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Chapter 869 Adoption
Brothers Gu Tingyu and Gu Tingwei were very nervous as they sailed south. When the ship entered the waters of Yangzhou, they immediately felt a completely different atmosphere. Large iron ships were constantly patrolling back and forth on the river channels of Yangzhou. The mighty Ningyuan Army soldiers stared expressionlessly at every strong merchant. The ships coming and going from the south and the north all went obediently to the government office at the dock to handle tax procedures.

"Big brother, is this my second brother's big iron ship?" Gu Tingwei, who was already eight or nine years old, looked at the cruising big iron ship curiously, then looked at his eldest brother Gu Tingyu with a puzzled look and asked.

"Yes! Your second brother is now the Prince of Ning in Jiangning Prefecture. Remember to behave politely when you meet Prince Ning later." Worried that Gu Tingwei might say something wrong later, Gu Tingyu hurriedly gave him another warning.

"I know, big brother."

Gu Tingyu looked at the heavily guarded and majestic Ningyuan Army at the Yangzhou wharf. Born into a military family, he was also shocked. He did not expect that his second brother's Ningyuan Army was so elite. No wonder they could destroy the two small border countries in the southwest so quickly and force the civil officials and military generals of the Song Dynasty court to surrender. At this time, Gu Tingyu could not help but worry about this journey south.

Ever since the two Gu brothers boarded the ship from the Bian Jing dock, Suning had received reports from the Jinyiwei. At this time, the Jinyiwei had already expanded to all areas of China. The Liao Dynasty in the north and the Western Xia Dynasty in the northwest could not escape the surveillance of the Jinyiwei. Many non-staff members of the Jinyiwei did not know which side they were serving, so the entire Jinyiwei's intelligence system was very secretive.

This time, Suning did not choose to avoid him. After all, he had completed all the previous plans. After the Gu brothers got off the boat from Jiangning Mansion, he asked the Jinyiwei to take them to Prince Ning's Mansion. Gu Tingyu felt very complicated when he saw the king sitting upright in front of him. When he met the eyes of the young Prince Ning, he confirmed that the other party was no longer his second brother.

"Second brother, I'm Tingwei!" Looking at his second brother whom he hadn't seen for a few years, Gu Tingwei couldn't help but look at him and shouted in ecstasy.

"Tingwei, stop it! Hurry up and pay your respects to Prince Ning." At this moment, Gu Tingyu noticed Su Ning's cold eyes, and quickly scolded his third brother in a low voice.

"Okay! Gu Tingyu, you don't have to ridicule me. I am no longer the Gu Tingye I used to be. My name is Suning now, and the government also gave me the name Zhao Ning." Suning knew very well that there was something behind Gu Tingyu's words, and he reminded him with an indifferent look on his face.

"Prince Ning, although your current identity and name have changed, you still have the blood of the Gu family flowing in your body. Without the hard work of so many generations of the Gu family in the army, you would not have achieved what you have today."

"Gu Tingyu, are you not so smart? I started my career by rebelling against the imperial court. Do you really think that the Gu family's influence in the army will help me?" Hearing Gu Tingyu arguing with him in such a unreasonable way, Su Ning was also amused by Gu Tingyu in front of him.

"Prince Ning, I don't believe that there are no confidants of our Gu family in your Ningyuan Army." At this moment, Gu Tingyu's face suddenly froze, and then he asked Su Ning with a pale face.

"Haha, I'm really sorry. The majority of my Ningyuan Army is made up of salt farmers and surrendered Song soldiers. They really have nothing to do with your Ningyuan Marquis Gu family."

"This……"

"Okay! Stop talking nonsense! Tell us why you are here!" Suning naturally didn't have time to chat with them here, so he went straight to the point and asked the two of them.

"Prince Ning, you owe too much to the Ningyuan Marquis Gu family and the three clans, so you have to compensate the three clans of the Gu family." Seeing that Su Ning was determined to sever ties with the Gu family, Gu Tingyu said with bitterness in his heart.

"Gu Tingyu, when I chose to rebel, it was to execute all members of your Gu family. Do you think I will compensate you?" Su Ning sneered and said his true thoughts and purpose of rebellion. He just wanted everyone in the Gu family to face the reality.

