The Prime Minister's Darling

Chapter 216: 133 Being Tough for Mother (Second Revision)

Gu Changqing hoped it wasn’t the way he thought, “Not only did he beat you up, but did he also tie you up with a rope, locked you in the firewood room, and refused to let you out?”

Gu Chenglin was taken aback, “Big Brother, how did you know?”

Gu Changqing’s fist clenched tightly, suppressing the bubbling anger within him, he asked, “Was it a young girl who beat you up?”

Gu Chenglin was even more confused.

Could it be that his big brother was so godly?

Could he tell just by looking that a woman was the one who had caused his injuries?

At this point, what did Gu Changqing not understand?

As he surmised, it was initially this brat who bullied their brother in such a way, and they retaliated in kind.

Having the audacity to blatantly claim he was innocent!

“How on earth did the Marquis Residence raise such a good-for-nothing like you?” After saying that, Gu Changqing gave him a good sorting out without further ado.

Gu Chenglin was dumbfounded.

What just happened?

Why was he beaten up again?

Having been beaten, Gu Chenglin still didn’t realize that he had let the cat out of the bag. He continued to put on an act, “Big Brother, what are you doing? If I got beaten up, it’s my fault for being incompetent. But, who allowed our grandfather to only teach you martial arts and not me and second brother? If I could have beaten them back by myself, would I need to come and find you?”

When it came to this, Gu Changqing was even more angered. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Was it their grandfather not teaching them martial arts? It was them who couldn’t bear the hardship!

In the past, Gu Changqing did think that their grandfather’s demand was too harsh. He could fulfil it because he had no other choice. He was the lawful eldest grandson of the Marquis Residence, and the fate of the Marquis Residence rested on his shoulders. His two younger brothers didn’t need to kill themselves over it.

But when he saw that child in the courtyard today, at the tender age of three or four, he was training harder than when he was a child, yet the child didn’t make a sound!

And nobody was forcing him!

Upon comparing them, Gu Changqing felt truly that the brothers of others’ families were different.

Gu Changqing looked at Gu Chenglin, the last strand of sympathy in him also disappeared, “Go kneel in the study room.”

Gu Chenglin wondered if he had heard wrong, “Big Brother, what did you say?”

Gu Changqing coldly replied, “I told you to go kneel in the study room!”

Gu Chenglin became angry, “Why should I kneel? I have already been beaten up like this and you still want to punish me? Are you really my big brother?”

Seeing his younger brother who had done wrong not only showed no sign of repentance but also spoke wildly, Gu Changqing’s rage surged from his heart.

When their mother died, the two younger brothers were very young. Because they were pitiful, everyone in the mansion spoiled them, especially Gu Chenglin who was almost spoiled beyond recognition.

Gu Chengfeng had slowly changed in the past few years, but once again, Gu Chenglin was as stubborn as a child, and he was no longer a real child. No one would easily forgive the mistakes he made.

“Because I am your brother, I have to discipline you! Will you go to the study room yourself, or shall I drag you there!”

“You….”

Gu Chengfeng had been eavesdropping outside the door for a while, knowing that his elder brother was about to get serious, he hurriedly came in, “Eldest brother, third brother, stop arguing!”

Seeing Gu Chengfeng, Gu Chenglin immediately felt wronged. Among the two brothers, second brother was obviously closer to him. Eldest brother was always reading endless books, practicing endless martial arts, only second brother was truly by his side.

He said, “Second brother, you judge! Eldest brother wants to punish me!”

Gu Chengfeng softly said, “You keep quiet!”

When Elder Brother punished his third brother, he had guessed that Elder Brother had figured out what happened. He had thought early on that this method was unreliable. If elder brother was so easily deceived, he wouldn’t have gained the title of Iron-faced Yama in the military camp.

Gu Chengfeng was desperately hinting at his younger brother, but Gu Chenglin, who was enraged, couldn’t take in any hints.

“Big Brother, you’re punishing me for a wild child! You will regret this! You uh uh uh uh uh uh?”

Do you know who he is?

The last sentence was timely muffled by Gu Chengfeng and could not be pronounced correctly.

Gu Chengfeng was frightened into a cold sweat.

Was his foolish third brother planning to expose Gu Yan’s identity?

Telling elder brother that he had recognized the child as Gu Yan early on, was tantamount to admitting that he was the one who started the trouble first. Furthermore, everyone in the family knew that Gu Yan had a heart condition. To lock him up in the little dark room was equivalent of taking his life!

This was not just bullying. It was premeditated murder!

Although Gu Chenglin didn’t intend to kill at that time, could Gu Chenglin make it clear?

Would elder brother believe it?

“Eldest Brother is punishing you for your own good! Look at you, you got yourself in trouble and yet still defy Eldest Brother when you come home!” Gu Chengfeng stared at Gu Chenglin, giving him ten thousand pointed glances!

