Chapter 197: The Way of the World - The World is So Beautiful
Aunt Kang was struck and turned her face away, her eyes wide in disbelief, her wrinkled eyelids flipping like a leftover layer cake. She covered her cheek and murmured, "... Mother, you..." A strong sense of unease surged within her.
With tears in her eyes, the old lady Wang said, "You've been pampered and exaggerated since childhood, looking down on this and that—your brother and sister-in-law, your sister and brother-in-law, and other relatives... You think everyone should cater to you and obey you. Whenever you encounter the slightest inconvenience, you become resentful and always think about getting even, seeking revenge for every little grievance. Relying on your father's and my favor, you've grown bold and reckless, making one wrong step after another, and now you've committed this unforgivable beastly act! You've dragged our own flesh and blood into this mess, and I... I can't protect you anymore…" The elderly woman was in tears, her aged face filled with anguish.
Wang Shi let out a huge sigh of relief, looking at her mother with deep gratitude. Wang Jufu felt a pang of compassion and seemed to want to say something, but his wife tugged at his sleeve, and he closed his mouth again.
Sheng Hong felt a heavy burden lift from his heart; dealing with Aunt Kang was better than dealing with his wife. He turned to look at Minglan, only to see his youngest daughter standing motionless, quietly gazing at the old lady Wang, her expression oddly revealing a mix of disappointment and a hint of admiration.
"Mother!" Aunt Kang finally came to her senses and let out a piercing scream, "Are you really going to abandon your daughter?!" Her heart was filled with extreme fear, and her voice trembled.
"No, no, for all these years, my mother has scolded and reprimanded, but in the end, she always helped me. When that little vixen, whom my husband favored the most, and her illegitimate child both met with Yama, my husband nearly asked the clan leader to write a divorce letter, but didn't my mother still protect me and help me get through it? After so many storms and hardships, I surely can get through this one too!"
She leaned on her mother's legs and cried, "My marriage was arranged by my father, and for these decades, my life has been worse than death. Now my mother wants to turn her back on me—what kind of heartless parents are there in the world?! If only my father were still alive..."
"Do not disgrace your father's good name!" Old Lady Wang furiously retorted. "Among the three children, your father was most kind to you! In the Northwest for so many years, your elder brother was living under the roof of a grand scholar to study, and your sister was entrusted to her uncle, but you, you were always kept by our side! But these years, have you done anything to be worthy of your father's spirit in heaven?! ... This time, I cannot cover for you anymore; otherwise, how can I face our family's feelings?"
Thinking of her eldest daughter, who had always been clever with words, charming her parents and winning their affection more easily than her earnest and dull son or her straightforward and clever younger daughter, the old couple had inevitably spoiled her more. They never expected that such pampering would lead to today's disaster. Tears fell from her eyes again.
Sheng Hong felt moved in his heart and couldn't help but say, "Your son-in-law thanks you, Mother-in-law, for upholding justice." He also cupped his hands in a salute to Wang Jufu.
Ming Lan rolled her eyes internally.
Aunt Kang's face was pale, and a strange light flickered in her eyes. After a day and night of being tied up and humiliated, along with the stench and hunger, she felt light-headed. Now, under this provocation, her mind was clouded. All she could think was that her mother was no longer willing to help her, and the words 'what will the in-laws think' echoed in her mind.
With a sudden burst of energy, she stood up and coldly laughed at her mother, brothers, and sisters-in-law: "Good, good! I'm not as good as my sister, who married well; each son-in-law is successful, and their husbands are prominent, so of course, I'm different in my mother's heart. Now that I've fallen into disgrace, and my husband's family is incapable, I can't blame my maternal family for looking down on me. Even my closest relatives are stepping on me now... I'd be better off dead..." With that, she charged toward the wall.
At that moment, there weren't many maids or servants in the room. Just as Aunt Kang was about to crash into the wall, Liu Kun's wife rushed in from the side and managed to block her, wrapping her arms tightly around her to stop her. She had served in the Wang family's inner court since childhood and knew this young lady's temperament very well. When Wang Shi married, she hadn't immediately accompanied her, so she had witnessed several scenes of Aunt Kang crying and complaining after returning to her mother's house—always crying, causing a scene, and even threatening to hang herself. Ever since Old Lady Wang had spoken those words, she had secretly been paying attention to Aunt Kang's every move.
