SGEIRS -Chapter 339 The Mastermind Behind the Scenes

Everyone lamented her misfortune and cursed her lack of assertiveness.

A marriage that had lasted a whole year without consummation—such a huge matter—was still being kept secret from her natal family. If it weren’t for the sudden discovery that the eldest son-in-law had a preference for men, Xuanyi, having not consummated the marriage, wouldn’t have conceived for several years. What kind of social pressure would that have brought?

And even if they adopted a child, what difference would it make?

The eldest son-in-law would gain a good reputation. Everyone would say he was loyal and righteous, knowing that his wife couldn’t bear children, yet neither divorcing her nor taking a concubine. Meanwhile, Xuanyi would be the one criticized for being infertile.

This eldest son-in-law really was calculating—he counted on Xuanyi being naive, easily controlled, and utterly devoted to him. Though he had no interest in women, he pretended to be sincere and affectionate, even fooling her natal family.

Madam Zhang couldn’t help shedding tears, feeling both anger and heartache. “Mother told you from the start that their family environment was complicated. Why didn’t you listen? You had to act stubbornly, agreeing to me on the surface, but secretly dealing with him behind our backs.”

Xuanyi’s eyes were filled with hatred. She gritted her teeth and said through clenched jaws, “It was that wretched Yunxiang! She instigated me. She said—said that Grandmother didn’t want me to marry well, that’s why she spoke ill of the Wu’an Marquis residence. She told me all about that beast’s virtues, and combined with the way he courted me… I was completely bewitched at the time.”

At these words, everyone was stunned again. They instinctively looked at the matriarch, who only furrowed her brow slightly and didn’t appear too angry. It was clear she wasn’t taking the matter to heart.

Madam Zhang, however, couldn’t understand: “Xuanyi, Yunxiang is your chief maid, loyal to you. How could she privately instigate you to do something like this?”

Xuanyi shook her head. “I don’t know.”

Then she began crying again, wailing. The more she thought about it, the more foolish she felt—ignoring her grandmother and mother, and blindly believing that wretched girl, thinking she had found a unique love.

Gu Jingxi pondered for a moment and said, “Yunxiang wouldn’t instigate Xuanyi for no reason. Perhaps Yunxiang was acting under someone else’s instructions.”

Hearing this, everyone realized the gravity of the situation. It was very likely that someone was scheming to harm Xuanyi—but who could be so sinister as to use such a plot against her?

Gu Jingxi then asked, “Xuanyi, where is Yunxiang now?”

“She’s still at the Wu’an Marquis residence. After that beast hit me, I realized something was off, but I didn’t confront her. I wanted to keep her complacent, and she probably hasn’t suspected anything yet and hasn’t run away.” Xuanyi replied. She felt proud of herself—knowing Yunxiang was a problem, yet still treating her kindly so she wouldn’t grow suspicious.

Gu Jingxi nodded. “I’ll have someone bring Yunxiang here. Once she’s interrogated, we’ll know who’s the mastermind behind this.” He rose and walked outside to instruct his men to discreetly bring Yunxiang from the Wu’an Marquis residence.

Inside, Xuanyi cried bitterly. She didn’t understand how she had been so unlucky—betrayed by a trusted maid colluding with an outsider.

Gu Jingsheng, seeing his daughter’s tears, was irritated and scolded, “Crying now won’t help! You’ve been blind in the past, and now your divorce makes you a laughingstock. You’ve embarrassed your mother and me. A divorced woman, when she remarries, will be scorned.”

Xuanyi stopped crying and retorted, “When Mother said this marriage was unsuitable, you insisted it was perfect. Why are you blaming me now?”

Gu Jingsheng’s face fell, unable to defend himself.

The matriarch didn’t want to hear the father and daughter arguing and immediately intervened. “Eldest, the matter has already happened. Don’t blame Xuanyi. She’s young and naive; being deceived is understandable. A woman divorced for a mistake can still remarry. Xuanyi is still intact; she can remarry even more easily. Right now, the priority is to arrange her divorce from the eldest son-in-law.”

Gu Jingsheng hurriedly replied, “Mother is right.”

The matriarch then looked at her eldest daughter-in-law and asked, “Did Xiuyuan accompany his wife back to her natal home?”

Madam Zhang nodded. “Yes, he took the child back yesterday.”

The matriarch said, “Something this big happened. Send word to them to return home first.”

Madam Zhang nodded. She had the same thought. Though Xuanyi was spoiled, she got along well with Xiuyuan’s wife. Having her return would help calm Xuanyi.

Then, everyone comforted Xuanyi, helping her stabilize her emotions.

About an hour later, Zhou Yun returned with Yunxiang.

Yunxiang had already suspected what was happening. Even though her mistress had been beaten over the past two days, she had treated her as before, making her believe her mistress had long ignored the instigation.

This morning, when she woke up and realized her mistress was gone, she panicked. But nothing happened overnight, so it probably wasn’t the eldest son-in-law taking her away—most likely, her mistress had quietly left on her own.

Thus, when the eldest son-in-law returned, she had Ruxiang lie in bed pretending to be her mistress, facing away, and she said some words to cover for herself. Otherwise, if he realized the mistress was missing, Yunxiang and Ruxiang would have been in serious trouble, being her mistress’s chief maids—the ones most likely to help her escape.

Upon entering the room, Yunxiang saw the members of the Gu family’s third branch, especially Gu Jingxi, and she was so terrified that her legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground.

Seeing Yunxiang, Xuanyi’s emotions flared. She suddenly stood, pointing at her, and shouted, “It’s this wretched maid who harmed me! If she hadn’t praised that beast in front of me, how would I have married him?”

Madam Zhang’s face darkened, and she demanded sternly, “Yunxiang, why did you harm Xuanyi?”

Trembling, Yunxiang replied, “Madam, I never intended to harm the young lady.”

Madam Zhang roared, “You still claim it wasn’t intentional? I warned Xuanyi about the Wu’an Marquis residence, and you were there and heard it. You knew the Wu’an Marquis household was complicated, yet you egged Xuanyi on to act foolishly. Xuanyi may be spoiled, but she has never mistreated the maids around her. Why did you do this?”

Xuanyi stepped forward a few paces and slapped Yunxiang hard across the face. With hatred in her voice, she said, “Wretched maid, don’t forget your contract is in my hands. Confess the truth, or I’ll sell you to the lowest, dirtiest place, where everyone will take you for granted!”

Yunxiang’s face turned pale, full of fear. Trembling uncontrollably, she said, “I can reveal who made me do this, but please spare my family—they are innocent and unaware.”

Although Yunxiang had been sold into the Gu household as a maid, she had family. Her family was so poor they could barely eat. Selling her allowed them to eat, and she could earn some money to support them.

Gu Jingxi immediately assured his niece, “Since your family is innocent, they won’t be implicated. But you must tell the truth—no lies.”

Relieved by Gu Jingxi’s promise, Yunxiang spoke honestly: “Actually, the one who made me do this was the heir, no… he is no longer the heir. He has been stripped of his title and exiled by the clan—the exiled Gu Xiuming.”