Gu Tingye hesitated for a moment before nodding. Gu Tingyu struggled to stand up, and Madam Shao beside him hurriedly put away the handkerchief she had been using to wipe her tears. She quickly stepped forward to support her husband and then led the way toward the door. Just as Gu Tingye was about to follow, he seemed to recall something. Turning back to Minglan, he said casually, "You come too."
Minglan breathed a quiet sigh of relief in her heart. She immediately rose and, with a perfectly polite "pardon me" expression, bid farewell to the other ladies before calmly following the group.
They walked inward, heading straight toward the westernmost part of the Marquis Household. Fortunately, Xuānníng Hall was already situated near the west side, so they passed through two ornamental moon gates and followed a winding path through the garden before arriving.
Minglan looked up, then lowered her head with a slight pout. How unoriginal—she had already anticipated this.
The Gu Family Ancestral Temple stood before them: towering roof ridges, upturned eaves, and large wrought-iron railings coated entirely in dark tung oil enclosed the courtyard. Inside stood two rows of five spacious main halls facing each other. The northern hall served as the principal hall, accompanied by three verandas and a moon-viewing platform. The southern hall was the secondary hall, with only small side rooms on either side. Four enormous cypress trees, so tall they seemed to blot out the sky, stood at the four corners of the courtyard—east, south, west, and north. It was said they had been planted on the very day the Ningyuan Marquis Household received its title, symbolizing flourishing branches, deep roots, and enduring legacy.
Upon entering this place, Minglan instinctively lowered her head with solemn reverence. An aura of dignity filled the air, and no one dared to speak or laugh loudly.
The Gu family of Qingcheng had originally been ordinary local folk, making their living through fishing, woodcutting, farming, and petty trade. But when the dynasty changed and war erupted across the land, fields lay abandoned, and people were forced to leave their homes. Qingcheng, being a strategic location contested by military forces, saw many local youths enlist as soldiers.
Seizing the opportunity presented by the tumultuous times, the Gu ancestor Gu Shande died protecting the emperor, leaving behind two sons. They were promoted to junior officers and fought in battles for over twenty years. Through blood and fire, the two brothers demonstrated both courage and strategy, supporting the new emperor and earning merit. Each was eventually granted a noble title, and thus the Gu family rose to prominence.
Afterward, the Gu family deliberately renovated their ancestral graves and temple in their hometown. They also dispatched several generations of descendants to establish themselves in Qingcheng, making the Gu family a prominent clan there. Later, when the Ningyuan Marquis Household and the Xiangyang Marquis Household became embroiled in a dispute over succession, the Gu family decided to establish their main Ancestral Temple in their hometown of Qingcheng. Each marquis household then set up its own branch ancestral hall, both possessing the authority to expel members from the clan or establish separate households.
As the group reached the courtyard, Gu Tingyu suddenly said to his wife beside him, "You and our sister-in-law should stay here. Second Brother and I will go in." As he spoke, he gently pushed away Madam Shao's supporting hand. A personal maid standing nearby handed him a walking stick. Gu Tingyu smiled faintly with self-mockery, took the stick, and, with a slightly trembling arm, leaned on it as he hobbled toward the northern hall.
Gu Tingye glanced back at Minglan and followed.
Left in the courtyard were the two sisters-in-law and a young maid. Madam Shao watched her husband's retreating figure with deep concern, then turned to Minglan with a strained smile. "Perhaps you and I could have some tea in the side room?"
Minglan could see that she was worried about her husband and replied gently, "It’s quite cool here, and the sun doesn’t reach this spot at all. Why don’t we sit in the courtyard for a while and wait? What do you think, Eldest Sister-in-law?"
Madam Shao had been staring intently at her husband’s slowly disappearing back and was reluctant to leave. Hearing Minglan’s suggestion, she immediately relaxed and said, "That would be perfect. Shiwen, you go…"
The young maid acknowledged and hurried off, soon returning with two wicker stools and a small table, which she arranged beneath the shade of the trees. Then she went to prepare tea and snacks.Seeing Madam Shao's worried expression, Minglan wanted to comfort her but didn't know where to begin. Madam Shao knitted her brows tightly: "...I wonder if there are chairs and tea prepared inside?"
