Chapter 102 Chapter 102 What happened to the promised family of three?! (...)
The delicate relationship between Duke Gu Lin and his mother Feng Tang is an open secret among the families in the capital.
Last year, Gu Lin returned to the capital and swiftly exposed a major embezzlement case involving border military supplies. He publicly identified his own uncle, Feng Chun, and, upholding justice even against family ties, expelled his younger brother, Gu Yuan, who had been plotting against him behind his back, from the Duke of Ling's mansion, removed him from the family genealogy, and inherited the title ahead of schedule.
Feng Tang then "fell ill".
She seemed to have disappeared from the social circles of the capital.
Even on this important day, the third-day celebration of Gu Lin and Zheng Chunyun's eldest son, she, as Bai Ge'er's grandmother, was completely absent.
Gu Lin originally thought he had gotten used to his mother's indifference and neglect, but he never expected that Feng Tang would hate him to such an extent that she would not even spare a three-day-old baby.
He closed his eyes, trying his best to control his turbulent emotions, and said calmly to the steward, "Please invite the old lady over."
The steward looked troubled and lowered his voice to report, "This morning, Madam sent someone to the backyard to invite her, but the old lady said she was unwell and did not want to see anyone."
Gu Lin's voice grew even colder, "Not feeling well? Then find a stretcher and bring him over."
"...Yes." The steward was startled and quickly gave the order.
After waiting for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a figure appeared outside the door. Feng Tang strode in angrily, and upon seeing Gu Lin, she glared at him coldly, "Your Excellency, what a show of power you have! This is the first time I've ever seen someone dare to force their sick mother to go out and about! What, do you have to show outsiders how 'filial and loving' our Gu family is? Ha!"
Shen Lingyue secretly rolled her eyes and whispered to Yan Yi, "You speak so rudely, you don't seem sick at all! You're a real menace..."
Yan Yi quickly covered her mouth.
The room is so small, is she afraid that Feng Tang can't hear her?
The next second, Feng Tang shot a fierce glare at them, "It's you two again."
Why am I always able to accurately find her jokes?
Shen Lingyue pulled Yan Yi's hand away and glared at Feng Tang defiantly: "So what? We are guests invited by Sister Zheng to celebrate Bai Ge'er's third-day celebration! Oh, Bai Ge'er has already recognized us as his godmothers, and I even prepared a complete set of gold locks and bracelets for him. And you, as his grandmother, have you ever cared for him or even held him once?"
Gu Lin and Zheng Chunyun couldn't say much due to filial piety, but she could speak for them!
Shen Lingyue had never seen such a biased mother. She abandoned her promising eldest son and, as if blinded by greed, doted on her good-for-nothing younger son. She even wanted to transfer all of Gu Dage's hard-earned military achievements to Gu Yuan, indirectly condoning and encouraging him to murder his brother.
Yes, even if Feng Tang is suffering from postpartum depression and deserves sympathy, it's been more than 20 years, so why pass on her hatred for Gu Lin to the next generation?
"Mother, save me!"
Qin Zhengzheng suddenly broke free, threw herself at Feng Tang's feet, and pleaded, clutching her clothes tightly: "I only sneaked into the manor on your orders, I don't want to go to jail..."
Feng Tang pushed her away with even more disgust and said coldly, "What did I tell you? I saw that you and A Yuan were having a hard time outside, so I tried to subsidize you in various ways. I called you back to give you some personal money. It was you who had bad intentions. What does it have to do with me?"
Qin Zhengzheng was pushed and stumbled, falling to the ground, and it took her a long time to recover.
No, that's not how it works.
Her mother hinted that if anything happened to Gu Lin and Zheng Chunyun's child, she could find a way to bring them back to the manor...
When Qin Zhengzheng met Feng Tang's cold and ruthless gaze, she shivered and finally realized that in Feng Tang's eyes she was nothing more than a ready-made scapegoat.
Even if something really happens to that child, Feng Tang will definitely push her out immediately, so that she might be able to find Gu Yuan a daughter-in-law who satisfies her.
"...You old hag, you deliberately plotted against me!"
Qin Zhengzheng suddenly jumped up and rushed towards Feng Tang, grabbing her hair and starting a fight.
