Gu Baijiang wanted to calm the situation first and then deal with Gu Kaiyuan later, but the other members of the Gu Family didn’t know his intentions and only felt their interests were being encroached upon.

The first to object was Xu Yulan, "Father, I don’t agree with this. As daughters-in-law of the Gu Family, why can my elder sister-in-law and third sister-in-law sit in the car, while I have to get down and walk?

Yes, the silver was paid by the first and third branches, but our family hasn’t split, so why can’t our branch sit in the car?"

"Yulan is right," Xu Huizhen, who had just enjoyed Xu Yulan’s comfortable foot massage and was nearly asleep, didn’t want Xu Yulan to leave, "Since Ms. Bai has someone to take her in, there’s no need for her to compete with the daughters-in-law and children of the family for a place."

How could an outsider compete with her grandchildren? Xu Huizhen quickly made a choice, "Aren’t those two girls bound by servant-master ties? Then let them continue to repay the debt."

"What about me? Still here helping you as a beast of burden? Ignoring my wife and children?" Gu Kaiyuan pressed relentlessly.

"You get out too, just consider I never raised you as my son."

Without any hesitation, Xu Huizhen shouted angrily.

"Father, is this what you mean too?" Gu Kaiyuan asked, looking at Gu Baijiang with a face full of heartbreak.

His eyes showed hope, but unfortunately, Gu Baijiang’s words made his heart cold.

"How dare you have an opinion when your mother scolds you?

You’ve been rebellious since childhood, your mother and I have painstakingly guided you.

Now our family is struggling, and living together every day makes friction inevitable; you should understand how challenging it is for everyone.

You can’t just start glaring at everyone because of some instigation and forget how I usually teach you?"

Gu Kaiyuan was surprised that at this time, Gu Baijiang was still trying to pin the blame on him.

He covered his face, rubbed it firmly twice, and with red eyes said, "Father, it’s not the first day we’ve been on the road; everyone knows how things have been.

Suihe and I never initiated disputes, yet we’re accused of such crimes.

If you want to push your son to death, just find an official and have him swipe a knife across my neck." He gestured at his throat, "consider it repaying your nurturing grace."

"Brat," Gu Baijiang slapped down, forgetting this wasn’t his desk, hitting directly onto wooden planks, rough splinters piercing his palm, causing him to cradle his hand against his chest in pain.

"Is this how you talk back to your father?

If you’re so stubborn, then get out of my sight and make sure you never ask me for help in the future."

"That’s exactly what you said, father," Gu Kaiyuan spread his hands in front of him, "Give me a division agreement."

"There’s no division agreement, when we reach Lingnan, I will expel you from the clan."

Upon hearing this, Gu Kaiyuan nearly laughed out loud; once at Lingnan, expulsion would indeed occur, but Gu Baijiang would be the first.

Because of this, Gu Antong, despite entering the Three Emperors Mansion, became a target for other female relatives, unable to refute.

Expulsion from the clan would mean the Gu Family branch under Gu Baijiang would be criticized for a century.

"This is your idea of fairness, father? I’ve merely fought for some rights for myself, and now over this small matter, you threaten to expel me from the clan.

Very well, your son accepts.

From now on, I won’t seek from you, I’ll go to the Bai Family and become their live-in son-in-law."

After Gu Kaiyuan finished speaking, he immediately walked over to Bai Suihe.

To hell with rules and ethics, they could barely protect themselves now, who cared about reputation?

Reputation can’t be eaten nor used as money.

As for expulsion from the clan, we’ll see who gets expelled first.

Bai Suihe stood up welcoming Gu Kaiyuan back to her family’s ox-cart, and Huang Pingguo immediately helped him serve a bowl of noodles.

"Eat first," Bai Suihe now thoroughly believed that the reborn Gu Kaiyuan genuinely wanted to sever ties with the Gu Family, as he defied his parents at the risk of worldwide reproach.

Seeing Gu Kaiyuan eating the hot soup noodles, Xu Huizhen thought of the buns and steamed buns she bought, feeling instantly displeased, "Such an unfilial son, a white-eyed wolf that won’t be raised properly; I’ll see how much the Bai Family can support such extravagance..."

"This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t overstepped," Gu Baijiang lost his face, and Gu Kaiyuan, his strong laborer, feeling irritable, scolded Xu Huizhen, "The second daughter-in-law is perfectly healthy, why take up a place?

Now look, this is the outcome, are you happy?"

"How is this my fault?" Xu Huizhen snorted coldly, "Why didn’t you stop it this morning?

A hypocrite who constantly talks about rules and morals, yet you’re the most unethical.

I’ve been unlucky marrying you, managing a large family, being frugal at home, yet you spend loads of silver to support a mistress outside.

Now you’re down and out, where’s the mistress sharing hardship with you?

And yes, you cherished the mistress so much that you didn’t register her as a servant, she’s still a free person.

Now she might have taken your silver to remarry, you’ve truly played the cuckold king."

Xu Huizhen had held this in for too long; after the sudden confiscation and exile shocking him, and being tense afterward, today she finally had a chance to sit down and vent grievances.

Trying to act superior in front of her, without realizing his old face doesn’t match?

This news truly invigorated the entire exile crew.

Everyone was miserable, but in such times finding gossip to pass time and soothe the soul was quite worthwhile.

Unexpectedly, the formerly reputable Vice Minister Gu had such a secret story.

Many families had secretly thought of proposing once the new Gu Family generation matured.

After all, the Gu Family had a great reputation and house traditions, yet unexpectedly, today they’ve witnessed several grand dramas.

So-called brotherly friendship is mere surface; see how the Gu Family seniors pushed their younger brother to such ends.

Then consider Old Madam Gu’s expose, how the concept of not accepting concubines excludes mistress accommodations.

This is even scarier than taking concubines; the mistress doesn’t serve the main wife and manages another household life, living better than many grandmothers.

Moreover, from Old Madam Gu’s implication, the mistress’s life is better than the family head’s wife.

In this scenario, who would want to be the first wife? Simply the collapse of social order.

Gu Kaiyuan watched all this, finding the noodles in his hand even tastier.

The old couple no longer united against outsiders but began internal fighting.

Looks like his earlier planning was indeed correct, now he will watch carefully how his two filial brothers choose, this time, it’s his turn to enjoy the show.