lcionline Chapter 406 The Playboy's Divorced Woman 2
Chapter 406 The Playboy's Divorced Woman 2
Xie Qingyu didn't even glance at Gu Shenbai; she just stared intently at the old lady.
The old lady was initially taken aback by Xie Qingyu's imposing manner, but upon understanding the meaning behind her words, she immediately revealed a joyful expression.
"Yes, the granddaughter-in-law is willing to divorce."
"Okay, give it to her quickly..."
"Absolutely not!" The old lady was interrupted by the lady who came in before she could finish speaking.
Gu Shenbai's biological mother, the head lady of the household, entered with her maids and nannies, sternly stopping the old lady from speaking.
"Why did you come here?" The old lady was even more hesitant when she saw the first lady, as if she couldn't sit still and wanted to stand up.
“Mother, you are getting old, and it’s not appropriate for you to be involved in the affairs of the younger generation. This time, it was Shen’er who was being irresponsible and brought people here, disturbing your peace. I will handle it now, so you don’t need to worry about it.” The First Madam spoke from where she stood.
Neither the old lady nor Gu Shenbai dared to speak.
The First Madam glared at Gu Shenbai with a displeased expression, her anger at his lack of ambition evident.
But when she looked at Xie Qingyu, her expression softened.
“Shen’er is ignorant and has made you suffer this time. I apologize on his behalf. Please don’t say things like that again. You are the eldest young mistress of the Gu family, and no one can surpass you.” The eldest madam stepped forward to comfort Xie Qingyu.
"Mother..." Xie Qingyu was stopped halfway through her bow and looked at the First Madam.
The First Madam was extremely satisfied with the daughter-in-law she had personally arranged to marry. She had already made a move to settle down with such a good girl in the capital, but little did she know that her son was such a disappointment.
"Listen to me, the handover of the tokens over there is almost done. When you have time when you get back, take a look at those account books. I've been having Granny Lai go to your place these past few days. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask her. Although the storeroom key is with me for now, once your people are settled in, all these things will be sent to you." The First Madam said, holding Xie Qingyu's hand.
Xie Qingyu had only been married into the family for two months when the First Madam began to relinquish power. Now, to show her high regard for Xie Qingyu, she brought up the matter of the mahjong tiles.
The handing over the property to Xie Qingyu means that the management of such a large Gu family mansion—or rather, the Princess's mansion—is now in Xie Qingyu's hands.
"My daughter-in-law hasn't fulfilled her responsibilities as a daughter-in-law, so I can't accept these things," Xie Qingyu shook her head.
"My dear child, I know this isn't your fault." After saying that, the First Madam turned her attention to Gu Shenbai.
Gu Shenbai was already standing to the side. When he saw the First Madam looking over, he immediately stepped forward and said, "Mother."
"Someone, take this girl away." At the Madam's command, someone immediately took away the courtesan from the side.
Gu Shenbai looked at the girl who was being taken away, his eyes full of regret, his shimmering peach blossom eyes seeming to hold deep affection.
After the person left, the doctor's face darkened. "Gu Shenbai, what did I tell you? I've never said anything to you about how you play around outside, but have I never told you not to bring all sorts of shady women into the mansion!"
The First Madam's face was extremely gloomy. The Old Madam, who always doted on Gu Shenbai, looked at her expression and didn't dare to say anything.
“Hua Niang is clinging to me so tightly, I was hoping she could have a proper status with me.” Gu Shenbai’s tone seemed to show some regret for Hua Niang.
"You, you!" The First Madam was furious. "Go kneel in the ancestral hall!"
"This isn't good, it's cold..." The old lady had barely uttered a sentence when the first lady glanced at her and immediately fell silent.
"No one is allowed to send him anything!" The First Madam's last words were clearly directed at the Old Madam.
The blue bricks of the ancestral hall are cold, and it's late autumn now, so the nights are not pleasant.
However, once the First Madam was determined to teach Gu Shenbai a lesson, no amount of persuasion from others would change her mind.
"My dear child, go back to your courtyard and rest well. Don't mention such things again today. Your mother will stand up for you and make sure this never happens again." The First Madam had been a princess for so many years, and even after marriage, she had never bowed her head. The fact that she was speaking to Xie Qingyu like this now showed a lot of patience.
In fact, the First Madam felt a little guilty looking at Xie Qingyu's plain clothes and pale face without makeup.
How could such a perfectly good girl end up like this after marrying into this family?
Her son was very well-behaved when he was young, but after growing up, he learned from someone and spent his days fooling around and indulging in debauchery, not taking any of his father's traits.
Xie Qingyu understood the principle of moderation, so she bowed and left.
After she left, the First Madam glanced at Gu Shenbai and ordered someone to escort him to the ancestral hall to kneel down.
Gu Shenbai glanced at Xie Qingyu's departing figure before lowering his eyes.
It seems... a little different.
.........................................
"Lord Gu has returned and went to the ancestral hall to request the family punishment." After the maidservant Tao Hong reported this news, she went into the room and told Xie Qingyu the truth.
Qili, another head maid who served Xie Qingyu with her writing materials, asked with some curiosity, "What are the Gu family's rules?"
Peach Blossom paused for a moment, "It seems like it's three strokes?"
"The Gu family doesn't seem to have rulers, does it?" Xie Qingyu asked. "And not whips either."
Xie Qingyu became more reserved in her speech.
Her father-in-law, Lord Gu, was a third-place scholar in the imperial examinations in his early years. He rose through the ranks from the countryside and had no family wealth, meaning he had no family rules.
Or perhaps their family rules are somewhat different from those of other families.
Xie Qingyu thought that if this family discipline were effective, Gu Shenbai wouldn't be in his current state.
Tao Hong clearly hadn't thought of this, but she was very proactive, immediately opening the door and going out to find out.
When she returned to report, her expression was noticeably off.
"The Gu family's discipline is beating with a board..." Tao Hong's expression was somewhat indescribable, "It's the same board used to beat servants."
"Did Lord Gu make it himself?" Xie Qingyu asked.
"Correct."
After Lord Gu married the Princess, he could no longer attend court or serve as an official.
However, the eldest princess couldn't bear to see him study so hard for so many years only to have no opportunity to use his talents, so she went to the palace to ask the emperor to give him a position, even if it was something insignificant.
The emperor at the time only had one legitimate daughter, the eldest princess, so he agreed.
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review gave Lord Gu a minor position in charge of interrogating prisoners. Of course, this position had subordinates, so he didn't need to do it personally. However, Lord Gu did a good job in this position. At least he was always on time every day and then came back to accompany the Princess.