I Can't Go On Living Like This (continued)

This is hardly manly; he's an anomaly among men.

Xu Weibei said that Qin Lie fell in love with his First Concubine just because he glanced at her in the crowd, and he couldn't live without her.

Look at their taste.

Doesn't he ever reflect on his own actions?

Besides, treating women as gifts—while many people do this, doesn't he consider how many good men do that?

Xu Weibei, you should learn something!

"If Your Marquis insists on forcing me, I would rather die." The First Concubine's attitude was resolute. "Your Majesty can stop me for a while, but you can't stop me forever."

Gu Wanning: "..."

What's your reason for this?

If Xu Weibei is truly good enough to make women fall deeply in love with him, then Gu Wanning can understand.

But the problem now is, at most, marrying someone means moving from one mediocre man to another mediocre man—what difference does that make?

Is Qin Lie notorious?

Seeing that the situation was at a stalemate, Gu Wanning thought for a moment and then said to Er Ya, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, "Er Ya, take your First Concubine back. You'll keep her company for me tonight. Jinxiu, I'll have a good talk with the Marquis. This matter isn't finalized yet, so don't panic and don't try to kill yourself. If you do, I won't help you anymore, understand?"

"I know, I know, I will obey Madam," the First Concubine cried pitifully, her eyes swollen from crying.

Gu Wanning felt very sad because of her crying.

It wasn't just sympathy for the First Concubine; it was also a feeling of shared sorrow.

How much better off was she than the First Concubine?

All I can say is that her family is powerful.

Although her treatment couldn't compare to Gu Wanqing's, her family was still her support.

Xu Weibei could give away his concubines at will, but he couldn't give her away.

But it's only slightly better.

Xu Weibei really wanted to torment her, he had plenty of ways to do so.

Before leaving, the First Concubine didn't forget to bow to Xu Weibei and Gu Wanning. Her lips moved, but she was afraid of being rejected by Xu Weibei, so she didn't say anything. She just looked at Gu Wanning with expectation, as if grasping at the last straw.

Gu Wanning, however, did not dare to meet her gaze.

After she left, Xu Weibei said, "Find a way to make her agree and marry him happily. She won't be shortchanged on her dowry, and Qin Lie is a good choice for her."

"My Marquis, what constitutes a good choice? I believe that her willingness doesn't necessarily make it a good choice; but her unwillingness certainly doesn't make it a good choice. What do you think, my Marquis?"

"It's all your fault for spoiling them," Xu Weibei said. "Look at whose concubines are so arrogant and overbearing."

"But the Marquis said before that I am jealous and that I mistreat my concubines." Gu Wanning sneered.

Xu Weibei was speechless after being retorted, and after a long while said, "She was just a concubine, so what if I gave her away?"

"My Marquis, it is true that she is your concubine, but she is also a person. Yes, men have physical strength that surpasses that of women, but even so, a man who hits a woman is still looked down upon. My Marquis has the right to life and death over his concubine, but what kind of honorable thing is it to force her to marry a man she does not want to marry?"

After a pause, Gu Wanning calmly continued, "Since Marquis agreed to Qin Lie's request, it must mean he's useful. Could Marquis please tell us exactly what his use is, so we can see if we can find another way to replace him?"

"He's a formidable fighter, I like him."

Gu Wanning: You like him, so you give him a woman?

Trading a woman for a subordinate, you really have some nerve.

Gu Wanning took a deep breath. "Then maybe he'll like someone else too."

She didn't think Qin Lie had fallen in love at first sight; at most, it was lust at first sight.

How can this possibly last?

And most importantly, the First Concubine objected vehemently.

Perhaps she had heard bad rumors about Qin Lie before?

Or perhaps, after being heartbroken, she only wanted to eke out a living in the Marquis's Residence, peacefully licking her wounds, and didn't want to venture into an unfamiliar environment to risk an unknown future?

Perhaps she's still unable to accept intimacy from men?

In short, whatever the reason, the First Concubine was unwilling and her emotions were intense; that's the reality.

Then marry someone else.

"She's already threatened suicide, my Marquis. Aren't you afraid she might do something to Qin Lie later? For example, what if she stabs Qin Lie in the bridal chamber? Whose fault would that be?"

Xu Weibei: "... You want to teach her like this?"

Given that my First Concubine's personality is all about crying and whining, how could she possibly have such courage?

This is something only Gu Wanning would do.

This woman is not only unconventional herself, but she also dares to corrupt those around her.

The key point is that people around her are easily influenced by her. It feels like after there is one Gu Wanning, there are countless others like her. She has a power to make people imitate her.

Others are good at things that are obvious to everyone else, but she is good at needlework, she is good at accounting, she is good at medicine, she is good at martial arts...

Gu Wanning seemed to be good at nothing; she was like air, completely imperceptible, yet everyone in that environment was "polluted" by her.

She has a natural ability to win people's hearts.

Xu Weibei didn't know why this was the case, but he felt that he could learn from this.

Gu Wanning also broke off all pretense. "If the Marquis insists on going his own way, this is the only way I can teach her."

When Xu Weibei's "butcher's knife" fell on the First Concubine, she remained silent. Then came the Second Concubine, the Third Concubine, the Fourth Concubine, and then herself.

What other tricks do you have up your sleeve?

"I was thinking of going back to my father and brothers to plead with the Marquis," Gu Wanning said. "I know it might not be of any use, but I've done my best so I can have a clear conscience. Besides, the Marquis previously said he wanted to bring outsiders in, but now I'm telling you, I disagree! You can disregard my objections, but this is my stance: I refuse!"

Treating people as human beings is her bottom line that she will never cross.