SGEIRS -Chapter 453 Driven Out

Gu Jingxi rushed over to his mother’s place. His mother and wife were halfway through their meal when he arrived. He immediately sat down and had the maid set out another set of bowls and chopsticks.

Old Madam Gu looked puzzled seeing him arrive at this hour. “Yaoling, why are you only coming now? Did you come back late today?”

Gu Jingxi answered truthfully, “I initially thought A-Yu had gone to visit either Second Sister-in-law or Third Sister-in-law. Later I found out she had come here, so I didn’t go back for dinner and came straight over.”

Meng Jinyao was surprised. “I told the maid I was coming to Mother, but didn’t they tell you?”

Gu Jingxi replied, “They did, but the first maid got it wrong. Only when another maid mentioned it at mealtime did it become accurate.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao didn’t ask further. She was nearly full herself and picked up the serving chopsticks to dish some food for him.

Suddenly, Old Madam Gu brought up her family of origin. “Yaoling, your maternal uncle will return to the capital for his end-of-year report. Could you see if it’s possible for him to stay in the city? He’s nearly sixty; it’s not appropriate for him to leave home again. I received his letter yesterday. He said he doesn’t care about rank or official position—he only wants to be closer to his family.”

Gu Jingxi pondered for a moment before nodding. “I’ll take care of things for Uncle when the time comes.”

Old Madam Gu sighed lightly. “It’s been years since I last saw him. I wonder how he is now. Every letter he sends back says all is well.”

Mentioning her family made Old Madam Gu somewhat melancholic. She not only had an older brother but also a younger brother, who had already passed away. During a rebellion, her younger brother, his wife, and their two children all died on the same day. Her parents, suddenly losing their children, were deeply grieved, and her health deteriorated. Her older brother, while grieving, also faced an enormous increase in responsibility.

Her sister-in-law was her cousin, a childhood companion of her brother. They shared a deep bond and remained very affectionate after marriage. In the second year of their marriage, she gave birth to a daughter who was very beautiful but mentally challenged.

After giving birth, the sister-in-law was unable to conceive again for many years. The family line rested solely on her brother, and the elders urged him to take a concubine. For the sake of heirs, the sister-in-law also encouraged him to do so, but her brother’s heart remained only with her. They lovingly raised their mentally challenged daughter together.

In her pursuit of children for her husband, the sister-in-law saw many doctors and took many medicines, but still couldn’t conceive again. The medications even damaged her stomach. Her husband was deeply concerned and didn’t allow her to continue the medicines, letting nature take its course.

Heaven finally showed mercy. When her brother was forty-three, his forty-one-year-old wife unexpectedly became pregnant. The next year, she gave birth to a son. He was intelligent and clever, though physically fragile, and easily fell ill if not carefully tended to. With careful nurturing, nothing serious occurred, and he was now fourteen.

Their father, seeing the newborn grandson, passed away peacefully a month later, content that the family line had someone to carry it on.

After dinner, Meng Jinyao and Gu Jingxi spent some time talking with Old Madam Gu before returning home.

Meng Jinyao asked softly, “Husband, why do I feel that Mother’s mood changed after mentioning Uncle?”

Gu Jingxi replied, “Perhaps she was thinking about maternal uncle.”

Meng Jinyao didn’t know much about her mother-in-law’s family, since they all lived outside the capital and she had never met them. She asked further, “What happened to Uncle?”

Gu Jingxi briefly explained the situation with her maternal family, adding, “Though your cousin is forty this year, she is like a child. When you meet her, just treat her as a child.”

Meng Jinyao nodded gently. “I understand, Husband.” After a moment, she added, “Uncle is a rare man of deep affection. If it were someone else, he would have taken a concubine long ago, since heirs are of utmost importance to many men.”

Gu Jingxi heard this and recalled his father. When his parents had been married three years without conceiving, his grandmother was displeased. According to his mother, she had even suggested his father divorce and remarry. However, his father didn’t. He merely stopped the fertility medicines for his concubines, and soon both concubines became pregnant, giving birth to his eldest and second brothers.

His father was happy but never blamed his mother for not conceiving. With two children from concubines, grandmother’s displeasure toward his mother increased, and combined with the veiled mockery from the concubines, his mother’s pressure grew, leading to many sleepless nights. Even doctors could not help her conceive.

His father advised her to stop taking the messy medicines that were harming her body. He wanted the eldest son recorded under her name, but she refused due to the concubines’ constant disparagement.

Eventually, his mother gave up hope for children, but one day she was unexpectedly found to be pregnant. She gave birth to him in the tenth year of their marriage.

He remarked, “Regarding children, the more impatient you are, the slower they come. Sometimes letting nature take its course is better.”

Not long after, Gu Jingxi and Meng Jinyao returned to the courtyard.

Seeing them return, Xiazhu felt a tightening in her chest and instinctively watched their expressions. Seeing them laughing and talking without any displeasure, she secretly relaxed.

Chunliu quietly reminded her, “Xiazhu, we are servants. Don’t stare at the masters.”

Hearing this, Xiazhu lowered her eyes.

In the following days, Xiazhu behaved herself. She no longer tried to appear in front of Gu Jingxi where Meng Jinyao couldn’t see.

Chunliu had been observing her carefully. Seeing that she no longer misbehaved, she breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that she realized things early; their long-standing bond meant Chunliu truly didn’t want Xiazhu to go down a dark path.

For this reason, Chunliu even said to her with some satisfaction, “Xiazhu, it’s good that you’ve come to your senses. Madam treats people kindly. If you meet a man you like in the future, you can bring him to Madam, and she will surely agree.”

Xiazhu softly replied with a single “Mm.”

Chunliu continued, “It’s late. You should rest.”

However, Chunliu had overestimated Xiazhu’s resolve. She was only temporarily obedient and, once she found an opportunity, acted again.

That evening, the sound of a teacup smashing on the floor echoed from Weirui Pavilion’s study, followed immediately by Gu Jingxi’s furious voice. Xiazhu, her clothes disheveled, was driven out of the study by Gu Jingxi.

The nearby maids and elder women in the courtyard rushed over when they heard the commotion, only to see Xiazhu covering her chest as she exited the study.

As she was about to leave, seeing others witness such disgrace, she panicked further. Her mind went blank, tears brimmed in her eyes, and her body trembled with fear.

Seeing this, everyone could guess what had happened: Xiazhu had tried to climb into bed and failed, and the Marquis had driven her out.

But it wasn’t just Xiazhu.

Now that the Marquis had recovered from his illness and Madam was pregnant, many maids had private thoughts. But seeing how much the Marquis adored Madam and clung to her—following her even when she visited Madam Gu—they didn’t dare act rashly.

Who would have thought that seemingly obedient Xiazhu would be the first to make a move?