Chapter 3: Imperial Decree of Exile

A serving matron rushed in, panic written all over her face.
“New Madam, there are many guards in the front hall. They’ve driven everyone there—Old Madam, the young master, and the young miss are all gathered. They want you to go as well.”

Ziling followed the old servant to the front hall.

From afar, she saw a dignified old lady, tall and straight like a pine tree, her expression stern as a tiger—surely this must be her new mother-in-law. At the old lady’s side stood two children:

The boy, about eleven, was named Gong Hao. His eyes bulged angrily like bronze bells as he glared fiercely at the soldiers.

The girl, only seven, was Gong Ying—the soft, adorable little dumpling who had asked earlier if she was hungry in the bridal chamber. Now, her terrified doe-like eyes darted nervously, fixed on the ring of guards surrounding her family.

Ziling stood beside the little dumpling, gently taking her small, soft hand to comfort the frightened child.

The lead guard stepped forward, shouting,
“The General has colluded with the enemy and betrayed the nation. By imperial order, we are here to confiscate the General’s mansion!”

The Old Madam’s face remained calm as she retorted coldly,
“My husband, the old General, has always fought on the battlefield, guarding the borders. Where comes this accusation of treason?”

The guard cast Ziling a sidelong glance.
“Perhaps this is the young general’s new bride? Old Madam, you should ask her—after all, it was her very own father who submitted the memorial to His Majesty, presenting letters proving the General’s treason.”

“What?!”

All eyes turned toward Ziling.

Ziling cursed inwardly—what kind of scumbag father was this? He clearly wasn’t the original owner’s biological father. Sending his own daughter into this fire pit… wasn’t this deliberately trying to kill her?

“I know nothing of this! It must be the doing of that old scoundrel of a father of mine. If I had known, how could I possibly have agreed to marry here? Now it’s clear why he suddenly pushed this marriage onto me instead of my half-sister.”

Gong Hao’s fierce eyes suddenly turned to her, glaring so hard that even Ziling felt her scalp tingle. My god… even this little one is scary when he glares. Children of a general truly are different.

At that moment, a eunuch entered the hall, holding a yellow scroll.

“The members of the General’s household, receive the imperial edict.”

Ziling’s heart sank. Was this truly the exile fate she had read about in countless novels, now falling upon her?

It seemed someone in the palace truly hated the General’s family, eager to destroy them completely.

“By Heaven’s mandate, the Emperor decrees: General Gong Zhentian has colluded with the enemy, causing the deaths of thousands of soldiers. His crimes are beyond pardon. His title is stripped, and though his fate is unknown, if captured he is to be executed immediately. The members of the General’s household are to be exiled three thousand li, never again permitted to enter the capital. All family property is to be confiscated into the imperial treasury. Thus is the decree.”

The eunuch finished reading and sneered, “Old Madam, accept the edict.”

The servants and maids surrounding the Old Madam immediately fell into chaos.

But the Old Madam steadied herself, voice deep and composed.
“My son was summoned to the palace earlier today and has yet to return. For what reason, we do not know. Could it be that certain people, seeing our household left only with women and children, thought to take advantage and trample upon us?”

The eunuch’s tone was cold.
“Old Madam, the young General may well reunite with you on the road to exile. Your words now are but an attempt to probe into his condition. From the looks of it, his life is no longer in his own hands.”

Ziling tightened her grip on Gong Ying’s small hand, her heart heavy. If the young General had been summoned to the palace, then surely he was like a lamb led to slaughter, already imprisoned.

“Hmph!” the eunuch urged impatiently. “We must return to report to His Majesty. Who will receive the decree?”

“I will!”

A jade-white hand, clad in scarlet bridal silk, stretched out. Ziling stepped forward. With the elders too frail and the children too young, only she could take the decree.

The eunuch departed, his steps measured and arrogant. As he left, he commanded the guards,
“Seal the gates of this courtyard. No one is to leave or enter.”

The guards, emboldened by the decree of exile, immediately grew more reckless, barging about the courtyard without restraint.

