le is something others can't even beg for.Meng Jinyao waved her hand dismissively and said, "So, I'll leave this kind of trouble to those who like it."Qing Qiu worried, "Although that's the case, woul...The next day.

Zhang and Chen witnessed the whole scene yesterday. Because they didn't know how Gu Xiuming and Li Wan'er would punish them, they were both curious and uneasy, so much so that they couldn't sleep at all.

Early in the morning, just after breakfast, we both came to Weiruixuan together. We wanted to ask Meng Jinyao about it and satisfy our curiosity.

Zhang just sat down and, without any polite greetings, cut straight to the chase: "Third younger sister, are Xiu Ming and Li's wife still being held in Qingyu Pavilion What are you planning to do with them"

Meng Jin yao replied, "Elder sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, to be honest with you, I don't actually know

Chen was surprised: "Third younger sister, how could you not know"

Meng Jin Yao explained: "Yesterday, the Marquis left Qing Yu Xuan and went to his mother's side. When I returned home after dinner and bathed, I thought of waiting for him to come back and ask about it, but I accidentally fell asleep. When I woke up today, he had already gone out."

Hearing this, Zhang and Chen looked at her suspiciously, their eyes seemed to say: Is it really that coincidental

Meng Jin Yao met their gazes and nodded slightly. She was telling the truth, she had indeed fallen asleep last night and had not intentionally concealed anything.

Zhang said: "Before, when Xiuming made mistakes, the third brother would always educate him. This time, Xiuming made such a big mistake, but the third brother didn't even scold Xiuming once, he was so calm that it was frightening."

Meng Jinyao knew her husband was completely disheartened by Gu Xiuming, so she didn't bother talking much to him. However, the results weren't out yet, and she couldn't say much. She changed the subject: "Sister-in-law, after such a big incident yesterday, how are people in the house reacting today"

"I instructed them to refrain from gossiping, so on the surface nothing was heard. However, they must have discussed it in private, and perhaps even some outsiders caught wind of it. The only thing I don't know is when my third brother will address this matter."

Meng Jin Yao gently nodded: "Last night, the Marquis told me that he would handle this matter today. When the Marquis returns, we will know how to proceed."

After a while, the three sisters-in-law left. Meng Jinyang recalled that she hadn't taken her medicine yet today, so she instructed her maid to bring her a cup of warm water. She alternated between taking pills and drinking decoction. When she got tired of drinking medicine, she would take pills; when she got tired of pills, she would drink decoction.

By the afternoon, Gu Jingxi had finished his duty and returned.

Meng Jin Yao casually looked up, and her eyes lit up when she saw him. She opened her mouth as if to ask something, but swallowed it back down, staring at him expectantly, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Seeing this, Gu Jingxi stepped forward and patted her head: "I know what you want to ask, probably there will be results in a while, let's wait for now."

"In a little while"

Meng Jiny Yao stared at him in astonishment, her eyes filled with confusion as she asked, "Husband, isn't it your responsibility to handle this Although yesterday was a bit late, it's not too late today. Couldn't you just go to Qinyu Pavilion and settle it"

Gu Jingxi gently shook her head and smiled: "That Ayao really overestimates your husband. Your husband doesn't have that ability."

Meng Jin Yao, after hearing this, was stunned once again. She found his words very perplexing. If a father couldn't even handle dealing with his unfilial son, who else could

Just as she was racking her brains, a maidservant dashed in to announce: "Master Hou, Madam, there is an imperial edict from the palace!"

Edict

Meng Jinyao was stunned. Out of the blue, how did a imperial decree suddenly arrive

Could it be…

She glanced at the man beside her. Seeing that he was composed and calm, with not a hint of surprise on his face, as if he had expected it all along, she almost confirmed her suspicions.

Gu Jingxi said softly, "Ayo, let's go and listen to the imperial decree."

Meng Jinyang nodded in response and followed his steps. The matter of receiving the imperial edict couldn't be delayed, so the couple hurried towards the front yard to receive it. On their way to the front yard, they also saw people from the eldest and second houses rushing over.

Three people met, and they all looked at each other.

Gu Jing Sheng asked, "Third brother, why did a imperial decree suddenly arrive at the palace"

Gu Jingxi replied softly, "Big brother will know in a while."

Seeing him so calm, they couldn't help but wonder if he wasn't curious about the contents of the imperial edict. They started to murmur amongst themselves, sensing that he might know something they didn't.

Since he didn't say anything, no one asked further questions to avoid wasting time.

After a while, everyone arrived at the front courtyard. The elderly Madam Gu, who was slow of foot due to her age, arrived last.

Next, everyone saw Gu Xiuming and Li Wan'er being escorted by servants. It was not surprising that Gu Xiuming came to listen to the imperial decree, as he was the son of the Marquis, but how did Li, a lowly concubine, come to be here

All members of the Gu family were present, and everyone knelt on the ground according to their seniority.

