130 Guilty
The guests did not know what was going on. Gu Yuan was clearly talking and laughing just now. Why did he suddenly turn hostile?
Everyone looked at each other and could tell that something was wrong.
Madam Gu’s smile instantly froze on her lips.
“…” Gu Xiao’s expression was even uglier than Madam Gu’s and his lips pursed stubbornly into a straight line. What did Big Brother mean?!
“Gu Yuan!” Madam Gu raised her voice and called him by his name.
However, Gu Yuan did not stop and walked out as if he had not heard anything.
The servants guarding outside the hall did not dare to stop Gu Yuan at all. After all, everyone in the residence now knew that the Eldest Young Master was someone who could draw a five-stone bow.
Madam Gu gritted her teeth and gave the guests an apologetic smile. “My apologies.”
Then he stood up resolutely and chased after her personally, shouting, “Yuan’er!”
Madam Gu jogged forward and caught up to Gu Yuan under a parasol tree in the courtyard outside the hall. She questioned angrily, “What exactly do you want?”
She tried her best to lower her voice. She felt as if the light was on her back, and even without looking, she could feel the curious eyes in the hall on her.
Gu Yuan finally stopped and turned half of his face to look down at Madam Gu, who was half a head shorter than him. The golden sunlight shone through the sparse leaves above, outlining the outline of his handsome side profile.
“Grandma wants me to help my Second Brother, right?” Gu Yuan said bluntly.
After being exposed by Gu Yuan, Madam Gu did not deny it. She smiled casually and said, “Yuan’er, you’re cousins. It’s only right for you to help each other.”
“Only right?” Gu Yuan also smiled.
This was how a family should be. Madam Gu raised her chin in a domineering manner, as if it was only natural.
“Someone wants to ruin my future and wants me to repay kindness with evil. Grandma, do I look so stupid?” Gu Yuan’s tone was colder and sharper.
What was Gu Yuan hinting at?! Madam Gu looked at Gu Yuan in surprise.
Without waiting for Madam Gu to speak, Gu Yuan changed the topic and said, “I heard that the Eldest Prince likes all kinds of weapons. I plan to take the rhinoceros horn bow for His Highness to play with.”
Gu Yuan was equivalent to putting a threat on the table.
“…” Madam Gu’s eyes widened, and her face instantly turned green.
Madam Gu did not know at first that Gu Jian had tampered with the bowstring of the rhinoceros horn bow. However, later on, Gu Jian accidentally let it slip, and Madam Gu asked about it. Only then did she know about this.
Of course, Madam Gu could not admit it. She avoided the topic and said, “Yuan’er, I got someone to send a message to your second sister this morning. You can keep this bow for a few days. When you’re done playing, you can return it.”
Gu Yuan stared fixedly at Madam Gu. His dark eyes were so sharp that they seemed to be able to see through her heart.
When the last of his anticipation was broken, his mind was surprisingly clear and calm, like a traveler who had finally walked out of the fog after a long journey.
“Yuan’er, what do you want?!” Madam Gu tried to hold Gu Yuan’s hand, but Gu Yuan quickly took half a step back. He only turned sideways and gently avoided her. His sleeve brushed less than half an inch away from her fingertips.
The grandfather and granddaughter’s gazes met in midair, as if they were engaged in a bloodless battle.
Gu Yuan calmly stated his intentions. “I want that rhinoceros horn bow.”
This rhinoceros horn bow symbolized the glory of the Dingyuan Marquis Household. Since the bow was in his hands, he would not hand it over again.
“…” Madam Gu’s pupils quivered slightly. Her right hand clenched the prayer beads in her wide sleeve, as if she did not recognize the young man in front of her.
Gu Yuan’s heart was as clear as a mirror, and he was as still as a mountain.
Just now in the hall, he seemed to have been enlightened and suddenly understood a lot from the attitudes of those uncles.
For many people, the fact that he had obtained the job of a royal guard meant that he would rise up the ranks. From the residence to the outside, there would be people who would curry favor with him.
He was no longer the dispensable eldest young master of the Gu family. He was the Emperor’s imperial guard.
To him, it was like a weapon.
He could use this weapon to achieve what he wanted to do.
Last night, his sister had taken the first step by giving him the bow. Now he should speak up and face the rest.