FBC – Chapter 163 A Hint of Seduction

Gu Hua looked at him in confusion. “What now?”

If he was going to punish her, he should just do it quickly. Why torment her like this?

Was he seriously going to make her take her pants off for a beating?

Mu Junyan looked at her tear-reddened eyes, lowered himself slowly, hands braced on either side of her waist, his gaze drifting downward.

His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.

Her pale little legs were stretched out perfectly straight.

“You… baring your legs like that—are you here to be punished, or are you trying to seduce your executioner?”

The way he drew out the end of his sentence carried a deep and teasing tone, full of implication.

Gu Hua suddenly realized what he meant, and her face instantly flushed red with shame and anger.

“You—you—you’re bullying me!”

Mu Junyan raised a brow. “I’m just stating facts. I told you to lift your outer robe, not to bare your legs. Seducing the executioner—an added offense.”

Gu Hua was furious and simply turned her head away, refusing to look at him. She even flicked her calf in defiance.

“Hit me if you want. If not, forget it!”

Mu Junyan arched an eyebrow. Getting bold now, huh? That temper’s flaring too.

Suddenly, he raised the iron whip, stirring a sharp whoosh of wind.

Startled, Gu Hua squeezed her eyes shut tightly, bracing herself—only for the whip to land on the ground instead, kicking up a thick puff of dust beneath her.

Smack!

A firm slap landed on the small of her back, right between her waist and hips.

Her whole body trembled from the impact.

As if still not satisfied, his large palm came down on her little bottom again.

“Punishing you.”

Mu Junyan’s lips curled, unable to suppress a smile. His low, raspy voice carried a subtle note of sensuality.

Gu Hua’s cheeks burned, and she turned her head in outrage to glare at him.

“You—!”

But her eyes met his, twinkling with amusement—half-smiling, half-serious. She instantly realized that this was what he meant by punishing her?

Just moments ago, she’d been fuming, determined to cut ties with him. But now… her feelings were in a muddled tangle.

The cold, tense atmosphere from before suddenly shifted into something else.

Gu Hua kept glaring, but bitterness welled up in her chest, and her heart felt tight with frustration.

She sat up, tugged her robe straight, and huffed, “So we’re not doing this punishment anymore? Fine. Then I’m leaving.”

She turned to go, but was yanked back by the arm.

“This is a military camp—you think you can come and go as you please?”

Gu Hua looked up angrily. “Then what do you want me to do? Maybe I should go out there and let your soldiers whip me instead.”

Mu Junyan raised a brow. “Which one of them would dare look at your legs? They’d risk having their eyes gouged out.”

Gu Hua felt utterly wronged, her eyes red and brimming with tears that rolled down her cheeks without hesitation. Yet she stubbornly bit her lip, refusing to sob aloud.

Mu Junyan’s heart had already melted at the sight of her. Seeing her like this, how could he keep up his cold act?

He pulled her into his arms, wrapping his long arms around her shoulders. With his head lowered, he looked down at the girl in his embrace and scolded her softly, “You’re the one feeling wronged? From Bianjing to here is a journey of a thousand miles. This place is a war zone, filled with treacherous mountain roads. Who told you to come?”

Gu Hua defended herself, “I came to deliver rations and supplies to the army.”

“Deliver rations? The court naturally allocates rations. Who told you to meddle? And if you were coming, why didn’t you inform me in advance?”

Even though his heart had softened, Mu Junyan still kept his face stern.

Gu Hua flared up again, shoved him away, and fired back in a low, angry voice.

“You think you received the court’s rations? If not for me, were you all planning to starve? Someone was planning to intercept your supplies. Of course I couldn’t let anyone find out I was delivering them. We had to reroute secretly. Even the Duke’s manor kept this from the public—and of course I couldn’t tell you. There are still three more supply convoys on the way. If you don’t want them, fine—I’ll give everything to the common people instead.”

With every word Gu Hua spoke, Mu Junyan took a step closer. Looking at the fearless little lass acting all fierce and defiant, he was both angry and amused.

He grabbed the little hand poking at his chest. “You could’ve sent a letter once you got to Juzhou, couldn’t you? Did you really need to take the risk yourself, little miss?”

Gu Hua glared at him, the momentum from earlier now gone, and she muttered in a small, sulky voice, “I just wanted to surprise you. Who knew I’d end up scaring myself instead?”

