the other three maids who hadn't gossiped were stunned. These two were the second-class maids in the courtyard. Was the madam saying that if she sent them away, she would send them away Suddenly, she...Upon hearing this, Gu Jingxi knew that the real topic was about to be addressed. He replied, "Yes, my return to my hometown this time is for the purpose of paying respects to our ancestors. I haven't been back home for over ten years. When our ancestors' death anniversary was approaching, they appeared in my dream and asked me to bring my wife back to pay homage to them and let him meet her as well.

He said, shifting the topic: "However, it will take a few days to return to Beijing. My wife's uncle is the magistrate of Deqing County. It's been many years since we last saw him, and now that I'm in Huzhou Prefecture, I should at least visit my elders."

"Master Wei was astonished: "County Magistrate Du is Madam Gu's paternal uncle"

Meng Jin Yao nodded lightly: "That's right, I will still have to trouble Lord Wei for his continued care in the future."

"Oh, no, not at all,"

His attention was solely focused on Gu Jingxi. He hadn't even noticed this official, who had been demoted and sent to Deqing County as a magistrate. Unexpectedly, this Magistrate Du turned out to be related to Mrs. Gu by blood. So, was the reason Gu Jingxi and his wife went to Deqing County to visit their elders, or...

Gu Jingxi noticed the slight changes in Wei Da Ren's facial expression, which was perfectly understandable. It would be strange if he wasn't surprised.

The Yongchangbo estate had long since fallen into decline. When the Meng family and the Du family were still in contact, it was during the time when Madam Du was alive. She felt sorry for Ayao, who had lost her mother at a young age, and would take time to visit Ayao at the Meng family. But after Madam Du passed away, there was little contact afterwards.

Du's wife was related to her mother-in-law through their mothers being sisters. When they were alive, people would have known about the familial connection between their families. However, many years have passed since they died, and her father-in-law remarried twice. People have long forgotten that their families were once related.

At this point, Mei Qingyun asked, "So, Mrs. Gu and Lord Gu went to visit their elders and returned to Beijing"

Meng Jinyáo nodded and said, "Indeed, Lord Hou has a busy schedule and cannot stay any longer. He has to return to the capital after visiting his elders."

Mei Qingyun said with a hint of regret: "I have a good rapport with Mrs. Gu, and I was hoping you would stay longer. In two days, we'll be holding a flower-viewing banquet at the mansion and I wanted to invite Mrs. Gu to join us."

Hearing this, Meng Jin Yao also sighed in sympathy: "In two days Oh, what a coincidence. But there will be plenty of opportunities in the future."

Soon, the waiter brought out several dishes one after another. The four of them ate and talked as they went.

When Wei DaRen conversed with Gu JingXi, he would occasionally subtly probe him for information. However, Gu JingXi was neither evasive nor secretive; he answered whatever was asked, yet without revealing any flaws. This left Wei DaRen feeling quite frustrated.

Gu Jingxi chatted with Wei DaRen, but it didn't affect him taking care of his wife by his side.

Since the dishes were served, Meng Jin Yao hadn't picked up any herself. It was always Gu Jing Xi who would serve her. Her small bowl was always full of food, and she only focused on eating and occasionally responding to Mei Qing Yun's words.

Mei Qingyun was staring at Gu Jingxi's tender and considerate treatment of his wife. For a moment, she was dazed. The last time she saw Gu Jingxi and Meng Jin Yao, she could see that Gu Jingxi liked Meng Jin Yao and treated her with tenderness, but she didn't expect him to be so considerate. He even took care of everything during their meal, not letting Meng Jin Yao touch a single dish. When he ate fish, he carefully removed the bones and put the flesh into Meng Jin Yao's bowl.

A prominent lord, holding the prestigious position of Minister of Justice, a third-rank official. Even in public, he treats his wife with the utmost care and devotion, like tending to an ancestor. Such a man is truly rare in this world.

