With that loud shout.
A funeral procession slowly approached, led by Madam Xiao, dressed in mourning attire and holding the memorial tablet of General Xiao.
Lin Qingwan, also clad in mourning clothes, held the memorial tablet of Young General Xiao.
Behind them were rows of Xiao family soldiers in plain white garments, their expressions solemn and their steps resolute, holding high white funeral banners to guide the departed souls.
The entire scene was solemn and tragic, as if even the air had frozen.
Passersby couldn’t help but make way.
The funeral procession marched directly to the entrance of the Gu residence.
Madam Xiao, holding General Xiao’s memorial tablet, glanced at Xiao Fuguang. The mother and daughter exchanged looks, nodding almost imperceptibly.
Only then did Madam Xiao turn her gaze to the Gu family.
“My Xiao family’s daughter is not to be mistreated by your Gu family. Since your Gu family no longer wants this marriage, my Xiao family will take our daughter back and care for her ourselves. I ask the Gu family to write a Divorce Agreement. From this day forward, our families part ways, and each may marry as they please.”
Bringing a funeral procession to lend support—this was truly unheard of. Everyone present today had witnessed something extraordinary.
Today was the day of Gu Shan’s funeral, and also the day of General Xiao’s funeral. No one expected the Xiao family to appear so openly with a funeral procession.
“Madam Xiao, it’s merely a conflict between the two young ones. There is still room for reconciliation. Why make such a hasty decision?”
Gu Xiu forced himself to remain calm, trying to salvage some dignity.
Madam Xiao gave him a cold glance, her tone resolute.
“General Gu, the children of my Xiao family have known loyalty, filial piety, integrity, and righteousness since childhood. Fuguang married into the Gu family, serving her in-laws with filial piety and caring for her husband diligently. Who in the entire imperial city does not praise how well my Xiao family’s daughter was raised? Yet in your Gu family, she suffered such humiliation and even faced mortal danger. If not for the old ties between our families, what I hold in my hands today would not be my husband’s memorial tablet.”
Hearing Madam Xiao’s words, which carried a hint of threat, Madam Gu stepped forward indignantly.
“Madam Xiao, as mothers, we must have a broader perspective than our children. When the young ones act recklessly, it is our duty as elders to guide them. Allowing your child to act so willfully is indulgence, not wisdom.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Xiao’s face turned icy. She gently handed the memorial tablet to a guard beside her and slowly walked toward Madam Gu, each step heavy yet dignified.
“Madam Gu, if you truly understood the way of motherhood, how could you have raised a son so devoid of right and wrong? Since my Fuguang married into the Gu family, she has worked diligently without a single complaint. Yet your Gu family has repeatedly harmed her, and today, you even attempt to twist the truth and turn lies into facts. Do you think my Xiao family has no one left?”
At this point, Madam Xiao’s voice trembled slightly, but she quickly steadied herself and continued.
“It is true that my Xiao family has no male heirs left, but my sons gave their lives for the nation. If your Gu family insists on bullying us for having no one, I will take this memorial tablet to the palace and seek justice from His Majesty.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Gu’s face instantly turned pale. She clearly had not expected Madam Xiao to be so resolute, even willing to take the matter to the Emperor.
The onlookers erupted in murmurs. Taking a memorial tablet to the palace—His Majesty would surely be furious.
Seeing the situation, Gu Xiu knew that today’s matter could not be resolved peacefully. If the Xiao family truly made a scene before the Emperor, where would the Gu family’s dignity be?
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions, and turned his gaze to Madam Xiao, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness and a desire for reconciliation.
“Madam Xiao, today’s incident is indeed due to my Gu family’s lax discipline. Chuan is young and impulsive, and he acted foolishly. But considering the longstanding friendship between our two families and the marital bond between the children, I implore you to be lenient. Let us first hold the funeral for Shan, and then discuss the matter of mutual divorce.”
He glanced again at the coffin among the Xiao family’s procession.