Liu Kun's wife was painfully hit in the chest and abdomen but managed to gasp out, "Auntie, perhaps you're just tired."
Aunt Wang stepped forward a few steps and grabbed Aunt Kang's other arm, urgently saying, "That's right, big sister is confused; let her go rest for a while." Those kinds of words had already been said, and it was just short of openly criticizing her maternal family for being classist and favoring the powerful son-in-law's family. If they kept talking like this, there wouldn't be anything good to say, so it was better to quickly pull her away.
Aunt Kang was held tightly and couldn't move, only able to intermittently wail things like "I want to die, let me die."
Mama Qi, quick-witted, hurriedly said, "Auntie is right; my lady is both startled and fatigued, and she has said some offensive words. Please do not take offense. How about I assist the lady back to rest first?" The priority was to get out of this situation.
Old Lady Wang felt a stir in her heart and was about to nod when Ming Lan cheerfully said, "Although the Sheng family isn't as deeply rooted as the Kang family, there are still plenty of rooms for Auntie to rest in. Mama Qi can accompany Auntie to the guest room to rest."
Mama Qi, holding Aunt Kang's arm, smiled and said, "I've already troubled you for so long, I wouldn't feel right to impose again. Besides, it's more comfortable to rest at home. Old Lady, what do you say?"
Old Lady Wang also hoped to downplay the situation; they needed to contain this powder keg first. She then said to Sheng Rong, "Good son-in-law, your big aunt is confused right now; why not let her go back first? We can discuss the other matters later."
Just as Sheng Rong was about to nod in agreement, Ming Lan interrupted, "That absolutely won't do!"
Old Lady Wang was already displeased after Ming Lan interrupted her several times and pressed her with words. Sheng Rong noticed his mother-in-law's poor expression and quickly shouted, "Don't be rude!"
Ming Lan smiled and replied, "Father, it's not that I'm being rude. Some harsh words need to be said upfront—" She turned to Old Lady Wang and continued, "We should send Aunt Kang home. What if she runs away? What will we do then?"
Aunt Wang almost laughed out loud but quickly suppressed it. Old Lady Wang was very displeased and said in a deep voice, "I know you're young and have been flustered due to your grandmother's illness, but that doesn't give you the right to speak nonsense. What do you mean by 'what if she runs away'? Do you think the Wang family is a den of thieves? We are all esteemed families; can't we speak nicely about this?"
Ming Lan responded sarcastically, "That's hard to say. If someone can resort to poisoning, what else can't they do? If Aunt really does run away, should I have Father beat the drum and report to the authorities, posting wanted notices all over the place?"
Old Lady Wang's face darkened with anger, and she turned to Sheng Rong, saying, "Son-in-law, your daughter certainly has a sense of propriety! She is aggressive towards her elders, and at my age, she won't even let me say a word!"
However, Sheng Rong did not answer immediately; instead, he looked thoughtfully at his daughter.
Just now, Ming Lan's words were less for the Wang family and more for herself. Now that her daughter was wholeheartedly seeking justice for the old lady, if Aunt Kang did not face punishment, she would never give up. This stubborn girl dared to confront her own father and defy her maternal family; if Aunt Kang truly ran away, she might very well go ahead and "beat the drum to report to the authorities, posting wanted notices all over the place," which would be a tremendous embarrassment.
Between two evils, it was better to choose the lesser one. He avoided his mother-in-law's gaze and said calmly, "It's best for Aunt to stay in the residence and rest for a while." After a moment's thought, he added a few polite words, "My mother is still in a coma; if I let the culprit leave so easily, I would be a disgrace as a son."
In the world of officialdom, it's all about how well you can speak, and Ming Lan felt like applauding her father; however, Old Lady Wang looked extremely disappointed. She had hoped that her son-in-law would show leniency for her sake, but it seemed that would not happen.
She could only turn to her eldest daughter with a stern face and say, "You can go down now. I'll handle the rest!"
