SGEIRS -Chapter 347 Everyone Knows

Gu Jingsheng was light-eyed and easily startled; the near mishap was no longer pursued by anyone.

As for Yunxiang, the maid who, under Gu Xiuming’s orders, had plotted against Xuanyi—there was absolutely no way she could remain in the Gu household. A maid who betrays her mistress once could betray again. So, Madam Zhang decided that tomorrow someone would be sent to sell her off.

However, Gu Xuanyi had suffered such great harm, and when the elders saw her holding the divorce document, laughing and crying at the same time, no one could find it in themselves to scold her for her foolishness. They comforted her instead, saying life was long, she should look ahead, and that a good marriage would come in the future.

Gu Jingxi didn’t say much, only reminded her, “Xuanyi, if you ever meet anyone from the Fourth Branch of the Wu’an Marquis household, or the matriarch herself, be somewhat courteous. Don’t actively create enmity.”

His words left Gu Jingsheng and his wife stunned.

Gu Xuanyi was equally puzzled: “Third Uncle, why should I show them any courtesy? The Wu’an family isn’t anything good. I’ve been married into that household for so long and never met anyone there who truly treated me well.”

“Do you really think you escaped the Wu’an Marquis household purely by luck?” Gu Jingxi countered. Seeing his niece frozen in thought, he continued, “Your escape today would not have been possible without their secret assistance. Even if they helped you due to family infighting, they still helped. Your grievances lie with the main branch of the Wu’an family, not the Fourth Branch.”

Gu Xuanyi froze again. She had truly thought her luck alone had seen her through—never realizing someone had secretly helped her.

After a moment, she asked, “Third Uncle, how do you know it was them who helped me?”

Gu Jingxi said calmly, “It’s an inference. They deliberately confined you, so if you could escape, it wasn’t luck. And the only ones capable of secretly helping you were them.”

Madam Zhang, thoughtfully nodding, agreed this made sense. She said, “Xuanyi, listen to your third uncle. Even if the infighting in their family doesn’t concern us, you truly received help from someone. In the future, you cannot show them hostility. Of course, your third uncle means neither to cultivate enmity with them nor to seek them out unnecessarily.”

Gu Xuanyi was a little stunned. She had never imagined the Fourth Branch would help her. Seeing the elders speak this way, she timidly nodded.

Everyone had been emotionally drained by the day’s events. After saying all that needed to be said, they returned to their respective residences to process the day’s distress.

Returning home after her divorce, Gu Xuanyi went back to the Ningxiang Pavilion where she had lived before marriage. She loved flowers, and the pavilion was filled with plants that bloomed year-round, filling the space with fragrance—hence its name, Ningxiang Pavilion.

Back in her pavilion, Gu Xuanyi felt as if she had been given a new lease on life. But when she thought of her divorce, the smile on her face faded. A girl who had already been married—even if she married again—might not have the best prospects. If she remained unmarried, her parents would not agree, especially her father, who sought to use her for his own gain.

Weirui Pavilion

Meng Jinyao thought back on the day’s events and shook her head, sighing lightly. She had thought that heir truly loved Xuanyi, as her sister-in-law had said, though the household environment was complex. Who would have guessed that the seemingly gentle and refined heir harbored a preference for men?

Curious, she asked, “Husband, do you think the Wu’an Marquis couple really didn’t know what their son did, or did they just pretend not to know?”

Gu Jingxi said meaningfully, “They claimed not to know, so let’s take their word for it. Besides, the heir took responsibility for the matter himself. We have no reason to probe further.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao understood: “So they did know, but they pretended not to, putting all the blame on the son, letting him bear the consequences alone. That way, facing our Gu family, it would be easier for them to explain themselves.”

Gu Jingxi nodded. “Ninety percent likely.”

Meng Jinyao then asked, “A man with a preference for men—does that mean he has no interest in women at all?”

Gu Jingxi replied, “Some do, some don’t. The Wu’an Marquis heir belongs to the latter.”

Meng Jinyao pursed her lips, letting out a soft sigh. Perhaps this was a blessing for Xuanyi. At least the heir had no interest in women; Xuanyi remained untouched when they divorced, giving her more options for a future husband—men who had never married wouldn’t mind.

Seeing her furrowed in thought, Gu Jingxi asked, “What are you thinking about?”

Meng Jinyao shook her head. “Nothing in particular. Just that this outcome is good for Xuanyi.”

Gu Jingxi said, “It truly is. Dinner is ready; let’s eat first. We can discuss other matters afterward.”

Meng Jinyao nodded and immediately instructed the maid to set the table.

The Next Morning

Wu’anZhang sent a trusted maid along with household servants to the Wu’an Marquis household to bring back her daughter’s dowry and the accompanying maids.

The commotion was so large that news spread quickly. Within a day, the divorce of the eldest Miss of the Changxing Marquis Mansion and the Wu’an Marquis heir was known by everyone.

This explosive news stunned the gossips: this couple had only married in the second half of last year, and now, less than a year into the marriage, they were divorced?

A divorce rather than an outright repudiation implied the man was at fault. As for what the Wu’an Marquis heir had done, everyone was curious.

Before the public could satisfy their curiosity, new news emerged from the Wu’an Marquis household: Wu’an Marquis went to the palace to apologize to the emperor. The heir was stripped of his title, and Wu’an Marquis himself was punished for failing to properly educate his son.

This shocking news spread throughout the city in a single day. People were dumbfounded. The Wu’an Marquis heir had previously been seen as refined and gentle, a proper young gentleman. And now, suddenly, he divorced his wife and lost his title. What could he have done?

Eager gossipers eventually uncovered the shocking truth: the Wu’an Marquis heir had a preference for men. When he was involved with two male performers, the Gu eldest miss caught him. In fear of exposure, he beat her and nearly killed her. Poor Gu Xuanyi had thought her husband’s shortcomings were of another kind, which is why they never consummated the marriage and even shielded him. She never expected it was because he had no interest in women.

The news of the Changxing Marquis Mansion and Wu’an Marquis household spread like wildfire. Many scolded the heir and sympathized with Gu Xuanyi for being deceived into marriage by a man who had no interest in women.

For Gu Xuanyi, this was a favorable outcome. The world sympathized with her, relieving much of the social pressure. Her future search for a husband would be less difficult.

Madam Zhang had been monitoring public opinion. Learning that people were blaming the former son-in-law and sympathizing with her daughter, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at her daughter quietly shedding tears, she comforted her warmly: “Xuanyi, now you can relax, right? No one outside blames you; it’s all about that wretch. Don’t worry. Once this is over, I will find you a good husband.”

Gu Xuanyi, in a spoiled, childlike manner, hugged her mother’s arm: “Mother, I don’t want to marry anyone. I just want to stay by your side and be filial.”

Madam Zhang laughed: “What daughter doesn’t marry? Even after you marry, you can still be filial to your mother.”

Hearing this, Gu Xuanyi lowered her eyes, her expression darkening, and said nothing.