Chapter 170 The Wicked Stepmother and the Poor Child (Final Chapter)
After Gu Hongjian was detained, he only needed to wait according to the legal procedures. Once the relevant procedures were completed, he would be directly taken to exile.
Madam Gu did not wait for Gu Hongjian to be exiled, nor did she see her son one last time. After that day, she hurriedly packed her bags and returned to her hometown with the remaining gold, silver, valuables, and trusted servants. She was in a hurry and seemed to be in a great rush.
His dream of wealth and status in the capital was shattered, and he lost his son and grandson. His whole family collapsed. This trip was not worth it at all.
In court, Zhou Jingxuan completely absolved herself of any guilt, shifting all the blame onto Gu Hongjian, and thus escaped punishment.
However, according to custom, the family members of officials who were convicted should have been exiled together. Instead, she swore in court that she would sever ties with Gu Hongjian. In addition, she had an uncle who was an official in the court.
Lord Zhou secretly intervened and made arrangements, ultimately saving her from punishment and exile. Instead, she severed ties with the Gu family and returned to the Zhou family.
It was late spring and early summer, and the pomegranate flowers in the courtyard were in full bloom.
After several months of recuperation, everyone involved in this ordeal seemed to have recovered considerably. Madam Zhou brought Zhou Jingxuan to visit, and Zhou Jingxuan now appeared much calmer, without the manic energy she once had.
This time, they came to apologize to Zhou Jingxuan for her past attempts to harm the two children.
Zhou Jingxuan wore a simple, moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) today, without any makeup. She seemed to have been purified by something, appearing much more peaceful and kind.
She walked up to Shen Ci and slowly knelt down, a move that surprised everyone present.
Zhou Jingxuan looked up, her eyes clear and her tone sincere.
"Sister Shen, everything in the past was my fault."
Blinded by jealousy, he even harbored evil thoughts towards a young child; he was truly unworthy of being human.
I especially thank you for collecting the remains of my poor child, saving him from being devoured by wild dogs and allowing him to rest in peace.
Jingxuan will never forget this kindness.
As Zhou Jingxuan spoke, she took out a fine white jade pendant from her sleeve and gently placed it on the ground.
"This is something my mother left me. I have nothing of value now, except for this thing which is still worth some money."
Leaving this to Mingzhu and Mingzhang is my last wish as a sinful aunt.
If you don't want to accept it, you can exchange it for some money.
Zhou Jingxuan lost both her parents at a young age. The things her parents left behind were her keepsakes and her most precious possessions. After returning to the Zhou family, she received a normal education, and the abnormal thoughts in her mind seemed to be purified.
Madam Zhou stepped forward to help her niece up and spoke gently to Shen Ci.
“Miss Chen, Jingxuan knows she was wrong. Our Zhou family owes you a great favor. If you ever need our help in the future, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
We will certainly not stand idly by if it is within our power to do so.
The real value wasn't the jade pendant, but the Zhou family's promise.
Looking at the aunt and niece in front of her, Shen Ci saw that the regret in Zhou Jingxuan's eyes seemed genuine, and the Zhou family's promise was an unexpected surprise, which was like adding another protective charm for the children.
She nodded. In that case, let bygones be bygones. This deal was very worthwhile.
Seeing her nod, Zhou Jingxuan finally smiled with relief.
"I plan to leave Beijing in three days and return to my ancestral home, where my uncle will take care of me. The days won't be too difficult."
The capital city holds too many painful memories; I will no longer appear before Sister Shen and the children.
At this moment, Shen Zheng, who was standing under the corridor, suddenly started talking to Madam Zhou about the business of Jiangnan silk and Shu brocade.
Madam Zhou was a proper lady of the house, and she had received this kind of education since childhood. Managing a household is not just about spending money, but also about earning money. She was an expert in this. The two had a very pleasant conversation and actually finalized two collaborations on the spot.
Mutual benefit is the most convenient way. Zhou Jingxuan did not cause any real harm to the two children this time, so she will not go so far as to kill them. It is easier to make enemies than to make them. It is better than having another enemy.
