Chapter 625: Chapter 627: Do You Have Proof?

At that moment, Ancient Wen Heng broke the silence, clasping his hands in a formal gesture toward his brothers. "Thank you for all your hard work taking care of things at home, my brothers."

Gu Yuanjin scrambled to return the gesture. "We’re all brothers here, no need for such formalities. Besides, you’ve brought honor and protection to our family. We, your older brothers, should be the ones thanking you."

Gu Yuanmu and the others followed their eldest brother’s lead, their hearts fluttering with unease. ’Seventh is such a high-ranking official, yet he’s bowing to us. We don’t dare accept it.’

"Alright, that’s enough of this back-and-forth between you boys," Li Cuicui said, her face crinkling into a wide smile at their harmonious exchange.

"You—"

Before Li Cuicui could finish, another round of banging erupted from the side room, impossible to ignore.

"Alright, you all should go see your father now," Li Cuicui said with a scornful laugh. "There go the cups and the kang table in that room again."

"All day long, aside from eating and drinking and dragging down his children and grandchildren, his only remaining skill is wasting our money."

Ancient Wen Heng said, "It is time to go and pay our respects to Father."

Jin Qianqian, holding her two children by the hand, followed behind him.

Just as they were about to enter the room, Li Cuicui hurried ahead of them. "I’ll go in with you. I’ll receive your respects alongside your father."

Ancient Wen Heng was speechless.

As everyone entered the room, they were greeted by the sight of shards scattered all over the floor.

Worried his children might step on them, Ancient Wen Heng carefully kicked a few of the larger pieces into a corner as he walked.

Li Cuicui had already noticed his subtle movement and called out the door, "Luo Gang, come in here and tidy up the room."

At the same time, a pang of regret hit her. ’Why didn’t I think of that sooner?’

"What’s there to clean up? This whole room barely has anything in it. What’s the matter? Can’t this old man blow off some steam?" Gu Dashishi propped himself up with one hand, his expression dark as he stared at the group.

His gaze lingered on Ancient Wen Heng for a long moment. "Well, look who’s here. Our family’s most successful son has returned."

"Just as ruthless as your mother. You were away for so long and didn’t spare a single thought for your own father."

"If I hadn’t smashed a cup to remind you, you probably would have left without even thinking to come in and see me, wouldn’t you?"

Ancient Wen Heng knew Gu Dashishi was trying to make things difficult for him. He lifted the hem of his robe and knelt on the floor. "Father, your unfilial son has returned to see you."

"Hmph. You certainly are unfilial."

Jin Qianqian followed suit, kneeling with her two children.

Seeing her son’s family kneeling on the floor, Li Cuicui walked over to help Jin Qianqian to her feet, pulling her two grandsons up at the same time. "I already said we’re family. We don’t need these empty formalities."

She then turned and pulled Ancient Wen Heng up. "I know your family is filial. We’re all just simple farmers here, we can’t put on the airs of some grand lord and lady."

"Knowing you’ve returned safely is enough to put your father and me at ease."

"From now on, living your lives well is the greatest act of filial piety you can show us."

Gu Dashishi snapped, "Did I tell them to get up?"

Li Cuicui shot him a sideways glare. "What about it? A son pays respect to his father *and* his mother. Are you saying that I, his mother, can’t make a decision?"

"Your legs are paralyzed now. You’ll be depending on the filial piety of these children and grandchildren from now on. And don’t you forget, the beautiful maids and loyal servants you have are all thanks to your sons toiling away out there. That’s the only reason you have this comfortable life."

"Are you trying to bite the hand that feeds you, or do you want to go back to the impoverished life we had before?"

"I don’t mind taking care of you, you old coot, but we’ll have to see if you can stomach it."

How could Gu Dashishi not understand the threat underlying her words? But this was his last chance to turn things around.

"Seventh stays. The rest of you can go."

Li Cuicui sat right down on the edge of the kang. "Since your father has something to discuss with your seventh brother, the rest of you may as well leave."

Gu Yuanjin and his brothers glanced back and forth for a moment before, at a subtle nod from Ancient Wen Heng, they reluctantly left the room.

Jin Qianqian raised an eyebrow at the old couple sitting by the kang, then took her children’s hands and followed the rest of the Gu family out into the courtyard.

"Sister-in-law, don’t you worry. Mother is in there, so nothing will happen." Liu Liu, seeing her glance back at the room several times, thought she was worried and quickly offered some reassurance.

Jin Qianqian smiled gently at her. "We’re all family here. There’s nothing to worry about."

"It’s just that we were in such a rush on the way back that we haven’t eaten yet. How about a few of us head to the kitchen and see what there is to eat?"

"It’ll be a good chance for us to catch up, too."

Liu Liu replied, "That’s a great idea! I’ll go see what Mother-in-law has prepared. If it’s not enough, I can have someone fetch more from my home."

"Though I’m sure she’s already prepared plenty. Ever since she heard the news that you were coming back, Mother even went around to everyone’s homes and gathered up some chickens and ducks, saying she wanted to have a proper dish ready for your return."

"Knowing that Mother and my sisters-in-law are thinking of me, I feel like all the weariness from the road has just vanished." Jin Qianqian’s dimples appeared in a grateful smile, instantly closing the distance between her and the other wives.

Seeing the even warmer expressions on her sisters-in-law’s faces, Jin Qianqian threw herself wholeheartedly into the conversation.

In stark contrast to the lively atmosphere outside, the mood in the side room had grown cold and tense.

Gu Dashishi waited for a long time, but Li Cuicui didn’t leave. Frowning, he finally shouted at her, "I have something to say to Seventh. You can leave now."

"Now that’s a funny thing to say," she retorted. "What could an old man like you possibly have to instruct his son about?"

"Seventh so rarely gets to come home. As his mother, I’d like to spend a little more time with him."

"Just say what you have to say. It’s not as if I’ll be a bother."

Gu Dashishi was speechless.

"Father, we’re all family. Please, just speak your mind. Besides, Mother is hardly an outsider."

"Ever since we were children, whenever our family faced a problem, wasn’t it always Mother who solved it? Even though we sons have our own households now, Mother still has the authority to make decisions."

Gu Dashishi muttered, "...You really are your mother’s filial son..."

"Father, I am filial to you as well," Ancient Wen Heng said with the utmost seriousness. "And I believe my brothers are all equally filial."

Gu Dashishi felt a tightness in his chest. He had thought his son’s return would mean having someone to take his side, but now it seemed he was also siding with that old shrew.

"Do you know why your father is lying here?"

Ancient Wen Heng hesitated. "...Didn’t I already send for Doctor Chu from Dao City to examine you? What did he say?"

"What else could he say? That my legs are a lost cause. That I’ll never stand again for the rest of my life."

"You don’t know, do you? This was all your mother’s doing."

"Since you’re an official now, you can get justice for your father. Arrest that woman and throw her in the government office’s jail."

"She tried to murder her own husband! I want to press charges!"

Ancient Wen Heng looked helpless. "Father, do you have any witnesses or physical evidence? You know that officials require proof to pass judgment. Relying on a one-sided testimony can lead to a miscarriage of justice."

Gu Dashishi wanted to grab something to throw, but found there was nothing within reach except a pile of blankets.

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