The onlookers now wore varied expressions—some shocked, some sympathetic, and others frowning at Gu Chuan.
“This Gu family…”
“Aren’t they just smearing filth on the Xiao family’s head?”
“I’ve heard about this too. I have a nephew who also went to the battlefield. General Xiao and the General of Martial Virtue each led their own troops, but after the General of Martial Virtue was defeated, Gu Chuan rushed to the border and had a fierce argument with General Xiao, blaming him for not rescuing the General of Martial Virtue.”
“Pah! Gu Chuan is still a general? How shameless! Victory and defeat are common in war. Since ancient times, where there is war, there are casualties. Dying for one’s country is an honor. How can he blame others?”
Liuyue now walked over and stood beside Xiao Fuguang. Master and servant exchanged a subtle glance.
Liuyue spoke up loudly, accusing:
“Son-in-law, how could you treat my lady like this?”
“During your days at the border, my lady, thinking of your hardships on the battlefield, worried day and night for you. She repeatedly used her dowry to gather provisions and medicinal supplies, sending them to the border time and again to support you.”
“When Madam Gu fell ill, my lady, despite her exhaustion, tended to her day and night without even changing her clothes. But what did you do?”
“You caused your elder brother’s death—unbenevolent to your brother. You made your parents bury their own child—unfilial. You framed a loyal and righteous man—unjust. You mistreated your lawful wife—disloyal. How could my lady have a husband like you, who is disloyal, unjust, unbenevolent, and unfilial?”
Xiao Fuguang glanced subtly at Liuyue. What eloquence! This maid—why hadn’t she let her shine like this in her past life?
Liuyue’s impassioned speech, each word ringing with conviction, made the surrounding crowd nod in agreement, their accusations against Gu Chuan growing stronger.
“Ah, this young lady of the Xiao family is truly pitiable. Using her dowry to build her husband’s reputation, personally caring for her sick mother-in-law—such virtue is rare indeed.”
“Exactly. A dowry is the foundation of a woman’s security, yet she used it all to buy provisions and medicine for the front lines. What great righteousness! To have such a virtuous wife, General Gu should cherish her dearly.”
“What a pity, mistaking a fish eye for a pearl. This Zhuang Linan could even harm her own husband. Who knows if one day she might also…”
Gu Chuan stood surrounded by the crowd, his face ashen, a flicker of panic and despair flashing in his eyes.
He had never imagined he would fall into such a desperate situation, scorned by the world.
“No, it’s not like that! I never wrote that letter, and I never had an affair with my sister-in-law! It’s all a misunderstanding—Xiao Fuguang is slandering me!”
Xiao Fuguang, her face streaked with tears, looked at Gu Chuan, took two steps forward, and shook her head in sorrow.
“Gu Chuan, with all the evidence laid bare before you, you still blame me for slandering you? This handwriting has been verified by so many officials. Could it be that all the esteemed officials present are also slandering you?”
Hearing this, Lord Zhao looked at Gu Chuan and spoke solemnly.
“General Gu, I may be old, but I am not yet senile. I could never mistake this handwriting.”
The other officials chimed in as well.
“We have repeatedly compared the handwriting, and it is indeed yours, General Gu.”
At this moment, Xiao Fuguang’s gaze fixed directly on Gu Chuan’s eyes.
Gu Chuan, even if you had a thousand mouths today, you could never explain yourself. I am determined to see you and Zhuang Linan utterly disgraced and condemned by all.
That voice—it was unmistakably Xiao Fuguang’s. Gu Chuan could no longer restrain himself. He lunged forward and struck out at Xiao Fuguang with a furious palm strike.
“You vile woman, I’ll kill you…”
Just as his hand brushed against Xiao Fuguang’s clothes, she collapsed to the ground once more, coughing up another mouthful of fresh blood. Her face turned deathly pale.
Liuyue cried out in anguish, rushing to support her.
“Miss, miss…”
“Stop!” Lord Zhao roared, his voice carrying an undeniable authority.
He stepped forward, placing himself between Xiao Fuguang and Gu Chuan, his gaze sharp as a blade as he stared down Gu Chuan.
“Gu Chuan, as a military officer, you dare publicly assault your own wife? This is an insult to decency and a disgrace to the military’s honor! I will report today’s events to the court and let His Majesty decide your fate!”
Gu Chuan was momentarily paralyzed by Lord Zhao’s imposing presence. He stared wide-eyed at his own empty palm, disbelief washing over him as a wave of unprecedented doubt surged in his heart.
He had been enraged, yes, but he felt he hadn’t even landed that strike—so why had Xiao Fuguang once again “collapsed and spat blood”? What was really going on?
And besides, didn’t she know martial arts?
Why hadn’t she dodged?
The surrounding crowd erupted into another clamor of discussion, a cacophony of accusations, curses, and sympathetic murmurs intertwining.
“This Gu Chuan is worse than a beast!”
“He’s made Miss Xiao spit blood twice already today.”
“Exactly, Miss Xiao is such a kind person. How did she end up married to him?”
“He probably only treated her well when General Xiao was alive. Now that the general has died in battle and Miss Xiao has no one to back her, he’s become utterly unrestrained.”
“Is he even human?”
“Ah, the Gu family has raised such an ungrateful wretch. They’re finished.”
Xiao Fuguang lay weakly in Liuyue’s arms.
“Gu Chuan, this is the second time today you’ve tried to kill me. I demand a mutual divorce.”
“My Xiao family has fallen, unworthy of your esteemed Gu family. I stand in the way of your tender affections with your widowed sister-in-law. I willingly step aside for Zhuang Linan. I only ask that, for the sake of our time as husband and wife and all the care I’ve devoted to managing the Gu household, you spare my life.”
Hearing Xiao Fuguang’s heart-wrenching, tearful words, the crowd looked upon her with sympathy and pity. Some of the older ladies even dabbed at their tears with handkerchiefs.
“To think Miss Xiao has been bullied to this extent. If General Xiao could see this, his heart would break.”
“Indeed. I have a daughter myself, and I dare not imagine what I would do if she suffered such treatment—I’d fight him to the death.”
“Poor Miss Xiao. With her father and brothers dead in battle, she’s nearly beaten to death with no one to stand up for her.”
Some even turned to address the Imperial Censor.
“Lord Censor, you oversee all officials. Today, you must speak justly for Miss Xiao. Her father died fighting to protect the people of Xuanyuan. We cannot stand by and watch the descendant of a loyal subject endure such humiliation.”