Thinking about what Gu Yanfei had just said, Gu Xiao felt a lump of anger in his heart. He quietly walked away, bowing his head, and walked faster and faster.
He first rushed to the outer study to look for Gu Jian, but found nothing. He learned that Gu Jian had gone to the main courtyard, so he hurried to the main courtyard again.
"Second Young Master!"
Amid the servants' exclamations, Gu Xiao rushed into the east room like a gust of wind. Gu Jian and Wang both looked towards him upon hearing the sound.
Gu Jian frowned slightly, thinking that his eldest son was already so grown up, but still so reckless.
Gu Xiao's face turned pale and a cold aura emanated from his whole body.
He didn't even bow to his parents. As soon as he opened his mouth, he talked about his encounter with Gu Yanfei at the martial arts arena, and repeated what Gu Yanfei had just said: "... She said that the Marquisate and the title belong to my eldest brother."
"He also said that Big Brother had made great contributions in killing Feng He, and the First Prince promised that he would make Big Brother's wish come true."
Veins popped up on Gu Xiao's forehead and he was breathing slightly.
The expressions of Gu Jian and the Wang couple became increasingly ugly.
When he heard the last sentence, Gu Jian frowned tightly, as if thinking about something.
Seeing that his father remained silent for a long time, Gu Xiao felt a mixture of grievance, anger, and sadness in his heart. He asked in a harsh voice, "Father, you haven't made me the heir yet. Are you planning to pass the title to my eldest brother?"
"Could it be that you picked me up?"
"In other mansions, the eldest son has long been appointed as the crown prince, but I am not one of them."
"Father, mother, do you know that I have not been able to hold my head up in public for the past two years? Everyone has been pointing fingers at me behind my back..."
Gu Xiao was so excited that he almost broke his voice, his eyes were red, and he vented all the grievances in his heart over the years and the unwillingness of having suffered a loss at the hands of Gu Yanfei just now, with a bit of spite and anger.
Gu Jian was filled with anger, and he slammed his palm heavily on the coffee table, and said unhappily: "You bastard, what nonsense are you talking about?!"
"Can you just say these things casually?!"
Gu Jian's eyebrows twitched, his hair and beard were flying with anger, and his face turned blue and black.
"..." Gu Xiao pursed his lips into a stubborn arc and turned his face away.
The atmosphere between father and son suddenly became tense.
Wang noticed that her son looked a little embarrassed. She patted the dust off his clothes with concern and combed his hair. "Xiao brother, how did you get into this state? Are you hurt?"
The scene in which he was beaten by Gu Yanfei without any chance to fight back in the martial arts arena just now appeared in front of Gu Xiao's eyes again. The young man's precarious self-esteem made him unable to speak.
He said stiffly, "I'm fine."
Wang knew that her son was stubborn, so she took his hand and gently advised, "Xiao'er, didn't you hurt your father and me by saying such angry words just now?"
"Do you think your father and I don't want to make you the crown prince as soon as possible? Your father is more anxious about this matter than you are!"
Wang sighed softly, tears welling up in her eyes.
She signaled with her eyes that Gu Xiao should apologize to his father, but Gu Xiao was at the most stubborn age of thirteen or fourteen, so he pursed his lips and said nothing.
Wang tugged at Gu Xiao's sleeve again.
Gu Xiao stepped forward with a stiff expression, and reluctantly bowed to Gu Jian and admitted his fault: "My son was impulsive."
Gu Jian wasn't really angry at first, his expression eased a little, he picked up the teacup and took two sips of tea.
Wang pulled the rebellious Gu Xiao and sat down on the Arhat bed together, and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.
She calmed herself down and said with a little worry and uneasiness: "My Lord, that girl Gu Yanfei said that Brother Yuan had made great contributions in killing Feng He, and the eldest prince promised to make his wish come true."
"As I wished... Do you think Brother Yuan really wanted to seize the title?"
"If the eldest prince is determined to help Brother Yuan seize the title, what should we do?"
Wang felt as if countless ants were crawling in her heart. Her eyes began to turn red again and she felt anxious and restless.
Gu Jian has been the title holder for eight years, but he has yet to appoint a crown prince.
It’s not that he didn’t want to be established, but all the memorials he submitted were rejected.
This is also a concern for Wang.
As long as her son was not made the crown prince, Wang felt that the title of Marquis Dingyuan was empty and had not been realized. It was like a beautiful dream that she didn't know when to wake up from.
Gu Xiao also looked at Gu Jian with burning eyes and anxiety.
"..."Gu Jian put down the teacup in his hand in frustration, making a "pop" sound.
He had just submitted a petition to the emperor before the Chinese New Year to request the establishment of a crown prince, but this time it fell on deaf ears. What else could he do? Gu Jian was not too worried at first. After all, with Gu Ce's treason, the emperor would never give the title to Gu Yuan. The matter of establishing a crown prince could be discussed later.
But now, Gu Jian was not sure. There was some hesitation in his eyes and his heart sank slightly.
If the eldest prince intervenes, it will be hard to say.
Even though he was unsure, Gu Jian still said, "No way."
The anger that was held back in Cihe Hall burst out again at this moment, "Sister Meng is going to marry Prince Kang, and our Second Branch and Prince Kang will have an unclear relationship from now on."
