boyutpedia Chapter 169
Chapter 169
Chapter 169
Xiao Qin knelt before the Buddha statue, her eyes closed, holding prayer beads in her hands, chanting scriptures, her expression very devout.
The sound of light footsteps approached, but Madam Qin still did not react.
Madam Su stepped forward and whispered, "Madam, the Marquis has left the manor."
Now that Gu Tingyu has inherited the title and become the head of the Gu family, Madam Qin has also been promoted from the eldest daughter-in-law to the old lady.
"What did you say?"
Madam Qin's expression changed slightly. She abruptly stood up and asked, "His health is poor, and he hasn't left the manor for several years. Why would he suddenly leave?"
"This servant doesn't know either; the gatekeeper just told me," said Mama Su.
"Did Mr. Shao go with them?" Mrs. Qin asked.
"No," Su's mother shook her head.
"Then why don't you send someone to investigate and find out where he went and who he met!" Madam Qin scolded.
"yes!"
Upon hearing this, Su's mother bowed and hurried away.
"What is he planning to do by suddenly leaving the manor?" Madam Qin murmured.
She originally thought that Gu Tingyu had no sons, and after inheriting the title, he could only pass it on to her son Gu Tingwei in the future.
However, after Gu Tingyu inherited the title, their relationship became less close.
This made Madam Qin somewhat uneasy, worried that Gu Tingyu would adopt a son from the same clan. Madam Qin took the initiative to suggest that Gu Tingyu be adopted by Gu Tingwei's son.
Gu Tingyu, however, refused outright, stating that he would not adopt a son.
But the more he said that, the more uneasy Madam Qin became.
No one wants to die without anyone offering incense.
Even people without sons will consider adopting one.
The more readily Gu Tingyu refused, the less Qinshi believed him.
Fortunately, Gu Tingyu showed no abnormalities and his health was deteriorating. It seemed that he would recover soon, which put Qinshi at ease.
But now that Gu Tingyu has suddenly gone out, Madam Qin feels a deep sense of unease.
Because of his health condition, Gu Tingyu was ridiculed by his peers as a sickly child, and no one wanted to play with him.
I don't have a single friend to this day.
In previous years he would seek medical treatment elsewhere, but in the last two years he has given up hope.
Now that he's suddenly gone out, who is he going to see? And what is his purpose?
Having planned for so many years, Madam Qin was unwilling to see her wish about to be fulfilled only to have something unexpected happen.
She pondered for a moment, then left the Buddhist hall and headed to the left courtyard.
The main courtyard of the Gu family was her and Gu Yankai's residence. After Gu Tingyu inherited the title, she should have given up the back courtyard.
But Gu Tingyu said that he had lived in the left courtyard for many years and did not want to move, so he would let her continue to live there.
In a private room by the window on the second floor of a teahouse in the south of Bianjing (Kaifeng).
Looking at Gu Tingyu, whose face was ashen and who was staring silently out the window, Gu Tingye said, "You asked someone to take care of me and even asked me to return to the capital to see you, but now you're not saying a word. What exactly are you trying to do?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Tingyu turned around and smiled, "Second Brother, you still lack patience."
"Oh."
-
Gu Tingye retorted sarcastically, "I could sit here with you like this forever, but could you?"
Gu Tingyu shook his head slightly and said, "If it were before, what you said might have worked, but now I've come to terms with it."
"Have you come to terms with it?"
Gu Tingye sneered, "If you had let go of the past, you wouldn't hold a grudge against me because of what happened in the previous generation."
I don't believe that someone as intelligent as you could not find out that your mother's death had nothing to do with my mother.
I used to not understand why you often schemed against me when we were kids.
Later, after learning about what happened back then, I understood a bit more. I understand that you would have believed these things when you were a child, but it's impossible that you hadn't investigated them after you grew up.
How could they possibly scheme against me?
Although Gu Tingyu was in poor health, he was very intelligent.
He also felt sorry for Gu Tingyu, thinking that if Gu Tingyu had been healthy, he would surely have become a famous minister or general in the future.
It wasn't until he learned about what happened back then from Granny Chang that he suddenly realized the truth.
But later he gradually realized something was wrong. When Gu Tingyu was a child, he heard what the maid said and believed that his mother had killed Da Qinshi. It was normal for her to plot against him.
With Gu Tingyu's intelligence, he will definitely investigate what happened back then when he grows up.
Back then, the Gu family forced Gu Yankai to divorce his wife and remarry in order to preserve their title.
Even without the Bai family, there would be the Zhang family or the Li family.
Although a million taels of silver is a lot, it can buy a daughter to marry into a marquis's household as his principal wife, and his grandson will inherit the title in the future. There are plenty of people in the world who would be willing to do so.
However, he was still outmaneuvered by Gu Tingyu when he took the imperial examination.
