Chapter 49: The Sharp-Tongued Kid
After discussing the altar, Gu Yu and Gu Qing walked towards the crowded area, joining others to await the Emperor’s arrival. The ritualistic practice would then commence, praying for divine mercy upon Linfeng Kingdom and for the cessation of further disasters.
As they entered the throng, Gu Yu felt several intense, unignorable gazes upon him. Looking up, he saw it was members of the Wang Clan. They wore expressions of intense anger, clearly convinced that Gu Yu was the thief. Gu Yu couldn’t help but smirk and raise his eyebrows, almost speaking out to mock them and thoroughly infuriate the Wang Clan.
Although the Wang Clan had identified Gu Yu as the culprit, the lack of evidence prevented them from acting rashly. They planned to wait until they found proof before handing Gu Yu directly over to the Emperor for xử lý. They believed the Emperor would dispense justice fairly and provide an explanation to the Wang family.
However, if Gu Yu knew their thoughts, he would undoubtedly have mocked them. The Wang Clan would never catch him, making their wish destined to remain unfulfilled. With his spatial abilities, Gu Yu feared no one catching him.
Beyond the Wang Clan, other ministers regarded Gu Yu with curiosity upon seeing him not in official uniform, clearly surprised to see someone else present. Some, unable to recall who Gu Yu was, were reminded by those around them that he was someone who had been granted an Iron Certificate of Immunity and had coincidentally been invited that day.
However, upon seeing Gu Yu standing beside Gu Qing, with the Wang Clan members eyeing him menacingly, the ministers decided against approaching him, to avoid getting involved in trouble themselves. In the current situation, it was better not to choose sides carelessly. Even though it was a dispute between the Gu and Wang families, who knew if they might unknowingly get caught in the crossfire? Thus, it was best to stand still and observe.
While the ministers were pondering this, several people led by Xu Wang suddenly started walking slowly towards Gu Yu, their faces grim. Those watching believed that a good show was about to unfold. The Wang Clan had always been a dominant force in the imperial court. While many were intimidated by them, there were also those who posed a threat. Gu Qing was one such thorn. Now, with Gu Yu being his son-in-law, he would likely be targeted by the Wang Clan as well. Alas, it was truly unlucky, but who could blame Gu Yu for having such a father-in-law? It was fate! It seemed he would no longer be able to comfortably serve as an official.
“Gu Yu, I never expected you to be able to come here today!” Xu Wang began, before Gu Qing could even speak. His gaze at Gu Yu was dark and furious, but he forced himself to suppress his emotions, mindful of the crowd. He continued, “Not only you, but even I am very surprised. After all, once one is wealthy, people no longer wish to stay in the capital, but only seek a place to spend their silver and feel comfortable in their hearts! Hmph! You should know how you obtained your silver!”
While Xu Wang was restraining himself, Gu Yu, on the other hand, showed no signs of knowing when to stop. His words directly touched upon the matter Xu Wang least wanted to discuss, giving Xu Wang the urge to strangle him. It was all because of Gu Yu; without him, the Wang Clan’s finances would not have been so strained. To be robbed every few days, and every time successfully, truly made Xu Wang admire Gu Yu! Who was this Gu Yu, and why did he always know where the Wang Clan hid their money? After a year without losing money, Xu Wang had gained some confidence in the clan’s hiding places. However, just last night, Gu Yu shattered that confidence again. Seeing the empty money chest with his own eyes was more painful than anything else! Now, the culprit stood before him, looking smug, making Xu Wang want to punch Gu Yu in the face and vent his anger.
“How could I forget money I earned through my own abilities! On the other hand, Clan Leader Wang, your face looks so weathered, much like my grandfather before he passed away. Does the clan no longer have spare money for maintenance? Otherwise, why are you so haggard? It truly makes one feel sad!”
“You… Hmph, a truly sharp-tongued kid. You have the guts to do those things, but not to admit them! The stolen money must be burning your hands!”
“What do you mean ‘stolen money’? My money was earned through business partnerships; it’s all clean money… Clan Leader Wang, if you make baseless accusations without evidence, I will hold you responsible! After all, my money was earned through hard work, unlike others who gain theirs through various schemes and tricks, only to end up with nothing in the end!”
Upon hearing Xu Wang mention the word “stolen,” Gu Yu couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows. He didn’t fall into the trap; instead, the corner of his mouth curved upward. As he spoke, he also winked at Xu Wang, enraging him further. This cunning kid, Gu Yu!
As everyone listened to the exchange between Gu Yu and Xu Wang, initially confused, they understood once the conversation progressed. They recalled reports from the previous day stating that the Wang Clan had been robbed by a mysterious individual, their wealth mysteriously disappearing again. This result had made the Wang Clan leader, Xu Wang, extremely angry! However, they never expected… the Gu family’s son-in-law to be involved in this matter! And there was a high probability that Gu Yu was the culprit who stole from the Wang Clan.
The fact that he could take something from the Wang Clan earned Gu Yu the admiration of many ministers. They thought this fifteen-year-old youth was truly powerful! As Gu Yu silenced Xu Wang with his words, Gu Qing, standing beside him, burst into laughter. Xu Wang’s expression turned even uglier upon hearing Gu Qing’s hearty laughter. Seeing this, Gu Yu shook his head, unable to understand people like Xu Wang. Since he knew he would be humiliated, why did he come? Did Xu Wang believe he could gain an advantage here and ruin Gu Yu’s reputation? Admitting to theft in public? He would have to wait until his brain became slow and he turned into a fool for that to happen.
