nly a little lazy, but he is quick-witted. The teacher once praised his writing to me, saying that I rewarded him with a set of writing instruments. If this child is misguided and ends up mediocre, it...Qingyu Xuan.

Gu Xiuming returned from Shouantang, as soon as he stepped into the room, he saw a graceful figure rushing towards him. He hurriedly reached out to hold her and took two steps back.

"Xiuming gege, you're finally back

"

The girl in his arms was sniffling and sobbing softly, as if she had been crying.

Gu Xiuming's heart tightened, and he hurriedly asked: "Wan'er, what's wrong Is it because I'm not here that someone bullied you"

Li Wan'er slowly lifted her head, her eye rims overflowing with tears, on the verge of crying, her eyes filled with worry, she choked out: "Xiuming Gege, I'm so scared, really scared"

Gu Xiuming couldn't bear to see her cry, so he gently patted her back and coaxed her softly: "Don't be afraid, Wan'er. I'm here. Did something happen If someone bullied you, I'll take care of it right away and punish those blind maidservants properly."

"No, nobody is bullying me.

Li Wan'er shook her head gently, tears welling up in her eyes and streaming down her cheeks. She worriedly said, "Brother Xiuming, you went out this morning saying you were going to Weiruixuan to pay respects to the Lord and Lady. But you haven't been back for so long. I'm afraid the Lady will make things difficult for you and do something bad to you. But I don't dare go to Weiruixuan to find you. As you know, the Lady dislikes me. Not only do I not dare go to Weiruixuan, I don't even dare to leave Qinyu Xuan."

She sobbed, burying her head in Gu Xiuming's arms, her delicate shoulders shaking with each choked sob, a picture of heartbreak.

Gu Xiuming felt a pang of sympathy for her. Thinking that Wan'er hadn't left Qingyuxuan for a long time, he remembered that during his confinement, Wan'er had once gone out of Qingyuxuan, but she was bullied by his arrogant and domineering elder sister and even slapped. His elder sister, pampered by her grandmother since childhood, was arrogant and dismissive of others. She even dared to hit his beloved girl. Perhaps it was because he was punished with confinement and lost the hearts of his elders.

He said softly, "Wǎn'er, don't worry, no one has troubled me. After I came out of Wēiruíxuān, I went to Shòuāntáng to pay my respects to my grandmother, and then accompanied her for lunch before returning. That's why it took so long."

Upon hearing this, Li Wan'er felt reassured and stopped crying.

Gushimng pulled him aside and sat down, then continued: "Wan'er, don't be afraid in the future. As long as you haven't done anything wrong, no one will bully you without knowing right from wrong. You can leave Qingshuxuan and go for a walk outside.

"Forget it, Qingyu Xuan is pretty good. I don't like going out either."

Li Wan'er said, a bitter smile on her face. Although she had the full love of her brother Xiuming, she had no status in this Changxing Houfu. She was like a half-person, just a step above a maidservant. Every master in the house could bully her, and she didn't want to go out and humiliate herself. If she hadn't eloped with her brother Xiuming back then, perhaps people in the house wouldn't look down on her like this now.

Gu Xiuming listened and understood what she was worried about. He apologized, "Waner, it's my fault. Because of me, you've suffered so much."

Li Wan'er hurriedly shook her head: "Xiu Ming gege, how could you blame this on yourself"

Gu Xiuming held her close, regretting deeply: "Wan'er, if I hadn't run away from the wedding, if I hadn't eloped with you, then you wouldn't be ridiculed by others."

At those words, Li Wan’er abruptly raised her head, her face paling. She trembled and asked, "Xiu Ming gege, do you regret being with me Do you regret not marrying Meng Jin Yao I suppose so. I'm just an orphan. Meng Jin Yao is the eldest daughter of an Earl's household. Marrying her would bring you much prestige. Being with me would only shame you."

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face again, like broken pearls cascading downward. Her complexion was as pale as a sheet, her frame frail and pitiful, evoking a deep sense of compassion.

Gu Xiuming hurriedly explained: "Wan'er, where did you think I went How could I regret being with you I only have you in my heart. I only regret not breaking off the engagement. If I had broken it off, I would go to ask my father and grandmother for their consent, and then marry you as my wife, making you a respected Madam of the Prince."

Li Wan'er said with doubt, "Really"

"Nature is true."

Gu Xiuming nodded and reached out to wipe away the tears from her cheek. Looking at her crying so miserably, he felt uncomfortable inside.

Li Wan'er choked back tears and said: "Xiu Ming, I only have you. If you don't like me one day, I will have nothing left."

Gu Xiaming softly coaxed: "Silly girl, how could I not like you If I didn't like you, I would have married Meng Jinyao long ago. In my heart, Wan'er is the best and kindest girl in the world."

Hearing this, Li Wan'er's worried heart felt comforted. She stared at the young man in front of her, her eyes filled with admiration. The young man was handsome and elegant, like a jade tree in the wind. She had liked him from the first moment she saw him at the temple. Even though he fainted due to snake venom, his noble bearing and extraordinary handsomeness captivated her at first glance. She wasn't afraid of causing trouble and immediately went to find someone from the temple to save him.

Later, she discovered that the young man was the son of Lord Changxing's mansion, and he also had a fiancee. Although his fiancée was from a poor family, she was still the eldest daughter of an earl's mansion, a girl who was beyond her reach in this lifetime. She was truly jealous of that girl, who could get the young man she loved. Fortunately, in the end, the young man chose her.

It was only then that Li Wan'er belatedly noticed his injured forehead. She looked at him with concern and asked, "Xiuming gege, what happened to your forehead"

Gu Xiuming's face turned pale for a moment, he raised his hand and gently touched his injured forehead, then said calmly: "Go and apologize to your mother and grandmother. When you kowtow, you already took the medicine, it's nothing serious, Wan'er don't worry.

Li Wan'er was stunned: "Why would you kowtow to apologize"

"Bowing shows sincerity, just using your mouth doesn't seem sincere enough. Gu Shuming's expression was unreadable, his eyes were dark and unclear. He lowered his head to look at his beloved girl, his voice solemn as he promised, "Wan'er, I won't let anyone bully you anymore. I will protect you well and make you the happiest person."

Li Wan'er listened, but she didn't really believe it. Even Xiu Ming's brother was punished, how could he protect her Unless later, when Xiu Ming's brother became the Marquis, then no one would dare to bully her.

However, she only thought these words in her heart and didn't say them out loud. A gentle smile flickered on her lips as she softly replied, "Brother Xiuming, I believe you will protect me well."

Seeing her smile, Gu Xiuming's mouth also turned up, and he lowered his head to place a kiss on her forehead.

Li Wan'er blushed and smiled, burying her face in his arms again. She whispered softly, "Xiu Ming gege, I want to have a child soon, give me a child."

Gu Xiuming was stunned: "Why do you suddenly want a child"

Li Wan'er replied, "I heard the maid say that Madam Da is pregnant, and Master and Mistress are about to become grandparents. They are so happy, smiling all day long. We should have a child too, you know Maybe then the young master would be happy as well."

She spoke as she patted her flat stomach. They had never used contraception, but now there was no movement in her belly. She was quite anxious about it, guessing it was because they weren't trying hard enough. When they had a child, if it was a grandson or granddaughter, her status would improve and turn things around.

Gu Xiumin listened, and was startled again. He then whispered ambiguously in her ear: "Good, tonight onwards, I'll try my best.ised in wealthy families are clear-headed; given their family background, why would they rush to marry a husband like Gu XiumingOnly those with low social standing who aspire to a better life through...