ing someone like Gu Xiuming, they wouldn't have won either."Meng Jinyáo refilled her tea and pushed the cup forward, saying softly, "An'ning, don't get angry. This tea is quite good. Have a cup to cal...The Dali Temple was not busy recently. When it was just dawn, Gu Jingxi prepared to go home.

Just as Gu Jingxi emerged from the Dali Temple, he was called to a halt by a voice behind him. He turned around, gazing at Qi Yunwen with puzzled eyes.

Qi Yunwen said, "Yao Ling, shall we get together at Zui Xian Lou tonight Come to think of it, we haven't had a drink and a meal together in ages. I'll treat you today."

Gu Jingxi refused without hesitation, politely: "Mo Bai, some other day."

Qiu Yunwen was taken aback by his blunt refusal: "Do you have something on today"

Gu Jingxi replied, "I need to go home to have dinner with my wife."

Qi Yunwen, after hearing this, smiled and said: “I thought it was something important. Just have someone tell your sister-in-law that you have a social engagement tonight and ask her not to wait for you, wouldn't that solve the problem”

Gu Jingxi gave him a meaningful glance: "You had an argument with your sister-in-law and need to drown your sorrows in alcohol"

Qi Yunwen: "..."

Upon seeing this, Gu Jingxi revealed a "as expected" expression and smiled gently: "Then take good care of her. No matter how old a woman is, she's still a little girl at heart and needs to be coaxed."

Qi Yunwen let out an "Ai" and said, "Gu Yao Ling, I used to teach you how to coax your wife, now you're teaching me the opposite"

Gu Jingxi said softly, "I'll go first. I'll need to detour to Yipin Zhai later. If I dawdle any longer, the pastries will probably be sold out. It's best to hurry over now, maybe I can catch them before they're gone."

Qi Yunwen: "..."

He just watched Gu Jingxi leave, eyes wide open.

In a moment, another official emerged. He smiled again and said in a gentle voice, “Zhang-daren, are you free this evening Perhaps we could gather at the Zui Xian Lou I’ll treat you tonight.”

Zhang, upon hearing this, was surprised but politely declined. He replied, "I thank you for your kindness, Master Shaoqing, but my wife has prepared a meal at home and said she wants to cook tonight herself. I must return home to have dinner with her."

Qi Yunwen was surprised. He remembered that Zhang's wife was a shrew, comparable to Liu's wife who came from a military family. Previously, she had even fought with Zhang because he took another concubine. Their relationship wasn't harmonious at all. He wondered, "How come your relationship with Madam Zhang is so good Didn't you two fight before"

Zhang Da Ren: "..."

It seems like you're stirring up old trouble. Those fights were ages ago, weren't they

Zhang Da ren awkwardly smiled: "That was in the past. Isn't it a good thing thanks to Lord Shiqing This subordinate also gained inspiration from Lord Shiqing. After all, women should be appeased. What's the point of arguing with them This way, this subordinate has reconciled with his wife, and she's become even more gentle and considerate."

Qi Yunwen: "..."

As the saying goes, "What kind of superiors you have determines what kind of subordinates you'll get," and this influence is far from negligible. It seems that ever since Lord Dayan wore a purse embroidered with mandarin ducks, other officials in Dali Temple, perhaps to please their superior, have all started following suit. Now, there's even a trend of showing off and comparison.

But this also has its advantages, promoting intimacy between husband and wife. Officers with harmonious families look radiant. Look, Mrs. Zhang, who used to fight with Mr. Zhang, is now gentle and considerate. They are very much in love.

Zhang, seeing that he wasn't speaking, thought to himself that perhaps his refusal had upset Shaoqing. In a hurry, he said: "Temple Clerk, another day I will invite you both for drinks and ask Shaoqing to join us."

Qi Yunwen glanced at him: "Alright, go back. This official has to return home as well."

Mr. Zhang responded, confirming that he wasn't unhappy, and then he bid him farewell.

Qi Yunwen had lost all interest in finding someone to drink with. He strode towards his carriage and, after getting in, instructed the coachman, "Go to Yipin Zhai, quickly."

When Qi Yunwen arrived at Yipin Zhai, he saw Gu Jingxi who had just bought some snacks.