"Do you really think the person who told me those things back then was a servant?" Gu Tingyu retorted.
Gu Tingye's expression changed. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"You say I'm smart, but you're not really smart either. There are some things you can't understand after experiencing such a big change," Gu Tingyu said.
"Is it really her?"
Gu Tingye's face turned deathly pale.
Gu Tingyu didn't speak, but continued to drink his tea and look outside.
He usually coughs frequently, but today, perhaps because he was out and relaxed, the burden on his body seemed to have disappeared.
Gu Tingye remained silent for a long time before saying, "You called me back to see you, just to say these things to me?"
She is both your mother and your aunt. You two conspired against me, but now you're telling me this. Could it be that you've had a falling out?
Let me guess, is it for the title? Or is my sister-in-law pregnant?
In Gu Tingye's view, Gu Tingyu and Madam Qin were in cahoots, and apart from the title, he couldn't think of any other reason why the two had fallen out.
However, Gu Tingyu was in poor health and had no children. He was burdened with the infamy of causing his father's death and was even kicked out of the house.
After Gu Tingyu dies, the title can only be inherited by Gu Tingwei.
Unless Gu Tingyu has a son, he will not have any conflict with Xiao Qinshi over the title.
Gu Tingyu shook his head and said, "With my health, having a daughter is already a blessing from heaven."
"So what exactly do you want to do?"
Gu Tingye sneered, "Are you not satisfied with just kicking me out of the house, and now you want my life?"
You're overthinking it!
Gu Tingyu said, "I want you to inherit the title!"
"Ha ha--"
Gu Tingye was taken aback upon hearing this, then burst into laughter, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world.
"You want me to inherit the title?"
Gu Tingye laughed until tears streamed down his face, saying, "Since you wanted me to inherit the title, why did you scheme against me in the first place?"
"Tingwei can't support the Gu family."
Gu Tingyu said, "Only you can do it."
"You're right, I do know that my mother's death had little to do with your mother."
"But I hate it. I hate that the Gu family didn't wait. My mother was already dying. Couldn't the Gu family have waited until she passed away before my father remarried?"
"Isn't the Gu family after the title? Then I'll destroy the Gu family."
Gu Tingyu's tone was very calm. Although his words were full of hatred, there was not much hatred in his tone.
"In that case, wouldn't it be better for Gu Tingwei to inherit the title?" Gu Tingye countered.
"I originally wanted to destroy the Gu family, but when it really came down to it, I couldn't do it."
Gu Tingyu closed his eyes and said, "I hate everyone, but I don't hate my father. He cares too much about the Gu family."
Gu Yankai has wronged many people, but he has been true to the mother and son.
Despite his family's objections, he insisted on marrying his mother.
He later divorced his mother, also because he was forced by his family.
Even after marrying two wives, Gu Yankai always missed his mother.
Gu Yankai became even more attentive to him, constantly searching for renowned doctors for him.
He had deliberately fallen before to frame Gu Tingye, including the time when Gu Tingye spoke up for Yang Wuduan, which was spread by him.
Gu Yankai actually knew all of this, but because of his health, he never said anything.
"Even if Gu Tingwei can't lead the Gu family to prosperity, he won't let the Gu family decline. He's still better than me, who is burdened with the burden of causing my father's death."
Gu Tingye said calmly, "You want me to inherit the title; there must be a reason for that!"
"good!"
Gu Tingyu gave Gu Tingye an approving look and said, "You must have heard that the Emperor has ordered a thorough investigation into the rebel king's henchmen, right?"
"You mean the Gu family is involved?"
Gu Tingye frowned and said, "That's impossible. In the past, only my father served as an official in the court. The others in the Gu family held sinecure positions and had no dealings with the two princes, let alone being involved in treason."
Gu Tingyu sighed, "Father certainly didn't, but some people from the fourth and fifth branches of the family have made connections with the son of the rebel king. They helped the rebel king purchase women from Jiangnan."
Those women were used by the rebel king to win over the generals of the city defense camp and the five city garrison.
Although they haven't been implicated yet, it's only a matter of time.
"Heh, if that's really the case, I'll be implicated. What's the point of me inheriting the title then?" Gu Tingye sneered.
"The investigation into the traitors is being handled by Wang You of the Wang family, and you are good friends with him."
Gu Tingyu said, "This matter could be a big deal or a small deal. If it is investigated thoroughly, it could lead to the confiscation of property and the extermination of the entire clan."
If they are handled with leniency, the worst that can happen is that they are exiled.
"It would be best to confiscate their property and exterminate their entire clan, that way I can get my revenge!"
Gu Tingye said coldly, "No matter what, she is still my stepmother. Without any evidence, I can't do anything to her."
"Can you really bear to watch the Gu family be raided and wiped out?" Gu Tingyu retorted.
