Chapter 313: Chapter 313: Household Registration
The Gu Family naturally did not like this news. They had already received it two days ago, and in these past two days, they were merely secretly trying to digest it and make themselves accept it.
Gu Baijiang sighed. This was not what he had anticipated. He was supposed to return to the capital with honor, but now his face was ruined, and his career was destroyed.
What concerned him the most was that their identity had not been restored.
Because even if his face was ruined, he was still a former top-ranked scholar; now, he was merely a commoner.
"Father, should we pack up and go back?" Gu Kaiping also sensed the old man’s inner resentment, but had to brace himself to ask.
"Go back? How can we go back?" Gu Baijiang said, "Going back would just make us someone else’s joke."
His whole life was about face, and he didn’t want to return so disgracefully.
As for what the Third Prince was up to, anyway, until he was satisfied, he definitely wouldn’t hand over what he had.
"Then should we go to the county and take a look?"
"You take your second brother along, and help me buy some wine while you’re at it," Gu Baijiang instructed.
Gu Kaiping looked at him disapprovingly, "Father, did you forget what the doctor said before? After all that trouble, everyone’s health is weak, and we must avoid spicy foods and alcohol for several months."
"Then just buy more meat," Gu Baijiang, after all, still feared for his life, and indeed felt somewhat weak these days, so he thought it best to nourish himself well.
Gu Kaiping did not refuse. In this damned place, aside from buying some vegetables from the village, it’s quite hard to come by meat.
Gu Kaiyuan was taking people into the mountains every day, and the smell of meat was always wafting from their side, but with so many of them over there, neither the villagers nor anyone dared approach.
Gu Kaiping went outside for some fresh air, as it was too stifling.
"Husband," Liu Yun, who had lowered herself these days, tried to please, now Gu Kaiping liked to consult with her on matters, and their feelings seemed to have warmed somewhat, but both were clearly aware there was still a barrier between them.
"You’ve had a hard time these days," Gu Kaiping thought of how the old man’s moods were unpredictable these past days, always nitpicking, and Liu Yun, in charge, was first to bear the brunt of it.
"It’s what I should do," Liu Yun forced a smile, "I also heard about the village’s matters just now, never expected the news to come so fast. I guess Father is dissatisfied with this result, husband, it’s better not to provoke him these days."
"No way around it, many things still need discussing with him," Gu Kaiping felt a little wronged seeing someone understood him, "In the future, I’ll try to have the second eldest take the lead."
Liu Yun said, "Though it’s harder, I think it’s better if my husband steps forward."
Previously, this woman wasn’t saying this, Gu Kaiping thought, how fickle she was.
Liu Yun continued, "Seeing as there’s a great future ahead, we still need to rely on Father to regain our footing in the capital; our Tong Er also needs Father’s support..."
Gu Kaiping said, "What Madam says makes sense. After all, we’re family; enduring a bit as his son is only right."
"Husband, do you think we can return to the capital?"
"It’s just a matter of time before we return," Gu Kaiping understood that Father would not be content staying in this small place, they’re just in a stalemate now.
But he felt that Father shouldn’t overdo it. If he really angers the Third Prince, and it comes to a desperate fight, it would be catastrophic for the Gu Family.
The Third Prince, even without this silver, still has the capability to compete for the throne; if Father goes too far, should the Third Prince ascend to the great hall one day, that will be the day of reckoning.
He tried advising Father with these words too, but Father said he was still waiting, and things that weren’t his concern he shouldn’t interfere in.
Hearing this, Gu Kaiping felt very displeased, as the eldest son, his father actually kept things from him.
"It would be nice to return sooner, but husband must plan carefully, even if we do return, we can’t do so disgracefully."
This reasoning, of course, Gu Kaiping understood. If they were vindicated by a Holy Decree, they would return with full honors.
But now they’re just commoners, returning without even a place to stay, surely to become a laughing stock.
These years at the Hanlin Academy, relying on Gu Baijiang’s influence, he’d carried himself with arrogance, offending quite a few; returning so humiliated, who knows how much ridicule they’d face.
"Actually, I think you should find a way to reach out to your third brother."
"Reach out to him?" Gu Kaiping looked at Liu Yun as if she were crazy, "Things have already gotten so tense on both sides; why would he help us?"
Every time he tried to humble himself to take that step, the result?
Gu Kaiyuan, that kid, was entirely unmoved. Truly, in a family, there are always bumps against each other, yet those two brothers remembered grudges the most.
They’d even rather break off completely by adoption, just to sever ties with them.
Previously thinking of flaunting himself when the Holy Decree came, but after all, they still held the same status, even less willing to humiliate themselves by confronting him.
"My point is about the Bai Family, as long as the Bai Family is willing to continue helping us, our start won’t be as difficult.
Moreover, along this journey, relying solely on Lord Ming to escort us doesn’t seem very reliable."
No one forgot how, along the way, those escorts played significant roles; otherwise, just relying on Ming Peifeng’s people, they didn’t know how many times their lives would have been lost.
"Ms. Bai? Then you all go and speak to her properly. I promise her that once I return to the court, I’ll protect the Bai Family."
"I’ve spoken, but Bai Suihe remains unmoved, even saying the Bai Family doesn’t need to rely on the Gu Family," Liu Yun couldn’t help sowing discord, "I still think you should talk to Gu Kaiyuan properly. After all, you are of the same blood; once you get along, he won’t have to humble himself in front of Ms. Bai.
Everyone knows he lives off others, I can’t believe Gu Kaiyuan doesn’t want to shake off this reputation.
Gu Kaiyuan’s martial skills; if he could be used by us, you’d have a great help in the future."
Gu Kaiping naturally understood these reasons, but lowering himself, that was impossible; he no longer wanted to continue making a fool of himself.
"Did you go looking for him before?" Gu Kaiping asked with certainty.
Liu Yun did not hide it, dramatically recounting what had happened that day, "There’s no way through with Bai Suihe; now we can only see if Gu Kaiyuan can be persuaded.
I think he should be interested, after all, a court official’s son sounds much better than a merchant’s son-in-law."
Gu Kaiping hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement, "I will take Er if I go back and make a trip."
This benefit isn’t just for their house alone; Gu Kaichen has been pretending to play dead for days, and now he should contribute too.
Liu Yun breathed a sigh of relief, genuinely worried about not convincing Gu Kaiping.
Turning around to go back to the kitchen, seeing Xu Yulan busy there couldn’t help but sigh. These tasks were previously handled by Xu’s mother and daughter, but once the father decided the status with her, the situation changed again.
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