Chapter 169: A Guilty Conscience

poor relationship.After all, the kitchen of Dali Temple is just an ordinary kitchen with ordinary cooks. The food they make isn't particularly delicious, it's just something to fill your stomach. The...In the evening, the sunset painted half the sky red.

In the verdant courtyard of the Orchid Pavilion, Meng Jinyang directed her maidservants to rearrange the potted plants. Several young maids were bustling about.

Because Meng Jiny Yao wants to raise lotus leaves, lotuses, and small koi in two large water tanks, she needs to clear a space. The original potted plants will need to be moved to make room, and then arranged into a pleasing shape.

Suddenly, Meng Jinyang saw a tall figure. Looking closely, she saw a handsome man with an extraordinary bearing walking towards her. The man was slightly frowning at the moment, his brows clouded with gloom, seemingly in a bad mood. She stepped forward and asked, "Husband, what's wrong"

Gu Jingxi stopped and looked at her, his brows relaxed as he asked, "Why do you ask that, my wife"

Meng Jin Yao replied, "I saw that my husband was frowning, so I guessed..."

Gu Jingxi replied softly, "There are some things on my mind, but it's not a big deal."

Meng Jin Yao gazed at him steadily. Seeing that he seemed unwilling to confide, she didn't press him further.

"Madam, what is this for"

Gu Jingxi glanced at the several maidservants bustling about in the room, feeling a sense of confusion.

Meng Jiny Yao pointed at the vacant space, smiling and saying, "I'm going to get two large water tanks over there and put them in that spot. I'll raise lotus leaves and lotus flowers, and then a few small koi."

"Does Madam like lotus flowers" Seeing her nod, Gu Jingxi glanced around the entire courtyard and pondered for a moment before saying, "Wei Rui Xuan is the largest courtyard in the mansion. If Madam likes it, why not dig a small lotus pond in the courtyard"

Dig a pond and plant some lotus flowers

Meng Jin Yao was stunned, a little surprised, then shook her head: "That's not necessary. It would be too expensive and time-consuming. Just get two large water tanks. What if I don't like lotus flowers in the future I'd have to hire someone to fill the pond, which would be quite troublesome.

Gu Jingxi nodded. "Good, then according to your

After a while, Gu Jingxi entered the room. Chunliu stepped forward two steps and whispered, “Madam, the young master went to see the marquis this afternoon.”

Meng Jin Yao was stunned after hearing this, a little confused. But seeing Chun Liu gesture for her to look towards the house, she instantly understood. Gu Jing Xi's mood wasn't good, perhaps it had something to do with Gu Xiu Ming.

For a moment, she curiously asked, "Chunliu, how did you know"

Chunliu lowered her voice, speaking in a tone only the two of them could hear, and explained to her: "I have some acquaintance with a young attendant from the front yard study. I met him this afternoon, and he told me that he saw the Young Master go to see the Marquis, but he didn't see how the Young Master left, so I can only guess whether it was because of the Young Master

Meng Jinyu nodded lightly. Chunliu, this girl, was very capable. Ever since she had pledged her loyalty to Meng Jinyu, she had been paying close attention to the movements within the manor. Any change, no matter how small, she would tell Meng Jinyu. Now that Gu Xiuming was acting out of character, Chunliu paid even more attention to his every move. Many things that even Qingqiu and Ningdong hadn't noticed, Chunliu had already taken care of. This girl, though she was Gu Jingxi's maid, she was very useful.

After a while, the maidservants had arranged the potted plants according to Meng Jiny Yao's instructions.

Meng Jinyao glanced at the scene, nodded with satisfaction, and turned to Chunliu: "Chunliu, it's getting late. Go and arrange dinner for everyone."

Chun Liu Ying Sheng: "Yes, madam.

-

The summer sun was scorching, and it was already midday.

The hot air outside rolled in, even though the Weilai Garden was well-positioned for warmth in winter and coolness in summer, it still felt hot.

Fortunately, the room was equipped with ice mirrors to cool down and dissipate the summer heat, making the temperature inside quite comfortable.

