lcionline Chapter 602 Han'er, or I'll take your surname, Chu.
Chapter 602 Han'er, or I'll take your surname, Chu.
She turned around and calmly looked at Madam Gu: "Third Aunt, Lan'er is sick, and instead of calling a doctor to treat her properly, you are here beating and scolding Lu'er. What kind of logic is that?"
“I am willing to pay for the best doctors in the capital to treat Lan’er.”
Madam Gu's face contorted for a moment, as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world. She slammed the feather duster into the ground, making a piercing sound.
"The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is truly wealthy and powerful!"
"But when did it become your place to meddle in the affairs of the Gu family?"
These words made the air in the courtyard seem a few degrees colder.
Instead of getting angry, Chu Ruohan's face turned cold, and her sharp gaze met her eyes: "Does Third Aunt mean that she doesn't intend to acknowledge this marriage?"
“We’re family, that’s what true kinship is.” Madam Gu, stung by the words, blurted out without thinking.
"Some people, even if they bear the Gu family name, who knows what blood flows in their veins?"
She only meant to speak her mind and warn Chu Ruohan not to meddle, but she didn't realize the weight of her words.
"What nonsense are you spouting!"
A voice, a mixture of fear and rage, came from the courtyard gate.
Master Gu strode in, his face so gloomy it could drip water.
Behind him followed the expressionless Duke Zhenguo, Gu Junze.
When Madam Gu saw her husband and Gu Junze, all the color drained from her face in an instant.
She never expected that they would overhear her words.
Master Gu was so angry that he trembled all over.
Gu Junze's background was common knowledge among the elite families of the capital.
If he hadn't been willing to bear the Gu family name, the late emperor would have executed the entire Gu family long ago for that old case involving the Marquis of Anyang!
Now, the Gu family's titles, official positions, and even the lives of their entire family depend on this nephew.
His willingness to take the surname Gu is something the entire Gu clan could only dream of!
That stupid woman dared to expose someone's wounds to their face!
Gu Junze seemed not to hear the vicious and hurtful words, nor did he notice the embarrassed expression on Third Master Gu's face.
He walked straight to Chu Ruohan's side, took her hand as if no one else was around, and held it tightly.
He turned to look at Madam Gu, a faint smile curving his lips.
“The Third Madam is right.” His voice was calm and even, yet it sent a chill down the spines of everyone present.
"After all, I don't have the blood of the Gu family flowing in my veins. How about this, Han'er, I'll take your surname, Chu?"
Chu Ruohan felt the warmth of his palm, and her heart warmed. She couldn't help but look up at him and couldn't help but smile.
"Aren't you afraid that the civil officials outside will drown me in their spittle?"
Gu Junze looked down at her, a hint of warmth melting away the frost in his eyes: "Why are you afraid of them? Your husband is the Duke of Zhenguo, he has military power, can't he shut them up?"
This conversation, seemingly oblivious to everyone else, was like two resounding slaps to the faces of Master Gu and Madam Gu.
Taking advantage of everyone's attention being drawn to him, Lu Ge'er's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he immediately turned around and went into the house, pulling Lan Jie'er along as they walked out.
"Brother?" Lan'er lowered her voice, "Uncle and Aunt are here, why...why should we leave?"
"Not enough." Brother Lu pulled her along, moving quickly toward the side gate of the courtyard without stopping.
His voice was soft, yet it carried a clarity beyond his years: "This matter needs to be blown out of proportion."
"Haven't you seen things clearly enough over the years?"
“Grandfather still had some affection for Grandmother as husband and wife, and at most he would scold and reprimand her, and then the matter would be forgotten. As long as we stayed in the mansion, she would always find ways to torment us.”
Lan Jie'er's heart trembled; the glimmer of hope that had just been ignited was instantly extinguished by her brother's cold words.
Master Gu was so angry that his vision blurred. He pointed at Madam Gu, who valued his reputation above all else, only to have it ruined by this foolish woman.
This isn't just reopening old wounds; it's stabbing the Gu family in the heart of their wounds!
"You, you shut up!" Master Gu roared, his voice cracking. "Guards, take this madwoman who's spouting nonsense away!"
Madam Gu was terrified and only then realized the enormity of her mistake.
She collapsed to the ground, wanting to beg for mercy, but when she met Gu Junze's cold eyes, she was so frightened that she couldn't utter a single word.
Just then, a series of hurried and chaotic footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate, and a servant responsible for guarding the side gate rushed in, stumbling and scrambling.
"It's terrible! Master, it's terrible!" The servant fell to his knees with a thud, his voice trembling with tears, "Young Master Lu and Miss Lan... they've disappeared!"
what?
Master Gu turned around abruptly. What do you mean by "disappeared"?
The servant trembled as he pulled a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket and held it high above his head: "This was found only on the table."
The butler quickly stepped forward to take it and presented it to Master Gu.
It's Brother Lü's handwriting!
"Grandparents, are you well? Your unfilial grandson is ill. My sister is seriously ill and is possessed by evil spirits. The physician in the household is helpless. I have heard that there are traces of immortals on Qingyun Mountain outside the city who can cure all diseases. I have taken my sister there to seek medical treatment. I hope that you will not worry. I respectfully submit."
Master Gu looked at everyone blankly: "Treatment? Lan'er is sick? What illness does she have? Why haven't we heard anyone mention it? Has a doctor been called?"
Chu Ruohan stepped forward and said, "Third Uncle, Lan'er isn't sick; she's been driven to the brink of death."
She didn't give anyone time to react, and gave Haitang behind her a wink.
Haitang immediately presented the heavy nanmu box.
"This reveals the secrets of the Wang family in the south of the city."
"The Wang family is already an empty shell, maintaining its facade by lending money at exorbitant interest rates. And that second young master Wang who wants to marry our Lan'er,"
She paused, her gaze sharp as a knife, shooting straight at Madam Gu, who lay limp on the ground.
"Addicted to gambling and violent in nature, he recently broke the leg of a servant."
"His two concubines in the front courtyard, one died and the other was crippled. It's widely known outside that he has a shameful homosexual relationship."
With each word Chu Ruohan spoke, Master Gu's expression grew increasingly grim.
At the opportune moment, Haitang opened the wooden box, clearly displaying a stack of documents, along with several signed confessions and a petition with dark bloodstains, before Master Gu.
“These people have all the evidence, including a letter written in blood by the family of the servant whose leg was broken.”
Madam Gu's face turned from red to white, and then from white to ashen.
Looking at the blood-written letter, she felt as if she were seeing a vengeful ghost, her whole body trembling like a leaf, her teeth chattering.
"Vicious woman!"
With a thunderous roar, Master Gu, in a fit of rage, slammed the note in his hand hard into Madam Gu's face.
He pointed at his wife, his chest heaving violently, his eyes filled with utter disappointment.
"My Gu family is a scholarly family, and we pride ourselves on being a refined and honest family. How dare you do such a despicable and vicious thing for a mere three hundred taels of betrothal money!"
"How old is Lan Jie'er? She hasn't even reached marriageable age yet, and you want to push her into such a fiery pit!" He was so angry that he trembled all over.
Madam Gu completely collapsed, lying on the ground, too weak even to cry out.
"Guards!" Master Gu almost roared, "Take this poisonous woman to the Buddhist hall! Without my order, she is not to step out!"
He pointed at the housekeeper in the courtyard, his voice leaving no room for argument.
"From this day forward, she is stripped of her power to manage the household affairs! You will temporarily take over all matters, large and small, within the household!"
"She is no longer allowed to interfere in the marriages of any of the younger generation in the household..."