Chapter 103 Determined to Leave

Yunxi walked back to the manor in a daze, her mind filled with Shen Yujiao's words. Although she was very unwilling to believe that Gu Nanxiao would really lie to her like that.

The man who loved her so much really planned to marry her first, and then marry Shen Yujiao at the same time, all in order to gain control of the Shen family's military power.

As the heir to the family fortune, she had seen too many people whose true nature had been altered by the pursuit of profit. That's why he couldn't convince himself at this moment.

Would Gu Nanxiao give up everything for her? Military power, which is within easy reach, is every man's dream, and she doesn't think she has that much charm.

If she were to make a scene while Gu Nanxiao was still somewhat infatuated with her, he might just give up the Shen family's military power for her sake.

But what happens after giving up? Will you regret your decision someday, turning your relationship into one of complete resentment?

and

Yunxi is now unable to have children. Will he continue to love a woman who cannot give him offspring without wavering?

At first, he might feel guilty and accept being childless. But as time goes on, what if he starts planning to have someone else have his child? How should I face him then?

Yunxi was completely unable to control the negative emotions in her mind. A whole host of questions, whether she should or shouldn't think about them, rushed into her mind, making it impossible for her to calm down.

Qianyu followed closely behind, anxiously waiting because she was ordered by Yunxi not to report to her master.

When Yunxi pushed open the bedroom door, she saw two sets of bright red wedding dresses embroidered with gold hanging in front of the window, and Gu Nanxiao, who was holding two jade hairpins and picking them out with a conflicted expression.

Upon seeing Yunxi enter, Gu Nanxiao immediately came forward, handing her two hairpins and asking happily, "Yunxi, which of these two hairpins do you think is more suitable for you to wear on your wedding day?"

Before Yunxi could answer, he immediately voiced his thoughts: "I think this one is more elegant, and this one is more solemn, but I heard from the matchmaker that the main hairpin can only be worn once, so how about you and I choose together?"

Yunxi didn't go to look at the jade hairpin? She looked straight at Gu Nanxiao, and when she saw the boundless love and joy in his eyes, she decided to ask him about it.

Yunxi reached out and pushed aside the hairpin in front of her, asking calmly, "When you rescued me from Cining Palace that day, what conditions did you agree to with the Empress Dowager?"

Gu Nanxiao was taken aback by Yunxi's sudden question. His expression froze, and he said evasively, "I didn't promise anything. Why are you suddenly asking about that day?"

After asking that question, Yunxi kept staring intently at Gu Nanxiao's expression, noticing the fleeting moment of guilt he showed.

Instantly, her heart sank, but Yunxi was still unwilling to give up and asked again, "The Empress Dowager didn't mention any requests to you, and then released me so easily. This is a bit unreasonable."

After overcoming his initial nervousness, Gu Nanxiao composed himself, pulled Yunxi into his arms, and said confidently:

"Yunxi, I know your likes and dislikes, so I won't do anything you don't like. Please believe me?"

Upon hearing this, Yunxi gave a bitter smile. She was so willing to believe in this man, and even willing to shed her armor and nestle beside him, becoming a little woman.

But Gu Nanxiao ultimately disappointed her. Although she didn't want to believe it, the truth might really be as Shen Yujiao said. Moreover, Gu Nanxiao wasn't even willing to tell her a single truth.

Yunxi admitted that, whether in modern times or in this world, the only man she loved and was hopelessly in love with was Gu Nanxiao.

However, love is love, and principles are principles. She could not bear to share a husband with any other woman. Nor could she tolerate spending the rest of her life vying with other women for a man's favor.

She felt that kind of love was abnormal. Rather than living the life she hated most, it was better to let go cleanly and turn away gracefully.

Yunxi pushed Gu Nanxiao away from her embrace, forcing a stiff smile, trying hard not to reveal her true feelings. She looked at the man still agonizing over which hairpin was better, and her heart was filled with a bitter, aching pain.

She believed that Gu Nanxiao loved her deeply, and that at this moment, there was truly no one else in his heart. However, once Shen Yujiao entered the door, no matter how forced or unwilling she was at first, she would still be there for him.

Gradually, it will all evolve into Gu Nanxiao's repeated compromises, such as having no choice but to consummate his marriage with Shen Yujiao due to unavoidable reasons.

What follows is the forced birth of their child, and for the rest of their lives, there will be countless more forced births.

Such love, no matter how beautiful it may be at the beginning, will eventually become unrecognizable, leaving only pain and resentment when recalled.

Thinking of this, Yunxi finally hardened her heart and decided to leave, but before leaving, she had to take the final step to take revenge on the Shi family last night.

She gathered her chaotic thoughts and said to Gu Nanxiao, "Tomorrow morning at court, you will present the Emperor with evidence of the Third Prince's crimes of illegally opening an iron mine, colluding with the Liu and Shi families to forge and hoard weapons. I want to see the Shi family and the Third Prince completely brought down before our wedding."

Gu Nanxiao then noticed that Yunxi was in a very low mood. However, he guessed that it was probably because she was thinking about the people who made her unhappy.

With the wedding imminent, taking down the Shi family at this time would cause turmoil in the court and might even postpone the wedding. But as long as it would make Yunxi happy, he was willing to comply.

Gu Nanxiao only pondered for a moment before agreeing without hesitation. Afterwards, he left the mansion and returned to the Imperial Guard, where he prepared to review the evidence once more.

Some of the certifications that were previously withheld for fear of alerting the suspects are now being apprehended. Only by bringing them under control can the situation be resolved unexpectedly.

The moment Gu Nanxiao left, Yunxi couldn't hold back her tears. After spending so much time together, Gu Nanxiao was no longer the person she could easily let go of.

The reluctance in her heart and reason were desperately pulling at her emotions. The imperfection in her relationship made her hate this era. Why was Gu Nanxiao an ancient man?

In this world, no matter how many women Gu Nanxiao marries, society and others will consider it reasonable and supportive.

If she were to suggest that he not take a concubine, she would be condemned and criticized by everyone. In such an environment, where is there any fairness?

Yunxi will not be like those ancient women who had no right to say no and could only passively accept their fate. Her destiny can only be in her own hands.

Having made her firm choice, Yunxi wiped away her tears. She took a charcoal brazier and threw the small items Gu Nanxiao had given her into the fire one by one.

Unable to stop herself from recalling all the beautiful memories of the past, she held onto the remaining wooden cat carving in her hand after everything had burned to ashes.

This was her favorite gift. Gu Nanxiao accidentally injured his hand while carving it, leaving a long scar on his index finger.

Yunxi steeled herself and threw the wooden carving into the brazier, but when she saw the flames about to engulf the kitten carving, she suddenly changed her mind and grabbed it back.

Even with blisters burning her hands, she felt no pain. Yunxi looked at the wooden carving in her hand; a patch of it had been charred black where the cat's face should have been.

But after thinking about it, she still carefully tucked the wooden carving back into her sleeve. She wanted to allow herself this moment of indecisiveness, where no one could see, as a way of preserving a testament to their relationship.

After burning all the items, Yunxi took out the dresses that Gu Nanxiao had made for her and started burning them one by one. After throwing all the clothes into the fire pit, she finally saw the undergarment at the bottom of the chest.

Yunxi held it in her hand, stroking the uneven needle points on it, gave a bitter laugh, and tears streamed down her face again.