"You..." At this time, Gu Tingyu and Gu Tingwei looked at Su Ning in front of them with horror.

"Gu Tingyu, let me tell you again, I am Su Ning, not Gu Tingye. Don't hold Gu Tingye's responsibilities to me." Su Ning stared coldly into Gu Tingyu's eyes and repeated.

"Prince Ning, the Gu family is in a very difficult situation right now. We no longer have the ability to survive, so only you can save us."

"Hmph! Gu Tingyu, you're so smart, you should know what happened eighteen years ago. Back then, the Gu family should have been exterminated by the government. The Gu family first forced your biological mother, Da Qin, to death, then cheated my biological mother, Bai, out of her dowry. Later, in order to maintain their relationship with the Yongchang Marquisate, they conspired with Xiao Qin to murder the ruthless Bai. I can't wait to shave every one of you beasts off."

"You...you...are talking nonsense..." At this moment, Gu Tingyu looked at Su Ning's cold and bloodthirsty eyes, and couldn't help but tremble with fear.

"Also, when you leave, please stop by Hou'an Salt Farm and take all of your Gu family members with you. From now on, your Gu family members are not allowed to appear in Jiangnan. If you do, you will all be taken to the salt farm to do hard labor."

"Gu Tingye, you..."

"Someone, come! Show him out."

"Please come in, both of you." Then two burly Jinyiwei came in front of Gu Tingyu and Gu Tingwei, staring at the two brothers in front of them with cold eyes.

Gu Tingyu had also thought that this trip to the south would be very difficult, but he did not expect it to be a stalemate now. He could also clearly feel Suning's aversion to their Gu family, and realized that he could no longer use the Gu family's family affection to suppress Su Ning. If he continued to entangle, it would definitely force Su Ning to go on a killing spree. You must know that the current Song Dynasty has no power that can suppress Su Ning and the Ningyuan Army.

"Big brother, where are we going next?" Gu Tingwei looked pitifully at Gu Tingyu beside him. He also realized that they could never return to the harmony they had before.

"Hey! Go to Hou'an Salt Farm in Yangzhou and quickly bring my fourth uncle and fifth uncle back to Bian Jing." Gu Tingyu is also an extremely smart talent. Seeing that Suning's path is no longer feasible, he no longer has any illusions.

"Big brother, will second brother never pay attention to us again?" Gu Tingwei looked at Gu Tingyu with a wry smile and confusion on his face and asked.

"Yes! He has completely severed all ties with our Gu family."

Seeing that Suning was too lazy to bother with them, Gu Tingyu and Gu Tingwei could only leave Jiangning Prefecture with disappointment, and then went to Houan Salt Manor in Yangzhou to meet Gu Laosi and Gu Laowu. Houan Salt Manor had received Suning's order in advance, so naturally they let them pass.

"Tingyu, Tingwei, were you also captured by King Ning to work as salt workers?" Gu Laosi and Gu Laowu looked at the two brothers Gu Tingyu in front of them in surprise and asked.

"Fourth uncle, fifth uncle, we are here to pick you up. King Ning has agreed to release you." Realizing that the Gu family members in Yanzhuang had misunderstood, Gu Tingyu hurriedly looked at them and explained.

"Ah? Ting Yu, can we finally leave?" At this time, Gu Lao Si and Gu Lao Wu showed an expression of disbelief, because day after day of hard work had long made them numb.

"Yes! Fourth uncle, fifth uncle, all the property of our Gu family has been confiscated, and the title of Ningyuan Hou is also gone. From now on, the whole family will have no source of income." Gu Tingyu then gave a concise introduction to the current situation, so that Gu Laosi and Gu Laowu could be mentally prepared.

"Ah? What should we do? We can't just live on the streets begging for food?" Sure enough, the Gu family members were furious again. They really couldn't accept this reality.

"Fourth uncle, fifth uncle, this is not the place to talk. Let's hurry back to Bian Jing and discuss it in the ancestral hall." Seeing that these close relatives were still like this, Gu Tingyu shook his head helplessly and urged them.

