Chapter 360: Chapter 360: Teach a Son in the Hall, Teach a Wife by the Pillow
When Mu Ziquan heard what Gu Jiaojiao said, a wave of joy surged through his entire body.
He was ecstatic to hear her confirm that he would be able to walk normally again.
He was especially moved that she hadn’t embarrassed him in public. But seeing his aunt pressure her in front of everyone filled him with anger.
He shot Mu Qingtong a sinister glare, his eyes flashing with unstoppable rage.
"She is my grandfather’s sworn sister. My... my grand-aunt. *Your* aunt. Show some respect when you speak from now on."
Wang Heming, standing beside his wife, felt Mu Ziquan’s glare like a plunge into ice-cold water. A bone-deep chill washed over him.
Mu Qingtong, however, was a bit slow on the uptake and didn’t notice at all. Perhaps it was because she, her two sons, and Old Mu—who had just entered the living room...
...were all still reeling with excitement from Gu Jiaojiao’s definitive statement that Mu Ziquan’s legs would one hundred percent recover.
When they suddenly heard Mu Ziquan’s icy voice, they all flinched. They lowered their heads, not daring to speak.
Old Mu snapped out of it and spoke sternly to his daughter as well. "Qingtong, you have to change this habit of speaking without thinking. Jiaojiao is my sworn sister. I told you that last time."
Scolded by her father, Mu Qingtong’s eyes welled up with tears. The Wang brothers stood on either side of her, silently wiping them away.
"Dad, please don’t blame Qingtong. It’s my fault, your son-in-law. I failed to curb her naivete. Divine Doctor, Aunt, you are a person of great magnanimity. Would you please forgive my Qingtong just this once?"
Wang Heming’s apology was very sincere. In his eyes, anything his wife said or did wrong was entirely his fault.
’If I had just corrected her words and actions more often, she wouldn’t have this kind of personality now. But I truly can’t bring myself to scold her!’
Gu Jiaojiao glanced at the Wang father and son and couldn’t help but think that Mu Qingtong had a fool’s luck. She was even a little envious. ’No wonder Wang Yuting hates her!’
’Who could stand a scene like this?!’
Gu Jiaojiao was now certain in her heart that Wang Yuting was the traitor. She felt that it was perfectly understandable that Wang Yuting could be bought off by the enemy.
"Nephew-in-law, why are you being so silly? What’s there to apologize for? There’s no crime in ignorance. I’m truly not blaming any of you."
"Thank you, Aunt," Wang Heming said with sincere gratitude.
The Wang Chengrong brothers also said in unison, "Thank you, Grand-aunt, for your forgiveness."
Old Mu sighed. "SIGH! Heming, I know you dote on Qingtong, but she’s getting more and more out of hand. To think she’d provoke my sworn sister."
Wang Heming nodded quickly. "Yes, Father-in-law. Please don’t be angry! I’ll be sure to correct my ways in the future."
Old Mu smiled and patted Wang Heming’s shoulder. "You’re just too kindhearted, my boy. When I agreed to let Qingtong marry you, you took on the responsibility of guiding her. There’s a saying: ’Discipline your son in the hall, and guide your wife in your chambers.’ Don’t you agree?"
Wang Heming nodded at once. "Yes, honored Father-in-law. I will be much stricter. And thank you, Aunt, for giving me this chance."
Gu Jiaojiao smiled warmly. Just as she was about to say something else, she heard voices from the courtyard entrance. She recognized Elder Xiao and Mr. Han, mixed with a few other familiar sounds.
"Jiaojiao! Jiaojiao! I heard the poison in the Mu family’s boy has been neutralized?" He Wenyu’s excited voice drowned out all the others.
Xu Qingxu, He Wenyu, and Xia Qiuming were all top researchers from the Imperial Capital Medical College.
They had held numerous joint consultations, combining both traditional Chinese and Western medical practices, yet had failed to identify the poison affecting Mu Ziquan.
