Chapter 119: Tense Ah Yao

and awkward. She forced a smile and stammered, "Well, my husband is still very social and has many friends. Unlike me, I only have friends around my age."Gu Jingxi asked in a soft voice, "Is that so"...Meng Jinyao and Song Xining had dinner on a pleasure boat and watched the night view of the lake.

There was fruit wine provided for guests on the pleasure boat. The two of them, on a whim, had a few sips and chatted about the recent interesting happenings in various households in the capital city. It was a pleasant afternoon.

Time passed unknowingly, and by the time the pleasure boat docked, it was three hours past midnight when they disembarked.

At this time, half of the people on the lake had left, and there were also fewer pedestrians strolling through the night market on the street, making it seem a little deserted.

Song Xining glanced at the scattered pleasure boats on the lake and said in surprise, "We got carried away talking for so long that we didn't realize it was this late. But it feels like ages since we had such a good time chatting."

Meng Jin yao smiled, "An Ning, let's go back to the mansion first. We can make plans for another day. Otherwise, if we keep talking, it will be late when we get home."

Song Xining replied, "Oh, it's time to go back. Fortunately, my mother went to my maternal grandfather's house, otherwise I would have been scolded for coming back so late."

The two parted ways and returned home separately.

In the carriage.

Meng Jin Yao leaned against a large soft pillow, closing her eyes to rest. Although the fruit wine she had tonight was delicious, it had a strong aftertaste. She had drunk quite a few cups, and now her head felt heavy and dizzy. She fell asleep soon after.

When Qing Qiu and Ning Dong saw this, they glanced at each other and let out a barely audible sigh.

Even if a wife acts calm and indifferent, they understand that she can't truly be unfazed. Her husband's heart belongs to another woman, and as a wife, it's natural to feel a twinge of discomfort and resentment in her heart. That's why she had a few extra glasses of fruit wine.

If given a choice, a wife would certainly choose a husband who cares for her, loves her, respects her, and protects her. After all, before marriage, a woman, just like other brides-to-be, had looked forward to a harmonious and sweet married life. She may have been both confused and hopeful about married life, but the outcome wasn't quite what she had expected.

To ensure she had a peaceful sleep, Qingqiu instructed the coachman to drive more slowly.

The carriage moved slowly, taking twice as long to return to Changxing Hou's Mansion. When the carriage reached the main gate, it was already midnight.

Meng Jinyao was still asleep. It was Qingqiu who woke her up. She wanted to continue sleeping, but after Qingqiu called out a few times, she reluctantly opened her eyes and got off the carriage with the help of two maidservants.

After dismounting, Meng Jingyao was about to tell Ning Dong to knock on the door when she looked up and saw the door wide open. There stood a man of tall stature by the entrance, with a servant standing beside him, bowing respectfully.

Gu Jingxi

Meng Jin Yao instantly sobered up, staring blankly at the man standing in the doorway. The warm yellow light from the lantern above illuminated his handsome face, clearly showing his stern expression and gloomy complexion.

Upon seeing this, Meng Jin Yao was startled again, somewhat confused. She didn't understand why he stood there like a door god, with a stern face that was rather frightening.

She curiously asked, "So late at night, my husband, who are you waiting for"

The man glanced at her and replied in a low voice, "Wait for my wife.

As soon as those words left his mouth, Meng Jin yao's heart skipped a beat. She was somewhat disbelieving.

The next moment, she lost her balance because of distraction, stumbled with her right foot, and fell down directly, letting out a surprised cry of "Ah!".

Fortunately, she was just about to step onto the stairs. This fall sent her straight to the ground, avoiding the added injury of rolling down the stairs.

The incident happened so suddenly that Qing Qiu and Ning Dong, the two maidservants, didn't react at all. Their mistress just fell to the ground.

Gu Jingxi's face changed drastically. He instinctively took a step forward, but he was too far away, unable to help someone in immediate danger. He watched helplessly as the young girl fell to the ground before him. He silently retracted his outstretched hand and hurried over.

Meng Jinyu was completely stunned. In that instant, she forgot all about the pain and her mind went blank. Which noblewoman from a prestigious household would fall to the ground in such a disgraceful manner at her own doorstep, in front of her servants

By tomorrow, will everyone in the Hou Residence know about her embarrassing tumble outside her own door

Gu Jingxi saw her lying on the ground, unresponsive. His brows furrowed, he squatted down and helped her up to sit, asking softly, "Madam, where did you fall"

At the sound, Meng Jin Yao came back to her senses and met those eyes filled with concern. She unconsciously moved her body and then pointed at her arm that had just touched the ground, replying: "My arm hurts a lot, but I can still move it."

Gu Jingxi let out a sigh of relief and smiled wryly: "We're already at the doorstep, what's the rush Now it's fine, just take a tumble."

Meng Jin Yao choked. "... "

Couldn't she say that she was startled and momentarily distracted, which caused her to trip

Gu Jingxi helped the girl up, but she couldn't stand steady and threw herself into his arms. She gasped for air, grabbed his collar with both hands, her delicate eyebrows furrowed tightly, and a look of pained endurance on her face.

He hurried to ask, “Madam, what’s the matter”

Meng Jinyao frowned: "My foot seems to be sprained."

Just now, her feet didn't move, she didn't feel anything. When she stood up, she realized that her left foot hurt and couldn't move.

Gu Jingxi lowered his head and glanced at her. The little girl lifted her left foot off the ground, and his brow furrowed even tighter. He directly scooped her up from the waist and strode towards the mansion. Qingqiu and Ningdong were taken aback once again, and then they followed suit step by step.

As he reached the door, Gu Jingxi paused his steps and cast a warning glance at the servant standing guard.

The servant panicked and quickly said, "My Lord, Madam just twisted her ankle outside. She didn't fall at the front door."

Meng Jin Yao was held in Gu Jing Xi's arms, completely dazed. She stared blankly at the man holding her, his hurried steps a testament to his agitation. He furrowed his brows, his face not pleasant to look at. She couldn't tell if he was angry or not, and her heart was filled with apprehension. She dared not speak.

Gu Jingxi smelled the faint scent of alcohol on her, and seeing her cheeks flushed, clearly intoxicated by the wine, he asked in a low voice, "Did Madam drink"

Meng Jinyáo came back to her senses and stammered, "I, I drank a little, what's wrong"

Gu Jingxi asked again, "Who are you with"

Meng Jin Yao was taken aback after hearing this, thinking to herself: "He asked so many detailed questions, could it be that he suspects me of cheating"

But she still answered truthfully: "Master Qi's niece, named Anning, her husband should have met. I am with her, and there are a few maidservants, all women."

Gu Jingxi glanced at her and explained, "I didn't mean to doubt you, madam. I just want to know if the people who drink with you are trustworthy. However, next time when you are outside, try to drink less, it's fine to drink at home. Young ladies drinking outside is easy to have accidents, especially when there are no trusted friends around."

Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyu was taken aback for a moment before gently nodding in response. "Yes," she said, then inquired with a hint of curiosity, "Husband, why were you waiting for me at the door I'm not a child who doesn't know the way home."

Gu Jingxi answered softly: "The madam didn't leave any word for the maidservants before going out, and she has never stayed out past nightfall before. I sent people to look for her, but couldn't find her. I could only wait at the door first. Recently, it has been rather unsettling in the capital city at night. There have been two murders, both victims being women under the age of twenty."

His voice was calm and tranquil, though he didn't say the words "worried," his every word conveyed concern., but upon seeing her husband, she would choose to forget. After ten years, everything had changed. The handsome youth she remembered was probably now like her husband: middle-aged, with a pot belly,...