ble. The Yongchang Marquis's family falling into decline can also be partly attributed to Lady Meng's efforts."Meng Jinyu nodded in strong agreement. Her father was of average ability, but her second...Shou'an Tang.
Today is a day of rest, and it just happens to be the day to visit Mrs. Gu for her well-being. The first, second, and third houses all arrive at Shou'an Hall around the same time.
At this moment, Old Madam Gu is having her breakfast. As a junior, I would like to show my filial piety and attend to her during her meal. However, she doesn't want any fuss and finds the presence of juniors too noisy, disrupting her meal. She simply dismisses us to wait in the hall.
To have such a considerate mother-in-law is a blessing for the daughter-in-law. Some families, even with a whole house full of maidservants waiting on their matriarch, still require their daughters-in-law to come every day to help them get up, eat, and set rules for them, which can be quite trying.
As for their elderly matriarch, if you try your best to be filial and please her, she'll bluntly say: "You married into this family as a daughter-in-law, not a maid. You don't have to do these things."
You must think the old lady is lonely, so you visit her every day to keep her company and chat. She's quite annoyed by it, saying: "You guys come over every morning, I can't even sleep in peace! I have to get up early to see you. Just come on the first and fifteenth of each month."
For this, Zhang Shi and Chen Shi, who always felt that the old woman favored her own son, both thought that their mother-in-law was very loving in this regard.
After waiting for a while, Old Madam Gu finished her breakfast and went to the hall. The younger generations all greeted Old Madam Gu one after another.
After everyone sat down, people from both the First and Second Houses all looked at Mr. and Mrs. Gu Jingxi. Today, with only their couple present, Gu Xiuming had been lifted from his house arrest, yet he was nowhere to be seen.
Old Mrs. Gu also noticed that her beloved grandson wasn't there, and she couldn't help but feel disappointed. But thinking about all the outrageous things Xiu Ming had done these days, she also felt a bit numb.
Just at this time, a little maid came in to report: "Madam, the young master is here."
Although disappointed in Sunzi, he was still her grandson after all. It had been over a month since they last saw each other, and Gu Lao Fu's heart still yearned for him. She spoke softly and instructed, "Quickly go and invite the Young Master in."
Moments later, everyone saw Gu Xiuming with a beaming smile, and beside him, a shy young girl.
Everyone was taken aback.
Li Wan'er was carried into the mansion on a sedan chair the day before yesterday. Yesterday, she went out of the mansion with Gu Xiuming all day long and hadn't shown her face in front of everyone. Today, seeing her in person, people subconsciously looked up at her, wondering what kind of girl could make Gu Xiuming elope and cause such a scandal.
She was dressed in a pale blue cloud-smoke silk skirt, graceful and elegant. Her beauty was different from Meng Jin Yao's dazzling charm; it was a more demure and gentle kind. At this moment, she walked shyly beside Gu Xiuming, her delicate head lowered, not daring to look up at anyone, causing many to lower their opinion of her.
I don't understand why Gu Xiuming, the son of a marquis, would choose such a petty and insignificant young lady. Meng Jin Yao, on her wedding day, faced immense pressure but still managed to be graceful and composed during the tea ceremony. She handled everyone with ease.
Gu Xiuming has picked up the fish eyes while discarding the pearls.
The next moment, everyone realized another problem: Li Wan'er was a concubine. What business did a concubine have stirring up such a commotion
Madam Gu used to allow concubines to pay respects, but after a time when Concubine Jing Sheng's concubines quarreled and caused a scandal, disrespecting Madam Gu's authority, she was reprimanded severely. Since then, everyone tacitly agreed that concubines could not be brought to pay respects. After all, concubines were not legitimate wives and it didn't matter if elders did not favor them.
After that, the two brothers Gu Jing Sheng and Gu Jing Song did not allow concubines to come to Shou'an Hall to greet Madam Gu any longer. Even Long Sun Gu Xiu Yuan, who also had a concubine, was raised from a maidservant by his wife Jiang after she entered the house, never showed her face in front of Madam Gu.
