Chapter 149: Questioned as Real or Fake

Although Gu Mianmian had also heard of the renowned monk Daoyuan, the Gu Family had never gone to the temple to seek his help; but even so... she knew this eminent monk was no ordinary monk.

Throughout all of Jingcheng, countless high officials and nobles wished to receive his guidance, and countless others would give anything just for a chance to meet him face to face.

But now, Gu Wenyan had so casually produced Huanghuali Buddhist Beads personally consecrated by the eminent monk Daoyuan—Gu Mianmian simply could not believe it!

Gu Mianmian felt... Gu Wenyan had simply grabbed some random thing to fool them!

In any case, no one else could tell whether it was real or fake, so no matter what Gu Wenyan said, others would have no way to judge its authenticity.

Remembering that a few of her brothers were still present, Gu Mianmian did not rush to expose Gu Wenyan; she was sure someone at the scene would voice their doubts, and she herself need not step forward—someone else would speak the questions for her.

Gu Mianmian was hoping that the first person to step forward and question Gu Wenyan would be forceful enough to leave Gu Wenyan no chance or right to keep lying and deceiving people.

Gu Mianmian felt a secret thrill—surely Gu Wenyan was putting on a false show; after all, the eminent monk Daoyuan... met with only a few Heads of noble families each year at most, and others simply did not have the qualifications to see him!

Gu Wenyan believed that everyone had no way to verify whether her words were true or false, nor how much of her actions were real and how much fake...

As for the Buddhist Beads Gu Wenyan had produced, no matter where they came from, they absolutely could not be genuine!

If Gu Wenyan could so easily obtain Buddhist Beads personally consecrated by the eminent monk Daoyuan...

Wouldn't all the great families who went to such great lengths to seek an audience become a laughingstock?

Besides, in previous years the eminent monk Daoyuan met with only a few families each year at most, and this year's quota seemed to have long been filled... the temple had already announced to the outside world that the eminent monk Daoyuan would no longer accept any invitation requests from noble families this year.

Under such circumstances, who would believe Gu Wenyan's words were true?

Gu Mianmian had no fear at all that Gu Wenyan's actions would slip past unnoticed!

Even... Bao Sihan's mother would certainly not believe her, nor would she be foolish enough to be deceived so easily...

If Bao Mu were so easy to fool, she could not have seized great power back then while being pursued and blocked by so many members of the Bo Family, nor held on until Bao Sihan grew up.

Gu Mianmian could hardly wait to see how this show would unfold... and looked forward to the moment Gu Wenyan was exposed and mocked!

Let's see what face she would have to stay here then!

Sure enough, after a moment of astonishment among the guests, someone finally reacted first and voiced his question: "May I ask, Eldest Miss Gu, when did you obtain these Buddhist Beads?"

"The eminent monk Daoyuan has already stopped seeing outsiders this year—he is in meditation and retreat seeking enlightenment in Chan... At such a time, where exactly did the Buddhist Beads you claim he consecrated come from?"

The first person to question her was a certain Head of a Family who had once gone to seek the eminent monk Daoyuan's help but had been turned away at the door.

Something he had tried every possible means to accomplish, Gu Wenyan had achieved with the greatest of ease—naturally he was displeased, and at this moment he had to voice his doubts thoroughly to prove to everyone...

That the eminent monk Daoyuan was not so easy to meet!

Nor could one simply obtain the chance to receive consecrated Buddhist Beads from him just by wishing for it!

Indeed, those who possessed this qualification were very few; in any case, they did not believe that Gu Wenyan—who had always stayed in the countryside in the past, had never returned to Jingcheng, and had had no chance to come into contact with the eminent monk Daoyuan...

Could obtain this enviable qualification.

Moreover, generally speaking, every family in Jing had to donate, in the name of their own clan, a sufficient amount of incense money to gild Buddha statues for charity... and only after satisfying the eminent monk Daoyuan might he show himself.

Of course, not everyone needed to do so, but as for the so-called 'fated person,' no one knew what conditions or qualifications were required.

And who would dare claim to be the eminent monk Daoyuan's fated person? That one needed no conditions at all, and that simply going to the temple to seek an audience meant the eminent monk Daoyuan would be willing to see him?

Say it out loud, and no one in the entire circle would believe it.

After this Head of a Family's questioning, the others seemed to wake up as well and realize the problem at hand.

And as he had said, since the eminent monk Daoyuan was no longer easily showing himself this year, then where exactly did Gu Wenyan's Buddhist Beads come from?

So most likely she herself was lying!

At once, everyone was doubting Gu Wenyan; hardly anyone still believed that, as Gu Wenyan claimed, the Buddhist Beads were truly consecrated by the eminent monk Daoyuan.

Their doubts were perfectly understandable.

Bao Mu's gaze likewise fell on Gu Wenyan—seemingly polite, but in fact carrying a hidden hint of mockery: "Miss Gu, I am very glad you came to my banquet today, but a gift lies not in its value, nor in its so-called price, but in the sincerity of the giver. If one cannot even manage that most basic sincerity, then do you think this gift has any meaning?"

Bao Mu's words were also very blunt—she felt that the so-called Buddhist Beads Gu Wenyan had given were fake and utterly insincere.

Everyone expected to see a look of embarrassment flicker across Gu Wenyan's face, but instead... she merely smiled faintly: "You are quite right. Whether a gift is expensive or not is indeed not the main point—what matters is the sincerity."

Bao Mu said haughtily: "Since Miss Gu understands this principle, then take your gift back."

Hearing Gu Wenyan's reply just now, Gu Mianmian stood by and felt nothing but contempt, mocking her inwardly.

What a fine actress—thick-skinned!

Bao Sihan's mother had already made herself so clear and direct that anyone could understand the meaning, yet Gu Wenyan deliberately played the fool!

The gift she had prepared was not sincere in the slightest!

Yet in the face of Bao Mu's words once more, Gu Wenyan remained calm and open: "Aunt, no one else has the right to receive this intention of mine. You need not stand on ceremony with me—please accept it."

"Qualifications? I suppose I do not have that qualification, after all... I do not even know where this thing came from."

"Mother." Bao Sihan frowned, a hint of anger seeming to color his face, and he said coldly, "This is Yan Yan's intention. Please do not trample on it."

Bao Mu's face instantly darkened: "Si Han, I have not even settled this matter with you, and yet you are already blaming me?"

"Since so many guests are here today, I will make myself perfectly clear!"

In Bao Mu's heart, Gu Wenyan producing a string of Buddhist Beads that everyone present saw as fake was not something that brought her glory—on the contrary, it made her feel utterly humiliated.

So at this moment, she no longer cared about any so-called face, any so-called matter of the Bo Family's reputation...