Old Madam Gu trembled with anger, her eyes fixed on the direction Gu Changwei had left.
"Mother, please calm down," Consort An said, stroking her back to soothe her. As people age, extreme anger can easily lead to illness, and Consort An feared her elderly mother might suffer a serious ailment.
"This unfilial son, this unfilial son!" Old Madam Gu panted, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "A'le, with your elder brother acting like this, when I die, how will I face your father and the ancestors of the Gu family? He is gambling the lives of everyone in the Gu family for something so illusory."
The current Emperor's character was evident from the moment he ascended the throne. He was decisive and ruthless, quelling the court's unrest in the shortest possible time and giving no opportunity for foreign powers to covet Da Zhou. Based on this alone, who would dare to think of the current Emperor as easily fooled?
In recent years, the Emperor's actions had indeed become more lenient, but a tiger was always a tiger; even a nap was only occasional. Moreover, he was not napping. The fact that A'le had returned to report this matter proved that the Emperor was fully aware of his son's actions.
Even without concrete evidence, as the Son of Heaven, could he not find a solid excuse if he wished to act?
Having A'le return was the Emperor's way of giving the Gu family a chance, out of his affection for A'le.
This unfilial son thought himself the smartest person in the world and actually refused this gracious offer from the Emperor.
"A'xue, go and call Si Nian," Old Madam Gu suppressed her grief and said calmly.
Her son was stubborn, but she could not gamble with the Gu family's bloodline.
Gu Si Nian soon arrived and paid his respects to Consort An, Old Madam Gu, and Madam Da Qin.
"Si Nian, your grandmother wants you to yield the position of Heir Apparent to Gu Si Ya. Are you willing?" Old Madam Gu asked.
"Mother, how can you do this? Gu Si Ya... he, how is he fit to be the Heir Apparent? Do you want to be like my brother?" Consort An was anxious.
"Si Nian is capable. The position of Heir Apparent is merely icing on the cake for him. Si Nian, tell your grandmother, are you willing or not?" Old Madam Gu stared intently at Gu Si Nian.
Although Gu Si Nian did not immediately grasp his grandmother's intention, he still nodded. "Your grandson will listen to Grandmother. If Grandmother tells me to yield, I will yield. If Grandmother does not tell me to yield, then I will not yield."
"Good, good, good. This is truly the bloodline of our Gu family," Old Madam Gu said happily. "With my grandson's abilities, let alone a mere Heir Apparent, he could even earn a noble title of Duke or Marquis."
"Mother, this is unfair to A'nian," Consort An said indignantly. "Moreover, His Majesty will not agree."
"His Majesty has a good relationship with you. You speak to him, and for your sake, he will naturally agree," Old Madam Gu said.
"I will not speak," Consort An said stubbornly.
"My child, Si Nian has been doted on by me since he was small. How could I not consider his best interests? It is precisely for this reason that I asked Si Nian to yield the position of Heir Apparent. Furthermore, I will have Si Nian establish his own household," Old Madam Gu said slowly. "This can be considered giving your elder brother and Si Ya a chance to repent! The position of Heir Apparent is their obsession. If, after their wishes are granted, they are willing to turn back from their wrong path, and preserve our Gu family, then I will have the face to see your father. If they remain deluded, they cannot make things difficult for His Majesty!"
Consort An finally understood her mother's intention, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes. "Mother."
"It is my fault for not raising your elder brother well. But ultimately, he is my son, and I still want to help him," Old Madam Gu sighed.