Chapter 237: Old Master is Saved
Chapter 237: Chapter 237: Old Master is Saved
They were both children from his legal wife, both with upright morals and very outstanding. And they both grew up without his attention.
Gu Xicheng felt ashamed.
He waved his hand and said, “Silly girl, if I sent someone to fetch you, wouldn’t that directly tell the King of Qing that I, your father, am here? We might be safe then, but what about your grandparents, your Second and Third Uncles, and the Gu Family clansmen? Don’t worry, your elder brother can handle it. He’s not stupid at all.”
He only then realized his eldest son was actually quite the schemer. Tricking him would be very difficult. Besides, he wasn’t dealing directly with the King of Qing anyway.
Gu Qingli pursed her lips and snuggled closer to Xiao Yunjing. Her father had called her a silly girl.
Was she silly?
She looked up at Xiao Yunjing, who raised his eyebrows and nodded at her.
Oh, that stung.
Gu Qingli buried her head in Xiao Yunjing’s embrace.
Gu Xicheng and Xiao Yunjing exchanged a look, and the father-in-law and son-in-law immediately burst into laughter.
Gu Qingli was mortified—
「Capital City, Gu Mansion.」
Gu Qingping entered the Gu Mansion with a mournful look on his face.
As soon as he entered the mansion, he went to Old Master Gu’s Eternal Spring Residence.
Old Master Gu was sixty-two this year and still quite robust. But upon hearing that his eldest son had met with misfortune, he immediately fell ill.
When Gu Qingping arrived, his grandmother, Ms. Huang, was by the bed, wiping her tears.
Gu Qingcheng and Gu Qingzhou were also keeping watch by the bed.
“Eldest Brother.”
The two of them called out as soon as Gu Qingping entered.
“How is Grandfather?” Gu Qingping hurriedly asked.
“Not very good. Doctor Wen said Grandfather is extremely angry,” Gu Qingcheng said.
“Ping’er, you went to the government office. What did they say?” Ms. Huang stood up, grabbing Gu Qingping’s hand to ask.
Gu Qingping helped Ms. Huang sit down again. He said, “The men sent by the government office to find Father haven’t returned yet, so we don’t know the situation. Grandmother, Father is a good man and will be blessed by Heaven. Please take care of your health.”
In fact, he had long known his father had reached Beijing County. His daily trips to the government office, feigning mortal worry, were merely an act for the King of Qing’s men. Men from the Secret Sect had informed him that Qingchen’s people were following him, monitoring his every move.
Hearing this, with still no news of her son and the old master looking half-dead, Ms. Huang felt as if her sky had fallen. As she thought about it, tears streamed down her face relentlessly.
This threw the three Gu brothers into a flurry.
“Third Brother, take Grandmother back,” Gu Qingcheng said after listening, then quickly helped Ms. Huang back to her Emerald Blackwood Residence.
“Second Brother, go fetch a cup of boiled water,” Gu Qingping ordered.
Gu Qingzhou nodded and went to fetch water, while Gu Qingping took out a jade bottle from his robes and poured out a pill.
This pill was from Gu Qingli; its efficacy was undeniable. If Grandfather didn’t take it in his current condition, he was afraid he truly wouldn’t make it.
Gu Qingzhou handed the cup to Gu Qingping.
“Help Grandfather sit up.”
“Okay.” Gu Qingzhou nodded, sat on the edge of the bed, and clumsily helped Old Master Gu up.
Old Master Gu was still unconscious. Seeing he wouldn’t be able to swallow a pill, Gu Qingping switched to a different vial, took another cup, and poured a little spiritual spring water into it.
Of course, Gu Qingping didn’t know it was spiritual spring water; he only knew this water could save a life in an emergency.
He brought it over and poured it into Old Master Gu’s mouth.
Gu Qingzhou watched, dumbfounded. What was Eldest Brother making Grandfather drink, and so… forcefully!
The unconscious Old Master Gu instinctively swallowed the spiritual spring water.
Gu Qingping let out a sigh of relief.
