Chapter 603 Kidnapped
That day, in the afternoon at the hour of You (5-7 PM).
It had just snowed lightly, leaving a thin layer of white on the stone steps. When the wind blew, the snowflakes fell softly from the plum trees. Gu Jingxi had just returned from outside when the snowflakes fell right under the plum trees. The snowflakes landed on his official hat and robe, then rolled off his crimson robe and fell silently to the ground.
When Meng Jinyao saw him, she quickly went to greet him, reached out to brush the water off his shoulder, and asked with a hint of surprise, "Husband, why are you back so early today?"
Gu Jingxi was taken aback: "It's already around 3:45 PM, is that still early?"
Meng Jinyao gave him a reproachful look: "These days you've been coming back before dawn and before dusk. Sometimes I'm already asleep when you come back. Today you came back before it got dark. Isn't that early?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Jingxi paused for a moment, then smiled and asked, "Is Ayao upset that I came back late?"
Meng Jinyao denied it: "I didn't, don't talk nonsense."
Gu Jingxi said gently, "The case is closed. If there aren't any difficult cases, I'll be able to come back to be with you and Wanwan sooner." As he spoke, he took her hand and led her into the house, asking as they walked, "Where's Wanwan? He's usually clinging to you at this time."
Meng Jinyao laughed and said, "Then you're late. He was just kidnapped by a little girl not long ago."
Gu Jingxi asked, puzzled, "What do you mean by that, Ayao?"
Meng Jinyao explained, "Hasn't the imperial examination already started? Prince Shen is also participating in the imperial examination this year. Ayan suddenly became a little nervous. Today, she brought Nuonuo to talk to me about family matters. When they went back, your son couldn't bear to part with Nuonuo and insisted on going with them."
Gu Jingxi asked in surprise, "He just ran off with someone like that?"
Meng Jinyao nodded slightly, her tone tinged with helplessness: "Yes, I told him he had to bring a change of clothes before he left, but he toddled back into the house with his short legs, holding a little shirt in his left hand and little pants in his right, and was about to follow the little girl without the slightest hesitation. I couldn't do anything about it, so I had the maid pack his little bundle and sent the wet nurse and Chunliu with him to the Duke of Shen's mansion to take care of him."
Upon hearing this, Gu Jingxi secretly rejoiced that Nuonuo was not a boy and Wanwan was not a girl. If his daughter had left with someone else at such a young age, he, as her father, would not have been able to sleep tonight. Thinking this, he said, "Alright, let him go. The princess will take good care of him."
A moment later, he asked again, "Ayao, you just said that Prince Shen is participating in this year's imperial examination?"
Meng Jinyao nodded: "Yes, what's wrong?"
Gu Jingxi said, "That's good too. He was a brilliant young man back then. He passed the provincial examination at the age of fourteen. If he had participated in the imperial examination the following spring, he would have become a Jinshi at the age of fifteen. But he did not continue to take the exam that year because of some dirty things in the inner quarters. He went to his maternal grandfather's house."
Meng Jinyao smiled and said, "Ayan is still nervous, saying she's afraid he'll fail the exam."
Gu Jingxi replied, "Princess's worries are unnecessary. My second brother is also participating in this spring examination. Is Ayao nervous?"
"I'm not nervous." Meng Jinyao shook her head gently and smiled. "Being nervous won't help, but I still have confidence in my second brother. If nothing goes wrong, he'll definitely be on the list."
Gu Jingxi said, "With my second brother's talent and learning, he should be fine."
Meng Jinyao continued, "My second brother is also of marriageable age. If he passes the imperial examination this time, we need to find him a marriage partner. Once he, as the elder brother, is engaged, it will be easier for his younger brothers and sisters to get engaged as well. My third brother's marriage is almost certainly out of the question, but my third sister is also of marriageable age, and Mother is secretly looking for a marriage partner for her."
She paused for a moment, then continued, "A few days ago, she asked me if there was anything unseen or troublesome about the youngest son of the Su family, the Minister of State Ceremonies. She said that Madam Su was interested in arranging a marriage, and she thought the marriage was a good one, but she was afraid that there might be some trouble. I remember that there was nothing dirty going on in the Su family's backyard, and there was nothing bad about the youngest son of the Su family. The Su family are also loyal officials, so I told her the truth."
Gu Jingxi replied, "The youngest son of the Su family? There's no major problem, but he's mediocre and has no future. He'll only be a wealthy idler in the future. Is your mother-in-law willing to marry her daughter to him?"
Meng Jinyao said, "Mother said that my third sister is simple-minded and probably wouldn't be able to handle being an official's wife. She should marry into a wealthy family, where her elder sister-in-law will take care of the household. She won't have to worry about anything and can live a peaceful and carefree life as a rich and idle person."
Gu Jingxi was stunned for a moment after hearing this. He had to admit that Zhao Shi was insightful. Qiao Yunying really didn't need to marry any outstanding or promising talented man to live a good life. The Su family was a good choice. The Su family was an official family with a wealthy family background and no troubles at home. With A Yao and Cheng Zhang around, the Su family wouldn't dare to bully her.
Seeing that it was getting late, Meng Jinyao asked, "Husband, are you hungry? Would you like to have dinner now?"
Gu Jingxi nodded.
Meng Jinyao instructed the maid to prepare the meal. After dinner, the couple went for a walk in the garden. Perhaps because the child was not at home, she was a little worried that the child would not be used to it and was somewhat absent-minded.
Seeing this, Gu Jingxi knew without guessing why she was like this, and smiled, "Ayao, I don't think it's that Wanwan is not used to it, but that you, as his mother, are not used to your child not being by your side. The princess is your close friend and usually dotes on Wanwan. She won't mistreat him, so don't worry."
Meng Jinyao replied, "Ayan will definitely not mistreat him. I'm just worried that he won't be used to it and will come looking for us at night."
Gu Jingxi dismissed it, saying, "Ayao is overthinking it. He slept with Yunxin's mother before, but he never made a fuss about wanting his parents back. He likes playing with Nuonuo, so he just went home with her and won't think about us anymore."
Meng Jinyao remained silent. It was indeed so. It seemed that she couldn't live without the child, rather than the child being unable to live without her.
Gu Jingxi said, "His personality is quite good. Men should be more independent. If they rely too much on their parents, they will definitely not amount to anything in the future."
Meng Jinyao gave Gu Jingxi a reproachful look: "Fine, fine, you're right."
As she spoke, she saw Gu Xiuhong and his wife not far away. At that moment, Gu Xiuhong picked a flower and put it in Song Yuan's hair. Then Gu Xiuhong seemed to say something to praise her, which made Song Yuan blush.
Gu Jingxi followed her gaze and naturally saw this scene as well. He subconsciously looked down at the flowers in the flowerbed, picked out the most vibrant one, and then tucked it into Meng Jinyao's hair.
Meng Jinyao was taken aback by his sudden action. She subconsciously looked at Gu Xiuhong and his wife, and seeing that they hadn't noticed them, she said in a low, coquettish voice, "What are you doing? If the younger generation sees us, they'll laugh at us."
“Elders should set a good example. If the elders and their spouses are loving, the younger generation will follow suit.” Gu Jingxi said, his gaze shifting from the flower in her hair to her face. “Ayao’s hair ornament is extremely beautiful, but she is more beautiful than the flower.”
Meng Jinyao blushed slightly and gave him a reproachful look.
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