Gu Kun's words were evasive, shifting blame, and he still didn't feel the cruelty of his actions towards his second uncle back then.
At the same time, he didn't believe his father, Old General Gu, would punish him for his second brother's death.
After all, his second brother had been dead for so many years; those who were sad had already grieved enough. What more was there to be sad about now?
With such thoughts, Gu Kun not only placed all the blame on the fake Madam Meng and Meng Yikang but also deliberately expressed to Old General Gu that from now on, as his only son, he would properly honor and care for him, and just like Old General Gu, he would dote on his eldest daughter, Gu Qianying.
Gu Kun feigned pitifulness before Old General Gu.
Gu Qianying watched with a cold gaze.
The truth was now clear.
She believed her grandfather would make his own decision, and she would support whatever it was.
"Shameless wretch, still unrepentant at this point!"
*Clang!*
The teacup shattered, and the corner of the table broke.
A powerful inner force struck Gu Kun.
Gu Kun was sent flying back two meters.
Old General Gu drew his saber from his waist, and with a swift stroke, he swung it down.
"Ah."
A scream.
A bloody, mangled limb was flung far away.
Gu Kun's face turned pale, and he almost fainted from the pain.
He clutched his severed, bleeding right leg and looked at Old General Gu in shock, "Father! My leg, how could you be so heartless? Father!"
"You took your second brother's life, and now I, your father, am taking one of your legs for your second brother. Your second brother is dead, but you are still alive. By that calculation, you are not at a disadvantage!"
Old General Gu was utterly disappointed in Gu Kun. Not taking his life on the spot was already a great mercy.
"Someone, fetch a doctor to tend to your master's wounds!"
Ignoring Gu Kun's cries, Old General Gu opened the door and walked out alone, heading to the Gu family ancestral hall.
Old General Gu stayed in the ancestral hall for a long time. When he emerged, his hair had turned significantly whiter.
Gu Kun, weakened by excessive blood loss, was likely bedridden for some time.
With his leg severed, he had become a cripple.
And on this day, in addition to the major event of the master of the household having a leg cut off by the old master,
another interesting incident occurred in the mansion.
Gu Mingyue, who had been captured and confined to the woodshed, suddenly went mad, bit a guard, and escaped.
Gu Yefeng sent people to search for her for a long time, but she was nowhere to be found.
Meanwhile.
After Gu Qianying and her maid, Luzhu, left Old General Gu's room, they went to the side hall.
She remembered someone saying they wanted to eat the clear noodle soup she made.
Although her heart was in turmoil now, and several matters in the mansion required her careful consideration, if she didn't attend to someone properly at this moment,
she feared that given that person's temper, they might cause her even more headaches.
Thus, before Gu Qianying even stepped through the door of the side hall, she and Luzhu headed to the small kitchen.
When the two returned, Luzhu was carrying a food basket.
"Ninth Imperial Uncle, this humble subject has prepared clear noodle soup for you."
Gu Qianying entered with Luzhu.
Nangong Mo and Nangong Li, who were drinking tea, both looked towards Gu Qianying.
"Oh! Perfect timing, I'm hungry too. Quickly bring over the noodles you made, I want to eat."
Nangong Li was the first to rise but was intimidated by a cold glance from Nangong Mo and sat back down.
"Didn't you just tell this king you were going to spar with Gu Yefeng in chess?"
Nangong Li paused, "When did this prince say that?"
Nangong Mo's voice grew colder, "Hm?"
Nangong Li immediately tapped his head with his fan and quickly said with a smile, "Yes, yes, this prince was going to spar with the eldest son of the Gu family. You see, my memory is truly terrible, I keep forgetting things."
Nangong Li rose and left, taking the guards who were stationed outside the door and Luzhu, who was blankly following Gu Qianying, with him.
When only Gu Qianying and Nangong Mo remained in the room.
Nangong Mo spoke indifferently, "Why are you still standing there? This king wants to eat."
"..."
Gu Qianying opened the food basket and presented the steaming clear noodle soup to Nangong Mo.
Nangong Mo did not move, only saying, "This king accidentally injured his hand while drinking tea with the Sixth Prince."
Gu Qianying frowned and looked at Nangong Mo, not understanding.
Seeing that Gu Qianying made no move, Nangong Mo added, "My hand is injured, so I can't pick up chopsticks."
Gu Qianying: "?"
So, she was expected to feed him personally?
Gu Qianying looked up and down at Nangong Mo, her gaze finally settling on his fingers, which were smooth and unblemished, showing no signs of injury.
How could they look like an injured hand? This was clearly him looking for trouble!
"This humble subject is clumsy; perhaps Ninth Imperial Uncle should eat himself."
Gu Qianying naturally would not go along with Nangong Mo's wishes.
"My fingers are injured."
"Ninth Imperial Uncle can use his other hand."
"My other hand is also injured."
Gu Qianying: "..."
"Then this humble subject will have a maid from the mansion come in to serve you."
Gu Qianying turned to leave.
Her task was complete now that the clear noodle soup was made.
"This king wants you to feed me personally, or else, this king will come to your boudoir to rest tonight."
Gu Qianying, who was about to step out the door, immediately retreated.
"Feeding someone else" was a first in Gu Qianying's life.
Her face flushed as she fed him bite by bite.
Looking at Nangong Mo up close, with such intimacy between them.
Gu Qianying felt a little embarrassed, but Nangong Mo seemed to be in a very good mood.
"The noodles are delicious, this king likes them."
Hearing Nangong Mo's high praise for her clear noodle soup.
Gu Qianying began to suspect if Nangong Mo had lost his sense of taste.
When she made the noodles in the small kitchen, she had added two extra spoonfuls of salt, intending to get a little revenge on Nangong Mo.
Yet now, she couldn't help but wonder if Nangong Mo couldn't even taste the saltiness of the noodles?
As she was lost in thought, Nangong Mo spoke again, "Today is this king's birthday. This king remembers that many years ago, a little girl made a bowl of clear noodle soup for this king on this very day. She told me that on one's birthday, one must eat noodles for longevity."
As he said this, Nangong Mo looked at Gu Qianying, a deep affection flashing in his eyes.
Gu Qianying was stunned.
She had never expected that today was Nangong Mo's birthday.
Were not royal birthdays supposed to be grand and magnificent, with lively entrances, unlike anything ordinary people could compare to?
And yet, the renowned Ninth Imperial Uncle only required a bowl of clear noodle soup for his birthday.
This was simply unbelievable.
"This humble subject wishes Ninth Imperial Uncle boundless fortune, as vast as the East Sea, and a lifespan as enduring as the Southern Mountains!"
Hearing this, Nangong Mo suddenly rapped heavily on the table, "What this king wants to hear is not this. What this king wants to hear is you say you like me!"
Gu Qianying was stunned again.
"What? You don't want to say it? Then this king will go to Old General Gu and complain about you properly."