Chapter 28: A Life Saved

Gu Jingxi and asked, "Husband, how do you plan to deal with the dowry"Gu Jingxi said softly, "Throw it away."Meng Jinyao was stunned, then said, "That's fine mutton fat jade. It would be a shame to th...Old Mrs. Gu believed in Buddhism and fate, finding this to be a destined encounter. Thinking that her nearly thirty-year-old son had finally found a wife, she couldn't even bring herself to mind the disappointment of not having grandchildren yet. She sighed with emotion, "It seems you and Yao are truly meant to be. Even with a thirteen-year age gap between your twenty-nine years and her sixteen, fate prevails."

Gu Jingxi opened his mouth slightly, but ultimately swallowed his words. He didn't know if it was fate or not, but he knew that he and that little girl were both victims.

For a moment, he couldn't help but chuckle wryly: "This marriage was too hasty. It seems that being betrothed too early isn't a good thing either, as it can lead to accidents."

Upon hearing this, Madam Gu's smile faltered. She replied, "Your father hadn't chosen which grandson to marry Yao before he suddenly fell ill and passed away. He placed such importance on this marriage. Xiu Ming is the eldest son, and among all the grandchildren in the household, his status was the highest. Everyone tacitly accepted that he would marry Yao. Even I thought so. If he had ever objected, I would have explained to the Meng family and found someone else for Yao."

Gu Jingxi soothed in a warm voice: "Mother, things have been decided. There's no if, only forward."

"This is natural, you and Ayo must take good care of Old Madam. After a pause, she suddenly remembered something important and asked, "By the way, I heard that your people brought back the girl who eloped with Xiu Ming What kind of girl is she"

Uncultured and frivolous, Gu Jingxi responded without thinking with eight words.

At these words, Old Madam Gu was astonished and incredulous: "Such a girl... what could Xiu Ming possibly see in her Ai Yao is a beautiful child, graceful, elegant, and intelligent. To choose this over a pearl" She couldn't help but think he must be blind!

Gu Jingxi agreed with this. That prodigal son was truly blind. He pondered for a moment and said, “It's probably because that Miss Li saved his life.”

Grandmother Gu was bewildered. In her memory, her grandson had never been in any danger. She questioned, "What happened"

Gu Jingxi said: "According to my information, Xiu Ming was once bitten by a snake in the temple and fainted on the ground. That Li girl happened to pass by, discovered Xiu Ming, and went to inform the temple monks to save him. The abbot gave Xiu Ming antivenom."

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Gu frowned in puzzlement and said, "While she has saved a life, there are other ways to repay the debt. She is an orphan, we can take her in as our adopted daughter, and later find a good husband for her. There's no need for Xiu Ming to pledge herself to him."

Gu Jingxi frowned, his tone laced with a hint of anger at his adopted son's irresponsibility. "We met because he saved my life," he said. "Li girl lost her parents early and lived with her grandfather. Now her grandfather is gone, and she's all alone, helpless and vulnerable. Xiu Ming felt pity for her and gradually developed feelings."

“What a scoundrel!” The old Madam Gu became increasingly incensed as she listened. After reciting scriptures for a long time to suppress her anger, it surged back up, and she roared in fury, her face turning ashen. “Everyone thought he was going to marry Ayao, if he didn’t want to, he should have been clear about it before running off with the woman who saved his life! That Miss Li is alone and pitiful, abandoned on her wedding day, becoming a laughingstock of an unwed wife—is she not pitiable”

When the mother calmed down, Jing Xi quickly stood up. She picked up the teacup from the small table and poured hot tea for Old Madam Gu again.

Old Madam Gu took the teacup, sipped it twice before putting it down, and said with a frustrated tone: "You refuse a well-matched bride from a respectable family and elope with an uneducated, vulgar woman. What a disgrace!" She took a deep breath and asked, "What about Miss Li How do you plan to handle this Even if she is uneducated and uncouth, because of Xiu Ming's poor judgment, she has lost her innocence now. Xiu Ming must take responsibility for her."

Gu Jingxi said: "I have sent her home. After a while, I will choose an auspicious day to take her as my concubine."

Hearing this, Old Madam Gu found it feasible and nodded slightly. She asked again, "Is this your idea, or Ming Xiu's"

Gu Jingxi smiled. "It was your daughter-in-law's idea, and I think it's a wonderful one."

“Is that what Aiyao means” Old Madam Gu looked slightly surprised, then her brows softened slightly, and her tone became much gentler. “What a generous child, not thinking it difficult for me. If it were someone else, I estimate they would find reasons to prevent Miss Li from entering.”

After a moment, Old Madam Gu said again: "Since the decision has been made, we'll find another suitable girl for Xiuming as his wife. She must be capable and able to control Xiuming as well as Miss Li. When the official wife enters the house, we will choose a date to formally welcome Miss Li into the family."

Gu Jingxi's expression faltered for a moment, then he quickly said, "Mother, you don't have to worry about finding him a wife."

Madam Gu glanced at him: "Don't tell me you're going to personally find a bride for him You're a man, how would you know which families have good daughters Let me choose one for him."

Gu Jingxi replied, "After his confinement period was over, he chose an auspicious day to take Li girl as his concubine."

As soon as he finished speaking, Madam Gu's face darkened instantly. She glared at him and scolded, "Son, you are being foolish! As his father, don't you understand propriety either Which well-connected family would allow their son to take a concubine before his legal wife has entered the household Which respectable woman would dare to marry him"

Gu Jingxi narrowed his eyes slightly and stated calmly, "Xiuming said that he couldn't live without Miss Li for the rest of his life. Besides Miss Li, he didn't want anyone else. Although Miss Li was a concubine, he wouldn't take a wife."

"Only take concubines but not marry a wife"

Elder Madam Gu's face grew increasingly unsightly, her expression turning ashen. She scolded in a low voice, "He is the heir apparent of the Marquisate, destined to inherit his title in the future. How can he possibly manage without a legitimate mistress overseeing the household Who will handle all the social engagements Is it even possible for a lowly concubine to take on such responsibilities It would be embarrassing! He's bringing shame upon our ancestors!"

“Mother, calm your anger. Don't let it ruin your health.” Gu Jingxi soothed gently, shifting his gaze and speaking slowly, “He is so devoted to this… that even if he were to marry a noblewoman from a prominent family, he wouldn’t truly care for her. Since this is the case, why would we harm a good girl from another family As for what you said earlier, don't we still have Ayao She is the Marquise, and she would be perfectly suited to do it.”

This makes sense, but it can't cover up Sunzi's absurdity. Mrs. Gu frowned and glared at her son, blaming him: "Even if Xiuming is ignorant, how could you allow him to run wild Since he doesn't have a legitimate wife, there's no legitimate heir. Could you possibly let the illegitimate son inherit the title"

Gu Jingxi remained silent, watching the wisps of white smoke rising from the incense burner. After a long while, he nonchalantly said: "Mother, as the saying goes, children and grandchildren have their own blessings, let him go."

Lady Gu was taken aback and looked at him intently for a long time. He remained calm and composed, appearing indifferent. It was unclear whether he didn't care about whether Xiu Ming had a legitimate heir to inherit the title after him, or if he simply didn't care about Xiu Ming as his son.

After a moment, Mrs. Gu sighed, "Fine, then I'll follow your wishes. I won't interfere any further, but I hope he won't regret this later.".Gu Jingxi saw that she was eating with gusto, feeling that the little girl was quite easy to feed. She ate anything and everything, basically not picky at all.However, Gu Jingxi thought too much. He...