Gu Chenglin finally understood this time and didn’t say another word.

Gu Chengfeng breathed a sigh of relief, saying to Gu Changqing: “Big brother, our third brother indeed deserves punishment for the trouble he’s caused, but seeing his severe injuries, he has suffered enough lesson. Further punishment would be unbearable for him, better let him rest to recover his health.”

Although the eldest brother was strict, he still deeply loved his younger brothers.

Gu Chengfeng secretly signaled Gu Chenglin not to worry.

But before he could finish, a commotion broke out outside the courtyard.

A servant hurriedly ran in: “Third Young Master! Bad news! The Madam is here! She wants to see you! We can’t stop her anymore!”

The impression Gu Changqing had of Madam Yao was of a weak woman, but now, several robust maids in the courtyard were unable to stop her. She stormed in like a violent tempest.

She approached Gu Chenglin’s bed, ignoring Gu Chengfeng and Gu Changqing in the room, and slapped Gu Chenglin with a resounding smack!

Gu Chenglin was stunned momentarily!

This was even more shocking than being beaten by Gu Jiao. His understanding of Gu Jiao merely came from rumors among the servants. After all, he had no clear idea about who Gu Jiao really was.

But he knew Madam Yao all too well, as she was easy to bully, that’s why he could dare to live with her and Gu Yan in the manor.

Not to mention hitting him, Madam Yao even dared not scold him!

Gu Chenglin stared at Madam Yao in disbelief.

Madam Yao’s eyes were terrifying, as if ready to tear Gu Chenglin apart.

For the first time, Gu Chenglin felt a trace of fear.

Gu Changqing’s shock was no less. He had seen the childish smile of Madam Yao but was now facing a woman who seemed to have gone mad. Suddenly, he realized he had never truly understood this stepmother of his.

“Why did you hit him?” Gu Changqing asked.

Madam Yao sneered, her eyes filled with tears: “Why did I hit him, don’t you as his older brother get it? I don’t care if you all plot against me, but why did you have to bully my Yanyan? After so much hardship… he has barely survived until now…”

Madam Yao had just returned from her daughter’s place, learning only then that her son had been bullied. The two of them were not willing to tell her, but she secretly asked Xiaoshun, and finally, Xiaoshun told her.

Xiaoshun didn’t actually know much, he didn’t know who saved Gu Yan, just that Gu Yan was in grave danger at that time. The person responsible for Gu Yan’s plight was someone called Gu Chenglin.

Gu Jiao had even asked him what Gu Chenglin looked like and which class he was in.

Madam Yao’s heart was aching as she couldn’t imagine her son being held captive in the firewood room, struggling to the point of blood covering his hands, struggling until his heart disease flared.

She is a mother!

Her heart can hurt!

Tears streamed down her face: “You can deny him as a brother, treat him as a stranger… he has his sister, and he won’t come back here to fight over anything. He has hid himself so far away… why can’t you just let him be!”

By the end, Madam Yao was shouting hoarsely.

“You bullied him as children because you were just children then… but it’s not the same now! How could you still treat him like before? Don’t you know he has a heart condition? Do you want to kill him?”

“Why? Because you resent me? What did I do wrong?!”

“I’ve never harmed your mother! I’ve never tried to take your father away from you! Your mother’s death had nothing to do with me! Why do you put all those grievances on me?!”

She had endured external rumors and gossips without ever arguing against them. When she learned that her son nearly died in the hands of his half-brother, Madam Yao couldn’t control herself anymore.

The restrained emotions of all these years erupted, she was no longer the usual elegant woman. She seemed more like a maddened woman ready to fight.

After all, she was just a mother.

A mother who had been separated from her daughter for over a decade, struggling to protect a seriously ill son.

Her child could not be harmed.

That would cost her life….

If someone must die to end this, then it should be her.

She would kill Gu Chenglin! Let him join her in death!

“Madam!” Gu Changqing grabbed Madam Yao’s wrist, “You’re tired, you should go back to your room and rest. As for the third brother, I will handle him. Someone! Escort the madam back!”

He gave the orders, and this time it wasn’t the robust maids who showed up, but hidden guards.

The hidden guard grabbed Madam Yao’s arm.

“Do not hurt her.” Gu Changqing ordered.

“Yes.” The guard responded.

Even in her madness, Madam Yao knew that she was no match for an hidden guard. She turned around slowly, allowing the guard to lead her away without putting up resistance.

Gu Changqing put the dagger that slipped unnoticed from Madam Yao’s sleeve into his own wide sleeve. He then turned to look coldly at Gu Chenglin.

Gu Chenglin’s heart skipped a beat: “Big brother! Listen to my explanation! I… I did recognize him… but I… I didn’t do it on purpose… I… I never intended to kill him… I thought it wasn’t him… I…”

Gu Chengfeng rubbing his forehead, sighed. The worst had happened, he couldn’t explain it away anymore.