Minglan froze momentarily, unable to answer, and stammered: "Well, I don't know either. I've only been there once." That was on the second day after her wedding - offering sacrifices to ancestors, entering the family genealogy, and recognizing relatives. Just that one time.
Seeing Minglan resemble a child unable to answer the teacher's question, with a look of frustration, Madam Shao couldn't help but smile despite her worries: "I've only been inside twice myself."
According to the rules of prominent noble families, except for important clan events, women couldn't freely enter the ancestral hall due to the need to avoid impropriety between brothers and sisters-in-law, and the separation of genders. Even during festival ancestor worship, men and women conducted ceremonies separately in the northern and southern halls.
The two sisters-in-law had only spoken a few words when they heard a soft sound - an old servant guarding the ancestral hall had gently closed the main door of the northern hall.
The vast ancestral hall was shrouded in darkness, with only faint traces of light remaining from the high windows.
"Light the lamps," said Gu Tingyu. "I have no strength."
Gu Tingye stepped forward, feeling under the third shelf on the left side of the incense table for the flint and tinder wrapped in layers of oiled paper. Turning deftly without even looking, as if extremely familiar with the placement of items here, he raised his hands and lit the giant candles on the tall bronze candlesticks on both sides. The dim light didn't slow his movements in the slightest.
Watching Gu Tingye smoothly return the flint, Gu Tingyu couldn't help but chuckle softly: "When it comes to this ancestral hall, I'm afraid none of us brothers know it as well as you do."
Gu Tingye hesitated slightly, then said self-mockingly: "That's natural. With minor punishments every three days and major ones every five, I always ended up kneeling here. If I wasn't released by nightfall, a child afraid of the dark had to find the flint himself."
As the candles burned, the hall became much brighter. Everywhere was clean and polished, evidently wiped and swept regularly. A tea set was placed on a side table. The ancestral hall used premium incense candles, with flickering light and faint sandalwood fragrance permeating the air. Looking around, the six-zhang wide by three-zhang deep eight-tiered altar was lined with the memorial tablets of the Gu ancestors. The hall was built high and spacious to accommodate hundreds of Gu clansmen for joint ancestor worship.
At this moment, the vast space contained only the two brothers.
Gu Tingye's gaze fixed on the newest tablet on the altar: "In Memory of Lord Gu Yankai."
These simple six words ended all the anger, injustice, grievances, and questions he had accumulated since childhood. From now on, he would never need to confront him again. Everything was over.
On both sides, tall pillars reaching to the beams were adorned with nanmu plaques bearing eight striking characters deeply carved into the wood: "Ancestral Virtues Flow Fragrant, Glory for Ten Thousand Generations" - written in the rounded, solemn Yan style.
The first Marquis of Ningyuan, Gu Youshan, had loved wild, untamed cursive script all his life. When drunk, he could write four different cursive versions of "Invitation to Wine" in one go. When asked why he had chosen the conventional Yan style for this instead, he replied: "I've been fond of wine and recklessness all my life, acting willfully. Before I'm buried, I only wish for my descendants' peace, free from disaster and difficulty."
Gu Tingye smiled.He remembered when he was forced to practice calligraphy as a child, his father would often use the example of their ancestor, Lord Youshan, who taught himself calligraphy and achieved great success, to motivate his disobedient second son. Hearing it too often, he grew annoyed and once muttered while biting his brush, "Practicing wild cursive? Isn't it just so no one can tell if you write the wrong characters?"
At that time, Gu Yankai widened his eyes and raised his palm high, seemingly about to strike, but his hand never fell. His expression was peculiar, as if he wanted to scold but also to laugh. Little Tingye, utterly fearless, inexplicably added, "Did you think the same way when you were young, Father?"
The consequence was being punished to copy "Encouraging Learning" twenty extra times.
Gu Tingyu stood leaning on his cane to the side, quietly observing Gu Tingye. In truth, among the three brothers, both he and Gu Tingwei resembled the Qin family more, while only Gu Tingye took after their father the most—in every gesture, every smile, every outburst of anger. And as he grew older, the resemblance only deepened.
Had Father noticed it early too? Was that why he paid him such close attention?
"...Now that you've achieved so much, if our ancestors and Father were aware in the afterlife, they would surely be very pleased." His tone was somber; he himself didn't know why he said it.
Gu Tingye curled his lips, as if teasing, "If Eldest Brother could recover his health, I imagine Father would be even happier."