At this moment, Lv Zhi had already summoned two punishment maids into the room. Each of them grabbed Aunt Kang and began to lead her out. Aunt Kang struggled to break free, recalling Ming Lan's various ruthless tactics, and could only scream, "Mother, are you really going to watch me die?! The Sheng family wants me to pay with my life for their old lady! ... What a heartless mother, trampling on your own flesh and blood to gain favor, climbing to a higher branch..."
As her pleas turned into curses, the harsh and venomous words became unbearable. Old Lady Wang, seeing her daughter in a half-mad state, wiped her tears and said, "You should go down and think things over. I... will certainly plead for you with your brother-in-law..."
Unfortunately, the daughter could not discern the underlying meaning of her mother's words and continued to curse, "This father and daughter duo, one playing the good cop and the other the bad cop, are definitely not going to let me go! Mother, do you not have any pity for your daughter...?"
Sheng Hong couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself. This time, he was truly being wronged; he was genuinely trying to play the good cop. But given the circumstances, how could he explain things in detail? Aunt Kang did not realize that imprisoning her was not Sheng Hong's idea and assumed that the father and daughter were in collusion.
The curses and pleas gradually faded away and then abruptly stopped, likely because the two maids had once again employed their methods to make Aunt Kang "be quiet." Concerned, Mama Qi thought for a moment and then followed them out.
Old Lady Wang watched the figures disappearing at the door, her heart aching, but she steadied herself, stood up, and walked over to Sheng Hong. Then, feeling weak in her knees, she almost knelt down, startling Sheng Hong. He quickly rose to support her, saying, "Mother-in-law, please get up! How could I dare to accept this?"
Uncle Wang and Aunt Wang hurried over to help her, while Wang Shi also fell to her knees beside her mother, weeping uncontrollably.
Old Lady Wang held Sheng Hong's hand and said sorrowfully, "My two daughters are useless; what face do I have to meet you, to face our in-laws! Though we are a mother-in-law and son-in-law, our bond is more like that of mother and son. When you came to my house that year, I liked you immensely at first sight. Many people advised me that your family background was too humble, but I felt that your character and capability were precious, far superior to my own son. When you proposed to marry my daughter, I was beyond delighted. People said my daughter was marrying down, but I felt that, given your talents and character, you were marrying beneath your station by taking my foolish girl..."
In fact, when the Wang and Sheng families formed an alliance, it was indeed Sheng Hong who was climbing higher; Old Master Wang had been very hesitant. However, Old Madam Wang liked Sheng Hong, disregarded the opinions of others, and ultimately married her daughter to him. Because of this, Sheng Hong had always felt grateful over the years.
Old Lady Wang went on, rambling about everything from the wedding to their life after marriage, from family matters to the officialdom, detailing how she admired and cared for Sheng Hong, how she supported him in every way. Her affectionate and tender words made Sheng Hong increasingly emotional, tears rolling down his face, and the mother-in-law and son-in-law could not help but cry.
Ming Lan watched coldly, not interrupting, listening as Old Lady Wang continued her heartfelt monologue, gradually getting to the main point—"Although I did not spend much time with your mother, I have the utmost respect for her character. As soon as I heard she had suffered greatly, I wished I could take her place. Your mother is such a compassionate person; I can't bear for this incident to cause our three families to turn against each other, making relatives no longer relatives and turning flesh and blood into enemies..."
Sheng Hong wiped his tears, feeling deeply moved, almost nodding in agreement, saying, "Yes, yes," when suddenly he heard a soft, cold laugh from the side. He turned to see Ming Lan slowly walking over to Kang Jin's side, smiling as she said, "Hello, Cousin Kang."
Kang Jin, naturally honest and somewhat timid, had been standing in the corner, silently shedding tears since his mother was dragged out. He was taken aback by her words, responding, "Cousin Sheng... hello."
"I'm still young and unaware of past events," Ming Lan said softly, her voice clear and bright. "But today, hearing what the Old Madam said, I'm quite moved..." She suddenly sneered, "I almost thought that it was not my grandmother who raised my father, hired esteemed teachers to guide him, taught him to succeed in the imperial exams, and arranged for him to marry and have children, but rather it was your grandmother!"
