Chapter 6 – Gong Mo Han’s Grave Injuries

The old madam and her children rushed forward, trying to help Gong Mo Han up. But his injuries were too severe. His clothing was tattered, both arms bore deep wounds, and his ten fingers hung limp, broken and bloodied. One leg bent at an unnatural angle—it must be fractured.

The original Ziling’s memories of her husband were scant. He was only eighteen, a graceful young man. His eyes were long and narrow, twin phoenix eyes brimming with charm. His features were refined, chiseled, his lips thin, his nose straight—a model of youthful elegance.

But now, clad in torn prison garb, his body was covered in wounds. Worse still, the right side of his face was ruined—darkened, mangled flesh hung loose, oozing yellow pus.

Once, he had been a dashing young general, Heaven’s favored child. Now, reduced to such a state—how crushing must the blow be? Would he even survive? Ziling inwardly sighed at her misfortune. At last, she’d crossed paths with a beautiful man, only for him to end up like this.

Truly pitiful—these people had been merciless.

Just as Ziling reached out to help, several figures approached. Leading them was a man around forty, followed by a woman of similar age. That woman’s sharp, vicious features resembled those of a night hag—harsh and unpleasant at a glance. Behind them trailed a boy of sixteen or seventeen, his face sallow and thin, as if all vitality had been drained from him. Clearly a case of kidney deficiency. A girl of about thirteen followed—her looks, at least, were pleasing.

Before the man could speak, the shrewish woman burst out like a string of firecrackers:
“What rotten luck! Being related to you has brought us nothing but trouble. Now even in exile we’re dragged along with you! My poor children, both still unmarried—ruined by you!”

In the old days, unmarried girls seldom left home, so the original Ziling had never met them. They must be kinfolk from the same clan, dragged into exile as well.

Gong Mo Han stirred to respond, but his mother quickly stopped him. She snapped, “No share of our glory, you say? If not for our General, would you even know where you’d be scratching at the dirt to survive? All these years you lived in our shadow, swaggering and reaping benefits—do you think I do not know?

And now, with our house framed and broken, you dare come here whining!”

The woman’s face flushed red, then white. She opened her mouth to retort, but the middle-aged man tugged her sleeve, forcing a mocking smile. “Elder sister-in-law, whatever you say, we too are dragged down by your misfortune.”

At that, the sickly boy muttered darkly, “Hmph. Maybe the General’s Manor committed too many sins—this is just retribution.”

The words froze the air.

The brothers Gong Mo Han and Gong Hao glared, eyes blazing. Mo Han tried to rise, intent on teaching the boy a lesson, but his body failed him, and he fell back heavily.

Ziling, seeing this, felt a surge of anger. She stepped forward, her voice icy:
“All the wealth and comfort you’ve known came thanks to the General’s Manor. Without its protection, you’d have died who knows how many times over. To strike at us now when we’re down—are you not afraid of divine retribution?”

The shrew jumped in fury, ready to curse her, when the escorting guards strode over and barked:
“Silence! Another word and you’ll taste the whip!”

At once, the bickering ceased. The storm passed, for now.

Mo Han, hearing Ziling’s words, felt as if struck by lightning. For the first time, he turned his eyes on the young bride he had barely known. He had never spared her a thought before. Had things gone as planned, he imagined he would have lived out his life quietly beside her—without love, without hate.

But now, with his family’s ruin—and knowing it was her father’s doing—the hatred in his heart surged like a tidal wave.

Ziling noticed his gaze, sharp and cold as an arrow. She met it calmly, only to see him turn away, as if avoiding a plague.

But Ziling couldn’t care less what he thought. On this road to exile, she trusted her skills as a modern medical doctor. She would heal him. And once they reached the place of banishment, they would part ways.