Chapter 160 The Wicked Stepmother and the Poor Child (53)
Within the high walls, life went on slowly as before. The three people in the mansion—the old lady, Gu Hongjian, and Zhou Jingxuan—formed a strange balance, much like the Wei, Shu, and Wu kingdoms during the Three Kingdoms period.
They hated each other and regarded each other as a thorn in their side, but for various reasons they were wary of each other and neither dared to make a rash move.
The old lady hated Zhou Jingxuan for daring to beat her and even kill her, but she had to endure it for her son's sake. Zhou Jingxuan was like a venomous snake hiding in a corner, looking for a suitable opportunity. She hated both Gu Hongjian and the old lady.
Gu Hongjian disliked Zhou Jingxuan, but he had to be wary of the Zhou family behind her. However, after the last incident, he temporarily gave Zhou Jingxuan a cold shoulder.
How long has it been since he was promoted? He didn't even have time to properly celebrate before it was over.
Shen Ci clearly saw the situation in the manor. Zhou Jingxuan was now completely disheartened and probably even had the intention to fight to the death. The more muddied the waters were stirred up, the more advantageous it would be for her.
Shen Ci took out paper and pen, laid out the letter paper, ground the ink, picked up the brush, and wrote a letter home by hand, which he then sent to his hometown in Yizhou by fast horse.
She sincerely admitted her willfulness and misplaced affections, and now that she has tasted the bitter fruit of her actions, she has finally realized her mistake and is determined to divorce Gu Hongjian. She earnestly requests her family's approval and hopes to gain their support.
Back then, none of the original owner's family members approved of the marriage, and no one agreed to her marrying down. It was the original owner who insisted on going her own way, willing to risk her life for love, but in the end, she ended up being completely taken advantage of.
She harmed herself, her two children, and her entire family. For her family, it was an utterly undeserved disaster.
A pampered, golden-leafed daughter of a wealthy family married a leech-like man, had two children, and was eventually murdered. Her property was seized by her vicious son-in-law, who then retaliated against her family, causing them to have their property confiscated and be exiled.
Regardless, Shen Ci felt that if the original owner of this body had a spirit in heaven, that would be why the system chose her child, and therefore the original owner would definitely feel sorry for her family.
If she could do it all over again, she would definitely want to apologize to her family and mend her relationship with them.
Her family tried everything to persuade her, but they couldn't stop her from going her own way. In the end, they still gave her a generous dowry so that she could live a better life.
At the same time, Shen Ci's life changed.
Every morning, he personally took the two children to their home on Zhuque Street, where the Prince of Qin would teach them to read and practice martial arts. It was safer and more free there, and no one would restrain them. It felt more like home than the Gu residence.
She would stay with the children at the Shen residence until it got dark and they finished school, then she would take them home. However, it seems that the children prefer the freedom of the Shen residence. Once they return to the Gu residence, they feel much more depressed, as if they have entered a cage, with a suffocating atmosphere.
That evening, as soon as Shen Ci's carriage came to a stop in front of the Gu residence and the curtain was lifted, she saw Old Madam Gu with a sullen face, accompanied by two old women, blocking the entrance. They had obviously been waiting for a long time.
"stop!
Leaving early and returning late every day, what kind of behavior is this! It's one thing for you to be unchaste and restless at home, but don't lead my family's children astray!
From this day forward, you are not allowed to step out of the mansion without my permission! Neither are the children!
The old lady's gaze was like a knife scraping against a person.
Shen Ci shielded the children behind her, slowly stepped down from the carriage, stood on the steps, and looked down at the old lady.
"Mother, you are mistaken."
My current food, clothing, daily necessities, and even all the expenses for my children have not been paid for with a single penny of public funds; they are all paid for with my own dowry and private property.
"Since I'm not supported by the Gu family, why should I abide by your inexplicable rules?"
The old lady was choked by her blunt words, and the resentment in her eyes became even more obvious. She then changed the subject.
"Good, good, now that you're better, that's perfect. You shall take over the stewardship today!"
As the matriarch of the family, it is my duty to share the burdens of the clan!
Shen Ci was speechless. The old woman had really thought this through. The position of steward was a hot potato. There was no money left in the household accounts. Whoever took it would have to pay out of their own pocket to fill that bottomless pit. Why would she jump into that fire pit again?
"Mother is joking."
The doctor had advised that his daughter-in-law's illness had damaged her very health and that she needed to rest quietly for a long time, avoiding any mental or physical exertion.
"The affairs of managing the household are numerous and complex, and I, your daughter-in-law, am truly powerless to do so. I fear I may disappoint my mother's trust. Mother, please take on the more capable tasks."
Shen Ci bowed slightly, his posture respectful, but the words he spoke were not so respectful.
After being rejected time and time again, the old lady lost all face.
She hasn't seen her beloved grandchildren for days on end lately, and she was already full of resentment. Now she feels that her authority has been challenged.
The old lady suddenly stepped forward, stretched out her fingers, her old and withered fingers adorned with several rings, pointed them at Chen Ci's nose, and said angrily.
"You've gone too far! You've really gone too far! You have no right to make decisions in this house! I said you're not allowed to go out, and that means you're not allowed!"
"Guards! Take Madam and the young master and young miss back to their room! No one is to let them out without my order!"
Chen Ci didn't care about the old lady's words at all. Not only was she not afraid, but she stepped forward and looked at the old lady coldly.
"What if I refuse to listen? Does Mother intend to lock me up?"
If you insist on forcing me like this, then let Gu Hongjian write a letter of divorce, and I will divorce him!
"Divorce?!"
The old lady was stunned, her eyes widening instantly, her face filled with disbelief.
Shen Ci actually mentioned divorce. I never thought I'd hear those two words from Shen Ci in my lifetime.
In her memory, Shen Ci was still that fool who would give everything for her son, a silly woman blinded by love, who had a fortune but only longed for a man's love.
How could the word "divorce" possibly come out of her mouth?
This understanding had long been ingrained in the old lady's mind.
After the initial shock, seeing Shen Ci's expression, the old lady was certain she hadn't misheard. She quickly calmed down and decided to use her trump card.
"Divorce? Don't even think about it!"
A woman like you, who disrespects her mother-in-law and is jealous and immoral, deserves only a letter of divorce!
Moreover, the children are the bloodline of the Gu family. You, a divorced woman, can forget about taking them away. I want to see if you can bear to part with your precious children!
She firmly believed that using children to control mothers was a foolproof method; no mother would abandon her own children, let alone Shen Ci, who cherished her two children like the apples of her eye.
At this moment, the two children huddled beside Shen Ci, somewhat frightened by the adult's words.
Shen Ci bent down and deftly picked up Gu Mingzhu and Gu Mingzhang, one on each side, and the children obediently wrapped their arms around her neck.
She stood tall and proud like a pine tree in the wind and snow, her expression calm and unhurried, as if she felt no threat at all. Her nonchalant demeanor drove the old lady crazy.
She shouldn't have been allowed to raise two children!
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