Chapter 26

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

After Old Madam Gu finished speaking, the clan patriarch cleared his throat and said politely, “Sister-in-law, finding this child today must mean that A Ce and his wife are at peace in heaven and would feel reassured.”

“Yes, last night I even dreamt of A Ce,” Old Madam Gu sighed, nodding slightly and pretending to wipe away non-existent tears from the corner of her eye with her handkerchief. “Then, I’ll trouble the patriarch to take charge of opening the ancestral hall and amending the family genealogy.”

Saying this, Old Madam Gu rose with the support of Gu Yun Rong. However, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that both Gu Yuan and his sister were still seated, unmoving.

“Yuan’er!” Old Madam Gu called softly.

Under her urging gaze, Gu Yuan squinted his long eyes and smiled, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Grandmother, how come I didn’t know that my mother had given birth to twins?”

This cold remark caused the surrounding atmosphere to freeze, and the entire room fell silent.

The clan patriarch and elders exchanged awkward glances, while the members of the various branches of the Gu family looked on, dumbfounded. Even the younger members, who had been dozing off, suddenly perked up and all turned their gazes toward Gu Yuan.

“……” Old Madam Gu instinctively tightened her hold on her prayer beads, staring at Gu Yuan in disbelief, her gaze heavy.

She hadn’t told Gu Yuan about this matter. Being accustomed to running the household as the head of the marquis’s residence, she didn’t feel that such a small issue needed to be discussed with someone of the younger generation.

Gu Yun Rong had naturally heard what Gu Yuan said. Her pupils constricted slightly as she softly called, “Big Brother…”

A look of discomfort spread across her face, as though someone had ripped open an old wound in public, leaving her with no place to hide. What hurt her even more was Gu Yuan’s resolute stance. She had grown up in the marquis’s residence, and over the years, the relationship between the siblings had always been good—brotherly affection and sisterly respect. She couldn’t understand why Gu Yuan now seemed unable to accept her.

Gu Yuan, still sitting on the round-backed chair, didn’t look at Gu Yun Rong. He sat upright, his posture as straight as a sword not yet drawn from its sheath.

Old Madam Gu noticed the subtle change in Gu Yun Rong’s emotions and felt a pang of heartache. She shot an irritated glare at Gu Yuan and scolded him, “Yuan’er, Rong’er is your sister. She has called you ‘Big Brother’ for fourteen years. She’s the one who embroidered your pouches, handkerchiefs, shoes, and socks; and thanks to her, you were able to establish yourself so quickly in the military camp. Have you forgotten all that? Do you even have a heart?!”

Old Madam Gu couldn’t believe that her eldest grandson could be so cold-hearted. All those years of sibling affection, and it was still no match for this wild girl they had reclaimed halfway through their lives!

Gu Yuan’s eyes were as deep as a well, and he simply stated the facts: “My mother only gave birth to one sister. I have only one true sister.” His words, sharp and unyielding, were like the edge of a sword drawn slightly from its sheath, radiating determination. Gu Yuan would never agree to this absurd idea!

For fourteen years, his real sister had suffered, while Gu Yun Rong had lived in luxury, basking in the affection of the entire household. One was plunged into misery, the other pampered and adored. One was mired in the depths of despair, while the other enjoyed a life of wealth and honor. If he were in his sister’s shoes, he wouldn’t be able to let it go either.

If he allowed his grandmother to pass off a fake for the real, it would be the greatest injustice to his sister. He believed that if his parents were still alive, they would never want his sister to endure further suffering.

Old Madam Gu’s face grew even darker. Looking at Gu Yuan’s unyielding attitude only fueled her anger further, her gaze piercing him like daggers. Sitting at the head of the room, Gu Jian’s eyes flickered with a hint of displeasure. He silently thought that Gu Yuan truly didn’t know how to read the situation.

Madam Wang, the wife of the Marquis, glanced at Old Madam Gu and then at Gu Jian before stepping in to ease the tension. “Yuan’er, your grandmother has always shown deep love and care for all of you grandchildren. You should try to understand her.”

But who would understand his sister? Gu Yuan turned to look at Gu Yan Fei, who was sitting beside him. His large, warm, and calloused hand gently covered hers, as if to silently say, “I’m here.” Gu Yan Fei smiled faintly, her eyes rippling with emotion. In both her past and present lives, her brother had always been unwavering, standing by her side without hesitation, wielding his sword to protect her, and shielding her from every danger.

Seeing that the situation had reached an impasse, the clan patriarch coughed lightly and spoke in a conciliatory tone. “Sister-in-law, Marquis, perhaps we should discuss this matter further?” Though his intentions were kind, Old Madam Gu’s expression grew even darker. To her, Gu Yuan’s defiance was nothing short of a slap in the face. She felt her chest tighten with frustration, her face twisted in anger.

“Ridiculous!” Gu Jian furiously rebuked Gu Yuan, deep lines forming on his brow. “The Great Jing Dynasty governs through filial piety. Gu Yuan, you’ve upset your grandmother to this extent—if word spreads, what will happen to your future career? What about the reputation of our Gu family?”

Gu Jian deeply felt that this nephew of his was simply too reckless. Truly, like father, like son.

Eight years ago, Gu Ce had infuriated the late emperor, plunging the Gu family into an awkward position. They had fallen from their once exalted status to near obscurity, with the prominent families in the capital avoiding them like the plague. Over these eight difficult years, the Marquis’s residence had struggled immensely. Now, with this rare opportunity before them, Gu Jian would never allow Gu Yuan to act recklessly.

“This matter concerns the Marquis’s residence. You don’t get to act out,” Gu Jian said firmly. “It’s not your time to be in charge yet!”

His tone was harsh, the implication clear: as the Marquis, he was the head of the household.

“And when will it be my time to be in charge?” Gu Yuan’s long eyes narrowed slightly, a cold light flashing in them as he fixed his gaze on Gu Jian. Before Gu Jian could respond, Gu Yuan continued, “I think it’s better if we split the family. Let my sister and me live separately. That way, I could finally be in charge of the First Branch, wouldn’t I?” Gu Yuan’s final words dripped with sarcasm.

It was as if a stone had been thrown into still waters, stirring a thousand ripples. The room fell into dead silence, and everyone was utterly shocked.

“Yuan’er, you’re being far too careless with your words! Splitting the family isn’t something you can casually suggest!” Gu Jian’s anger flared even higher, the veins in his neck bulging with rage.

Faced with Gu Jian’s thunderous fury, Gu Yuan remained calm and indifferent, leaning back leisurely against his chair, his expression cold and detached, as if nothing could sway him.

“You… you…” Old Madam Gu was so angry that her hand trembled as she pointed at Gu Yuan, struggling to believe that he could say such rebellious and unfilial words.

Noticing the situation, Gu Yun Rong signaled to a maid nearby, who immediately brought over some hot tea. Gu Yun Rong took the teacup herself and gently offered it to Old Madam Gu, urging her to take a sip to calm down.

“Grandmother, let’s just drop this matter,” Gu Yun Rong said softly, her voice gentle as she tried to ease the tension.

She believed that Kang Wang’s feelings for her were genuine and would not falter simply because of her status as a Gu family member. But if Kang Wang truly wavered over this, then perhaps such a relationship wasn’t worth keeping!

Gu Yun Rong’s dark eyes shimmered with a mixture of pride, calm acceptance, and a barely concealed sense of restrained endurance.

Recruitment of Editors: https://gravitytales.com/recruitment-of-editors/