Chapter 103 He's a Fool
Meanwhile, inside the flower hall.
Gu Jingxi remained calm, seemingly unaffected by the matter concerning his juniors. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said gently, "Mother, the tea here is excellent. It leaves a lingering fragrance and a sweet aftertaste."
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Gu felt a surge of anger. She glared at him and scolded, "After something like this, you still have the mind to drink tea?"
Gu Jingxi smiled faintly: "We can't let Mother's fine tea go to waste."
Seeing his completely indifferent expression, Old Madam Gu couldn't figure out what he was thinking. She sighed softly and said with melancholy, "Yaoling, Xiuming has been doing increasingly outrageous things lately. He would never have done such outrageous things before."
Gu Jingxi paused in his tea-drinking motion, remained silent for a moment, and then said in a low voice, "Perhaps this is his nature. He can show his best side when things are going well, but his true nature is revealed when things are going badly. Or perhaps he has had too many good years, and he is my only son and the heir to the title, so he is unscrupulous."
Old Madam Gu was heartbroken. The grandson she had personally chosen, the grandson she had cherished for many years, and the grandson she was most satisfied with, was now so unreliable and seemed utterly incapable of shouldering any great responsibility.
The mother and son looked at each other in silence for a long time. Then, Madam Gu sighed again and said, "Yaoling, official duties are never-ending. Take some time to educate him properly and help him change his temperament."
“If he could heed my teachings, how could he keep making the same mistakes? I warned him about Aunt Li’s matter last time, but it hasn’t been long since then, and he’s already acting recklessly again.” Gu Jingxi lowered his eyes to look at the pale green tea, gently swirling the teacup, causing ripples on the surface. His gaze grew even deeper, and he smiled almost imperceptibly.
After hearing this, Madam Gu was stunned and asked hesitantly, "Yaoling, are you just going to abandon him and let him be?" As she spoke, she shook her head disapprovingly, "If a child is not taught, it is the father's fault. How can you, as a father, raise a child without teaching him?"
Gu Jingxi shook his head and said with shame, "Mother, I am powerless. Over the years, I believe I have not neglected your upbringing in terms of either character or knowledge. But alas, rotten wood cannot be carved, and a wall of dung cannot be plastered."
Upon hearing this, Madam Gu fell silent again, her right hand gently moving the prayer beads, her thoughts racing in an instant.
Deep down, she didn't want to give up on this grandson she had doted on for so many years. Besides, how could the heir of the Marquis's mansion be someone who didn't know how to act properly? With Xiu Ming's way of doing things, if Yao Ling didn't suppress Xiu Ming after his death, and Xiu Ming made a mess of things, he might not even be able to keep his title.
She looked at her son and advised, "Xiuming is only sixteen years old this year. He's still young, and his temperament can be changed."
Gu Jingxi didn't reply, her fingers lightly stroking the outside of the teacup, her expression indifferent, revealing no emotion.
Seeing his stubbornness, Old Madam Gu became anxious and immediately gave him a strong dose of medicine: "If you don't care about him, and the Marquis's mansion is ruined in his hands in the future, the century-old foundation of our ancestors will also be destroyed. How will you have the face to meet our ancestors?"
Gu Jingxi replied, "If Mother is worried about this, then this matter is easy to handle."
Madam Gu looked bewildered and confused.
Gu Jingxi smiled faintly: "If he becomes the heir apparent and inherits the title, it will ruin the family's legacy. Changing the heir apparent will solve the problem."
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Gu was startled and looked at her son with surprise and astonishment. A figure flashed through her mind, and she asked hesitantly in a low voice, "Yao Ling, do you intend to cultivate literature?"
Gu Jingxi's expression froze for a moment, then he smiled and said, "Mother, the capable should be in charge, it doesn't necessarily have to be Xiuwen."
Despite her disappointment, Madam Gu still pleaded for her most beloved grandson: "Xiuming is incapable of shouldering great responsibilities now. Let's give him another chance. If he doesn't appreciate it, then let's choose someone capable of taking on great responsibilities as the heir."
Gu Jingxi nodded and said, "Mother, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
"Alright, alright, I don't care anymore." Old Madam Gu sighed, not wanting to continue this unpleasant topic, and said, "Since you're here, why don't you come with me for a walk? It's been a long time since my son and I have taken a walk together."
"good."
Gu Jingxi put down his teacup, stood up and took a few steps forward, reaching out to help her.
Madam Gu gave him a reproachful glare: "I know you are filial, but I am not old enough to need help walking."
Gu Jingxi smiled apologetically and said, "Mother is right."
-
Everyone in the manor knew about the fight between Gu Xiuming and the other two that morning.
However, Madam Gu had given a gag order, and none of the maids in charge dared to spread the word, so no one knew why the group had fought.
The second wife's side was also unaware of the situation. Gu Jingsong was not interested in the squabbles between children, and Gu Xiuhong was not a gossipy person either. He didn't even have the idea of sending someone to inquire. He locked himself in his study and focused solely on reading the classics.
However, the second wife, Madam Chen, was interested in this matter. That afternoon, she went to Wei Rui Xuan to chat with Meng Jin Yao and inquire about the news.
After exchanging pleasantries with her, Madam Chen got down to business: "Third sister-in-law, I heard that Xiuming, Xiuwen, and the Second Young Master Meng had a fight this morning?"
Meng Jinyao had already anticipated that she had come for this matter, and nodded frankly: "That is indeed the case."
Ms. Chen pressed further, "Why did these children suddenly start fighting?"
Meng Jinyao sighed: "Second sister-in-law must know what kind of person Xiuming is. He has been acting recklessly lately. This morning, he slandered someone. Xiuwen and my second brother couldn't stand it and argued with him. Who would have thought that he would get angry and hit Xiuwen, which eventually escalated into a fight between the three of them."
Upon hearing this, Madam Chen became interested and sighed along with Meng Jinyao: "Xiu Ming is a bit impulsive. How could he lay a hand on his own brother? I heard that Xiu Wen was beaten black and blue. It's quite pitiful." She paused for a moment, then asked, "But who did Xiu Ming slander? He actually angered both Xiu Wen and Young Master Meng."
Meng Jinyao glanced at her indifferently, satisfying her curiosity: "My second brother is doing well. He passed the Lingshan Academy's examination and will soon be enrolling in the academy. However, Xiuming saw that Xiuwen got into the academy through my husband's connections, so he assumed that my second brother also got in through my husband's connections. He also slandered me, which led to a dispute between them, and they ended up fighting."
Upon hearing this, Chen understood immediately.
So that's how it is. She had previously guessed that her brother-in-law might want to adopt Xiuwen into the third branch of the family so that he could replace Xiuming as the heir.
Now that Xiuming has disappointed his brother-in-law and mother-in-law one after another, they might really adopt Xiuwen and make him the heir of the Marquis's mansion, while Xiuming will only hold the title of the eldest son of the third branch.
What an idiot!
He was punished so severely for running away from his marriage; he should keep a low profile from now on. His repeated self-destructive behavior is probably because he's afraid the position of heir will change hands too quickly.
Look how clever Xiuwen is!
When she heard her brother slandering her aunt and her brother, the child immediately stood up and argued with her brother. Although she was injured in the end, she left a good impression on her elders and paved a bright path for her future. No wonder Zhang was so proud of her when she saw her earlier.
After a moment, Madam Chen said meaningfully, "Third sister-in-law, Xiuwen is still the most filial child."
Meng Jinyao understood her unspoken meaning but didn't want to explain. She smiled and nodded, "Indeed, she is filial." After saying that, she picked up the small teapot and refilled Chen's tea.
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