"Prince Kang and the eldest prince are now at loggerheads. Who do you think the eldest prince will help?"
For the eldest prince, supporting Gu Yuan to ascend to the throne was tantamount to suppressing Prince Kang's party.
This is an obvious thing.
Even if Feng He had not died, the eldest prince would definitely stand on Gu Yuan's side, just like Prince Kang would stand on the side of the second house because of Gu Yunmeng.
Wang's heart was in a state of panic. She clenched her handkerchief with white fingers and stammered, "Besides, it's still uncertain who will win in the end."
Having said that, Wang closed her mouth, raised her hand and pointed to the sky with a gloomy look.
This means that between Prince Kang and the eldest prince, only one person can ascend to the supreme throne.
If the eldest prince really ascends to the throne, the second branch’s title will certainly not be preserved.
Gu Jian naturally understood what Wang had not said, and his expression was gloomy and unclear.
Gu Xiao, who was standing beside him, was silent for a long while. He interrupted with a stern face and said, "Father, you didn't see it just now. Just now in the martial arts arena, Gu Yanfei shot an arrow at his son's face. Fortunately, he dodged quickly..."
As he spoke, he pointed to his right cheek.
Wang's face changed drastically when she heard this, and she nervously leaned over to take a look, "Xiao brother, your face..."
Only then did Wang realize that a small patch of skin on her son's cheek was a little red. She widened her eyes in pain and her body shook like a sieve with anger.
Her darling son, whom she had held in the palm of her hand since he was young and had never hit or scolded, was almost disfigured by a little bitch.
Gu Jian stood up abruptly, put his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth in the room in annoyance, his mind in turmoil.
Wang continued to chatter, "My Lord, this girl Gu Yanfei is too cruel. Apart from Brother Yuan, she has no feelings for the Marquisate. She knew that Sister Meng was going to marry Prince Kang, but she still insisted on getting close to the eldest prince and forcing the Marquisate into a dilemma."
"Now, she's going even further!"
"She clearly wants to ruin Xiao Ge'er's appearance this time, making his face flawed and unable to become the crown prince."
"..."Gu Jian suddenly stopped and stood in the shadow of Duobao Pavilion. His face hidden in the shadow looked slightly gloomy.
Unlike Wang, Madam Gu had already secretly told him about the "substitute".
Only then did Gu Jian realize that Gu Ce was not his biological brother from the same father and mother.
And obviously, Gu Yuan and Gu Yanfei also knew it.
Wang was still chattering in the back, but Gu Jian could no longer hear her.
Gu Jian secretly clenched his fists with a gloomy expression.
Over the years, he has always treated the eldest son of the family very well, sending Gu Yuan to study, and letting Gu Yuan give up literature and pursue martial arts. Before Gu Yun's life story was exposed, he treated this eldest son of the family's niece as his own.
However, Gu Yuan is an ungrateful person who has been coveting the title for so many years, completely ignoring the heinous crimes committed by his father Gu Ce.
It is true that like father, like son!
If we don't completely cut off Gu Yuan's thoughts and if we don't completely trample Gu Yuan into the mud, we will only end up nurturing a tiger to cause trouble.
If you hesitate to make a decision when you should, you will suffer the consequences.
Gu Jian's eyes suddenly turned fierce, and he finally made up his mind and walked out of the house resolutely. Wang's slightly sharp voice came from behind him: "My Lord! My Lord, where are you going?"
Gu Jian walked out as if he hadn't heard anything. After leaving the main courtyard, he headed west.
Wang was the mistress of the Marquis' Mansion, so naturally the affairs of the Marquis' Mansion could not be hidden from her eyes and ears. After a while, she got the news that Gu Jian went to Cihetang.
Wang was looking forward to it, so she asked Gu Xiao to have lunch in the main courtyard. After lunch, Wang became impatient and waited until Gu Jian finally came back. He only said one sentence solemnly:
"Mother has gone to the palace."
Madam Gu did go to the palace, wearing heavy makeup, and knelt outside the Meridian Gate. She also presented a memorial to plead guilty on behalf of her grandson Gu Yuan.
The memorial said that the grandson Gu Yuan had always been stubborn and irritable, and like his father, he refused to be disciplined, which was why he killed Jingzhao Yin Feng He on impulse. It also emphasized that Gu Yuan's killing was impulsive and not at the behest of the eldest prince.
This memorial was delivered directly to the Palace of Tranquil Longevity.
Chu Yi immediately had Gu Yuan summoned, showed him the memorial, and said calmly, "Take a day off today, go home, and come back tomorrow to take up your post."
After Gu Yuan read the memorial quickly, he thanked the emperor and took his leave.
He knew that Madam Gu was kneeling in the Meridian Gate, so he walked through the Meridian Gate on purpose. From afar, he saw the graceful Madam Gu kneeling on the ground with her knees bent.
Madam Gu was wearing a gorgeous and heavy make-up, and the heavy five-pheasant crown seemed to be about to crush her neck, but her back was still straight.
Madam Gu also saw Gu Yuan walking towards her, and the two of them looked at each other from a distance.
(End of this chapter)
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