Gu Kaiyuan sneered, "Big brother, you’ve really been delayed for quite a long time, if I remember correctly, it’s been a dozen or twenty years.

During this time, didn’t you and father think of it?

Wait, isn’t it true that when you became a top scholar, you returned home to pay respects to our ancestors?

At that time, our family had several estates and shops, if everyone economized a bit, it wouldn’t have been impossible to help out."

Gu Kaiping, "...I thought the journey to the hometown was too far, and I had many old friends to visit, not much holiday time, so I was delayed."

But he quickly added, "I talked about this with our parents, they had no objections, that’s why I didn’t go back."

Gu Kaiyuan nodded and gave them a thumbs up, "Big brother, you all are truly something.

Father got promoted and earned wealth, even managed to bring mother’s family to the suburb of the capital, but didn’t return any favors to the relatives who helped him, and are now dragged down by us."

It’s really ironic, the Xu family benefited greatly from them, but when the Gu Family fell on hard times, the Xu family stayed uninvolved.

And don’t say it’s all Xu Huizhen’s doing, if Gu Baijiang was unwilling, could Xu Huizhen have swayed him?

It was simply because the Gu Family saw him at his most disheartened, it was just Gu Baijiang’s feelings of inferiority at work.

Gu Kaichen also looked at his father and big brother in surprise, "If people find out, how can you establish your footing in the officialdom?"

Gu Baijiang and Gu Kaiping both lowered their heads, not having had any issues for so many years.

Gu Kaiyuan, "The people don’t investigate, and the officials don’t pursue, so all these years, has any clan member of the Gu Family said a bad word about our family outside, yes or no?"

Gu Kaiping and Gu Baijiang buried their heads even lower, Gu Kaiyuan couldn’t help but laugh, "Turns out father and big brother do care about face, but why act this way?

Father, I’ve heard that the household of that mistress is extremely lavish, our family shouldn’t be that short of silver, correct?"

Gu Baijiang only felt the whip wounds on his back burn more intensely, piercing to the heart.

If he had known today would come to this, he would have preferred to let his unfilial child step forward, rather than being forced into a position with no means to retaliate now.

He knew well that the more he said now, the more mistakes he’d make, and after all, there were so many clan members of the Gu Family present, some things simply couldn’t be covered up. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

He still relied on Gu Kaiyuan to mediate or use his connections to protect them somewhat.

As for the Third Prince sitting in the carriage, Gu Baijiang dared not waste a favor on such a small matter.

Moreover, if this matter was truly revealed, in the future, the Third Prince would surely have reservations, as no one wants to use someone who is ungrateful.

"Talking too much about the past is useless, we’re all one entity now, and no matter what, we can’t let them pursue it any further." Gu Baijiang thought through this, looked up at Gu Kaiyuan and said, "Go and properly negotiate with your great uncle, no matter what conditions they propose, as long as I can manage, I will comply."

"Father, I think it’d be best for you to step forward to apologize and accept punishment personally, instead of having me convey your words. How would that look?

What if you angered great uncle and the others, have you considered the consequences, father?"

Gu Kaiyuan squatted down to be level with Gu Baijiang who was sitting there, "I just told great uncle and the others about the identity of the person in the carriage, that’s why they temporarily let father go, but from now on, do you think the one you’re loyal to will always protect you?"

"You guessed it," Gu Baijiang didn’t expect Gu Kaiyuan’s mind to turn so quickly, "Since your great uncle and they know, then they should know what choice to make."

"But what does it have to do with them? Father forgot, it’s our big family enjoying the wealth and prosperity, they expended effort to support father back then, yet receive such repayment, how could they not resent?

The Third Prince may be of noble birth, but what does he have to do with these commoners?

I could only temporarily fool them with this, what do you think they’ll do once they figure it out?"

Indeed, the Third Prince couldn’t have all these people killed, Gu Baijiang didn’t think he had the capability to direct Rong Ruiyuan.

If it were him, holding onto such a large leverage, who would willingly dispose of it?

"Then go tell your great uncle that at the next stop, I will bring the whole family to visit.

Remember to bring Ms. Bai too, this time, we must seek your great uncle’s forgiveness no matter what."

Gu Kaiyuan, "Forget Ms. Bai, our family needs to beg great uncle’s forgiveness, but not use a pregnant woman as a scapegoat."

This old fellow’s mind moves quickly, suggesting that a pregnant woman kneel there, intending to gamble on the clan’s kindness, having Bai Suihe suffer, to act out a scene of appealing through self-misery, while the benefits go to this family.

"After all, we’re all family, how can you not go see the elders?" Gu Kaiping understood Gu Baijiang’s intent and thought this plan was good. If something happened to Ms. Bai during this, using the life in her womb could clear their names.

"Afterwards, I’ll take Suihe to apologize to a few elders, but I dare not let Suihe with a belly threaten the elders, what would that do to our reputation?" Gu Kaiyuan was angry, his voice raised significantly, and people around couldn’t help but perk up their ears and frequently glance this way.

Gu Baijiang and his sons were completely fed up with Gu Kaiyuan’s foolishness, could this matter be so openly discussed?

Gu Kaiyuan didn’t give them time to come up with a solution, walking back as he shouted, "Father, I may not understand family affairs, but I know we shouldn’t do things that defy conscience, all thanks to your teaching..."

"This unfilial son..."

Knowing that his scheme had been seen through by Gu Kaiyuan, Gu Baijiang could only repeatedly mutter these words to cover his guilt.

Rong Ruiyuan leaned against the carriage, quietly listening to the commotion outside, growing ever clearer about Gu Baijiang’s character, making him increasingly uncertain.

Looking again at Gu Antong, a bad bamboo cannot produce good shoots; fearing that even if he took this person into his rear court, Gu Baijiang would not easily relent.

It seems possible to only temporarily exonerate them, and discuss other matters later.

Seeing Gu Antong sit restlessly, Rong Ruiyuan gently asked, "Are you worried about your father and grandfather?

If I don’t need any service, why don’t you go and see?"

Gu Antong quickly responded, "Thank you, Your Highness, for understanding. If you need anything, just let me know."

Listening to the intermittent talk inside, she had no mind to flatter Rong Ruiyuan, and to avoid revealing any flaw in front of him, better to leave for now.

Once off the carriage, she found that her grandfather and father had moved far from the vehicle, and she didn’t know what they were discussing, while Liu Yun and others silently stayed by the carriage.

"Why did you come down?" Liu Yun asked worriedly in a low voice.

Could it be that the matter with the Gu Family had displeased the Third Prince, leading him to cast her out of the carriage?