FBC – Chapter 157 She Goes to the Military Camp

Gu Hua’s gaze fell on Pei Jinlei’s face, which was now covered with a thick beard—his original complexion no longer visible.

He looked utterly exhausted and kept coughing nonstop.

Worried, she asked, “Second Uncle Pei, are you ill?”

Pei Jinlei pulled his collar tighter. “It’s nothing, just an old ailment. Cough cough cough, cough cough cough, cough cough cough.”

Seeing how hard he was coughing, so violently he had to bend over to catch his breath, Gu Hua quickly said, “Second Uncle Pei, please get on the carriage. You’ve exhausted yourself on this journey.”

Cough cough cough. “I’m fine. Once we get to Ju Prefecture, I’ll rest.”

Gu Hua felt her heart ache as she watched him. The guards from the escort agency all looked equally worn out.

Fortunately, Ju Prefecture City was just ahead.

Their group successfully entered the city and found a large inn that could accommodate fifty carriages. Everyone rushed to wash up and eat.

Pei Jinlei took a visiting card from the Pei family, stamped with the royal merchant insignia for the winter season, and went to the magistrate’s office to inquire about Mu Junyan’s situation.

By the time everyone had eaten their fill, Pei Jinlei had returned.

“I used the Pei family’s name to ask at the magistrate’s office. They said the Duke rarely returns to Ju Prefecture City. Although there’s been a three-day ceasefire recently, Luodian’s border city is undergoing major reconstruction. On top of that, with so many displaced civilians, all the stored grain has gone to them, leaving the army short on supplies. The people of Ju Prefecture are working overtime to produce military goods and trying to gather grain to send to Luodian’s border city.”

Pei Jinlei barely finished explaining when he began coughing hard again.

Gu Hua pointed to their luggage. “Dong Hua, bring me the blue medicine bottle.”

Dong Hua fetched it.

“Second Uncle Pei, this is top-grade cough medicine. Please take some.”

Before they left, Shen Li had packed her a large assortment of medicines.

Pei Jinlei looked at the small bottle and shook his head. “It’s fine, just an old issue. I’ll grab a couple of herbal prescriptions from a pharmacy. This kind of medicine is convenient and portable—better saved for emergencies.”

“Then please go wash up, have something to eat, and rest early.”

Pei Jinlei knew who she was, but to avoid exposing her identity and risking danger, he had only referred to her as “Young Master” throughout the journey.

The convoy only knew that this person was a young master from the Duke’s residence. Gu Hua rarely interacted with them directly, so no one suspected her true gender.

“I’m fine. I’m going to check on the grain—we should deliver it to Luodian’s border city by tomorrow. They’re really short on food.”

Gu Hua watched his retreating back, still coughing, and felt deeply pained.

Some of the guards had fallen ill too.

After a full month of rushing without pause, even she and Dong Hua, who rode in the carriage the whole way, could barely hold up—let alone the others who had been riding or walking. Even the strongest would struggle.

“Second-in-command! Second-in-command!”

Suddenly, an urgent shout came from outside.

Gu Hua quickly rushed out.

Pei Jinlei had collapsed on the ground, scaring her into running over at once.

“What happened?”

“He’s had a high fever for days now. Must be completely worn out,” one of the guards said, visibly anxious.

“Hurry, get him inside and give him some warm water. I have emergency medicine.”

Dong Hua was already running over with the medicine bottle in her arms.

Amid the chaos, Pei Jinlei took the medicine Gu Hua gave him and quickly regained consciousness.

“Young Master… I’m sorry, I frightened you.”

“There’s no need for that. You’re just too exhausted,” Gu Hua replied, looking at him with worry.

A doctor from the city arrived shortly after. He took Pei Jinlei’s pulse, his brows furrowing deeply, voice full of disapproval.

“You already have a chronic cough, and now you’ve caught a chill and pushed yourself to the limit. It would be stranger if you weren’t sick. This won’t get better anytime soon. If you keep forcing yourself, you’ll be half-dead.”

Gu Hua grew anxious. “It’s that serious?”

“If this keeps up, it’ll turn into consumption.”

Everyone was shocked.

Consumption—tuberculosis—was incurable.

After the doctor left, Dong Hua went to personally prepare the medicine, leaving only Gu Hua and Pei Jinlei in the room.

Gu Hua had been deep in thought since he fainted.

Once everyone had left, she sat at the bedside and spoke softly, “Second Uncle Pei, why don’t I deliver the grain to Luodian’s border city tomorrow? I’ll go as your son, as the fifth young master of the Pei family, and take your place.”

Pei Jinlei was shocked. “What? Absolutely not! That’s outrageous!”

