SGEIRS -Chapter 28 A Life-Saving Favor

Old Madam Gu was a devout Buddhist who believed in fate. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that this was heaven’s arrangement. Thinking of how her nearly thirty-year-old son had finally married, she even forgot her annoyance about not having grandchildren yet and sighed, “It really is fate between you and A-Yao. Twenty-nine and sixteen—thirteen years apart, yet not even that could stop your destined bond.”

Gu Jingxi parted his lips slightly, but in the end swallowed his words. Whether it was fate or not, he didn’t know. He only knew that he and that young girl were both victims.

After a moment, he smiled helplessly.

“This marriage was arranged too hastily. It shows that getting engaged too early isn’t necessarily a good thing—it makes accidents more likely.”

Old Madam Gu’s smile froze slightly. She replied, “Before your father could decide which grandson would marry A-Yao, he suddenly fell gravely ill and passed away. He valued this engagement greatly. Xiuming was the heir, the highest-ranking among the grandchildren, so everyone naturally assumed he would marry her. Even I thought so. If he had objected even once, I would have explained things clearly to the Meng family and chosen someone else.”

Gu Jingxi comforted her gently.

“Mother, what’s done is done. There are no ‘ifs’ anymore. We can only look forward.”

“Of course. You and A-Yao must treat each other well.”

After speaking, Old Madam Gu suddenly remembered something and asked, “By the way, I heard your men also brought back the girl who ran away with Xiuming. What kind of girl is she?”

“Poorly raised, and frivolous in behavior,” Gu Jingxi replied without hesitation, summing her up in eight words.

Old Madam Gu was shocked.

“W-What? With such a girl, what on earth did Xiuming see in her? A-Yao is beautiful, dignified, gentle, and intelligent. Forsaking a pearl for a fish’s eye—has he gone blind?”

Gu Jingxi agreed. That rebellious son truly was blind.

After some thought, he said, “Probably because that Miss Li once saved his life.”

Old Madam Gu was puzzled.

“I don’t recall him ever being in danger. What happened?”

Gu Jingxi explained, “According to what I found, once at a temple he was bitten by a snake and collapsed. Miss Li happened to pass by, discovered him, and informed the monks. The abbot detoxified him.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Gu frowned.

“That is indeed a life-saving favor. But such a debt can be repaid in other ways. She’s an orphan—we could adopt her as a goddaughter and later find her a good marriage. Why must Xiuming repay her with his own body?”

Gu Jingxi knitted his brows, anger tinged in his voice.

“Because of that incident, they became acquainted and kept in touch. Her parents died early, and she relied on her grandfather. Now he’s gone too, leaving her alone and helpless. Xiuming pitied her, and over time, feelings developed.”

“That wretched thing!”

Old Madam Gu grew angrier the more she listened. The rage she had suppressed through chanting scriptures surged back.

“All along, everyone thought he would marry A-Yao. If he didn’t want to, he should’ve made it clear before fooling around with his savior. She’s pitiful and alone, yes—but is the abandoned fiancée on her wedding day not pitiful too?”

“Mother, please calm down,” Gu Jingxi said quickly.

He stood up, refilled her teacup with hot tea, and handed it to her.

After drinking a few sips, she put it down and said bitterly, “Abandoning a proper noble lady to elope with an uncultured, frivolous girl—what a disgraceful beast!”

She took a deep breath and asked, “What do you plan to do with Miss Li? Even if she lacks upbringing, because of Xiuming’s foolishness her chastity is gone. He must take responsibility.”

“She has been sent home. Afterward, we’ll choose an auspicious day and take her in as a concubine,” Gu Jingxi replied.

Old Madam Gu felt this was reasonable and nodded slightly.

“Is that your idea, or Xiuming’s?”

Gu Jingxi smiled.

“It was your daughter-in-law’s idea. I think it’s very good as well.”

“A-Yao’s idea?” she said in surprise.

Her brows relaxed, and her tone softened.

“What a generous child. She didn’t make things difficult. If it were someone else, they’d probably try to stop Miss Li from entering the household.”

After a moment, she continued, “Since that’s settled, we should find Xiuming a good girl as his main wife—someone capable, who can keep both him and Miss Li in check. Once the wife enters, we’ll pick another day to take Miss Li in.”

Gu Jingxi paused briefly, then said, “Mother, there’s no need to trouble yourself to find him a wife.”

She glanced at him sideways.

“Are you planning to choose one yourself? You’re a man—how would you know which families have good daughters? I’ll handle it.”

Gu Jingxi replied calmly, “When his confinement ends, he’ll choose an auspicious day to take Miss Li as a concubine.”

As soon as he finished, Old Madam Gu’s face darkened.

She scolded sternly, “If your son is foolish, are you, his father, foolish too? What noble family allows a son to take a concubine before marrying a proper wife? Who would dare marry him then?”

Gu Jingxi lowered his eyes slightly.

“Xiuming says he will have no one but Miss Li in this life. Even if she is only a concubine, he won’t marry anyone else.”

“Only taking a concubine and not marrying?”

Old Madam Gu’s face turned livid.

“He’s the heir of the marquis household! He’ll inherit the title someday. Without a mistress of the house, how will affairs be managed? Who will handle social relations? A low-status concubine? Utter disgrace! He’ll shame our ancestors!”

“Mother, please don’t anger yourself,” Gu Jingxi said gently.

Then he continued unhurriedly, “If he’s so devoted, even if we force him to marry a noble lady, he won’t treat her sincerely. In that case, why harm an innocent girl? As for what you said—don’t we still have A-Yao? She’s the Marchioness. She’s perfectly suited to handle these matters.”

The argument made sense, but it couldn’t cover up Xiuming’s recklessness.

Old Madam Gu frowned deeply and glared at her son.

“Xiuming may be foolish, but how can you indulge him? Without a proper wife, there will be no legitimate heir. Do you mean to let a concubine’s son inherit the title?”

Gu Jingxi said nothing.

He watched the thin white smoke rise from the incense burner for a long while before speaking casually, “Mother, as the saying goes, children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. Let him be.”

Old Madam Gu stared at him in surprise.

He looked calm and indifferent, making it unclear whether he didn’t care about Xiuming having a legitimate heir—or didn’t care much about Xiuming himself.

After a moment, she sighed.

“Very well. We’ll do as you say. I won’t interfere anymore. Let’s hope he doesn’t regret it in the future.”