I have suffered enough in my previous life, my cousin will never marry me

Chapter 154 Blackmail
"When did Mother become so confused?"

Gu Tingchen glared at Fang's mother with displeasure, then stood in front of the curtain, blocking her way.

Madam Fang quickly explained, "Young Master, I heard that this marriage between the Prince of Yongning's family was arranged by Chief Minister Ji for our cousin. Everyone says that marriages are arranged by parents and matchmakers."

"Snapped."

Gu Tingchen slapped Fang's mother hard across the face, knocking her to the ground.

Ye Huaisu and his two children were all stunned.

"Tingchen, what are you doing?" Ye Huaisu asked reproachfully.

"When did the girl raised by our Duke's mansion become someone Ji Yuan could decide for her?" Gu Tingchen glared at Fang Mama and said sternly, "I think it's you wicked old women who have bewitched my mother so that she can't distinguish right from wrong."

As soon as he finished speaking, he waved to the outside, and then Liu Zhang led a group of soldiers in.

"Drag that old woman and all those idiots in Mother's courtyard away and beat them to death," Gu Tingchen coldly ordered.

Seeing the soldiers stride forward to arrest the man, Ye Huaisu, Gu Qingmian, and Gu Tingji all became anxious.

"Second brother, what did Mother Fang do wrong? Why did you beat them to death?"

Gu Tingji quickly stepped forward to stop Liu Zhang: "They are all old women who have followed my mother for many years, and they are loyal to the Duke's Mansion. I will not allow you to harm them."

“Tingji, you are still young, so your second brother won’t hold it against you. But there are some things your second brother needs to explain to you and Qingmian.”

Glancing at Ye Huaisu with displeasure, Gu Tingchen said sternly, "Your cousin is being misled. She is in great danger in Yuezhou. Your second brother must find a way to bring her back, but before that, your second brother must punish all those who want to harm her."

"You're talking nonsense," Gu Qingmian retorted. "My cousin has always wanted to go to Yuezhou. How could she be in danger there?"

"If she hadn't been instigated, why would she have thought of going to Yuezhou?"

The thought of his cousin and Fu Mingchi being so close together stirred up a stormy feeling in Gu Tingchen's heart.

Staring at Ye Huaisu with eyes full of hostility, Gu Tingchen clenched his fists so tightly they cracked: "Wanwan has been close to her mother since she was little, and she also dotes on Qingmian and Tingji. If it weren't for someone instigating her, how could she bear to leave you all and leave the Duke's Mansion?"

With tears in her eyes, Ye Huaisu shook her head repeatedly: "Tingchen, just let Wanwan go. Wanwan has the life she wants now. Since you and Tingzhou don't have her in your hearts, why keep entangled with her?"

Gu Tingchen was furious upon hearing this and roared at Liu Zhang, "What are you all standing there for? Drag him away!"

"Yes."

Liu Zhang ordered his men to forcibly drag Gu Qingmian and Gu Tingji away, and to escort all the servants out of the house.

Ye Huaisu, protecting his two children, was held back by several soldiers. He wept bitterly and said, "When did you become so vicious? Fang's mother watched you brothers grow up. How could you bear to beat her to death?"

"Vicious?" Gu Tingchen, enraged, stepped forward and grabbed Ye Huaisu by the neck: "When it comes to viciousness, how can a son's heart compare to a mother's? You knew that I only had Wanwan in my heart, yet you still lied to me and sent her to Yuezhou."

"Second brother, let go of my mother!" Gu Qingmian and Gu Tingji, the siblings, grabbed his clothes with gritted teeth and tore at them.

Gu Tingchen, however, acted as if he had gone mad, pinching Ye Huaisu's hand even harder: "You know perfectly well that Wanwan's closest relatives in this world are only her mother and me, yet you cruelly let her leave the Duke's Mansion. Who among the people in the Yongning Prince's Mansion would be willing to treat her sincerely?"

Ye Huaisu's face turned pale from being choked, and she couldn't breathe at all.

Seeing this, Gu Tingji was extremely anxious and viciously bit Gu Tingchen's other arm. A sharp pain shot through him, and Gu Tingchen had no choice but to release Ye Huaisu. He angrily picked up Gu Tingji and threw him to the ground.

"Tingji".

Ye Huaisu was so frightened that her body went limp. She staggered over to support Gu Tingji and looked over to see that blood was seeping from the back of her son's head.

"Mother, my cousin finally managed to leave the Duke's mansion, you must not let her come back."

Lying in Ye Huaisu's arms, Gu Tingji pleaded weakly.

Hearing this, Gu Tingchen became even more furious, staring at the mother and son with murderous intent in his eyes.

"Second brother, do you want to kill Tingji?" Gu Qingmian braced herself and spread her arms to block Gu Tingchen's steps forward.

"Get out of my way." Gu Tingchen shoved her toward the bedside and strode toward Ye Huaisu and her son Gu Tingji.

"Immediately write a letter and send someone to bring Wanwan back," Gu Tingchen threatened sternly. "Otherwise, I'll make sure you never see Qingmian and Tingji again in your life."

Ye Huaisu was so angry that he was panting heavily: "Your father is not dead yet, how dare you be so unscrupulous?"

"Mother, you're so disloyal, how dare you mention Father?" Gu Tingchen sneered. "Wanwan doesn't understand court affairs, but is Mother also confused, unaware that the Empress Dowager is most wary of the Yongning Prince's Mansion?"

Looking at her son who had fainted in her arms, Ye Huaisu's expression turned grim: "If you two brothers hadn't repeatedly hurt Wanwan, how could she have been so disappointed as to travel all the way to Yuezhou? Isn't everything you've done today your own doing?"

"I have never hurt her," Gu Tingchen shouted, his eyes wide. "Everything I've done is to give her the best of everything. Why can't Mother understand my good intentions?"

As the days passed, half a month had gone by. Gu Tingchen had lost all interest in arguing with her and ordered his men to take Gu Qingmian and Gu Tingji away.

“I’ll give my mother a day. If she still can’t make a decision, then don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

After giving a final warning, Gu Tingchen stormed out the door.

As they walked into the central courtyard, they suddenly saw Gu An walk in with a sullen face.

Seeing his father's grim expression, Gu Tingchen respectfully clasped his hands in a fist salute and asked, feigning composure, "Father, where are you going?"

Gu An glared at him with displeasure: "What did you do to your mother, brother, and sister?"

"What can a son do?" Gu Tingchen smiled and said, "I can only advise my mother not to make the same mistake again."

Gu An gritted his teeth and was about to go inside when Gu Tingchen stopped him with his hand: "Father, it's not too late to see Mother after you've thought it through. Ji Yuan personally led the Emperor's Divine Might Army to Yuezhou. If Wanwan marries the Prince of Yongning again, it will not be a good thing for our Gu family."

Gu An took a deep breath and stopped in his tracks with no choice: "What are you planning to do?"

"That naturally depends on whether Father wants to preserve the Gu family's business or the lives of Third Sister and Fourth Brother," Gu Tingchen said with a faint smile.

Gu An fell silent.

After pondering for a long time, he finally spoke: "Wanwan is a sensible child. You just need to ask your mother to write a letter to bring her back. Don't hurt Qingmian and Tingji. You should know how much Wanwan loves them."

Hearing that his father had tacitly approved of his suggestion, Gu Tingchen smiled faintly: "Father, rest assured, I will not harm Qingmian or Tingji unless absolutely necessary."

Hearing this, Gu An felt relieved and turned back to his study.