Chapter 33: The Unworthy Son

aken the dowry list and copied it for Meng Jinyao. How could Meng Jinyao have such a thing To encroach on the dowry of a deceased woman's daughter, if this got out, how could she ever show her face in..."Behave yourself, next time I'm not sure I will be here."

The man's expression was calm when he said this, and his tone carried a hint of resignation, but he didn't seem angry.

Meng Jinyáo was slightly stunned, then smiled and asked, "Husband, are you worried that I will be bullied by your son"

Gu Jingxi gave her a faint glance and remained silent.

Meng Jinyao didn't care if he responded or not, her smile remained undiminished, her tone light and cheerful: "Husband, rest assured, with him, he can't bully me."

Upon hearing this, Gu Jingxi's face twitched. She knew she wouldn't be able to stay out of trouble, and might even find pleasure in tormenting Xiu Ming. Helplessly, he said: "Madam, why would you provoke him"

Meng Jin Yao would not agree with that, refuting, "Husband, did I provoke him I heard he had a high fever and didn't come down, so I came to check on him."

This sounds like a bunch of empty words. Gu Jingxi didn't believe a single word. He looked at the girl's kind and gentle face, seemingly a loving mother concerned about her son. He shook his head and smiled wryly, with a hint of meaning in his voice: "Madam, you should worry less about him. That rebellious son doesn't deserve

"As an elder, what's there to be petty about with the younger generation"

Meng Jin Yao didn't mind much, after all, when it came to arguing with Gu Xiu Ming, with his eloquence, he couldn't win against her. She slightly raised her head to look at the man in front of her, smiling sweetly: "Besides, if he doesn't listen, isn't there still her husband to educate him"

Gu Jingxi retorted, "This time it was just a coincidence. What if I wasn't here next time"

Meng Jin Yao said matter-of-factly: “Then I will educate him myself. As a mother, it is my duty to teach my son to be respectful to his elders.”

Gu Jingxi was helpless against her, so he could only let her go wild. Judging from Xiu Ming's attitude today, it was impossible for him to repent. Even if she didn't take the initiative to appear in front of Xiu Ming, Xiu Ming would still pick a fight with her when he saw her. Letting her stay away was just to reduce the number of conflicts.

Meng Jin Yao asked again, "Our eldest son has injuries and a fever last night that hasn't subsided. Your husband didn't even have time to ask about his condition earlier, should we go back and check on him"

Gu Jingxi said calmly, "It's unnecessary. I see he still has the energy to curse, which proves that there isn't much of a problem."

Upon hearing this, Meng Jin Yao nodded in agreement: “I think so too. Our son should be fine. Let's go back for lunch. I’m hungry.” She said this and, without waiting for a reply, started walking away.

That light and quickened pace also reflects the little girl's excellent mood now.

Gu Jingxi saw this and helplessly rubbed his temples. One was a rebellious son, the other a fake mother. In the future, these three would surely have a heated conflict.

-

Flourishing Pavilion.

Chunliu received the marquis's indication and had to return first. On the way, she was uneasy, afraid that the marquis would blame her after for revealing information to his wife. Back at Weiruixuan, she didn't dare to show her unease.

Until she saw the two masters return, one after the other. The madam smiled broadly, and the marquis followed behind her, seeming to indulge her in every way. Only then did Chunliu's heart relax.

Still, the madam had a way with her and soon soothed the lord. He felt more than ever that clinging to his wife's leg was the right choice. To continue being such a prominent maid, she would have to keep working hard in the future.

After lunch, Gu Jingxi went out to attend to business.

In the afternoon of spring, the sunlight wasn't harsh, but warm and gentle. A soft breeze caressed my face.

Meng Jiny Yao sat by the window, propping up her head and looking up at the clear blue sky outside. She felt so content. This was the first time she had felt the benefits of being married.

You needn't constantly guard against your stepmother's seemingly kind but cruel heart, nor need you daily pay respects and endure your grandmother's harsh interrogations.