Sheng Hong's face flushed. While he felt his mother-in-law treated him kindly, his legal mother had also been exceptionally devoted to him. It was unreasonable for him not to seek justice for his suffering legal mother while sparing the life of the one who harmed her simply because of his mother-in-law's affection.
Having honed his emotional resilience in the officialdom, Sheng Hong quickly composed himself, letting go of his earlier sentiments. He sighed deeply and said, "I know my mother-in-law treats me well, but in terms of familial ethics, there is simply no reason to spare someone who has harmed my mother. I only hope for your understanding, mother-in-law."
Old Madam Wang was caught off guard by the harsh sarcasm, and it struck right at the core of the issue. Seeing that Sheng Hong had just started to waver, yet his resolve was still unshaken, she felt a sense of frustration.
She gritted her teeth and continued with deep emotion, "Good son-in-law, those two foolish girls have truly committed a heinous mistake, but after all, they are flesh of my flesh. No matter how wrong they are, for the sake of my old face, can you at least show them some mercy? In the days to come, they can eat vegetarian, practice restraint, and pray for your mother's well-being. What do you think?"
Sheng Hong hesitated, saying, "This... might not be appropriate..." This suggestion had been discussed between him and his daughter long ago, but Ming Lan had outright rejected it.
Ming Lan felt disdain in her heart and said firmly, "If my grandmother could recover her health, I would be willing to eat vegetarian and pray from then on. The Sheng family and its descendants have all benefited from grandmother's kindness. As long as grandmother is well, my father, my elder brother, my sister, and my sisters-in-law, who wouldn't want to eat vegetarian and chant sutras? There's no need for Auntie to worry about it!"
Sheng Hong quickly straightened his shoulders, agreeing, "Exactly. Filial piety is the foundation of our family, and every member of the Sheng family remembers it deeply. It is our duty to eat vegetarian and chant sutras to pray for our mother's well-being."
Ming Lan added fuel to the fire, "Moreover, just now, before Auntie left, she was full of resentment. Who knows what she might pray for before the Buddha! It would be enough if she doesn't curse my Sheng family to suffer a bad end!"
Sheng Hong also remarked, "Those who have not yet atoned for their sins have no face to serve the Buddha. Aren't they afraid of defiling the purity of the Buddha's realm?" He made sure to take a high stance; after all, he had been a dutiful son for decades.
Hearing the father and daughter exchanging words, Old Madam Wang anger began to simmer. "Then you tell me, how should we deal with this?!"
Sheng Hong stroked his beard in silence, turning his face away with a pained expression. Ming Lan, not willing to back down, declared, "My family's Madam may not know the details, but Auntie arranged for someone to poison and deceive others into taking poison. That is a vicious act meant to take a life. With both witness and evidence, there's no way to evade responsibility. The punishment is simple: either a length of white silk for hanging, or a cup of poisoned wine. Let her pay with her life."
Wang Shi, shrinking behind Liu Kun's wife, felt a small sense of relief. However, Wang Laofuren was taken aback: "You want to take her life?"
"To repay a debt, one must pay back with life. That's only natural!" Ming Lan asserted decisively.
Wang Laofuren rolled her eyes, her body going weak as she nearly fainted. Aunt Wang hurried to pinch her acupoint, while Uncle Wang angrily said, "How can you be so ruthless! Always talking about taking a life! Even if your aunt dies, it doesn't mean your grandmother will recover! One should show mercy. Your aunt has already admitted her wrongs; why not give her a chance?"
Ming Lan wasn't willing to let her father off the hook and forcefully tugged at Sheng Hong's sleeve, raising her voice, "Dad, why don't you say something!"
Sheng Hong had no choice but to adopt a stern expression. "Brother-in-law, you are mistaken. Your sister's life is valuable; does that mean my mother's life is not? According to your reasoning, as long as one admits their mistakes, why do they need to execute so many criminals at the marketplace?! I truly don't want to oppose my mother-in-law, so I'll leave this matter to you, brother-in-law. My mother cannot just be harmed without consequence!"
