. Existing in such a state, worse than death itself, was preferable to actual death.Yang, the elder sister-in-law of the Sun family, saw the undercurrent between her sisters-in-law and secretly though...In the evening, Meng Jin Yao returned from the main house.

As soon as she stepped into the room, Meng Jin Yao saw Gu Jing Xi and her face lit up with joy. She quickly walked over to him. It had been four days since they last saw each other. When he left, he had only said that he needed to go out of town to check on something.

She smiled and said, "Welcome home, husband."

Gu Jingxi nodded lightly: "Hmm, just returned. I stepped into the house, and you followed right behind."

Meng Jinyao looked at him, seeing that he was exhausted. He must have been very tired these past few days, so she asked, "Husband, would you like to bathe first or eat first"

Gu Jingxi estimated that she probably hadn't eaten at this hour. If she took a bath first, she would definitely be hungry waiting for him. He replied, "It's just dinner time, let's have dinner first."

Meng Jinyao responded and immediately instructed the maidservants to set up the meal.

During the meal, Meng Jinyao took the initiative and said: "Husband, our family has increased in population."

Gu Jingxi's movements of picking up dishes paused, and he smiled and asked, "Xiu Hong is getting married At eighteen this year, it's about time."

Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyu glared at him and said, "I'm not talking about him. Even if he's betrothed, it will take some time before he has a new family member. I'm talking about the eldest house. Xiu Yuan's wife gave birth this afternoon."

Gu Jingxi was taken aback. Calculating the days, Xiu Yuan's wife should be giving birth this month, so he asked, "Is it a boy or a girl"

Meng Jin Yao replied, "It's a boy. The little guy is very sturdy and has a loud voice. His mother even went to see him."

Gu Jingxi nodded. "Mother should like it very much, right"

Meng Jiny Yao laughed and said, "Mother quite likes him, she even held the baby."

She is a very tolerant mother-in-law. Even though she had a past conflict with the concubines of her two sons, she did not hold a grudge against them and never did anything to harm them. Now that her grandsons have been born, she is very fond of these grandchildren who are not biologically related to her. This shows that she loves children very much.

Gu Jingxi let out an "um" and asked again, "What's the child's name"

Meng Jiny Yao replied, "The child's name was already chosen by Big Brother. For their generation of boys, the given names start with the character 'Yun.' His given name is Gu Yunxin."

Gu Jingxi nodded lightly upon hearing this, and without asking further questions, finished dinner and went to bathe and change.

Late at night.

Gu Jingxi looked at the girl in his arms, a smile of delight spreading across his face. Tonight, he would finally be able to sleep soundly. This past year, he had grown accustomed to having her by his side. These past few days away, sleeping without her felt like something was missing.

Meng Jinyao asked, "Should your husband not have to go out tomorrow"

Gu Jingxi replied, "The case is already closed. There's no need to go out and investigate anymore. Tomorrow, just work at the Dali Temple. He said softly, lowering his head to rub his forehead against hers, "These past few days, has Ayao been thinking of me"

Meng Jin yao frankly said, "I think about you, husband. Do you think about me"

Gu Jingxi didn't reply, instead leaning down and kissing her, letting his actions speak louder than words.

The content within is:

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

The Hou Mansion welcomed a healthy and strong young master. The entire first family was overjoyed, and even Old Madam Gu was delighted. At her age, she loved children. Even if they weren't related by blood, seeing them brought her joy.

On the second floor, Gu Xiuhong once again received a marriage push from his mother.

Chen looked at other people's grandchildren, envious and jealous. Seeing her 18-year-old unmarried son, she couldn't bear to look at him. His nose wasn't a nose, his eyes weren't eyes, he just didn't seem right. "Xiuhong," she said, "look at your older brother. He's only a year older than you, and now he already has an heir. Why don't you get engaged first"

Gu Xiuhong held a book in his hand, his eyes never leaving the pages, and replied, "Mother, can such things be compared"

Chen asked rhetorically, "How can this not be compared"

Gu Xiuhong smoothly replied, "There are men who become fathers at thirteen and have several children by eighteen. When I was thirteen, why didn't you get me a wife, some concubines, and let me start a family"

Chen :：“……”

Seeing her mother's disappointment, Gu Xiuhong put down his book and said softly: "Mother, the entrance exam results haven't been released yet. I have no mind for marriage. Let's wait for the results. If I am lucky enough to be on the list and enter the palace exam, then perhaps I can get a government position, and we can consider marriage after that."

Chen asked, "What if I fail the preliminary examination"

Gu Xiuhong replied, "If I fail the Huì exam, then I will continue to study hard and strive to pass the Huì exam in three years. During this time of studying, I won't have any thoughts about women. If I were to marry, I would neglect my wife. So, I might as well not get married for now. Mother, you don't have to worry about finding a wife for me."

He was resolute and unwavering in his tone, having made up his mind that he would only consider marriage after passing the imperial examinations with flying colors.

When Mrs. Chen saw her son like this, she sighed deeply, hoping that he would pass the imperial examinations this year. Otherwise, her son would have to wait another three years. When her son was fourteen or fifteen years old, she was afraid that his studies would be delayed by beauty. Even the maidservants who served him were chosen for their plain looks. Her son obeyed the rules and did not touch the maidservants. He devoted himself to studying the classics of saints and sages, and he had never taken a concubine. She, as his mother, was happy with this self-discipline, but she also worried from time to time.

Gu Xiuhong glanced at his mother and said, "Mother, if you have nothing else to do, please go back first. Son still has to continue reading."

Chen sighed helplessly, “You bookworm, fine, if you don't want to get married, then don't.”

-

As the first grandson of the Hou Mansion, Gu Yunxin's third-month celebration invited many relatives and friends.

Yongchangbo's Mansion also sent someone this time, but only Meng Dongyuan came. Mrs. Meng didn't come. Meng Chengzhang, who was studying at Ling Shan Academy, didn't come either. Meng Chengxing and Meng Jinyu, who were still observing filial piety for their mother, couldn't attend the banquet either. They siblings need to observe filial piety for a year after their mother's death, which will end in September.

Meng Jinyu came of age in May, but because she was observing filial piety, her coming-of-age ceremony couldn't be held. Let's see if the Meng family will make it up to her after the period of mourning is over. If they don't, then there won't be a coming-of-age ceremony.

Uncle Two and his family came with Gu Xuanying.

The wife and husband of Marquis Wuan, Marquis Wuan's son, and Gu Xuanyi also came from the residence of Grand Uncle.

Seeing her daughter's radiant smile and lively appearance, Zhang shi felt relieved. It seemed that Xuanyi had not been mistreated after returning to her husband's family. Moreover, the attitude of her mother-in-law towards Xuanyi was also very gentle. Her worries were eased considerably.

When Zhang found the opportunity to talk to her daughter, she still had to personally ask her daughter, confirming: "Xuanyi, after you went back to Wuan Marquis' Mansion, have they made things difficult for you"

Gu Xuanyì shook her head with a smile: "They didn't make things difficult for me, and my mother-in-law has been much kinder to me. Even when I first went back, I met my mother-in-law, she didn't scold me, she was very kind to me."

Although her mother-in-law still set rules for her, with morning and evening rituals unchanged, she would also ask her to do chores, such as shelling walnuts, peanuts, and melon seeds. But her mother-in-law treated her kindly, and she no longer felt that intense pressure. Doing these things became less burdensome, and she felt a sense of finally being recognized by her mother-in-law.he suddenly said: "Yao Ling, you care about your younger siblings more than I imagined. This time, were you enraged for a beauty"Gu Jingxi didn't deny that he cared about his young wife. He replied, "...