FBC – Chapter 125 Farewell

Gu Hua looked up at Mu Junyan and said softly, “Ziyuan, although Gu Wanru impersonated me to secure the engagement, she didn’t know the truth. She and Mu An are already husband and wife, and she even bore him a child. Can you reconsider divorcing her?”

“Alright, I’ll listen to you.”

Gu Yuan and Wang Heng both let out a sigh of relief.

As long as Gu Wanru wasn’t divorced, everything else could be negotiated.

Besides, with Gu Hua maintaining ties with the Duke’s household, the relationship could still be preserved.

Mu An grew anxious. “Father, why are you listening to this cheap concubine? I’m your son!”

Mu Junyan’s face turned cold. “She is my wife. Watch your manners!”

Gu Hua had no time to deal with Mu An today.

She didn’t want to see any of these people for even a second more, or she might lose control and kill someone.

She turned to Gu Yuan and the others. “Since everything’s settled, you may leave. See them out!”

“Hua’er…” Madam Wang sobbed softly.

Gu Hua turned a deaf ear and ordered, “Dong Hua, escort Gu Wanru back to Jinxiu Pavilion. Chiyan, lock Concubine Pei up.”

Forcing Gu Yuan not to divorce his wife wasn’t out of some lingering familial affection—it was for the sake of Gu Ruiwen and Gu Jinwen, the two brothers.

If Madam Wang were cast aside, Gu Yuan would surely take another wife, and those two boys would end up like she did—children without a mother.

Naturally, she wouldn’t go easy on those who hurt her, but she also didn’t want to hurt the innocent.

But with that, Gu Hua turned and left with Mu Junyan.

“Still not leaving? Embarrassing yourself here?” Gu Yuan glared at her in disgust.

Madam Wang stammered as she was supported out by Granny Zhou.

Mu Junyan held Gu Hua’s cold hand in silence, walking slowly with her toward Wenhan Pavilion.

Gu Hua said nothing, but silent tears streamed down her cheeks.

The watchman’s drum for the second watch echoed in the distance.

Wenhan Pavilion was just ahead.

Unable to hold back any longer, Gu Hua turned and threw herself into Mu Junyan’s arms, clinging tightly to his waist as she sobbed.

Mu Junyan’s heart ached for her. He gently stroked her back, soothing her.

“You did great today. You took down two entire families on your own.”

Hearing that, Gu Hua’s sobs halted. She looked up and glared at him.

“You’re mocking me.”

Mu Junyan raised an eyebrow. “You dare talk to me like that now?”

Gu Hua pouted and sniffled, resting her face against his chest and muttering, “If you hadn’t found all the evidence and witnesses for me, I wouldn’t have been able to beat them.”

“You got snot and tears all over my clothes.”

Gu Hua blinked and straightened up to check—sure enough, she had.

Her cheeks flushed, and she glared at him.

“I just wanted to cry in your arms.”

Oh? She dared to glare at him?

Mu Junyan chuckled, then suddenly scooped her up into his arms. The little woman squeaked in surprise and quickly wrapped her arms around his neck.

“What are you doing?”

Mu Junyan replied solemnly, “Tonight is our wedding night. I helped you put on quite a show—you owe me.”

Gu Hua blinked. “How should I repay you?”

Mu Junyan held her tightly, brushing his nose against hers slick with sweat, and whispered, “No sleeping. I’m afraid you’ll be worn out.”

Gu Hua blushed deeply and shyly buried her face into his neck, murmuring, “Whatever you say, my lord.”

Truthfully, she wasn’t in the mood.

But Mu Junyan had been so good to her—she couldn’t ruin their wedding night.

Inside the bridal chamber—

The red candles flickered. Behind the red gauze canopy, shadows intertwined.

Mu Junyan pressed his beautiful bride into the bed, kissing her over and over.

Only when she melted in his arms like water did he stop, pulling her into his embrace.

He leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Sleep.”

Gu Hua murmured in a daze, curling up softly in his arms.

That confrontation earlier had drained her—not with swords and blades, but with an exhaustion even heavier than physical combat.

Betrayed and abandoned by her family, with her biological mother too afraid to publicly acknowledge her, Gu Hua’s heart was riddled with wounds.

She had no strength left to cope with the spirited and intense Mu Junyan.

Yet, to express her gratitude, she had forced herself to respond to him, but once her mental defenses collapsed, her entire being gave out.

Mu Junyan restrained himself; his kisses were meant only to comfort her.

Faintly, the beat of the night watch drum at the beginning of the hour of Yin (3–5 AM) could be heard.

Outside the room, Chi Yu paced anxiously. The time for his lord’s departure was drawing near.

The lord had strictly ordered not to let Gu Hua know about his early morning expedition, fearing it would interfere with her handling of family affairs.