Uncle Wang's eloquence was not as good as that of his brother-in-law; with just two sentences, he was at a loss for words. Aunt Wang helped her husband by saying gently, "Is there really a need for such hostility? After all, the old lady of the family has not yet met with misfortune, right?"
Ming Lan nodded, "Our Sheng family is not unreasonable or ruthless. If, by Heaven's blessing, the old lady survives, my father would not demand Auntie's life in exchange. However, the physician has said that the juice of the ginkgo shoots is quite potent; even if a life is saved, it is hard to ensure that the limbs won't be paralyzed. If that truly happens..." She sneered, "Then please let Auntie use her limbs as compensation!"
Aunt Wang gasped; she hadn't expected this little girl to be so merciless, and given that she was not genuinely pleading for her sister-in-law, she fell silent. Seeing that her son and daughter-in-law were useless in this situation, Old Madam Wang could only "slowly regain consciousness."
Since pleading was useless, she darkened her expression: "Son-in-law, you have succeeded now; your family business is thriving, and you no longer regard an old woman like me! Well, you are a filial son, and you must take our Wang family into consideration to enhance your reputation, but I cannot disregard kinship. Let me ask you today: what if I do not comply?"
Sheng Hong took a deep look at the Wang family members: "If it cannot be settled privately, then let it be made public."
During these days, he had finally come to understand something. In truth, the matter of Old Madam Sheng being poisoned would be a scandal for both the Sheng and Wang families once it spread, but the extent of the impact would differ.
Ming Lan, being a married woman, would be affected the least; the Sheng family was the victim, so they would be affected next. However, due to the Wang family's involvement, they would inevitably bear the blame of being "careless and negligent" and face criticism and ridicule. The Kang family would be somewhat affected, but there was no guarantee that Kang Lianjin wouldn't cut ties to save himself, resolving the issue with a divorce from Kang Wangshi.
"I come from a family with a long-standing reputation for integrity; how can I tolerate such a poisonous woman? I've wanted to divorce her for a long time, but I've been patient for the sake of the Yue family,"—even the lines were thought out by Sheng Hong on behalf of that relative by marriage.
Among all this, the family most affected would actually be the Wang family.
To plot against one's kin is a grave crime; both daughters of the Wang family are implicated—one as a foolish executor and the other as the malicious mastermind behind it. What will become of the Wang family's reputation in the official circles from now on? It is possible that even the tablet of Old Master Wang, enshrined in the illustrious minister's temple in Fengxian, will be removed. Wasn't it true that Minister Li had his tablet taken down twenty years after his death because his descendants were unworthy?
The Wang couple still has two elder daughters, both married into prominent families. Once this matter comes to light, how will their lives fare in their husbands' households? Not to mention the numerous Wang relatives.
Sheng Hong glanced again at Wang Jiu's father and mother, thinking that even if his mother-in-law was willing to overlook it for the sake of her eldest daughter, others might not be so forgiving.
In fact, he also wanted to seek justice for the old madam; if only the cost could be lower.
At this point, since the situation could not be smoothed over, he had to muster up his courage and not let others turn against him. He could see that they would accuse him of being "ungrateful to his biological mother and not repaying her kindness." If he were to repay her, it would have to be a substantial repayment.
Moreover, after all, it was the Wang family's daughters who were at fault, not the Sheng family. If there was to be any consequence, it should come from the Wang family; why should the Sheng family have to suffer in silence? It would be best to quickly deal with Kang Wang, let Minglan vent her anger, and then the three families could cover it up together. After that, everything would be peaceful! Amitabha!
Understanding this principle, Sheng Hong immediately showed a pained expression, tinged with subtle anger, and a sense of deep discouragement. "I have always passed down the teachings of poetry and scholarship in my family, and all the children at home have been taught virtue. I never expected that at this stage of my life, such a thing would happen..." He sighed deeply, "I am truly exhausted. If my mother-in-law cannot understand this, then we should report it to the authorities!"
