Gu Chuan’s face was now twisted with rage. He looked around, and everyone was staring at him with accusing eyes, as if he truly were an unforgivable villain.
His heart was filled with resentment and fury. He had clearly not done any of these things, so why had he ended up in such a situation?
“No! You’ve all been deceived! This is all Xiao Fuguang’s scheme! She wants to ruin me!”
Gu Chuan shouted hoarsely, but his voice was quickly drowned out by the clamor of the crowd.
Lord Zhao looked at Gu Chuan, a flicker of disappointment flashing in his eyes.
As a high-ranking court official, he had always held high hopes for Gu Chuan, believing him to be one of the most outstanding among the younger generation. He never expected such a thing to happen today.
“Rest assured, everyone. I have known General Xiao for many years. Since General Xiao died in battle for Xuanyuan, I absolutely cannot stand by and watch his daughter be treated this way. Tomorrow, I will enter the palace and report everything that happened today to the Emperor, word for word.”
Seeing that the situation was spiraling out of control, Gu Xiu hurriedly stepped forward to salvage the situation. Even though he could hardly believe that his two sons had turned against each other over a woman, he had to stabilize the situation first and prevent the Gu family from being destroyed.
He raised his hand and slapped Gu Chuan across the face.
“You unfilial son, apologize to Fuguang.”
Gu Xiu was a veteran general who had spent years on the battlefield, and the force behind his slap was evident. Gu Chuan’s face was already swollen.
Staggering, Gu Chuan raised a hand to touch his cheek, looking at Gu Xiu with disbelief in his eyes.
“Father… you actually hit me?”
“I… I didn’t. I never wrote such a letter.”
“How could I possibly harm my own elder brother?”
“He was my own flesh and blood!”
Gu Xiu stared at him coldly.
“I will personally investigate the matter between you and Shan’er. If I find out that you truly harmed your own brother, I will not let you off lightly.”
“But now, in front of everyone, you laid hands on your wife. How will I face your father-in-law after I pass away?”
“Apologize to Fuguang immediately, or you will face Military Law today.”
Hah! Now he’s pretending to be the good guy. If the matter were resolved so easily, wouldn’t all my efforts in arranging this grand spectacle today be in vain? Xiao Fuguang thought, looking at Gu Xiu.
“Father, Fuguang thanks the Gu family for their care over the years. Now, Gu Chuan’s heart belongs entirely to my sister-in-law. He is obsessed with her, to the point of fratricide and attempted murder of his wife—this is what everyone witnessed. It is Fuguang’s fault for being unworthy of remaining the Gu family’s daughter-in-law. I hope Father, in light of your long-standing friendship with my father, will allow Fuguang to return home.”
If Xiao Fuguang were to leave the Gu family just like that, wouldn’t the Gu family suffer a great loss? After all, Xiao Fuguang had brought a considerable dowry with her. Madam Gu wiped her tears, composed herself, and stepped forward.
“Fuguang, Mother knows you’ve been wronged today. Chuan’er was too impulsive. He shouldn’t have laid hands on you. But it was his elder brother’s funeral, and you caused such a scene. Naturally, he couldn’t hold back his anger.”
“What quarrel between husband and wife lasts overnight? Try to understand him a little. Let him apologize to you, and let this matter be over. Your elder brother still needs to be laid to rest. If we delay any longer, you’ll hinder his peaceful burial.”
Indeed, not a single decent person in the whole family. Their skill at distorting right and wrong grows by the day. Now they want to shift all the blame for today’s incident onto me and even pin a false accusation on me. A cold glint flashed in Xiao Fuguang’s eyes as she was about to speak.
Liuyue gently squeezed her hand, her gaze icy as she turned toward Madam Gu.
“What a sharp tongue you have, Madam. Usually, you take advantage of my young mistress’s kindness, tormenting her again and again. My mistress has always been respectful, virtuous, and tolerant, showing you endless deference and filial piety. Yet today, in front of so many witnesses, you dare to pin this foul blame on her head.”
“My mistress refrains from speaking harshly out of respect for you as an elder, but I, Liuyue, am not afraid of you. You and your family are nothing but black-hearted scoundrels. You bring shame upon yourselves with your own misdeeds, yet you want my mistress to bear the blame. Let me tell you, with all the evil you’ve done, even if no one holds you accountable, heaven surely will. Beware of divine retribution!”
