Chapter 378: Showing Weakness (2)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Gu Jian was swift and decisive. He immediately sent a few trusted aides to the various prefectures to invite the patriarchs and elders.
By the time the elders gathered at the Marquis Mansion, it was already early in the morning. The main hall of the Marquis Mansion’s outer courtyard was filled with people. They were either white-haired elders or middle-aged men in their forties or fifties. All of them held their heads high and puffed out their chests. Their smiles were bold and dignified.
Gu Yanfei and Gu Yuan were also there. The siblings were younger and naturally sat at the back.
The hall was very noisy, and there was laughter.
The elders were familiar with each other. Some whispered about the past, while others deliberately looked for Gu Yuan to probe why the Marquis Mansion suddenly wanted to split up.
“Old Master, Marquis.”
The servant’s salutation caused the hall to fall silent.
The elders all looked at the entrance and saw Gu Jian and the Wang family personally welcoming the patriarch. The three of them had already walked under the eaves.
After everyone greeted each other, the patriarch and Gu Jian sat at the head of the table.
Gu Jian pretended to cough dryly and said to the patriarch and the others in a hoarse voice, “For the sake of the Marquis Mansion’s family matters, I’ll have to trouble Uncle and the elders to make this trip. I’ve embarrassed myself in front of everyone. I’ll apologize to everyone first.”
Gu Jian bowed to everyone and looked smooth.
The patriarch stroked his goatee and smiled generously. “Marquis, we’re all family. There’s no need to say such empty greetings.”
“Sigh!” Gu Jian’s deep gaze shot to Gu Yuan, who was sitting in the second seat from the front. He sighed helplessly and said, “Brother Yuan wanted to split up the family. Madam and 1 persuaded him again and again, but Brother Yuan and his sister refused to listen and insisted on fighting for their future.”
Gu Jian’s expression was extremely complicated. There was love and helplessness in his expression as he expected better from someone.
Madam Wang didn’t speak. She only held her handkerchief and sighed silently. She shook her head gently in Gu Yuan’s direction and pretended to want to say something but hesitated.
The couple started to show weakness.
Before the patriarch arrived at the Marquis Mansion, the couple had already discussed it in private. They felt that since the Marquis Mansion wanted to split up, the second branch had to be in the right. They couldn’t let outsiders say that he couldn’t tolerate his dead brother’s son.
The patriarch and elders frowned and looked at Gu Yuan disapprovingly.
People nowadays pay attention to the saying, “As long as your parents are around, you can’t split up the family.” As long as Madam Gu was still alive, as her grandson, Gu Yuan should be filial to his grandmother and not ask to split up the family so easily.
“Brother Yuan.” Gu Jian turned to look at Gu Yuan, who was sitting on a rosewood round chair near the entrance. He said earnestly, “The separation of the family is of great importance. You have to think carefully…”
“Since the Marquis has said so, we won’t split up.” Gu Yanfei, who was sitting in the last seat, suddenly interrupted Gu Jian. Her smile was light and gentle, and her eyes were slightly curved.
This smile made Gu Jian’s hair stand on end.
Gu Jian’s eyes widened in shock. His first reaction was: What is she up to now?
The corners of Madam Wang’s eyes twitched. She dug her nails into her palms and looked at Gu Yuan, who was beside Gu Yanfei.
However, Gu Yuan was sitting upright expressionlessly and drinking tea. It was impossible to tell if he was happy or angry.
Meeting Gu Jian and Wang’s surprised eyes, Gu Yanfei continued righteously, “As a junior, Big Brother and 1 should stay in the Marquis Mansion and suffer with our elders. We should share the honor and disgrace of the Marquis Mansion. Only then can we be united as a family.”
She stood up from the chair calmly. Her slender and graceful figure was as elegant as a bamboo, and her words and actions were very measured.
When the patriarch and elders heard this, they nodded repeatedly with approval.
“Well said.” An elder in his seventies with a head of silver hair slapped the armrest and echoed, “It’s inevitable that his tongue and teeth will bump. It’s better to split up if possible.”
The patriarch looked like he agreed.
Gu Yanfei let out a long sigh and looked at Gu Jian awkwardly. “But the Marquis still has to split up the family…”
“Fortunately, the Marquis has changed his mind.”
“Then we siblings will naturally listen to you.”
She smiled slightly. She was as obedient and open-minded as she could be.
When the patriarch and the elders heard her words, they were enlightened and looked at Gu Jian in agreement.
So it was Gu Jian who wanted the separation.
Yes, no wonder he anxiously sent someone to invite all of them. He was afraid that Gu Yuan would go back on his word.
Gu Jian was speechless.
Gu Jian’s expression froze for a moment. There seemed to be a layer of dark clouds above his head, and he cursed in his heart. This niece really spoke nonsense when she saw someone. She changed her attitude faster than flipping a book!
How could they not be separated! Madam Wang’s heart seemed to have been poured with a bucket of oil, and her anger soared.
She stared at Gu Jian with a burning gaze and tugged at his sleeve again, urging him to express his stance.
Gu Jian gripped the armrest of the armchair tightly and looked at the siblings solemnly.
At this moment, even Gu Yuan was no longer as decisive as when he asked to split up the family. It was as if he was really in charge.
However, Gu Jian couldn’t say the word “don’t separate”.
Putting aside the fact that the second branch and the eldest branch had completely fallen out, just based on the relationship between the eldest branch and the Eldest Prince, even if Kang Wang married Gu Yunrong, he couldn’t wholeheartedly believe in the Marquis Mansion. He might even wonder if the Marquis Mansion wanted to please both sides.
After all, Gu Yunrong didn’t have the blood of the Gu family in him. It would be the same for her children in the future.
Since he had already decided to side with Kang Wang, he had to show Kang Wang his sincerity.
At the thought of this, Gu Jian’s eyes gradually settled, and his heart no longer wavered. He said firmly,
“Brother Yuan has grown up and has a bright future ahead of him. As his uncle, I can be considered to have let down my eldest brother’s spirit in heaven.”
“As the saying goes, big trees split into branches, and big families split up.”
This family had to be divided..