Chapter 248 Already Acquainted
This day was the birthday of Madam Meng of the Yongchang Marquis's Mansion. The Meng family hosted a banquet for guests and also invited an opera troupe to celebrate Madam Meng's birthday.
As a granddaughter, Meng Jinyao naturally had to return to her parents' home to celebrate her grandmother's birthday, and her grandson-in-law, Gu Jingxi, also accompanied his daughter-in-law back to her parents' home.
As for Gu Xiuming, although he resented Gu Jingxi for failing the autumn examination and mistakenly believed that Gu Jingxi had secretly kept his knowledge from him when teaching him, he was still very good at putting on a show and followed Meng Jinyao and Gu Jingxi to the Yongchang Marquis's Mansion.
Seeing the smile on her lips, which seemed to indicate excitement, Gu Jingxi hesitated before asking, "Does Ayao miss her parents' home?"
Hearing this, Meng Jinyao glared at him and said, "You know what kind of relationship I have with my family. How could I possibly miss them? If I really had to think about them, it would be my second brother. I don't care about anyone else."
Gu Jingxi was slightly taken aback, then asked, "What made you so happy?"
Meng Jinyao retorted, "On my father's birthday, I told you that I already had a next step in the plan. Do you remember? I didn't bring Ningdong today, but I brought Qingqiu and Chan'er. Chan'er is someone you lent to me. Didn't you recognize her?"
Gu Jingxi answered honestly, "I didn't notice the other girls."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao's lips unconsciously curled up into a smile.
Gu Jingxi asked again, "Does Ayao intend to carry out that plan at the birthday banquet?"
Meng Jinyao nodded slightly. Thinking of her grandmother, she scoffed and said mockingly, "Although it's wrong to ruin an elder's birthday banquet, how can a junior be filial if the elder is not kind? There are many people at the banquet, which will be perfect for me to carry out my plan."
Gu Jingxi first affirmed her approach, then asked, "What does A-Yao plan to do?"
Meng Jinyao blinked playfully and said with a smile, "It's just..." Seeing the man looking at her, waiting for an answer, she giggled and said, "I won't tell you yet, you'll find out later."
Gu Jingxi chuckled helplessly, gently flicked her nose, and said with a doting tone, "Naughty."
He didn't press further. Seeing his wife's confident expression, he figured it was a sure thing. He smiled and said, "Since A-Yao has already made the arrangements, then I'll wait and see."
Hearing him say this, Meng Jinyao suddenly became a little nervous and said anxiously, "Husband, I am not sure if it will really succeed. I am afraid that there may be some changes."
Gu Jingxi said, "She can escape this time, but she can't escape a second time."
Meng Jinyao lowered her eyes slightly, a strong hatred flashing in them. She gritted her teeth and said hatefully, "But I still don't want to fail. I want her to be disgraced and suffer a fate worse than death. Only in this way can I comfort the spirits of my mother and Chengyu in heaven."
As soon as she finished speaking, Gu Jingxi anticipated her next move and immediately reached out to grasp her hands, preventing her from instinctively clenching her fists and hurting herself with her nails.
Meng Jinyao slowly looked up at him, her eyes filled with a hint of confusion.
“Ayao, I told you before that you shouldn’t hurt yourself because of other people’s mistakes. Have you forgotten?” Gu Jingxi said, pulling her into his arms. “I know you hate the Sun family. Since you hate her, then make trouble for her. If you’re unhappy, you should cause trouble for her instead of making yourself unhappy.”
The man's voice was gentle, his tone tender, and his soft words conveyed concern.
Upon hearing his words, Meng Jinyao felt like a child who had fallen down and was being comforted and picked up by an elder. The presence of someone who cared for her made her heart more vulnerable. Her eyes welled up with tears, and her voice choked with sobs as she said aggrievedly, "Husband, I feel so sad."
Gu Jingxi coaxed her gently, "Don't cry, Yao. We'll go and cause trouble for Sun Shi later. Our Yao is a brave girl. Do whatever you want. I'll support you."
A warm feeling washed over Meng Jinyao. After a moment, she looked up at him, puzzled, and asked, "But didn't you say I'm always hesitant and overthink things? Where's my courage?"
Gu Jingxi said softly, "You lost the real Xiao Ayao just because of them."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao was slightly taken aback. After carefully considering the words, she quickly realized that they were referring to her past self.
Gu Jingxi smiled and said, "Little Ayao is very brave, she's fearless."
Meng Jinyao looked puzzled: "How did my husband know?"
Gu Jingxi glanced at her and said with a smile, "Actually, we've known each other since you were little, but you were still young then, so you've probably already forgotten me."
Meng Jinyao was stunned. So much time had passed and her memory was hazy. She could hardly remember what kind of person she used to be or what kind of people she had met.
She only remembers some of the most memorable moments from her time with her grandfather, Chengyu, and Chengzhang, because she can't bear to forget them and will recall them again and again.
As the memories were repeated many times, it seemed that all that remained were the happy times with his grandfather, Chengyu, and Chengzhang, as well as the incident of Sun's murder of Chengyu; the other memories gradually became blurred.
She lowered her head and said softly, "Husband, I really have forgotten. I don't remember it at all now."
Gu Jingxi said gently, "It's okay, we'll have many more memories in the future. But from now on, you must never forget those memories."
Meng Jinyao looked up and saw the man's gentle smile. A smile slowly appeared on her face as well. She nodded heavily to the man and replied crisply, "Okay."
-
The Yongchang Earl's Mansion.
Although the Meng family has declined, there are still quite a few guests who share the same plight as the Meng family who have come to wish Old Madam Meng a happy birthday. More than a dozen carriages are already parked at the gate of the Earl's Mansion.
Everyone is down on their luck, so no one should mock anyone else. They can't get into high society, and they look down on poor families. They can only stick together with those who are in the same boat and keep warm in each other's arms.
After Meng Jinyao and the others disembarked from the carriage, just as they were about to enter the mansion, a male voice suddenly came from the left: "Cousin Ayao?"
Meng Jinyao looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young man in his early twenties, dressed in brocade, holding a two- or three-year-old boy, looking at her with a joyful expression. Beside the man stood a beautiful young woman.
That was her cousin, Luo Yong'an. As for the young woman, it was obvious that she was her cousin's wife. She was ill when her cousin got married and couldn't travel, so she didn't attend the wedding. This was the first time she had met her cousin's wife.
Just as she was about to step forward, she saw a middle-aged couple and a boy of similar age to her. They were her uncle, Lord Luo, and his wife. She had never seen the boy before, but it wasn't hard to guess that he was probably the child of her uncle and his second wife.
She had only met her cousin seven years ago. At that time, her uncle went to the capital to report on his work and, thinking that her cousin had not seen his grandmother for many years, he brought her cousin back to the capital as well. Her cousin stayed at the Meng family's house for a short time and they got along well. He was an upright gentleman, and when Meng Jinyu wronged her, her cousin even helped her.
Meng Jinyao led Gu Jingxi and Gu Xiuming forward to greet them. After exchanging pleasantries, they discovered that the eldest cousin had a good relationship with his stepmother. The family was harmonious, with a loving mother and filial son, and friendly brothers.
Luo Yong'an gently instructed, "Cousin Ayao, this is their first time in the capital, and they don't know anyone here. I'd like to ask you to take care of them for a while. I can't manage to look after the women here."
Meng Jinyao smiled and agreed, "Cousin, don't worry, I will take good care of Madam Luo and your wife."
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