SGEIRS -Chapter 157 He Regretted It

Qingyu Pavilion.

After returning from Shou’an Hall, Gu Xiuming had just entered the room when he saw a slender figure rushing toward him. He hurriedly reached out and caught her, even taking two steps back.

“Brother Xiuming, you’re finally back,” she said.

The girl in his arms spoke in a muffled voice, as if she had been crying.

Gu Xiuming’s heart tightened. He quickly asked, “Wan’er, what’s wrong? Did someone bully you while I was away?”

Li Wan’er slowly raised her head. Her eyes were filled with tears, about to spill over. She looked worried and said through sobs, “Brother Xiuming, I’m so scared, really scared.”

He couldn’t bear to see her cry. Gently patting her back, he comforted her softly, “Don’t be afraid, Wan’er. I’m here. Did something happen? If someone bullied you, I’ll stand up for you and punish those blind maids.”

“No, no one bullied me.”

Li Wan’er shook her head lightly. Her tears suddenly poured out, sliding down her cheeks. Worried, she said, “Brother Xiuming, you went out this morning to greet the Marquis and Madam at Weirui Pavilion, but you didn’t come back for so long. I was afraid Madam would make things difficult for you or do something bad to you. But I didn’t dare go to look for you. You know Madam doesn’t like me. I didn’t even dare leave Qingyu Pavilion.”

As she spoke, she buried her head in his chest and sobbed softly. Her delicate shoulders trembled, making her look pitiful.

Gu Xiuming truly felt heartache. Thinking that Wan’er hadn’t left Qingyu Pavilion for a long time, he remembered how during his confinement she had gone out once, only to be bullied and slapped by his arrogant elder sister. That sister had been spoiled by their aunt and was extremely overbearing. She even dared to hit his beloved. It was probably because he had been punished and lost favor with the elders.

He said gently, “Wan’er, don’t worry. No one made things hard for me. After leaving Weirui Pavilion, I went to Shou’an Hall to greet Grandmother, then stayed to have lunch with her. That’s why I was gone so long.”

Hearing this, Li Wan’er finally relaxed and stopped crying.

Gu Xiuming pulled her to sit beside him and continued, “Wan’er, don’t be afraid in the future. As long as you haven’t done anything wrong, no one will bully you without reason. You can leave Qingyu Pavilion and go out for a walk.”

“Let’s forget it. Qingyu Pavilion is fine. I don’t like going out anyway.”

Li Wan’er smiled bitterly. Though she had Brother Xiuming’s wholehearted love, she had no status in the Marquis’s residence. She was half a servant, only slightly better than a maid. Any master in the household could humiliate her. She didn’t want to go out and be insulted. If she hadn’t eloped with him back then, perhaps people wouldn’t look down on her like this.

Gu Xiuming understood her concerns and said apologetically, “Wan’er, it’s all my fault. Because of me, you’ve suffered so many grievances.”

She quickly shook her head. “Brother Xiuming, how can that be your fault?”

Holding her tightly, he said remorsefully, “Wan’er, if only I hadn’t run away from the marriage and eloped with you. Then you wouldn’t be mocked.”

As soon as he said this, Li Wan’er suddenly looked up. Her face turned pale, and she asked tremblingly, “Brother Xiuming, do you regret being with me? Do you regret not marrying Meng Jinyao? Of course… I’m just an orphan, while she is the eldest legitimate daughter of a marquis’s family. Marrying her would bring you honor. Being with me only brings you shame.”

Tears fell again like broken pearls. Her face was pale and fragile, making her look pitiful.

Gu Xiuming hurriedly explained, “Wan’er, what are you thinking? How could I regret being with you? You’re the only one in my heart. I just regret not breaking off the engagement first. If I had, I could have asked Father and Grandmother for permission and married you properly, letting you become a dignified heir’s wife.”

She looked doubtful. “Really?”

“Of course.”

He nodded and wiped away her tears. Seeing her cry like this made him feel miserable.

She sobbed, “Brother Xiuming, you’re all I have. If one day you stop liking me, I’ll have nothing.”

He comforted her gently, “Silly girl, how could I not like you? If I didn’t, I would’ve married Meng Jinyao long ago. In my heart, Wan’er is the best and kindest girl in the world.”

Hearing this, her anxious heart was soothed. She stared blankly at the handsome young man before her. She liked him. The first time she saw him in the temple, even though he had fainted from snake poison, his noble and handsome appearance made her fall for him at once. She wasn’t afraid of trouble and immediately went to get help.

Later, she learned he was the heir of the Marquis of Changxing and had a fiancée. That fiancée, though fallen on hard times, was still the eldest legitimate daughter of a marquis’s family—someone she could never compare to. She truly envied that girl. Fortunately, in the end, he chose her.

Only then did she notice the injury on his forehead. She looked at him worriedly and asked, “Brother Xiuming, what happened to your forehead?”

His expression paused. He raised his hand and gently touched it, then said calmly, “I was kowtowing when apologizing to Mother and Grandmother. I’ve already applied medicine. It’s nothing serious. Don’t worry.”

She was stunned. “Why did you have to kowtow to apologize?”

“Kowtowing shows sincerity. Just using words isn’t enough.” His expression was unfathomable. Looking at her seriously, he promised, “Wan’er, in the future I won’t let anyone bully you. I’ll protect you and make you the happiest person.”

Deep down, she didn’t quite believe it. Even Brother Xiuming could be punished—how could he protect her? Unless one day he became the Marquis. Then no one would dare bully her.

But she kept these thoughts to herself. Smiling gently, she said softly, “Brother Xiuming, I believe you’ll protect me.”

Seeing her smile, he smiled too and lowered his head to kiss her forehead.

She smiled shyly, buried her face in his chest again, and whispered, “Brother Xiuming, I want to have a child soon. Give me a child.”

He was startled. “Why do you suddenly want a child so badly?”

She replied, “I heard the eldest young madam is pregnant. The eldest master and madam are about to become grandparents, and they’re so happy every day. Let’s have a child too. Maybe if we do, Father will be happy as well.”

As she spoke, she touched her flat stomach. They had never taken precautions, yet she still wasn’t pregnant. She was anxious, thinking they probably hadn’t tried hard enough. If she gave birth to the third branch’s first grandchild, her status would surely rise.

Gu Xiuming froze for a moment, then whispered flirtatiously in her ear, “Alright. Starting tonight, I’ll work harder.”