What did she mean, her son hasn’t even woken up yet and she’s already decided not to want her own grandson?

Gu Meiting’s words had clearly gone too far. Physician Gu, holding on to Yingzi, furrowed his brow tightly, itching to step in and scold her on Madam Gu’s behalf.

Her words carried an unmistakable note of jealousy — a clear accusation that Madam Gu favored Jun Beiyue.

Out of consideration for Madam Gu’s dignity, Physician Gu ultimately held himself back. After all, Madam Gu was already in a deeply awkward position — if he and Yingzi made a fuss too, wouldn’t that only embarrass her further?

Madam Gu took several deep breaths before finally calming down, rarely addressing her daughter by her full name. “Gu Meiting, is this how I raised you, to act so… unreasonably!”

“Mother, how am I being unreasonable? I’m a mother too — I ache for Yuan’er just as you ache for me and my sister. You should understand!” Gu Meiting argued back at once.

“Come, come with me to the east wing, we’ll speak to your father. If your father agrees, then I’ll agree! This is not something I can decide alone!”

If Madam Gu hadn’t been pushed to her wits’ end, would she really have gone to bother her husband with this? After all, how many outrageous things had Gu Meiting and Jiang Chen done that she had already covered up on their behalf?

“I’m not going! I was just thrown out by Father! If you don’t agree today to let Yuan’er move to the east wing, then I’ll… I’ll… I’ll just stay right here!”

At last, the truth came out!

Physician Gu and Yingzi nearly burst out laughing. What on earth was this? Stay here? That was absurd — this was the Gu family’s main residence, the future primary household!

Even during the storm, even worried the east wing might collapse, the Gu couple hadn’t casually moved in here themselves!

This place was meant for Jun Beiyue alone!

And yet here was Gu Meiting, setting her sights on the main residence!

Absurd, simply absurd!

Before Physician Gu could speak, Madam Gu raised her hand and slapped out. “Gu Meiting, you—!”

“Mother, hit me if you want. Since your daughter has come to this, you might as well just kill me with one slap and be done with it!” Gu Meiting showed no fear at all, certain her mother wouldn’t dare truly harm her!

She was determined to see this through — this vast estate of a main residence, she intended to have it, no matter what. Why should someone as good as unconscious as Jun Beiyue get to occupy it?

Why should she, the eldest young lady of the mighty Gu family, be forced into a lesser guest room?

Madam Gu’s face darkened with fury, and finally, unable to hold back any longer, she shouted, “What’s wrong with you? It was you who insisted on marrying Jiang Chen in the first place — otherwise, would you have ended up with nowhere to live? Don’t come crying to me about this. Go find Jiang Chen!”

At these words, Gu Meiting sprang up. “Yes! It was me who was blind enough to marry that useless man! It serves me right — it serves me right to be reduced to living off others, to be looked down upon by the entire Gu family! Whoo…”

She spoke, then collapsed back down, sobbing weakly, beating her chest, giving in to despair. “It’s my fate — I married the wrong man. Whoo… I’ll just have my marriage annulled from Jiang Chen. I don’t even want Yuan’er anymore. I might as well die!”

Madam Gu stood there in silence, leaning weakly against the doorframe, her heart aching as though pierced by a blade, her breath catching painfully!

This was her own daughter, the one she had raised herself with such effort! The eldest young lady of the mighty Gu family — how had it come to this!

“So loud, might as well go die already,” Yingzi muttered, assuming Gu Meiting was just putting on an act. People like her, he was certain, feared death more than anyone in the world.

Yet Physician Gu, brow furrowed, watched Madam Gu with growing unease. “Madam, don’t be so upset — anger will damage your health, and it won’t come back easily!”

Madam Gu sighed heavily, but Gu Meiting only wept louder still. “Whoo, even my parents don’t want me anymore. I’ve suffered too much. I might as well die! Poor Yuan’er, from now on he’ll have no mother to love him! Whoo…”

Crying and crying, she abruptly leapt to her feet and lunged toward a nearby pillar, as though to smash her head against it!

“Ting’er!” Madam Gu cried out in shock, rushing forward to catch her. Losing her footing in the moment, she and Gu Meiting fell to the floor together. Physician Gu and Yingzi, startled, hurried over to help them up.

“Mother, let me go, let me die, let Yuan’er go without a mother!”

“Let go of me! If I don’t die, the Jiang family will hold this grudge against me forever, and there’s no place for me in the Gu family either — what’s the point of living! I’ve suffered too much!”

