Gu Changwei glared fiercely at Gu Sinian, as if the person standing before him was not his son, but an enemy.
Gu Sinian had not expected Gu Changwei to suddenly lash out. He narrowly dodged, creating distance, and looked at Gu Changwei with an icy expression.
"What do you mean by this?"
"If you leave today, we will sever our father-son relationship. It's so you don't do anything foolish and implicate me and your elder brother!"
Gu Sinian laughed, a deeply mocking laugh.
"I couldn't ask for more, as you wish."
Who, in the end, was the one doing foolish things?
"You write the document severing our relationship, and I'll sign it immediately. As for these things, don't worry, I won't take a single one with me," Gu Sinian said. "As for these people, I have their indentures, and I've paid their monthly stipends myself over the years."
"My shops and businesses, apart from what His Majesty bestowed and what Grandmother and my mother gave me, I will take with me."
"Perhaps you should consider what you've given me, and if you want it back?"
Gu Sinian was truly, utterly disappointed in the man before him.
He had yearned for paternal love, but had never possessed it.
At this moment, he didn't feel much sadness.
He and Gu Siya had a deep father-son bond; he wished them continued deep father-son affection in the future.
Old Madam Gu trembled with rage, "Scoundrel, you scoundrel! You, you're trying to anger me to death!"
Severing ties with his legitimate son, and an excellent legitimate son at that. At least, in Old Madam Gu's eyes, Gu Sinian was the true heir of the Gu family.
Her son, whose mind was not clear, had been infatuated by a woman in his youth and still couldn't see the truth even now. How could she have given birth to such a muddled fool!
The Gu family was finished, the Gu family was finished!
"Mother, you can't blame your son for being heartless. It's because he has never been of one mind with me!" Gu Changwei did not dodge the walking stick Old Madam Gu swung at him. "Over the years, how has he behaved like my son? His Majesty treats him well, and in his heart, His Majesty is more like his father than I am."
Old Madam Gu didn't know what to say.
Who gave the Gu family its glory? It was His Majesty!
His Majesty favors your son, isn't that a good thing?
Furthermore, putting aside the ruler-subject relationship, although A'le was not the Empress, His Majesty had treated her like his first wife all these years. Therefore, His Majesty could be considered A'nian's uncle-in-law.
What was wrong with A'nian being close to his own uncle-in-law?
Was he supposed to be like Gu Siya, who was not to be taken seriously?
"Grandmother, no matter what happens, you are still my grandmother," Gu Sinian said. "Don't worry, your grandson will be filial to you in the future. As for father-son affection, your grandson never received it since childhood, so your grandson is not sad."
Why did Old Madam Gu favor Gu Sinian? Wasn't it because Gu Changwei, the father, was not diligent enough?
"You are the head of this Duke's mansion, and I cannot control what you do. But I will make my stance clear today: I will not give you any of my belongings; they all belong to A'nian. I will have people register it with the authorities later!" Old Madam Gu said angrily. "Don't think about me dividing things equally; that's impossible. I am biased towards A'nian, and you can't do anything about it."
Generally, when elders distribute their private property to their younger generation, even if there is favoritism, they wouldn't completely disinherit someone; at least, they would maintain a facade of fairness.
"Grandmother's belongings, your grandson has never coveted them. Therefore, whoever Grandmother wishes to give her private property to is her choice. Your grandson has no objections!" Gu Siya, who had just arrived, said word for word.
His calm and collected demeanor made Gu Changwei feel even more that both his mother and Gu Sinian had wronged his eldest son.
What a good person his eldest son was! From childhood to adulthood, he had to endure their unfairness. When he, the father, showed him a little more care, they accused him of favoritism.
Yes, he was biased, so what?