Gu Hua slowly tried to persuade him. “Second Uncle, you’ve seen it yourself—Luodian’s border city is in desperate need of grain. We also brought winter clothes and medicine, which they urgently need. You’re ill, and I don’t trust anyone else to go. The road ahead still takes over half a day.”

“But it’s all mountain paths—more difficult than anything we’ve traveled so far. And you’re a woman! How can you enter a military camp? If you’re discovered, the punishment is harsh!”

“It’s fine. I’ll dress as a man. We’ve encountered quite a few incidents along the way. When you were too sick to manage, I worked with the escort team’s captain to plan the route. Even when we met bandits, I faced them alongside him. I also helped with the logistics. I’m not some delicate noble lady. I can fight—especially with a dagger.”

Gu Hua smiled. “Besides, the commander of Luodian’s border army is my husband. If my identity is discovered, do you really think he’d have me flogged?”

It was true—when Pei Jinlei first met Gu Hua, he thought she was like a porcelain doll: delicate, breakable, utterly unsuitable for a rough journey. He didn’t even want to bring her for fear she might get hurt and he’d be blamed.

But along the way, her perseverance and courage had moved him.

She had done everything within her ability—chopping wood, cooking, even volunteering for the dirtiest and toughest tasks.

She was nothing like a pampered noblewoman.

The journey had been dangerous, but they had made it through safely.

Pei Jinlei also understood how crucial this batch of military grain was to Luodian’s border.

More than that, he knew why the Pei family had gone all-in—spending their wealth to purchase massive amounts of grain and supplies: they wanted to deliver relief in a time of need and earn the Duke’s favor.

The future honor or disgrace of the Pei family hinged on this mission.

Pei Jinlei had read Pei Yi’s letter, which said that Mu Junyan doted on Gu Hua deeply. Though she held the status of a favored concubine, the entire Duke’s household referred to her as Madam, and she had been married with full ceremony, as though she were the legal wife.

This proved her high status in Mu Junyan’s heart.

If Mu Junyan saw the woman he loved appear before him unexpectedly, he would undoubtedly be overjoyed and appreciate the Pei family even more.

Pei Jinlei sighed. “Then we’ll have to trouble you, Madam.”

Gu Hua beamed. “It’s no trouble. Without all of you, the grain and supplies wouldn’t have even made it here.”

Pei Jinlei lowered his voice. “Madam, the Mu family army is extremely strict. The Duke is said to be utterly impartial—even harsh on himself. If you want to see him, you must be extremely cautious. Don’t let anyone else find out who you are. Once you’ve delivered the goods, have a brief meeting and return immediately. If he knows you came, he’ll find a way to return to Ju Prefecture to meet you.”

“I understand. I don’t even have to see him this time—as long as the grain arrives, that’s what matters most.”

Still, the thought of possibly seeing Mu Junyan made her quietly happy.

But Pei Jinlei’s warning kept her on guard.

As the commander’s woman, she couldn’t be the one to break military discipline.

As long as she delivered the Pei family’s grain, Mu Junyan wouldn’t know what happened. She could catch a glimpse of him from afar and leave word that she had arrived in Ju Prefecture.

If he could come to meet her, great. If not…

At least she would have done her part.

Pei Jinlei summoned the escort team’s captain and gave him careful instructions before formally handing Gu Hua the Pei family’s command token in the captain’s presence.

“Young Master is my son—the fifth young master of the Pei family. Make sure everyone understands and doesn’t address him incorrectly.”

The captain responded, “Don’t worry, Second-in-command. I’ll send someone overnight to deliver a letter to the Luodian border camp so everything goes smoothly tomorrow.”

Back in her room, Gu Hua was too excited to sleep.

She and Dong Hua busied themselves packing—clothes and socks she had sewn for him, a large pouch of medicine Shen Li had given her…

But faced with the growing pile, she hesitated.

“Forget it. I might not even get to see him. Better not bring all this.”

Feeling deflated, Gu Hua crawled into bed. “I should get some sleep. Need to be full of energy for tomorrow morning.”

“Mm-hmm.” Dong Hua tucked her in carefully.

“You don’t need to come tomorrow. Stay here and look after Second Uncle Pei.”

“No way!” Dong Hua widened her eyes.

“The military camp doesn’t allow women. The punishment is thirty strokes of the rod. I’ll go alone—it draws less attention.”

Dong Hua was shocked.

“But…”

“No buts. I’ll be back in a day. Now sleep.” Gu Hua quickly shut her eyes.

Dong Hua puffed out her cheeks, glaring at Gu Hua as she pretended to sleep.