Gu Chuan clutched his bleeding forehead, staring at Xiao Fuguang in shock, seemingly unable to believe she had dared to strike him.
Zhuang Linan’s sobbing abruptly ceased, plunging the entire room into a deathly silence.
Madam Gu let out a sharp scream and rushed toward Gu Chuan. Fumbling frantically, she pressed a handkerchief against his wound while glaring furiously at Xiao Fuguang.
“Xiao Fuguang, have you gone mad! How dare you lay a hand on my son! Someone, fetch the physician at once!”
Zhuang Linan snapped out of her daze and hurried forward with a look of panic. “Chuan, are you all right? Heavens, you’re bleeding so much!”
She then turned and scolded angrily, “Sister-in-law, if you have any grievances, take them out on me! A woman’s husband is her heaven—how could you possibly strike Chuan?”
Upon hearing this, a faint smile curled at the corner of Xiao Fuguang’s lips. Excellent—you asked for it.
She reached out, grabbed Zhuang Linan’s hair, and slapped her twice across the face. “Very well, I’ll grant your wish.”
Slap… slap…
Zhuang Linan staggered back from the blows and collapsed onto the floor. Red, swollen handprints instantly bloomed on her cheeks, her eyes filled with disbelief and rage. Clutching her face, she shrieked shrilly.
“Xiao Fuguang, how dare you hit me! How dare you!”
Seeing this, Madam Gu trembled with even greater fury. Still pressing the wound on Gu Chuan’s head, she barked out a stern order.
“Guards! Come quickly and tie up this madwoman! She’s rebelling against the heavens!”
The maid Liuyue, standing behind Xiao Fuguang, was utterly bewildered. The young mistress had actually struck the general! As a group of guards rushed in, Liuyue hurriedly stepped in front of Xiao Fuguang.
“How dare you! Let’s see who dares lay a hand on her!”
The young mistress had been so commanding just now—this shameless family deserved to be taught a lesson.
The guards exchanged uncertain glances. Had the young mistress and the general come to blows?
Xiao Fuguang raised her hand and pulled out the golden hairpin from her hair. What to do? She really wanted to kill someone.
Her gaze swept over the members of the Gu family, her eyes filled with bloodlust, as she slowly advanced toward Madam Gu.
“Madam Gu, don’t you think it would be quite a bargain if I traded my life for all of yours today?”
Madam Gu recoiled in fear from her icy stare and chilling words, her voice trembling.
“Xiao Fuguang, you… you mustn’t act recklessly! This is the Gu residence, not a place for you to run wild!”
She turned toward the guards at the door. “What are you waiting for? Seize her at once!”
Zhuang Linan scrambled up from the floor and hid behind Gu Chuan, only her hate-filled eyes visible as she glared at Xiao Fuguang, muttering incessantly, “Chuan, she’s truly gone mad…”
Xiao Fuguang’s eyes brimmed with murderous intent.
“Liuyue, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you in action. Today, anyone who dares make a move—kill them all.”
Gu Chuan had hastily bandaged the wound on his head with two handkerchiefs, making him look rather ridiculous.
“Xiao Fuguang, you’re seeking death!” he shouted, launching himself at her.
Xiao Fuguang nimbly sidestepped, easily evading Gu Chuan’s attack. At the same time, the golden hairpin in her hand transformed into a flash of cold light, aimed directly at his throat.
Gu Chuan hastily dodged—she truly intended to kill him!
“Xiao Fuguang, you actually know martial arts?”
The hairpin in Xiao Fuguang’s hand pressed relentlessly toward Gu Chuan’s vital points. “I know a little—just enough to take your life.”
Madam Gu and Zhuang Linan clung to each other, watching the fight between the two with terror.
“Xiao Fuguang, we are merely discussing this properly with you. How dare you, a woman, threaten violence against your husband’s family? The Gu family will not tolerate such a shrew in the future.”
At that moment, Xiao Fuguang kicked Gu Chuan squarely in the chest.
With a loud “thud!”, Gu Chuan was sent crashing onto a table before tumbling to the floor. He hit the ground heavily, coughing up blood, his face instantly paling.
Zhuang Linan screamed in terror, while Madam Gu trembled all over, nearly collapsing to the ground.
“She… she is not Xiao Fuguang. She must be possessed by demons!”
Xiao Fuguang, holding a golden hairpin, advanced step by step toward Gu Chuan, her eyes as cold as winter ice.
Zhuang Linan shouted at the guards, “What are you standing around for? The young mistress has gone mad! Kill her now!”
Guards rushed into the hall, surrounding Xiao Fuguang.
Liuyue showed not a trace of fear.
“Miss, if you truly wish to kill them, go ahead. This servant can hold off these useless fools.”
Gu Chuan propped himself up with one hand on the floor, staring at Xiao Fuguang and the intense killing intent in her eyes. A flicker of fear unexpectedly rose within him.
“Fuguang, we are husband and wife. If you do not agree to my dual-household marriage, then let us drop the matter.”
A cold smile curled at the corner of Xiao Fuguang’s lips, her eyes filled with murderous intent. “But right now, I only want your life!”
Gu Chuan struggled to his feet, leaning against the table. “Calm down. If you kill me today, it will be considered murdering your own husband. You will be executed as well.”
Madam Gu cried out from the side, “Xiao Fuguang, stop! If you dare harm Chuan’er, the Gu family will never let you go!”
Yet Xiao Fuguang continued to inch closer. “Didn’t I just say? Trading my life for so many of your Gu family members is still a worthwhile bargain.”
Seeing the killing intent in Xiao Fuguang’s eyes reach its peak and the hairpin aimed at him, Gu Chuan hastily spoke up.
“Even if you care nothing for your own life, what about the lives of the Xiao family?”
Xiao Fuguang’s hairpin halted at Gu Chuan’s neck, her eyes blazing crimson as she glared at him.
It seemed she still had a weakness. Having a weakness was good. Gu Chuan slowly reached out and pushed her hairpin aside.
“My father is also on his way back. Fuguang, if I die today, you will be branded a husband-killer. Your father and elder brother died in battle, and the Xiao family now consists only of widows and orphans. You know the Gu family’s influence—we can make your maternal family vanish without a trace.”
Xiao Fuguang’s hand trembled slightly. She took a deep breath, struggling to calm the surging hatred within her.
Yes, she could not act impulsively. In her previous life, she had arrived too late and failed to save the Xiao family. In this life, she must protect them at all costs.
Let her mother enjoy her remaining years in peace, let her sister-in-law live without worries, let her nephew grow up happily and achieve fame and fortune, and let her third sister, who died depressed in her previous life, live a life of happiness.
“I must say, General Gu, you certainly know how to threaten people. Very well, we have plenty of time ahead.”
“Today, I will not entertain your Gu family any longer. After all, we are still husband and wife. On the day of my elder brother’s funeral, the Xiao family will send gifts.”
“Liuyue, let’s go home.”
Xiao Fuguang led Liuyue out, and the servants automatically cleared a path for them.
Gu Chuan, your Gu family does indeed have some reputation. On the day of your elder brother’s funeral, it will be the moment your family’s name is ruined. Be prepared to receive my grand gift then…