Having lived a life of luxury for many years, Feng Tang was no match for Qin Zhengzheng, who came from a farming family and was in the prime of her youth. Caught off guard, she was hit several times, her scalp throbbing painfully, and she cried out without any dignity.
"Let go of me, you little bitch! What does your own venom and stupidity have to do with me? Ah Yuan must be blind to have fallen for a vain, treacherous wild girl like you!"
"Old woman, your son is no better. Don't forget I saved his life! You and your son should kneel down and kowtow to me! Who is truly ungrateful? Treating your savior like this, you'll go to hell when you die!"
The two fought so fiercely that it was impossible for anyone to intervene.
Shen Lingyue immediately pulled Yan Yi to a safe corner and threw left and right hooks at the air.
Let them fight, they're both bad guys anyway!
"...Have you all had enough?!"
Gu Lin, unable to bear it any longer, raised his voice, pointed outside, and said coldly, "It's spacious outside. If you want to fight, go outside and fight. Don't disturb my wife's rest."
Feng Tang glared at him angrily: "You unfilial son, are you just going to stand by and watch me be bullied by this brat?"
"Mother, do you think that just because you hold the sword of filial piety in your hand, you can point the blade at me without restraint?"
After countless disappointments, Gu Lin had no expectations of her anymore. His expression was very calm, which made Feng Tang feel a sudden, inexplicable panic.
She forced herself to maintain her composure, threatening fiercely but inwardly weakly, "Believe me or not, I'll go to the Shuntian Prefecture and report you for filial impiety—"
"Your father has been living on the estate outside the city for the past six months. Aren't you curious about who has been taking care of him?"
Gu Lin's tone was very light, but it was no less than dropping a heavy bomb.
"Intending to harm the Gu family's offspring is a grave crime. If I were to open the ancestral hall and invite the clan elders, in the name of the clan head, to order my father to divorce his wife and marry him a gentle and pleasing second wife, do you think he would agree?"
Feng Tang's face turned deathly pale instantly. "How dare you! I am your biological mother. I observed mourning for your grandfather. What right do you have to divorce me?"
Gu Lin's eyes were devoid of warmth: "Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. Mother, if I truly wanted to make this happen, do you think you still have any leverage to resist?"
Her biggest bargaining chip was simply that he couldn't bring himself to be ruthless.
He was fine when he was alone, but now he has his own family, a wife and children to protect.
Bai Ge'er is still so young, Gu Lin absolutely cannot let him live in a home fraught with danger.
Feng Tang looked at him in disbelief. When did the child who used to hide in the corner, watching her and A Yuan with envy, grow up to be so cold and ruthless?
How absurd and ridiculous it is for a son to divorce his mother in place of his father!
But... the Feng family has fallen, while Gu Lin is in good health and will soon be able to return to the court.
What exactly do you want?
Feng Tang squeezed out these words through gritted teeth, already carrying a hint of weakness, "First it was your uncle, then me... Were you born to bring bad luck to the Feng family?"
Gu Lin ignored her curse-like words of resentment and said indifferently, "It's nothing. Since Mother is so attached to Gu Yuan, why don't you move out and live with him? That way you can take care of him at any time and maintain your mother-son relationship."
He raised his hand and instructed the steward, "Go and pack up everything in the old lady's courtyard and send it all to Gu Yuan before tonight."
Feng Tang breathed a sigh of relief, but was still somewhat unwilling. "Are you trying to kick me out?"
"Mother, when I first learned to walk, my grandparents were with me."
Gu Lin looked at her intently, his deep gaze seemingly piercing through more than twenty years, seeing himself as he took his first unsteady steps.
“Last winter, I started learning to walk again. This time, Chun-yun accompanied me and encouraged me, which finally gave me the courage to take the first step.”
“Now that my child has been born, I swear in my heart that I will never let him experience the injustices I suffered. He will be the eldest son and heir of the Duke of Ling’s mansion, and he will rightfully inherit everything in this family, as expected by all.”
Every word Gu Lin uttered felt like a knife cutting into Feng Tang, causing her to feel a pain that belatedly spread.
It was as if an invisible thread had been severed between the two.
