When it came to naming the child, Gong Ming's heart trembled. He thought his daughter had misspoke and tentatively asked, "My dear daughter, isn't this name a bit inappropriate?"
The character "殇" (shāng) was always used for the deceased.
"This is the name. I want her to remember clearly that her sole purpose for existence is revenge. If she cannot achieve it, she might as well die," Gong Ningsi roared hysterically.
Gong Ming dared not speak further. He cautiously soothed his daughter's emotions, "Alright, alright, then we'll use this name. My daughter, you must take good care of yourself. You need to see this child avenge your Su Lang!"
"Su Lang~" Gong Ningsi murmured, her eyes filled with affection for him.
"I will take good care of myself and our child. When she grows up, she will surely avenge you."
Gong Ming silently wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and no longer dared to interfere with Gong Ningsi's parenting methods.
However, the child was too fragile. With Gong Ningsi's unstable mental state, he feared the child might not survive to adulthood.
Gong Ming tried every possible means, and it was only by using Su Lang's name that he managed to snatch the child from Gong Ningsi's grasp.
Yet, every night, Gong Ningsi could only sleep if she looked at the child.
At these times, they had to rely on the few wet nurses Gong Ming had found.
Finally, the little one reached the age of four or five and began martial arts training.
Gong Ningsi wished for her child to achieve martial arts mastery immediately and avenge her Su Lang. Her teaching was exceptionally strict. If a single movement was incorrect, a whip would descend upon her on the spot.
Even without internal energy, a child whose body had not yet fully developed could not withstand it.
Su Shang was knocked to the ground by Gong Ningsi's whip, clutching her body and rolling on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Shut up," Gong Ningsi snapped impatiently.
The child understood little, only knowing that she was in pain and wanted to cry.
Gong Ningsi, annoyed, swung the whip again.
Su Shang cried even harder. Gong Ming, hearing the commotion, rushed in and quickly scooped up the child, blocking Gong Ningsi from striking again.
"My dear daughter, you mustn't hit her like this! If she dies, won't you be the one heartbroken?"
Gong Ming had killed many people and did not care for the life of a mere child. He worried that if the child died, his daughter would not be able to live on once she regained her sanity.
He had only this one daughter in his old age.
Gong Ningsi took a deep breath, briefly regaining her composure. She threw down the whip and said angrily, "This child is simply too disobedient."
Gong Ming couldn't help but speak up for Su Shang, comforting his daughter, "Children are all like this. She'll be better when she grows up."
Gong Ningsi left without looking back.
Gong Ningsi carried Su Shang into the room to apply medicine.
Two bloody wounds marred the fair skin, looking terrifying.
Su Shang looked pitifully at Gong Ming, tears streaming down her face, appearing utterly pathetic.
"G-Grandpa, why did Mother hit me? Was I too bad, disappointing her?" little Su Shang asked, bewildered.
Gong Ming, applying the ointment, paused for a moment at Su Shang's childish words. Then, he smiled and gently stroked Su Shang's head, "Little Shang did very well. Your mother is just missing your father, that's why she's angry. Little Shang will forgive Mother, won't you?"
Su Shang nodded vigorously, her bright eyes filled with earnestness. She patted her chest and promised, "When I grow up, I will protect Mother and avenge Father. I will be a little man!"
Gong Ming fell silent. No one had ever told Su Shang that she was actually a girl.
But his daughter was stubborn, and Gong Ming naturally did not want to oppose her. In comparison, causing some distress to the child of a man he already disliked seemed like the better option.
Therefore, Gong Ming did not object, merely nodding quietly.
"Then, Little Shang, remember this: when Mother is angry, you should stay away from her. However, you must still accept some lessons that are for your own good."
Gong Ming taught the child how to interact with the mentally unstable Gong Ningsi.
Su Shang nodded earnestly, her small head trying hard to remember her grandfather's words.
But sometimes, it wasn't possible to dodge.
Fearing that his daughter might accidentally kill this only lifeline, Gong Ming confiscated her whip and replaced it with a wooden stick.
"My dear daughter, if you are angry, use this to hit. As long as you don't hit the head, people usually don't die," Gong Ming instructed as Gong Ningsi was momentarily lucid.
Gong Ningsi nodded, her expression complex. "Father, don't worry. Her face bears some resemblance to Su Lang, so I won't be able to bring myself to strike too hard."
But when she saw Su Shang resting, she couldn't help but get angry. Often, as she grew angry, the stick in her hand would fall upon her.
Su Shang remembered her grandfather's words and knew she should dodge at this moment, but the more she tried to evade, the angrier Gong Ningsi became, and the more fiercely she struck.
She would often stop only when she was tired.
However, at night, Gong Ningsi would feel heartache looking at the bruised and battered Su Shang. She would personally apply medicine and hold her, apologizing.
Children crave the warmth of their parents. Even if she had been fiercely beaten moments ago, if her mother showed the slightest affection, the child would forget the pain and flock to her, seeking closeness.
Gong Ningsi was different from most people. One moment she would be doting on her child, and the next, her face would contort in a grimace as she grabbed Su Shang and asked, "Why is it only she who survived?"
Over time, as Su Shang read more books, she stopped actively seeking Gong Ningsi's affection.
During the day, she trained in martial arts with the people of the village. At night, she studied with the tutor. Her packed schedule left her with no extra energy to try and please her mother, who clearly didn't like her.
Su Shang had dressed as a boy since childhood. There were few women in the village, and no one ever told her she was a girl, so her behavior was no different from that of a boy.
Gong Ningsi was extremely demanding of Su Shang, expecting her to excel in everything. Any slight imperfection would result in a beating.
Su Shang grew up in this environment.
By the time she came of age, she was taller than Gong Ningsi. Accustomed to martial arts and beatings, she had a thick skin and a physique more robust than most men.
However, she was not bulky like a muscular strongman. Her well-proportioned body concealed immense strength.
Even though she could now defeat her mother, when Gong Ningsi produced the stick, Su Shang obediently knelt on the ground, allowing herself to be beaten and scolded.
To her, this was perfectly normal. Her mother was acting for her own good; her methods were just a bit peculiar compared to others.
Su Shang went to the capital to participate in the imperial examinations.
She had become a scholar two years prior, and now, heading to the capital, she aimed to achieve the highest rank. Through this path, she intended to investigate the truth of the past legitimately.