SGEIRS -Chapter 293 About to Fall Out of Favor

The moment those words were spoken, Li Wan’er’s heart tightened.

Back then, it was true that she had sought wealth and status, hoping to live a life admired by all. But she had also genuinely loved Brother Xiuming. This refined and handsome young man was the first man she had ever fallen for.

She hurriedly shook her head. “No, no, it’s not like that! Brother Xiuming, I truly love you. And I love our child too. Don’t you want a child that belongs to us? Didn’t you once say you wanted a son and a daughter with me? A girl like me, a boy like you…”

Gu Xiuming felt unbearably irritated and suddenly pushed her away.

Li Wan’er staggered back several steps, nearly falling to the ground. She clutched her belly, her face turning pale. Fear surged in her heart—if she had fallen just now, the child in her womb might have been harmed.

This child was the result of so many fertility medicines she had taken. It had been hard-won. Nothing could go wrong.

Seeing that she managed to steady herself, Gu Xiuming frowned, feeling a trace of disappointment.

He admitted that when he thought she might fall, a flash of wild joy had crossed his mind. If the child were lost, his biggest problem would be solved. Unfortunately, things had not turned out as he wished.

Afraid that his emotions were unstable, Li Wan’er did not dare approach him again. She sobbed, “Brother Xiuming, how did you become like this?”

Gu Xiuming’s face was cold. Clearly unwilling to listen further, he flicked his sleeve and left.

Li Wan’er chased after him to the doorway. When she saw him walk away without even looking back, she broke down in tears, no longer caring who might see her.

She simply couldn’t understand how things had come to this.

Just yesterday, everything had been fine.

Before going out, he had held her in his arms and coaxed her softly for a long time, saying he would take her out during the Lantern Festival to see the lanterns.

The maids who saw her crying more or less understood the reason.

Not long ago, she had gone to confront the heir in anger. It was probably because she was jealous over his taking Yuan’er as a bed maid, which led to another quarrel.

This Concubine Li was really too naïve.

What man would stay with only one woman?

This wasn’t a poor commoner’s household. In wealthy families, bed maids and concubines were unavoidable.

She was merely a concubine, yet she tried to interfere with whether the heir could take a bed maid. She had overstepped her bounds—no wonder she displeased him.

Even a proper wife, when pregnant and unable to serve her husband, would take the initiative to arrange a bed maid for him. She couldn’t expect him to remain chaste.

Otherwise, he might go to brothels, and those women were filthy—he could easily catch diseases.

If Concubine Li had been smarter and hadn’t made a fuss, she wouldn’t have angered the heir.

It was just a bed maid. Yuan’er wasn’t pregnant and had even been given contraceptive soup this morning. Meanwhile, Concubine Li was carrying a child. She really lacked composure.

Hongling, who had been assigned to serve Li Wan’er, hurried over to comfort her.

“Concubine, please don’t cry. Crying too much harms your health. You’re carrying the heir’s eldest son—the Marquis’s eldest grandson.”

Hearing this, Li Wan’er slowly stopped crying. With Hongling’s support, she returned to her room.

The newly promoted bed maid, Yuan’er, had also seen Li Wan’er crying.

She secretly felt delighted.

Once she gained favor, she would trample Li Wan’er underfoot. The heir had promised her that after the new wife entered the household, he would elevate her to concubine status. Then she, too, could have children.

An old maid flattered her: “Miss Yuan’er, Concubine Li is probably about to lose favor. Your good days are ahead.”

Yuan’er shot her a reproachful glance.

“Oh, don’t talk nonsense. Concubine Li is the heir’s beloved. Have you forgotten what he once did for her? How could she lose favor?”

The old maid replied, “What man doesn’t like someone gentle and considerate? She relied on favor and became arrogant, using her pregnancy as leverage. She quarreled with him last night and made him leave her room. That must have been her fault. After last night’s quarrel, she still didn’t restrain herself today. She really thinks she’s something special. There’s more than one woman in this world who can bear children.”

Yuan’er pressed her lips together in a light smile and did not respond, but she agreed inwardly.

A mere concubine, not even a legal wife, yet daring to quarrel while pregnant—what was she so proud of?

What a fool.

If she were smarter, she would have apologized this morning and tried to win back his heart. Instead, she made things worse.

Shou’an Hall

The matter at Qingyu Pavilion was no small issue. Even Old Madam Gu, who usually kept to herself, had heard about it.

But she felt no joy.

Taking a concubine before marrying a proper wife was bad enough. Now there was going to be an illegitimate eldest child.

What kind of mess was this?

If a proper granddaughter-in-law were pregnant, she would probably be happy enough to eat two extra bowls of rice. But a concubine’s pregnancy was nothing to celebrate.

Unless the main wife already had children, a concubine’s pregnancy was merely an extra addition.

Old Madam Gu sighed.

“Xiuming has been quite well-behaved these past months. Why does he become so muddle-headed when it comes to Concubine Li?”

Nanny Feng thought for a moment and replied, “Old Madam, I think the heir won’t dote on Concubine Li alone anymore. He took a bed maid today and quarreled with her last night and this morning. From now on, she’ll probably go from favored concubine to ordinary concubine.”

Old Madam Gu couldn’t hide her disappointment.

“Even so, with this illegitimate child, Xiuming’s future marriage prospects will become even harder. He’s narrowing his own path. Yaoling always acts with propriety and knows what should and shouldn’t be done. Why hasn’t Xiuming learned even half of his father’s conduct? He neglects what he should do and does everything he shouldn’t.”

Nanny Feng dared not respond.

After a moment of silence, Old Madam Gu said again, “Honestly, I can’t see through Xiuming anymore. He loved Concubine Li so much back then—he even ran away from marriage and refused to take a proper wife. Yet less than a year later, after a small quarrel, he accepted another woman so easily. If he could accept someone else so readily, why did he run away in the first place? What was wrong with A-Yao? She was dignified, gentle, calm, and clear-minded.”

Nanny Feng was stunned.

It was indeed worth pondering.

A man who once vowed lifelong devotion—how could he so suddenly accept another woman?

If he could accept a low-born maid, why couldn’t he accept marrying a noble lady?

Old Madam Gu pondered for a long time before sighing.

“Forget it. Let’s just watch carefully. Go to the storeroom and choose some tonics. Have them sent to Qingyu Pavilion.”

“Old Madam, for Concubine Li?” Nanny Feng asked.

Old Madam Gu nodded gently.

“Send it according to a concubine’s allowance. Since she’s already entered the household, I won’t be so stingy as to deny her a portion of supplements.”

Nanny Feng then realized.

“Ah, how forgetful of me. Whenever a wife or concubine becomes pregnant, the elders always send tonics.”

Old Madam Gu said, “It’s not strange you forgot. The last pregnant concubine in this generation was Fang Yiniang, Xiaoling’s birth mother.”

Nanny Feng replied respectfully, “Yes, Old Madam. This servant will prepare it at once.”