She had never realized so clearly before that she could no longer hold onto the son in front of her.
...
"Our Brother Bai is such a lucky star."
Shen Lingyue gently shook the small gold lock with bells in front of him. His dark, grape-like eyes seemed to follow it. His little hands and feet, full of energy, were particularly strong. He cried out, trying to break free from his swaddling clothes.
Zheng Chunyun grabbed her hand, still shaken, and said, "You are the lucky star of Brother Bai."
The timing of recognizing this godmother was perfect.
Yan Yi comforted her, "Madam Feng has already moved out. From now on, it will just be the three of you living together. It's much safer now."
While teasing her godson, Shen Lingyue asked curiously, "Is the old Duke really so happy living on the estate that he doesn't want to leave? Does he have anyone with him... hehe..."
Zheng Chunyun coughed lightly and said tactfully, "That estate is built by a hot spring outside the city. It is warm in winter and cool in summer, which is most suitable for the elderly to recuperate. Moreover, my father has a gentle and considerate concubine to take care of him. Last time I asked the steward to send him some food and supplies, and the steward said that the old Duke looks much younger than before."
"Tsk, I remember the old Duke was a kind-hearted man, like dough, who married such a strong-willed wife. He must have been quite oppressed by her all these years."
Shen Lingyue curled her lips, "He just packed up and went out of the city to recuperate, leaving you guys with this powder keg."
Not to mention Gu Lin's threat to divorce Feng Tang on behalf of his father, the old Duke himself probably wished he could marry another woman.
Zheng Chunyun pretended to have a headache and rubbed her forehead, "Please don't, I don't want to serve another mother-in-law."
It would be better to separate the two people and send them away separately, so that they can live their own lives and stay far apart, thus preventing any trouble from arising.
Shen Lingyue quickly poked Bai Ge'er's tender little face.
"Little one, grow up quickly, you have a pair of parents who love you very, very much."
...
After returning from the Duke of Lingguo's mansion, Shen Lingyue excitedly pulled out a box of house deeds and land deeds and ran to Jiusi Courtyard to find Yan Yi.
"Yan Yan, look, our family also has a hot spring resort."
Her eyes lit up. "Autumn is the perfect season to go into the mountains to enjoy the scenery, soak in hot springs, and see the autumn leaves!"
Oh, and you can also bring a scarf and run around in the woods, ride horses, hunt, and sit by the river to eat grilled fish, shrimp, and rabbit... Just thinking about it makes me look forward to it.
Yan Yi knew immediately that she couldn't stay idle, so she tapped her forehead twice and asked, "Do you also want to stay at the estate for a few days?"
Shen Lingyue took the opportunity to hug her arm and shake it back and forth, "Let's go together."
Yan Yi looked troubled: "But Pei Jingyi still has to go to work..."
"What's wrong with my brother?" Shen Lingyue asked angrily. "You're so dedicated to your work, but isn't spending time with your wife important?"
Her eyes darted around, and she playfully nudged Yan Yi's shoulder, saying, "They say staying in one place for a long time without experiencing anything new is bad for getting pregnant."
Yan Yi blushed and slapped her lightly, "Where did this twisted logic come from?"
"This is science."
Shen Lingyue spoke nonsense with a straight face, "Going to unfamiliar places is more exciting and stimulating, and when you're in a better mood, the baby will naturally want to come—otherwise, why would newlyweds go on their honeymoon?"
Unable to resist her persistence, Yan Yi nodded, rubbing her forehead, "Alright, alright, I will convey these words to him truthfully."
That said, Pei Jingyi has been sitting in the position of a sixth-rank official in the Ministry of War for so long, it's time for him to be promoted.
Having received her permission, Shen Lingyue happily returned to Danyue Pavilion and began having Qingchan and the others pack their luggage for the trip.
Pei Jinghuai returned from outside and was overjoyed to see this. "You finally agreed to go out with me?"
Shen Lingyue blinked slowly: Huh?
When was this... again?
After waiting for a while without a response, Pei Jinghuai began to accuse her with a resentful look, "Have you forgotten again?"
"...Of course not!"
