Chapter Eighty-Four: Walking on Thin Ice

mother's dowry, how could Meng Jinyao continue to be dutiful and filial towards herSun's face stiffened slightly, she evaded the question and replied lightly: "I didn't sleep well last night. I have...Gu Jingxi's face was cold and his eyes were sharp. He asked in a cold voice, "Do you think that because your father only has one son, the heir to the title must be you, so you feel you have the capital to act recklessly"

As soon as these words were uttered, Gu Xiuming's heart trembled, his eyes flickering with guilt and fear. He hurriedly shook his head, trying to defend himself: "Father, it's not true."

Gu Jingxi's gaze was deep and steady as he looked at him, saying slowly, "Even if I only have one son, the heir to the Hou Mansion's title is not necessarily you. The Gu family has more than just you as a child. Since you are incapable of taking on the responsibility, then let someone who is capable take your place."

Gu Xiuming's face was as white as paper, his eyes filled with fear. His legs gave way and he fell to his knees, hurriedly admitting his mistake: "Father, son knows he was wrong. There will never be a next time. Please have mercy on your son and give him another chance to reform."

When he spoke, his voice trembled. Before being adopted, his biological parents had told him that he was going to become the prince and later inherit the marquisate.

After being adopted, the entire Hou's household treated him with great kindness, and he adapted to life in the Hou's residence. At the same time, he understood that others were kind and flattering to him only because he was his father's son, the heir apparent of Changxing Houfu.

He simply couldn't imagine what life would be like if he lost his title as Crown Prince. He couldn't picture those who had once fawned over him turning their backs and even ridiculing him, perhaps even the servants in his own household would mock him.

Gu Jingxi could see all of his son's subtle expressions, knowing what he cared about and what he feared. For this son, whom he had poured his heart and soul into and had high hopes for, he now only felt disappointment.

He furrowed his brow, his expression unreadable. Looking down from his elevated position at his son who knelt on the ground, anxiously waiting for his verdict, he uttered two words in a flat tone: "Get out."

Gu Xiuming stared up in astonishment. "Father"

Gu Jingxi remained silent, only gazing at him with a faint and unreadable expression.

Gu Xiuming was startled, but he didn't dare to say another word. He bowed deeply to his father: "Please calm your anger, Father. I will go back and reflect on myself thoroughly, and I will never make the same mistake again."

After leaving the study, Gu Xiuming was pale as paper, his face bloodless and his whole body weak. As he went down the stairs, he stumbled and almost fell.

His father didn't say the outcome, didn't say he was disinherited, nor did he say he would remain the crown prince and heir. As long as the final result wasn't out, his heart remained suspended in worry.

This feeling is like having a sword hanging over your head, ready to strike down at any moment and take your life. Fear and anxiety will accompany you as your sense of superiority as the son of a Marquis vanishes in an instant, leaving only a sense of crisis, the constant fear of being replaced. Every step you take feels like walking on thin ice.

He looked up at the vast, clear sky, feeling lost and directionless. He wondered if it was because he wasn't his father's biological son that he felt this way. If he were, his father would surely treat him differently.

Even raising a dog for so many years would create feelings, let alone a human. He called Gu Jingxi his father for so many years, Gu Jingxi is truly heartless.

Gu Xiuming returned to Qingyuxuan in a daze, like a walking corpse. Seeing Li Wan'er crying with tears streaming down her face, and hearing her pitiful whimpers, he surprisingly didn't pull her into his arms to comfort her. Instead, a strange irritability arose in his heart.

Li Wan'er saw him, as if she had seen her mainstay, suddenly stood up and rushed into his arms, becoming even more aggrieved, tears falling even harder, choking out: "Xiu Ming gege, your family doesn't like me, they look down on me, do they blame me for eloping with you that day and hurting your fiancée"

She said, and then lamented to herself: “That’s true, she is a young lady from the Yongchang Marquis' mansion, born into an aristocratic family, and so beautiful. I am just an orphaned girl with nothing, it's normal for your family to prefer her.”

Although Gu Xiuming was agitated, seeing his beloved girl sobbing in his arms, her delicate shoulders trembling, he couldn't help but feel pity. He suppressed the irritation in his heart and patiently soothed her for a while: "Wan'er don't cry, whether they like it or not doesn't matter, as long as I like you."

However, Li Wan'er was not so easily appeased this time. She couldn't shake the memory of the embarrassing incident at Shou'an Hall, where her lack of etiquette had caused a stir and attracted those knowing glances. The thought of encountering them again outside the courtyard and being ridiculed made her feel ashamed and afraid.

She slowly raised her head to look at Xiu Ming. Her tear-stained face was full of grievance, and her misty eyes looked at him expectantly. Her voice was filled with helplessness: "But after I go back to the Gu family, I won't only have to deal with you, but also them. What should I do"

Gu Xiumin's mind was still echoing his father's words, and he felt restless and irritable. He didn't have much patience for her either. Hearing her say this, he replied: "Since you are afraid, go out less and avoid meeting them."

Li Wan'er was stunned after hearing this, a little incredulous that he would say such things. It took her a long while to recover, and she felt even more wronged in her heart. She said, "Brother Xiu Ming, do you also think I embarrassed you today If you dislike me so much, why didn't you marry Meng Jin Yao in the first place and elope with her"

Gu Xiuming looked at the usually understanding girl, who was a bit unreasonable today. He felt even more agitated, but thinking that Wan'er was probably wronged today, and besides, without Wan'er's kindness, he would have been bitten by a snake that day and died tragically. He couldn't bear to blame her after all, so he shook his head lightly: "Don't overthink it, how could I dislike you"

He said as he reached out and wiped Li Wan'er's tears, continuing to soothe her: "Wan'er, my elder brother and sister-in-law were married at the end of last year. They haven't had a child yet. If we can give Grandmother a great-grandson before them, considering that I am the eldest grandson, Grandmother would definitely view you differently. As long as Grandmother changes her attitude towards you, others will too."

Li Wan'er, upon hearing this, was temporarily appeased. After all, "a mother's status is tied to her son's," as it is in any family. Seeing things from the child's perspective, she believed that the elders of the Zu Gu family would soften their attitude and gradually accept her.

Gu Xiuming saw that she finally stopped crying and said, "Alright, stop crying. Let the maids come in and clean up."

Li Wan'er was bewildered: "Pack what"

Gu Xiuming replied, "Pack your things and move to the west wing. You should also move to the west wing."

Li Wan'er was puzzled: "Brother Xiuming, this place is very good, and I like it very much. Why do we have to move to the west wing"

"The main hall is the wife's quarters, so..." Gu Xiuming's words trailed off halfway, and he didn't continue. He even dared not look directly into her eyes, shifting his gaze elsewhere, filled with both guilt and shame.g about some things, a bit restless."Li Wantouer, being understanding, said: "If you have something on your mind, feel free to tell me. Perhaps I can give you some advice."Gu Xiuming looked at Li Wan'...