Chapter 622: Eradication (1)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Gu Yanfei straightened her dress a little and ignored the cat. She followed the old woman who came to report to her to the hall of the outer courtyard.
From afar, she saw the patriarch in a green robe walking back and forth in the hall. Even if he didn’t say a word, he couldn’t hide the uneasiness and discomfort in his heart with every move.
Seeing Gu Yanfei walk over, the patriarch’s old face revealed a fawning smile. “Yanfei, you asked someone to call me over. Is there anything urgent?” the patriarch asked kindly. He no longer had the air of an elder and lowered his posture.
Ever since Gu Jian and the others were locked in the imperial prison, everyone in the clan could be said to be in a panic. They were afraid that one day, the Embroidered Uniform Guards would also rush to their house to take them away and let them be punished with Gu Jian.
Therefore, as soon as Gu Yanfei sent someone to pass the message, the patriarch couldn’t wait to come.
Gu Yanfei casually stroked her sleeve and said calmly, “Gu Yunrong has already changed his surname to Li. I specially invited my grandfather here to change the genealogy.”
“…” The patriarch still didn’t know what had happened in Tianhe Garden and widened his eyes in surprise.
Gu Yanfei briefly explained the whole story. The patriarch was amazed and had mixed feelings.
After learning that it was the Emperor who had given the decree, the patriarch naturally had no objections and agreed without a word. “I’ll get someone to call the elders over now. I’ll immediately open the ancestral hall and change the genealogy. I’ll remove Gu… Li Yunrong from the genealogy.”
At this point, the patriarch was already indifferent to whether there was a Princess Consort Kang in the clan.
He was more concerned about…
“Yanfei, then your second uncle, Brother Xiao, and the others…” The patriarch looked at Gu Yanfei carefully and probed with a deep frown. He had long cursed Gu Jian, this brainless nephew, countless times in his heart.
Gu Yanfei took a sip of tea and moistened her throat. She sighed slightly and didn’t answer the question. “After Kang Wang returned from Tianhe Garden, he had already gone to the North Town Bureau to fetch Li Yunrong out of the imperial prison. The Emperor allowed them to get married in three days.”
“…” The patriarch continued to stare at Gu Yanfei and didn’t react. After all, Li Yunrong’s surname was Li. Whether she married Kang Wang had nothing to do with the Gu family.
Gu Yanfei raised her eyebrows and reminded him earnestly, “Don’t you understand, great-uncle?”
She used a questioning tone, but her expression was very certain.
The patriarch frowned and focused on thinking. Only then did he slowly understand the meaning behind her words just now. His pupils quickly constricted.
Gu Yunrong changed her surname to Li and would marry Kang Wang in three days’ time.
This matter seemed to be the Emperor’s kindness, but it was actually clearly causing trouble for Kang Wang by letting him marry the daughter of a slave to be the princess consort.
In other words, it was impossible for Gu Jian to escape punishment. Therefore, Kang Wang had no choice but to take this step just to let the Embroidered Uniform Guards let Li Yunrong go.
The patriarch’s entire body trembled, and the muscles on his face twitched uncontrollably a few times. His right hand clenched the armrest of the purple sandalwood armchair, and veins popped up on the back of his hand, which was covered in old spots.
He profoundly realized something.
Since even Kang Wang was helpless, Gu Jian was hopeless.
This case was already a foregone conclusion.
This realization made the patriarch afraid. It was spring outside, but his heart felt as cold as if he had fallen into an ice cave. His eyes revealed a nervous expression.
Gu Jian was implicated in a rebellion. What about their clansmen?
Even if the crime didn’t involve the nine races and exile, if someone in the clan was suspected of plotting a rebellion, it would probably punish a lot of the clan’s assets. Moreover, even the reading examinations, entry into the ranks, and marriage of their children would be more or less affected.
According to the old example, anyone involved in a conspiracy would be severely punished, such as Madam Yu’s entire family being confiscated. The lightest punishment would also be to fine 30% of the clan’s assets, and even three generations wouldn’t be allowed to take the imperial examination.
Gu Yanfei slowly used the tea lid to remove the foam, her eyes shining with a cold light.
Nine years ago, his father, Gu Ce, was charged with subduing the enemy. His father couldn’t even be buried in the Gu family’s ancestral grave. Of course, this couldn’t be decided by Old Madam Gu alone. She must have obtained the agreement of the patriarchs and elders in the family.
Back then, his eldest brother, Gu Yuan, was only nine years old. His future was uncertain, and Gu Jian had become a noble. Why did the patriarch and the others make this choice at that time? To put it bluntly, it was to weigh the gains and losses.
It wasn’t that it couldn’t be understood, but it made one’s teeth turn cold!
For their own benefit, they stood on Old Madam Gu and Gu Jian’s side nine years ago and abandoned the eldest branch.
For their own benefit, what would they choose nine years later?!