k, and said: "You're the one being sneaky. I was going to ask you what you were doing. You even wear a mask when you go out, why aren't you wearing it now"Shen Yunzhou glanced at the door and replied,...Parlor.

Gu Xiumin sat on the chair, quietly waiting.

Not long after, Meng Jiny Yao and Gu Jingxi arrived, and saw him sitting quietly as he hadn't for a month.

Meng Jin Yao sized him up with an unreadable expression. Perhaps it was her imagination, but after a month apart, this adopted son seemed different. More composed, less foolish.

Gu Xiumin saw them coming and hurriedly got up, bowing respectfully to them: "Son greets Father, Mother."

Seeing this, Meng Jin Yao sized him up again, seeming to have indeed become much calmer.

Gu Jingxi said softly, "No need for formalities, please sit down and talk."

He finished speaking and then, with Meng Jin Yao, sat on the main seat to his left and right.

Gu Xiuming picked up the thick sheet of paper filled with characters that he had placed on the small tea table earlier. He then walked forward, handed the sheet of paper to Gu Jingxi, and said: "Father, this is what your son copied during his reflection period in Qingyuxuan. It's 'The Classic of Filial Piety', copied one hundred times. Please take a look."

Gu Jingxi took the piece of paper and, upon hearing his words, his face stiffened. He countered, "Father, wasn't it fifty copies you asked me to copy"

Gu Xiuming looked apologetic and remorseful, replying: "Father, I feel that copying fifty times is not enough to ease my conscience. I clashed with my second uncle and defamed my mother's reputation. This is truly unfilial. After deep reflection, I regret my actions immensely. Therefore, I have copied another fifty times as an expression of apology to my second uncle and my mother."

He said, turning his eyes to Meng Jingyao, and kneeling down, he sincerely apologized: "Mother, son is unfilial. Son bumped into Second Uncle and should not have repeatedly been disrespectful to you, nor should he have slandered your reputation. These days, every time my son thinks about what he has done, he feels ashamed and feels that he is unworthy of being a son. From now on, my son will repent and become a better person. In the future, he will definitely be filial to his mother. Please forgive your unfilial son Xiucheng."

"Having said that, Gu Xiuming still kowtowed to Meng Jinyao three times. When he finished the last kowtow, his forehead was pressed against the floor and he didn't get up, as if waiting for Meng Jinyao's response. If Meng Jinyao didn't forgive him, he wouldn't stand up."

Such a heartfelt apology and remorse left Meng Jin Yao stunned and taken aback. Just a month ago, he was still a rebellious son, but now he was sincerely apologizing and trying to make amends

Could it be that Gu Xiuming has really turned over a new leaf and become more sensible

It's impossible, Gu Xiuming hates her so much, wishing she was dead, how could he suddenly change so drastically and even apologize to her, showing her filial piety

When something is unusual, there must be a demon.

It's not her fault for overthinking. It's because the changes were so drastic. If Gu Xiu Ming truly sincerely reflected and improved, then after being caught running away from his wedding and punished, confined to the ancestral hall for introspection, and having his family property confiscated, he should have learned his lesson, reformed himself, and become a new man.

Not only Meng Jinyao, but even the usually calm and composed Gu Jingxi was stunned by his actions. He stared in disbelief at his son kneeling on the ground, his forehead still pressed against the floor. This sincere and repentant appearance truly moved people, but it felt a bit sudden.

Hearing no response from his parents, Gu Xiaming kowtowed three more times, earnestly saying: "Mother, son truly knows he was wrong. Please forgive your son this time. Son assures you, there will never be a next time."

As a junior, I sincerely apologize. If elders don't express their stance, they appear to be unreasonable and unwilling to forgive.

Even if Meng Jinyang had doubts in her heart, at this moment, she put on a gentle and loving maternal air, her tone soft and kind: "My child, the ground is cold, don't kneel anymore. Come up and speak."

Gu Xiuming knelt, motionless: "Mother, son has sinned. If you do not forgive your son, he will remain kneeling."

Meng Jinyao was stunned after hearing this. She couldn't figure out what he was up to. She furrowed her brows slightly, though it was imperceptible. Whether he was sincere or insincere, she would play along with him. With a gentle and loving smile, she said in a soft voice: "Between a mother and child, there is no such thing as overnight hatred Since you know you were wrong, your mother forgives you. Let bygones be bygones, you should get up."

>>>>

“Son, thank you mother for your forgiveness. What I did before was wrong. From now on, I will never do it again and will be filial to both father and mother.” Gu Shuming spoke sincerely, his words almost choked with emotion. After he finished speaking, he kowtowed three times to Meng Jin Yao before getting up.

Meng Jin Yao saw his flushed forehead and thought to herself: "He's pretty ruthless towards himself, hitting so hard that blood vessels are visible."

Gu Jingxi looked at his son with an unreadable expression, his eyes deep and penetrating. He stared for a long while before saying, "Xiuming, since you have sincerely repented, let's not dwell on the past. From now on, you must respect your elders, love your siblings, study diligently, and strive to pass the imperial examinations as soon as possible, bringing honor to our family."

Gu Xiuming respectfully nodded. "Yes, Father."

Gu Jingxi said, "Don't stand there, have a seat and talk first."

Gu Xiuming responded and returned to his seat. As soon as he sat down, it seemed like he remembered something and opened his mouth to say, "Mother, I was wrong to run away from the marriage before. I let you lose face. In the past, I was ignorant and even blamed you for it. For this, I still owe you an apology."

Upon hearing this, Meng Jin Yao narrowed her eyes slightly, glanced at him indifferently, and replied, "Let's not dwell on the past. I am now your father's wife, and we simply weren't destined to be. If we were meant to be, things wouldn't be as they are now.

Gu Xiuming nodded: "What you said is true, but it's also my son's fault. He made you and his father ashamed, and after that, he implicated the reputation of our own brothers. It was indeed my son's fault. Afterwards, my son will go to apologize to his brothers."

Gu Jingxi's face darkened slightly, and he said in a low voice: "Since you know how ridiculous you were before, you should think carefully before doing anything in the future, and don't make any more jokes. If you make a joke, it won't just be your problem, the entire Houfu will be ridiculed along with you."

Gu Xiuming hurriedly said, "Son will follow father's teachings."

After that, Gu Jingxi lectured him on some important principles. Seeing that he seemed to have absorbed them, she tested his academic knowledge. He hadn't been studying much lately, and his grades had slipped considerably, so she reminded him to study diligently.

And Gu Xiuming readily agreed to all, saying he would return to the academy tomorrow and study diligently, striving to pass the examinations as soon as possible.

His attitude was impeccable, leaving nothing to criticize. Regardless of whether he truly regretted his actions or merely feigned remorse, Gu Jingxi found his current demeanor satisfactory and continued, "Your grandmother hasn't seen you in a while, why don't you go pay her respects and ask after her well-being"

Upon hearing this, Gu Xiaming hurriedly replied, "Father, son will go to grandmother's place later."

Gu Jingxi nodded slightly: "Let's go now."

Gu Xiuming responded and said goodbye to his elders, then left.

Meng Jinyao looked at Gu Xiuming's departing figure, her eyes deep and profound. She didn't look away until the figure disappeared from view. Then she turned to the man beside her and asked with confusion, "Husband, do you think our eldest son ate something wrong today"hat much. I just thought that life had been too tense before, and I didn't want to tire myself out too much. I wanted to relax a bit. Life as a wealthy and carefree person is pretty good."At this time...