Meng Jin Yao was carefully going over the accounts with an abacus. Her mother's dowry properties, shops and land, were previously managed by the Sun family. Although they were now back in her hands, the managers were all trained by the Sun family. Therefore, she had to be especially careful when balancing the books, otherwise she might be tricked without knowing it. Of course, those who didn't serve her well would also have to be replaced. For now, the reliable ones could stay.

Qing Qiu pushed open the door and came in, moving to her side and reporting, “Madam, Chan’er is back.”

Upon hearing this, Meng Jin Yao paused her movements of moving the abacus and raised her head, "Let her come in."

Soon, Chan'er came in and bowed to her.

Meng Jin Yao asked, "Did something happen over there"

Chan'er stepped forward a few steps, her voice respectful and low as she replied, "Madam, Mrs. Meng has been seeing ghosts repeatedly and has invited the master back to perform a ritual. The master's spells are not very powerful, so they only last for a few days. Mrs. Meng keeps having nightmares at night, her mind is in a daze, and she is terrified. Over the past two nights, she hasn't dared to sleep and instead has been sleeping during the day."

Meng Jin Yao half-closed her eyes, the corners of her lips slightly upturned in a cold smile. Her tone was soft but carried a profound meaning: "Grandma Qiao, you really are something else. As a good servant, how can you allow your master's sleep schedule to be disrupted and their day and night reversed"

Chan'er heard the sound and knew her mistress's intention, replying: "Mistress, I will remind Grandma Qiao."

Meng Jiny Yao asked again, "Is there anything else"

Chán'er shook her head gently. There was something she wasn't very important to say, but after some thought, she still brought it up: "Because Madam Mèng attracted unclean things, Master Mèng now dares not step into Madam Mèng's courtyard, and he even said that Madam Mèng is suspicious all day long.

Meng Jin Yao smiled faintly, "It's not surprising at all, it suits my father's temperament. Couples are like birds in the same forest, when disaster strikes they fly separately." She paused, "You should follow the original plan for now, and if nothing else comes up, just step back."

Chan'er responded and withdrew.

Ning Dong smiled and said, "Madam, are ghosts really that scary Even Mrs. Sun doesn't dare to sleep at night."

Meng Jin Yao shook her head lightly, a mocking smile on her lips: "Ghosts aren't scary, what's truly frightening is having demons in your heart."

Ning Dong curiously asked, "Madam, do you think Master knows about the evil deeds that Sun Shi has done"

“If he knew, he wouldn’t have pampered Mrs. Sun for so many years. Chengyu is also his son, intelligent and quick-witted, and he was also very much loved by him. Meng Jin yao's voice was firm, and a flash of Meng Dongyuan holding his younger brother appeared in her mind. The love and affection in his eyes were undeniable. No matter how much Meng Dongyuan liked Mrs. Sun, he wouldn’t allow her to kill his son.”

Ning Dong said: "That Sun family probably didn't dare to say who they saw as a ghost now."

"I will tell you later," Meng Jin Yao said, then turned to Qing Qiu and instructed, "Qing Qiu, prepare some things. I'm going to Lingyun Temple tomorrow to offer incense and will stay there for a day or two."

Qing Qiu nodded in agreement.

Ning Dong felt that she was fine on her own, so she asked casually: "Madam, what about the servant girls What should we do"

Meng Jinyao chuckled and said, "You little rascal, are you always itching to work If I don't give you something to do, you get restless"

Upon hearing this, Ning Dong playfully stuck out her tongue and smiled slyly: "I'm not a busybody, my lady. I just want to help you with your work. When I have nothing to do, I feel lost."

Meng Jinyu couldn't help but laugh wryly, "Still saying you're not a hard-working person Only someone who works hard would be like this, unable to sit still."eyes to look at him, then glanced at Gu Jingxi. She hadn't reacted just now, but now she felt a little embarrassed.The husband fed his wife, the gesture seemed a bit ambiguous, but seeing her open and...