Gu Tingyu gazed at him intently. "Ever since I was old enough to understand, people have told me that my birth mother, Lady Qin, was killed by your mother. Not only that, but this frail body of mine was also a consequence of that time."
Gu Tingye said indifferently, "Whenever something bad happens in the household, it's always blamed on my mother and me. I've long been aware of that—no need for Eldest Brother to remind me."
"Later, I learned that when the case of the missing treasury funds came to light, I had already been born. My health cannot be blamed on anyone." Gu Tingyu spoke calmly. "My mother was already in poor health and should not have borne children."
For the sake of her deeply devoted husband, she risked her life to give birth to a son, ultimately exhausting herself and leaving the child in poor health.
Gu Tingye raised an eyebrow mockingly. "Thank you for your clarity, Eldest Brother."
"You and your wife share a deep bond." Gu Tingyu ignored his sarcasm and suddenly uttered this seemingly random remark. "If today, our family faced a great calamity, and you were forced to divorce your wife and marry another, what would you do?"
"Eldest Brother asks such an amusing question." Divorce Minglan for these people? Gu Tingye couldn't help but laugh.
"Cough, naturally, cough, for the sake of those in the Xuānníng Hall at this moment, you would refuse." Gu Tingyu began to cough lightly. He took out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth and looked up, fixing his gaze on Gu Tingye. "But what if it were for Father? If, to save Father's life now, you were forced to divorce your wife and marry another, what would you do?!" The last four words suddenly rose in volume, sharp as a blade, piercing straight into his opponent's heart.
Gu Tingye was deeply shaken, taking a step back abruptly before steadying himself immediately. He had always known that his eldest brother was an extremely intelligent man—skilled at reading people, exploiting weaknesses, and meticulous in his considerations. If not for his poor health, had he been able to serve in the court, he would have been a formidable adversary.
From a very young age, a seemingly careless remark from him could send their father into a rage, leading to harsher punishments for Gu Tingye. He had suffered greatly because of it over the years.
He narrowed his eyes slightly. "What exactly are you trying to say, Eldest Brother?"Gu Tingyu gasped heavily, leaning slowly against the pillar and feeling for a chair to sit down. "That's right, the entire Gu household has wronged you and your mother, but not everyone is like that. Brother Xuan secretly brought you food in the ancestral hall several times since childhood; when you were barred from the mourning hall, who stood up for you despite being beaten and scolded by his own father? And... Father, he wasn't unaware that you and your mother were wronged—it pained him deeply..."
Hearing this only fueled Gu Tingye's rage further. He straightened his back and slammed a heavy fist against the nearby pillar, letting out a wild, cold laugh. "So what if Father knew? For over twenty years, he still watched others slander my mother and use her to torment me! If he had even an ounce of compassion, why didn't he say a single word? Elder Brother, you must be mistaken if you think a few words like these can change my mind."
Gu Tingyu remained unmoved, staring directly at him. "I'm no mind reader, but I know. Search your conscience—how has Father treated you all these years? Burdened with military affairs, he was lucky to have two free hours a day, and he spent almost all of it teaching you martial and literary arts. The effort he invested in you was more than double what he gave me and Third Brother combined!"
Recalling how their elderly father, after a busy day, always made sure to ask, "How is Tingye today?" and how, upon hearing bad news, he'd grab the family law and chase after Gu Tingye to discipline him, Gu Tingyu felt a sharp pang in his heart. Though Father was kind to him, he seldom wanted to stay with him; sometimes, just looking at his face and frail body would sadden the old man, causing him to leave.
"If Father raised you with such care, what else could it be but love? Tell the truth—if you were in his place back then, forced into a corner, what could you have done?!" Gu Tingyu raised his voice, his pale face flushing red as he roared, "Think of how you treat your younger siblings now, and then think of Father!"
Years of self-restraint had become habit. Though his heart churned violently, Gu Tingye replied calmly, "I never dwell on 'what-ifs.' I am not Father—I don't have so many attachments. To end up in a 'helpless' situation is simply unacceptable!"
As a military commander, one shouldn't wait until desperate to decide whether to sacrifice the vanguard or the rear guard; the root of the problem is that such "forced sacrifices" should never occur in the first place.
