SGEIRS -Chapter 335 Brutally Abused at Home

It was a rest day, and also the first day of the imperial palace examination.

According to the custom of the dynasty, the results were usually announced three days after the palace examination ended. Only under special circumstances would the announcement be delayed.

Gu Xiuhong had already passed the metropolitan examination and was now participating in the palace exam. Today, he would determine his final ranking. The entire Gu household was nervous and full of anticipation. Even the servants hoped that Second Young Master would achieve a good result—after all, if the masters were happy, the servants would also receive rewards.

Since it was a rest day and such an important event as the palace examination had begun, everyone tacitly agreed to go pay their respects to Old Madam Gu. The whole family could chat, share household gossip, and talk about Xiu-hong’s examination. Although the exam wasn’t finished yet, it didn’t stop them from discussing it. Anyone who made it to the palace exam was already a jinshi—what remained was whether they would be ranked first, second, or third class.

After breakfast, Meng Jinyao and Gu Jingxi were about to head to Old Madam Gu’s place when they suddenly heard a maid outside shouting: “Hey, you crazy woman, which courtyard are you from? Do you know the rules? Is this a place you’re allowed to come to? Be careful, or the Marquis and Madam will have you sold off!”

“Ah! It’s Eldest Miss! Y-you… what happened to you? Eldest Miss!”

Eldest Miss?

The couple froze.

In the Gu household, the only one called “Eldest Miss” was Gu Xuanyi, who was already married. Even when she returned to her natal home, she usually went to the main branch to see her elder brother and sister-in-law. She wouldn’t come looking for them. Had they misheard?

But immediately after, they heard a sobbing voice: “Third Uncle! Third Aunt!”

Meng Jinyao exclaimed in surprise, “Husband, it really is Xuanyi. Why did she come back so early in the morning?”

Gu Jingxi frowned. Just from her voice, he sensed something was wrong. Running back home so early in the morning could only mean something serious had happened.

“Let’s go take a look,” he said.

Meng Jinyao nodded. She had barely taken a few steps when a disheveled young woman rushed in through the door and accurately threw herself into her arms.

It happened so suddenly that Meng Jinyao, who was petite and weak, almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, Gu Jingxi reached out in time to steady her.

Although Meng Jinyao was only one year older than her, Gu Xuanyi suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of security, as if she had grabbed her only lifeline. Once in her arms, her emotions completely collapsed, and she burst into loud sobs.

Gu Jingxi was about to pull his niece away, but when he saw her crying so hard, he silently withdrew his hand.

Meng Jinyao had already been stunned by the sudden embrace. Now, with Xuanyi burying her face in her chest and sobbing uncontrollably, she was even more at a loss. She looked up at Gu Jingxi in confusion.

Gu Jingxi shook his head slightly, equally puzzled. Even if Xuanyi had been wronged at her in-laws’ home, she should have gone to her parents. Why come crying to Jinyao? They weren’t particularly close.

Lowering her head, Meng Jinyao saw Xuanyi bent over, face buried in her arms, crying so hard she could barely breathe. Her hair was disheveled, and she had completely lost her usual elegance. It was obvious something terrible had happened.

She gently patted Xuanyi’s back and said softly, “Xuanyi, don’t cry first. Tell Third Aunt what happened.”

Xuanyi couldn’t stop crying at all, wailing as if she wanted to pour out all her grievances.

Having no choice, Meng Jinyao let her cry it out first. As for informing the main household, she decided to wait. Since Xuanyi had bypassed her parents and come straight here, she must have her reasons.

After a long while, Xuanyi finally seemed to have cried enough. She slowly raised her head, tears filling her eyes.

“Third Aunt, please save me. Only you and Third Uncle can help me now. My father and mother won’t agree to my decision. They definitely won’t.”

Only then did Meng Jinyao clearly see her face.

Her eyes widened in shock.

There was bruising at the corner of her eye, her lips were split and surrounded by dark bruises, and the left side of her face was swollen. All were signs of violent abuse.

Xuanyi was the wife of the heir of the Wu’an Marquis’s household. Who would dare beat her like this?

The only possible person was her husband.

Her parents-in-law wouldn’t do this. Her sisters- and brothers-in-law wouldn’t beat her to this extent. Only her husband—the Wu’an Marquis’s heir—could have done it.

Seeing the injuries, Gu Jingxi’s brows knitted tightly, anger rising in his heart. Even if a Gu family member had done something wrong, no one had the right to beat her like this. This wasn’t just hitting Xuanyi—it was slapping the Gu family’s face.

If there was a problem, both families should discuss it properly. If it could be resolved, then resolve it. If not, then divorce.

Although Meng Jinyao had never liked this spoiled and domineering niece in the past, seeing her in this state made her heart ache.

As a woman, she sympathized deeply with another woman who had suffered domestic violence.

She wanted to touch Xuanyi’s face but was afraid of hurting her, so she gently stroked her head instead.

Softly, she asked, “Xuanyi, tell Third Aunt… were these injuries caused by your husband?”

At the mention of her husband, Xuanyi shuddered instinctively, terror flashing in her eyes.

There was no need to ask further.

Meng Jinyao recalled that last time Xuanyi had run back home, her husband had chased after her and even stayed overnight at the Gu residence. When they went to pay respects the next day, she had noticed that he barely looked at Xuanyi when speaking. She had felt something was off and even mentioned it to her sister-in-law, who insisted he treated Xuanyi well. So she had dismissed her doubts.

Who would have thought that not long after, this “loving” husband would beat Xuanyi?

With a thud, Xuanyi knelt down.

“Third Uncle, Third Aunt, please save me! Can you help me get a divorce?”

Meng Jinyao hurried to pull her up, but Xuanyi stubbornly refused to stand.

“Xuanyi, get up first. Even if you want a divorce, your parents have to decide. How can your Third Uncle and I make that decision for you?”

Xuanyi lowered her gaze.

“When I came back, I forbade the servants from informing my parents. They don’t know yet. I’ve mentioned divorce before, but they were all against it—especially my father. He’d rather I die in my husband’s home than agree to a divorce. He thinks it’s too shameful.”

Then she suddenly thought of something and spoke earnestly, her tone firm: “Third Uncle, Third Aunt, please save me. I’ll be your daughter. I won’t marry again. I’ll stay by your side, be filial to you for life, and take care of you in old age.”

Meng Jinyao: “???”

They had just dealt with a rebellious son, and now an unruly “daughter” was volunteering herself?

Was this child trying to repay kindness—or repay it with trouble?

Even Gu Jingxi was stunned for a moment. Then he said solemnly, “Xuanyi, get up first and speak properly. Discuss things with your elders. Kneeling like this—what kind of behavior is this?”