“We must not delay General Xiao and Young General Xiao’s burial either.”
Were they trying to stall? Xiao Fuguang and Madam Xiao exchanged a look, both seeing helplessness in each other’s eyes.
At this moment, Gu Xiu kicked Gu Chuan, who snapped back to his senses and spoke.
“Fuguang, I know I was too impulsive today and hurt you. But for now, we must consider the bigger picture. Let us first lay Elder Brother and Father-in-law to rest. We cannot let our marital quarrels disrupt the funeral rites. After all, the deceased must be respected.”
Zhuang Linan also dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief.
“Sister-in-law, I know today’s misunderstanding is difficult to resolve. But no matter what, the deceased must be respected. Let us first lay the dead to rest before considering the affairs of the living. After all, we have plenty of time to sort things out slowly.”
Well, now it seemed as though Xiao Fuguang was the one disregarding the bigger picture.
The Xiao family knew all too well that after today, the Gu family would have countless ways to stall, even resorting to unscrupulous means.
Madam Xiao watched as the Gu family members took turns speaking, attempting to use “respect for the deceased” as an excuse to delay the divorce. Her gaze grew increasingly icy.
“Your Gu family has truly opened my eyes today. Murdering a brother and attempting to kill a wife is described as a minor marital spat. Whether for the sake of dignity or profit, if your Gu family wishes to condone and shield such a vicious person who would harm his own kin, my Xiao family cannot interfere.”
“But my Xiao family’s daughter will absolutely not tolerate your Gu family’s mistreatment. Writing a Divorce Agreement takes only a moment and will not cause much delay. Fuguang is the apple of my husband’s eye. Today, she has suffered such great injustice. If she is not freed from your Gu family’s den of wolves, I fear my husband will be the one unable to rest in peace.”
Lin Qingwan also stood beside Madam Xiao, holding a memorial tablet.
“When my husband was alive, he cherished Fuguang the most. Today, Fuguang was beaten half to death in your Gu family, and now you still try to stall and refuse to let her go. Does your Gu family truly not fear that my husband will rise from his coffin in anger to stand up for his sister?”
The young Xiao Fushu, eyes red, walked over to Xiao Fuguang and took her hand.
“Don’t be afraid, sister. Mother will stand up for you.”
If the Divorce Agreement were truly written today, Xiao Fuguang’s dowry would have nothing to do with the Gu family anymore. The Gu family members’ faces turned ashen.
Madam Gu looked at Madam Xiao and spoke.
“Madam Xiao, the Gu family is not unwilling to agree to the divorce. We are only considering that the deceased must be respected, and we should prioritize the bigger picture. Once the heroes who sacrificed themselves for the country are laid to rest, we can discuss the matter of divorce.”
Truly relentless. Even after things had come to this point, they still wanted to stall further.
Just as the two families were deadlocked in their positions, a voice rang out loudly.
“The Regent has arrived.”
With this announcement, everyone turned their heads to see the regent clad in a dark purple brocade robe, his expression stern and his gaze profound, as if capable of seeing through people’s hearts.
Behind him stood guards dressed in black, imposing and awe-inspiring, evoking a sense of reverence.
Still leaning in Liuyue’s embrace, Xiao Fuguang’s eyes flickered with a complex light. It was Xuanyuan Jing—the man who, in her previous life, after the Xiao family’s tragic demise, had killed Gu Chuan and Zhuang Linan before also dying. Yet, her soul had witnessed him coming to collect the bodies of the Xiao family.
Xuanyuan Jing scanned the surroundings, his gaze finally settling on Xiao Fuguang and the members of the Gu family.
“This prince heard that today is General Xiao’s funeral day and came specifically to bid him farewell. What has happened here? Why has the funeral procession come to a halt?”
Madam Xiao then took the memorial tablet from her attendant, stepped forward, and knelt before the regent, kowtowing deeply.
“This humble wife, along with her deceased husband, beseeches the regent to seek justice for our daughter.”