Chapter Thirty-Six: Jingxi Steals a Listen

"The answer was as expected, and Meng Jinyo wasn't disappointed. She simply said, "My husband is indeed fair and just, impartial in his dealings. It's no wonder he holds the position of Minister of Ju...Meng Jinyao saw her friend's distress, her haggard appearance clearly due to worry for her. She hadn't slept well in days, which touched Meng Jinyao deeply. In this world, besides the two maidservants by her side, only An Ning would be concerned and saddened by her misfortunes.

She took out her handkerchief and gently wiped the tears from Song Xining's eyes, then said seriously: "A Ning, it is precisely because I am not foolish that I did not choose Second Master or Fourth Master.

"

Song Xining was puzzled: "What do you mean"

Meng Jiny Yao said calmly, “They are children of the concubines from the first and second rooms, while Gu Xiuming is the son of the Marquis. In their choice between me, though I would become his sister-in-law or sister, I would still be beneath him. How could the Second Master or Fourth Master protect me Only Gu Jingxi can, he is Gu Xiuming's father and can suppress him.”

Song Xining was taken aback by this, pondering her words carefully for a long time before nodding slightly. Then she asked again, “So…how does your father treat you”

Meng Jin Yao recalled these past few days, being honest and straightforward: “Aside from being lustful, everything else is fine”

"He's a lech!"

Song Xining's voice suddenly rose in pitch, she looked at Meng Jin Yao with surprise and astonishment, seeing that she wasn't joking. She felt incredulous and said, "Didn't Lord Gu have a hidden illness He couldn't even do anything, how is he fine now"

Qīng Qiū and Níng Dōng were also taken aback, thinking of the beautiful maidservants in Houye's courtyard, even the maids who did chores had pretty features, none of them were ugly. Could it be that because of this, the Madam thought Houye was lustful

Even Song Xining's maidservant was stunned, finding it unbelievable. They had seen Marquis Gu; he was a man who didn't even glance twice at beauties.

Meng Jin Yao nodded lightly: "Although he has a hidden illness, it doesn't affect his lust."

She thought to herself, if Gu Jingxi wasn't interested in looks, what was he doing last night, sneaking into her room and pulling open her collar Wasn't it just because he couldn't have a taste that he wanted to get a good look

Song Xining hesitated and said, "My uncle is his best friend. He said he is an upright gentleman who keeps himself clean and doesn't consort with women. Ayuo, don't you have some misunderstanding about him"

Meng Jin Yao replied, "That proves your uncle doesn't understand him enough."

This is how Nigdong couldn't help but say, "Miss Song, the maids in the Marquis's courtyard are all as beautiful as flowers."

As soon as these words left her mouth, Song Xining and her servant both felt that Meng Jin Yao had probably misunderstood. Any legitimate wife seeing a pile of beautiful maidservants around her husband would naturally feel uneasy and prone to overthinking. If it were someone else, they might indeed be lecherous, but not Gu Jingxi. He simply wouldn't. Even if he wanted to, he was powerless to do so.

For a moment, Meng Jinyao added, "But, which man isn't attracted to beauty Even my father, who loves my stepmother so much, still has several beautiful concubines."

Song Xining was startled and suddenly thought of her own parents. Her parents got along well, but that didn't prevent her father from taking two concubines and having two illegitimate daughters with them. However, her mother also seemed to be open-minded. She treated the two concubines kindly on a daily basis, never treating them harshly. The concubines were also obedient and did not cause any trouble. Compared to other families, their Song family's backyard was relatively peaceful.

She nodded in agreement: "That's right, there's no such thing as a man who isn't good-looking. The only ones who probably aren't are monks."

Meng Jingyao said, "Anning, let's not talk about men anymore. Let's talk about something else."

Song Xinning nodded in response, then steered the conversation in a different direction, chatting with her about recent events. "Ayao, your younger sister, used to desperately want to hear others belittle you and praise her. Yesterday, she surprisingly spoke up in your favor. It's truly astonishing!"

Meng Jinyao was quite surprised and asked with interest, "Would she speak well of me What did she say"

“She said,” Song Xining coughed lightly, mimicking Meng Jin Yu’s tone, “What are you talking about My elder sister and brother-in-law have a harmonious relationship. They haven't been neglected at all. Everyone in our Meng family saw clearly on the day my elder sister returned home; her brother-in-law showed her every kind of love and care.”

Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao raised an eyebrow and smiled lightly, "Meng Jinyu is becoming quite clever. However, with her mind, she couldn't possibly think too far ahead. Perhaps it's my good stepmother who taught her well."

Song Xining didn't react: "What do you mean"

Meng Jinyao pulled at the corner of her lips, conjuring a mocking smile and sneered, "I live well in the Gu family, favored by my husband. Even if my in-laws don't support them, they can still profit. When they go out, everyone will give them some face because of the Longxing Houfu. So what benefit would it be for them to smear me outside Wouldn't that make outsiders think I'm at odds with my natal family"

She paused for a moment, then let out a light sneer: "Of course, if I were mistreated by my in-laws, they would be quick to distance themselves from me. They would even publicly slander me, saying how terrible I am and bringing shame upon their family. They'd act as if I were never their daughter."

Song Xining, upon hearing this, felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her. She frowned and said, "No wonder Meng Jinyu broke her usual pattern yesterday to speak up for you. I thought she'd changed."

Meng Jinyáo half-closed her eyes and said in one sentence: "She is doing this for her own future. The Yongchangbo Mansion has fallen into decline, and her marriage prospects are not good either. But she has an elder sister who is the wife of the Changxing Hou and is favored by the Changxing Hou, so it's different."

Song Xining frowned even tighter: "They're really only interested in profit."

Meng Jin Yao had already gotten used to it, she shrugged and said: "They've always been like this.

-

Next door's room.

Two cultured gentlemen stood facing each other, pressed against the wall, intently listening to the conversation in the next room. These two were none other than Gu Jingxi, Minister of Dali Temple, and Qi Yunwen, Deputy Minister of Dali Temple. They were not only close friends but also superiors and subordinates, as well as the best partners who had solved countless cases together.

Gu Jingxi overheard the conversation next door. When he heard two girls talking about how all men are lustful, he lost interest in continuing to listen. His face darkened, his gaze lightly swept over his friend who was suppressing a smile, and his thin lips moved slightly, asking in a flat tone: "Qi Mo Bai, is this the reliable information you were talking about"

Mo Bai is the courtesy name of Qi Yunwen.

Qi Yunwen didn't expect this either. He smiled sheepishly and explained, "Yao Ling, the information I received was that they would be discussing something here. I really didn't expect the information to be wrong. The people next door turned out to be my niece and your daughter-in-law."

Gu Jingxi frowned, his voice dropping: "Unexpected"

I really didn't expect this. It's all because the people below are incompetent and the information is inaccurate.

Qi Yunwen looked innocent, yet helpless. Thinking about the conversation he had overheard just now, he couldn't help but chuckle and gave Gu Jingxi a knowing look, teasingly saying, "Old geezer, I never thought you'd be like this! You act like a monk all the time, but it turns out you have a taste for beauty." house. This prevented the deserted mansion from falling into disrepair and allowed her to occasionally return and enjoy a cup of hot tea and a warm meal when she visited.Gu Jingxi nodded slightly: "I...