Meng Wan ran out of the villa with an elegant-looking and beautiful noblewoman behind her.
Meng Wan ran over and wanted to hug Gu Zheng’s arm. Suddenly, she saw Qiao Xi and took two steps back as if she was shocked. She lowered her head and said in a terrified voice, “M-Miss Qiao, you’re here as well.”
Qiao Xi narrowed her eyes. This pretentious appearance… Was she going to start acting again? Last time, she and Gu Zheng kept talking about getting rid of the Meng family. She thought that they would be smart about it, but she did not expect that they would make a comeback after just a short period of time. Was it because they had brought new helpers?
Qiao Xi’s gaze fell on the elegant noblewoman behind Meng Wan. She reckoned that this was the new backer Meng Wan had found. It was just that she did not know what identity this backer had… She looked at the woman surreptitiously. The housekeeper who had warned the Meng family last time was standing behind the noblewoman in fear at this moment. Coupled with the arrogance and delight that was vaguely visible in Meng Wan’s eyes, Qiao Xi had a rough guess about the noblewoman’s identity.
It was probably Gu Zheng’s mother, the madam of the Gu family.
Mrs. Gu was wearing a shawl, looking elegant and noble. The jewelry on her body was low-profile and luxurious, perfectly highlighting her temperament and status. She knew how to attract attention to herself and made others think that she had good taste in clothes. One look and one could tell that she was an exquisite and beautiful noblewoman.
At the same time, Meng Wan was wearing a diamond-studded dress. Her makeup was appropriate, and even her hair was exquisite. Compared to the two of them, Qiao Xi was much more shabby-looking. She was wearing an ordinary sports attire, while her hair was casually let down. She did not put on any makeup and only had on lip balm.
Madam Gu coldly sized up Qiao Xi. “You’re Qiao Xi?” Her voice was filled with undisguised disdain, and she completely disregarded Qiao Xi’s dignity.
Gu Zheng’s eyes darkened.
Qiao Xi swept a glance at Meng Wan. She could confirm that Madam Gu was her new backer. No wonder she dared to take the initiative to visit Gu Zheng after he warned the Meng family.
Meng Wan spoke before Qiao Xi could. “Aunt Lan, this is Miss Qiao…”
“Tsk, you seduced someone else’s fiance at such a young age. You’re really shameless. Wan Wan, don’t be afraid. Nobody should even think of entering the Gu family after such shameful behavior.”
Qiao Xi’s face sank.
Madam Gu sneered. “Gu Zheng, since you’ve decided to marry Wan Wan, you have to treat her well. What’s the meaning of bringing a promiscuous woman home? I’ll make the decision. From today onward, Wan Wan will stay in Longwan Residential to foster your relationship.”
The atmosphere instantly froze.
A storm gathered in Gu Zheng’s peach blossom eyes as he swept his invasive gaze over the crowd. He slowly said, “What status does Madam Gu have to make such a decision? Have you received the husband’s decree?”
Madam Gu shuddered.
The husband’s decree… was a token that symbolized her status as the madam of the Gu family. She did not have it! Only the old madam of the Gu family, who was recognized by everyone in the family, was allowed to obtain the husband’s decree. Together with the patriarch, they ruled the Gu family.
Mrs. Gu was unwilling to give up. “Gu Zheng, I’m your mother. Would I harm you? You can play with this woman, but you can’t marry her. No one can replace Wan Wan. Listen to me, divorce this woman now.”
Gu Zheng casually stretched out his hand to Qiao Xi. “Come, let’s not listen to her nonsense.”
Mrs. Gu was provoked by his attitude. Just because she did not have the husband’s decree, even her own son would not listen to her? Was the husband’s decree so easy to get in the Gu family? She was not the only one who did not have it. For the past three generations, the women of the Gu family had never gotten it!
The husband’s decree had not appeared in the world for more than a hundred years.
Meng Wan gritted her teeth and leaned against Mrs. Gu’s shoulder. She said softly, “Aunt Lan, it’s okay. Don’t ruin your relationship with Brother Gu Zheng because of me.”
Only then did Madam Gu remember her purpose for coming here today. Her expression darkened. “Let’s go in too. I don’t believe that Gu Zheng will really chase the two of us out for that vixen!”
Qiao Xi had also heard of the Gu familt’s husband’s decree. It seemed to be a result of a family head’s mistake in making a decision. In that dangerous situation, it was the wife of the head of the Gu family who stepped in and led the Gu family out of the swamp. After the incident ended, the entire Gu family expressed their gratitude and also decided to set up a husband’s decree for the sake of the Gu family’s future.
If the current head of the Gu family did not display a good character and did things that were not beneficial to the Gu family, the wife who received the husband’s decree had the right to handle anything—including expelling the current head of the family and electing the next head.
It could be said that the husband’s decree was a sword hanging over the heads of the Gu family. No one liked having their status threatened at all times, so the husband’s decree had not appeared in a long time.