As the eldest son of the Gu family, with an aging father above and young brothers below, it was one thing to be deeply devoted to a sickly woman, but he should have at least considered the family's circumstances—planning for danger in times of peace and preparing for rain before the storm. Even if he couldn't raise funds immediately, he could have found excuses or delays. Just stalling for a year or half, until Emperor Wu passed away and the merciful new emperor ascended, would have allowed them to plead their case gradually and likely resolve it over time.
Thinking of Da Qin Shi, though Gu Tingye knew her early death was pitiable, he couldn't help but feel disgust. He could understand his father's deep affection, but after all, she was the primary wife, married into the Gu family for nearly a decade. All she knew was romantic indulgence and sentimental melancholy, completely oblivious to the hidden troubles facing her husband's household.Such a delicate woman should never have married the eldest son and heir, nor become the matriarch of the clan; if she were a responsible and intelligent woman, she would never become a burden to her husband, like... Minglan.
His heart suddenly softened. Turning his gaze to his elder brother, a cold smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "I understand why you brought me to the ancestral hall, elder brother. You want me to reflect before our ancestors and father. But let me say this: even if I do nothing and let things take their course, the Gu clan will not fall into ruin."
Gu Tingyu's gaze was fierce as he glared at him, but Gu Tingye did not back down. The two brothers, bound by blood, were like evenly matched masters in a game of chess, pitting their wits and strategies against each other, waiting to see who would outlast the other.
After a moment, Gu Tingyu let out a long sigh and slumped back in his chair, pointing toward the incense altar. "There's a box over there. Go take a look."
A cold glint flashed in Gu Tingye's sharp eyes as he walked to the incense altar.
It was a heavy, dark wooden box, over a foot wide and two feet long, adorned with gold and jade at the corners. But what truly surprised Gu Tingye was the moment he touched it—it was made of extremely precious golden-thread nanmu wood infused with agarwood. A box of this size was likely worth a fortune.
The latch was already unlocked. Lifting the lid, he saw a bright yellow lining inside, atop which lay a two-eared scroll embroidered with dragons, phoenixes, auspicious clouds, cranes, and lions in multicolored silk threads—an imperial edict. Beside it rested a dark, thick, arched iron plaque, engraved with vertical rows of characters filled with cinnabar and adorned with gold at the top.
Gu Tingye was momentarily stunned. It was the Iron Certificate of Merit.
Usually, it was only brought out during festivals and placed on the incense altar for worship, with descendants kneeling behind unable to see it clearly. This was the first time he had laid eyes on this treasured heirloom of the Gu family.
"Take out that iron certificate and look at the first four characters," Gu Tingyu said with difficulty.
The Iron Certificate of Merit was originally a hollow cylinder. On the day the title was conferred, it was split in half, with one part kept by the court and the other by the titled family. Thus, the heavy iron plaque in Gu Tingye's hands was shaped like a tile.
Slowly turning the plaque, Gu Tingye shifted his gaze to the top, where four solemn characters were inlaid in gold: "Founding the Nation and Assisting Its Rise."
Gu Tingyu raised his head, looking at the towering rows of ancestral tablets on the incense altar. Under the candlelight, their shadows overlapped like a thorny forest, casting darkness over the Gu brothers until even their faces were obscured.
"Ancestor Shande, from humble origins, gained the recognition of Emperor Taizu. He died leaving behind a widow and young children. Duke Youshan then achieved great military feats. Afterward, during Emperor Taizu's eastern campaigns and Emperor Taizong's western expeditions against the Nuergan, southern pacification of the Miao chieftains, and three northern border stabilizations, the Gu family sacrificed eleven lives on the battlefield... I need not elaborate further."
"I know your intentions," Gu Tingyu said, breathing heavily as he clutched his chest. "Father married your birth mother for the sake of the Marquis Household, and then you were born. You resent it, you hold a grudge. That's why you want to watch the Ningyuan Marquis Household collapse—to see the title revoked, the certificate destroyed, the guilty imprisoned or exiled—so you can vent your years of pent-up anger. Then, after a decade or so, as you slowly accumulate military achievements, the emperor will grant you a new title. By then, you'll have brought glory to the Gu family! Those who wronged you will either be dead or destitute, and you'll have avenged every grievance!"Gu Tingyu spoke while laughing, laughing so hard he gasped for breath: "But the Emperor cannot directly strip me of my title to give it to you. Even with charges pressed, it would inevitably carry the suspicion of bullying a weak elder brother and widowed sister-in-law. The Emperor values his reputation greatly—he won't do it. For your sake, he won’t either. Yet you can’t swallow this grievance, so you decided to cut the ground from under your own feet and bring down the Marquis of Ningyuan altogether! Am I right?"