Dong Mo and the others had long since prepared all the luggage for the campaign, and the Black Armored Army was already waiting outside the city, ready for orders.

The departure time was set by the Emperor himself—there could be no delay.

Mu Junyan gently laid the sleeping woman in his arms down, carefully tucking the blanket around her.

His eyes lingered on her lips—still slightly damp and pink from his kiss—then at her pale face. Unable to resist, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her brow.

As he stepped out of the main room, Dong Mo and the others were already waiting, quickly helping him into his armor.

Zhou Chunyu was also waiting outside.

As Mu Junyan walked, he gave Zhou Chunyu instructions.

The one he was most worried about was Gu Hua.

Her family matters were still unresolved—he had no idea how she planned to deal with the Pei family or Gu Wanru, and then there was Mu An…

And… Ji Xuanyu.

Now that this man had shown up, he couldn’t afford to let down his guard.

Mu Junyan went over every possible contingency with Zhou Chunyu in detail, and Zhou Chunyu nodded earnestly with determination.

At the entrance, the Old Madam was already standing in the courtyard, waiting.

“Mother, why are you up so early?” Mu Junyan quickly stepped forward to support her. “It’s chilly, be careful.”

The Old Madam smiled gently and straightened the silver armor on him as she said, “I’ve always personally seen you and your father off to war.”

“Mother…” Mu Junyan felt a deep wave of guilt.

She patted his chest. “This time, you can leave without worry. I now have a daughter-in-law to keep me company.”

Mu Junyan also smiled. “If Mother truly likes her, that’s wonderful. But if she ever wants to leave—”

“Oh enough, when did you become such a nag?”

The Old Madam gave him a look. “Your precious little wife is being well protected by me. Just come back safe.”

She pulled him down and whispered in his ear, “It’s not a bad idea to consider giving me a grandchild. Let me have the chance to dote on one—then I can die without regrets.”

Mu Junyan stiffened, then looked into his mother’s tear-filled but smiling eyes, and his heart softened.

In truth, it had crossed his mind over the past few days.

Before, it was because he had never met the right person. Now that he had, he finally had something—and someone—to hold on to. He finally had dreams.

“Mother, I will return victorious.”

“Good.”

The Old Madam waved her hand. “Go now.”

She watched as her son mounted his horse. Smiling, her eyes gradually welled with tears.

She had watched many sons of the Mu family die bravely in battle, until only one remained.

Because of that, she and Mu Junyan were determined to fulfill the late Duke’s dream: to crush the Western tribes that eyed Da Liang’s lands with greedy ambition, to make them bow before Da Liang, and to keep fighting until the entire Mu family had perished on the battlefield, with no one left to lead an army.

Yet in court, the ministers led by the Jiang clan continued to oppose the war, repeatedly petitioning the Emperor to resolve conflict through marriage alliances and peace talks.

If Da Liang yielded, then what would become of the Mu family and all the soldiers who had died defending the border?

These people constantly watched the Duke of Yong’s residence, slandering to the Emperor that Mu Junyan held too much military power, wielded influence like a storm—too dangerous to ignore.

Emperors had always been suspicious by nature.

The Old Madam remained in Bianjing, essentially as a hostage.

A hostage feigning madness and foolishness would reassure the Emperor more and lull those circling predators into a false sense of ease.

Yet neither mother nor son had anticipated one unexpected variable.

Gu Hua—like a butterfly—had suddenly fluttered into their lives.

Seeing her son smile more and become considerate warmed the Old Madam’s heart immensely.

What mother truly wishes for her child to seek death?

What mother doesn’t hope for a grandchild one day?

Gu Hua suddenly awoke from her dream, reaching out—only to find no one beside her.

The bed was cold.

A terrible thought struck her, and she shouted toward the outside, “Dong Hua! Dong Qing!”

The two maids lifted the curtain and entered.

“Madam, you’re awake.”

Gu Hua ignored the formalities and quickly asked, “Where is the lord?”

“He has departed for the campaign.”

Gu Hua was stunned. “Departed? When?”

“He left precisely at the hour of Yin.”

“Why didn’t you wake me? Hurry, help me change!” Gu Hua jumped out of bed.

The two maids fumbled in panic, while Gu Hua quickly tied her hair up loosely and grabbed a silk scarf to wrap it. Holding up her skirts, she dashed out.

“Prepare a carriage! The fastest horses!”

So he had gone to war today… and she hadn’t known.

She hadn’t packed his things for him as a proper wife should. Hadn’t seen him off.

Instead, she had made him spend the entire previous day with her—he hadn’t eaten properly, hadn’t rested well…

Even on their wedding night, he had only held her and gone to sleep. He hadn’t touched her.

He had treated her so well, and now Gu Hua felt deeply ashamed.

As she ran, tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.