Chapter 154 Too Abnormal
Side hall.
Gu Xiuming sat in the chair, waiting quietly.
Not long after, when Meng Jinyao and Gu Jingxi arrived, they saw him sitting upright, whom they hadn't seen for a month.
Meng Jinyao glanced at him discreetly. She wondered if it was just her imagination, but after a month apart, her adopted son seemed a little different. He appeared more composed and less foolish.
When Gu Xiuming saw them arrive, he quickly stood up and respectfully bowed to them, saying, "Your son greets your father and mother."
Seeing this, Meng Jinyao looked him over again, and he seemed to have become much more composed.
Gu Jingxi said calmly, "No need for formalities, sit down and let's talk."
After he finished speaking, he and Meng Jinyao sat down on the left and right sides of the main seat.
Gu Xiuming picked up the thick stack of papers covered with writing that he had previously placed on the small tea table, then stepped forward and handed the stack of papers to Gu Jingxi, saying, "Father, this is the 'Classic of Filial Piety' that I copied during my period of reflection at Qingyuxuan. I have copied it a hundred times. Please take a look."
Gu Jingxi took the stack of papers, paused after hearing his words, and asked, "I remember I told you to copy it fifty times."
Gu Xiuming looked apologetic and remorseful, and replied, "Father, I feel that copying it fifty times is not enough to put my mind at ease. I offended my second uncle and slandered my mother's reputation. I am truly unfilial. After deep reflection, I regret my actions. Therefore, I copied it fifty more times to express my apology to my second uncle and my mother."
As he spoke, he turned to Meng Jinyao, knelt down with a thud, and sincerely apologized: "Mother, your son is unfilial. I offended my second uncle and should not have been disrespectful to you repeatedly, let alone slandered your reputation. These days, whenever I think of what I have done, I feel ashamed and unworthy of being a son. From now on, I will turn over a new leaf and be a better person. I will definitely be filial to you in the future. Please forgive your unfilial son, Xiuming."
After speaking, Gu Xiuming kowtowed three times to Meng Jinyao. When he kowtowed for the last time, his forehead remained on the floor, as if he was waiting for Meng Jinyao to express her opinion. If Meng Jinyao did not forgive him, he would not get up.
This sincere repentance and apology shocked Meng Jinyao, catching her off guard. Just a month ago, he was a rebellious son, but now he sincerely admitted his mistakes and was trying to start anew.
Could it be that Gu Xiuming has truly turned over a new leaf and become sensible?
That's impossible. Gu Xiuming hates her so much, he wishes she were dead. How could he suddenly change so much, apologize to her, and show filial piety to her?
Something unusual must be going on!
It's not that she's overthinking things; she's judging others by her own petty standards. It's because things have changed so much. If Gu Xiuming had truly reflected on his actions and changed for the better, then when he was caught running away from his arranged marriage, severely punished, confined to the ancestral hall to reflect on his mistakes, and forced to copy the family rules a hundred times, he should have reflected on his actions, reformed himself, and started anew.
Not only Meng Jinyao, but even the usually calm and composed Gu Jingxi was stunned by his actions. He looked at his son kneeling on the ground with his forehead still touching the ground. His sincere repentance was truly touching, but it was also a bit sudden.
Not hearing a reply from the couple, Gu Xiuming kowtowed three more times, saying sincerely, "Mother, I really know I was wrong. Please forgive me this time. I promise there will never be a next time."
If a younger person sincerely admits their mistake, and the elder does not respond, it would be considered unreasonable.
Therefore, no matter how much doubt Meng Jinyao had, she expressed her opinion at this moment, adopting the demeanor of a loving mother, and speaking in a gentle and affectionate tone: "Son, the ground is cold, so don't kneel down, get up and talk first."
Gu Xiuming remained kneeling, unmoved: "Mother, your son is guilty. If you do not forgive your son, your son will kneel here forever."
Meng Jinyao was taken aback, unsure of his intentions. She frowned slightly, but whether he was being sincere or not, she played along, putting on a gentle and loving smile, and said softly, "How can a mother and son hold a grudge overnight? Since you have admitted your mistake, your mother will forgive you. Let bygones be bygones. Get up now."
"Son thanks Mother for forgiveness. I was wrong before, and I will never do it again. I will be a good son to Father and Mother." Gu Xiuming spoke with deep emotion, almost shedding a few tears. After speaking, he kowtowed three times to Meng Jinyao before getting up.
When Meng Jinyao saw his reddened forehead, she thought to herself: He's really tough on himself, hitting himself so hard that it's even bleeding.
Gu Jingxi looked at his son with an inscrutable expression, his eyes deep and unfathomable. After staring at him for a long while, he said, "Xiuming, since you have sincerely repented, we will not mention the past. In the future, you must respect your elders, love your brothers, study hard, and strive to pass the imperial examinations as soon as possible to bring honor to your ancestors."
Gu Xiuming nodded respectfully: "Yes, Father."
Gu Jingxi said, "Don't stand there, sit down and talk."
Gu Xiuming responded and returned to his seat. As soon as he sat down, he seemed to remember something and said, "Mother, it was wrong of me to run away from the marriage before, which made you lose face. I was ignorant before and even blamed you for it. For this, I still owe you an apology."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao narrowed her eyes, glanced at him indifferently, and replied, "Let's not talk about the past. I am your father's wife now, and we are not destined to be together. If we were, things would not be like this now."
Gu Xiuming nodded: "You are right, but it is indeed my fault. I have brought shame to you and Father, and what happened afterward has also affected the reputation of my brothers. It is truly my fault. I will apologize to my brothers later."
Gu Jingxi's face darkened, and he said in a low voice, "Now that you know how absurd you were before, you should think twice before doing things in the future, and don't make a fool of yourself again. If you make a fool of yourself, it won't just be your problem, the entire Marquis's mansion will be ridiculed."
Gu Xiuming hurriedly replied, "Your son will follow your teachings, Father."
Afterwards, Gu Jingxi spoke some profound truths to him. Seeing that he seemed to have taken them to heart, he tested his knowledge. Since he hadn't been studying lately and his grades had fallen behind, Gu Jingxi urged him to study hard.
Gu Xiuming agreed to all of them, saying that he would return to the academy to attend classes the next day and study diligently thereafter, striving to pass the imperial examinations as soon as possible.
His attitude was impeccable. Gu Jingxi was satisfied with his attitude, whether he was genuinely aware of his mistake or not. She then said, "Your grandmother hasn't seen you in a long time. Go and pay your respects to her."
Upon hearing this, Gu Xiuming hurriedly replied, "Father, I'm going to Grandmother's place later."
Gu Jingxi nodded slightly: "Let's go now."
Gu Xiuming acknowledged the order, bid farewell to his elders, and then left.
Meng Jinyao stared at Gu Xiuming's departing figure, her eyes deep and unfathomable. Only after his figure disappeared from sight did she turn her gaze to the man beside her and ask in confusion, "Husband, do you think our eldest son took the wrong medicine today?"
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