177.1 – The Gong Family’s Affairs

Chang’an.

The Hua dynasty’s imperial capital.

Its scale is without equal in the Hua dynasty, it is the largest city in the dynasty. Jinling, Kaifeng, Luoyang, and other large cities are less than half its size.

However, Chang’an is the city that falls asleep the earliest.

At the feet of the Son of Heaven [1], there is only quiet.

As the imperial capital, Chang’an is the place where the imperial palace is located. It has high requirements for public security. Therefore, the curfew in this city is particularly strict.

The curfew in the outer city may still be somewhat lax. After all, many night markets and brothels are open here. But the curfew in the inner city can only be described as “harsh”. The officials implement the curfew in the inner city meticulously — especially after the attempt on the Emperor’s life five years ago. Not long after nightfall, the gates separating the inner and outer cities are locked. The patrols that patrol around the inner city, whenever they meet someone returning home at night, they always stop and interrogate them. Given this, people who live in the inner city generally do not go out after nightfall, so as not to attract trouble.

The inner city is always very quiet after the curfew.

However, tonight is a bit different.

In the eastern district, there lie some mansions of the high nobility. Most of the people who live here are royalty and high court officials. It stands to reason that the curfew in the eastern district should be extremely harsh.

However, hurried clip-clopping of horseshoes reverberated in the main street of the eastern district, breaking the silence here.

A horse coming from the palace is galloping towards somewhere in the eastern district.

The rider is an old man in military uniform.

He has white hair, a youthful complexion, and a heroic figure. There is a horizontal pale scar on his right cheek, which adds a bit of dignity to his image. The eyes that always emit a sharp gaze look a little bleak at first glance. But if you look closer, it’s not difficult to see that the abyss of the eyes is dotted with countless stars.

The old man radiates imposing might and is surrounded by the whistling of the wind as he moves forward. The spear hanging from the horse’s side is wrapped in heavy cold air, and the tip of the spear, which is flashing with light, is drawing a shiny trajectory.

Several passing patrols noticed the oncoming old man, but they didn’t attempt to intercept him, and instead stepped aside and allowed the old man to ride through.

Well, there are very few people in the world who can intercept this old man.

At least, these patrols dare not to, nor dare they hinder the old man’s pace. They only dare to watch the old man ride away.

Finally, the old man pulled the reins and stopped in front of a magnificent mansion. On the gate of the mansion, there is a plaque hanging high, and on the plaque, there are three two words written in a flamboyant fashion — Gong Mansion.

As the horseshoes fell and raised crisp sounds, the thick gate of the Gong family’s mansion opened from the inside. Two middle-aged servants rushed out of the mansion.

When they reached to the old man, they bowed respectfully and shouted in unison.

“Great Master [2]!”

“Mhm.”

The Gong family’s Great Master, the Great General of the North — Gong Jing, swept the two with a quick glance and gave a short reply.

One of the servants took the reins and whip from Gong Jing, and the other went around the horse and removed Gong Jing’s beloved spear.

“Old Guiju, give Mist Chaser the best fodder. Additionally, the horseshoes are a bit worn. Have the smith take a look tomorrow. Tell him to do his best to fix this. Mist Chaser saved my life many a time on the battlefield, there cannot be any mistakes.”

As he gently stroked the majestic steed, who has gone with him through thick and thin for many years, Gong Jing instructed a servant in a stern voice. Mist Chaser snorted. It’s slightly narrowed eyes give off the impression that it likes its owner’s caresses.

“I understand.”

The servant who took the reins replied with a solemn expression.

“Okay, you can go now. Mist Chaser should also be tired.”

“Then I will take my leave first.”

“Go.”

Gong Jing waved his hand. After the servant nodded in return, he led Mist Chaser to the mansion’s stable.

“Let’s go too.”

With that, Gong Jing strode into his home, which he hasn’t been to in a long time.

The corners of his mouth rose into a gentle smile unconsciously. For this old man, who has been fighting all year round, there is nothing more comfortable than his home.