…

Gu Meiting wailed and thrashed, and even though Madam Gu clung to her tightly, she still struggled desperately to smash herself against the wall. Madam Gu didn’t dare let go, wrapping her arms tightly around Gu Meiting’s waist, practically collapsing onto her!

Finally unable to hold back tears herself, Madam Gu cried, “Ting’er, please don’t do this! Whatever you want to say, can’t you just say it calmly? What am I supposed to do — what is your father supposed to do — if you act like this!”

“Just let me die. I don’t want to be a burden to you anymore! Let me die and end it once and for all! Then you and Father won’t have to worry so much anymore. Just let Jiang Chen take Yuan’er far, far away!”

Physician Gu and Yingzi, supporting Madam Gu, found themselves at a complete loss. Madam Gu could not be helped to her feet — this was the moment they should be stopping Gu Meiting instead. But the two of them exchanged a glance, and neither was willing to move.

Suddenly, Gu Meiting wrenched herself free with such force that even Madam Gu couldn’t hold on. She cried out in alarm, “Guard Yingzi, stop her!”

But before the words had even finished leaving her mouth, Gu Meiting had already slammed her head straight into the pillar. Madam Gu, terrified, lunged forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Gu Meiting’s legs, crying out, “No! Ting’er, I’ll agree to anything, just don’t!”

“Yingzi, Physician Gu, stop her, I beg you, help me stop her!”

Madam Gu’s voice had gone hoarse from crying and pleading, while Gu Meiting kept struggling as though truly determined to die!

Physician Gu and Yingzi weren’t about to fall for this, but with Madam Gu pleading so desperately, they had no choice but to act — one of them firmly restraining Gu Meiting, whose forehead was now bruised from the impact, while the other supported Madam Gu, who was nearly on the verge of fainting.

“Let go of me! Let go! Don’t interfere!”

Held fast by Yingzi, Gu Meiting kept struggling anyway. Madam Gu, supported by Physician Gu nearby, wept old tears, gasping for breath. “Stop this, Ting’er, enough. I agree, I agree — just stop, please stop making a scene!”

“Whoo, Mother, just let me die, it’s all my fault, I’ve been such a burden to you,” Gu Meiting cried, then abruptly shifted, “But… I can’t bear to let Yuan’er suffer even the smallest bit of hardship. Might as well die and be out of everyone’s sight!”

“Enough!” Madam Gu shouted, nearly losing her breath entirely. Physician Gu quickly helped steady her.

Only then did Gu Meiting calm down, looking at Madam Gu with a pitiful expression, sniffling continuously.

Madam Gu paused for a long, long moment before finally speaking. “Go back and get ready to move to the main residence. There’s an empty courtyard at the westernmost end.”

Gu Meiting’s heart leapt with joy, and she immediately fell to her knees. “Thank you, Mother, thank you, Mother — I knew you loved Ting’er and Yuan’er the most!”

Madam Gu said nothing more, merely waving her hand to dismiss her. Gu Meiting didn’t linger, pressing a hand to her forehead as she hurried off.

Madam Gu propped her head with one hand, brow tightly knit, while Physician Gu and Yingzi both stood with lowered eyes, saying nothing. Suddenly, the whole room fell into a silence so complete it felt like an entirely soundless world.

What Madam Gu had done, though forced upon her, was still absurd!

Even though the Gu family’s main residence wasn’t yet the formal household seat, even though Jun Beiyue had not yet formally been recognized as family, had not yet truly taken over the Gu family — still, from the very first day they had come to stay here, hadn’t the family head and Madam Gu made it perfectly clear?

That this place could only be lived in by Jun Beiyue;

That once he took over as head of the family, it would become the primary residence, one that even members of the Gu family itself could not enter carelessly.

And yet, now?

Madam Gu, without so much as a word of discussion, had agreed to Gu Meiting’s demand right here!

And it wasn’t just Gu Meiting moving in alone — she was bringing along her whole family, including a grown man like Jiang Chen, to live here as well.

So now, was it Madam Gu’s intention to have the Jiang family’s son, daughter-in-law, and grandson move into the main residence that should rightfully belong to the Gu family’s own son and daughter-in-law?

With a sudden loud “bang,” Yingzi slammed his fist down hard on the low table, forgoing all courtesy and sitting down right in front of Madam Gu. Physician Gu, who had been worried about Madam Gu’s health just moments ago, had already been pushed far aside, stumbling into a chair. Both men were seething with rage, holding themselves back, refusing to speak.