Wang Jiu's mother glared sharply, just as she was about to speak, when Wang Old Lady coldly laughed, "I know your thoughts; you estimate that the Wang family does not dare to escalate this matter. Think carefully—his aunt is merely a relative by marriage. Your mother is still alive. Even if his aunt were to suffer, she would only be exiled as punishment. We can still negotiate for a lighter sentence. But your wife is a direct daughter-in-law! If a daughter-in-law plots against her mother-in-law, what kind of crime is that?! You know better than I do! What will happen to her children?"
Sheng Hong was taken aback, feeling a chill run through him.
Wang Shi looked at her mother in disbelief, stunned, and said, "Mother, are you really willing to let me die just to protect my sister?" She had always felt that her mother favored her sister more since childhood, but she never thought it would come to this.
Wang Old Lady did not truly want her younger daughter to die; she was just trying to see who was more ruthless, who could bear more, hoping to force the Sheng family to take a step back, which would allow both of her daughters to be safe. At this moment, she could not explain her reasoning in detail, so she hardened her heart and, without even glancing at her younger daughter, coldly mocked Sheng Hong, "Son-in-law, you are a successful scholar, well-versed in the law. What crime does a daughter-in-law commit when she plots against her mother-in-law?"
Sweat poured from Sheng Hong's forehead as he leaned on his knees—after decades of being married, he could not bear to be so ruthless; moreover, this could jeopardize the career of his eldest son, whom he valued most.
Seeing this, Wang Old Lady felt emboldened and said loudly, "If this matter truly escalates, no one will come out unscathed! You should think carefully, my worthy son-in-law." After her threat, she softened her tone, "This is all just a tangled mess; your mother is a blessed person and will surely turn danger into safety. Only we few know about this matter in this room; once your mother wakes up, you need not even tell her, so she won't be upset and her illness won't worsen. … Sigh, when I return, I will definitely punish your aunt severely and have your wife be filial to her in-laws. In the future, we can still be a harmonious family, can't we?"
Sheng Hong was greatly shaken, constantly glancing at Minglan. Minglan was so angry that her fingers trembled slightly, her blood boiling within her. A wave of nausea rose in her throat, and she truly wanted to vomit in that wicked old lady's face.
Old Madam Wang followed Sheng Hong's gaze and realized that the key point was with Minglan, so she put on a loving expression and said, "Good child, I know you are filial and want to seek justice for your grandmother. But your wife has raised you for over ten years; can you bear to see her meet a bad end? And what about your elder brother and sister? They are blood relatives; if you insist on escalating this matter, how will they be able to cope?"
Her words were a mix of persuasion and threats. Minglan sneered inwardly; if she were afraid, she wouldn't have let it come to this point. At worst, she would be left with no parents, no siblings. If this old hag provoked her, she could just step out and stab Aunt Kang to death with a hairpin!
Taking a deep breath, she was about to harshly ridicule and scold the old woman when a familiar young man's voice came from the doorway—"It's not difficult to cope. Sister, don't worry."
She saw Changbai in a slightly worn blue robe, with disheveled hair and a face weathered by the elements, clearly having rushed over. Behind him was a tall man in a bright red python robe—who else could it be but Gu Tingye?
Sheng Hong suddenly stood up. Upon seeing her son, Wang Shi felt both ashamed and relieved, crying out, "My son, you've come!" At this moment, she genuinely felt her son was the most reliable.
Minglan saw her husband but didn't know whether to feel joy or sorrow. In just a few short days apart, she had experienced turbulent waves of emotion, and seeing him again felt like a reunion after a lifetime. Remembering that she had recklessly ordered the Marquis guards without permission, seizing people and causing a huge mess, she lowered her head and said, "Didn't the Marquis go to the western suburbs' camp?"
Gu Tingye first cupped his fists in greeting to Sheng Hong, then offered a simplified bow to Old Madam Wang and Uncle Wang before quickly walking over to his wife's side. "Mr. Gongsun sent me a message, so I hurriedly took leave to come here."
"It's nothing serious," Minglan said, feeling guilty for making him leave his important duties to rush over.
Gu Tingye smiled and replied, "As long as there's no fighting, military officers are always better than idle scholars."
