After my luck was stolen, I led my whole family to defy fate and change our destiny.

Gu Linglong cried out in her heart in desperation.

Auntie, you can't adopt Lu Li as your son...

You've meticulously nurtured Lu Li, finding him resources, hiring renowned teachers, and even finding him a virtuous wife. How good you are to him!

But he hates you very much. After passing the imperial examination and being promoted to a higher official rank, he requested an imperial decree for his birth mother, but he imprisoned you on the estate.

His birth mother came to provoke him every day and allowed the servants to torment him, causing him to fall seriously ill and die.

My poor aunt, she was once the most beautiful woman in the capital, and now she's passed away so tragically...

Gu Xinyi's heart skipped a beat. She forced herself to remain calm. Did she hate her?

That's impossible. She'd observed Lu Li for years; he was of good character. She'd even asked him if he was willing to stay with her. She hadn't pressured him at all. How could he hate her?

Even though he wasn't adopted into her name yet, she still dotes on him very much.

Otherwise, how could Lu Li's father, a minor official of the fifth rank, have entered Tianxing Academy? Also, she has been subsidizing his mother's medical expenses.

Lu Li was also very sensible. Every time school ended, he would come to her courtyard to recite his lessons and bring her pastries.

Why is that? Wasn't she good enough to Lu Li?

Some people take your kindness for granted; this might be a case of "a little kindness is appreciated, but too much kindness breeds resentment."

Lu Li didn't think his aunt had helped her; on the contrary, he felt he had helped his aunt. He believed that having such an outstanding son was what prevented his in-laws from making things difficult for him. He even viewed his aunt as the enemy who had separated him from his birth mother.

Su Xiuran heard her daughter's heartfelt words and her eyes surged with anger. How could her and her husband's beloved sister-in-law be bullied like this by a stepson!

How ridiculous! What kind of son doesn't she have? Does Lu Li even deserve him?

No, she absolutely could not allow Lu Li to be adopted as her sister-in-law's son.

Su Xiuran snapped out of her thoughts, "There's no rush. Although Lu Li is a good person, you're still young, and adoption is a big deal. We can think about it some more."

Lu Li's face instantly darkened behind him, and he secretly clenched his fist in his sleeve.

How could Madam Gu say such things to his face? She completely disrespected him.

Su Xiuran did it on purpose, of course. Who told him to incite other students to embarrass her son?

Gu Liyao glanced at Lu Li with a hint of amusement, then lowered his head to drink his tea, remaining silent.

It's also because his mother and aunt don't allow younger generations to interrupt when they're talking, otherwise he would have made a few sarcastic remarks to them.

He even wants to be my aunt's son? That's like a toad trying to eat swan meat. He's not good-looking, but he's dreaming.

Gu Xinyi's fingertips trembled. She sighed, her expression somber: "Sister-in-law, you know, I've seen so many doctors, and they either said I have difficulty conceiving or they simply said I can't have children."

"I've been taking medicine for so many years, but it hasn't worked at all. My husband treats me so well, and he won't even take a concubine. I can't let him be childless."

"On one hand, I feel so guilty for not being able to have a child for my husband, and on the other hand, I feel terrible if he really takes a concubine..."

Gu Xinyi's voice was trembling with tears.

Upon hearing this, Gu Linglong really wanted to curse him out, "Scumbag, damn scumbag!"

She was so excited that she kept saying "Ya ya ya," but unfortunately they couldn't understand her.

Gu Linglong's face turned red.

He didn't take a concubine because my father came to his door and threatened him, saying that if he dared to take a concubine and it was bad for my aunt, he would make my uncle suffer in the officialdom.

Although my uncle didn't openly take a concubine, he was keeping a mistress behind my father and aunt's backs. On the day of my birthday celebration, my uncle was in Ping'an Lane, and his mistress wasn't even out on any fieldwork.

Whenever my uncle wanted to see his mistress but couldn't get away, he would have my aunt's mother-in-law feign illness or cause trouble so he could sneak out and cheat on her. Ugh, what a scumbag!

One of the mistresses was even the aunt's personal maid; this is a slap in the face to the aunt!

Gu Linglong put her hands on her hips, her face puffed up with anger.

Gu Xinyi's heart sank. Now she was starting to believe Gu Linglong.

She didn't even tell her elder brother and sister-in-law about the shameful fact that her personal maid had climbed into her husband's bed.

Her husband said he didn't touch her, but instead sent her directly to a servant to get married.

But how did my niece find out about this?

Could it be that my niece is telling the truth, and my husband is lying? Is all his kindness just a facade?

It seems my little niece is a bit different from others!

But... considering that she can't have children, even if she keeps a mistress, she'll probably turn a blind eye.

Why is it that other women her age have many children, while she can't have any?

I can only blame myself for not having a healthy body.

Should she be grateful that her husband didn't openly take a concubine, thus saving her face?

If a mistress were to give birth to a son or daughter, she would certainly raise them as her own.

Gu Xinyi's thoughts were swirling in her mind, and she was just about to convince herself when she heard a sentence that made her body tremble.

[It was clearly my uncle who couldn't have children, but he bribed all the doctors to say that my aunt was infertile, causing her to suffer ridicule from everyone around her for so many years.]

This is seriously... infuriating!

Something seemed to explode in Gu Xinyi's head, and her face turned pale. What had she heard?

Is she able to have children?

Is it her husband who is truly infertile?

Su Xiuran's face turned pale upon hearing this. Just as she was wondering how to tell her sister-in-law about it, Gu Xinyi spoke up.

"Sister-in-law, I think you're right. I'm still young. I'll go find a good doctor to see."

Su Xiuran tried to comfort her softly, but Gu Xinyi couldn't hear what she was saying at all; her mind was a complete blank.

There were some things she had to find out.

Before leaving, she picked up Gu Linglong.

Only then did Gu Linglong get a clear look at Gu Xinyi's face. Her features were delicate, her eyebrows were like distant mountains, and there were no signs of aging on her face. She looked somewhat similar to Gu Mingtang.

[Auntie is so beautiful!]

Gu Xinyi smiled gently: "Linglong, your aunt will come to see you another day."

Ah...ah...my pretty auntie and I are getting all lovey-dovey!

Gu Xinyi and Lu Li left in a hurry.

Once inside the carriage, Gu Xinyi said to her maid, Hehua, "Go and find out what the young master was doing on the day of my niece's full-day celebration. Be careful not to tell anyone."

Lotus was a little confused, as the girl and her fiancé had always had a very good relationship.

Does this mean she suspects her son-in-law? But she didn't ask anything.

"Yes, miss"

……

After Gu Xinyi left, Gu Linglong also fell asleep in a daze. She was carried away by the nanny. In her sleep, Gu Linglong's pink lips were still spitting out saliva.

Gu Yu'an and Gu Liyao returned to their study and discussed the matter. They immediately wrote a visiting card to the Sixth Prince.

They have two aunts. The eldest aunt treats them the best, always thinking of them first when there's something good, and treating them like her own children.

He couldn't stand by and watch his aunt be bullied like this, not even by her husband!

As for my aunt... well...