Gu Tingye sneered: "Why wouldn't I have the heart to do it?"
"Do you know why I keep targeting you even though I know it has nothing to do with you?"
Gu Tingyu said, "Because I see my own reflection in you, but you have no problems with your body."
But I have to drag my crippled body along, drinking that nauseating herbal medicine every day just to eke out a living.
You and I are the same kind of people. You should know now that your mother's death had nothing to do with your father.
"It has nothing to do with him, but doesn't he know that?"
Gu Tingye said bitterly, "He clearly knew that although my mother died in childbirth, she was also framed. Yet, not only did he not avenge my mother, he also married her, forcing me to recognize a traitor as my mother for many years!"
When he realized that Bai Shi was killed by Xiao Qin Shi, he knew that this matter had little to do with Gu Yankai.
Granny Chang also said that his mother overheard someone telling Gu Tingyu that she had killed Gu Tingyu's mother, and went to confront Gu Yankai about it.
She accidentally fell during the argument, which led to her death in childbirth.
But judging from Gu Yankai's behavior over the years, he must know that this matter is related to Madam Qin.
Gu Yankai was aware of everything, including Xiao Qinshi's behavior of praising him to the point of ruin.
"If you truly hate Father and can bear to see the Gu family wiped out, then disregard what I said," Gu Tingyu said.
After a long silence, Gu Tingye said, "Ziqian and I are just ordinary friends. He might not refuse to help me with small things out of politeness, but he won't help with something like this!"
"The Wang and Sheng families are related by marriage. If you ask for the hand of the Sheng family's eldest daughter, given the Gu family's social standing, the Sheng family will not refuse."
Gu Tingyu said, "In that case, he has no choice but to help out of respect for the Sheng family!"
"Heh, what a clever scheme!"
Gu Tingye sneered, "I used my marriage to protect the Gu family, and I still can't get revenge? I have to acknowledge the enemy as my mother. What am I after?"
"Even if you don't agree, the Gu family might not be wiped out. After all, the Gu family still has the imperial edict of loyalty!"
Gu Tingyu said, "But that would make it even harder for you to get revenge. She has developed an obsession with the title. Your inheritance of the title would actually be the greatest revenge against her!"
Gu Tingye remained silent for a long time after hearing this, then said sarcastically, "You're quite good at reading people's hearts, but I bear the infamy of causing my father's death. Do you think she'll let me go back?"
If Madam Qin makes a fuss about this, she can easily prevent her from entering the Gu family's gate.
After all, it would be extremely unfilial to anger one's father to death.
He was not convicted of the crime, otherwise he would not have even had the chance to be pardoned.
Because the greatest act of filial impiety is an unforgivable sin!
"She has no choice, unless she wants to see the Gu family wiped out and exterminated!"
Gu Tingyu said, "You don't need to worry about things over there. If you agree, you can come back with me now!"
"Since you want to give me the title, I will naturally not refuse!" Gu Tingye sneered.
Gu Tingyu was right about one thing: it was his inheritance of the title that made Lady Qin feel bad.
Moreover, he would only have a chance to take revenge if he returned to the Gu family; otherwise, he would have to find an opportunity to kill Xiao Qinshi and escape the Song Dynasty.
Otherwise, he would have no way to take revenge through normal channels.
Even if he finds evidence proving that it was Xiao Qinshi and Gu Tingyu who said those things, he can't do anything to Xiao Qinshi.
After all, Gu Tingyu did marry Bai Shi after divorcing his wife, so the Qin family's statement is understandable and not illegal.
Bai fell and died during childbirth.
No matter the law at any time, it cannot be applied to Lady Qin.
Although Gu Tingye wished he could kill Madam Qin, he couldn't do it.
After all, her mother and maternal grandfather were buried in the Song Dynasty, and he also had a son and a daughter.
Even if we kill Lady Qin, the title will fall to Gu Tingwei.
Gu Tingwei must hate him, and so must the Qin family.
It wouldn't be impossible for them to target his maternal grandfather's and mother's graves at that time.
Gu Tingye wants revenge, so he has no choice but to return to the Gu family.
"Let's go then, come back to the Gu family with me!" Gu Tingyu said, standing up.
"Madam, something terrible has happened!"
Madam Su rushed into the main hall and said, "The Marquis has brought the Second Young Master back!"
"What?"
Madam Qin jumped to her feet and shouted, "Quickly, stop him! Don't let him set foot in the Gu family's house!"
"It's too late. The second young master has already entered and is heading towards the main hall!" said Madam Su.
Upon hearing this, Madam Qin hurriedly went outside.
As soon as I stepped into the courtyard, I saw Gu Tingyu and Gu Tingye walking side by side.
"Young Master!"
'
Madam Qin scolded, "He killed Master, and you actually brought him back?"