FBC – Chapter 175 Teasing

Mu Junyan’s official residence in Juzhou was not large. The front consisted of the military affairs office and a training ground, while the rear held the main courtyard and the guest courtyard.

The main courtyard was on the left, the guest courtyard on the right, with a small pond in between, decorated with several modest rockeries and a simple pavilion by the water.

A covered corridor by the pond connected the two courtyards.

The entire residence was plainly arranged—at a glance, it was clearly a place where a general handled official business.

Before Gu Hua arrived, Mu Junyan had already released a carrier pigeon, instructing the people in the residence to prepare new bedding, daily necessities for women, and several sets of ready-made men’s clothing suited to her height.

Though everything was simple, Gu Hua was deeply moved. She did not mind it at all.

After a simple dinner and a comfortable bath, the fatigue that had built up over the past month was finally eased.

It was still early. With her hair not yet completely dry, Gu Hua found a leisure book on the shelf titled Records of Juzhou.

It described Juzhou’s local customs, scenery, and folk tales—quite interesting, and a good way to learn about the region’s ways.

She and Dong Hua sat together on the soft couch, leaning against a large bolster, each holding a book and reading with relish.

“Madam!” Dong Hua suddenly cried out.

Gu Hua shot her a glare. “Why are you making such a fuss? You’ll scare people to death.”

Especially since there were only the two of them here, