Chapter 380: Assets (2)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The patriarch was talking about them, but he was only asking about Gu Yuan.
After all, according to the ancestral system, the second branch would definitely take the lion’s share and be the beneficiary. Meanwhile, Gu Yuan would only receive 15% of the family business. It was really not worth mentioning. Now, it depended on whether Gu Yuan had any objections.
Gu Yuan nodded decisively again and said, “Sure.”
To Gu Yuan, he didn’t split up the family to fight for the Marquis Mansion’s assets. Instead, he wanted to bring his sister to the Marquis Mansion and stay away from these annoying people and matters.
He was confident that he could build his own future and become the support of his sister.
Gu Yuan’s expression was abnormally calm. His face was filled with pride, like the wind and frost.
“I have no objections either.” Gu Jian nodded and couldn’t help but look at Gu Yanfei.
This girl was a troublemaker from beginning to end.
Gu Jian was 99% sure that Gu Yanfei was instigating Gu Yuan to split up.
From the fact that this girl had hooked up with the Eldest Prince, it could be seen that she was too ambitious. Would she be willing to let the eldest branch only receive so little assets?!
In the next moment, Gu Jian met Gu Yanfei’s abnormally clear eyes. The girl’s eyebrows were like a painting, and there seemed to be dazzling starlight circulating in her eyes. Her cherry lips parted slightly.
“The first branch that inherits the title can inherit 70%?” Gu Yanfei asked generously.
“That’s right.” The patriarch stroked his beard and nodded. “This rule was set by your great-grandfather. He said that if the descendants of this noble family aren’t good, the family business will become thinner and thinner. Then, the heir will support the family business.”
Gu Yanfei’s great-grandfather was the first generation Marquis of Dingyuan, Gu Yao, who had followed Emperor Taizu to establish the country.
It wasn’t uncommon for families to split up their assets like this. It was also because most noble families were unwilling to split up their assets and wanted to follow closely behind heavy-laden wagons.
Another round-faced elder in his fifties added kindly, “Your grandfather also got 70% when he split up the family.”
“I had to split 10% with your third and fourth uncles.”
Among the elders present, there were also the three concubine brothers of the Old Marquis, Gu Xuan. They were all Gu Yuan and Gu Yanfei’s uncles.
They were also afraid that the eldest branch would feel that the division of the assets was unfair, so they explained.
Gu Jian stared at Gu Yanfei intently. He felt that this girl wouldn’t stop. He heard her ask again, “Patriarch, what if my Gu family loses the title?”
The patriarch was stunned. He sighed and replied, “If your descendants are useless and lose their title, the family that inherits the family business will inherit the ancestral business and take 70% of the family business.”
The title of Marquis Mansion could be inherited for five generations. After that, he would be demoted to an earl. This title couldn’t be passed down for generations. Gu Yao also understood this, so he set this rule.
“I understand.” Gu Yanfei nodded and didn’t raise any objections. It seemed that she was just curious and asked casually.
Seeing that the process of splitting up the family was so smooth, the patriarch and elders were relieved and exchanged glances.
After splitting up the family, no matter what, they were still from the same family. Even if there were some conflicts, the Gu family would break their bones and tendons to defend themselves. It was best if they could split up the family in harmony.
Gu Jian was overjoyed. The corners of his eyes and eyebrows were filled with smiles. He quickly instructed the servants to move the accounts and list of assets in the residence.
After two cups of tea, a few servants carried several heavy boxes to the main hall and opened the lids one by one, emitting a musty smell that hadn’t seen the sun for a long time.
The boxes were filled with ledgers of various sizes. Two of them were very old. The covers were faded, the pages were yellow, and there was a lot of dust rising.
The patriarch and elders covered their noses with their sleeves and looked at each other with a headache.
The Gu family was originally from the countryside. It was only because the Marquis of Dingyuan’s family followed Emperor Taizu’s uprising that they became the illustrious Gu family.
Most of the elders present had studied for a few years, but they were only at the level of literacy.
So many boxes of account books couldn’t be sorted out in a few hours. At the very least, they had to ask the accountant to help them tidy up for a few days.
The patriarch took out a handkerchief and wiped his itchy nose. He wanted to get someone to carry these ledgers to the side hall first, but before he could say anything, he suddenly thought of something and asked Gu Jian, “Marquis, where’s your mother?”
It was such a big matter for the Marquis Mansion to split up, but Madam Gu didn’t appear.
The patriarch recalled that Madam Gu had been sick for a few days during the new year and asked with concern, “Could it be that she’s still sick?”
The smile on Gu Jian’s lips froze. It was only at this moment that he remembered that the Great Madam was still kneeling at the entrance.
Madam Wang’s expression was also a little unnatural.
Just now, the couple was in a hurry to split up the family and had actually forgotten about Madam Gu.
Seeing that Gu Jian’s expression was a little strange, the patriarch asked, “Could your mother’s condition have worsened again?”
Gu Jian’s hand, which was hidden in his sleeve, twitched unnaturally. His mind raced as he looked at Gu Yuan and sighed. “Thank you for your concern, Uncle. My mother’s body has already recovered, but…”
After a pause, he continued, “Because Brother Yuan’s killing of Feng He has caused an uproar in the court, my mother was nervous and felt that she hadn’t taught Brother Yuan well. She went to the palace to apologize.”
What?! The patriarch and elders widened their eyes. A few of them subconsciously looked at Gu Yuan, who was still calm not far away.
This was a huge matter regarding the Gu family’s reputation!
Why didn’t Madam Gu discuss it with the family before entering the palace?!
Seeing that the patriarch’s face was filled with disapproval, Gu Jian hurriedly explained, “Uncle, eight years ago, Big Brother committed a crime and almost implicated the entire family. The Marquis Mansion was almost seized by the previous Emperor. Now, this matter isn’t small. The Marquis Mansion has been walking on thin ice all these years. My mother had no choice…”
Speaking of Gu Ce’s past, the patriarch’s expression became even more complicated.
He had watched Gu Ce grow up and was once the pride of the Marquis Mansion. In the end, he died young, and his reputation was ruined.
Gu Yuan was Gu Ce’s son. This was karma that he couldn’t escape in his life. Even if he wanted to forget it, no one could.
The patriarch looked at Gu Yuan with some pity.
Gu Yuan was still sitting on the round chair. 1 lis body was as straight as a mountain ridge, and his entire body was covered in an aura as cold as ice.
“Since the Eldest Madam is still there, go and bring her back,” Gu Yanfei said with a smile. His slender fingers casually curled up the silk ribbon that tied his hair. The purple silk ribbon made her slender fingers look as fair as jade.
“How can the Eldest Madam not be around for such a big matter like splitting up the family?!”