rafted with translucent jade."Qi Yunwen was speechless and couldn't help but roll her eyes at him.Was he asking about the quality of the jadeHe was asking about the style, but his answer was completel...Gu Jingxi chuckled: "Okay, of course."

Meng Jinyao saw that the man's brow and eyes were relaxed, showing no displeasure. She had a pretty good idea what was going on.

Originally, she thought that even though Gu Xiuming and Gu Jingxi weren't biological father and son, they had been together for many years as father and son, and Gu Jingxi was still the only son and firmly seated as the Crown Prince. Therefore, Gu Xiuming definitely cared about his son, so she had to be careful with her words and actions.

Now that I know Gu Jingxi's thoughts, I'm not afraid to say anything about Gu Xiuming in front of him. I won't make him think I have ulterior motives and am trying to drive a wedge between father and son.

Is family lineage more important, or is it profit that truly matters The helmsman must possess both virtue and talent. Otherwise, even his own flesh and blood, if he proves to be a wayward son, Gu Jingxi would show him no mercy and bring him down. How much more so for those who are not his own blood

Gu Jingxi asked in a gentle voice, "What kind of guests usually come to your father's birthday"

Meng Jin Yao replied truthfully: "Although the Meng family has fallen, there was my mother's dowry to support their facade in the past. My uncle's mansion maintained a semblance of prestige. Father was also a man who cared about appearances and loved to show off. When he was young, he wouldn't hold birthday banquets, only having a family meal. But for Grandmother's birthday banquet, they would go all out. These past two years, as she got older, things have become quite elaborate."

She paused, glanced at Gu Jingxi, and continued, “After all, the Yongchang Marquis’s Mansion and the Changxing Hou’s Mansion are betrothed. For the sake of the Changxing Hou’s Mansion, my grandmother's family, my stepmother's family, and even those friends of my father who live worse lives than him, are quite willing to come and flatter him.” She paused again, her gaze drifting towards Gu Jingxi. “As for middle-class officials and their families, they wouldn't even bother. Not to mention whether the Yongchang Marquis’s Mansion will recover, even if it does, it won't be able to catch up with those families in a short time.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Jingxi picked out the key point of this sentence: He's gotten a bit older these past two years.

His stepfather turned thirty-five today. Birthday banquets have become a bit more elaborate since he reached his mid-thirties, around thirty-three or so. He's getting up there in age now.

He's twenty-nine this year, in a few years he'll be considered old.

Thinking this way, Gu Jingxi's mood was very subtle.

Meng Jinyao saw that he wasn't speaking, her expression was unreadable, thoughtful. Then she asked, "Are you also thinking about having a birthday banquet When is your birthday I'll throw you a birthday banquet then"

Gu Jingxi's face stiffened, and he solemnly said: "No need, I'm still young. What's the point of going through all this now It's not too late to start when I'm sixty or seventy."

Meng Jinyao said nonchalantly, "Actually, young people can do it too. Some girls hold birthday parties every year and celebrate with their same-aged girlfriends. Men can do the same, just find an excuse to have a party and get together to strengthen relationships.

"

Gu Jingxi still insisted: "I don't need

Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyu didn't insist: "Alright, wait until you're sixty or seventy. By then, I'll still be relatively young and have the energy to throw you a birthday party."

Gu Jingxi choked.

How did he feel about this Every time he heard it, it felt like nails on a chalkboard, extremely offensive.

He didn't feel old before, but now that he has a young girl around him as a comparison, he suddenly realizes he's almost at the age to be a grandfather. When his nephew Xiu Yuan's child is born next year, he will become an uncle-grandfather.

Is he really that old

-

Yongchangbo Mansion.

Younger generations from Lady Meng's natal family, including the Sun family, have all arrived. Some of Meng Dongyuan's associates who are not as successful as him also came with their families.

In their eyes, the Yongchangbo Mansion had fallen from grace, but at least they still had the Changxinghou Mansion as an in-law. Although there was a disagreement with her natal family over the dowry, it is said to have been orchestrated by Sun Shi. Both the Meng family and others claimed that Sun Shi was behind it. What did the stepmother's actions have to do with other members of the natal family

Although the Meng family lost face because of this incident, they at least returned all of the dowry given by the elder daughter's biological mother, Zhou. They even filled in for the silver used. The elder daughter may still resent Sun, but after all, her natal family are relatives. Where is there such a thing as overnight hatred

If Meng Jin Yao returned to her maiden home, they could still build connections. If they could get on the good side of Changxing Houfu, they could benefit from it, wouldn't be a wasted trip.

Sun's sister-in-law, Lady Yang, arrived but didn't see Meng Jin Yao. She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. She asked Sun, "Sister, your brother-in-law's birthday today, why haven't your eldest daughter and uncle come"

Sun felt that Meng Jingyao wouldn't come, but she didn't say it out loud. She just sighed wistfully: "Ah Yao, ever since she got married, she has hardly contacted her family, I wonder if she will come today."

Upon hearing this, various thoughts flickered through the crowd's minds. They subtly glanced at Mrs. Sun, sensing that Meng Jin Yao’s absence was likely due to her. After all, Mrs. Sun had concealed the dowry of someone else's biological mother. Back then, this incident caused quite a stir. However, no matter what Mrs. Sun did, she was still an elder. As juniors, they should know their place and not hold grudges against elders.

Even if he has a bad temper, his father is innocent. He can't even come back for his father's birthday, can he

Sun Shi said again, "It doesn't matter if he doesn't come. It's just a small birthday. Master likes to celebrate, so he held a banquet and invited everyone over. Relatives and friends gather together to chat and have fun, just treat it as an ordinary small gathering."

When it came to birthday celebrations, Mrs. Sun couldn't help but feel resentful. She never had a party for her own birthday, yet her husband did. Now that the family's fortune was dwindling after losing Zhou's dowry, such extravagant celebrations were unnecessary. They should save money and avoid them whenever possible.

To her surprise, her husband told her that they had already held the event last year and that not holding it this year would make them look bad. Her mother-in-law agreed, so now she has no choice but to put on a brave face and maintain appearances, even though she's suffering in silence. She's having to cut expenses elsewhere to afford it, making things difficult for her as the one responsible for organizing everything.

Yang frowned, disapprovingly saying, "Sister, even if it's a small birthday celebration, they are juniors and should show their filial piety. Chengzhang, that child, is studying at Ling Shan Academy and even took leave to come back. Yet, they haven't made it to the capital, which is truly unfilial."

The other ladies also chimed in: "That's right, I wonder what this eldest daughter is thinking. She doesn't even come back for her father's birthday."

Mrs. Sun shook her head lightly: “Don't guess, children. Ayao is still a filial child. She's probably just on the way and should be here later. Even if she resents me, she will definitely attend her father's birthday.”

She having finished speaking, then invited all the guests.

There weren't many guests. Besides the male guests in the front courtyard, there were wives of Meng Dongyuan's friends and acquaintances, plus ten young girls. A few female relatives of Mrs. Meng had also arrived, including nieces-in-law and grandnieces of Mrs. Meng. From Sun's family, only her sister-in-law, Yang, and Yang's daughter came.

All the others were worse off than the Meng family, so even among this group of people, Mrs. Sun became the object of everyone's admiration. Even though she looked down on the Meng family, they at least had a noble title, and their eldest daughter became a countess.care towards his elder and younger daughters. I hear that when the two girls were young, the Marquis never coddled them, let alone now that they are grown up. The two girls act like mice seeing a cat...