SGEIRS -Chapter 100 Hard to Speak of One’s Pain

On the other side, Meng Jinyao and Gu Jingxi suddenly received a summons to Shou’an Hall. Neither of them knew what had happened, so the couple immediately went there.

Gu Jingsheng and Madam Zhang, the couple from the second branch, also received word and hurried to Shou’an Hall. Their mother rarely summoned them suddenly, so if she did, it certainly meant something serious had occurred. They were anxious and uneasy. When they saw the third brother and his wife had also arrived, they felt a little relieved.

Gu Jingsheng paused and asked, “Third brother, third sister-in-law, did Mother summon you as well?”

Meng Jinyao and Gu Jingxi nodded slightly.

Gu Jingsheng asked again, “Did Mother say why she wanted us here?”

Gu Jingxi replied calmly, “Mother didn’t mention anything. Nothing significant has happened recently either, so it’s probably not anything serious. Big brother, you can relax.”

Hearing this, Gu Jingsheng stopped worrying. Whatever it was, the third brother could handle it.

The four of them entered the Shou’an Hall and saw no one from the second branch. On the floor, four people were kneeling. Though their faces weren’t visible, from behind, it was clear that aside from Li Wan’er, the other three had messy hair.

Seeing this, all four of them felt uneasy.

Madam Zhang, who doted on her youngest son the most, rushed forward when she saw him. Looking down, she saw her son’s hair in disarray, clothes disheveled, his face bruised and swollen, and blood at the corner of his mouth. She nearly fainted from shock.

Her youngest son, who had been pampered all his life, had never suffered such severe injuries.

Tears brimmed in her eyes as she threw her arms around him. “My son, how did you end up like this? Your eyes are bruised! Does it hurt?” She reached out to touch his face, but fearing she might hurt him more, she slowly lowered her hand, tears welling up as her heart ached.

A child who cries gets fed; when it’s time to report a grievance, one must speak up.

So, Gu Xiuwen answered obediently, “Third brother beat me.”

Madam Zhang turned sharply and looked at the other three near her son. Third sister-in-law’s younger brother was there too, though slightly bruised, but better off than her son. Gu Xiuming had no injuries at all, only his hair was messy, and Li Wan’er was completely unharmed, neatly dressed.

She initially concluded that the three boys had fought among themselves.

Fighting was one thing, but her precious son had suffered the most, while Gu Xiuming was untouched. How could she swallow that injustice?

Fury rose in her immediately. She shouted at Gu Xiuming, “Xiuming, what’s going on? How could you beat our Xiuwen together with your uncle? He’s your younger brother! How could you harm him like this?”

Then she turned to the third brother and his wife, accusing them: “Third brother, third sister-in-law, how did you raise your children? Their uncle and nephew attacked Xiuwen together, and so brutally! What grudge do they have?”

Gu Xiuwen hurriedly corrected her: “Mother, it was me and Second Master Meng who hit Third Brother.”

Madam Zhang’s face froze in disbelief. “Xiuwen, you… you’re saying that you and Second Master Meng beat your third brother?”

In that instant, she felt awkward for having scolded the third brother and sister-in-law earlier. She quickly signaled to her son, “Son, I know you’re hurt, but how could your mind be so muddled? You shouldn’t say such things. Why would you—of all people—fight your third brother with Second Master Meng?”

Meng Jinyao stepped forward and glanced at the four kneeling on the floor. Without guessing, she could tell that Gu Xiuming had acted first. She knew her brother well; he wouldn’t have fought without reason. Xiuwen, too, was of good character. She spoke gently: “Sister-in-law, I think it would be better to first find out why they fought.”

Hearing this, Madam Zhang anxiously looked at Gu Jingxi. Her son was outnumbered; what if he had started the fight? Third brother was known for being fair but strict—he would punish any wrongdoing without mercy.

“Mother.”

At that moment, Gu Jingsheng’s voice sounded.

Meng Jinyao and Gu Jingxi also bowed to the matriarch, addressing her gently: “Mother.”

Madam Zhang looked up and saw her mother-in-law approaching. She quickly released her son and called out, “Mother,” then eagerly helped her to a seat.

Old Madam Gu glanced at her but allowed her to assist. She already understood Madam Zhang’s intent: she was trying to plead for leniency for her son before the elders, hoping for a lighter punishment. But she had miscalculated—Xiuming was at fault first; any punishment would start with him.

Seated, Old Madam Gu motioned for the two sons and their wives to sit as well. She then looked at the four kneeling on the floor and said, her voice both loving and authoritative: “Since the parents of both brothers are here, start by explaining why you fought, so the elders can understand the whole story and make a fair judgment. Xiuming, as the elder brother, why don’t you start?”

Upon hearing this, Gu Xiuming’s expression darkened.

Gu Xiuwen glanced at his elder brother with a hint of glee. Previously, he had thought well of Third Brother, but recently he had come to see him as ridiculous. Today, witnessing Third Brother’s unreasonable behavior and his attempts to slander others, Xiuwen realized that Third Brother’s absurdity went beyond just his actions. It was clear now that it had been the right choice for Third Aunt to marry Third Uncle; marrying Third Brother would have surely led to the wife being destroyed by a favored concubine.

He suppressed the upward curve of his lips so as not to disturb the wound at the corner of his mouth. Looking at Old Madam Gu, he said obediently, “Grandmother, since Third Brother doesn’t want to speak, may I explain?”

Old Madam Gu nodded. “Very well, Xiuwen, you may speak.”

Gu Xiuwen began recounting the events clearly: “Grandmother, this is what happened…”

The elders perhaps hadn’t noticed before, but now they saw that this boy was a skilled talker—he could describe the situation like a storyteller, recounting details, expressions, and even the dialogue, in vivid detail.

Gu Xiuming’s face darkened further as he listened.

Li Wan’er was also anxious. Although she had not intervened today, she was involved. The elders already disapproved of her; if they pinned the label of “femme fatale” on her and expelled her from the Gu family, what could she do?

Gu Jingsheng and Madam Zhang finally relaxed. Their son was not at fault, nor had he started the fight. Looking at the injuries, their son had suffered the most, while third sister-in-law’s brother was bruised, and only Xiuming was unscathed.

Xiuming had started the trouble, slandered the third sister-in-law’s reputation, and ended up injuring Xiuwen and Second Master Meng.

On one side were the only son, the young wife, her brother, and the nephew; it was now up to Third Brother to fairly handle the matter.

At the end, Gu Xiuwen pointed to his own face, pouting: “Grandmother, look how brutally Third Brother hit me. My mouth still hurts when I speak. And Second Uncle was also injured.”

Hearing this, Gu Xiuming’s anger almost made his liver ache. Words failed him—he realized today how cunning his fourth brother truly was. In fact, his injuries were no less than those of Gu Xiuwen and Meng Chengzhang, but they were hidden under his clothes. He could not undress to prove it in front of everyone—it would be undignified, and with women present, his father would immediately throw him out.