Gu Tingye watched his elder brother’s hysterical laughter coldly, remaining silent.
"But, but... have you ever considered..." Gu Tingyu finally stopped laughing, his expression sorrowful, "Years from now, when you obtain the Iron-Wrought Certificate of Merit again, will it bear these four words?"
"For so many years, since Emperor Taizu purged numerous meritorious officials, the 'Revolt of the Nine Princes' at Emperor Taizong’s ascension, followed by several conspiracies and rebellions, the rampant use of the imperial prison, up to now... how many founding heroes have had their titles revoked! Do you know how many noble families across the land still hold such Iron-Wrought Certificates of Merit?"
Gu Tingyu suddenly grew agitated. "Let me tell you—only eight! Eight! The rest, whether 'Loyal Civil Officials' or 'Meritorious Military Officials,' are nothing compared to our family! Ours is the true uninterrupted lineage! Even the Xiangyang Marquis Household no longer has this. As for the currently influential Shen family—what are they worth?"
In a burst of energy, he lunged forward and grabbed Gu Tingye’s lapel with his bony hand, shouting, "Do you think it’s just your ability that earned you such important tasks? When the new Emperor first ascended the throne, you led only a small troop to take over defenses, yet the Jiangdu garrison obeyed your commands without question. Among the Emperor’s many trusted confidants from his princely days, all bearing imperial edicts and military tallies to assume command—aside from the Emperor’s brother-in-law, who was shown some respect—who else had it as smooth as you?! You mobilized faster than others, won over the troops sooner, and that’s how you achieved merit! Let me tell you why: because your surname is Gu! Generations of the Gu family have been buried in the military! Because you’re a Gu! You—"
Gu Tingyu ran out of breath, coughing violently, trembling so much he nearly collapsed. Gu Tingye’s expression remained indifferent, his thoughts unreadable, as he steadied his brother and helped him back to his seat. He poured a cup of water from the tea set and handed it to him.
Gu Tingyu coughed as if he might bring up blood, forcing it down with the tea. Gasping heavily, he gradually calmed. Gazing at the iron-blue Iron-Wrought Certificate of Merit on the incense table, his eyes grew moist, and he murmured softly:
"When it all happened, Father had already risen to Left Army Commandant. Both Emperor Wu and the Late Emperor, then Crown Prince, held him in high regard. Even without the title, he still had a future. In the end, he abandoned my mother... for the sake of these four words."
Gu Tingye remained silent.
In his childhood, he had seen his father more than once hiding in his study, weeping before a portrait of Da Qin Shi.
The candlelight cast long shadows of the two brothers—one tall and robust, the other hunched and shrunken. Gu Tingyu glared disgustedly at his own shadow on the ground, then suddenly felt relieved. After all these years, was he resentful over the past, or jealous of the present? But at this point, what was there left to dispute?
"I know you resent the injustice your birth mother suffered. As a son, that’s only natural," Gu Tingyu said, his heart now serene. "But you have not only a mother—you also have a father. Half of your flesh and blood carries the surname Gu, from the Ningyuan Marquis Household."
"I will not appoint an heir. As for how much time I have left, you may ask Doctor Zhang. I suppose it won't be long." Gu Tingyu's gaunt, lifeless face resembled pine branches standing starkly on a sheer cliff—austere and detached. "You can rightfully inherit the peerage and deal with those outsiders as you see fit. For years, they have sheltered under Father's wings, growing arrogant and pampered. With your current methods, it should be easy to grasp their weaknesses and control them."
Hearing this, Gu Tingye let out a laugh, his lips curling mockingly. "When did Elder Brother become so clear-sighted? I recall a time when you were as close as father and sons with Fourth Uncle and Fifth Uncle."
Especially when it came to dealing with him—they had sown discord, stirred up trouble, and collaborated seamlessly.
Gu Tingyu was not oblivious to the implication in these words. He replied indifferently, "When one is near death, things become clearer. Besides, I've long understood what kind of people they are."
