rpasses that of the dilapidated Yongchang Bo Fu. Nowadays, Yongchang Bo Fu can only maintain its facade by relying on ancestral wealth.Meng Jinyáo strolled through this grand estate, which, barring an...Rose garden.

The garden was a private courtyard belonging to a wealthy merchant. It is said that the merchant's wife loved lotuses, and when the merchant was young and still poor, he promised his wife that once he had money, he would build her a lotus pond.

However, when the businessman's career was flourishing, his wife had fallen seriously ill due to overwork.

The merchant did not yet have enough money to build the lotus garden, and then his wife passed away. After his wife's death, the merchant did not remarry and he had no concubines, devoting all his energy to cultivating his only son, who was born to his late wife.

The Orchid Garden was started eight years after the wife of a wealthy merchant died.

The lotus garden has been built, but the beauty is long gone. It is now open to the public, and visitors only need to pay an entrance fee to admire the lotuses.

This beautiful yet bittersweet love story has saddened many, and even literary figures who came to the garden to admire the lotuses have written poems expressing their regret.

As you enter the lotus garden, a summer breeze blows in your face. A refreshing and elegant fragrance of lotus fills the air. Looking around, you see light pink lotuses in full bloom. They cling tightly to lush green leaves, basking in the sunlight, exuding elegance and beauty.

Meng Jinyao was admiring lotuses in one of the viewing pavilions. Gazing at the surrounding clear pond, lush greenery, and delicate pink hues, she felt that the summer heat was subdued by the surrounding greenery and pink shades, and her mood became exceptionally pleasant.

She leaned against the railing, facing the summer breeze and gazing far into the distance. She said to the man beside her, "Lotus flowers are still best in large swathes. Our Wei Rui Xuan only has two lotus flowers grown in big water tanks, they're just not as impressive. Even the lotus pond at home isn't as good as these lotus flowers in this garden."

Upon hearing this, Gu Jingxi asked, "If madam likes it, we could also build a lotus pond"

Meng Jinyao was startled at first, then she smiled and shook her head: "There's no need for that, it would be a waste of silver. There's a lotus pond here, isn't there If you want to admire the lotuses next time, just come here directly.

"Gu Yao Ling!"

Just then, a man's voice suddenly came from a distance. The voice was unfamiliar, and Meng Jingyao didn't recognize it. She turned her head to Gu Jingxi and said: "Husband, someone is calling you

Gu Jingxi let out an "Mmm" and turned his head to look. He saw several friends walking towards them, including Qi Yunwen.

Qi Yunwen saw the little girl beside him and smiled meaningfully at him.

Gu Jingxi frowned slightly, not understanding what he meant, and still smiling so strangely.

Several people arrived at the pavilion, greeted Gu Jingxi, and when they looked at Meng Jinyang, their faces showed smiles as they softly called out: "Sister-in-law"

Meng Jinyao didn't know them, she only knew Qi Yunwen. Listening to Gu Jingxi introduce them, she also greeted them politely.

Many people thought her smile was gentle and graceful, nodding in approval. They felt that this young daughter-in-law, Yao Ling, was a good match for their son. Gu Xiu Ming, on the other hand, lacked vision. He gave up on such a fine girl for an orphan, ruining his own reputation. In the future, which decent family would allow their daughters to marry him

A few people just came by to say hello, not intending to disturb the couple's intimacy. They exchanged a few pleasantries and then left.

Before leaving, Qi Yunwen leaned into Gu Jingxi's ear and whispered, "Gu Yaoling, you're amazing. You even know to take this little girl out for a stroll to clear her head. Look at her, she seems in good spirits. Keep it up, and successfully cheer her up." He then patted Gu Jingxi's shoulder encouragingly, gave him a wink, and followed the pace of his other friends.

Gu Jingxi frowned slightly, muttering to himself: "He doesn't think I'm as stupid as he imagines, does he"

Meng Jin Yao didn't hear what he said and curiously asked, "Husband, what did he say to you"

Gu Jingxi said lightly, "He said I was stupid."

"Huh"

Meng Jin Yao was stunned, wondering in her heart: "My husband isn't stupid."

Gu Jingxi smiled faintly: "So, he's just talking nonsense. We don't care about him. Let's go somewhere else for a stroll and leave when it's almost noon."

Meng Jin Yao responded with enthusiasm, strolling around the lotus garden.

-

After Qi Yunwen and the others had walked away, a few people began to discuss Gu Jingxi and her husband.

One person said, "Mo Bai, you are closest to Yao Ling and his wife. You should know their current situation, right"

Qi Yunwen glanced at him, seeing the gossip on his face, and nodded. "I know a little, what's up"

That person chuckled twice and said, "It's nothing. I think Yaoling gets along quite well with his young wife. He even brought her out to admire the lotus."

"More than just good friends"

Qi Yunwen raised an eyebrow, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. His gaze swept over his few friends lightly, noticing that they were all looking at him curiously, waiting for him to continue. He had piqued their curiosity perfectly before saying, “You all have wives, and you should know about the Jinyugong Pavilion. A few days ago, Yao Ling bought twelve hairpins for his little wife at the Jinyugong Pavilion, spending over a thousand taels of silver.”

Upon hearing this, several people were taken aback. They had never spent so much silver on a hairpin for their daughter-in-law before. They usually bought them one at a time, with each hairpin costing dozens of taels of silver. If the hairpin was made of exceptionally high-quality jade or other rare materials, it might cost over a hundred taels of silver.

One thousand taels of silver, an ordinary peasant couldn't earn that much in a lifetime.

> When Yao Ling bought a hairpin for his daughter-in-law, he spent over a thousand taels. That's more than just a good relationship; it's treating her like a little ancestor.

That person sighed and said, “I thought his young daughter-in-law was his son's ex-fiancée, whom he had to marry out of necessity. He kept her around as a mere ornament because he felt uncomfortable with the situation. But I didn't expect her to be so loving.”

Qi Yunwen scoffed, "His son made a mistake, not the little girl. Yao Ling is reasonable, why would she take it out on her"

Another person chimed in, "That makes sense. Yao Ling's daughter-in-law seems quite agreeable. My eldest daughter is about the same age as her, also a newly married bride this year. They could have things to talk about and maybe even play together. It's just that there's a generation gap."

Qi Yunwen smiled faintly: "It's just a matter of seniority. People of similar age and interests can get along well. My niece and his daughter-in-law are close friends, both the same age."

"My daughter is fifteen years old and hasn't gotten married yet, but she's about the same age as you. Maybe you could play together."

I also have a daughter, but she is only six years old.

Listening to you all chatter away, the man who had been silent up until now spoke in a sour voice: "You all have daughters, but my house is full of boys. Just looking at them makes me feel annoyed."

"Haha, then you and your sister-in-law try harder, have a daughter."

"Well, I already have four sons. It proves that I am destined not to have a daughter, so I give up.ng this, Gu Jingxi shook his head imperceptibly. He had a plan, a thorough one, but the little girl wanted to figure it out herself. So he would keep quiet and trust that her clever mind could come u...