Mu Junyan’s expression darkened.

He truly wanted to give her a good scolding.

How could such a shrewd mother allow her daughter to be this reckless?

He couldn’t hold back and reprimanded in a low voice, “Do you have any idea? Even if there weren’t natural barriers, once you neared the southern border, the fifty carts of grain you were carrying would’ve been enough to make those refugees devour you whole. You think you’re capable? Capable enough to handle those starving, desperate people who have nothing left? In their eyes, there’s only food—not humanity. I’m not in the capital, no one’s keeping an eye on you, and suddenly you think you’re invincible, huh? Getting bolder and bolder! Still have the nerve to talk back?”

Gu Hua was scolded until she hung her head, not daring to breathe too loudly.

Thinking about it, everything he said was true. She had just been incredibly lucky. Otherwise, it was entirely possible that not even her bones would be left by now, devoured by those starving refugees.

And there had been mountain bandits on the road too.

The more she thought about it, the more frightened she felt.

Though the courage she had earlier to talk back had vanished, she was still a little indignant and mumbled, “But I’m standing right here in front of you, aren’t I? Why are you still yelling at me…”

“You—!” Mu Junyan was speechless with rage.

“You traveled all this way. What if something had happened to you? Where would I even go to rescue you? Even if I wanted to save you—what if I was too late?”

He had already arranged everything for her—divorce, elevation to principal wife, dowry—wasn’t every choice he gave her the best possible?

But no, she had to go and choose the most dangerous path.

Mu Junyan couldn’t hold back and flicked a finger hard against her forehead.

“Ow.” Gu Hua rubbed her head angrily, glaring at him.

“You’re still glaring at me? Life’s been too good, huh? Tired of living?”

The more Mu Junyan spoke, the angrier he became.

“Coming all the way here is bad enough, but since you were already in the military camp, why didn’t you come find me? You think with that look of yours you won’t attract attention? You really planned to spend the night here alone? Those people outside might be your guards, but they’re still brats. To others, they’re starving wolves. The military prostitutes aren’t enough to keep them sated. And you think dressing as a man makes you safe? In the eyes of some of those wolves, even delicate-looking men are tempting prey.”

Gu Hua thought back to her past life, where she had seen Mu An and the Heir of Jiang playing with male concubines, and her neck instinctively shrank back in fear.

Seeing her shriveled-up look, Mu Junyan pressed his lips tightly together, repressing a sigh.

When he’d suddenly heard she was in the camp earlier, he had panicked and rushed out like a madman. Then he saw her surrounded by a bunch of rough, burly men. He had truly wanted to drag her out on the spot and give her a harsh whipping, to teach her a proper lesson.

She had no clue how dangerous the outside world was—or how dark people’s hearts could be.

This was the first time Gu Hua had ever seen Mu Junyan lose his temper like this.

But he wasn’t wrong.

Thinking back to how bold and proud she’d been when setting out, and how scared and shaken she felt now—what a contrast.

Each time he scolded her, her head dipped a little lower, her whole demeanor obedient and meek, like she was ready to accept whatever punishment he gave her.

Seeing her like this reminded Mu Junyan of how pitiful she’d been the first time they met.

All his anger drained in an instant. He couldn’t bring himself to say another harsh word.

But he was still deeply upset.

Gu Hua kept her head bowed. When she didn’t hear any more scolding for a while, she snuck a glance up at him.

And immediately met his cold, dark eyes and stone-faced expression. Her heart skipped a beat in panic.

She quickly broke into a sweet smile, tugging at his sleeve with her little hand, and coaxed in a soft voice, “My lord, I was wrong. Please don’t be angry, alright?”

Mu Junyan kept his face blank and expressionless.

So Gu Hua simply hugged his arm, her body leaning close. Her voice grew even softer, sweeter: “Lord Duke…”

He still wore a frosty expression.

Gritting her teeth, she went all in and pressed herself against him, using the sweet, coquettish tone she’d mastered, clinging to him as she said softly, “Ziyuan~ forgive me, won’t you? Next time I’ll listen to everything you say. If you tell me to go east, I absolutely won’t go west…”

Her soft body molded perfectly against his arm, and the warmth of her touch was like a fire igniting in an instant. He almost couldn’t stop himself from punishing her right then and there.