Chapter 145 The Wicked Stepmother and the Poor Child 38
Her gaze immediately fell on the bed, where she saw Shen Ci sitting on the bed, her face as pale as paper, her lips devoid of any color, and her eyes sunken deep in their sockets.
He was so thin that he looked like he could be blown away by a gust of wind. He looked a bit like the scarecrows that are made when planting crops in the fields. But more like the paper figures that are made when someone dies. He was quite frightening at first glance.
She hadn't believed the rumors that Shen Ci was seriously ill, but now that she saw it with her own eyes, she realized it was even more serious than she had imagined; she was clearly on the verge of death!
Madam Gu was surprised. It was true that she had become like this. She had thought that Shen Ci was pretending to be sick because she didn't want to see her. But now, with her discerning eyes, she knew that Shen Ci was really seriously ill.
Madam Gu sat cautiously on the chair in front of the bed, not daring to sit too close, for fear of catching the illness. With a scrutinizing look and a hint of unease in her heart, she asked.
"Daughter-in-law, your illness looks quite serious."
Since that's the case, they should be raised properly. However, our Mingzhang and Mingzhu are at the perfect age to start their studies. What kind of logic is it to make them practice martial arts all day long and neglect their studies?
Our Gu family is a scholarly family, and our children will be pursuing official positions in the future. How can we put the cart before the horse?
Mingzhu is one thing, she's a girl after all, but Mingzhang is different! He's the eldest grandson of the Gu family! Our future glory depends on him!
Upon hearing this, Shen Ci coughed violently a few times, as if he were about to cough up his heart and lungs. His voice was weak, but he struggled to sit up straight.
She spoke in a voice as soft as a whisper.
"My mother's words were right."
However, the daughter-in-law had no other choice but to do this.
Tears suddenly welled up in her eyes, and her gaze towards Old Madam Gu was filled with grievance and lingering fear. The sudden show of weakness from her daughter-in-law, who used to be at odds with her, made Old Madam Gu feel somewhat uneasy.
"A few days ago, my daughter-in-law, despite her illness, went out to seek medical treatment. When she returned, she bumped into Aunt Zhou holding a gold hairpin, intending to poison Mingzhu and Mingzhang's faces!"
If her daughter-in-law hadn't intervened in time, Mingzhu and Mingzhang would probably have been disfigured.
If a man is disfigured, how will he take the imperial examinations? If a woman is disfigured, how will she face anyone?
As she spoke, she suddenly became very emotional, took several deep breaths, and after a long while, continued speaking.
The daughter-in-law was shocked and angry. She told her husband what had happened, but he sided with Aunt Zhou and simply let it go.
Daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law is truly terrified! Studying is certainly important, but what's the use of studying if you can't even protect your life and appearance?
Wouldn't all that promising future be ruined?
In desperation, we hired a martial arts instructor, hoping the children would have some ability to protect themselves. We didn't intend for them to harm anyone, but simply to prevent them from being harmed by evil people.
These words contained a great deal of information. Shen Ci spoke with such poignant sorrow and despair, appearing so heartbroken and filled with hopelessness. Old Madam Gu had no idea that there was such a hidden story behind it all.
Her expression changed drastically upon hearing this. She stood up mockingly, her gaze piercing like a knife as she looked at Zhou Jingxuan standing to the side.
"Is what she said true?! How dare you harm the eldest grandson of the Gu family?!"
Zhou Jingxuan was terrified. How could they have been talking so well, and suddenly they were talking about her again?
He knelt on the ground with a thud and hurriedly tried to explain himself.
"No! Madam, you are wise! I did not! That day, I only wanted to test if the pastries were poisoned; I had absolutely no intention of harming the young master and young lady!"
"presumptuous!"
Madam Gu did not believe her explanation at all and shouted angrily.
"Testing poison requires using a hairpin to hit a child's face? What a cunning and treacherous maid! It seems I've been too lenient with you, which has allowed you to develop such a vicious heart!"
Guards, slap him across the face! Beat him hard!
"How dare a concubine plot against the legitimate young master and young lady! This is outrageous!"
She didn't understand Zhou Jingxuan, but she understood Shen Ci. Although Shen Ci was willful and capricious and loved to make trouble, she wouldn't lie or falsely accuse others.
Immediately, some rough old women stepped forward and, without saying a word, struck Zhou Jingxuan with both hands, making her cheeks red and swollen and her hair disheveled. These old women were brought by Madam Gu from her hometown of Yizhou, and they only listened to her.
Zhou Jingxuan covered her face, tears streaming down her cheeks. She hated Shen Ci and that biased old hag to the extreme. She had never been slapped so many times in her life! All of it happened at the Gu residence!
That guy hit her, this guy hit her too, they all hit her! She came here to get married, not to be a punching bag!
Old Madam Gu was still not satisfied and said coldly.
"Remember your place! A concubine who's nothing but a trinket dares to covet the legitimate children?"
If they dare to do it again, they'll be sold off immediately!
After dealing with Zhou Jingxuan, Madam Gu looked at Shen Ci's dying state and decided not to make things difficult for her anymore. Although she still disliked her, she knew that Shen Ci was not long for this world.
In addition, she had just said that the children's problems were due to her son's favoritism and Zhou's malice, which made it difficult for her to criticize them further.
If her son becomes a villain, then she, as the mother-in-law, must play the good cop; one must play the bad cop and the other the good cop.
She then walked into the yard, looked at her grandson who was covered in sweat, and softened her tone.
"Mingzhang, listen to your grandmother. Studying hard is the right thing to do. If you only practice these things, how will you pass the imperial examinations in the future?"
Gu Mingzhang stopped his stance, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, and looked up earnestly.
"Grandmother, your grandson wants to learn martial arts first."
The book says that the way of both literature and martial arts is to balance tension and relaxation. My grandson should be proficient in both! Once he has mastered martial arts, he can protect his grandmother and prevent bad people from bullying her!
In the future, my grandson can become the top scholar in both the civil and military examinations, bringing honor to his grandmother!
These words were so pleasing to the ear. Madam Gu, who already doted on her grandson, was immediately amused and smiled broadly. The words about protecting her grandmother made her feel comfortable and touched her heart.
Looking into her grandson's bright eyes, and thinking about how ambitious he was at such a young age, and comparing it to Zhou Jingxuan's wickedness, the scales in her heart tipped without hesitation. Shen Ci wasn't much, but her child was quite good.
A smile finally appeared on her face, and she lovingly patted Gu Mingzhang's head.
"Good, good boy! You have ambition! Grandma is just waiting to enjoy the blessings of my precious grandson!"
Zhou Jingxuan's attempt to persuade Old Madam Gu to come to the main courtyard not only failed to make Old Madam Gu vent her anger on Shen Ci, but also made her feel guilty towards Shen Ci!
He even got slapped. This trip was totally not worth it; he lost both his wife and his army.
This time, Old Madam Gu was disgusted with Zhou Jingxuan for daring to harm her grandchildren, while she looked at Shen Ci with pity, as if he were a dying person.
Since everyone's going to die anyway, what's the point of arguing?
Having lived such a long life, she considered herself quite good at judging people. Since Shen Ci was no longer able to live, she had to stay and take good care of the two children, lest they be harmed by this vicious and cunning concubine.
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