She glanced at her husband, who was worlds apart from Gu Jingxi. A surge of regret filled her heart. What kind of man had she married Gu Jingxi was gentle, caring, and devoted, but she let him go and married someone like Wei Heng. Her life was ruined. If she hadn't called off the engagement back then, it would be her being cared for by Gu Jingxi now.

Wei the elder and Mei Qingyun had been married for many years, so Wei understood her very well and could easily notice her subtle changes. Seeing her like this, he knew she was regretting it again, regretting that she had broken off the engagement and married him in the first place, and imagining how happy she would be if she had married Gu Jingxi instead.

Lord Wei sneered in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face. He smiled and said, "The relationship between Lord Gu and Madam Gu is truly enviable."

Gu Jingxi smiled faintly: "Lord Wei and Mrs. Wei's feelings are also enviable. It is said that Lord Wei and Mrs. Wei have been in love for decades, their affection as fresh as ever."

Upon hearing this, Lord Wei and Mei Qingyun exchanged a knowing glance. To outsiders, it appeared they were indeed as deeply in love as ever, tacitly accepting this truth.

-

After lunch, the four people chatted for a while in the elegant room before parting ways and returning home.

Meng Jin Yao reminisced about Mei Qing Yun's graceful and elegant demeanor, her gentle and kind speech. It was truly difficult for her to imagine the ruthless and vicious side of her when she plotted against her husband, children, and concubine.

Gu Jingxi reached out to take her small hand, and softly asked her, "What is Ayao thinking about"

Meng Jin Yao replied, "Thinking of Mrs. Wei."

What does she want to do

Gu Jingxi's brow jumped, and she instinctively recalled the scene of their meal just now. It didn't seem like anything was amiss. Yao shouldn't have noticed the malicious intent of Wei Heng and his wife.

Meng Jinyáo pondered her words before replying, "I always felt that Lady Wei was very gentle, but the things she did behind the scenes didn't match her image at all. Perhaps she wasn't like this at first."

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi's brows furrowed slightly, fearing that she would have anything to do with that crazy woman, and reminded her: "Ayao, one cannot judge a person by their appearance. Don't just look at the surface when judging people. People like this should not be interacted with too much."

Meng Jin Yao nodded. "I know, even if she was a truly gentle woman before, she isn't anymore. My husband need not worry, I only uttered a sigh of pity, after all. In just a short while, we will be returning to the capital. We probably won't even see each other again."

Gu Jingxi changed the subject: "It's still early, Ayao. Is there anywhere else you want to go Let's take a stroll before heading back home."

Meng Jiny Yao said, "Let's go for a walk on the street. I don't want to go back home so soon either."

The couple got off the carriage. Gu Jingxi held an oiled paper umbrella to shield from the sun, and they strolled side by side down the street, taking a closer look at anything interesting.

Suddenly, Meng Jiny Yao saw an elderly couple with gray hair and stooped figures pulling and tugging at each other on the street. She instinctively stopped to see what was happening.

The old woman was acting like a child, looking for her father and scolding her grandfather, calling him a heartless human trafficker who wanted to sell her.

But the old man wasn't angry. He coaxed the old woman gently, saying he would take her home to find her father and that he would buy her candied fruit later. As a result, the old woman scolded him even more righteously, saying he wanted to deceive children with a string of candied fruit and asking everyone to judge for her.

Meng Jiny Yao looked a bit dazed. She felt that the old woman must be sick, so sick that she didn't recognize people. She didn't know what year it was, and she didn't even know how old she was. It was like she had regressed to childhood.

At that moment, she heard someone beside her say: "Oh, the wife of Old Li's family, has been crazy for a year now. Her son and daughter-in-law both despise her. Fortunately, Old Li is still alive to take care of her, otherwise, who knows what would happen to her."only marry that man.Meng Jinyao's face stiffened. She had only found out about this this morning, how could it happen this afternoonShe saw that Zhang was completely dumbfounded, but with a maid prese...