The two were in the middle of talking when the procession ahead suddenly stopped, and even the sound of a commotion could be heard.

Ma Zhi frowned and put the jerky in his pocket, "You head back quickly, I’ll go take a look first."

As the sound of whips accompanied by wailing came through.

Liu Pingkang saw Ma Zhi and the others rush over with whips and quietly followed behind.

There were many others like him; everyone wanted to see what was happening. After so many days, who would dare cause trouble in the procession?

Bai Suihe, sitting in the carriage with a pout, was being stopped by two maidservants, who disagreed with her getting off the carriage.

"What’s happening up front, your master is still up there," Bai Suihe didn’t expect that after just a short nap, Gu Kaiyuan would sneak off.

In the procession, she didn’t worry about Gu Kaiyuan being in danger, she was just very curious and wanted to check out the excitement.

Sitting in the carriage all day, apart from sleeping or zoning out, there was nothing entertaining; encountering such events, how could she not be excited?

If guessed correctly, this riot was another caused by the Gu Family, and thinking about the unlucky Gu Baijiang made Bai Suihe even more intrigued.

"Please, Dongmei, let me go take a look, we’ll stay far away, I promise not to get close."

Dongmei and Chunxiang both shook their heads, "Earlier, the master instructed us to look after you well, it’s chaotic up front, it’s best we do not join the hubbub."

After saying that, Dongmei stuck her head out, "Da Tou, drive the ox cart a bit further, let’s retreat to the side and wait."

With so many livestock, if they got startled, they might get dragged into the situation too; it’s best to leave the venue to them.

Bai Suihe really wanted to say it wouldn’t be that serious, with Liu Pingkang and the others controlling the scene, it wouldn’t get chaotic, just a bit messy.

But, unable to overpower so many people with her will, she could only look outside wistfully, hoping Gu Kaiyuan would come back quickly. If she couldn’t see it, listening would suffice.

Gu Kaiyuan didn’t get closer, but stayed far from the Gu Family; with his vision, he could still see everything clearly.

Liu Pingkang cracked his whip as he approached, quickly subduing the fighting Gu Family members.

Looking at them, he stood with one hand on his waist, pointing the whip at the crowd, coldly asking, "What’s going on with you all? Is causing trouble what you want to do as soon as you arrive?"

It was only then that Gu Li, supported by his two sons, shakily approached, "Sir, we don’t want to cause trouble, we are innocent.

Our whole family toils hard in the countryside trying to survive, none of us thought disaster would strike out of the blue.

To this day, we don’t even know what crime we’ve committed, so didn’t we just come to ask our nephew about it.

But who knew these people would look down on us poor relatives, attacking and cursing us as soon as they arrived, we had no choice but to fight back."

After all, when they came over, the procession was moving forward, who would pay attention to them?

And even if someone saw, so what? Did they think these people would dare to go against his many strong young men of the Gu Family?

Gu Baijiang and his two sons climbed up from the ground, faces bruised and swollen, especially Gu Baijiang, his previously scabbed face was now completely torn apart, looking even more fierce.

Liu Pingkang couldn’t help but gasp at the sight; these new arrivals were really ruthless, knowing how to exploit weaknesses.

"They’re talking nonsense," Gu Kaichen, angry and pointing at the Gu Family members, said, "We don’t even know them. Yet they just grabbed my father and beat him up, leaving the three of us with no chance to retaliate."

When these people showed up, the three of them were leading the ox cart while discussing trivial matters, who knew they would suddenly appear and attack fiercely.

"Yes, they’re talking nonsense, they didn’t even give us a chance to speak," Gu Baijiang chimed in, still dizzy from the beating, he couldn’t even see who was standing in front of him.

"Gu Baijiang, you are truly an unfilial descendant of the Gu Family.

The whole Gu Family supported you into civil service, and this is how you treat the family, repay the family?"

Gu Li pointed at his own old face, "Take a good look at me, see who we are?"

"Uncle," upon hearing Gu Li’s words, Gu Baijiang immediately realized why the voice sounded familiar, it turned out to be his long-unseen clan leader and uncle. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Don’t call me uncle, I don’t have a nephew like you," Gu Li furiously asked, "Since you joined the officialdom and returned home for ancestral worship, you have never returned. These years you’ve ignored the family, even your grandparents’ graves are taken care of by us, is this how you treat us?

What crime did you commit out there to implicate us?

We frugally provided for you back then, what a mistake we made?"

"Gu Baijiang, how did the family treat you? Yet, how have you repaid the family all these years?

It’s our misfortune to be related by blood to someone like you," Gu Baihe helped his old father catch his breath, on this journey they’ve suffered enough hardships, all brought upon by Gu Baijiang.

"Truly ungrateful, all these years not even knowing where the family land is, our silver was wasted back then."

"What an ingrate, how can the heavens turn a blind eye? Allowing such a person to become an official, it’s a scourge on the whole clan!"

"This matter can’t be left at that, we must get justice from him..."

...

Dozens of Gu Family members, each with their own words, all were accusations against Gu Baijiang.

The escorts, who initially had grievances about the incident, now stood aside with arms folded watching the show; this scene was more exciting than storytellers in a teahouse.

Even Liu Pingkang wanted to see how Gu Baijiang would solve this trouble.

Hearing the constant accusations, Gu Baijiang was shaken, his face turning pale.

He sank to his knees, his voice full of remorse,

"It’s my fault, Gu Baijiang has let everyone down, I, Gu Baijiang, am the family’s sinner..."

"Stop it with the pretense," the Gu Family members weren’t soft-hearted; their previously good lives were ruined by this person, even causing their descendants to be unable to take examinations; they wished they could skin Gu Baijiang alive.

"You’ve brought us to this state, don’t think kneeling down makes it go away; we’re telling you, this matter isn’t over."

"Yes, don’t be soft-hearted, this person ruined the entire family, our homes are gone because of him, we must settle accounts with him."

The entire Gu Family was in rags, yet look at Gu Baijiang’s family, all well-rounded, why should they be?

"It’s all my fault..." was all Gu Baijiang kept repeating, without mentioning his exact wrongdoing or offering any remedy.

"Since it’s your fault, you must make amends, give our home and family legacy back to us..."