Chapter 716: Biased

Translator: Henyee Translations  Editor: Henyee Translations

At that time, Gu Zhaoming was nearly driven to fury by his two incompetent brothers. However, it was his grandfather’s only life-saving medicine, and he could not afford any delay. He immediately jumped into the pond to retrieve it.

The pond was small, adorned with lotus flowers and koi fish, and the bottom was filled with mud. Any movement would stir the koi fish, muddying the water.

Under the scorching sun, Gu Zhaoming kept searching. His two younger brothers, realizing the gravity of the situation, ran to find their mother.

When their mother learned that the special medicine had fallen into the pond and could not be found, she promptly sent their grandfather to the hospital.

Gu Zhaoming finally retrieved the medicine and rushed back, only to discover from the servants that his mother had already taken his grandfather to the hospital.

Believing everything would be fine once his grandfather was at the hospital, Gu Zhaoming brought the medicine there. However, upon arrival, he found that his grandfather had already passed away.

Later, he faced his father’s furious slap and the condemning gazes of the family elders.

When his two brothers reported the incident to their mother, they lied to shirk responsibility, blaming Gu Zhaoming for losing the special medicine.

Although their mother doted on her younger sons, she knew their tendencies well enough to suspect they were responsible. This prompted her urgency in sending their grandfather to the hospital.

Unexpectedly, his grandfather died en route to the hospital, causing his mother to panic.

She complained to his father, claiming that as the eldest brother, Gu Zhaoming lacked manners towards his younger brothers and insisted on competing with them, resulting in the medicine falling into the pond.

She accused him of dawdling after retrieving the medicine, delaying its delivery and causing his grandfather’s death.

In contrast, she praised his two younger brothers for being sensible. After realizing the medicine had fallen, they immediately came to her to send their grandfather to the hospital.

Tragically, their grandfather could not hold on and passed away.

Devastated by his closest grandfather’s death and angry at his mother and brothers for framing him, Gu Zhaoming was consumed with fury.

In his anger, he beat up his two younger brothers in front of everyone and explained the truth to his father and the elders. However, he was seen as quibbling and shirking responsibility.

To his father and the elders, his mother was the biological mother of all three brothers, and he was the family heir who brought honor to her. Even if his mother was biased, they believed he should not complain.

Following a family elders’ meeting, they concluded that Gu Zhaoming had delayed the elderly head’s treatment. As punishment, they sentenced him to forty-nine lashes.

These lashes avoided vital points but were severe enough to leave his skin and flesh lacerated and covered in blood.

Despite this, Gu Zhaoming retained his position as the family heir. He had been personally nurtured by the old master, and his two idiotic younger brothers were no match for him.

At that time, Gu Zhaoming, bearing the pain from his injuries, confronted his mother. He asked her why she didn’t believe him and why she helped his two younger brothers lie.

He had hoped his injuries would make her feel sorry and guilty, but she remained unapologetic.

She admitted she knew he was telling the truth and believed him.

However, she explained that if the truth came out, his two younger brothers would likely be severely punished by the family and expelled.

They already had little to inherit and were not as capable as him. If they were crippled and expelled from the family, how would they survive?

Gu Zhaoming, on the other hand, was different. As the heir of the third generation nurtured by the old master, he would at most face family punishment without being expelled. His losses would be minimal.

His mother also had selfish motives. She was the one who decided to send Old Master Gu to the hospital, missing the special medicine Gu Zhaoming retrieved. This delay in treatment was partly her fault, and she feared being held responsible.

In her view, sacrificing Gu Zhaoming’s reputation and well-being would ensure the happiness and stability of the entire family.