"Don't you think Granny Gu and Gu Qiulin look a lot alike? They're both sharp-tongued and mean-spirited. Gu Qiulin looks like a younger version of Granny Gu." In fact, Fu Yuzhong had this idea for a long time. In addition, there were many rumors in Xiangyang Village. The old women often speculated that Gu Qingtang was the real daughter of Old Master Gu. That's what they said, but there was no direct evidence to prove it. Maybe, like the Cui family, the lineage was changed again and again. The truth is probably only known to the Gu family.

Grandma Fu nodded heavily. "I can guarantee that Gu Qiulin is definitely Granny Gu's biological daughter. Because the Gu family is a branch of the Gu family in Beijing, they have always wanted to take their place. So they switched their own daughter to be an inside agent and deliberately ruined the Gu family."

"No wonder Granny Gu abused her youngest daughter so much, maliciously ruining her face and making her unrecognizable. She probably did it to prevent her biological parents from recognizing Gu Qingtang. Believe it or not, I actually saw Gu Qingtang's true face. She was only five years old at the time, and she looked exactly like a miniature version of Old Madam Gu!"

"Gu Qiulin has always known about her background. The Gu family's goal is to replace the direct line of the Gu family. The Cui family switched children. I know Gu's mother's mentality very well; their intentions are almost identical to the Cui family's—they all want to be superior to others."

The mother and son, working in unison, exposed the true colors of Gu Qiulin and Gu Yarou.

Shen Chunman generously bestowed a "you still have some conscience" look upon her ex-husband and his mother. These words, spoken by Old Madam Fu and her son, carried more weight than those of Wanwan and Jingchen, simply because Old Madam Fu and Gu Wanwan had once been at odds, and there was no reason for her to speak well of her enemy.

With the Gu siblings personally confirming the news, Beijing is likely about to undergo another major upheaval.

Sheng Qing exaggeratedly exclaimed, "No way! The other members of our aristocratic family all knew this morning. Gu Qiulin's cold-bloodedness and ruthlessness are indeed suspicious. Secondly, she doesn't look like Grandpa Gu or Grandma Gu at all. I remember once I saw Granny Gu in Beijing, having dinner with Gu Qiulin at a roast duck restaurant. The two of them do look quite alike, if not nine out of ten, then eight out of ten."

"It is evident that Gu Qiulin has been secretly contacting the Gu family all these years. This Gu family is said to be a collateral branch, but in fact, it has no relation to the direct line. She is the child of her ex-husband, who was brought into the family by a concubine. She has no blood relation to Grandpa Gu, but she has always wanted to replace the Gu family. Later, she lost the struggle and left the capital. The meritorious officials of the five great families are very clear about these secrets!"

Gu Wanwan's lips curled into a cold, mocking smile. "Shi Zhenxiang, you and Gu Qiulin are enemies of the Gu family, sworn enemies. Don't think you can intimidate us by bringing up Gu Qiulin. Grandpa and Grandma already know the evil deeds Gu Qiulin has done to our brothers and sisters. They've seen her true colors and won't be fooled by you anymore. When Grandpa and Grandma return home and take power, the first thing they'll do is kick you and Gu Qiulin out of the Gu family. You call yourselves the head of the Gu family? You're unworthy of the position!"

"Gu Qingtang, whom the Gu family has been trying to torment in every way, is my uncle's wife, my aunt. Before Gu Qingtang's identity was clear, my grandparents took her in as their goddaughter. Gu Yarou and Xu Luoxue tried to stop and oppose this, but so what? My grandparents don't tolerate them and don't recognize them as their granddaughters anymore. This time when we return to Beijing, my grandparents will take Gu Qingtang with them. Gu Qiulin should step down and give way."

Although Shi Zhenxiang had been Gu's wife for over twenty years, she never knew that Gu Qiulin's identity was problematic. After all, her husband had never mentioned it, and it was possible that he was unaware of it either.

She naively believed that Gu Qiulin could suppress the Gu siblings, but in the end, it all turned out to be a joke.

how so……

Even more seriously, the two old folks, He Yarou and Xu Luoxue, had a complete falling out. When Gu's parents-in-law returned to Beijing, the second wife and Gu Qiulin directly announced their abdication.

Without the Gu family's halo and power, their status plummeted, and who would take them seriously in the future?

Should I seek refuge with a lower-ranking family and establish my own family as a lower-ranking one? Wouldn't I be looked down upon by the scions of prominent families in Beijing's elite circles?