Chapter 108 The Wicked Stepmother and the Poor Child 1
In the tenth year of Jinghe, at the Gu residence.
In late spring, the front and back courtyards of the Gu residence were clearly separated.
The front yard was filled with joy and excitement, decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers. Servants carried brocade boxes and trunks, coming and going in a constant stream, their faces beaming with happiness.
Some of the pillars were even wrapped with red silk that fluttered in the breeze, which looked like good things were about to happen. However, the main courtyard where the mistress was located was separated from the main courtyard by this festive atmosphere.
The main courtyard was deathly still, and there was a medicinal smell in the air.
The maids and servants entering and leaving the main courtyard all had furrowed brows and walked very quietly, afraid of disturbing the lady inside who was nearing the end of her life.
The room was filled with the lingering smell of medicine.
"Dan Gui, what's going on outside?"
Why is it so noisy?
The woman on the sickbed weakly stretched out her hand, her voice barely audible. Her hand was so thin that only a thin layer of skin covered her bones, a sight that was heartbreaking.
Dan Gui, the personal maid, quickly turned away to wipe her red and swollen eyes before carrying a warm bowl of medicine forward in a soft voice.
"It's alright, Madam, you must have misheard. It's a happy occasion at the neighbor's house next door."
"Madam, please take your medicine first. You'll feel better afterward."
The pale-faced woman wearily closed her eyes, too exhausted to even shake her head.
"There's no need to waste anything anymore. I know my own body. After I'm gone, you must protect the young lady and the young master."
I'll leave all my things to my two children.
As soon as she finished speaking, her hand loosened, her head tilted limply to the other side, and she fainted again.
Dan Gui's tears welled up instantly, and she bit her lip gently, trying not to let out a sound.
The lady has been bedridden for over a year, and her condition is deteriorating day by day. But the master, let alone coming to see her in person, doesn't even bother to ask her a single question.
This main courtyard is now just waiting for the lady to breathe her last.
They were newlyweds, deeply in love, but now they are disgusted with each other, all within a short span of five years.
In stark contrast to the main courtyard, the area in front of the Gu residence was bustling with activity.
The head of the family, Gu Hongjian, was waiting at the door. He was dressed in an indigo blue robe, with a tall and handsome figure. Five years of experience in officialdom had made him look even more composed. At this moment, he was constantly looking at the other side.
A short while later, an elegantly decorated carriage bearing the family crest stopped in front of the Gu residence.
After the carriage curtain was lifted, a woman dressed in a purple dress slowly descended, supported by her maid. She exuded a scholarly air and looked gentle and charming. This was Zhou Jingxuan, the niece of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
"Jingxuan, you've finally arrived."
"Recently, there have been numerous trivial matters at home, and I am simply overwhelmed."
Gu Hongjian stepped forward and affectionately took her hand, saying...
Zhou Jingxuan blushed, gently withdrew her hand, glanced at the servants around her, and whispered.
"Don't worry, Mr. Gu. Now that we're here, we'll naturally help you with your worries and troubles."
The two of them were so openly affectionate at the front door that the neighbors all saw it and couldn't help but gossip.
"Look at this, the old man hasn't even breathed his last yet, and they're already eager to welcome the newcomer? This is simply outrageous!"
"Who says otherwise? Even if someone passes away, a decent family would stay for a year or two, right?"
Gu Hongjian was once famous in the capital for his unwavering loyalty to his wife, but now, his behavior is...tsk tsk.
"Madam Gu is such a kind person, she must have been blind to marry such a heartless bastard!"
“Shh——
Keep your voice down! This Miss Zhou is no ordinary person; I've heard she's one of Lord Gu's stepping stones to success.
"Oh? No wonder he was the top scholar for five years but was still only a seventh-rank editor. Recently, I heard he was going to be promoted. It turns out he was going to use a woman's influence."
"What a heartless man! Another Chen Shimei!"
Amidst the hushed whispers, Gu Hongjian paid no heed and loudly gave the order.
"Guards, welcome Miss Zhou into the manor!"
Zhou Jingxuan was placed in the Shuyu Pavilion in the mansion. Although it was not the main courtyard, it was decorated with great care and was even better than the main courtyard.
"Jingxuan, I'm sorry you have to suffer for now. Once she's gone, I will definitely bring you into the main courtyard in a grand and glorious manner."
Zhou Jingxuan smiled gently and said understandingly.
"What are you saying, Gu Lang? My sister is still alive, how can I overstep my bounds?"
I already feel uneasy about being asked to enter the mansion ahead of schedule.
Has my sister's illness improved recently?
Gu Hongjian looked grief-stricken and shook his head with a sigh.
"The imperial physician said that it would only take three to five days at most."
Jingxuan, just be patient a little longer. Soon, we'll be able to be together openly and legitimately.
No one can say that a widower should remarry, especially since the two have been together for a long time and all that's missing now is a formal title.
"From today onwards, I have already instructed everyone in the household that you will be in full charge of managing the household affairs. If any servants are disobedient, you may deal with them as you see fit."
In my heart, you are already my wife.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jingxuan smiled shyly and nestled into his arms.
"Don't worry, Mr. Gu, I will definitely not let you worry about matters in the inner quarters."
The two embraced, their figures overlapping, looking like a perfect couple.
...
Inside the system space, Shen Ci, whose world had not yet been loaded, watched this scene through the light screen, feeling heartbroken and pained.
"I've really opened my eyes. The original wife isn't even completely dead yet, and he's already in a hurry to bring the mistress into the house. He's not even bothering to pretend anymore."
Are these two counting down the days until the wife dies?
She complained to the system.
"Host, please be patient. We are transmitting background information for this world to you," the system's cold electronic voice announced.
A flood of information rushed into Shen Ci's mind.
This is a typical story of how unfaithful men are often scholars, and how a top scholar ultimately becomes an unfaithful man.
Shen Ci, the daughter of a merchant, disregarded her family's objections and married Gu Hongjian, a poor scholar. She used all of her dowry to help him study and eventually made him the top scholar in the imperial examination.
Gu Hongjian initially earned a reputation for not forgetting his wife, bringing her to the capital. Unfortunately, this happy period lasted only five years, as Shen Ci fell ill from overwork and never recovered.
This illness is also quite strange.
Gu Hongjian had long grown tired of his first wife, who could not help his career, and started an affair with Zhou Jingxuan, the niece of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
He was with Shen Ci when he needed money; now he wants power.
Once Shen Ci dies, he will be able to remarry a woman from a wealthy family and embark on a path to success.
After Shen Ci's death, her five-year-old twin sons, Gu Mingzhang and Gu Mingzhu, will have to live a difficult life under their stepmother's care.
Zhou Jingxuan appears virtuous and gentle, but in reality, she is ruthless and cruel, wantonly abusing and spoiling her two children.
In the end, his son Gu Mingzhang was beaten to death in a fight, and Gu Hongjian took the opportunity to kill his own son for the greater good. His daughter Gu Mingzhu was tricked into losing her virginity, hastily married to a stable boy, suffered endless humiliation, and died young.
Neither of their two children lived past the age of 20.
Shen Ci was furious.
"These two children are clearly the most pitiful people, the biggest victims, how can they be the villains?"
"Host, don't be angry. This is the judgment of the Heavenly Dao of this small world."
In Gu Hongjian and Zhou Jingxuan's eyes, the children born to their first wives were the most annoying villains in their happy life and should be eliminated.
Our purpose in being is to correct such misalignments caused by the injustice of fate.
Break the shackles of fate imposed on those with great fortune. The villains chosen by the system often possess immense luck, yet they all meet tragic ends. The host's mission is to reverse their fate.
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