"Aren't you concerned about your wife and daughter? You only care about preserving the Gu family peerage," Gu Tingye sneered. "Truly a worthy descendant of the Gu family."
"Your sister-in-law has treated you well. You won't make things difficult for her. You're not that kind of person," Gu Tingyu answered bluntly. "And since your wife entered the household, I've observed that she is also kind-hearted."
Gu Tingye scoffed inwardly—even at this point, this man still played his mind games.
"Elder Brother's eloquence has improved. As your younger brother, I find myself at a loss for words," Gu Tingye said with a cold smile. "However, I have always been the unfilial son of the Gu family. To expect me to swallow years of resentment for the sake of those four words—you make it sound far too simple. Then again, it's easy for you to say, since you weren't the one who suffered."
"It was I whom Father tied up and nearly sent to the Imperial Clan Court. It was I who was falsely accused when Gu Tingyang assaulted a maid in Father's quarters and drove her to suicide. It was I whose name was forged on promissory notes when Gu Tingbing defaulted on brothel and gambling debts, colluding with those dens—Father nearly broke my bones. Outraged, I went to confront the brothels and gambling dens, only to invite endless trouble and earn a reputation for recklessness, which made Father spit blood in anger. In my defiance, I acted out even more wildly... In the end, Father was heartbroken and disappointed—and it was still I who was driven out of the family."
Gu Tingye spoke softly, almost murmuring to himself, "...Back then, how many in the Gu household spoke up for me? Brother Xuan did a few times, but later he didn't dare, especially when it involved his own brothers. As for the others... hmph..."
The dim, vast ancestral hall sank into silence as the two brothers fell quiet for a long time.
After what felt like an eternity, Gu Tingyu sighed. "I am a dying man, merely following Father's instructions to protect the Gu family reputation at all costs. Whether you seek to vent your anger or exact revenge, there must be other ways. Do not... do not... do not destroy this century-old foundation of the Gu family." His voice grew fainter toward the end, almost pleading, as he was utterly exhausted and weakened. "I have said all that needs to be said. The rest is for you to ponder..."
Gu Tingye lifted his head and gazed directly at the two large portraits at the top of the altar—images of the first Marquis of Ningyuan, Gu Youshan, and his wife.
Most Gu sons, upon reaching adulthood, developed deep furrows between their brows, pressing down upon their soaring, straight eyebrows, as if locking all emotions within an ink-dark restraint.He suddenly recalled that humiliating day when he had finally managed to enter the mourning hall, gazing at his deceased father one last time across the coffin. The father who had once appeared as towering and majestic as a mountain range in his childish eyes had shrunk into such a gaunt and frail figure.
Before turning fifteen, he lived in self-doubt and stubbornness, constantly feeling inferior about his origins. After meeting Mama Chang, he learned the truth about his birth mother's marriage into the Gu family, and his heart burned with resentment as fierce as erupting magma, yet he had no outlet for these feelings. From then on, he even secretly harbored hatred toward his father, speaking with defiant sharpness whenever he opened his mouth, further straining their father-son relationship.
He knew Gu Tingyu's words couldn't be trusted. What kind of person was he? Hadn't he known since childhood?
If he truly inherited his elder brother's title, would he mistreat his widowed sister-in-law?
But if the title were truly taken away, other branches of the family might manage—after all, they had men to rely on. Yet for them, a widow and her orphaned children, they would have to depend on distant relatives for survival. What good could come of that? Only with the Ningyuan Marquis Household standing firm, upholding the reputation of being the late Marquis's widow and vulnerable daughter, could they live a respected life of comfort and wealth.
Not to mention Xianjie's marriage prospects—that would make a world of difference.
Nowadays, he was no longer the Gu family's Erlang who could be easily bullied or deceived. He saw clearly what they were thinking in their hearts, and he understood everything perfectly.
Did Gu Tingyu think he could arrange posthumous matters and secure his wife and daughter's future, expecting him to obediently comply?
Unconsciously, he emerged from the ancestral hall into bright daylight, where a familiar, radiant face approached him filled with anxiety and concern. He loved her eyes most of all—so clean and frank, untouched by worldly dust.
Behind him lay a shadowy past, while ahead stretched a bright and clear future.
OpenNovel