will team up to bully her. She'd only have herself to blame for being mistreated.Besides Li Wan'er, Gu Xiuming was also dissatisfied with this result. His eyes were filled with anger as he glared fier...At night, the moon is bright, casting a silver glow on the ground.

As the hour neared midnight, with bellies full and wine consumed, the family feast had come to an end, and everyone returned to their respective courtyards.

After bidding farewell to the people in the big house and second house, Gu Jingxi took Meng Jinyao's hand and walked back to the courtyard at a leisurely pace, leaving two shadows on the ground.

On the road, the couple were both talking about Gu Xiuhong's success in the imperial examination. Gu Jingxi suddenly brought up her nephew Meng Chengzhang: "Ayao, I remember you said earlier that Chengzhang would be taking this year's provincial examination."

Meng Jinyao nodded slightly and said slowly, "Yes, not only Chengzhang will participate, but I heard that my third brother Chengxing will also participate. He didn't want to participate at first, but he was persuaded by my second sister to do so. He is like a duck being forced onto a shelf. My second sister is afraid that if Chengzhang passes the exam and becomes a scholar, our father will favor Chengzhang, who already has fame, and neglect him, leading to their difficult situation as siblings in the future. She is trying her best to win over our father's heart."

Gu Jingxi gave a positive reply: "Chengzhang has a solid foundation and his knowledge is also decent. He was able to get into Lingshan Academy, this year's academy exam shouldn't be difficult for him. As long as nothing unexpected happens, passing the Xiucai examination is completely no problem."

Meng Jin Yao chuckled, she had great confidence in her younger brother. Fortunately, she was still rational last year and didn't harm their father. Otherwise, she would have to observe filial piety and delay her brother's future. If the title fell to Meng Chengxing, that immature and useless boy would become the new head of the Meng family. She wouldn't accept that. Her father still had a lot of life left in him.

For a moment, Meng Jin Yao said, "By the way, I heard from Chengzhang that Xiuwen also participated in the academy exam this year. You mentioned before that Xiuwen is smart and quick-witted. After going to Ling Shan Academy, he was influenced by the learning atmosphere around him. He could be said to have been reborn, removing his laziness and diligence in his studies, making rapid progress. It's estimated that he won't have much difficulty passing the exam for a Xiucai this year."

Gu Jingxi smiled with satisfaction: "Xiuwen should have a chance to become a Xiucai. The younger generation is sensible and promising, so the mother needn't worry about the Gu family falling into disrepair. The father had been urging his wife before he passed away to take good care of the Gu family, so she was under a lot of pressure as well."

Hearing this, Meng Jin Yao immediately thought of her troublesome natal family. The Yongchang Bo Mansion, like the Changxing Hou Mansion, was once a prominent family. Now, the two families were worlds apart. Over the past few decades, the Yongchang Bo Mansion had gradually declined.

My great-great-grandfather had committed a transgression that angered the former emperor, resulting in his demotion from his noble title. The Meng family ancestors served as the commander of the Yongchang Guard and quelled rebellions in Liangzhou while repelling foreign invaders, earning great merit and being bestowed the title of Marquis of Yongchang. The former emperor likely considered the Meng family's previous contributions to the court and chose not to strip them entirely of their title, only reducing their rank from Marquis to Viscount of Yongchang.

After this ordeal, the Meng family was severely weakened. Fortunately, her grandfather fought hard, and the Yongchangbo Mansion gradually recovered. Sadly, her grandfather passed away early, and her incompetent father became the head of the family. Her father had no talent; he usually only wrote a few sentimental poems to appear cultured, and it was already quite good for him to get a leisurely job and live off his ancestors' wealth.

The Meng family is also accelerating its decline. Once a powerful and influential clan, it's now nearly deserted. Whether the Meng family can rise again depends on her second younger brother, Chengzhang. Relying on Meng Chengxing is impossible; he's just like his father, both incompetent fools who aren't good for anything.

Gu Jingxi saw her frowning, deep in thought, so he asked, "Ayao, what are you thinking about"

Meng Jin Yao sighed softly: "I'm thinking, the Meng family will depend on the second brother in the future. He's still young and not a prince. Perhaps he hasn't realized that the burden of rebuilding the Meng family has fallen silently upon him as the only qualified male heir. My third brother is useless; if he doesn't cause trouble for the family in the future, it would already be a blessing."

