Chapter 155 There's Definitely a Trick
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?"
Gu Jingxi paused slightly, then asked, "What does Madam think?"
Meng Jinyao didn't want to pretend to be a loving mother in front of him anymore. She narrowed her eyes slightly and said in a low voice, "I think he's either taken the wrong medicine or bewitched. There's no way he'd really apologize to me and change his ways."
Upon hearing this, Gu Jingxi glanced at her indifferently and did not refute her words.
Meng Jinyao asked curiously, "Husband, what do you think he's planning to do?"
Gu Jingxi was silent for a while, then said in a low voice, "You don't need to worry about what he does, as long as he doesn't cause trouble. If he does cause trouble, I will punish him myself."
Meng Jinyao nodded. As long as Gu Xiuming didn't cause her trouble, she could pretend he didn't exist. In public, she didn't mind putting on a show of motherly love and filial piety with Gu Xiuming. Then she asked, "Husband, do you believe he has really changed for the better?"
Gu Jingxi declined to comment, only saying, "Let's wait and see."
Meng Jinyao pursed her lips. A father might believe his son to some extent, but she didn't. However, she didn't want to say too much, lest she be accused of sowing discord between father and son. She casually picked up the copy of the Classic of Filial Piety that Gu Xiuming had made and took a look at it.
It must be said that although Gu Xiuming was not a good person, his calligraphy was quite good, flowing smoothly and elegantly.
Gu Jingxi asked, "What is Madam looking at this for?"
Meng Jinyao replied, "I never realized before that his handwriting is quite nice. It seems to have some resemblance to yours."
Upon hearing this, Gu Jingxi turned his head to take a look and replied, "When he was young, he practiced calligraphy using my calligraphy copybook."
Meng Jinyao nodded knowingly: "No wonder, I was wondering why I saw your shadow."
Gu Jingxi gave a soft "hmm" and said gently, "Madam, I have something to do and need to go out. You don't need to wait for me for lunch, and you don't need to wait for me if I don't come back by evening."
Meng Jinyao nodded: "Since my husband has something to do, then go and get busy, don't let it interfere with important matters."
After Gu Jingxi left, Ningdong could no longer contain her frustration and said bluntly, "Madam, the young master actually apologized to you today. I think he's either possessed by an evil spirit or he's up to no good."
Meng Jinyao shrugged nonchalantly: "Who cares? We'll deal with whatever comes our way."
Seeing her nonchalant attitude, Ning Dong frowned: "Madam, you must not be careless. It is said that you should not have the heart to harm others, but you must be wary of others. Better safe than sorry. What if he seems to have become better on the surface, but is actually plotting how to deal with you?"
“It’s necessary to be wary of him, but we don’t know what his motives are right now, so let’s hold back for now.” Meng Jinyao said, her face darkening and her eyes growing cold. “If he uses any dirty tricks, I will not let him get away with it.”
Ningdong nodded, then asked curiously, "Madam, what's wrong with him? He wasn't like this last month. How come he's changed so much in just one month?"
Meng Jinyao pondered for a moment and then replied, "Perhaps he has been punished repeatedly, lost the trust of his elders, and disappointed them. Now he wants to regain his image in their eyes. Anyway, I can't believe he will change for the better unless he can pretend forever."
Ning Dong stared blankly for a moment, then said quietly, "It would have been better if he had stayed the way he was before."
Meng Jinyao was stunned, then her lips curled into an inscrutable smile.
Indeed, it's better to be reckless and foolish; that way, you're easier to deal with. But now, things are much harder to handle.
But people, after experiencing many setbacks, will eventually grow and become more shrewd.
Gu Xiuming was probably like that. He used to have a smooth life, but after being caught running away from his arranged marriage, he suffered setbacks and his arrogant pride was broken. He learned to be patient and put on a mask of hypocrisy.
It's just a matter of how long Gu Xiuming can keep up the act.
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Shou'an Hall.
When Madam Gu learned that Gu Xiuming had arrived, she belatedly realized that she hadn't seen him for a month since he was confined to his quarters after fighting with Xiuwen and Chengzhang.
I haven't seen him for a long time, but I don't really miss him, probably because I'm utterly disappointed in this grandson.
Seeing that she remained unmoved, and remembering that Gu Xiuming was, after all, the heir apparent, Granny Feng advised, "Madam, the heir apparent has arrived. Why don't you go and see him?"
Madam Gu said calmly, "Let him in."
A short while later, Gu Xiuming entered and bowed to Old Madam Gu.
Old Madam Gu looked him over. After not seeing him for a long time, her grandson seemed to have become much more mature, probably because of the setbacks he had suffered. When she saw his slightly bruised forehead, she asked in surprise, "Xiuming, what happened to your forehead?"
"Forehead?"
Gu Xiuming reached out and touched it, seemingly feeling pain. His sword-like eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he replied, "Grandson is fine, Grandmother need not worry. I just went to Father and Mother to pay my respects and apologize to Mother. Mother is kind and did not hold it against me, and forgave me."
Madam Gu was taken aback: "You're going to apologize to A-Yao?"
Gu Xiuming lowered his head in shame, regretting his actions, and said, "For the past month, I have been reflecting on myself and have realized that I was extremely wrong. I disrespected my elders and even slandered them. I am truly ashamed. Today, my confinement period is over, so I have come to Mother to apologize and beg for her forgiveness."
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Gu was both shocked and astonished. She never expected that her hopeless grandson would have a day of repentance. The bruise on his forehead must have been left from kowtowing to A Yao to apologize. If he could bruise his forehead, he certainly wasn't just going through the motions. It seemed that he had truly repented sincerely.
Gu Xiuming looked up at her, then knelt down with a thud, saying apologetically, "Grandmother, I still owe you an apology. You had high hopes for me, but I was willful and reckless, which disappointed you and let you down."
After saying that, he kowtowed three times to Old Madam Gu.
Seeing this, Madam Gu hurriedly said, "Xiuming, what are you doing? Get up quickly."
Gu Xiuming responded and slowly stood up.
When Madam Gu saw that his forehead was bleeding, and that he had kowtowed so loudly just now, he must be dizzy and lightheaded now. She felt sorry for him immediately. After all, he was her grandson whom she had loved for many years. She couldn't bear to see him like this. She said to Granny Feng, "Go and get some medicine to apply to the young master."
Granny Feng responded and went downstairs.
Madam Gu looked at her grandson, who had become much more composed, and was increasingly pleased with him. A kind smile appeared on her face as she said earnestly, "Xiuming, young people are bound to make mistakes. It's good that you know you're wrong. In the future, you should think twice before you act, and don't make the same mistake again."
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