“Lay him back down. We’ll feed him the other pill when he wakes up.”
Gu Qingzhou laid Old Master Gu flat and stammered, “Eldest Brother, is Grandfather going to be okay?”
“What could happen? Don’t tell me I’d actually harm Grandfather?” Gu Qingping shot him a glare. That idiot! If I had any intention of harming Grandfather, would I do it so openly? Besides, why would I harm my own grandfather anyway?
“Go call Uncle Zhang in.”
Forget it, I’ll just have Uncle Zhang come. I originally wanted those two to attend to Grandfather and show their filial piety, but this fool actually suspects me. It’s vexing just to hear it.
Gu Qingzhou glared angrily at Gu Qingping. He had only asked a question, and his eldest brother had berated him.
Really? Was that necessary?
“Eldest Young Master, Second Young Master, how is the Old Master now?” Uncle Zhang asked as soon as he came in.
“It’s nothing serious. Wait for Grandfather to wake up, then feed him the medicine. He should be mostly fine after taking it.”
“Oh? Eldest Young Master, did you go to seek medicine for the Old Master?”
There was a Gu Clinic in Capital City. Anyone who was ill would go to the Gu Clinic for treatment; no matter how severe the illness, they would invariably be cured. It was just that this Gu Clinic was not affiliated with their Gu Family. What a pity. Uncle Zhang shook his head again. What was even more regrettable was that the Gu Clinic never made house calls, not even for the imperial family. He hadn’t expected the Eldest Young Master to go seek medicine personally.
Gu Qingping, unaware of Uncle Zhang’s thoughts, merely hummed in acknowledgment.
Uncle Zhang said, “That’s good, the Old Master will be saved.”
Gu Qingping rolled his eyes at him.
Not long after, Old Master Gu indeed woke up. Opening his eyes, he saw his grandson waiting by the bed. His old face fell; his complexion was already poor, and this made him look like a hanged ghost.
This startled Gu Qingzhou.
Gu Qingping quickly said, “Grandfather, don’t be anxious. Your grandson has just returned from the government office. They said they will inform us as soon as there’s any news.”
Old Master Gu’s expression finally softened a little.
Gu Qingping then fed him the medicine.
The two brothers chatted with Old Master Gu for a while, only leaving when he grew tired.
On the way, Gu Qingzhou asked worriedly, “Eldest Brother, is there still no news about Father?”
Since Gu Xicheng’s demotion, their Gu Mansion had lost its luster. The girl he admired had looked down on their Gu Mansion and rejected him outright. Now Father was missing, his fate unknown. How could they, the sons of concubines, establish themselves in the Gu Mansion in the future?
Gu Qingping patted him. “No news is good news. Would you rather someone come and tell us Father is in trouble? Besides, don’t worry about matters in the mansion; your Eldest Brother will handle everything.”
The sons and daughters of concubines in the mansion were all behaving themselves and hadn’t caused any major problems. As the eldest son of the legal wife, he had the responsibility and obligation to look after them. As long as they didn’t stir up trouble, wealth and honor would be theirs in the future.
Yes, in this matter, he had complete faith in his sister and brother-in-law.
Just comparing the different styles of Xiao Yunjing and Qingchen—one was a brilliant strategist with a benevolent heart, while the other monopolized power, was narrow-minded, ostracized dissidents, and couldn’t tolerate capable individuals.
Gu Qingzhou nodded. “Eldest Brother, there’s a poetry gathering tomorrow. May I attend?”
Gu Qingping gave him a rap on the head. “Until there’s news of Father, you stay home and behave. If you’re truly bored, read more books. Tomorrow night, I’ll return to test you both.”
“Yes.” Gu Qingzhou made a face at Gu Qingping and ran off. He’s even stricter than Father!
Gu Qingping shook his head, a smile playing on his lips, and returned to his Peaceful Residence.
Ms. Li was three months pregnant, but the pregnancy wasn’t stable yet, so he had told her to go to bed early and not wait up for him.
Having lost part of her memory, Ms. Li was much gentler than before, no longer petty and avaricious as she once was.