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 public againMeng Jinyao saw her face change, but her smile didn't diminish. She a...On a pleasure boat.

Meng Jinyao and Gu Jingxi had dinner on a pleasure boat, standing by the window admiring the night scene on the river. Although today was not a holiday, every corner of the capital city was bustling with activity. Now, even on the river, there was still a lively atmosphere, and one could hear the sound of silk and bamboo music coming from the neighboring boats.

On the pitch-black sky, stars twinkled brilliantly, reflecting on the river surface. The water rippled, spreading starlight like scattered gold, dazzlingly beautiful.

Meng Jin Yao leaned against the window, blowing on the gentle breeze from the river, admiring the night view outside, and with her beloved by her side, she was in high spirits, a smile never leaving her face.

For a moment, Meng Jinyáo glanced at the man beside her with the corner of her eye. Seeing that he was looking at her with gentle eyes, a smile bloomed on her face even brighter. She stretched out her hand silently and then gently scratched his palm with her fingertips.

Gu Jingxi suddenly felt a tingling sensation in his palm, like feathers lightly brushing over it. He subconsciously looked at his little wife beside him, seeing her smiling with her eyes and even scratching his palm with her fingertips.

The palm of my hand feels numb and itchy.

Gu Jingxi hurriedly grasped that mischievous little hand in his palm. Seeing her smile freeze and a displeased expression appear on her face, he pulled her closer, embracing her from behind, and said, "It's ticklish, don't be naughty."

Meng Jinyao gave a little "oh" and didn't cause trouble anymore. She was like boneless, leaning against him in his arms, looking up at the stars above. Suddenly, she asked, "Husband, what's the world like outside the capital"

Gu Jingxi replied, "It's basically like what the book says, but even more amazing than what's written. If we have the chance, let's go see the world outside the capital together."

Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyang's heart leaped with joy. But upon thinking of his usual busy schedule, the joy in her heart instantly dissipated by half. With a light sigh, she said: "That would take a very long time, at least until after you retire."

Gu Jingxi's face turned pale. As a Beijing official, he couldn't leave the capital without the emperor's permission. Unless the emperor sent him to handle business in another region, he would have to wait until he reached a certain age and retired to live at home.

A moment later, Meng Jin Yao's face was once again lit with a smile as she turned to him. "It's alright though, the capital is quite good. The capital is the most prosperous place in Zhao country after all."

Gu Jingxi leaned down and kissed her forehead, saying softly, "In our lifetime, I'll take Ayao to see the world beyond the capital city."

Meng Jin Yao smiled and nodded. “Okay,” she said, then added, “Actually, as long as we are together, it’s great wherever we are. Whether we go far away or not doesn’t matter. If there’s an opportunity to go, it’s fate. If there isn’t, it’s okay.”

Gu Jingxi said: "Life is long, and there are opportunities."

Changxing Houfu.

The couple returned to the Hou Mansion, and Meng Jinyao went to bathe, Qingqiu following in to attend her.

Gu Jingxi thought that his little wife was acting a bit unusual today. With his years of experience in solving cases, his intuition told him that Ayao must have encountered something, but it probably wasn't a big deal, just something affecting her mood.

Regardless of whether it was a big or small matter, he couldn't rest assured. He privately asked Ning Dong, "Ning Dong, did Madam have anything happen today"

Ning Dong shook her head gently and asked in confusion, "Lord Hou, nothing happened today, why are you asking this"

Gu Jingxi then asked, "What did Madam do today"

Hearing this, Ning Dong was even more confused, but she didn't hide it. She told him that her master had spent the morning learning household management from the mistress, the afternoon visiting her cousin, and then went to the Dali Temple to pick up him. These three things were all her master did today.

Gu Jingxi didn't hear any useful information and continued to ask, "Has she had a falling out with the mistress"

Ni Dong shook his head and truthfully replied, "My Lord, Madam gets along very well with the Great Madam. The Great Madam answers all of Madam's questions. However, the Great Madam probed Madam about whether she planned to take over the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, but Madam frankly stated that she had no such thoughts; she just wanted to learn a little."

Gu Jingxi, after hearing this, didn't think there was anything wrong. He asked again: "When Madam went to see the cousin, did anything unpleasant happen"

Ning Dong's face stiffened slightly. Thinking of what the young master and his mistress had said, she knew it was absolutely impossible to tell the Marquis. So she replied, "The mistress and the young master haven't had any unpleasant incidents."

Gu Jingxi observed the subtle changes in Ning Dong's expression, and immediately knew where the problem lay. He inquired: "How long did Madam and Young Master stay at Cha Ran Ju"

Ning Dong said in earnest: “Two quarters of an hour’s time”

Two hours

Gu Jingxi narrowed his eyes slightly. The day before yesterday, he heard from Ayao that his relationship with this cousin was decent. Since their relationship was acceptable, it was natural for brother and sister who hadn't seen each other in over a year to have much to say. How could they leave after only two hours It must be that something unpleasant had happened. But Ningdong was Ayao's person; without Ayao's permission, Ningdong wouldn't tell him what had happened, and Ayao wouldn't either. Otherwise, she would have told him about it in the afternoon.

Seeing him silent, she asked nervously, "My Lord, is there something wrong"

Gu Jingxi said in a soft voice, "It's nothing, our conversation just now, you are not allowed to tell the wife, did you understand"

Though Ning Dong didn't understand, she felt an invisible pressure bearing down on her. She hurriedly nodded: "Yes, Lord Hou."

Gu Jingxi said, "You go out first."

Ning Dong retired from the room, carefully pondering her conversation with the Marquis as she stepped outside. She felt that the conversation hadn't been problematic, and she hadn't said anything inappropriate. But why had the Marquis suddenly asked her those questions Could it be that he was jealous of his wife meeting other men That didn't seem like jealousy, though. His wife's visit with her cousin had been at the Marquis's suggestion.

Unable to figure it out, Ning Dong shook her head and stopped dwelling on it. After all, she hadn't said anything inappropriate earlier.

Meng Jin Yao, after taking a bath, wrung out her hair and lay down on the bed, waiting for Gu Jing Xi to return.

Not long after, Gu Jingxi returned from his bath. As soon as he stepped into the inner room, he saw his little wife looking at him from the bed. He strode over and just as he sat down on the edge of the bed, the cotton towel in his hand to dry his hair was taken by Ayao.

Meng Jiny Yao took the cotton cloth, sat up, and while wringing his hair, told him some gossip she had heard from the maidservants about other people's affairs.

At first, they were still talking and laughing. As they chatted, no one knew who tempted whom, but their lips came together, silencing the words that followed.

After a long while, the two parted their lips. Gu Jingxi's lips were a little sore, and he could still taste a faint metallic tang. He didn't need to look in a mirror to know his lips were broken; the culprit was right in front of him.

He looked at his innocent-faced little wife sitting on his lap, and said with a doting yet helpless tone: "Ayao, you did it on purpose"ather only has one son, the heir to the title must be you, so you feel you have the capital to act recklessly"As soon as these words were uttered, Gu Xiuming's heart trembled, his eyes flickering with...