Chapter 26
No
After Madam Gu finished speaking, the Patriarch coughed lightly and said politely, “Sister-in-law, to be able to find this child today, I think Ah Ce and his wife can rest in peace now.”
“Yes, I even dreamed of Ah Ce last night.” Madam Gu sighed and nodded slightly. She pretended to wipe the nonexistent tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. “Then I’ll have to trouble you to open the ancestral hall to change the family tree.”
With that, Madam Gu stood up with Gu Yunrong’s help. From the corner of her eye, she realized that Gu Yuan and his sister were both sitting still.
“Yuan’er!” Madam Gu called out softly.
Faced with her urging gaze, Gu Yuan narrowed his eyes and smiled. However, his smile did not reach his eyes. “Grandma, why didn’t I know that Mother gave birth to twins?”
His cold words froze the atmosphere, and the room fell silent.
The Patriarch and the others looked a little embarrassed, while the members of the Gu family were dumbfounded. The juniors who were originally sleepy perked up and looked at Gu Yuan in unison.
“…” Madam Gu subconsciously clenched her prayer beads tightly and looked at Gu Yuan in disbelief.
She indeed had not told Gu Yuan about this. She was used to being the head of the residence and did not think that she needed to discuss such a small matter with a junior.
Gu Yunrong naturally heard Gu Yuan’s words. Her pupils constricted as she called out softly, “Big Brother…”
An embarrassed expression appeared on her face. It was as if her scar had been exposed in public and she had nowhere to go. What hurt her even more was Gu Yuan’s determination.
She had grown up in the Marquis Mansion since she was young. Over the years, the siblings had always had a good brother and sister relationship. She did not understand why Gu Yuan could not just drop the matter.
Gu Yuan did not look at Gu Yunrong. He was still sitting on the round chair with his back straight like an unsheathed sword.
Madam Gu caught the subtle change in Gu Yunrong’s emotions and her heart ached.
She glared at Gu Yuan unhappily and reprimanded, “Yuan’er, Rong’er is your sister. She has called you ‘Big Brother’ for 14 years. She embroidered your pouch, handkerchief, shoes, and socks. It’s also thanks to her that you can gain a foothold in the military camp so quickly… Have you forgotten all of this?”
“Do you still have a heart!!”
Madam Gu could not believe that her eldest grandson was actually so cold-hearted. The brother-sister relationship of more than ten years was actually inferior to that of a wild girl whom he had half-recognized!!
Gu Yuan’s eyes were as deep as a well as he stated the truth, “My mother only gave birth to one daughter.”
“I only have one biological sister.”
It was like a sharp sword that had been unsheathed.
Gu Yuan would never agree to this ridiculous idea!
It had been 14 years. His sister had suffered for so many years, but Gu Yunrong had lived a life of luxury on her behalf, enjoying the love of his family.
One grew up in an abyss of suffering, while the other grew up being treated like royalty.
One was deep in the mud, and the other was in glory.
Putting himself in his sister’s shoes, he couldn’t get over it.
It would be most unfair to his sister if he allowed his grandmother to pretend otherwise.
He believed that if his parents were still alive, they would not want his sister to suffer any more grievances.
Madam Gu’s expression darkened. Seeing Gu Yuan’s stubborn expression, she was furious. Her gaze was like a knife stabbing into his face.
A hint of displeasure flashed across Gu Jian’s eyes as he sat at the head of the table. He thought to himself that Gu Yuan really did not know what was important.
Madam Wang looked at Madam Wang, then at Gu Jian, and tried to smooth things over. “Yuan’er, your grandma is kind to you grandchildren. You have to understand her.”
Then who would understand his sister?! Gu Yuan turned to look at Gu Yanfei beside him. He gently covered the back of her hand with his warm and rough palm, as if to say that he was here.
Gu Yanfei pursed her lips and smiled, her eyes rippling slightly.
In her previous life, her Big Brother had always been by her side without hesitation. He had swung his sword to cut through the thorns and blocked swords for her.
Seeing that the situation was in a deadlock, the Patriarch coughed lightly and said in a negotiating tone, “Sister-in-law, Marquis, should we discuss this matter again?”
The Patriarch had good intentions, but Madam Gu’s expression turned even uglier.
To her, Gu Yuan’s actions were simply a slap to her face.
She immediately felt her chest tighten and her expression turned ugly.
“Nonsense!” Gu Jian scolded Gu Yuan angrily. Deep lines appeared between his eyebrows. “The Great Jin Dynasty ruled the world with filial piety. Gu Yuan, you angered your grandma to this extent. Once word gets out, will you still have your official career? Will our Gu family still have any face?!”
Gu Jian deeply felt that his nephew was too insensible.
Like father, like son.
Eight years ago, his eldest brother, Gu Ce, had angered the late emperor. As a result, the Gu family had been in an awkward situation all these years, falling from nobility to decline. All the families in the capital avoided the Gu family like the plague. In the past eight years, it had been difficult for the Marquis Mansion. Now that he finally had this opportunity, he would not let Gu Yuan mess around.
“This matter concerns the Marquis Mansion. It’s not your place to mess around.”
“It’s not time for you to be in charge yet!”
Gu Jian said firmly. What he meant was that he was still in charge of the Marquis Mansion.
“Then when will I be in charge?” Gu Yuan raised his eyes slightly and stared at Gu Jian.
Without waiting for Gu Jian to answer, Gu Yuan continued, “I think we should split up the siblings.”
“This way, I should be able to be the head of the eldest branch, right?”
Gu Yuan’s last sentence was extremely sarcastic.
Like a stone that caused a thousand ripples, the entire room fell silent. Everyone was shocked.
“Yuan’er, you’re too careless with your words. How can you casually talk about splitting up?” Gu Jian was even angrier. Veins popped up on his neck.
His nephew was more than insensible. He was simply eccentric and unreasonable!
In the face of the furious Gu Jian, Gu Yuan’s expression was calm and cold. He leaned back in his chair leisurely with an indifferent attitude.
“You… you…” Madam Gu was furious. Her fingers trembled as she looked at Gu Yuan. She could not believe that he could actually say such unfilial words.
Gu Yunrong gave the maidservant beside her a look. The maidservant immediately brought over hot tea. Gu Yunrong took the teacup and personally handed it to Madam Gu for her to drink.
...
“Grandma, let’s forget about this,” Gu Yunrong comforted her gently.
She believed that Kang Wang’s feelings for her were pure and would not waver just because she was not the Gu family’s daughter.
If Kang Wang really wavered, then there was no need for this relationship!
Gu Yunrong’s dark eyes were filled with pride, calmness, and suppressed forbearance.