SGEIRS -Chapter 113 Xiuming Awakens

Gu Xiuming only heard half of what was said, feeling neither up nor down, with a sense of restless anxiety clawing at his heart. Frowning, he asked, “Why? Wan’er, speak freely. Are there still words between us that cannot be said?”

Li Wan’er hesitated slightly, quietly glancing at his expression, then closed the study door. She stepped over to him and, stammering, said, “It’s because… you were punished by the Marquis a few times. You upset him, and… and they all thought that you were no longer in the Marquis’ favor, that’s why it happened.”

After saying this, the tears that had just stopped streamed down again. She sobbed softly, full of self-reproach: “Brother Xiuming, it’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have been punished by the Marquis.”

These words shook Gu Xiuming’s mind. He suddenly remembered what his father had told him before.

At that time, he had begged his father desperately for another chance to redeem himself. His father neither refused nor agreed—perhaps he intended to give permission, which was why he didn’t reject him outright.

But now, after fighting with Gu Xiuwen and Meng Chengzhang, he was punished again. Did that mean he had already exhausted this chance?

Yet this time, his father only confined him for a month and made him copy the Xiaojing fifty times. He didn’t report to the emperor to strip him of his heir status and appoint another. That meant his father hadn’t given up on him.

However, as a son, he hadn’t received his father’s help to enter Lingshan Academy, while his fourth brother, as a nephew, had been helped by their father. And this decision was made while he was confined to the ancestral hall. Did that mean the fourth brother could become a candidate for the heir?

If he couldn’t satisfy his father, would his father appoint the fourth brother as heir? Or even adopt him as his own son, making it perfectly legitimate to make him heir?

Thinking this, cold sweat broke out along Gu Xiuming’s back. He felt a chill and an unprecedented sense of crisis rush over him.

Before arriving at Changxing Marquis Mansion, his mother had said he was adopted to become the heir, to inherit the title of Marquis in the future. After striving for so many years, how could he let it all come to nothing?

Seeing him silent, Li Wan’er’s expression changed several times. She couldn’t guess his thoughts and grew anxious, fearing he would blame everything on her and abandon her. In that vast Changxing Marquis Mansion, no one would protect her then.

Her tears fell even harder as she choked out, “Brother Xiuming, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. If I had known so many things would happen by being with me, that you’d be punished, I would have refused you back then.”

Snapping back to reality, Gu Xiuming looked at the girl whose face was streaked with tears. He pulled her onto his lap and softly coaxed her, “Wan’er, it’s not your fault. Don’t worry. This is the last time I’ll be punished.”

Li Wan’er was slightly stunned, staring at him.

Gu Xiuming lifted his hand to wipe her tears. His movements were gentle, and when his fingers touched the handprint on her face, he was even more careful, afraid of hurting her. Then he said, “Wan’er, anyone who has bullied you before, I’ll make them pay back double in the future. You are the girl of my heart. I wouldn’t hurt you for a moment, and no one else can either.”

His tone was gentle, but his face was dark and chilling. Li Wan’er felt a little afraid and snuggled closer to him, softly saying, “Brother Xiuming, let the past be the past. Let’s just be happy from now on.”

Gu Xiuming lightly stroked her back. “Wan’er, we will be happy.”

Li Wan’er nodded softly. Then she remembered something and looked up at Gu Xiuming. In a low voice, she said, “Brother Xiuming, I’ve almost learned all the rules. Should we let that Chunliu girl return to Weirui Pavilion?”

Gu Xiuming frowned. “Did she bully you?”

“No,” Li Wan’er shook her head, hesitating. “But I feel uncomfortable. She looks down on me, a concubine, and I know it. She was originally a senior maid in the Marquis’ mansion, respected in the household. Now she’s here teaching me rules—it feels unfair to her.”

Gu Xiuming was slightly stunned. He also felt some dissatisfaction toward Chunliu, but she was a senior maid in his father’s household and not someone he could deal with. “If you feel uncomfortable, I’ll tell her later that you’ve learned the rules and that she can return to Weirui Pavilion.”

Li Wan’er immediately lit up with joy. Hugging his neck, she planted a crisp kiss on his face, saying, “Brother Xiuming, you’re so good to me.”

Gu Xiuming was pleased. Looking at her blooming smile, the darkness in his heart dispersed. He cupped the back of her head and kissed her.

Weirui Pavilion

Meng Jinyao, having nothing to do, suddenly took an interest in the items in Gu Jingxi’s storage room. She took the booklet and key he had given her before, opened the storage room, and looked inside. She also wanted to see if there was anything suitable for a birthday gift. Soon, it would be Old Madam Song’s birthday.

Old Madam Song was the mother of Master Song, the dean of the Imperial Academy, and the grandmother of Song Xinning, her close friend. She had always been kind to Meng Jinyao.

The storage room was filled with treasures, antiques, and calligraphy, dazzling her eyes.

Remembering that Old Madam Song liked collecting exquisite ornaments and jade, she finally chose a jade carving of a child offering a birthday peach to an elder. The craftsmanship was delicate, the child lively and cute, the elder kind and gentle. Surely, Old Madam Song would like it.

Suddenly, Meng Jinyao noticed a dusty wooden box in an inconspicuous corner. The box was covered in thick dust, apparently forgotten. She instructed, “Qingqiu, see what’s in that box. Wipe off the dust with a damp cloth first, or it will fly everywhere.”

Qingqiu obeyed and soon returned with a basin of water and a cloth. She wiped off the dust, revealing a rosewood box, and brought it to Meng Jinyao.

Meng Jinyao said, “Open it. Let me see what’s inside.”

Qingqiu opened the box, revealing a set of headpieces made of white mutton-fat jade. The headpieces were plum blossom-shaped, elegant and gentle in style, the jade smooth and lustrous, with exquisite craftsmanship that made them instantly appealing.

Qingqiu looked at them and exclaimed, “Madam, these headpieces are so beautiful. It’s such a pity that something so lovely was left to gather dust in the corner.”

Meng Jinyao nodded. “It is a pity. But I don’t remember the booklet recording a complete set of mutton-fat jade headpieces. How did this come here?”

Qingqiu replied, “Everything in the storage room is recorded in the booklet. Maybe you misremembered. Check the booklet again?”