Su Qing’s words made Gu Wangchen ashamed, and he felt even more sad after hearing Gu Qian’s words.

His eyes never left Gu Qian. He slowly slid down and sat on the ground, his eyes level with Gu Qian's.

My eyes should have been so clear when I was a child, right? If my mother taught me like Su Qing, would I still do those things?

The words that had been spoken long ago rang clearly in his ears:

Son, the village headman's pear harvest is coming soon. You're good-looking and likable, so go and say something sweet to the old man, and maybe he'll give you one. If he doesn't, you can steal one when no one's looking. Even if they see you, they won't make a fuss.

Mom, I'm afraid I'll go to jail if I steal.

What a good-for-nothing! How could a broken pear possibly go to jail?

Mother, I will study hard and pass the imperial examination. Then I will buy you lots of pears and meat.

Well, if you pass the imperial examination and become a high-ranking official, as powerful as a county magistrate, we can eat and drink delicious food, and pears and meat are nothing to us.

…

Son, you went to Lao Xu's house to eat meat, but why didn't you bring me some snacks? It's been hard for me to raise you.

Son, why did you only bring back two pieces of snacks? If you had a few copper coins, you could buy two taels of meat.

Son, what's this little bit of money worth? It's New Year's Eve, and you need to make me some new clothes. The Xu family is rich, and that girl is stupid. Try to squeeze in more.

My son, Xu Qingyan is dead, and the Xu family is going to fall into decline. You are so knowledgeable and handsome, how can that silly girl be worthy of you? Oh, my poor son, he has no one to help him, and there are still a bunch of people who eat for free.

…

The older he gets, the more he wants, even more than his mother. If his mother had taught her like Su Qing, would he have ended up like this?

Tears welled up in his eyes, and he said softly, "Qian'er, my...uncle is a lesson for you. You must listen carefully to mother's words."

Gu Qian was no longer afraid of this person. He stood up from behind Su Qing and said, "I always listen to my mother. When we go home, I will go to a private school. When I grow up, I will not be an official, but a great scholar and study."

These words made Gu Wangchen feel a little regretful, but if he hadn't become an official, at least he wouldn't have reached this point.

He nodded, then looked up at Su Qing and said, "Qing'er, I'm sorry..."

Su Qing sighed, squatted down and put the food box on the ground, took out the sliced ​​braised meat wrapped in oil paper and a small pot of wine.

Said, "Eat, we can only stay here for a quarter of an hour."

Gu Wangchen grabbed a few pieces of meat and stuffed them into his mouth. He picked up the wine jug and tilted his head back to pour it into his mouth. The wine flowed out from the corners of his mouth and then flowed down his messy short beard. He choked and coughed a few times, then continued drinking.

Su Qing covered her mouth with her hands, wanting to cry but unable to. The previous Gu Wangchen was as elegant and clean as a banished immortal from heaven. That Gu Wangchen seemed to be far away in the past life, and had nothing to do with the dirty man in front of her.

Gu Qian urged again, "Uncle, drink slowly. If you like it, we will bring it to you next time."

There were only two taels of wine in the pot, and he finished it in a few gulps.

Gu Wangchen put down the wine jug, wiped his mouth, smiled at Gu Qian, and asked Su Qing, "Do you know anything about my mother?"

Su Qing spoke frankly, "I heard from Grandma Wen Si that she lay in bed for several days with no one to take care of her and she starved to death."

When the soldiers came to search my house and arrest me, I was home with Zhou and her son, a dozen servants, and two relatives who came to extort money. My mother actually starved to death. Also, my mother's mouth made everyone dislike her... Wait, isn't Fourth Grandma Wen Xu Lanyin? It turns out she still cares about me.

A gleam of light flashed in Gu Wangchen's eyes, and a smile appeared on his decadent and dirty face. He said, "Xu Lanyin also knows about me?"

A trace of pity flashed across Su Qing's face as she said, "Of course she knows. She was the one who brought us here, and we're living at her house now."

Gu Wangchen gripped the iron railings tighter, grinned and chuckled a few times, then whispered, "Qing'er, these days I've been thinking that the two people I feel most sorry for in this life are you and her. You were so good to me, but I wished you were dead back then. I was blinded by greed and my future. If I had been able to keep any one of you, I wouldn't have ended up like this... Alas, the past is too painful to look back on. Qing'er, when you see Xu Lanyin, tell her that I know I was wrong. My mother made me do all those things before. She is Wen Zhuo'an's wife and is very much loved by the Empress Dowager. If she wants to save me, it's not too late. When I get out, I will no longer think about wealth and glory, and I will live a good life with you and the children. I am knowledgeable and will personally teach Qian'er so that he can pass the imperial examination... Oh, no, become a great scholar. Qing'er, please, please beg Xu Lanyin, she will help..."

His voice was trembling with excitement, as if the light was just ahead.

Su Qing's heart had been filled with sorrow and heartache. After hearing his words, her heart seemed to freeze, so cold that her body began to tremble. Only after she calmed down did she realize that this was Gu Wangchen's true nature. Even at the brink of death, he still hadn't realized his mistakes and was trying to shift the blame onto others.

She said in a cold voice, "Gu Wangchen, you overestimate me, and you as well. What is my relationship with Xu Lanyin, and what is your relationship with her? Why should we ask her to break the law and help you? Also, your mother is wrong for getting to where you are today, but you are more wrong. There is an old saying, 'Good shoots come out of bad bamboos'. You could have ignored your mother. Besides, it wasn't just your mother who taught you, but also your husband, Madam Xu, so many superiors, and the laws of the court... But you only listened to your mother and went along with those people. That saying is so true. You are being arrested now, and it only harms you. If you are arrested in the future, the whole family will be in trouble... Okay, we're leaving. I'll come to see you next month."

As she spoke, Su Qing bent down, picked up the wine jug, put it into the food box, and walked out with Gu Qian.

"Qing'er, Qing'er..." Gu Wangchen's voice echoed in the prison.

Su Qing walked forward without looking back, and Gu Qian looked back from time to time at "Uncle Gu" whom he could no longer see clearly.

As they walked out of the cell door, the scorching sun made it impossible for them to open their eyes. The rolling heat waves hit their faces, and even the little Gu Qian took a comfortable breath.

"Mom, it's so nice to bask in the sunshine." Gu Qian pulled Su Qing's clothes again and asked, "Mom, why don't you ask Aunt Xu to help Uncle?"

Su Qing looked down at him and said solemnly, "He has committed a serious crime punishable by beheading. No one can save him. Everyone must be responsible for his words and deeds. People should not only have knowledge, but also virtue."

Gu Qian said, "Oh, I see. One must be both virtuous and talented."

Three months later, Gu Wangchen was beheaded.

Su Qing and her son bought a coffin and took Gu Wangchen's body back to Lin County. Gu Wangchen's body could not be buried in the Gu family's ancestral tomb, so it was buried outside Lin County.