her respects to the elder madam. Her bowing etiquette was standard, all for show, and truly heartfelt occasions were rare. This time, however, it seemed she genuinely bowed to the elder madam as a des...It is day, the morning is bright and sunny.

Gu Jingxi had a day off today, and it was rare that he didn't go out early. But he was used to waking up early. After getting up, he read for a while and waited for Meng Jin Yao to get up and tidy herself up before having breakfast together.

The couple ate their breakfast in silence, not a word passing between them.

Gu Jingxi was the type who didn't talk much, only speaking when necessary. Meng Jinyao wasn't sure what to say to him either. Seeing that he had also put down his chopsticks, she instructed the maidservants beside her to remove the breakfast.

At this moment, Xia Zhu entered and broke the silence between the couple, respectfully reporting: "My lord, madam, the young master has come to pay his respects."

Meng Jin Yao had been married for so long, yet no junior family member had ever come to pay her respects. Hearing Xia Zhu's words, she was taken aback and instinctively asked, "Who are you talking about"

Xia Zhu replied, "My lady, it is the young master who has come. He is currently waiting outside."

Upon hearing this, Meng Jin Yao only then realized that her adopted son's confinement period was over yesterday, and he could be free from today onwards. She thought of her former fiancé coming to pay respects, and suddenly she perked up, smiling softly: “Quickly let my son in.”

Gu Jingxi glanced at the little girl. Seeing her excited face, he knew that Xiu Ming was probably going to have a bad time later. He helplessly rubbed his forehead.

In a moment, Gu Xiuming walked in. Raising his eyes, he saw his father with a calm expression and Meng Jiny Yao smiling gently. His brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of disgust flashed in his eyes. Due to his father's presence, he immediately stepped forward and respectfully bowed: "Son greets Father and Mother. Father and Mother are well."

Meng Jinyao hadn't missed the look of disgust on his face when he saw her. When she heard him greet her with respect and call her "mother," a smile deepened on her lips. She thought to herself: "My cheap son has learned to be clever. He knows how to act obedient in front of his father."

It’s none of your business what’s wrong, Meng Jinyao was the best at that. She smiled and asked, “My child, it’s been a long time. Are you better now”

Gu Xiuming heard this, and his mind immediately flashed back to the humiliation he had suffered in the ancestral hall that day, like a bereaved dog. His face visibly stiffened for a moment, but he still held himself together, feigning indifference and replying: "Thank you mother for your concern, I'm almost recovered."

Meng Jin Yao lightly nodded: “Then it’s settled. Your father mentioned to me the other day that he was worried about your injury.”

Gu Jingxi gave the little girl a strange look, thinking to himself, when did he ever say that he was worried about Xiu Ming's injuries The little girl was quite good at finding excuses for herself.

However, Gu Xiuming believed it, after all, he felt that this woman would not dare to slander his father. His anxiety eased somewhat. He bowed to Gu Jingxi with remorse: "Unfilial son, I've caused my father so much worry."

Gu Jingxi stared at him quietly for a long time, then asked in a soft voice, "Xiu Ming, after a month of reflection, do you know your mistake"

Gu Xiuming's face tightened, he nodded hurriedly and admitted his mistake with sincerity: "Father, son knows he was wrong. This is the only time, there will never be a next time."

Gu Jingxi softly hummed in response and then asked, "What about that Miss Li What are your plans"

As soon as he said that, Gu Xiuming's lips curled into a smile, his eyes sparkling with excitement. The joy of being about to spend his life with his beloved was impossible to hide. His voice became much lighter: "Father, I am just preparing to ask a matchmaker to go to Wan'er's house and set a good day for her to enter our family."

Meng Jin Yao glanced at him, not surprised by his reaction. After all, the woman who could make him abandon his fiancee would certainly find a good day to bring her into the house after her confinement period was over. It's just that his response just now definitely didn't satisfy Gu Jing Xi.

Although it was just a fleeting change, Meng Jin Yao still caught it. She clearly saw that after Gu Xiuming said those words, a flash of disappointment crossed Gu Jingxi's face, and even her eyes grew colder by a few degrees.

Thus, it can be seen that over the past month, Gu Jingxi still held hope for Gu Xiuming, hoping that he would see things clearly within this month. She hoped that he would understand that as the young master of the Hou Mansion, he needed a legitimate wife, someone who could interact with people properly and serve as a proper face for him. He also needed an heir to inherit the title in the future. However, Gu Xiuming still disappointed Gu Jingxi.

Members of a marquis's family, especially the heir, are never truly free. They must always be restrained and behave properly.

If there had been no elopement, Miss Li would have been an excellent match. Gu Xiuming could have canceled his original engagement and diligently sought his elders' consent to marry Miss Li. However, there were no ifs, ands or buts. Because of Gu Xiuming's recklessness, both the Gu and Meng families lost face. As a result of eloping with Gu Xiuming, Miss Li could only be a concubine for life.

As the crown prince, one can only have a legal wife and no concubines. However, it is not permissible to have only an unsuitable concubine without a mistress of the household. Without a mistress, others would laugh at you. If the family were to split in the future, and the concubine managed the household affairs, who would the family members interact with It's not that they wouldn't want to interact with the Gu family, but rather that they wouldn't want to lower their status by interacting with an unsuitable concubine.

Gu Jingxi's face darkened, and his voice was displeased: "A gentle and kind girl would elope with you on your wedding day A kind girl would go to hurt an innocent girl, causing her to be humiliated on her wedding day"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Gu Xiuming felt a jolt of fear in his heart. He quickly took responsibility, "Father, it's all my fault. It was I who wanted to elope with her, she could only passively follow me."

Gu Jingxi stared at him intently for a long time before opening his lips and saying, "So, after this month, you are still unwavering in your desire to only have Miss Li"

Gu Xiuming knelt down with a thud: "My son's mind is set, I beg Father to grant his wish."

Gu Jingxi calmly explained the consequences to him: "No son of a noble family dares to take a concubine before marrying his wife. If you take Miss Li as your concubine before your main wife enters the door, then no well-born woman will marry you."

He fell silent for a moment, then asked again, “Xiuming, let your father ask you one more time, are you truly sure of this”

Gu Xiuming remained resolute: "Father, my son has made up his mind. Among the three thousand streams of water, my son only wants this one cup."

Seeing this, Gu Jingxi didn't ask any further and lightly nodded: "Since you've already made up your mind, then please have the matchmaker go to the Li family and pick a good day to bring Miss Li into the household. After Miss Li enters the household, there will be no turning back."

Gu Xiuming's face lit up with joy, almost overwhelmed by the happiness of being about to marry his beloved. He hurriedly said: "Son thanks Father for making this happen."od. Now, touching it with my hand, I found that his hair quality was better than I thought. My fingers inserted into his hair, and the strands of hair slid smoothly along my fingers, so smooth, it see...