How absurd this whole matter was, how unreasonable — Madam Gu herself understood that perfectly well. But at this point, what else could she do? She couldn’t very well stand by and watch her own daughter try to kill herself, could she?

Physician Gu and Yingzi’s reactions were plain for Madam Gu to see. After a long silence, she finally raised her head slowly and said flatly, “Physician Gu, Yingzi… I’ve made a spectacle of myself in front of you today.”

Physician Gu and Yingzi looked up at that, but neither spoke. They were simply waiting for Madam Gu to say something — and then refuse it.

If she couldn’t refuse it, then they would leave!

No matter how precious the Jiang family, no matter how precious their treasured son, they had no right to share the same quarters as their master!

Physician Gu and Yingzi had both expected Madam Gu to explain herself, to give them some kind of account. Instead, she rose and walked over to Jun Beiyue, lying quietly on the bed, and took his hand, saying earnestly, “Beiyue, the west wing will be repaired within a month at most. We’re all one family, and if your sister is in need, we can’t refuse to help her, can we?”

She sighed after saying this, then turned back to Physician Gu and Yingzi, still offering no explanation, only saying flatly, “The family’s misfortunes have made a spectacle of us both. My apologies.”

With a slight nod, she turned and made to leave.

Just like that? She was just going to leave, just like that?

Physician Gu and Yingzi exchanged a glance, both barely containing their anger. Yingzi said coldly, “Madam Gu, what exactly do you mean by this? You owe us an explanation!”

Madam Gu stopped in her tracks, her heart racing with unease, but she forced herself to remain composed, saying politely, “Guard Yingzi, once Beiyue wakes, I’ll explain this matter to him. All you two need to do is take good care of him.”

With those words, did Yingzi still have any grounds to question her further?

Only then did Physician Gu and Yingzi truly realize — this Madam Gu was every bit the matriarch of the Gu family, truly capable, truly masterful in her handling of things!

She had gone earlier and made a show of “explaining” things to the prince, fully knowing he was entirely unaware of everything — that had been nothing but empty words on her part.

But she had done it so naturally, so as if it were the proper thing to do. The implication was clear: if any explanation were owed, it would be owed to Jun Beiyue. Physician Gu and Yingzi were merely servants — what right did they have to expect an explanation from someone as important as the Gu family’s matriarch?

Madam Gu didn’t linger, nor did she dare look back, walking straight out.

She knew perfectly well how unfair Physician Gu and Yingzi must feel, but she had no choice — she had to use her status to press down on these two men beside Jun Beiyue!

If she hadn’t used her status to press them, she would have had to explain herself to them — and how could she possibly explain? Would she lay out her hardships, the Gu family’s reputation, all these family disgraces, for Physician Gu and Yingzi to analyze?

No, she would never casually discuss such matters with outsiders — she wouldn’t even want to lose face like that in front of her most loyal maidservant, let alone Physician Gu and Yingzi.

Moreover, if she had explained herself to Physician Gu and Yingzi, and they still refused to yield, what then?

Caught on both sides — with Meiting, she was already out of options, and with Physician Gu and Yingzi, she could only rely on her status to strike first, giving them no chance to even refuse!

At this moment, Madam Gu felt a strange sense of relief that Jun Beiyue was still unconscious, that he knew nothing of any of this. Otherwise, given his temperament, he would either want nothing at all to do with the Gu family, or, the moment he took over, he would absolutely carry out a thorough purge — and Gu Meiting and Jiang Chen, given how far they’d overstepped, would surely be the first to suffer.

Thinking of this, Madam Gu couldn’t help but confront a question she had been avoiding again and again — once Jun Beiyue took over the Gu family, what would happen to her two daughters, especially Gu Meiting and her family?

She had never been able to bear a son, and had long carried a quiet guilt over it. Learning of Jun Beiyue’s existence had also brought her a measure of relief, knowing the Gu family would not be left without an heir because of her.

Sons and daughters shouldn’t be in conflict, in truth. A daughter would eventually marry out — she had no power, and no need to entangle herself in her natal family’s affairs.

Given the Gu family’s standing, marrying off a daughter would certainly mean a match of equal status. Even if the other family fell short of the Gu family, the Gu family’s dowry would never be lacking. Once married, a daughter would still enjoy wealth, honor, status, and standing.

Yet how could she have known Gu Meiting would choose the Jiang family — a plain, even poor household? How could she have known her own daughter would be so unable to bear the Jiang family, or that her son-in-law would prove so spineless, staying at the Gu residence for all these years?