...At her husband's house, besides being quite miserable on the wedding day, her husband was a bit older and had a rebellious son. Other than that, things were alright. The rebellious son couldn't bully her either, after all, she was of a higher social standing.

The winter frost, the crisp autumn, and the spring willows wait at the edge.

Meng Jin Yao suddenly asked, "Chun Liu, how old are you this year How long have you been working at the Hou Mansion"

Chunliu replied honestly, "I am sixteen this year. I was bought back by the old mistress together with Xi Zhu four years ago. I served the old mistress before last year when I was sent to Weiruixuan.

Meng Jinyao asked again, "You should know a lot about what happened in the mansion, right Tell me everything in detail."

The spring willows rustle in response, nature understands all and speaks of everything. It tells you about the temperaments of each master in the mansion.

After listening to Chunliu's account, Meng Jin yao frowned slightly. Gu Xiuming was warm and elegant, polite and sensible, deeply loved by the elders

Gentle and well-mannered, knowledgeable and polite, which one is related to Gu Xiuming

That is clearly a heartless, vicious person who made a mistake and showed no remorse, even shifting the blame onto the victim. It's a despicable child.

As for this younger generation, whether others like her or not, she has no idea. As for herself, as a mother, she feels absolutely no fondness for her.

When Chunliu saw her frown and stay silent, she asked anxiously, "Madam, is there anything else you wish to know"

Meng Jinyao said faintly, "Perhaps other people are as you say, but my son, Xiu Ming, is clearly a different person from what you describe."

Chun Liu was taken aback. Thinking back to the two encounters between Madam and the young master, they had been confrontational indeed. It wasn't as she had said, gentle, courteous, polite, and knowledgeable.

Meng Jinyao yawned and felt sleepy, then said, "I'm tired, I'll rest for a while. You all go busy yourselves."

Three maidservants responded and withdrew.

-

Xia Zhu looked down on Chun Liu's flattering behavior towards the mistress. She walked to Chun Liu's side and muttered, "Do you have to flatter her so much We are big maidservants of Wei Rui Xuan, you never flattered anyone in front of the Marquis like this."

Chunliu replied, "We are the maidservants of Wei Rui Xuan. But now Wei Rui Xuan is ruled by the mistress. As for the Marquis, he never allows maids to serve him closely. Before, we could at least do some other things. After the mistress married in, many things were done by her dowry maidservants. What can we do"

Xia Zhu said: "Whatever the Madam commands, I will obey."

"You're as stubborn as a mule! You won't even show your face before the mistress, nor try to win her favor. How do you expect to be trusted and relied upon"

Chun Liu glanced at her, unable to understand how someone so unrefined could be chosen by the old mistress to serve as the chief maidservant in Wei Rui Xuan. She then added, "Besides, didn't you see the bracelet on Madam's hand That's the symbol of the head wife of the Gu family. The eldest mistress has been in charge for many years, but she never got that bracelet. As soon as Madam arrived, the old mistress gave it to her. It's possible that she will be in charge very soon."

Xia Zhu was surprised: “It shouldn’t be possible, right The Madam in Charge of the Middle Treasury manages things quite well.”

“What’s impossible” Chunliu felt she was like rotten wood that couldn't be carved, and whispered, “Even though now the eldest wife manages things and the second wife assists, both the first and second houses are of lower status. The marquis is legitimate, and his wife is the rightful mistress of the household. Even if in the future the heir marries a concubine, it wouldn’t surpass the position of the madam.”

Xia Zhu was suddenly enlightened.

Seeing that she understood, Chunliu added: "Since we are sisters, I'll remind you. If you want to gain favor with the mistress, you have to be clever. Once you win her liking, when you get married in the future, the mistress might even add some dowry. Besides, whether or not we can marry is entirely up to the mistress."

Xia Zhu nodded lightly. put her heart at ease and hesitated for a moment before asking, "Ah Yao, are you alright"Meng Jin yao was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said: "It's nothing. Changxing Houfu hasn't treated me...