Chapter 121 Wicked Stepmother and Poor Child 14
"Besides...besides, my sister's two children are still so young, they can't be without someone to take care of them."
"I'm willing to be that person, to take care of Gu Lang and the children in my sister's place. During the days you were unconscious, Gu Lang, being a man, couldn't possibly manage the affairs of the inner quarters."
Zhou Jingxuan finished speaking in one breath, her eyes full of heartache for Gu Hongjian. Heartache for a man is the beginning of suffering. The original owner married Gu Hongjian, a farmer's son, precisely because she felt sorry for him, and was willing to give everything for him.
If you give too much, he will take it for granted. But if one day you give something that he doesn't want, or you can't give him as much as he wants, then you become the sinner.
Zhou Jingxuan's heartache for Gu Hongjian was genuine, just like that of the naive Shen Ci back then, her eyes filled with admiration, attachment, and self-pity.
The house wasn't as cold as it was yesterday, but it wasn't much better either. Like its owner, the house was gradually losing its human warmth.
Unfortunately, despite Zhou Jingxuan's heartfelt words, Gu Hongjian remained silent as if he hadn't heard a word. He was always like this, hiding behind the scenes, letting women fight for him and sacrifice their lives for him, while she reaped the benefits.
Pitiful, hateful.
Looking at the heartbroken and tearful Zhou Jingxuan, and then at the silent Gu Hongjian, Shen Ci smiled knowingly, his slender fingers tapping lightly on the edge of the table.
"Yeah?
"Miss Zhou, you've said so much, but he... doesn't seem to care. Otherwise, why hasn't he said a word?"
Ding!
Suddenly exposed, Zhou Jingxuan turned to look at Gu Hongjian, her eyes filled with resentment. "Gu Lang, say something!"
If he doesn't express his opinion, wouldn't he just be putting on a one-man show?
Anyone who didn't know better would think she was eager to come to the Gu residence, but it was clearly Gu Hongjian who begged her to come and help.
Gu Hongjian knew he couldn't escape it any longer. His narrow eyes were fixed sharply on Shen Ci, and he even suspected that Shen Ci had known all along.
But since Shen Ci has been in a coma for so long, even if she woke up in the middle and accidentally stumbled upon this matter, she wouldn't have waited until now to tell everyone.
Shen Ci's attitude made Gu Hongjian unsure of her thoughts, and thus he felt uneasy. What would it feel like to suddenly lose control of someone he had controlled for many years?
"lady.
You have been seriously ill for over a year.
For more than a year, Jingxuan helped me in every way, managing the affairs of the manor, allowing me to focus on the court without any worries.
Without her, the manor would probably have fallen into disarray long ago.
After hesitating for a moment, Gu Hongjian said this, having already considered it in his mind.
He can do without Shen Ci, but he must have Zhou Jingxuan. This is his first step in leveraging the power of the Zhou family, and also the first step for him to reach a higher level.
The two women before me, one with a sickly face, though her former beauty was still evident, now looked like she was on her last legs. Her current appearance without makeup made it even clearer that she was nearing the end of her life.
A merchant's daughter who was dying and had no family background could offer him no help in his career.
The other is a gentle and charming daughter of an official, well-educated, with a good family background, who can help him take the first step.
Gu Hongjian had already made his decision, and his current hesitation was merely a pretense to maintain his persona.
"So, Miss Zhou is coming to our household to become a concubine?"
Haha, I come from the countryside, and I've only ever heard that girls from wealthy families in the capital are reserved and value rules and etiquette.
Unexpectedly, Miss Zhou is a kind and righteous person, and she actually came to become my concubine.
Since that's the case, I'll grant your request. Miss Zhou has been staying at the manor for so many days, there must have been a lot of rumors circulating outside.
If you continue to ignore this situation now, that would be irresponsible of you.
There's no better time than today. The weather is fine, and there's no need for a grand wedding ceremony or elaborate procession to take a concubine. Since Miss Zhou is already at home, there's no need for her to go back, so as to avoid any unnecessary back and forth.
"Let's settle down here and have some fun in our own yard."
Didn't you scheme so hard to marry into this family? Didn't you rack your brains to stay and become Mrs. Gu? Didn't you set your sights on this man? Then stay and be his concubine.
These words were barbed and sarcastic. They sounded nice on the surface, but how could Zhou Jingxuan, a daughter of an official, not understand the meaning behind them?
Her hands clenched into fists, her eyes filled with innocence and hurt.
"To be a concubine?"
I am a lady from a respectable family, how can I become a concubine!
Gu Lang, you!
How could you just stand by and watch her humiliate me like that!
Where does this leave my reputation and my family's honor?
Zhou Jingxuan, deeply hurt, wiped away her tears with a handkerchief. She thought he was so strong-willed, but all she got was a question; he still refused to leave.
Shen Ci had no intention of letting her leave, but she also had no intention of letting her stay as Mrs. Gu.
"Unwilling?"
It seems I misunderstood. I thought you two were deeply in love and didn't care about titles or status. What do titles and status matter? Being together is the most important thing, isn't it?
If you truly love him, you'd be willing to endure anything. What's a little hardship compared to that? It seems you don't love him enough.
If you love him, then obediently become his concubine.
Gu Hongjian couldn't think of any other tricks for a moment, nor did he expect to let the two of them confront each other and say these things. Originally, one of them was about to die and the other could have entered the mansion immediately, but Shen Ci's survival completely disrupted his plans.
Zhou Jingxuan felt a sudden heart attack, her breath caught in her throat, unable to come out. What did Shen Ci mean by that? She naturally loved Gu Hongjian, but could she be his concubine?
She didn't come here to be a concubine!
However, Shen Ci had no intention of letting them off so easily.
"What? If you don't love him, then what is he?"
Is it for his reputation, official position, status, or money?
Gu Hongjian, look at her, she won't even be your concubine, yet she says she loves you.
Someone who truly loves you is definitely willing to give up everything for you.
I think you two still don't love each other enough; you need to put yourselves to the test!
Shen Ci shook his head and commented, "If all infidelity is justified by love, then love is not a good thing, but rather an evil thing that tempts people to make mistakes."
"No, Gu Lang, I didn't! You have to believe me!"
My uncle is a high-ranking official in the court. If I were to become his concubine, where would that leave his dignity?
Zhou Jingxuan wanted to use this incident to remind Gu Hongjian that his official promotion was still dependent on her.
"He's just an uncle, not my biological father."
I thought you were sent by your uncle. So, without any parental consent or matchmaker's help, Miss Zhou came to our door on her own?
This is quite a tricky situation, my husband. I'm afraid you'll be branded as someone who seduced an innocent woman.
Shen Ci sat there talking for a long time and even drank two cups of tea. Now she was speaking with great seriousness. She didn't seem to be dying at all. Apart from her bad complexion, she was getting more and more energetic as she talked.
This discovery made Gu Hongjian uneasy.
So many doctors had come to diagnose her before, they were absolutely certain that she was right. Even the imperial physicians from the palace had been consulted. It could be said that all the doctors in the world had determined that Shen Ci was going to die, but she was still alive.
This was something he couldn't understand, since Shen Ci's inevitable death was something he had caused himself, so there was no way he could be wrong.
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