Now, matters had come to this — both Gu Meiting and Jiang Chen clearly harbored ambitions for power and the family fortune!

If, one day, Beiyue and Gu Meiting truly came into open conflict, one her own flesh and blood, the other the family’s only hope, how would she choose? And how would her husband choose?

She needed to think this through carefully before Beiyue woke — she needed to talk some real sense into Gu Meiting, to stop letting her act so recklessly.

But would she really be able to persuade her own daughter? Even she herself had no confidence in that.

Madam Gu walked faster and faster, more and more anxious, fearful that Physician Gu and Yingzi might come after her, fearful that these two men, heedless of proper rank, might push things to a point beyond repair!

But by then, back at the main residence, Physician Gu sat perfectly still, while Yingzi had already smashed an entire room’s worth of tables and chairs.

“Those deserving of pity always have something detestable about them! And Madam Gu is exactly that kind of person!”

“Old Gu, let me say this plainly — Madam Gu is absolutely on Gu Meiting’s side. If we keep tolerating this, today Gu Meiting moves into the west courtyard — tomorrow, she’ll dare move straight into this very room!”

Yingzi’s fury was like thunder, the veins on his forehead bulging tight. Had Physician Gu not held him back, he would already have stormed out.

Letting Yingzi rage on for a long while, Physician Gu finally sighed and said, “Yingzi, we can’t make a scene. The way things stand, if we do, we’ll be the ones who have to leave.”

Physician Gu gave him a meaningful look before continuing, “And it would be the two of us who leave — with our master left behind.”

“Why should it be us!” Yingzi shot back at once.

“Because this isn’t Da Zhou, this is Liuxian Island. Because the two of us together are no match for Jiang Chen,” Physician Gu said seriously.

Only then did it dawn on Yingzi — Gu Meiting and Jiang Chen weren’t just usurping their place, they wanted to force them out entirely.

The struggle had already begun.

If they made a scene now, Madam Gu would certainly stand by Gu Meiting. And if they, in turn, proposed leaving rather than sharing the main residence with Gu Meiting — wouldn’t that be playing right into her hands?

If they refused to share the main residence, where would they live? They certainly couldn’t stay in the guest quarters — the only option left would be to leave the Gu family altogether.

But at this critical juncture, with their master about to wake, would the Gu family even allow them to leave?

They would certainly insist on keeping Jun Beiyue by force — and Physician Gu and Yingzi, mere servants, would be branded as treacherous troublemakers and driven out of the Gu family!

The thought sent a chill down Yingzi’s spine. He’d nearly fallen right into their trap!

“Isn’t it just because she’s her own flesh and blood? Old Gu, Madam Gu is definitely playing favorites. If our prince were her own son, I don’t believe for a second she’d act this way!” Yingzi said angrily.

Physician Gu, however, only laughed helplessly. “Yingzi, a woman’s tears, tantrums, and threats of suicide work not just on men, but on elders too, don’t they? Our prince would never resort to such tactics — even if he were her real son, I doubt it would make a difference!”

“So you’re saying we’re just stuck being played by Gu Meiting!” Yingzi shouted angrily.

“Even if we had a way, we have no standing to act on it,” Physician Gu sighed, “Sigh… I wonder if our master will…”

Just as he spoke, he happened to glance over toward Jun Beiyue — and at that very moment, Jun Beiyue’s eyes slowly began to open!

“Master!” Physician Gu’s heart nearly skipped a beat!

He had always suspected — these past few days, that his master would wake soon — but he hadn’t expected it to happen right now.

Yingzi was startled too, rushing over in an instant. Jun Beiyue’s eyes, slowly blinking open, those eyes that were always as deep as the sea, now looked strangely dazed and lost.

Seeing such an expression, both Physician Gu and Yingzi felt a chill run through them. Having been unconscious for nearly half a year, it would truly be unusual for him to wake without any complications.

“Master, are you all right? Master, where does it hurt?” Physician Gu asked hurriedly.

But Jun Beiyue gave no response, only continuing to blink, terribly weak — yet within his eyes there was clearly a flash of urgency, as though he wanted to say something but lacked the strength to speak.

“Water, quickly!” Physician Gu cried out, afraid his master might drift back into unconsciousness.

But by the time Yingzi hurried back with warm water, Jun Beiyue’s eyes had already closed again, his whole body so weak he couldn’t even manage to keep his eyelids open!

Physician Gu quickly took his pulse, his expression changing drastically. “How could this be?”