SGEIRS -Chapter 244 A Plan to Have a Child

Li Wan’er cried out softly, “How is that possible?”

Her face was full of disbelief as she continued, “Brother Xiuming, could there be some misunderstanding? You’re the Marquis’s only son and the heir of the residence. How could he possibly do something like that?”

Gu Xiuming said firmly, “Silly girl, we’ve all been deceived by his outward appearance. Every time I asked him for guidance in my studies, he always held something back and never taught me properly. And I was foolish too, trusting him so completely. That’s why I failed the autumn examination.”

Seeing that she was still half-doubtful, Gu Xiuming brought up another matter.

“Father arranged connections for Fourth Brother to study at Lingshan Academy. At first, I didn’t think much of it. But later, I realized his real intention. He wants to focus on cultivating Fourth Brother, let me become useless, then adopt him into our line so he can become the heir and inherit the title.”

After hearing this, Li Wan’er’s breathing stalled. She was so shocked that she couldn’t recover for a long time.

After a while, she said indignantly, “Brother Xiuming, what the Marquis is doing is far too much. It’s completely unfair to you. When he had no son, he adopted you to continue the family line. Now he regrets it and thinks his biological nephew is closer, so he wants to adopt him instead.”

Gu Xiuming sneered mockingly. “Strictly speaking, I’m only his cousin’s son. My biological father was his cousin. Blood-wise, I’m not as close as a real nephew. It’s probably Meng Jinyao who whispered in his ear. In the end, he was blinded by beauty and chose that poisonous woman over me.”

Li Wan’er’s heart sank. She said nervously, “Then what should we do? If the Marquis gives up on you, he probably won’t pave the way for your career anymore. Even though you’re capable, Brother Xiuming, it pains me to think of you fighting alone without family support.”

Gu Xiuming clenched his teeth and said resolutely, “The position of heir must not go to Fourth Brother. If I lose even that and become an ordinary young master of the residence, not only will my future be blocked, even the servants will start treating me lightly.”

Li Wan’er asked, “But it’s the Marquis’s decision. How can we stop him?”

After pondering for a moment, Gu Xiuming lowered his voice.

“Grandmother values family bonds deeply. At her age, she loves children the most. While she still cares about me as her grandson, we should hurry and have a son. Let her hold a great-grandson and win her over. When the time comes, if Father wants to change the heir, he’ll have to pass her approval first. As long as Grandmother supports me, he won’t dare go against her.”

Hearing this, Li Wan’er felt a little dejected. She touched her flat belly. Several months had already passed, yet there was still no news. She was anxious as well.

Gu Xiuming’s gaze also fell on her abdomen. He hesitated before saying, “Wan’er, could there be something wrong with your health? We’re intimate so often, and it’s been so long, yet there’s still no sign.”

Her face stiffened. Panic surged in her heart, and it began pounding wildly. For a woman, being unable to bear children was worse than for a man. A man could adopt a child like the Marquis did. But a barren woman would be forced to push her husband toward another woman and let her bear children, just to preserve the family line.

She steadied herself and tried to remain calm, replying deliberately, “Brother Xiuming, I rarely fall ill. My health shouldn’t be a problem. It’s probably just that fate hasn’t arrived yet. We can wait a little longer.”

Gu Xiuming retorted, “My father rarely gets sick either. He hardly even catches a cold, yet he’s impotent and can’t have his own children.”

Li Wan’er felt a wave of grievance rise in her heart, and her eyes quickly reddened.

Realizing that his tone had been too harsh, Gu Xiuming softened his voice. “Wan’er, I was just anxious. But sometimes we can’t avoid seeing a doctor. If there really is a problem, let the physician help you regulate your body first. What do you think?”

Tears filled her eyes as she looked at him pitifully and asked in a choked voice, “If there really is something wrong with me, will you have children with another woman?”

Gu Xiuming hesitated for a moment. Meeting her tearful gaze, he hurriedly comforted her. “What nonsense are you thinking? If you really can’t have children, we can just adopt one, can’t we?”

Li Wan’er was stunned. “Really?”

“Of course.”

When he said this, Gu Xiuming deliberately looked away.

He truly loved Wan’er and was even willing to stay unmarried for her. But if he couldn’t have his own flesh and blood because of her, he found it hard to accept. How could he pass the Marquis’s residence to a child who wasn’t his own?

If Wan’er truly couldn’t conceive, he could have a son with another woman and then give the child to Wan’er to raise, letting the child recognize her as his mother. In any case, they would be raising someone else’s child—raising his own would be even better. As long as Wan’er didn’t know, she wouldn’t make a fuss.

Nestling into his arms, Li Wan’er smiled sweetly. “Brother Xiuming, you’re so good to me.”

He coaxed her gently, “Wan’er, don’t overthink it. Your body must be fine. I’ve heard there are medicines that help with conception. If there’s nothing wrong, we can ask a doctor to prescribe some and try it. Maybe you’ll get pregnant within a month.”

Li Wan’er nodded softly. She also needed a child to secure her position. With a child, the elders would think better of her, and her relationship with Brother Xiuming would be more stable. Without one, even though he had no other women, she still sometimes felt insecure.

Gu Xiuming held her and comforted her tenderly for a while. When he saw her mood improve, he finally released her and said, “Tell the maids to prepare water. I’ll go bathe first.”

She nodded lightly and stood up. Just as she was about to go out to find the maids, she suddenly remembered something. She sat back down and said softly, “Brother Xiuming, there’s something I should have told you yesterday, but you were busy. Yesterday, when I went out, I ran into her. She clung to me again and asked for money.”

Gu Xiuming frowned impatiently. “Again? She’s far too greedy.”

Seeing his displeased expression, Li Wan’er hurriedly said, “But don’t worry. I gave her some benefits and sent her away. She won’t come looking for us for a while. It’s just that she only did one thing for us, yet we keep supporting her with money. Isn’t that no different from a permanent burden?”

Gu Xiuming lowered his eyes slightly. A flash of killing intent appeared in them as he said coldly, “A greedy heart is never satisfied. Someone like that might choke on her own greed one day.”

Sensing the danger in his words, Li Wan’er asked hesitantly, “Brother Xiuming, what do you mean?”

“When necessary…”

Gu Xiuming stopped halfway through his sentence. Instead, he made a throat-slitting gesture. The meaning was obvious—if necessary, he would take that person’s life.