Chapter 684 Helping You Discipline
"No, that's slander, that's false accusation."
Madam Zhang could never admit that her son had forced a fool, especially since this fool was the third young master of the Marquis of Yi'an's mansion.
“Tell me, how much money did they give you to speak for them?”
Madam Zhang shouted, but Geng Qiuyin remained calm and said, "Every word the boy said is true, not a single word is false."
"hehe!"
Madam Zhang laughed upon hearing this, "Who doesn't know that your family is poor and can't even come up with a few thousand taels of silver? What wouldn't you do for money?"
Madam Zhang was already disliked by Geng Qiuyin, and upon hearing his words, her face immediately darkened.
“My father was an honest and upright official. Although our family was poor, we had a clear conscience. Madam Zhang, aren’t you afraid that God is watching with such blatant lies?”
Geng Qiuyin's words were forceful and persuasive, which made Gu Yuxin look at him with new respect.
"That sounds nice, like he's an honest and upright official, but who knows what shady things he might be doing behind the scenes?"
The Zhang family was well-off; their living conditions had been quite good since their father was a fifth-rank official.
The Geng family were at least third-rank officials, so Madam Zhang didn't believe it. There really were officials so poor they didn't even have ten thousand taels of silver.
Thinking back to when the Geng family donated money before, they also contributed five thousand taels. If they really didn't have the money, would Minister Geng really be willing to give it up?
Hearing Madam Zhang's insulting words, Geng Qiuyin's face turned red with anger.
"No wonder Young Master Zhang is so audacious; it turns out that Madam Zhang has taught him so well. Qiu Yin now understands what it means for a son to resemble his father!"
Geng Qiuyin had previously worried about offending the Secretariat and causing trouble for his father.
Looking at the Zhang family now, they can't say anything nice. He should have stood up to stop them earlier, and Gu Zongjie wouldn't have been bullied.
"Several little brats, do you even know who I am?"
Mrs. Zhang tilted her head back, giving off an impression that she was someone the man she couldn't afford to offend.
Upon seeing this, Geng Qiuyin smiled and said, "Everything I have said today is true, and even if I go to the yamen, it will not be changed."
Seeing Geng Qiuyin's confrontational attitude towards Madam Zhang, Gu Yuxin was somewhat puzzled.
Shouldn't they be talking about Gu Zongjie being bullied? Why are these two arguing?
However, Gu Yuxin's opinion of Geng Qiuyin changed as a result. Before, seeing his somewhat submissive appearance, Gu Yuxin looked down on his fear of power.
"The Zhang family has humiliated my younger brother so much; our Yi'an Marquis's Mansion will never let this matter rest."
Following up on Geng Qiuyin's words, Gu Yuxin walked slowly to Geng Qiuyin's side and stood there with an air of unapproachability.
Mrs. Zhang never expected that her two children, who were only half-grown, could cause her so much pressure.
"Since Young Master Zhang was in the wrong, Madam Zhang should apologize and let the matter rest."
Duke Anguo was in a bit of a headache. He didn't want to bring it up, but if he didn't, his mansion would really become a laughing stock.
Looking at the Gu family members who were not giving an inch, Madam Zhang wanted to apologize, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Just as Madam Zhang was racking her brains about how to get the other party to forgive her, Gu Yuxin spoke up once again.
"Madam Zhang is a woman, and I imagine she's not very good at apologizing, so let's go back and have Master Zhang handle this!"
Gu Yuxin really wanted to suggest that the Grand Secretary come, but she didn't say it because she thought that he was a high-ranking official in the court.
"You wish!"
Madam Zhang had already swallowed her pride and was ready to apologize, but this little girl was still clinging to the issue.
Seeing that things had turned out this way, Meng Wei was already satisfied. She immediately bid farewell to Duke Anguo and the old lady, saying, "Thank you both for your trouble today. My younger brother has been frightened, so we will return to our residence first."
"Please take care, young mistress."
Given what happened at the Duke's mansion today, it was naturally inappropriate for the Duke of Anguo to keep the three of them. More importantly, the Duke of Anguo was already preparing to implement another plan, so he generously agreed to let the three of them leave.
However, before the three of them could leave, someone who shouldn't have been there appeared at the gate.
"I heard that my third brother was bullied in the manor?"
Gu Shuyan originally came to pick up Gu Yuxin, but as soon as she arrived at the Duke of Anguo's mansion, she heard Wuyin talk about Gu Zongjie's matter. She found a maid from the Duke's mansion and hurriedly went to the old lady of the Duke of Anguo's courtyard.
"The Prime Minister's wife!"
Duke Anguo nodded slightly to Gu Shuyan, while Gu Shuyan gave a junior's bow to both the old lady and Duke Anguo.
"Sister-in-law, Yuxin, what happened? I heard that someone is bullying Zongjie."
When Gu Shuyan appeared, not only did the old lady become somewhat restrained, but even the self-proclaimed arrogant Madam Zhang couldn't help but lower her head.
Gu Shuyan was awarded the title of Second Rank Imperial Noblewoman by the Emperor for her meritorious service in accompanying Yun Yichen on disaster relief efforts.
Even if her father-in-law were standing there, Gu Shuyan wouldn't be intimidated, let alone a woman of no rank like herself.
"The Prime Minister's wife has misunderstood. It was just children playing around, and Young Master Gu was accidentally taken advantage of."
Madam Zhang quickly suppressed her anger.
She originally thought the other party was just a child born out of wedlock from the second wife's side. Even if he was raised in the first wife's side, could it be that Marquis Yi'an would really go to her father-in-law for this matter?
But now that she saw even Gu Shuyan had come, Madam Zhang regretted her previous attitude.
If she had known things would turn out this way, she would have given that disobedient son a good beating in front of everyone and then apologized to him properly.
Why would things get so complicated, and offend so many people?
"Madam Zhang, you've got a really big heart. You call this a joke?"
Gu Shuyan's tone was slightly cold, but she didn't really mean to make things difficult for Madam Zhang.
"Since Young Master Zhang enjoys insulting people so much, and Madam Zhang doesn't have time to discipline him, I will discipline Young Master Zhang for a few days on Madam Zhang's behalf."
Gu Shuyan didn't mention asking them to come and apologize, but instead had Wuyin take the young master away.
Seeing that he was about to be dragged away, Young Master Zhang hurriedly shouted for help to Madam Zhang, but unfortunately, with Gu Shuyan standing there, Madam Zhang dared not say a word.
Young Master Zhang was led away like this.
Gu Shuyan bowed apologetically to Duke Anguo, "I am sorry to have troubled you today. The Gu family will definitely repay you handsomely another day."
Regardless of Duke Anguo's attitude, Gu Shuyan led the group out of Duke Anguo's mansion.
Even after leaving the house, Gu Shuyan didn't say a single word to the three of them.
"Big sister, don't be angry."
Gu Yuxin knew Gu Shuyan well; she knew she was angry when she saw that Gu Shuyan was silent.
“Sister-in-law did the right thing today. Since the Duke of Anguo’s mansion has bad intentions, we have to make a big scene before we can leave.”
Gu Shuyan strongly agreed with Meng Wei's decision to make a big fuss. Although Young Master Zhang had ruined the other party's plans for no reason, it didn't mean that the other party would give up on taking action because of that.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