“Is everything okay at home?”

His son is a stubborn character. No matter if there is something wrong or not, he will hide and conceal it, he won’t report it to him. Despite being fully aware of this, Gong Jing still asked this.

“Everything is fine.”

The servant who followed behind Gong Jing, with the spear in his arms, answered hurriedly. He is drenched in sweat. Gong Jing’s spear is too heavy — both in terms of weight and responsibility.

After learning that everything is fine, Gong Jing felt relieved.

He isn’t someone good at expressing emotions, so he didn’t express the happiness in his heart at the moment on his face. However, clues about his inner mood can still be pried from his eyes.

“Young Miss often sends back letters.”

“Yes, Qing’er should be doing well in the Merak Temple… After all, all this family can give her is sadness…”

Gong Jing stopped and sighed deeply.

As he has been a straightforward and upright character throughout his life, he believes that he has nothing to be ashamed of. However, Gong Tianqing [3] is the only person he feels guilty about. Despite being Gong Tianqing’s grandfather, he couldn’t protect her and give her happiness.

Despite knowing clearly that it wasn’t his granddaughter’s fault, but he couldn’t get over his daughter-in-law’s death and his grandson’s health problems and give her love when she needed it the most.

Qing’er, I only hope that you are well in the Merak Temple and can be happy… At this moment, the old man appears to be much older, and the light in his eyes dissipated slightly.

He looked into the night sky and prayed that his granddaughter, who lives under the same sky yet far away, can be happy.

This is the only thing he can do for Gong Tianqing.

Other than that, he can do nothing.

Although he is the Hua dynasty’s Great General of the North and a Heaven Realm martial practitioner, but he is only a mortal, not an omnipotent being. He simply cannot control the aversion that is coiling around his heart whenever he sees Gong Tianqing.

It’s not her fault… Gong Jing sighed again.

When a blessing favors one person, it is a curse for other people.

When Gong Tianqing was born, her mother died of dystocia and her younger brother didn’t get the health he deserves. He has been not only sick since little, but he can’t even walk.

Gong Tianqing didn’t get anything extra, only the things she deserves. But people still put the blame for their loss on her and think that it was her fault, that she took away what they hold dear.

— this is wrong.

As the old man’s thoughts swirled, he didn’t move for a long time.

When people get peace at home, they always feel particularly sentimental.

“Great Master, is something the matter?”

A worried voice made Gong Jing snap out of it. He shook his head bitterly.

“It’s nothing.”

Gong Jing started walking again.

“How is the Young Master’s condition? I heard… it seems to have improved recently?”

“That’s right.”

“Why did he suddenly get better?”

Gong Jing’s grandson and Gong Tianqing’s twin younger brother — Gong Tianyang, has been sick since little. Moreover, medicine and acupuncture aren’t effective. Therefore, when he learned that Gong Tianyang’s condition has suddenly improved, Gong Jing was not happy in the first moment, but instead surprised.

“Let me explain what’s going on. Half a month ago, the Master brought a strange doctor. When I saw that this doctor dresses oddly, I was worried that he may be some charlatan at first… I was suspicious. But his doctor is a genius doctor. He’s really good. With his treatment, the Young Master’s health gradually improved. Recently, he even managed to get out of bed and walk a few steps.”

After suppressing his inner excitement, not letting it show on his face, Gong Jing stopped again and, in a trembling voice, asked the other party, “Really?”

“I wouldn’t dare lie to you — but…”

The servant suddenly hesitated. Gong Jing raised his eyebrows.

“But what?”

“The genius doctor said that he can cure the Young Master’s disease.”

His head feels like it was hit by a stone.

— Yang’er’s illness can be cured?

Gong Jing’s eyes widened in disbelief. For a moment, he couldn’t understand what he heard.

*

[1] – Son of Heaven aka the Emperor

[2] – Great Master is the father of the mansion’s Master

[3] – Gong Tianqing is that timid, big-breasted, loli disciple of Qi Qiqi

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