Now, after just a few days, Gu Jiaojiao had simply declared it neutralized, and it was. How could they not be excited?
"He Shen Yi, Divine Doctor Xu, Professor Xia, what an honor to have you all grace my humble home," Old Mu said with a jolly laugh, greeting the group.
"You old codger, you’re playing favorites," Old Sir Han teased. "When the medical experts arrive, you come out to greet them personally. But when we come by, you don’t even get out of your chair."
Old Mu had just come from the kitchen and had been standing the whole time, so he had simply turned to walk to the door and greet them.
Watching the old gentlemen banter, Gu Jiaojiao felt a genuine happiness bloom inside her. ’It’s wonderful to still have a few close friends to joke around with at that age.’
’In my past life, I didn’t have any close female friends, just a few fake cousins. It seems I don’t have any here, either. The original owner of this body didn’t even have a single fake friend.’
’In both my past life and this one, I’ve only ever associated with big shots. In my past life, the leaders of several countries had even added me on WeChat.’
A few middle-aged women had come along this time as well, presumably also medical experts. None of them looked at Gu Jiaojiao with friendly eyes.
"Mr. He, is this the disciple of Divine Doctor Su Gu you were talking about? She’s far too young!" ’And she looks like a little seductress.’
A plump, middle-aged woman said this with a pout. The expression might have been cute on a young girl.
But on a rather stout, middle-aged woman, it was just an eyesore.
’Looking at her,’ Gu Jiaojiao diagnosed internally, ’she must have some form of pathological obesity. Even if she comes from a wealthy family, it’s unlikely someone would eat their way to this state.’
’And judging by the blemishes all over her face, the woman probably has polycystic ovary syndrome.’
Another middle-aged woman teased with a smile, "Fu Mingyue, are you being so picky? Are you scouting for a daughter-in-law?"
"Oh, her daughter-in-law has to be chosen carefully! She’d have to have money, looks, and a great figure."
"Exactly! Her son is so outstanding. How many men in the Imperial City can even compare to him?"
It’s said that three women are enough to stage a play, and true to form, these middle-aged women began chattering and boasting the moment they walked in.
Fu Mingyue was obviously very proud of her son, and her expression brightened considerably.
She looked Gu Jiaojiao up and down as if inspecting merchandise, shaking her head and clicking her tongue from time to time.
A flame of anger shot through Gu Jiaojiao. She was ready to explode, but she silently recited the Heart Clarity Spell a few times.
Then she looked up, sneered, and fired back at them one by one.
"Sure, having a penny to your name counts as ’having money.’ Having a crooked nose, one eye, or mismatched eyes counts as ’having looks.’ And as long as you still have more than half a body, that counts as ’having a figure’! Now stop staring at me. I’m already married."
Fu Mingyue’s face turned beet-red with anger. "You... You..."
Even the old gentlemen thought Jiaojiao’s comeback was a bit harsh, but they were all unanimously on her side.
"Exactly! Jiaojiao is absolutely right. Don’t be so conceited. Jiaojiao is my sworn sister. Anyone who dares disrespect her is making an enemy of the Xiao Family!" Elder Xiao declared, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Get out! Get out now! COUGH COUGH... Who brought you people to my house?" Old Mu roared, bending over in a fit of coughing from the anger.
Gu Jiaojiao watched him, his lips still trembling as he tried desperately to suppress the coughing fit rising in his throat.
He possessed an innate dignity; even as anger triggered his illness, he didn’t appear pathetic.
Instead, he was like a mountain pine standing firm on a steep cliff, his presence radiating its own unique grace.
Gu Jiaojiao quickly put one of her medicine pills into Old Mu’s mouth. "Big Brother, swallow this. Don’t waste your anger on irrelevant people."
At a look from Mu Ziquan, several of the Mu Family’s bodyguards immediately dragged the three clueless middle-aged women away.
"We’re sorry, Old Mu! Please let us stay!" they whimpered as they were being dragged out.
