Chapter 255: Chapter 255: Elder
The Gu Family saw two people sitting by the fire, talking about something, with occasional low laughter.
Liu Yun and the others glanced over angrily but could only sleep with their heads down.
After all, it’s beyond their control, and they couldn’t say anything, so they simply avoided looking.
But during their sleep, a scream came from the carriage, startling everyone awake.
They looked around, "What happened?"
"Dad, the scream came from the carriage side," Gu Antong thought the voice sounded familiar, but she didn’t speak out.
Xu Yulan had no such hesitation, "That sounded like Xu Shuanghong’s scream, what on earth does she want this early in the morning?"
"Why would she go to the carriage so early?"
Ever since they put up the oilcloth shelter, everyone preferred sleeping outside because being close to the fire was warmer.
"Could it be she wants to steal something?" Xu Yulan covered her mouth, "I’ve been saying they’re up to no good, you can’t let people of unknown background stay... "
Before she could finish, Xu Shuanghong came out of the carriage disheveled, and for a moment when the curtain lifted, they could see the frightening face of the father-in-law inside, sitting there with his chest exposed.
Liu Yun immediately covered her daughter’s eyes, but it was too late, Gu Antong had already seen everything.
"What’s all the commotion over there so early?" Families living far away were also awakened by the noise, looking over while standing on their toes, seeing Xu Shuanghong jumping off the carriage disheveled... some, due to the angle, could see everything going on inside the carriage...
"This Lord Gu really leads a blessed life..."
"I really don’t know how that woman could bring herself to do it, considering that horrifying face..."
"How do you know she was willing, what if she was coerced?"
"......"
☆
Bai Suihe and Kai Yuan never imagined that waking up from this nap, they would suddenly gain an elder.
"Dad wants you to come over, just to settle things officially."
Gu Kaiping wore a dark expression as he conveyed the message.
Kai Yuan said, "The group is about to set off, if there’s anything to discuss, let’s wait until we stop for a break in the evening, don’t you think, brother?"
Gu Kaiping glanced at Kai Yuan, realizing that the smartest in the Gu Family turned out to be this younger sibling, he really underestimated him before, "Then let’s wait until you have the time."
He didn’t leave right away, instead, stood by watching them pack up.
These two of the younger brother really knew how to enjoy themselves, essentially doing minimal tasks while others like Dongmei had already packed everything.
"Aren’t you curious about what happened last night?"
Kai Yuan replied, "Would my curiosity change anything?
It’s going to rain, dad wants to remarry, what can we as sons say?"
"But soon we’ll have to call that woman ’mother’..."
"Did they go through the procedure of the three letters and six etiquette? Brother, are you really recognizing her as family so soon?" Kai Yuan sneered, really wondering where all those years of education went, did they numb your mind?
"Under these conditions, who cares about three letters and six etiquette?"
"Even ordinary families wouldn’t be so careless." Kai Yuan’s voice carried disdain, "At most it’s a clandestine union without matchmakers, if you accept her as your mother, it’s your willingness to devalue yourselves.
If not, dad remarrying is understandable, but it should be done properly, otherwise, she’s just someone in dad’s room, a bit of respect is one thing."
Gu Kaiping’s eyes brightened, right, why hadn’t he thought of this question?
Calling this giving Xu Shuanghong a title, that old man is really muddled.
"But if he really follows through with the three letters and six etiquette..." quickly, he had concerns, the old man had silver, plus help from Lord Ming, achieving that step wasn’t impossible.
Kai Yuan was worried about his brother’s intelligence, "What can he do now? Who has the time to indulge him?
Living with dad, didn’t you know to advise him?
We understand dad’s desire to remarry, we can’t stop it, but the selection shouldn’t rest solely on his will."
Bai Suihe glanced at Kai Yuan, finding his eloquence increasingly sharp, wondering how he’d mess with Gu Baijiang this time.
"But he’s our dad."
"I never said he wasn’t," although wishing he wasn’t, Kai Yuan also didn’t want another inexplicable elder above them, especially since Xu Shuanghong didn’t appear in the previous timeline, which is an unknown risk.
Perhaps in the previous timeline, Gu Baijiang wasn’t disfigured, knowing Xu Shuanghong wouldn’t be chosen due to her status, they didn’t make this move.
"Stop being mysterious with brother, I know you’re now different, other matters you may ignore, but this isn’t one you can." Gu Kaiping finished and glanced at Bai Suihe, the implication obvious.
"Dad used to love alliances, maximizing benefits, you can completely discuss things with him."
Gu Kaiping frowned, "Before dad’s face was injured, that was a point of entry, but now, it’s of little significance.
Even if we return to the capital, who’s not intimidated by dad’s face?"
"If the legitimate daughters won’t work, aren’t there the concubine-born ones? And there are plenty of noble widows, as long as dad desires, he can still aim for a higher family marriage, what do you think, brother?"
Despite finding it somewhat rebellious, Gu Kaiping felt quite relieved thinking back, after all, dad arranged the same for him.
"But right now..."
"Brother, are you saying they’ve become an irrevocable fact?
So what?
They could be seen as having a clandestine union without a matchmaker, anyway, things are settled, an extra attendant for dad might be fine, but the proper position should go to the rightful person."
By this time, the group was setting off, Kai Yuan supported Bai Suihe into the carriage before turning back to walk with Gu Kaiping.
Bai Suihe, although couldn’t hear the brothers’ conversation, noticed that Gu Kaiping’s face brightened and left smiling, indicating that Kai Yuan didn’t miss giving him some wicked ideas.
After seeing him off, Kai Yuan was about to get in the carriage when Gu Baihe arrived again.
"Uncle," Kai Yuan found it odd because the Gu Family members generally wouldn’t come over without a reason, so something must be up.
"You heard about your dad, right?"
"Just found out not long ago."
"Your granduncle is very angry, saying that your dad has disgraced the entire Gu Family, he wants me to talk to your dad, what do you think I should do?"
Kai Yuan looked confused, "Uncle, no matter what, he’s still my father, as his son, how could I meddle in his personal affairs?"
Gu Baihe rubbed his nose, "I know this isn’t something to bring up with you, it’s just that you’re resourceful, I thought to seek your opinion."
Kai Yuan said, "My brother just came asking us to go, intending for us to acknowledge this elder figure, but as the group’s setting off, let’s wait until we stop in the evening."
