ning Dong's face immediately lit up with a smile, her tone revealing a hint of excitement as she whispered, "Madam, the young master is irresponsible and morally flawed. The Marquis's mansion will likely decline under his rule. If you were to adopt a young master and raise him to be outstanding, the young master could be replaced."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao's face hardened, and she reprimanded in a stern voice, "Ningdong, watch your words!"
Her expression suddenly changed, startling Ningdong, who stammered, "Madam, I think if you were to adopt a child to raise by your side, you should fight for it."
Seeing that she still didn't understand the madam's meaning, Qingqiu spoke up to remind her: "Ningdong, some things can be thought in your heart and acted on in secret, but they should not be said out loud, because walls have ears. If others hear it, disaster may befall us. We are the madam's confidants. If we say the wrong thing or do the wrong thing, not only will we be punished, but the madam will also be implicated."
Upon hearing this, Ningdong immediately understood and hurriedly said, "Madam, this servant knows her mistake."
Meng Jinyao knew that Ningdong and Qingqiu were both loyal maids to her, but their personalities were completely different. Qingqiu was calm and composed, while Ningdong was prone to being boisterous. Therefore, she had to entrust Qingqiu with some meticulous and important tasks.
She said earnestly, "Ningdong, the Changxing Marquis's Mansion has a large population and several branches of the family are in turmoil, making it even more complicated than the Yongchang Earl's Mansion. You must be careful with your words and actions, or you might inadvertently hand over your weaknesses to others."
Ningdong nodded and replied, "Madam, I will definitely pay attention next time."
Meng Jinyao's expression softened, and she gently instructed, "It's not just about being careful next time, but about making sure there's no next time. Being careful with your words and actions isn't just important when you're with me; it applies even after you get married. Some things are better left unsaid, as being too outspoken can easily offend your father-in-law and mother-in-law, and might even lead to arguments with your husband. In short, it's always right to think things through before acting."
Upon hearing this, Ningdong's cheeks flushed slightly, and she protested, "Madam, I don't want to get married. I want to stay by your side for the rest of my life."
Meng Jinyao smiled and said, "That's because you don't have someone you like right now. Once you meet a man you like, you'll probably be begging me to release you from your contract."
Ning Dong shook her head repeatedly, her head bobbing like a rattle drum, and said, "This servant will not have a sweetheart. If I get married, I will have to serve my husband, father-in-law and mother-in-law, and maybe I will also have a meddlesome sister-in-law. How can I be as comfortable as I am by your side, Madam?"
Meng Jinyao looked at Ning Dong with gentle eyes, smiling without saying a word.
Life is unpredictable; who knows what the future holds?
Perhaps fate arrives unexpectedly, changing one's initial thoughts.
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