SGEIRS -Chapter 25 False Affection

The matter was temporarily settled. Li Wan’er was sent back to her family, while Gu Xiuming was escorted to the ancestral hall to await punishment under the family rules.

Gu Jingxi cast a glance at Chunliu and the servant beside her. Both immediately understood and hurriedly assured him, “My lord, we absolutely won’t breathe a word about what just happened.”

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi nodded slightly and left the study.

Seeing this, Meng Jinyao hesitated for a moment before following after him. With both masters gone, Chunliu also left. The servant walked out last, closing the study door behind him, but did not follow them further—after all, he was a male servant who only worked in the front courtyard.

After walking a few steps, Gu Jingxi suddenly stopped and instructed, “Chunliu, go inform the masters and mistresses of each courtyard to gather at the ancestral hall. As for Old Madam, she’s advanced in age and shouldn’t be disturbed. There’s no need to notify her.”

Chunliu nodded and left at once to carry out the order.

Only after she had gone did Gu Jingxi turn to his young wife. He saw that she had been keeping her head slightly lowered. Noticing his gaze, she lifted her head, smiled, and asked half-seriously, half-jokingly, “Husband, did you send the maid away because you plan to interrogate me?”

Gu Jingxi laughed softly. “What if I say yes?”

Meng Jinyao’s expression changed slightly. Just moments ago, he had told her to properly discipline Gu Xiuming. Yet now, like a father who pitied his son, he was turning around to trouble her.

Feeling aggrieved, she said, “Then bring your son back first and let me bully him properly before sending him to the ancestral hall. I’m still not satisfied—I feel like I lost out.”

Amused by her childish tone, Gu Jingxi smiled. “You’re an elder. It’s only right for you to discipline a disobedient son. It’s just that he’s ignorant and ended up wronging you.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao immediately adopted the posture of a gentle, loving mother. With a soft smile, she played along. “It’s nothing. As a mother, how could I argue with a child? If he’s ignorant, we’ll slowly teach him.”

Gu Jingxi: “……”

This girl really could change faces quickly.

He replied as though he truly trusted her, “I’ve already seen your skill in educating children. Under your guidance, Xiuming will surely grow more sensible.”

Meng Jinyao raised an eyebrow inwardly and thought, He grits his teeth whenever he sees me. Are you sure he won’t just become more rebellious under my ‘guidance’?

Ancestral Hall

The men and women, young and old, of both the first and second branches of the Gu family all gathered at the ancestral hall. Because of her age and aversion to bloody scenes, Old Madam Gu did not come.

The Gu family’s ancestral hall was solemn and dignified. Aside from major occasions such as sacrifices, weddings, funerals, birthdays, or celebrations, the whole family rarely gathered here—unless a descendant had committed a serious offense and was to be punished.

At the entrance, members of the two branches met briefly. With different thoughts in mind, they exchanged no unnecessary words and entered.

Inside, they saw Gu Xiuming kneeling before the ancestral tablets. Although they had expected him to be punished, they were still stunned to see him already kneeling there.

None of the grandchildren of the first and second branches were biologically related to Old Madam Gu. Gu Xiuming had even been adopted from a collateral branch. Yet he was the one she doted on the most, treating him like her own grandson.

Now, the grandson she cherished most was kneeling before the ancestors, awaiting punishment—truly a rare sight in one’s lifetime.

Gu Xiuming, kneeling on the ground, did not need to look up to know what kind of gaze everyone was casting at him. Just days ago, he had been the pampered heir. Now he was like a stray dog.

The huge contrast filled him with resentment. Yet when he thought of Wan’er, a trace of sweetness surfaced in his heart.

The hall was eerily quiet.

Madam Zhang finally broke the silence. “Xiuming, you’re your father’s only child. He loves you the most. Later, apologize properly and beg for his forgiveness.”

Gu Xiuming said nothing. He clenched his fists and knelt rigidly. If his father truly loved him, he wouldn’t punish him so severely over a fallen family’s daughter.

Before long, Gu Jingxi and Meng Jinyao arrived.

Madam Zhang glanced at Gu Xiuming and said gently, “Third Brother, Xiuming is usually polite and well-behaved. This time he was just impulsive, and it’s his first mistake. Why not give him a light punishment as a warning? Why make such a big scene?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Madam Chen glanced at her coolly and sneered inwardly.

She despised this kind of false kindness. Her sister-in-law always played the ‘good person’ openly while secretly fanning the flames—making sure others were punished more severely. When that happened, she would no longer pretend to plead for mercy.

Gu Jingxi frowned slightly and replied gravely, “If he were truly polite and sensible, he wouldn’t have done something so despicable. He damaged the family’s reputation and implicated an innocent girl through his recklessness. I summoned everyone today not only as witnesses, but also to make an example of him.”

After speaking, his gaze swept lightly across the crowd before settling on Gu Xiuming.

In a calm, unhurried tone, he announced, “Unfilial descendant Gu Xiuming has repeatedly disrespected his elders, betrayed trust, and disregarded the family’s honor, causing serious consequences. For multiple offenses combined: twenty-five lashes, confinement in the ancestral hall, reflection before the ancestors for one month, and copying the family rules one hundred times.”

As soon as he finished, both branches were stunned.

They had always heard that Gu Jingxi was impartial and never showed favoritism. Still, they believed that applied only to outsiders. Surely he wouldn’t be so harsh on his only son.

Now, they knew better.

Confinement and copying the rules were understandable. But the Gu family’s whip was specially made—three fingers wide. With a strong executioner who knew how to apply force, it hurt even more than beating with a board, without damaging internal organs.

Twenty-five lashes could cost someone half their life. A weak person might barely survive.

And yet, he showed no mercy to his only son.

Gu Jingsheng hesitated. “Third Brother, isn’t this punishment too heavy?”

Before he finished, Madam Zhang angrily pinched his waist, furious at him for being a hindrance. What if Gu Jingxi was only putting on a show—thunderous words, light rain—and waiting for them to plead so he could back down gracefully?

Gu Xiuming, too, felt a faint spark of hope. His heart raced as he waited for his father to change his mind and spare him the lashes. Even two months of confinement would be fine.

But Gu Jingxi was a man of principle—clear in rewards and punishments, unwavering in decisions. How could he be swayed by a few words?

He turned to the servant in charge of enforcing family discipline and ordered coldly: “Carry out the family punishment on the heir.”