iuhong, if she conflicted with Gu Xiuming in the future, Gu Xiuhong might not protect her. And Gu Xiuwen was a little younger. Marrying someone like a younger brother wasn't something she was happy a...The next day was the fifteenth day of the month, and according to custom, one had to go to Shousan Hall to pay respects to Old Madam Gu.

This morning, Meng Jinyu and Gu Jingxi woke up earlier than usual. After all, they had to eat breakfast in their own courtyard first, and then go to pay their respects.

Unlike other elderly women who enjoy the company of their grandchildren and a lively atmosphere, Madam Gu was known for her love of quiet solitude. She disliked commotion and even avoided breakfast with younger generations, finding it too noisy. She would only join them on major holidays.

Gu Jingxi waited for her to freshen up outside, then they would have a meal together. When he saw someone come out from the inner room, he was stunned, and a flash of astonishment crossed his eyes.

He had always known that his young wife was a beautiful girl, but she usually dressed in an old-fashioned way, suppressing the youthful vivacity she should have. She appeared mature and dignified, looking several years older than her actual age. This was largely due to Meng's mother-in-law, Sun Shi, who had deliberately chosen these clothes for her granddaughter.

Today, for some unknown reason, I changed my usual attire.

The little girl was beautiful, and after dressing up carefully, she became even more breathtaking. With her cloud-like hair, graceful eyebrows, and face like a peach blossom, she had a golden magnolia flower hairpin diagonally inserted into her bun, which complemented the magnolia flower ornament between her brows perfectly. She wore a sea-red gold thread embroidered with spring flowers dress, making her whole person even more dazzling.

It wasn't just Gu Jingxi who was amazed, even Chunliu and Xiazhu, the maids serving outside, were stunned when they saw her.

Nigdong and Qingqiu were filled with a sense of accomplishment seeing their reaction. In the past, they wanted to dress up the mistress properly, but unfortunately, their resources were limited. Sun's family was afraid that the mistress would outshine the second daughter, so they wouldn't give her any beautiful clothes or jewelry. Yesterday afternoon, the mistress went out and bought clothes and jewelry that suited her, which allowed her to dress up nicely.

Meng Jin Yao was confident in her own appearance, but Gu Jing Xi, who didn't often see beautiful women, looked at her a few more times. This piqued his interest, and she couldn't help teasing him: "Husband, what are you looking at me for"

Gu Jingxi retracted his gaze, his tone calm: "My wife usually dresses too plainly and old-fashioned. It's not suitable for a young girl in her twenties. Now she finally looks like one."

"I agree," Meng Jinyao nodded in agreement. "That's why she bought something suitable for herself after getting the silver. Then, with a smile, she asked, "How do I look"

Gu Jingxi nodded and answered honestly: "Beautiful"

Meng Jinyao lifted a satisfied smile, and then raised two fingers: "Two thousand taels"

"What two thousand taels" Gu Jingxi's eyes held confusion, bewildered.

Yesterday afternoon, I spent two thousand taels. It was all my husband's money. Meng Jin Yao said this as she walked towards the person opposite her, then sat down, turning her head to instruct the maidservant, "You can set up the table now."

Gu Jingxi was taken aback and glanced up and down at her again. He instantly understood. The two thousand taels she mentioned must have all been spent on clothes and jewelry. It seemed like she had bought a whole new set of outfits and accessories.

In just an afternoon, two thousand taels of silver were spent. It was like feeding a bottomless pit. Even Xiu Ming, who usually didn't care about silver, was stunned by the expense. It seemed that raising a daughter was indeed not easy. No wonder his colleagues worried that daughters were expensive to raise, demanding everything to be fine and costing a lot of money.

However, the little girl looked pretty dressed like that. The silver wasn't wasted at all. Looking at her lovely and charming appearance, he felt a strange sense of accomplishment in his heart. He experienced the joy of raising a daughter here.

He smiled wryly and said, “As long as the money spent is worth it, what does two thousand taels matter”

Seeing that he had no objection, Meng Jin Yao felt relieved and readily accepted his kindness. However, her heart was still touched. She stared at him for two breaths, then lowered her eyes.

Except for her grandfather and great-grandfather, no one had ever treated her so generously, Gu Jingxi was the first.

Speaking of which, it's really laughable. Even her own father, who had raised her for so many years, hadn't spent more than two thousand taels on her over the years. Yet, her husband, who had no feelings for her at all, offered her three thousand taels to spend as she pleased.

If it weren't for the issue of identity, she would be more than happy to switch fathers immediately and become Gu Jingxi's daughter.

-

Shou'an Tang.

Both the people in the big house and the small house had arrived, accompanying Old Mrs. Gu as she spoke.

Although she was a stepmother, Mrs. Gu treated the children of both the elder and younger houses not as well as her own biological children, but she never mistreated them. She was also kind to her grandchildren who were not related by blood.

At this time, a maidservant stepped forward to report: “Madam Dowager, the Marquis and his wife have arrived.”

As soon as these words were uttered, both the people from the first and second houses turned their gazes toward the door. Yesterday's events had caused a stir throughout Changxing Hou's mansion, reaching even the outside world where people whispered about it. Now that the person involved had arrived, everyone was eager to hear more.

When everyone saw Meng Jin Yao smiling and walking side by side with Gu Jing Xi, they were all taken aback, for two reasons.

First, the person at the center of all this discussion, Meng Jinyu, seems to be in a very good mood.

Second, Meng Jiny Yao changed from her usual mature and steady dressing style. Today, she was dressed in a charming and bright manner. With her beautiful appearance, as soon as she entered, she gave people a radiant feeling, making them shine brightly.

Before, they thought Meng Jiny Yao was 13 years younger than Gu Jingxi. To match Gu Jingxi, she deliberately dressed a few years older. Today, this is truly baffling to them.

Meng Jin Yao ignored their gazes and walked nonchalantly to Madam Gu's side, performing the respectful courtesy of a junior towards her elders: "Daughter-in-law greets Mother, Mother is well."

Madam Gu beamed with delight, looking at her lovingly and teasingly said, "Oh my, Mother's getting older. I couldn't see clearly from afar just now and thought a fairy had descended! Only upon closer inspection did I realize it was Ah Yao."

Meng Jin Yao smiled and replied, "Mother, don't flatter me so, I will be proud."

Old Madam Gu looked at the young girl, and no matter how she looked, she was satisfied. "You usually dress too old-fashioned and plain. Now this is just right. You're a good young lady, don't keep dressing yourself up to look older for the third son. He's older than you, so he should let you. Let him dress younger to match you.

Mother

Meng Jinyao called out, then pretended to be shy and lowered her head. It wasn't that she intentionally dressed too maturely; it was just the clothes her stepmother had prepared for her. She hadn't had any silver to buy new ones before, so she had to make do.

Grandmother Gu, considering her young age and delicate face, refrained from continuing. She said softly, "Alright, alright, Mother won't say any more. Let's sit down and talk."

> Madam Zhang scrutinized her with a keen eye. She was already beautifully dressed, and now, with her bashful and timid demeanor, she was even more alluring. A thought crossed Madam Zhang's mind: "A married woman dressing up so flamboyantly, could it be that she has a useless husband After being a widow for only a few days, she can't bear the loneliness and wants to stray"reet Old Madam Gu, creating a joyous and lively atmosphere."Elder Madam Gu looked at her eldest daughter-in-law and asked softly, "Eldest Daughter-in-law, regarding the auspicious dates proposed by Du...