Chapter 325: Regret

Gu Kang returned all the gifts sent by Gu Shijie, and even added another 100 taels.

The steward of the Prime Minister's residence brought back the words of Second Master Gu to the mansion; he dared not conceal anything, and delivered Gu Kang's words unchanged to Gu Shijie.

At this moment, Gu Cheng was also sitting in Gu Shijie's study.

Upon hearing Gu Kang's words, Gu Shijie slapped the table with his palm, sending the teacups on the table flying to the ground and shattering.

Gu Cheng beside him said nothing, sitting still and gazing at his own father.

He felt no schadenfreude at all, but his expression grew much graver.

His father's behavior of fawning over Gu Kang clearly showed that his father had also wavered.

If Gu Kang were truly welcomed back into the Gu family, where would there be any room for him, this concubine-born son, to survive?

He had painstakingly schemed to drive Gu Kang out of the Gu family, expending a great price to seize all of the Gu family's resources, only then achieving his current status.

He never expected that the goal he had pursued his whole life would be effortlessly achieved by Gu Kang.

He also didn't know what the Emperor Longqing saw in his foolish younger brother—just a treatise on governing the state.

What's so great about that?

Previously, the Southern Qi imperial examinations mainly focused on poetry, ci, fu, and songs; he and his younger brother had always emphasized this—who would have thought that this year's examination hall atmosphere would actually change?

It actually emphasized essays on current affairs; Gu Kang's present success is merely due to his luck in seizing the opportunity, which proves nothing.

Yet his father repeatedly went to fawn over Gu Kang, and although Gu Kang is now angry, he may not necessarily be willing to return to the Gu family.

Once Gu Kang enters the Council of State, he will have to face the pressure exerted by the Eight Great Clans.

Gu Kang's greatest background as a lone individual is none other than Mr. Wen, who has long withdrawn from the court.

Mr. Wen's reputation is passable, but his actual strength is far lacking.

At this point, if Gu Kang were to return to the Gu family, the Gu mansion would be his greatest support.

By then, relying on the strength of the Prime Minister's residence, he could also navigate the court with ease.

But if Gu Kang were to return to the Gu family, then what about him?

After all, Gu Kang occupies the position of the legitimate son; no matter how hard he strives, his mother Lin Qingxue is merely a lowly Yangzhou courtesan unfit for respectable society.

Now his father has even elevated Xin Xiuyu to be the mistress of the Prime Minister's residence, leaving Gu Cheng in an awkward position—neither high nor low within the Gu family.

Adding to that, his own younger siblings.

Gu Nanxiang and Gu Huai are both useless disappointments; now the entire Gu family has only him left to stand alone.

Just thinking about it makes Gu Cheng's heart sink; he never imagined that Gu Kang would actually have a chance to enter the Council of State, while he himself, despite years of painstaking effort relying on the Crown Prince, still failed to gain entry into the Literary Abyss Pavilion.

What is Gu Kang, anyway? At this moment, an unprecedented sense of crisis makes Gu Cheng's heart leap into his throat.

He cannot help but worry: if Gu Kang truly returns to the Gu family, what should he do?

Recently, the Crown Prince's entourage gained another great ally—Li Hechen of the Li family.

Strangely, Li Hechen seems to have been possessed, actively reaching out to befriend Gu Kang.

Even Lin Jingyuan, out of respect for Gu Jiu Ling, has had some dealings with Gu Kang; if these three were to join forces, where would there be any room for Gu Cheng to survive?

Even in the Crown Prince's presence, he could barely get a word in edgewise; now the Crown Prince favors Li Hechen even more.

Despite all he has done for the Crown Prince, he still hasn't been admitted to the Crown Prince's inner circle, which makes him grow increasingly anxious the more he thinks about it.

Gu Shijie actually slumped down in defeat.

Gu Shijie's face fell slightly: "That bastard Gu Kang doesn't even give me a shred of face."

Gu Cheng moved his lips and could not help but reply, rising slowly to say: "Father, younger brother was originally expelled from the Gu family register; surely this still bears resentment toward you, and for a moment he hasn't come to his senses—once he sees reason, he will come to you of his own accord." "Hmph, after all I am his father; even if I killed him, I would still be his father. He hates me—what right does he have to resent me?"

"At worst, I'll go myself tomorrow. I want to see whether this brat can still drive me out of his residence."

"Father, no!" Gu Sheng blurted out, immediately realizing his words sounded a bit urgent.

He hastily said: "Father, at least you're an elder; he's just a junior, you shouldn't encourage his arrogance."

"Let the son go in your stead this time; the son should also persuade him well. After all, his veins carry your blood—surely we cannot disregard filial ethics?"

"How can you not even acknowledge your own father? What's the difference from a beast? Even public opinion in Shang Jing will suffocate him."

Gu Shijie's expression eased a bit as he still said angrily: "You go tomorrow; you must persuade that brat to return. Tell him that if he is willing to come back to the Gu family, I will still write his name in the family register. He remains a member of the Gu family; letting him enjoy his status as the Second Young Master of the Gu family in glory is already generous enough on my part—what more does he want?"

Gu Cheng slowly lowered his head, his brows knitting tightly; the malice in his eyes could hardly be contained.

Gu Shijie looked at his timid eldest son before him and sighed: "You're really useless; I've painstakingly nurtured you all these years. After all this time, you still haven't made it into the Council of State—you're nothing but a lowborn bastard unfit for respectable society! Humph!"

After saying that, Gu Shijie waved his hand, dismissing him; now he watches these matters with a weary heart.

His beloved second daughter, to this day, is neither seen alive nor found dead.

His third son has actually committed such a grave mistake; though he usually appears a gentle, filial child, how could he act so ruthlessly?

Even Mr. Wen is to be burned alive.

It's all because of that wretched Lin Qingxue—back then I myself was bewitched by her gentle charm, and now I suddenly feel a faint regret deep in my heart; if only I had paid a little more attention to Gu Qingning back then, if only he had stood up at that time…

Gu Shijie suddenly dared not continue thinking—actually, he should have stepped forward back then.

That way, his father-in-law Du Lao Yezi wouldn't have died; now, relying on Du Lao Yezi's wealth, how could he have risen to his present position?

Although he is the Prime Minister of Southern Qi, in Southern Qi the Eight Great Clans actually hold the power.

As a Prime Minister, he merely assists the Emperor with daily affairs, which is worlds apart from the arrogance of the Eight Great Clans.

This time, the Gu family is declining at a visible pace; he had painstakingly achieved his current status, yet he never expected that, at this critical juncture, his second son would perform so outstandingly.

He should have waited a bit longer back then, not staking everything on his eldest son.

Gu Cheng slowly walked out of the study, lifted his gaze to the distant, dim horizon, and the killing intent in his eyes surged, impossible to suppress.