"That's fine! We don't want to stay in this salt village any longer."

……

When Gu Tingyu returned to Bianjing with the tortured Gu family members, they immediately became the gossip of Bianjing's dignitaries and common people. Everyone was disgusted by the greed of the Gu family. This was largely due to the propaganda carried out by the Ningyuan Army Jinyiwei in Bianjing. Ordinary people, unaware of the truth, learned many of the Gu family's secrets, including that the Ning Wang's rebellion was forced by the Gu family. At the ancestral hall of the former Ningyuan Marquisate, the Gu family elders, having experienced such a life-or-death catastrophe, all bowed their heads. Although they were lucky enough to have their lives saved, they had lost all their wealth and status. They had to endure the contempt and insults of the Bianjing people every day, and they deeply understood the truth that a fallen phoenix is no better than a chicken.

"Everyone, I shamelessly invited the old Marquis of Xiangyang here today. It's just right to ask him to help our Gu family discuss matters as a witness." Gu Yankai looked at the group of people in front of him with their heads bowed, then forced a smile and looked at the old Marquis of Xiangyang who was sitting next to him and said.

"Brother, just tell me what's the matter! We haven't even had breakfast yet!" Gu Lao Si and Gu Lao Wu, who had completely lost hope at this point, urged Gu Yankai to discuss things quickly without any concern.

"Well then! Ting Yu and Ting Wei were driven out by that person when they went to Jiangning Prefecture this time. He also stated that they would no longer have any contact with our Gu family. At the same time, he warned us that our Gu family members could not appear south of the Yangtze River, otherwise the salt farm in Yangzhou would be a good place for our Gu family members to go."

"Ah? Big brother, how could this be?" After hearing Gu Yankai personally convey Suning's warning, Gu Laosi, Gu Laowu and others were shocked again.

"Well! I know that our eldest family's affairs have dragged everyone down, and I also know that everyone has lost their source of daily income, so I plan to sell this Gu family mansion directly, and then divide the money from the sale with everyone. In the future, our Gu family members will go their separate ways to make their own way." Then Gu Yankai no longer paid attention to the shock and astonishment of the Gu family members, and continued to explain all his future arrangements. In the final analysis, it was nothing more than a matter of dividing the family.

"Brother, now everyone in Bianjing City despises the children of our Gu family. No one will be willing to buy our house." After hearing that Gu Yankai wanted to sell the mansion in Bianjing and then divide the family, Gu Lao Si and Gu Lao Wu shook their heads with a wry smile.

"I have thought about this problem a long time ago! At the same time, the old Marquis of Xiangyang is willing to take over our house at a high price, which can be regarded as a token of friendship with our Ningyuan Marquis Gu family." Then Gu Yankai looked at the old Marquis of Xiangyang with gratitude again.

"We thank the old marquis very much." As expected, all the descendants of the Gu family in the ancestral hall looked at the old marquis with gratitude and bowed to express their gratitude.

"Everyone, this incident has made the emperor and the ministers very angry. Naturally, the nine clans of the Gu family also implicated our Xiangyang Marquis Mansion and Qiguo Duke Mansion. However, the emperor has always been kind and finally pardoned our two families. Originally, I didn't want to have anything to do with your lineage anymore, but since Gu Yankai came to me in person and begged him, there is naturally no reason to turn a blind eye. However, this is the best I can do to help you." The old Marquis of Xiangyang, who had been silent all this time, looked at the useless children of the Gu family in front of him and explained.

"Thank you, Mr. Marquis."

"Also, I have a message for you on behalf of the emperor." Then the old Marquis of Xiangyang conveyed another message on behalf of the old emperor.

"Ah? The official?" As expected, everyone in the Gu family couldn't help but get excited again.

"The emperor has always been merciful! I have pardoned your death sentence this time, but I don't want you to provoke Prince Ning again, otherwise I would not let you off so easily like this time." The old emperor in the palace has already recognized the current situation. Naturally, he does not want the idiots of the Gu family to provoke Suning. If they force the Ningyuan army to rebel again, the current situation will not be what it is now.