Four eyes met, and after a moment, Gu Jingxi said: "It's quite a coincidence. I thought you went to find other colleagues to drink away your sorrows."

Qi Yunwen pursed her lips and said, "I think I still have to coax him when it's time. After thinking for a moment, she added awkwardly, “Although I’m not wrong.”

Gu Jingxi chuckled and replied, "I've bought it. I'll return to the house first. See you tomorrow."

Qi Yunwen: "See you tomorrow.

After he turned and left, the shop assistant warmly greeted Qi Yunwen: "Sir, we only have the last piece of dessert left today. It's egg yolk pastry. Would you like to buy it Our egg yolk pastries are quite famous throughout the capital city. Many customers who went to other shops said that they weren't as good as ours. Just now, that sir bought one."

Qi Yunwen nodded. "Yes, I'll have it."

-

Changxing Houfu.

Gu Jingxi returned to the mansion. As he passed through the garden, he heard familiar laughter coming from not far ahead. He quickened his pace and followed the sound, only to see Ayao playing jianzi with his two sisters-in-law in an open space in the garden.

To be precise, it wasn't the three of them playing throwing pots. Instead, each of them sent a maidservant to compete, while they just sat aside sipping tea and eating melon seeds, watching the excitement.

When there were no conflicts of interest, the three sisters-in-law got along very well.

Zhang shi saw Gu Jingxi first and said to Meng Jin Yao, "Third sister-in-law, look, Third brother is back.

Meng Jinyao, upon hearing this, looked up and met Gu Jingxi's gentle, smiling gaze. Her lips couldn't help but curl into a smile.

Gu Jingxi walked closer, greeted the two sisters-in-law, and then took his little wife back.

Meng Jinyao noticed the square package he was carrying. The paper it was wrapped in was unique to Yipin Zhai, so she immediately knew it was their pastry. She smiled and asked, “Husband, what kind of pastry is this time”

Gu Jingxi replied, "Golden custard bun, weren't you craving it yesterday"

Meng Jinyao smiled brightly: "My husband is so good."

Gu Jingxi said meaningfully, "Are you saying I'm good now Didn't you say I was a scoundrel last night"

Upon hearing this, Meng Jin Yao blushed and gave him a reproachful glance, coquettishly saying, "If you mention last night again, I won't talk to you!"

Gu Jingxi chuckled softly: “Alright, alright. For my wife’s sake, I won’t say anything more.” He then reached out to take her hand, for fear that she would fling it away, and held it tightly.

Meng Jinyao was held tightly, giggling: "What are you holding me so tight for I'm not going to run, even if I wanted to, I couldn't outrun you."

Gu Jingxi glanced at her. This wasn't about being afraid she would run away It was about being afraid she wouldn't let him hold her hand. Don't look at her, she might seem like a delicate little girl, but when she got angry, she was very difficult to deal with.

Zhang and Chen watched the couple's receding figures, seeing their loving affection, a tinge of envy arose in their hearts. Their husbands couldn't compare to the third brother in this regard.

Zhang sighed with mixed feelings: "I used to think my third younger brother wasn't interested in women, thinking he was a clueless wooden block. Now look at how he treats his sister-in-law like a precious jewel! It seems we were wrong all along."

Chen nodded and said, "Indeed, haven't you seen what the third brother is carrying That's the dim sum from Yipin Zhai. Yipin Zhai is different from Houfu, it's obvious that the third brother went out of his way to buy it for his younger sister."

Zhang's voice was tinged with bitterness: "Our young master has never done such a thing, not even when he was younger."

Chen said, “Our second master doesn't either

Zhang pursed her lips and responded with a sour tone, "Second brother is much better than our eldest."

This is the truth. In terms of talent and learning, the second brother surpasses her husband. In terms of ability as well. Moreover, the second brother has only taken one concubine, Xuan Ling's biological mother, who is deceased - Lady Fang.

And her husband had several concubines. If she hadn't been so watchful, there would be many illegitimate children now, she had guarded against this for many years, and that's why no illegitimate children appeared to bother her.nting her from moving, and poured some medicinal wine while continuing to massage the injured area.Meng Jin Yao stuttered, "Husband, why don't you let Qing Qiu come How can such a lowly serving maid b...