At the critical moment, she finally remembered, walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist, trying to please him, "It was the time you helped my cousin find a theatrical troupe for her new book, right? Well done! I remember it all."
Pei Jinghuai's expression softened slightly, and he pinched her nose. "You're not so bad after all. It's a deal, okay? This time it's just the two of us, no one else."
Shen Lingyue chuckled twice, then looked up at him expectantly: "But I already promised Weibo. If the two of us leave it behind and sneak out to play again... do you believe it might tear the roof off Dan Yue Xuan?"
Pei Jinghuai reluctantly hummed, "Then let's add Weibo too, making it a family of three."
"Mmm." Shen Lingyue secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She decided to leave it to Yan Yi to figure out what to do with her older brother for now.
...
On the day of departure, Pei Jinghuai got up early in the morning and specially chose clothes of the same color scheme for him and Shen Lingyue. Even the jade pendants hanging on their belts were a pair.
Shen Lingyue was very cooperative, wearing whichever outfit she was told to wear.
Pei Jinghuai stood behind her, looking at the two figures reflected in the mirror with satisfaction, and a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.
"It's a pity it's too early now, otherwise I really want to show my sister-in-law that the two of us standing together are the most compatible."
Shen Lingyue smiled but didn't dare to say anything.
Soon, when Pei Jinghuai saw a familiar pair of figures standing in front of the Marquis's mansion, the smile on his face vanished instantly.
He turned to Shen Lingyue and gritted his teeth, "Aren't you going to explain?"
They said it would just be the two of them... no, they said it would be a family of three.
Don't tell him that his older brother and sister-in-law are just standing at the door looking at the scenery because they have nothing better to do than this early in the morning!
Shen Lingyue took off running and dashed to Yan Yi's side, looking up with a delighted expression. "What a coincidence! Brother and Sister-in-law, are you also going to the hot spring resort outside the city to relax?"
Pei Jinghuai: ...Keep making things up.
Yan Yi turned her head away, not daring to look at his increasingly dark face, otherwise she was afraid she would burst out laughing.
She tried her best to suppress her surprise and wore the same expression of delight as Shen Lingyue. "Yes, what a coincidence... We also made this decision last night. Why don't we set off together later?"
Pei Jinghuai didn't know what to say to Yan Yi, so he turned around and glared angrily at Pei Jingyi: "Are you very free? Isn't the Ministry of War busy lately?"
Pei Jingyi said calmly, "I forgot to tell you, I got promoted. The government office is in the process of handing over the duties these days, and the Minister has granted me permission to go home and rest for a few days."
Even Shen Lingyue looked over in surprise, "Big brother got promoted? Is he still in the Ministry of War?"
Pei Jingyi nodded, "Yes, but he was transferred from the Armory to the Military Selection Department, where he was appointed as a fifth-rank official."
The Arsenal Department was primarily responsible for military supplies and equipment. However, the core function of the Military Selection Department lay in the selection of military officers and personnel management, including hereditary titles, promotions, demotions, and performance evaluations.
Moving from managing things to managing people is not just a promotion, but also a transfer to a highly sought-after position.
Shen Lingyue clapped her hands enthusiastically to congratulate her, "This is great news! We must go out and have a good time for a few days to celebrate!"
Pei Jinghuai frowned, pressing for an excuse: "So sudden, how come there wasn't a single word leaked out beforehand?"
Pei Jingyi stood with his hands behind his back, his tone calm: "This transfer went quite smoothly, because I asked my father to pull some strings."
Pei Jinghuai glared at him: "...This is abusing your power for personal gain, a crooked and evil practice!"
Pei Jingyi patted his shoulder, looking at his younger brother with the eyes of an innocent little fool.
"Otherwise what? People like us would be fools not to use our power."
Seeing that Pei Jinghuai was about to argue, he quickly added, "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll find you a proper job too."
Let him experience what it's like to leave early and return late every day, unable to be by his wife's side all the time, and he'll learn his lesson.
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Author's Note: [Pei Er: I hate that the bright moon hangs high and doesn't shine on me alone [shrug] I'll keep holding my breath until my wife is with me alone [bursting into tears][bursting into tears]]
I'm running out of time again while writing [doge emoji] See you tonight for the second update~
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