"Your servants shall abide by the instructions of the emperor."

"Okay! I will give you double the market price for this house, and I hope you can do better after leaving Bian Jing." After finishing the story, the old marquis naturally didn't want to stay here any longer.

"Thank you, old marquis."

"Yankai, try to choose a good day to send Tingwei to the Marquis of Xiangyang's Mansion." The old marquis walked to the door and turned back to look at Gu Yankai and said.

"Yes! Old Marquis."

After the old Marquis of Xiangyang left the Gu family mansion, Gu Lao Si and Gu Lao Wu looked at Gu Yankai in confusion and asked, "Brother, what did the old marquis mean by his last sentence just now?"

"Alas! The old marquis has never had a child. His only daughter is Princess Pingning, and the Duke of Qi has only one son, Qi Heng, so it has been decided to adopt Tingwei as the stepson of the Marquis of Xiangyang." Gu Yankai then explained with a wry smile without hiding anything.

"What? Why does the old marquis fall for Tingwei?" At this time, Gu Lao Si and Gu Lao Wu remembered that Marquis Xiangyang had always wanted to adopt a son from the Gu family. Then they looked at Gu Yankai in shock and astonishment and questioned him.

"Huh? Maybe because he saw that Tingwei was young, he planned to bring him with him and raise him personally." Looking at his fourth and fifth brothers who were somewhat excited, Gu Yankai speculated with some surprise. Naturally, he would not say that it was the old marquis he begged.

"Hmph! Big brother, I think you made a promise to the old marquis secretly without our knowledge. You should know that Tingbing from my family and Tingdike from the fifth family have always been well-behaved, and the old marquis has always been considering adopting them."

"Fourth and Fifth Brothers, if you really have any objections, you can go and speak to the old marquis in person. Originally, I don't want Tingwei to be adopted."

"Hmph! Big brother, you are really hypocritical." Gu Laowu ruthlessly exposed Gu Yankai's hypocrisy. The best arrangement was actually left to his own son.

"Hmph! I think you are just taking advantage of me." Gu Laosi on the side was naturally full of disdain, feeling that his elder brother was too cunning.

"You...what on earth do you want to do?" Gu Yankai was completely furious at this time. For the first time, he realized that his brothers were so greedy and ruthless.

"Hmph! Since your youngest son Gu Tingwei has been successfully adopted by the Marquis of Xiangyang, he will be the future Marquis of Xiangyang. Therefore, we must get more of the money from the sale of the Gu family mansion." Gu Lao Si and Gu Lao Wu naturally didn't dare to go to the old Marquis of Xiangyang. They looked at each other and stated their biggest request.

"Okay! Except for Gu Tingyu's life-saving money, I will give you all the remaining money. You should be satisfied now, right?" Gu Yan agreed with great joy, hoping that this matter would end as soon as possible.

"Brother, don't act so aggrieved. The reason why our Gu family has fallen to this point today is because you and sister-in-law did not manage the family well, so this is what you deserve from us." Gu Lao Si and Gu Lao Wu did not know what gratitude was. Instead, they looked at Gu Yankai in front of them with a mocking look on their faces and said.

“You…you guys…”

"Hmph!" Gu Laosi and Gu Laowu did not give Gu Yan the chance to curse. Instead, they walked away triumphantly, showing no sign of being weak as laborers in Hou'an Salt Farm in Yangzhou.

After his two bastard uncles left the Gu family, Gu Tingyu walked up to the angry Gu Yankai with a wry smile on his face and said, "Father, I shouldn't have gone to Yangzhou to pick them up."

"Hey! Tingyu, they're not wrong!" Gu Yankai finally calmed down his anger, then sighed and said with a wry smile, "Our eldest wife really owes them too much. It won't hurt to give them a little more money."

"Father, it was because of them that the Gu family lost so much money back then, and in the end, it was you, the eldest brother, who had to sacrifice yourself. And it was they who tried their best to go to Yangzhou to seize the Bai family's property. Why are they blaming everything on our eldest branch now that something has gone wrong?"

"Alright! Let the past go with the wind!"

…………

(End of this chapter)