Chapter 22: The Fool's Shock

e."Seeing her hesitation, Gu Xiuming added another matter: "Father helped the fourth brother get in touch with Ling Shan Academy. At first, I didn't pay much attention to this matter. Later, I realize...My fiancée became a mother

Gu Xiuming was dumbfounded, unable to digest this news, let alone accept the outcome. She was his acknowledged fiancée, yet on their wedding day, she married his father, becoming his mother. It was absurd to the extreme, leaving him with an indescribable feeling of shame.

After a long pause, he flew into a rage and sneered: "Meng Jin Yao, are you shameless Since you couldn't be my bride, you want to be my mother"

Li Wan'er was also struck dumb, staring incredulously at Meng Jin Yao. She had just been touched by the fact that Xiu Ming's brother left Meng Jin Yao for her, and now she suddenly learned that Meng Jin Yao hadn't married Xiu Ming's brother but his father! Then wouldn't she become her mother-in-law in the future

A shiver ran down her spine.

She eloped with Xiu Ming's older brother, making Meng Jin Yao a laughingstock on her wedding day. In the future, Meng Jin Yao became her mother-in-law and definitely wouldn't spare her any hardship. A mother-in-law has many ways to torment her daughter-in-law, just setting rules is enough to wear someone down.

Meng Jinyao watched the two people's expressions change with interest. The man was furious, as if he had been humiliated in some extraordinary way. The woman was anxious and nervous, her neck shrinking down when she met Meng Jinyao's gaze out of fear. She instinctively leaned against Gu Xiuming, seeming very afraid of her. Gu Xiuming glared at her warningly, his eyes seemingly saying: You dare not even touch Wan'er a single hair.

Seeing this, Meng Jinyang chuckled softly. As long as this girl named Wan'er didn't cause trouble, she wouldn't take the initiative to attack. This girl Wan'er had no morals and ran away with her fiancé on her wedding day, but the main culprit was Gu Xiuming, this irresponsible, spineless, and wanton man. If Gu Xiuming wanted to be a responsible person, no matter how much trouble Wan'er made, it would be useless.

Gu Xiuming saw her laughing, his face darkened: "What are you laughing at"

Meng Jinyao replied, "It's nothing, just happy that my new daughter-in-law has such a good son."

"Who is your son"

Gu Xiuming looked like he'd been stepped on, if he hadn't been tied up, he probably would have jumped up. He glared at her with disgust and scoffed, "You're shameless! You couldn't marry my son, so you want to marry me A pauper willing to sell herself for status, you don't even care about your dignity anymore. Don't think that by marrying my father, you become my mother."

Meng Jin Yao saw his face contorted with anger, a ferocious expression that filled her with satisfaction. A bright smile curved on her lips as she replied in a tone laced with malicious glee: "My dear son, though you may not want to admit it, this is the truth. I am your father's wife, which makes me your mother. In the future, whenever you see me, you must show proper respect to your elders and address me as 'Mother'."

Gu Xiuming said coldly, "Don't even think about it!"

“I hear the Gu family places great importance on filial piety. I wonder if unfilial children face severe punishment at home” Meng Jiny Yao’s words trailed off, and she looked at Chunliu beside her. Though she didn't call her name, the meaning was clear - she expected Chunliu to respond.

Chunliu was enjoying the play when suddenly, the mistress threw this offensive question at her. On one side was the errant young master, and on the other was the houye's beloved wife. Anyone with common sense knows which side to choose. She wasn't stupid, she naturally understood she should stand by the mistress's side. The houye had a hidden illness, even if the mistress didn't have children in the future, as long as she had the houye's favor, she could enjoy her life for another twenty or thirty years.

So, Chun Liu readily nodded in agreement and replied, "Lady, it's true that our family has this rule."