Supported by her maids, the Old Madam swayed unsteadily, then raised her eyes toward her new daughter-in-law—this girl who had been married into their household for not even a single day.Chapter 3: Imperial Decree of Exile

A serving matron rushed in, panic written all over her face.
“New Madam, there are many guards in the front hall. They’ve driven everyone there—Old Madam, the young master, and the young miss are all gathered. They want you to go as well.”

Ziling followed the old servant to the front hall.

From afar, she saw a dignified old lady, tall and straight like a pine tree, her expression stern as a tiger—surely this must be her new mother-in-law. At the old lady’s side stood two children:

The boy, about eleven, was named Gong Hao. His eyes bulged angrily like bronze bells as he glared fiercely at the soldiers.

The girl, only seven, was Gong Ying—the soft, adorable little dumpling who had asked earlier if she was hungry in the bridal chamber. Now, her terrified doe-like eyes darted nervously, fixed on the ring of guards surrounding her family.

Ziling stood beside the little dumpling, gently taking her small, soft hand to comfort the frightened child.

The lead guard stepped forward, shouting,
“The General has colluded with the enemy and betrayed the nation. By imperial order, we are here to confiscate the General’s mansion!”

The Old Madam’s face remained calm as she retorted coldly,
“My husband, the old General, has always fought on the battlefield, guarding the borders. Where comes this accusation of treason?”

The guard cast Ziling a sidelong glance.
“Perhaps this is the young general’s new bride? Old Madam, you should ask her—after all, it was her very own father who submitted the memorial to His Majesty, presenting letters proving the General’s treason.”

“What?!”

All eyes turned toward Ziling.

Ziling cursed inwardly—what kind of scumbag father was this? He clearly wasn’t the original owner’s biological father. Sending his own daughter into this fire pit… wasn’t this deliberately trying to kill her?

“I know nothing of this! It must be the doing of that old scoundrel of a father of mine. If I had known, how could I possibly have agreed to marry here? Now it’s clear why he suddenly pushed this marriage onto me instead of my half-sister.”

Gong Hao’s fierce eyes suddenly turned to her, glaring so hard that even Ziling felt her scalp tingle. My god… even this little one is scary when he glares. Children of a general truly are different.

At that moment, a eunuch entered the hall, holding a yellow scroll.

“The members of the General’s household, receive the imperial edict.”

Ziling’s heart sank. Was this truly the exile fate she had read about in countless novels, now falling upon her?

It seemed someone in the palace truly hated the General’s family, eager to destroy them completely.

“By Heaven’s mandate, the Emperor decrees: General Gong Zhentian has colluded with the enemy, causing the deaths of thousands of soldiers. His crimes are beyond pardon. His title is stripped, and though his fate is unknown, if captured he is to be executed immediately. The members of the General’s household are to be exiled three thousand li, never again permitted to enter the capital. All family property is to be confiscated into the imperial treasury. Thus is the decree.”

The eunuch finished reading and sneered, “Old Madam, accept the edict.”

The servants and maids surrounding the Old Madam immediately fell into chaos.

But the Old Madam steadied herself, voice deep and composed.
“My son was summoned to the palace earlier today and has yet to return. For what reason, we do not know. Could it be that certain people, seeing our household left only with women and children, thought to take advantage and trample upon us?”

The eunuch’s tone was cold.
“Old Madam, the young General may well reunite with you on the road to exile. Your words now are but an attempt to probe into his condition. From the looks of it, his life is no longer in his own hands.”

Ziling tightened her grip on Gong Ying’s small hand, her heart heavy. If the young General had been summoned to the palace, then surely he was like a lamb led to slaughter, already imprisoned.

“Hmph!” the eunuch urged impatiently. “We must return to report to His Majesty. Who will receive the decree?”

“I will!”

A jade-white hand, clad in scarlet bridal silk, stretched out. Ziling stepped forward. With the elders too frail and the children too young, only she could take the decree.

The eunuch departed, his steps measured and arrogant. As he left, he commanded the guards,
“Seal the gates of this courtyard. No one is to leave or enter.”

The guards, emboldened by the decree of exile, immediately grew more reckless, barging about the courtyard without restraint.

Supported by her maids, the Old Madam swayed unsteadily, then raised her eyes toward her new daughter-in-law—this girl who had been married into their household for not even a single day.