But now, Gu Xiuming has brought a concubine who is beneath his station. Perhaps he thinks he is above the rules, or that as the prince's son and his grandmother's most beloved grandson, he will be an exception.
Gu Xiuming also sensed the subtle atmosphere, but he kept his eyes downcast and respectfully bowed to Madam Gu: "Grandson greets Grandmother, may Grandmother be in good health."
Li Wan'er was a little flustered under the scrutiny of so many eyes. Seeing Gu Xiuming bow, she quickly followed suit and bowed to Madam Gu: "Granddaughter-in-law greets Grandmother, Grandmother is well."
The atmosphere became even more awkward. A concubine claiming to be a granddaughter-in-law Only a legally married wife could be considered a genuine granddaughter-in-law. A concubine calling herself such... luckily there were no guests present, or it would have been embarrassing, something people would laugh at.
Mrs. Gu frowned slightly, but she still gave her grandson face and didn't scold him in front of the whole family. She simply ignored Li Wan'er and said to her grandson softly, "Xiuming is here, don't stand there, have a seat and talk."
Gu Xiuming was about to introduce his beloved girl to his elders, but seeing his grandmother's attitude, he didn't dare to go against her wishes. He moved to sit next to Meng Jin Yao.
Li Wan'er also felt that her elders were deliberately ignoring her. Her face paled, and a veil of mist clouded her eyes. She timidly followed Gu Xiuming behind, sitting in the seat below him.
She wasn't doing well standing, and once she sat down, all eyes were on her again. The kind of knowing looks made her feel uneasy and uncomfortable.
Besides laughing, the things about the eldest and second daughters are quite baffling. Even though Meng Jin Yao is the eldest daughter of a fallen noble family, she is still a noblewoman. She is graceful and proper, but Gu Xiu Ming doesn't want Meng Jin Yao; he wants this unruly girl. It's really hard to figure out what he's thinking.
A concubine, daring to sit on an equal footing with them In the past, when the old mistress allowed concubines to pay their respects, they would stand beside the main wife after paying their respects and wait on her. How could she possibly have the right to sit down Being able to pay their respects was already a grace.
Seeing this, Mrs. Gu's face wasn't looking good either, but she still gave her grandson some face and didn't want to make a scene out of it. She didn't reprimand him on the spot, but instead waited until later to speak with him privately.
Zhang saw her mother-in-law's face was unpleasant, knowing that her mother-in-law disliked this Li concubine. She didn't need to worry about offending her, her tone was gentle, but what she said was subtly sarcastic: "This is the Li concubine, isn't she She's really beautiful. I feel sorry for her, she's so likable, no wonder Xiu Ming this child doted on her so much. It's just that she's a bit too unrestrained.
As soon as those words left his mouth, Li Wan'er's face paled. She could tell that this wasn't a compliment, but rather sarcasm aimed at her using her beauty to beguile Brother Xiu Ming. As for the accusation of being unrestrained, she was puzzled. She had just entered the room and hadn't done anything yet, so how could she be considered unrestrained
Gu Xiuming's face changed, seeing his beloved teary-eyed and looking at him helplessly. He felt a pang of sympathy and was about to speak up for her when suddenly, there was a loud "thud," causing his heart to skip a beat.
This is the sound of a teacup being placed on a table, and it's done with force. From the side, it also shows that the person putting down the cup is displeased.
He followed the sound and saw his father's face turn cold. His heart skipped a beat, and the words he was about to say were swallowed back down. He dared not speak, silently grasping Li Wan'er's hand, offering her silent comfort.izing gaze. She spoke softly, "Mother, perhaps we should return as well My husband and the others must be waiting for us at the door."Lady Wǔ'ān Bó responded with a faint "Mmm."Gu Xuanyi looked at her...