SGEIRS -Chapter 358 Witnessing a Good Show

Du Sizhe: “……”

So it was indeed a matter of romantic feelings between him and his cousin. If his cousin needed a father’s love, Gu Jingxi could treat her as a daughter, fulfilling both the role of husband and father.

For him to actually say something like that—what audacity!

Gu Jingxi ignored his expression and asked in a calm voice, “I recall that your father is now the newly appointed magistrate of Deqing County in Huzhou Prefecture?”

The topic jumped too abruptly. Du Sizhe was puzzled but replied truthfully, “Yes. My father was formerly the prefect of Changzhou Prefecture, but due to an error on a mission, he was demoted. As it happened, the magistrate of Deqing County passed away, so my father was sent to Deqing as magistrate. He has just started his term.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Jingxi showed a meaning-laden smile. Very good—just like having a pillow brought to him when he was sleepy; perfectly convenient.

Seeing Gu Jingxi suddenly smile in such a chilling way, Du Sizhe’s heart skipped a beat. Inevitably, he overthought things. Frowning, he asked, “Why do you suddenly bring this up, Marquis Gu? Even if I have feelings for my cousin, if you are jealous, it should be directed at me, not my father. He is innocent in all this.”

Gu Jingxi glanced at him. “A-Yao’s heart and eyes are solely mine—from start to finish, only mine. What reason would I have to be jealous? In my eyes, you’re not even a rival. The reason I speak to you is that A-Yao cares for you, her cousin, and you are among the few relatives who treat her well.”

Hearing this, Du Sizhe felt a pang of heartache and could not help but ask again, “Could it be that you intend to use my father to warn me against having any improper thoughts toward my cousin?”

Gu Jingxi raised an eyebrow. “Even if you had such thoughts, they are not something to fear. Why would I need to threaten you with Lord Du?”

Du Sizhe pressed on, “Then why did you suddenly mention my father?”

Gu Jingxi replied matter-of-factly, “Out of concern for an elder. Your father, according to seniority, I should address as ‘cousin’s husband’ alongside A-Yao.”

Du Sizhe didn’t respond, silently thinking: who would believe such nonsense?

After a moment, Du Sizhe said, “Marquis Gu, rest assured. As long as you truly bring happiness to my cousin, I will remain only her cousin, fulfilling my duties as a brother.”

Gu Jingxi knew he had misunderstood, but he didn’t plan to explain. He merely nodded lightly and said calmly, “It’s getting late, and A-Yao is still waiting at home. I’ll return to the residence now. Lord Du, do as you please.” With that, he stood and walked toward the door.

Seeing this, Du Sizhe did not linger either and followed him out.

When it came time to pay, Du Sizhe hastily offered to settle the bill first. Gu Jingxi did not argue; after all, tea money wasn’t worth much. If Du Sizhe insisted on paying, let him.

As soon as they stepped out of the teahouse, they witnessed a spectacle—a dispute between two young ladies.

Two well-dressed young ladies were quarrelling in the street. One, domineering, grabbed the other by the hair and slapped her. The humiliated girl’s maid tried to intervene, only to be held back by the other maid.

The domineering girl struck three slaps in a row, then kicked her to the ground, warning coldly: “Miss Meng, don’t let me see you acting so pretentious again. If you claim you have no intentions, I won’t believe it.”

The girl on the ground, hair disheveled, covered her face, sobbing. Though her features were obscured, the way her shoulders shook evoked pity in onlookers.

Before the domineering girl could do more, a righteous voice intervened: “Miss, even if this girl upset you, mercy is due. Don’t go too far.”

This righteous person was Du Sizhe.

The domineering girl sneered at him: “Such a kind young man, but your kindness is misplaced. Do you know who she is?”

“She is the second young lady of the Yongchang Residence. Just like her malicious mother, she is of the same ilk. Her mother once coveted Lord Meng and schemed against his lawful wife, then pretended to be gentle and virtuous to deceive the Meng family and successfully married him. Now she sets her sights on a man who is already betrothed, intending to steal him. Truly a despicable wretch!”

The crowd gasped. The second young lady of the Yongchang Residence? Everyone had thought that a daughter of someone like Madam Sun, a notorious vixen, could be no good. Now it seemed true: “Like mother, like daughter.” A mother who steals men, a daughter who does the same. Both covet other people’s men.

Du Sizhe had not realized the girl was Meng Jinyu, A-Yao’s cousin. Had he known earlier, he would have ignored the matter entirely. How unlucky!

Gu Jingxi, being Meng Jinyu’s brother-in-law, didn’t interfere—why should he involve himself?

Thinking this, Du Sizhe looked around and saw Gu Jingxi had already vanished, probably having learned the girl’s identity and left immediately to avoid trouble.

The domineering girl, seeing Du Sizhe silent, warned kindly: “Young man, before playing hero next time, consider whether the person is worth saving. Saving someone like her will only bring trouble.”

Meng Jinyu stood, tears streaming like broken pearls, her face bearing clear handprints. Publicly humiliated, she felt both desperate and wronged. “Miss Qin, how can you accuse me without cause? My mother erred but has paid the price. As for your claim that I schemed after your fiancé—that is nonsense. I do not know him; he merely helped me find my way.”

“Find your way?” Miss Qin laughed coldly. “Even you wouldn’t believe that. Who needs a hand to guide them? Since you like him, I’ll have my parents annul the engagement and give him to you.”

“I stumbled and nearly fell; he helped me. If Miss Qin doesn’t believe me, I’ll prove my innocence with my life.” Meng Jinyu, saying this, collided her head toward a nearby stall table.

The stall vendor, fearing damage and injury, blocked her just in time. The impact landed on his abdomen, but as a gentle young lady, she had little force. He remained steady, but the weak young lady fainted.

Witnessing this harrowing scene, the crowd sympathized with Meng Jinyu. A girl willing to stake her life to prove her innocence must be truthful; the fault lay with Miss Qin for publicly smearing her.

Miss Qin, seeing everyone blame her, was shocked. Pointed fingers and judgment surrounded her; she stomped angrily, “Do you really believe her? She’s just pretending to garner your sympathy!”

Someone said: “Miss, she is willing to risk her life to prove her innocence. You truly misunderstood her.”

“Yes, she was pushed to this point, yet you still won’t let her be.”

“Exactly, must you drive her to death to be satisfied?”

Miss Qin, hearing their complaints, was furious. She glanced at the fainted Meng Jinyu, thinking she was faking it, but had no proof.

Her face flushed with humiliation. In the end, she snorted coldly and stormed off.

The world always sympathizes with the weak, as if being weak automatically makes one right.