Chapter Twenty-Five: Pretentiousness

this time, the imperial physician also hurried over with his medicine chest, and upon seeing the three of them, he was about to pay his respects.Zhang shook her head. "Enough with the formalities, go...Matters came to a temporary end. Li Wan'er was sent back home, while Gu Xiuming was escorted to the ancestral hall, ready to be disciplined.

Gu Jingxi glanced at Chunliu and the servant beside her. The two immediately understood and hurriedly assured him, "My lord, rest assured, we will never say a word about what just happened."

Upon hearing this, Gu Jingxi nodded slightly and then left the study.

Meng Jin Yao saw this, hesitated for a moment, and also took a step to follow. Both masters had left, Chun Liu also followed out of the study. The servants walked at the back, closing the study door but not following. After all, he was a male servant, only working in the front yard.

Out of the study, after just a few steps, Gu Jingxi paused and instructed: "Chunliu, go and inform the masters of each courtyard to gather at the ancestral hall. As for the old lady, she is elderly and cannot bear the commotion, so there's no need to notify her."

The willow tree nodded in response, "I'll go right away."

Only after the spring willow had left did Gu Jingxi turn to look at his young wife beside him. Seeing that she had originally lowered her head slightly, perhaps sensing his gaze, she then raised her head and looked at him, a smile playing on her lips. She asked in a half-serious and half-playful tone: "Husband, you sent the maid away, is it to question me"

Gu Jingxi smiled wryly and retorted, "What if I said I was"

Meng Jinyao's face changed color. She had just said to educate Gu Xiuming properly, but now she was going to find trouble with her. It seemed she was heartbroken for her son's father, and Meng Jinyao felt resentful: "Then bring your son back first so I can bully him well before sending him to the ancestral hall. I'm still not satisfied, it feels like I got shortchanged."

Hearing her childish words, Gu Jingxi smiled: "Madam is an elder, and it's right for the wife to educate her ignorant son when he returns home. It's just that the unfilial son was disrespectful, causing Madam to feel wronged."

Upon hearing this, Meng Jin Yao immediately adopted a gentle and loving maternal demeanor. She smiled softly and played along with him: "Don't worry, I'm his mother. Why would I argue with my child He's just a child who doesn't understand. We'll educate him slowly in the future.

Gu Jingxi: "..."

The little girl changes her face pretty quickly.

Gu Jingxi seemed to truly trust her more, replying: "Madam's skill in educating children, I have witnessed just now. I believe that under Madam's guidance, Xiuming will gradually become sensible."

Meng Jin Yao raised an eyebrow slightly, muttering to herself: "Your son sees me and grit his teeth in hatred. Are you sure it's not under my education that Gu Xiuming will become more rebellious"

-

Ancestral Hall.

The entire Gu family, from the eldest son's household and the second son's, men, women, and children, all went to the ancestral hall. Gu Lao Fu ren, because of her age, could not bear the sight of bloodshed, so she did not go.

The ancestral hall is solemn and imposing. Besides occasions for sacrifices, weddings, funerals, birthdays, and happy events, the whole family rarely appears in the hall unless a descendant has committed a serious offense and must be punished within the hall.

Upon reaching the entrance of the ancestral hall, the two parties exchanged a brief nod, but without excessive words. Their minds were preoccupied with different thoughts as they stepped into the hall.

Upon entering the ancestral hall, everyone saw Gu Xiuming kneeling before the ancestors. Even though they had guessed he would be punished, seeing him kneeling early in the ancestral hall still took them by surprise.

All the grandchildren in the Gu family, the children of the first and second rooms were not born to Madam Gu. Gu Xiuming was also adopted from a distant branch. Every grandchild had no blood relationship with Madam Gu, but Gu Xiuming was the most beloved by Madam Gu, loved like a real grandson.

Now, the most beloved grandchild of Old Madam Gu is kneeling before the ancestors, preparing to receive punishment. It's truly a once-in-a-lifetime sight.