From then on, the two children's lives were truly smooth sailing.
With the King of Qin personally instructing them in their studies, the Shen family's vast wealth supporting them, and the love and care of their mother and maternal grandparents, their lives were much happier and freer than before.
The children did not suffer any negative personality development due to the lack of fatherly love. Their uncle, Shen Zheng, took them horseback riding, archery, and sightseeing in famous mountains and rivers.
Although the King of Qin was strict, he was genuinely good to the two of them. Once a teacher, always a father; their relationship had long surpassed that of ordinary teacher and students.
Furthermore, the father often brought his young grandchildren along to teach them business acumen. These outstanding male elders perfectly filled the void left by the father's role.
Which one of them isn't better than their biological father, Gu Hongjian?
Shen Ci lived her own life in this world. She was no longer confined to the inner quarters of the house, but followed her father and brothers to travel all over the country, expanding the Shen family business to all corners of the world.
She had seen the misty rain of Jiangnan, traversed the yellow sands of the northern frontier, climbed the treacherous Shu Road, and sailed on merchant ships at sea. Among the women of this era, she lived a life that was different from others.
Time flies, and more than ten years have passed in the blink of an eye.
Shen Mingzhang was only eighteen years old when he won the imperial examination and became the youngest top scholar in the dynasty, just like his father. They were both top scholars, but their lives were completely different.
Shen Mingzhu had been personally bestowed the title of Princess Anle by the Empress Dowager and was granted a fief of 800 households.
The Shen family is no longer an ordinary merchant family. Thanks to their convenient relationship with the Qin King Zhou family and their own expertise in business, they have become a powerful merchant family that controls the trade routes between the north and south.
Now, with the arrival of a new top scholar as the grandson, the family is shining with glory, their home is bustling with visitors, and they are enjoying great prominence. Through the efforts of the whole family, they have truly become a new elite in the capital.
There are indeed many shortcuts in life, and there is nothing wrong with taking shortcuts. However, if one's intentions are not pure, even if a shortcut is offered to one, one will not be able to walk steadily.
After the two children changed their surname to Shen, they began to address their parents as their grandparents, and the family became closer.
A form of address may not determine anything, but if it makes family members happier, then it's worthwhile.
After the good news of Shen Mingzhang becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination spread, members of the Gu family sent people to pester him, wanting him to acknowledge his ancestors and return to the clan.
However, Shen Mingzhang calmly refused, claiming that his surname was Shen and that he was a descendant of the Shen family, and that he had long since severed ties with the Gu family, leaving the visitor speechless.
Shen Mingzhu grew up pampered and did not get married until she was twenty-three, which was considered shocking at the time.
She did not marry a prince or nobleman, but rather the son of a military family whom she had known since childhood. The two were childhood sweethearts and shared similar interests. After their marriage, the couple traveled to various scenic spots, becoming a celebrated story in the capital.
Over the years, the brother and sister have returned to their hometown several times to visit the elderly Mrs. Gu.
Shen Ci never stopped them. Even adults shouldn't impose their likes and dislikes on children. The children can judge for themselves who truly treats them well.
Even as a mother, she couldn't stop them from fulfilling their filial duties. The old lady might not like her as her daughter-in-law, but she never disliked her grandchildren.
On a sunny afternoon, Shen Ci was flipping through account books under the grape trellis when the long-lost system notification sound rang in her mind.
"Ding-dong!"
Villain rescue value +20, total rescue value 100% has been achieved!
May your child achieve great success and have a smooth life, breaking free from their original life trajectory!
This task is rated as S+.
Mission Rewards: Two native world gold mines, and the largest ownership rights to the world's number one ranked university.
Shen Ci looked at Shen Mingzhang, who was instructing his grandson to practice calligraphy in the distance, and Shen Mingzhu, who had brought her daughter back. A smile appeared on her face. This time, she was even more generous, directly giving away two gold mines.
Good children, you have all grown up well this time and become wonderful adults.
This time, she still chose to stay, wanting to see her children and grandchildren all around her, and to accompany them through this fulfilling life.
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