Gu Jingxi said in a gentle voice: "As the children of a wealthy family, whether born during a period of decline or prosperity, they all carry burdens. It's just that the burdens they bear are different. Chengzhang understands how to study hard and enter the imperial court through the imperial examinations. This proves that he has realized this..." His voice paused, then he continued, "In fact, after the family splits up and each branch sets up its own household, Chengzhang will not be affected."

Meng Jin Yao replied, "My great-grandfather offended back then and almost had his title revoked. Being demoted was already the previous emperor showing mercy. My grandfather spared no effort to restore the Meng family's honor, but unfortunately, all his years of hard work were ruined by my father, setting us right back to square one."

She turned her head to look at Jing Xi, lowering her voice so only the two of them could hear. Then she said, "The ancestral foundation cannot be squandered by them. Since the current head isn't capable, we need to find an opportunity to replace him."

Gu Jingxi's footsteps faltered slightly. Seeing his young wife with a solemn expression, determined and resolute, he gently squeezed her hand in reassurance and said softly, "Ayao, there's no need to rush. It's not the right time yet. One should not be too petty; it leads to great chaos."

Meng Jiny Yao relaxed her expression: "I know, for the next ten or eight years, it shouldn't be touched."

For a moment, Meng Jinyu changed the subject: "Husband, I've been taking medicine for several months now, and I've also been soaking in the medicinal bath according to the will. I feel much better physically. Why don't we find a time for Doctor Wen to come and take my pulse Let's see how long I need to keep taking the medicine."

Gu Jingxi nodded: "That's good, let Dr. Wen take your pulse first.

The next day.

Gu Jingxi, after dispersing the crowd, went to the Imperial Hospital and invited Dr. Wen to come over. The result was, of course, good. After taking medicine for several months and soaking in medicinal baths, Meng Jin Yao's cold symptoms improved considerably, and the problem of insufficient qi and blood was almost completely resolved.

Dr. Wen revised the prescription and, after continuing to take the medicine and adjust for another month, it can be cured. In addition, the herbal bath for treating chills still needs to be continued.

Meng Jin Yao was delighted to hear the imperial physician's words. She took her medicine every day, whether it was made into pills or boiled into a soup, she had eaten enough. Now even burping had a medicinal smell wafting up. Thankfully, after another month, she would be able to stop taking it, which was good news. As for the herbal baths, she treated them like taking a bath and didn't mind them at all. She had gotten used to the smell now.

Gu Jingxi said warmly, "Ayao, I'll go see off Dr. Wen."

Meng Jinyáo nodded in response, then turned to Doctor Wen and said, "Doctor Wen, thank you for coming today. Please take care."

Outside the courtyard, Dr. Wen couldn't help but ask, "My Lord Marquis, how have you been feeling lately"

Gu Jingxi frowned and retorted, "Doctor Wen, is there something wrong with your medicine"

“How could the Marquis say such a thing” Dr. Wen was astonished, thinking that he was about to claim himself as an incompetent physician again and immediately corrected himself, “My Lord Marquis, this prescription has been used to treat other patients, all of whom have recovered completely. Just keep taking the medicine as prescribed, and I am constantly revising the formula. The medicine I am giving you now is even better than what was given to previous patients.”

Gu Jingxi frowned even tighter: "I think it's you quack doctor who changed the prescription, that's what's wrong."

Wen Taizi refused to accept: "Then Lord Hou, please tell me what is the problem"

Gu Jingxi glanced at him and said lightly, "I took this prescription before and didn't feel any problems. But after a long time, its side effects came. I felt noticeably hot before the weather even got warm, hotter than normal people, and all over uncomfortable. I even had a nosebleed the day before yesterday. I usually eat a light diet, so it definitely wasn't a dietary issue. It must be that your medicine has a problem."d, he went to his concubine's courtyard to find some happiness.Zhang was at a loss, hesitating for a moment before heading to Shou'an Hall. She hoped her mother-in-law could find a way to help Xiaoyi....