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“What’s wrong? Xiruo, you’re truly disappointing me now. You weren’t like this before,” Qing Yukong said hoarsely.
“What’s wrong with me now? I apologized because you asked me to. What else do you want from me?” Gu Xiruo, noticing Qing Yukong’s displeasure, retorted.
She had apologized. If Madam Qing chose not to respond, how was that her fault?
“What do I want? I want you to sincerely apologize to my mother, not put on a show here, reluctantly uttering some insincere words of apology,” Qing Yukong said angrily.
This was the first time he had been angry with Gu Xiruo.
No matter how angry he had been before, he had never treated Gu Xiruo like this.
But now, seeing Gu Xiruo’s indifferent attitude, it pained him deeply.
“Gu Xiruo, I’ll give you one last chance. Apologize to my mother, right now, immediately,” Qing Yukong said sternly to Gu Xiruo.
Gu Xiruo was startled by Qing Yukong’s sudden anger, and despite her inner turmoil, she reluctantly spoke once again, “Mother, I’m sorry.”
The same old insincere apology.
That was Qing Yukong’s only thought.
After observing Gu Xiruo for a while, Qing Yukong sighed and said, “Forget it, you don’t need to apologize.”
Before Gu Xiruo could even feel relief, Qing Yukong continued, “My mother can’t bear this kind of apology from you. Leave.”
Gu Xiruo looked at Qing Yukong in disbelief, pointing at herself, unable to comprehend, “You’re asking me to leave?”
“Yes, go. Do as you please from now on. I won’t interfere anymore,” Qing Yukong made his final decision.
Since nothing he said made a difference to Gu Xiruo, he decided to let it go.
He had tried his best, but Gu Xiruo remained indifferent.
Madam Qing, upon hearing Qing Yukong’s words, subtly smiled. Her son had finally made this decision, which was a significant relief for them.
Just as she had discussed with the nanny, they didn’t need to do anything; Qing Yukong would make Gu Xiruo regret on his own.
When Gu Xiruo was about to speak, she noticed a subtle smile at the corner of Madam Qing’s mouth.
Seeing that smile, Gu Xiruo finally understood. Pointing at Madam Qing with a displeased expression, she said, “Are you deliberately plotting against me? Are you happy to see me argue with him?”
Madam Qing frowned at Gu Xiruo, “What are you saying?”
“Gu Xiruo, speak with conscience. Do you not find your words excessive?” Madam Qing was also angry.
Regardless of her dissatisfaction with Gu Xiruo, when Gu Xiruo first married into the family, she had hoped to be a good mother-in-law and make her son’s life easier. However, Gu Xiruo didn’t take it seriously, always acting as if she were superior, looking down on everyone.
Now, hearing such words from Gu Xiruo was truly disappointing.
Qing Yukong was surprised that at this moment, Gu Xiruo still managed to shift the blame onto Madam Qing.
“Enough, Gu Xiruo. Since you came into our family, my mother has always wanted to be a good mother-in-law and has treated you well. It’s your lack of gratitude that’s the issue, and now you’re blaming my mother,” Qing Yukong said firmly.
“It’s her who’s been trying to sow discord between us,” Gu Xiruo pointed angrily at Madam Qing.
“All the disrespect and offenses you’ve shown my mother, she never complained to me about it. I found out about it it all myself. You accuse my mother of causing discord, but why don’t you admit that it’s your arrogance that’s led to this situation?” Qing Yukong expressed his disappointment.
Had he set his expectations too high for Gu Xiruo?
Seeing Gu Xiruo’s current attitude, Qing Yukong recalled what Madam Qing had mentioned before – about allowing him to marry another wife and take concubines.
After much contemplation, Qing Yukong finally agreed, “Mother, about what you mentioned before, about me marrying another wife and taking concubines, handle it as you see fit.”
Madam Qing looked surprised, “You agreed?”
Qing Yukong nodded, “I always thought that if I treated her well, she would understand. It seems that’s not the case. I want to spend my life with her, but all she cares about is power, status, and money. You and Father also want grandchildren, so it doesn’t matter.”
For Qing Yukong, the feelings between him and Gu Xiruo no longer mattered.
While Madam Qing was pleased, Gu Xiruo was trembling with anger.
“You promised to treat me well for a lifetime, Qing Yukong,” Gu Xiruo pointed at him angrily.
“I did promise to treat you well for a lifetime, but how have you treated me? You forbade me from touching you, and I endured it. While my family and I tried to be good to you, you caused trouble without restraint. Are you pleased with yourself now?” Qing Yukong responded.
“Are you satisfied with things as they are now?”
“I know you think my status is too low. I know you even approached Lu Lingfeng, hoping he would take you back to the Qi Empire. Unfortunately, Lu Lingfeng has no interest in Qi’s status, and now Qi is divided by Xuan and Lu. Your ambitions of gaining noble status have come to nothing,” were these recent revelations new to him?
No, Qing Yukong had always been aware of these things.
Why pretend nothing happened? How could Gu Xiruo act so recklessly in the Qing household?
It was all because of his love and affection for her.
“I believe I have been good enough to you, but have you given me enough in return? I helped you with the Yu family’s assets, and I helped you with the Gu family, but do you know the sleepless nights I’ve spent managing the Qing family’s affairs because of helping you?”
Even if, at this moment, Gu Xiruo handed him a cup of tea, offered some advice, and showed concern, he wouldn’t be in this state.
He had held on to this heart for so many years, but it never warmed up. Wasn’t it time to let it go?
“You…”
“Gu Xiruo, I’ve been waiting for you to genuinely like and accept me, but it seems I’ll never have that,” Qing Yukong said earnestly to Gu Xiruo.
“Are you suggesting I divorce you or are you suggesting separation? You can choose whichever you like.”
“I know the reasons why you agreed to marry me initially and the purpose of your return this time,” Qing Yukong stated while looking at Gu Xiruo.
“Before, I could turn a blind eye to help you achieve your goals, but now I don’t want to help you anymore. Helping you would be like nurturing a viper,” Qing Yukong said calmly to Gu Xiruo.
Is Qing Yukong truly not upset? In reality, he is deeply uncomfortable, but that’s the consequence of his choices.
His parents had advised him, but he had insisted on his own path.
Madam Qing, hearing her son say these words for the first time, looked at Gu Xiruo with a displeased expression.
Having married her son, she was appalled that Gu Xiruo still had thoughts of betraying him. This was intolerable.
“Son, don’t worry. Mother will find a girl who will treat you well,” Madam Qing said, gazing at Qing Yukong with a tender expression.
It’s astonishing how much pressure her son is enduring after getting married.