Chapter 973: Setup by the Fifth Elder

Editor: Henyee Translations

Gu Shuzhi was straightforward, acknowledging the history of conflict between the third and first branches. It was not unusual for them to seek ways to undermine each other.

“This recording was left behind by the illegitimate son. He was worried that the Fifth Elder might go back on his word or silence him. I used certain methods to obtain this recording from him.”

Gu Shuzhi then looked at Gu Zhaoming. “Eldest Uncle, do you believe what I’ve said now?”

Originally, Gu Shuzhi had intended to use the recording to create discord between Gu Zhaoming and the Fifth Elder, hoping to benefit from the resulting chaos. However, with the strong alliance between the first branch and the Xiao family, and the support of Gu Jin and Gu Yang, the third branch had no real chance of prevailing.

Realizing this, he chose to use the recording as leverage in negotiations with Gu Zhaoming.

Gu Zhaoming replied in a low voice, “Send me the recording. I will honor my promise.”

Satisfied with the outcome, Gu Shuzhi sent the recording to Gu Zhaoming and then left.

Once he had gone, Gu Pei asked, “Is it really the Fifth Elder? Why would he do something like this?”

Gu Zhaoming was silent. He had always trusted the Fifth Elder, and it was clear that this revelation had struck him deeply.

“It seems the goal was to ensure Dad returned to the capital,” Gu Yang surmised. She had suspected Old Master Gu might be behind it but hadn’t expected it to be the Fifth Elder.

She wondered if Old Master Gu was aware of this scheme.

After returning to the Gu family’s old residence, Gu Zhaoming called the Fifth Elder over.

When the Fifth Elder arrived, he greeted them with his usual smile and kind demeanor.

“Zhaoming, why have you called me over today? Has something happened in the family?”

Upon entering, the Fifth Elder noticed that Gu Zhaoming’s family was unusually subdued. Their lack of enthusiasm made him uneasy. “What’s going on? Why is everyone so quiet?”

Gu Zhaoming played the recording he had received from Gu Shuzhi.

The Fifth Elder’s smile gradually faded as he listened. “You know everything.”

Gu Zhaoming looked at him with a complex expression. “Fifth Uncle, why?”

The Fifth Elder sat down, his demeanor now one of resignation. “Why? Didn’t you figure it out? I’ve always wanted you to return home. You’re the designated successor of the Old Master. In our generation, only you have the capability to bear the family’s responsibilities.”

“But despite all my efforts to persuade you over the years, you remained unwilling to come back. I’m getting old and don’t know how much longer I have. My patience is running thin.”

Gu Zhaoming clenched his fists, struggling to control his anger. “So you hurt my wife and daughter to force me to return to the capital? My wife nearly died on the operating table!”

The memory of the car accident still terrified him.

The Fifth Elder paused before responding. “I’m sorry, Zhaoming, Xueling. The extent of the casualties in that car accident was beyond what I anticipated. I did my best to minimize the impact, but it still led to such a tragedy.”

His original plan had been to target Gu Yang, Gu Jin, and others, intending only to injure them slightly so that they would be unable to perform well on the last College Entrance Examination or affect their final exams. He hoped this would exacerbate the tensions between Gu Zhaoming, Gu Zhao’an, Gu Zhaoye, and Old Madam, thereby creating a situation where he could return to the capital, seek revenge, and ultimately seize control of the Gu family.

However, he hadn’t anticipated that the car would lose control completely. In trying to protect his daughter, Ruan Xueling had been severely injured and was near death.

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