……
The mother and son arrived in the main hall, where they happened to run into Gu Dashan and his wife, who had been about to go out and look for them.
“A Wu, you’re here.” Wang Shi saw that her daughter-in-law’s eyes were a little red. Inwardly, she cursed her heartless son, but thinking of what she had to say shortly, Wang Shi felt too guilty to look her daughter-in-law in the eye.
When she saw her Eldest Grandson, however, her expression finally looked a little more natural.
“Shuanzi, come here to Grandmother!”
Zhao Xun did not go over, of course. He stood silently beside his Mother.
Gu Chun and Gu Xia called out “Sister-in-law” timidly, then looked away as well, not daring to meet Zhao Wu’s eyes.
Seeing her daughter-in-law return, Gu Dashan’s already grim expression did not improve; it grew even darker.
Of course, he did not dare meet the mother and son’s eyes either.
The mother and son were not blind. They naturally noticed everyone’s subtle change in attitude.
Zhao Wu lowered her eyes.
It seemed they had already made their choice.
Though she had expected this outcome, now that the moment had truly arrived, she still could not help feeling disappointed.
As expected, now that their biological son had returned, the daughter-in-law who had been with them for six years meant nothing.
Even though she had known this was coming, why did it still hurt so much?
After spending years together, even if they had initially been using her, they had eventually developed some genuine affection for her. Besides, there was truly nothing they could fault her for.
But the choice between a son and a daughter-in-law was obvious.
She had known that all along, hadn’t she?
Taking a quiet, deep breath, Zhao Wu suppressed the pain in her heart and steeled herself.
Since that was how things stood, she had nothing left to worry about.
Sensing everyone’s change in attitude, Zhao Xun’s gaze turned icy. He felt that his Mother had been treated unfairly.
They had only been gone a short while, and already everyone had switched sides to Gu Yunxiao.
How very nice.
He took his Mother’s hand.
When she looked at him, he smiled at her.
It was a comforting smile.
Zhao Wu’s lips curved up as she clasped her son’s little hand tightly.
Her son’s comfort warmed her heart.
She did not care about anyone else. The only person she cared about was her son.
Ignoring everyone else in the room, she looked coldly at Gu Yunxiao.
They would settle everything today.
Gu Yunxiao had naturally noticed Zhao Wu’s reddened eyes, but he pretended not to see them.
He warned himself not to soften. A Ning was still waiting for him; he could not let her down.
As for A Wu…
A Wu was strong-willed and capable. Even without him, she could live well.
But A Ning was different. Without him, she would not be able to go on living.
He had no choice but to let A Wu down.
With that thought, his expression grew even more resolute.
“A Wu, I’m sorry. These years must have been hard for you, but the divorce is already decided. I’ll make it up to you. As for Shuanzi, I’ll treat him well. I—”
Zhao Wu cut him off with a cold laugh. “Spare me the nonsense! I’ll make this clear today: I’ll agree to the divorce, but my son is coming with me!”
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone in the room was thrown into an uproar.
Gu Dashan and Wang Shi sprang to their feet. Even Gu Chun and Gu Xia could not remain composed. They all stared at Zhao Wu in disbelief, as if they could not imagine she would say such a thing.
At her words, Gu Yunxiao’s expression immediately darkened.
No one had expected her to say that.
“Absolutely not!” Gu Dashan shouted. Once the shock had faded from his weathered face, it hardened with resolve.
“I won’t agree! Shuanzi is of the Old Gu Family. How could he go with—” Wang Shi wanted to say, “How could he go with you, his mother?” But when she met Zhao Wu’s icy gaze, the words would not come out.
She had never seen Zhao Wu so cold. That gaze seemed ready to kill, and she instinctively fell silent.
Another reason was that she had watched this daughter-in-law raise Shuanzi. Even wealthy families could scarcely imagine how much effort and care it had taken.
Wang Shi knew full well that Zhao Wu would not give Shuanzi up easily.
Besides, their family had wronged this daughter-in-law. Wang Shi could not bring herself to say anything cruel to her.
But Shuanzi couldn’t go with her!
It was all that good-for-nothing Yunxiao’s fault!