Xiao Fuguang could hardly contain herself. She raised a handkerchief to wipe the tears at the corner of her eyes, hiding the faint smile that tugged at her lips. This girl—I must increase her monthly allowance later.
Liuyue’s words left Madam Gu’s face alternating between green and white. The surrounding crowd murmured among themselves, their impression of the Gu family plummeting further.
“This Madam Gu usually appears so dignified, yet at a critical moment, she distorts the truth so shamelessly.”
“Indeed, Miss Xiao is already pitiable enough. For the Gu family to try shifting the blame onto her—there’s simply no justice.”
“Ah, General Xiao’s lifelong reputation—how did he end up with such relatives?”
Seeing the situation grow increasingly uncontrollable, Gu Xiu frowned deeply. He knew that if today’s matter was not resolved properly, the Gu family’s reputation would suffer a devastating blow.
He took a deep breath, striving to make his voice sound calm and authoritative.
“Everyone, please quiet down and hear what I have to say.”
The crowd gradually fell silent, all eyes fixed on Gu Xiu.
“Today’s incident indeed involves many misunderstandings. However, regardless of the circumstances, Chuan’s act of striking someone in public was entirely inappropriate. On behalf of the Gu family, I hereby apologize to the Xiao family and all the guests present. As for the dispute between Chuan and Miss Xiao, as well as the so-called letter in question, I will personally investigate thoroughly. I will not allow anyone to be wronged, nor will I tolerate any wrongdoing.”
Having said this, Gu Xiu turned to Gu Chuan, his gaze stern.
“Chuan, why don’t you apologize to Fuguang at once and promise never to repeat such behavior?”
That letter was clearly something he had never written, and Xiao Fuguang’s two falls and episodes of vomiting blood were suspicious. How could Gu Chuan possibly be willing to apologize? Yet, under the weight of Gu Xiu’s warning gaze, he could only glare at Xiao Fuguang with hatred, grinding his teeth as he spoke.
“I’m sorry…”
If she didn’t seek a mutual divorce today, it might become much harder to find an opportunity later. With the dowry in her possession, the Gu family would never let it go easily. Meeting Gu Chuan’s gaze, Xiao Fuguang pitifully shrank into Liuyue’s embrace.
Liuyue held Xiao Fuguang tightly, shielding her protectively, and raised her voice to address Gu Shan.
“General Gu, are you saying it’s only inappropriate to strike someone in public, implying it’s acceptable in private?”
“Today, with so many gentlemen defending her and so many ladies caring for her, my young mistress was still beaten half to death by Young General Gu. If the Gu family were to close its doors, would you simply take her life outright?”
As she spoke, her gaze swept over the crowd.
“Esteemed officials, esteemed ladies, and all the elders and fellow villagers present, I believe everyone’s eyes are sharp and discerning. The harm the Gu family has inflicted upon my young mistress today is plain for all to see. If they do not agree to a mutual divorce, I fear my young mistress will be silently done away with by the Gu family.”
“General Xiao and the young general have both fallen in battle. I beg you all, in light of the Xiao family’s many years of defending our nation, to help my young mistress today.”
The crowd began murmuring again upon hearing this. The way Gu Chuan had looked earlier, he seemed ready to kill Miss Xiao! If Miss Xiao were to remain in the Gu family, it would surely be a tragic fate for such a beauty.
At this moment, Zhuang Linan, who had been terrified all along, finally regained her composure and hurriedly spoke up.
“Sister-in-law, what couple doesn’t have their share of bumps and clashes in life? You mustn’t act on impulse. A woman who is divorced and cast aside loses all dignity.”
Gu Chuan also snapped back to his senses.
“Xiao Fuguang, I’ve already apologized to you. What more do you want?”
“Let me tell you, there’s no chance of a mutual divorce. If you keep making a scene, I’ll give you a Letter of Divorce. Once you’re cast aside, you’ll become a Cast-off Wife with nowhere to go.”
Madam Gu chimed in from the side.
“Fuguang, you’ve made enough of a scene. It’s time to rein it in. If you truly get divorced by Chuan, I’m afraid you won’t be able to survive in this imperial city.”
This group of people still clung to such delusions. Liuyue’s eyes burned with anger, while a flash of coldness passed through Xiao Fuguang’s gaze as she glanced at Madam Gu. Even after being reborn, the shamelessness of this family continued to astound her.
Suddenly, a loud cry rang out.
“The Xiao family has come to escort the legitimate daughter of the Xiao family home, to bid farewell to the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor one last time.”