Gu Xiuming looked at Chun Liu in astonishment. He recognized this maidservant; she was a top-ranking maid in his father's courtyard. On the third day after Meng Jin Yao married into the family, she had her father's courtyard maidservant pledge allegiance

He looked at Meng Jin Yao, seeing a cunning glint in her eyes. He felt as if she was calculating something in her heart. His face darkened instantly, and he asked, "Meng Jin Yao, do you still want to use family law against me I am the son of the Marquis's mansion, not someone you can hit just because you want to"

Look at the vigilance in his eyes, Meng Jin Yao's smile deepened. Gu Xiu Ming could be so willful, wasn't it all because of his identity as the son of Marquis Changxing He thought Gu Jing Xi had an illness and couldn't have her own children, so the title would definitely be inherited by him as a foster son

However, he was still thinking too optimistically. As long as Marquis Changxing was still alive, he could petition the emperor to establish another heir apparent. This adopted son of his was behaving badly; he could even adopt another adopted son to inherit the title.

Thinking of this, Meng Jinyo chuckled lightly, half-seriously and half-playfully: "I'm your mother, you're my son, what's wrong with that But I don't want to get my hands dirty today. A person of poor conduct doesn't deserve the position of Changxing Hou's heir apparent. Son, do you think I should ask your father to petition the Emperor, saying that you are unworthy and should be stripped of your title, and that someone with both virtue and talent should be appointed as the new heir apparent Do you think the Emperor would agree"

Hearing this, Gu Xiumin's heart skipped a beat, his pupils constricted suddenly, and he frowned, staring at Meng Jinyao fiercely: "You venomous woman, what do you want to do"

Li Wan'er was also taken aback by Meng Jin Yao's words. She looked up, her eyes brimming with tears as she pleaded with Meng Jin Yao, "Madam Gu, you are an elder, a magnanimous person. Please don't be like Brother Xiu Ming. Brother Xiu Ming just can't accept the sudden fact of having another mother. He is actually a very respectful person towards his elders. If you are angry with Brother Xiu Ming and me for eloping and causing you to lose face, then punish me. Brother Xiu Ming is innocent. It's all because of me that he is like this."

Meng Jinyao收斂了笑意，那張還有些稚嫩的臉板起嚴肅神色，居高臨下地俯視著泫然欲泣、楚楚可憐的李婉兒，宛若看著螻蟻。侯夫人的氣勢十足，淡聲說道：“婉兒姑娘，我在跟我兒子說家事，你一個外人貿然插嘴，是不是太冇教養了？”

She paused, then without waiting for Li Wan'er's reply, she continued, "Of course, the upbringing of someone who would elope with my son couldn't be good."

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Wan'er’s face paled. Tears welled up in her eyes and immediately streamed down her cheeks. She shamefacedly lowered her head, sobbing silently. Her body trembled, her slender shoulders heaving with each choked sob, as if she had suffered an immense injustice.

Gu Xiuming saw this, his heart clenched with pain, and he angrily rebuked Meng Jin Yao: "Meng Jin Yao, what is the matter with you rushing at me, relying on your status to bully Wan'er, what kind of skill is that"

Meng Jiny Yao was about to reply when she felt a gaze fall upon her. Instinctively, she looked up and saw the man, elegant as jade, standing in the doorway, a half-smile playing on his lips. She wondered how much of what she had just said he had heard.

She swallowed the words that reached her lips and accused, "Husband, your son is unfilial and disrespectful to elders."

Gu Jingxi raised an eyebrow. This little girl was quite clever, clearly brewing a counterattack against Xiuming's words. Seeing him arrive, she immediately went to complain, asking him to discipline his rebellious son. He walked over to Meng Jin Yao and looked at his son who was full of surprise, saying in a calm manner: "My son is being disrespectful. I am busy with official duties, and I will have to trouble Madam to help discipline him well in the future."

Gu Xiuming was dumbfounded:etween you and Lord Hou."Meng Jin Yao slowly withdrew her gaze and softly replied, "His words cannot shake my thoughts in the slightest. I'm just angry.Niang said: “Madam, just let the young master’s...