Chapter 135 Wicked Stepmother and Poor Child 28
Gu Hongjian was rendered speechless by her playful punches and questions. He was also baffled as to why Shen Ci was still alive. It was impossible for so many doctors to conspire to deceive him alone.
It can only be attributed to four words: a medical miracle.
Looking at Zhou Jingxuan's tearful face, he thought about how she had indeed suffered a lot because of his promise, and also considered that the child in her womb might truly be the only bond between him and the Zhou family, so his heart softened.
I truly felt I had wronged such a beautiful young woman by letting her marry me.
He sighed, reached out and pulled the emotionally agitated Zhou Jingxuan into his arms, gently patting her back to comfort her.
"Okay, okay, it was my fault. I miscalculated. Don't cry. Be careful not to hurt yourself or our baby."
He lowered his head and thought for a moment, then lowered his voice and made a new promise.
No, it's just another empty promise.
"Don't worry, I will never let our children suffer any injustice."
Once I've secured my position in the court and achieved this promotion, I'll definitely find a way to make you my secondary wife before our child is even born!
"I'll make sure you have a glorious life, and that our child becomes the legitimate heir!"
Zhou Jingxuan stopped sobbing and looked up at him with tearful eyes.
"Really?"
"It is true, of course."
As for Shen Ci, she's blocking our way, but I have my own ways to make her disappear as soon as possible.
In time, everything will return to normal.
So, Jingxuan, listen to me, be patient for now, and don't hurt those two children again.
They are, after all, my own flesh and blood. If I raise them well, they might be of some use in the future. But if I don't, what trouble can two children who have lost their mother and have no one to rely on cause in this household?"
His words were both a reassurance and a warning.
Zhou Jingxuan sensed the ruthlessness in his words, especially his promises to make her a secondary wife and to deal with Shen Ci, which gave her a glimmer of hope.
She nestled back into Gu Hongjian's arms, nodding with a wronged expression.
"Okay, Gu Lang, I'll do whatever you say."
I will never target those two children again, as long as you promise me that our child will be the legitimate heir.
I'll do whatever you say.
"Okay, I promise you."
Gu Hongjian hugged her tightly, and at that moment, their relationship seemed to have been reconciled.
The two reached a new consensus here, had new expectations for the future, and everything was back to normal.
But neither of them asked whether Shen Ci, whom they had schemed against, was willing to die.
Does their scheming necessarily mean sacrificing others? Must others willingly sacrifice themselves for their plots? There's no such thing as a free lunch.
Shen Ci kept his word. A few days later, the main courtyard invited a martial arts master who was said to have traveled the martial arts world and had solid skills. After Shen Ci tested him, he began to teach Gu Mingzhang and Gu Mingzhu the basics, including horse stance and fist and foot techniques.
At the same time, Shen Ci also gained several seemingly ordinary maids who were actually quick-witted and skilled in martial arts. Ordinary people would not notice anything amiss, but if they encountered sudden danger again, even if they could not save lives, they could at least hold off the enemy for a while.
Having received Gu Hongjian's previous instructions, and having been genuinely frightened by Shen Ci's reckless fighting style, Zhou Jingxuan didn't dare to go to the main courtyard to provoke trouble for the time being.
Shen Ci was happy to have some peace and quiet and didn't interfere with her housekeeping at all, so the Gu family maintained an eerie calm on the surface.
But this does not mean that Shen Ci has forgotten his grudge.
Taking advantage of her time inspecting the shops, she secretly sought out some doctors from other places and prepared a peculiar prescription.
This drug does not cause direct abortion, but it affects fetal development, causing congenital deficiencies or even changes in morphology.
She ordered someone to bribe a woman in the kitchen who was in charge of stewing dishes with a large sum of money, so that the medicine could be secretly added to the bird's nest that Zhou Jingxuan ate every day.
When Zhou Jingxuan was in the Zhou family, she did not live a good life. Madam Zhou valued her reputation and the family was always frugal. Moreover, since she was just a niece, she would never get any good things.
After arriving at the Gu residence, he began to indulge in retaliatory pleasures.
Shen Ci felt little pity. She knew that if the original plot were followed, Zhou Jingxuan's child would only intensify her abuse of Mingzhang and Mingzhu, making him a born bad seed.
Letting him die so easily would only benefit them.
If they weren't born, how could they experience despair and the pain of becoming a laughingstock? She was compassionate, but she wasn't some saint who repaid evil with kindness.
If you repay evil with kindness, how will you repay kindness?
While Zhou Jingxuan was still enjoying the pleasures of being a housekeeper and indulging in a life of extravagance, rumors had already spread outside.
Among the neighbors, the gossip about her being harsh on her legitimate children, giving them only congee and side dishes every day and allowing them only two meals a day, and bullying her seriously ill first wife, grew increasingly intense.
"Have you heard? That newly arrived concubine Zhou in the Gu family is incredibly cruel! While the mistress is ill, she dares to cut back on the food for the legitimate sons and daughters!"
"That's right! Two meals of thin porridge a day, the children are still growing, how can they stand it? I feel sorry for those two children every time I see them!"
"Tsk tsk, just because she's pregnant, she thinks she can do whatever she wants! Poor Mrs. Gu..."
"Once you have a stepmother, you'll have a stepfather too. Everyone must take care of their health so that their children don't end up in the hands of a stepmother!"
These comments, relayed piecemeal by the purchasing servants, reached Zhou Jingxuan's ears, infuriating her so much that she smashed a tea set on the spot. A sharp pain shot through her abdomen, nearly causing a miscarriage, and she had to call a doctor to stabilize her condition.
Her reputation is completely ruined in this area, and it's even spreading outwards.
However, Zhou Jingxuan did not back down because of these rumors.
Having finally tasted the power and extravagance, she quickly bought herself fine clothes and ornaments, decorating Shuyuxuan in a magnificent manner, without bothering to look at the account books carefully.
The Gu family's meager savings couldn't withstand her squandering like this. Now, without Shen Ci's businesses to cover the monthly deficit, the money in their accounts was quickly depleted.
That day, Zhou Jingxuan had just taken a fancy to a set of newly released red gold jewelry from Linglong Pavilion and excitedly asked her maid to go to the accounting office to get the money, but the maid returned empty-handed.
"Auntie, the accounts say there's no money left."
That's it?
Zhou Jingxuan's first thought was Shen Ci! It must be Shen Ci; he's been spending all the money in the manor lately by hiring guards and martial arts instructors!
She instantly forgot Gu Hongjian's instructions, a surge of anger rising to her head. She led her people and rushed to the main courtyard, ready to confront him.
Upon entering the main courtyard, one sees Shen Ci leisurely sitting under a tree, flipping through account books. Gu Mingzhang and Gu Mingzhu are not far away, being led by a martial arts instructor to earnestly practice their moves. Sunlight filters through the branches and leaves, creating a peaceful and pleasant atmosphere.
This was completely different from the impoverished life she had imagined, which fueled her anger even more.
Why do they live such good lives while I can't even afford a set of jewelry?
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