After Gu Dashan finished speaking, he looked at the mother and son, who were both calm yet cold. His weathered face was a tangle of emotions.
Inwardly, he could not help cursing the culprit.
That good-for-nothing Yunxiao!
What was wrong with A Wu? Why insist on divorcing her?
But he had already said so much, threatened him, and tried every method he could think of. The good-for-nothing still would not back down.
He truly had no choice. He could only let his daughter-in-law down.
It was the Gu Family who had wronged A Wu.
But Shuanzi was the Old Gu Family’s eldest grandson. There was no way they could let her take him away.
Seeing the mother and son leaning on each other, Gu Yunxiao felt a pang of reluctance. But the divorce had to happen.
As for the child?
Gu Yunxiao looked at Shuanzi.
Ever since he arrived, the boy had only looked him over once when they first met. After that, he had not looked at him again—not even calling him “Father.”
Clearly, the boy disapproved of what he had done.
Even so, A Wu could not take him away.
The boy was Gu Yunxiao’s flesh and blood, the Gu Family’s eldest grandson. How could A Wu take him away?
That was absolutely impossible!
He looked at the woman before him, still as stubborn as ever, and sighed inwardly.
She had no say in whether their son stayed or left.
“A Wu, I know you and Shuanzi are deeply attached, but have you ever considered how you’ll remarry someday as a woman with a child? Who would take a woman with—” a burden.
He simply could not bring himself to say it.
He furrowed his brow and continued, “A Wu, if you let Shuanzi go with you, what can you offer him? How can you guarantee his future? If he stays with me, I can give him everything he wants: fine clothes, good food, and a bright future. When he grows up, I can find him a suitable wife from a good family. If he goes with you, his talents will be wasted, and he’ll be lost among ordinary people. Isn’t staying with me the best choice for Shuanzi? For his sake, A Wu, you mustn’t act on impulse. And if you’re worried about how Shuanzi will be treated in the household, you needn’t be. Shuanzi is my biological son and the Gu Family’s Eldest Legitimate Grandson. No one can outrank him—not even the wife I may take in the future. If Shuanzi stays with me, that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to see him in the future. You know what I’m like. I…”
Gu Yunxiao’s words made Zhao Xun frown. He felt his Mother stiffen as she listened, clearly wavering. His gaze at the man who was his father in name only turned cold, and he was about to speak when his Mother’s furious voice rang out beside him:
“Gu Yunxiao, shut your mouth!
Let me ask you this: you weren’t dead all these years, so where were you?! If you couldn’t come back, were you too busy even to write a single letter?! How busy were you?! How could you possibly have had no time?!
Five years. In five years, you must have had at least one chance to send a letter home, but you didn’t!
You gave no thought to your parents and younger sisters at home, or to me, your pregnant wife!
When I heard you had died in battle, the grief brought on my premature labor. These past years, I’ve done everything I could to raise our child, honor your parents according to the Classic of Filial Piety, and look after your two younger sisters. You not only showed no gratitude; the moment you returned, you planned to abandon me.
That might have been one thing. Our relationship had fallen apart, and you had someone new. I didn’t care and wasn’t bothered. But what gives you the right to fight me for custody of our son?!
Have you ever fulfilled your duty as his biological father for even one day?! Where were you when my son was sick in bed?! I bet you were busy whispering sweet nothings to your new love, having the time of your life!
Now you come here and feed me all this high-minded nonsense. Why don’t you just die?!
How dare you fake your death, come back, and think you can take my son away with a few words? What makes you think you have the right?!”
Zhao Wu took a deep breath. Her expression was cold, and her voice utterly calm:
“Gu Yunxiao, Shuanzi is my son. You have nothing to do with him. If you want a divorce, Shuanzi comes with me! Don’t think that just because your status has changed, you can control me. I’m telling you: the barefoot have nothing to fear from the shod. If you don’t want your ‘good reputation’ as a man who abandoned his wife to spread and damage your career, then by all means, oppose me.”
After Zhao Wu finished speaking, the room fell so silent that a pin could be heard dropping.
What was wrong with A Wu? Why insist on divorcing her?!
Now look what a mess he’d made of things. Was he satisfied?