Old Madam Wang smiled as she watched Wang Shi pull her son into a mix of crying and laughter, feeling a sense of joy—now that her grandson had arrived, no one would dare to trouble her daughter. But when she glanced over at Gu Tingye standing there, her brow furrowed slightly. After a moment of contemplation, she decided to temporarily put aside this high-ranking grandson-in-law.
Meanwhile, Gu Tingye frowned as he examined Minglan. "Why do you look so pale?" He had left home just a few days ago to find her rosy and plump, but now she appeared thin and wan, like a little cabbage.
Old Madam Wang quickly said, "Ming girl has been exhausted from taking care of your grandmother. Since you've come, why not take her home to rest properly?"
Minglan coldly replied, "Old Lady, don't rush to send people away; the matter isn't over yet."
Old Madam Wang shot a glance at Changbai, her eyes filled with a threatening glare. "You're a married daughter; you should concern yourself less with your natal family's affairs."
Minglan was furious, and she held out her hand to block in front of her.
"A married daughter has nothing to do with her natal family?" Gu Tingye's expression was calm. "Then what is the Old Madam doing here?"
Minglan was taken aback and almost laughed; this guy was twisting the argument.
Old Madam Wang snorted coldly and pointed at Minglan. "This girl used to be quite respectful and dutiful, but after marrying into the Hou family, she no longer regards her natal family. She dares to confront her elders time and again! It seems she's relying on the power of Lord Gu!"
"Oh, really?" Gu Tingye replied expressionlessly. "I also think Minglan is respectful and dutiful. What has the Old Madam Wang done to anger such a good-natured person like my wife?"
Minglan stared at her husband with her mouth agape, and the room fell silent. Sheng Hong looked as though he had been struck, Wang Jiufu's mouth twitched, and even Wang Shi stopped scolding her son, leaving everyone in the room looking bewildered.
Old Madam Wang, unable to contain her anger, slammed her hand on the armrest and exclaimed, "A woman, always talking about violence and killing, and she even dares to detain her aunt and administer private punishment! What kind of reasoning is this?!"
Gu Tingye replied seriously, "Minglan has always been timid; she wouldn't even dare to listen to the sound of a chicken being killed (Aunt Kang: You're talking nonsense). She would be frightened for half the day at the sight of blood. May I ask the Old Madam, why did her aunt push her to this point?!"
He shook his head after speaking, his expression very sorrowful, as if he regretted that nowadays, elders no longer behaved like elders.
Minglan looked up at the man beside her. His tall figure cast a shadow over the sunlight pouring into the room, creating a cool shade, shielding her from the wind and rain, making her feel incredibly safe. A mix of bittersweet warmth flooded her heart; she felt like crying and laughing at the same time. The feeling of fighting alone was not pleasant, and now she finally understood that she was not alone.
Gu Tingye glanced at each member of the Wang family. When Kang Jin met his gaze, he couldn't help but take a step back.
He coldly said, "Aunt has done something that is absolutely unacceptable. I can understand the Old Lady's distress. But it should not be taken out on innocent people. Do you think my Gu family is without anyone to stand up for them?"
Wang Old Lady had never seen such an inversion of right and wrong. Ever since she entered the Sheng residence, it was always his wife who was pressuring the Wang family! She was so furious that her body trembled, her face alternating between blue and purple, and for a moment, she couldn't find the words to respond.
Gu Tingye even turned to smile at Minglan, asking, "Are you scared?"
Wiping away her feelings of bitterness and moving emotion, Minglan secretly felt an immense joy, almost wishing to leap up and kiss him fiercely a couple of times!
—Then, she lowered her long eyelashes, furrowed her delicate brows, and with her pale and weak little hands grasping a handkerchief, she spoke softly with a tone of sorrow and helplessness, "I never knew... that there are such vicious people in this world…"
Gu Tingye looked at her with a face full of pity, like a mother hen gazing at a small chick with sparse feathers, his eyes so gentle that they could almost turn to water, sighing, "How pitiful, you've never even seen a chicken being killed, and now you've witnessed someone poisoning and killing!"
This couple…
Everyone present nearly spat blood—your poor, weak, timid wife was just moments ago shouting with a fierce expression, demanding that Kang Wangshi pay with her life and threatening to sever her hands and feet!