Chapter 81 A Sense of Crisis
At this moment, the others also looked at Gu Jingxi. When they saw that he, who usually kept his emotions in check, had a cold and stern face, exuding an imposing aura, even the slightest sound of his fingers tapping the coffee table was startling, they stopped making any noise to provoke him.
Meng Jinyao had not anticipated what was happening today. She never expected that Gu Xiuming would become so smug after winning the heart of his beauty that he actually wanted to bring Li Wan'er over to meet the elders. He didn't even consider that the absurd things he had done for Li Wan'er had affected the reputation of the Gu family. How could the elders possibly accept Li Wan'er?
Since he wanted to take Li Wan'er as a concubine, he should have sent someone to teach her manners. Instead, he made a fool of himself today, displeasing the elders. The third branch of the family would be laughed at by the first and second branches, and the old lady would be even less fond of his precious daughter.
A silence fell over the room, and everyone kept their eyes down, lost in thought.
Madam Gu looked at Meng Jinyao and said gently, "Ayao, you are Xiuming's mother and also Aunt Li's elder. She has just entered the manor and does not yet know the rules of the manor. You should send someone to teach her the rules so that she will not make a fool of herself next time."
Meng Jinyao nodded respectfully: "Daughter-in-law understands."
Upon hearing this, Li Wan'er's face turned pale, her head lowered, and she bit her lower lip in humiliation. She hadn't done anything wrong, so how did she become the one who didn't know the rules and made a fool of herself?
Seeing this, Gu Xiuming felt sorry for his beloved, but he couldn't disobey his elders on the spot.
Madam Gu glanced at everyone present, then fixed her gaze on Gu Xiuming and Li Wan'er. She frowned slightly and said gently, "I'm old and useless. I feel tired after only a short while. You should all go back."
Everyone knew that the old lady was not physically tired, but mentally exhausted. After being spoiled by Gu Xiuming and Li Wan'er, she had no mood to talk to them anymore, so they asked her to leave.
Gu Jingxi and Meng Jinyao were the last to leave. After everyone had left the hall, they slowly stood up, preparing to bow to Old Madam Gu and depart.
Madam Gu looked at her son and said in a deep voice, "If a child is not taught, it is the father's fault. If a child does something wrong, the father should educate him and make him correct his mistakes in time."
Gu Jingxi replied, "Mother is right. I will talk to Xiuming later."
Madam Gu nodded slightly and said to her daughter-in-law, "Ayao, that Aunt Li doesn't know the rules. As an elder, you should explain the rules to her so that she doesn't lose sight of her place and start thinking she's the wife of the young master, which would only make her a laughingstock."
Meng Jinyao responded gently, "Mother, don't worry. When I get back, I'll send someone to teach Aunt Li manners. I'll also teach her any mistakes I see her making."
Madam Gu said no more, sent the couple away, and went to the small Buddhist hall to chant sutras and calm her mind.
Outside the hall, Gu Xiuming knew he had displeased his father, so he didn't dare leave and waited outside. Li Wan'er didn't dare leave either; even though she was scared, she obediently stayed by his side.
Seeing Gu Jingxi and his wife leave the hall, the two felt nervous. Especially when Gu Jingxi's indifferent gaze swept over them, Li Wan'er shrank back in fear and subconsciously leaned closer to Gu Xiuming, showing her complete dependence on him.
Gu Xiuming was very considerate. Knowing that she was scared, he subtly shifted his body to protect her behind him, blocking his father's view.
Gu Jingxi didn't make things difficult for Li Wan'er, understanding that the main problem stemmed from her son, and that if anyone should be disciplined, it should be her son. He said calmly, "Xiuming, come with me to the study."
Gu Xiuming dared not disobey and hurriedly nodded: "Yes, Father."
After he finished speaking, he turned to look at the girl beside him. The girl looked at him with teary eyes, feeling uneasy and helpless. He felt heartbroken and guilty. If he hadn't been so reckless today, Wan'er wouldn't have suffered such injustice.
Gu Jingxi took two steps, then, seeing that his son hadn't moved, said with a displeased expression, "Aren't you coming?"
Gu Xiuming responded and then said to Li Wan'er, "Wan'er, go back to Qingyuxuan and wait for me."
Li Wan'er forced back her tears, nodded gently, and watched the father and son's departing figures, feeling utterly helpless.
Perhaps because she was blinded by wealth and glory yesterday and the day before, she thought that Brother Xiuming would not marry for her sake, so no one would bother her, and she could live a happy life with fine clothes and delicacies, wealth and glory by her side, and her beloved young man would stay with her for life.
In the near future, she and Xiu Ming would have a son and a daughter, and their lives would be complete. Unexpectedly, apart from Xiu Ming, no one in the Gu family would like her or look up to her.
Not only that, her mother-in-law is also Xiu Ming's ex-fiancée. Xiu Ming eloped with her, making Meng Jin Yao a laughing stock. She doesn't know how Meng Jin Yao will torment her in the future.
Thinking this, Li Wan'er subconsciously looked up and saw Meng Jinyao coming towards her. Her expression froze. It had been more than a month since she last saw Meng Jinyao. At that time, Meng Jinyao dressed maturely and simply. Although she was a beauty, she was not as radiant as she was today.
Before her stood a beautiful young woman with her hair styled in a cloud-like bun, adorned with a red coral hairpin, and wearing bright moon earrings. She wore a brocade dress embroidered with begonia red and gold thread. Her slender waist was so delicate that it could be encircled with one hand. Her lotus-like steps were graceful and charming. She was so beautiful and radiant that she was beyond compare, as dazzling as the bright sun in the sky. This made her feel ashamed and vaguely threatened.
But the next moment, Li Wan'er thought that no matter how beautiful Meng Jinyao was, Xiu Ming's heart was with her, and he would even abandon Meng Jinyao on their wedding day for her. Now that Meng Jinyao was married to Xiu Ming's father, there was no possibility for her to be with Xiu Ming. Only then did her sense of crisis disappear.
Seeing that she was staring blankly at her, Meng Jinyao wondered what she was thinking, but she wasn't interested in knowing. She said in a low voice, "Aunt Li, the old lady prefers peace and quiet, so let's not stay here and disturb her peace."
Upon hearing this, Li Wan'er slowly came to her senses and quickly replied, "Yes, Mother."
Meng Jinyao thought about how she had embarrassed herself in front of her elders earlier, referring to herself as "granddaughter-in-law" and calling the old lady "grandmother." How could a concubine have the right to refer to herself as "granddaughter-in-law" and call the old lady "grandmother"?
Although concubines held a higher status than servants and were considered half-masters, they were not formally married into the family and could only refer to themselves as "this concubine" and address the old lady respectfully as "Old Madam."
To prevent her from making the same mistake again, Meng Jinyao said tactfully, "You don't have to call me Mother like Gu Xiuming. Just call me Madam like Ningdong and the others. I'll have someone teach you the rules of the Marquis's mansion when we get back."
Li Wan'er was stunned and looked at Meng Jinyao with confusion. The next moment, as if she had thought of something, she hesitated and said, "Mother, are you still blaming your daughter-in-law for stealing Brother Xiuming, causing you to be ridiculed on your wedding day, so you refuse to acknowledge me as your daughter-in-law?"
As she spoke, her eyes reddened, and tears welled up instantly. She choked out as she explained, "Mother, back then, Brother Xiuming said he would make it up to you, recognize you as his sworn sister, and find you a good marriage. That's why I went with Brother Xiuming. But I never expected you to be so stubborn. You actually married Father in a fit of anger."
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