The imperial eunuch who announced the decree glanced at them, then unfurled a brilliant yellow scroll. A thin voice rang out:

“By imperial decree, bestowed by Heaven's mandate: The Emperor declares, Regarding Gu shi: his conduct has been dissolute, repeatedly showing disrespect to elders, slandering and framing his mother. His morals are depraved, his filial piety lacking, unfit to be the heir of the Hou family. Therefore, we hereby order him stripped of his title of Prince, his scholar status revoked, demoted to a commoner, forbidden from taking imperial examinations for life, punished with thirty lashes, and exiled to Yaizhou.”

Concubine Li, for disobeying superiors and framing her elders, showing disrespect and unfilial piety, is hereby sentenced to twenty lashes and banished to Yaizhou.

A father who does not discipline his son is to blame. Changxing Hou Gu Jingxi did not manage his household properly and failed to educate his son, which led to wrongdoing. He was ordered to reflect in seclusion for half a month and had his salary reduced by one year as a punishment.

Sincerely,

Everyone was stunned by the imperial decree. They were momentarily speechless, as if they hadn't expected Gu Jingxi to be so ruthless toward her only son and even report him to the emperor.

My dynasty governs the world with benevolence and filial piety. The emperor is also renowned for his great filial piety. He despises unfilial children. Upon learning that Gu Xiuming was an unfilial child who committed such a heinous act, how could he possibly show leniency

But it has to be said, Gu Jingxi is truly just and strict, with a heart that is ruthless. While he doesn't let others off, he also doesn't let himself off.

In the imperial court, one petitions for the removal of the prince, inevitably detailing Gu Xiuming's crimes. The petitioner also confesses to failing as a father, leading his son astray. This not only means Gu Xiuming will face severe punishment but that Gu Jingxi himself cannot escape blame. After all, ancient wisdom states that "a child who fails is the father’s fault." When an official's child commits a grave error, the father is deemed negligent in his upbringing and household management. Consequently, he must be punished accordingly: introspection, salary reduction, demotion, or even removal from office are all possibilities.

The last official from the capital who was punished for failing to discipline his son was Zhao, the former Left Servant of the Ministry of Rites. When it was revealed that Young Master Zhao had been bullying the common people, the Dragon Throne was furious. However, considering that Mr. Zhao had once made meritorious service, he was not removed from office. In the end, Mr. Zhao, who was considered incompetent in disciplining his son, was demoted to a barren place as an official.

Now Gu Jingxi is being punished by being confined to his room for reflection and having his salary reduced. However, a year's reduction in salary doesn't affect him much; the Gu family isn't poor. It's just that because of his lax management of the household and improper upbringing of his son, he was punished. The news spread and it was embarrassing. A high-ranking official like the Minister of Justice couldn't even discipline his own son properly.

Gu Xiuming was terrified. His face turned as pale as a sheet. He couldn't believe his ears. Thirty lashes and exile to Yaizhou This was worse than death! Yaizhou was desolate, with harsh conditions and scarce water resources. Exile there would be like living in hell on earth.

Li Wan'er was so terrified that she couldn't even kneel, collapsing directly onto the ground. She had lived a life of wealth and abundance envied by everyone in the neighborhood, but less than a year later, she was to be exiled to Ya Prefecture. The rest of her life would be a thousand times more difficult than when she relied on her late grandfather for support.

At this moment, Gu Jingxi bowed and said: "Subject receives your decree, Your Majesty is wise, Long live the Emperor, long live, long live!" After finishing his words, he stretched out both hands, palms up, respectfully accepting the imperial edict.

Everyone's thoughts were drawn back by his voice, and they hurriedly bowed their heads, all exclaiming in unison: "Your Majesty is wise, Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

-

(Demoting the crown prince is not a matter of one sentence, nor can it be decided by elders of the clan. Because establishing a crown prince requires an imperial decree and petitioning the emperor to appoint one, demoting a crown prince also requires an imperial decree and petitioning the emperor, with sufficient and well-founded reasons. The facts cannot be fabricated. When I wrote this, I tried my best to make it as logical as possible. This time, Shou Ming made a big mistake, with both physical evidence, witness testimony, and confessions. For any shortcomings, please understand.)

Below I will explain two questions that readers might ask:

Why wasn't Gu Xiuming returned to his biological parents

> Ans: Because adoption cannot be reversed, the child is not something that can just be wanted or unwanted. If they don't want it, then let the biological parents take them back. In ancient times, disobedient and unfilial people were ostracized by everyone. No one dared to associate with them, otherwise they would be ridiculed. His biological parents would definitely want nothing to do with him at this point. Furthermore, Gu Xiuming committed a grave mistake by reporting to the emperor and requesting the abolition of the crown prince. The emperor is aware of this and will surely punish Gu Xiuming severely. It will be difficult for him to return safely and unharmed.

Is being exiled too harsh a punishment

Answer: I don't think it's heavy because in ancient times, filial piety was a major crime, punishable by death or severe injury. There was no good ending. So most children who were unfilial in the past didn't want to report their children to the authorities. They would give them chances to reform, and only when they repeatedly refused to repent would they be forced to report them and ask the government to uphold justice.

As for Li Wan'er, the author deliberately had her accompany Gu Xiuming. True love has to be locked together, right Her actions could justify exile.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like translated!m me and even hold others' lives as leverage"The middle-aged woman was stunned, realizing she had misunderstood.That's right, someone who has been dead for so long wouldn't care about earthly affairs....