Chapter 156 The Wicked Stepmother and the Poor Child 49

The old lady sent people to invite Shen Ci and Gu Hongjian over, deciding to hold a joint trial in court to publicly judge Zhou Jingxuan.

Now, all she feels for Zhou Jingxuan is disgust. She was already of low status, didn't serve her well, and would often throw tantrums and go back to her parents' home to complain, and even manipulate her good son.

Giving birth to such a monster is a disgrace to the family! Just thinking about it makes the old lady so angry she wants to kill someone; anyone who doesn't know the situation would think something terrible happened at the ancestral graves!

The atmosphere inside the hall was extremely heavy.

"How are you feeling lately?"

The old lady first pretended to care, saying that she was the kindest old lady, having been a vegetarian and a Buddhist for many years, so of course she would care about the concubine's health.

"Much better," Zhou Jingxuan said, her reply brief. She didn't want to say another word, especially since she only wanted to hit the old woman.

Upon seeing Zhou Jingxuan's attitude, the old lady was furious. Such an indifferent and distant attitude showed that she had no remorse whatsoever! She was enraged and immediately put on a stern face!

"Zhou, do you know your crime!"

That day you dared to lay a hand on your mother-in-law! That was utterly disobedient, unfilial, and lawless!

Zhou Jingxuan remained silent. In her heart, the root of all this was the old lady's doing. What wrong had she done? Now she had no intention of pleasing the old lady. If she had the guts, why didn't she just kill her?

She only regretted that she hadn't used her full strength that day; she should have just killed the old woman and ended it all!

She knew that Gu Hongjian wouldn't let anything happen to her, otherwise he wouldn't be able to explain it to the Zhou family. Her biggest regret now was marrying someone of lower status.

As a woman from the capital, she could easily marry into any official family and become their principal wife. Although she had no parents, her uncle treated her well and wouldn't let her become a concubine. But she blindly chose Gu Hongjian, that smooth-talking bastard.

Seeing that she remained silent, the old lady turned to Gu Hongjian and began to cry.

"Hongjian! Look at this! This is the concubine you took! She dared to hit your mother! This old man almost died at her hands!"

Annoyed by his mother's crying, Gu Hongjian already felt disgusted with Zhou Jingxuan. In addition, the shadow of the deformed child he had seen still haunted him, so he took the opportunity to sternly reprimand her.

"Zhou! How dare you be so insolent before your mother! Quickly kowtow to her and admit your mistake!"

Zhou Jingxuan felt extremely disgusted watching the mother and son's back-and-forth singing. Thinking of her unjustly killed child, her hatred surged and intensified within her.

You're so devoted to your mother and child, but what about her child? Even their remains are nowhere to be found.

She suppressed the swear words in her heart and instead became submissive, lowering her head and admitting her mistake.

"I... know I was wrong."

She needs to be patient now in order to find the right opportunity.

Shen Ci coughed weakly twice beside him.

"Aunt Zhou is also grieving the loss of her beloved son and is in a daze. Please don't take offense at her."

I suppose she's still not fully recovered.

Both the old lady and Gu Hongjian disagreed.

"How can you be so lenient? After such a serious incident, how can you continue to indulge her?"

"It's just that we lost a good-for-nothing monster. She gave birth to such a child, disgracing the Gu family. We haven't settled accounts with her yet!"

"So what if she gave birth? Which woman hasn't given birth? She's the one who's weak. I was pregnant with Hongjian, and I was still working in the fields!"

Who knows what terrible thing she did while pregnant! That would cause my family's child to become such a horrible sight!

After the mother and son finished speaking to Shen Ci, they bombarded Zhou Jingxuan with their words, scolding her for a long time before finally ordering her to kowtow and apologize.

Zhou Jingxuan merely bowed slightly, not kneeling. Did they expect her to kowtow? No way! She didn't need to please anyone right now, nor did she want to.

Zhou Jingxuan turned to leave, but as she did, she suddenly turned back, looked coldly at Gu Hongjian, and gave him a warning.

"Gu Lang, do you still remember how you got this official position?"

Gu Hongjian's heart skipped a beat. Oh no! He was so angry that he forgot about this. Now that the child is gone, the bond with the Zhou family rests solely on Zhou Jingxuan!

If something else happens to Zhou Jingxuan, wouldn't that be the end of us? Right now, we absolutely cannot let Zhou Jingxuan go back to the Zhou family to inform them, and we certainly cannot afford to break ties with her.

After hesitating for a moment, he decided to go after Shuyuxuan to comfort her.

Inside Shuyuxuan, Zhou Jingxuan was changing her clothes with her back to him.

“Jingxuan, I know you are heartbroken. I am more heartbroken than anyone else that this child is gone, but we are still young, and we can have children in the future.”

There's no rush. We can have as many children as you want in the future.

Gu Hongjian wanted to say a few gentle words, recalling their past relationship, to soften Zhou Jingxuan's heart, but he saw Zhou Jingxuan suddenly turn around, her clothes half-undone, revealing her loose belly covered with stretch marks, which had not yet recovered from childbirth.

The reddish-purple marks on his belly were arranged in rows, just like centipedes.

In Gu Hongjian's eyes, the marks were the same as those left by Shen Ci after giving birth, and even more ferocious and terrifying due to improper care, like twisted venomous snakes.

A fleeting look of disgust and revulsion crossed his eyes, almost imperceptibly.

Zhou Jingxuan had been watching this subtle change in expression, and she suddenly laughed mockingly, her voice cold.

"What? You're already disgusted? These marks are medals left for you carrying and giving birth to our child! Scholar Gu, you find them repulsive?"

Didn't you always tell me that you would love me no matter what I became?

This child is yours, but I had it for you. You said you'd make me your second wife after I gave birth!

Now what are you complaining about!

Gu Hongjian hurriedly concealed his expression.

"What nonsense! How could I possibly dislike it..."

"You're mistaken, Jingxuan. It's normal to experience mood swings after giving birth. The doctor said you just need to rest and recover for a while."

But the disgust and disdain he showed in that instant were so clear that Zhou Jingxuan lost all hope.

This man who once swore eternal love to her, for whom she risked half her life to give birth, not only showed no pity for the child, but also despised her appearance.

But if it weren't for him, how could she have become like this? Why is it that after giving everything, Gu Hongjian is still so cold and indifferent?

"He won't give up until he hits the Yellow River," but now, Zhou Jingxuan is completely heartbroken.

"I understand, you can go back now."

I just gave birth and can't take care of you. Besides, you can't have anyone take care of you either, can you?

Zhou Jingxuan put on her clothes and said coldly, "Gu Hongjian himself is not good enough, and it's uncertain whether he will be able to have children in the future. This child was her and his only one... but now it's gone."