SGEIRS -Chapter 310 Wanting a Child

The moment he spoke, the words shocked everyone present.

Removing Xiuming from the clan?

This was a serious matter. Under normal circumstances, a family would not lightly remove one of its members from the clan unless the person had committed a grave offense, become despised by relatives, and turned into a public disgrace.

However, Xiuming had committed an unforgivable crime. There was ample reason to expel him. Such a “rotten apple” brought shame to the family. Whenever others mentioned the Gu family, they would inevitably recall the rebellious son who had schemed against his mother and caused a scandal across the capital. For an entire year, the Changxing Marquisate had endured ridicule because of him. Even the branch family members occasionally faced mockery.

Therefore, Second Elder Gu immediately agreed, making a decisive statement: “I support Yaoling’s proposal. As members of the Gu family, we grow up learning the family precepts. Loyalty and filial piety come first. This rebellious, unfilial troublemaker is unworthy of being a Gu. He should be removed from the clan.”

After speaking, he turned to the nephews who had accompanied him: “What do you all think?”

“Second Uncle is right.”

“A son so unfilial, even the emperor decreed punishment for him. What a shame for our family!”

“Exactly. This troublemaker has wasted years reading the classics, and now he should be removed from the clan.”

With the eldest elder agreeing, the other senior family members naturally raised no objections. They nodded in agreement and berated Xiuming for his actions.

Gu Jingxi had spent so many years raising his son, only to end up with a rebellious child—now sentenced to exile and removed from the clan. From this point on, Xiuming would no longer exist in the Gu family.

The elders then took care to comfort him.

Second Elder Gu’s gaze lingered on Gu Jingxi. He was old and his eyesight failing, so he could barely make out the man’s face, though the outline showed he was dignified. The elder regretted that Yaoling, who had been smart and talented since childhood, lacked heirs; otherwise, the family would already be surrounded by grandchildren.

As he lamented, he realized Gu Jingxi now had no children and said, “Yaoling, there are many capable children in the clan. If you wish, you could choose one to adopt. Your wife is young and energetic, so she could raise the child.”

At this, several minds stirred. The prospect of adopting a child from the clan was enticing—if it happened, the child would become the heir of the Marquisate.

Even Gu Jingsheng considered it. His eldest son, Xiuyuan, would certainly not be adopted. The second son, Xiuwen, could be adopted. Xiuwen was his nephew by his third brother—someone he had watched grow up. A nephew by blood was naturally closer than a cousin.

Gu Jingxi replied warmly: “Second Granduncle, I am not thinking about having a child for now. Let’s discuss this matter later.”

Second Elder Gu assumed he had psychological hesitation after the Xiuming incident and did not press: “When you wish to have a child, consult everyone and then choose one you like.”

Gu Jingxi nodded: “Alright.”

The decision to remove Xiuming from the clan was finalized. The matter was resolved at the ancestral hall, and messages were sent to Gu family members living elsewhere, whether in official posts or in the ancestral lands, to inform them.

From then on, the Changxing Marquisate no longer had Third Young Master Gu Xiuming, and the Gu family no longer had Xiuming. Gu Xiuwen’s rank among the Marquisate grandchildren moved up—what was Fourth Young Master became the new Third Young Master. The fourth son of the family’s two younger sisters was now the third son.

At noon, several elders stayed for lunch. Gu Jingxi and his two brothers accompanied them. After the meal and a short chat, the elders departed.

Gu Jingsong patted Gu Jingxi’s shoulder reassuringly: “Third Brother, don’t dwell too much on Xiuming. He was a cousin. Cousins are already a layer removed, so it’s normal not to grow attached.”

His words implied that only a blood nephew could truly be nurtured. Among the three nephews, only Xiuwen had a chance. The eldest son could not be adopted, and Xiuhong, the only son of a main line, could not be either.

For a brief moment, Gu Jingsong envied his elder brother’s many children—an eldest son and then twins. He only had one son and one daughter, and thought no more children were possible. Fate, after all, had its way.

Gu Jingxi understood the subtext and replied calmly: “Don’t worry, Elder Brother. I can see it clearly. Today’s matter delayed your tasks; I apologize.”

Gu Jingsong said: “It’s alright, Third Brother. We weren’t really delayed.”

After some familial pleasantries, the three brothers returned to their respective residences.

Meng Jinyao had known from early morning that her husband had invited clan elders to discuss removing Xiuming from the clan. Seeing Gu Jingxi return, she immediately asked: “Husband, how did it go?”

Gu Jingxi said: “For now, we have no children.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao understood that the clan elders had agreed. There was one question she hadn’t asked yet: “Husband, Xiuming has been sentenced to exile in Yazhou and will never return. Why did you think of removing him from the clan?”

Gu Jingxi answered honestly: “First, his deeds make him unworthy of being a Gu. Second, the position of our eldest son cannot be taken by an unfilial son. Lastly, I do not wish to be the father of a rebellious child.”

Meng Jinyao’s eyes lit up with a smile: “I don’t want to be the mother of a rebellious child either.” She looked at him eagerly and asked, “Husband, when shall we have a child? I have no pressing matters now, so I can take care of a child.”

Gu Jingxi smiled: “A-Yao, do you really like children that much?”

Meng Jinyao nodded repeatedly: “Yes, I do. A child would bring more joy. I usually have free time anyway, and it would be nice to experience raising a child.”

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi felt a twinge of guilt. A-Yao loved children so much, but he…

Could that incompetent doctor Wen actually succeed?

He held her close and said gently: “A-Yao, shall we wait a little longer?”

Meng Jinyao did not think much of it, assuming he was hesitant due to the Xiuming incident. She smiled up at him and quickly shifted her tone: “Alright, we can wait a few years. I only mentioned it casually anyway. I’m still young; I shouldn’t revolve my life entirely around children.”

Gu Jingxi lowered his head, pressing his forehead against hers, voice gentle and firm: “A-Yao, we will have a child—a child of our own.”

Meng Jinyao laughed softly: “Our child—of course it belongs to us. Could it belong to someone else?”

Gu Jingxi did not reply but simply watched his young wife’s radiant smile. His gaze softened, his expression gentle.

For the sake of their future, he resolved to continue trusting that doctor Wen’s medical skills. Even if the doctor was incompetent, he had to make it work.