And Gu Xiuming, kneeling on the ground, even without raising his head, knew what kind of eyes everyone was looking at him with. Just a few days ago, he was still the beloved Crown Prince, adored by all, but now he was like a bereaved dog. This huge gap made his heart filled with resentment and bitterness. But when he thought of Wan'er, a sweet feeling arose in his heart.

The ancestral hall was eerily quiet. It was Zhang who broke the silence first: "Xiuming, you are your father's only child, he loves you most. Later, apologize to your father sincerely and ask for his forgiveness."

Gu Xiuming didn't respond, clutching his fists tightly, kneeling motionless. If his father truly loved him, he wouldn't punish him so severely for a daughter from a destitute family.

Soon after, Gu Jingxi and his wife arrived.

When Zhang saw him coming, she glanced towards Gu Xiu Ming and said softly, "Third brother, Xiu Ming is a polite and well-behaved child usually. This time he acted impulsively and made a mistake for the first time. It's better to just give him a light punishment and a strong warning, rather than going through all this trouble."

As soon as her voice fell, Mrs. Chen glanced at her with a hint of disdain, silently scoffing in her heart. She found this feigned concern tiresome. This sister-in-law was known for playing the "good person" card on important matters. On the surface, she appeared helpful, but secretly, she would stir the pot, making sure someone received harsher punishments. Then, when it came time to plead for leniency, she would conveniently vanish from the scene.

Gu Jingxi's brows furrowed, and he replied in a low voice: "If he truly knew etiquette and propriety, he wouldn't have done such a wicked thing. Not only did he ruin his family's reputation, but he also implicated an innocent girl because of his recklessness. I invited everyone here today to serve as witnesses, and more importantly, to warn others by his example."

He stopped speaking, his gaze swept over the people present, finally landing on Gu Xiumin kneeling on the ground. His tone was calm and measured as he announced: "Gu Xiumin, the unfilial descendant, has repeatedly been disrespectful to his elders, betrayed his loyalty, disregarded the family's reputation, and caused significant harm. Due to multiple offenses, he is sentenced to twenty-five lashes, confined to the ancestral hall, facing the spirits of our ancestors for a month of reflection, and copying the ancestral rules one hundred times."

As soon as these words left his mouth, both the people of the first and second houses were stunned. They all said that Minister Gu Jingxi of Dali Temple was impartial and never showed favoritism, but they always felt that this only applied to others, not to his only son. But now, they no longer thought so.

Confined to the ancestral hall for a month of reflection, and required to copy the family rules one hundred times. They considered these punishments normal. But Gu's whip was special; it was three fingers wide. Combined with the enforcer's strength and skillful technique, it hurt more than being hit with a board without damaging internal organs.

Whipping twenty-five times, that's a punishment that takes half a person's life. Someone physically weak might be close to death before the execution is complete. Gu Xiuming is his only son, and he shows no mercy at all. Even if he wasn't his biological son, he'd raised him for so long, he must have some feelings for him. Let alone a human being

Gu Jing Sheng hesitated, "Third brother, isn't this punishment too severe"

When he finished speaking, Zhang fiercely pinched her husband's lower back in anger, accusing him of holding them back. She said he didn't speak when it was time to speak and spoke too much when he shouldn't. What if the little nephew only made a big fuss but did nothing They would have to help him plead for leniency. He would then step down gracefully and receive a light punishment!

While Gu Xiuming still kindled a sliver of faint hope, his heart thumped wildly, anticipating that his father might change his mind and spare him the twenty-five lashes. Even if he were confined to the ancestral hall for two months of self-reflection, it would be better than facing such punishment.

Gu Jingxi has always been a man of principle, fair in his rewards and punishments, decisive in his words and actions. He would certainly not be swayed by a few casual remarks from others. He looked at the servant who was responsible for administering punishment to errant masters and ordered, "Give the young master corporal punishment."When they were separated, Gu Jingxi hugged her body, his forehead against hers, looking at her glistening eyes, and whispered in a voice that was ambiguous to the extreme: "Ayao not only studies law w...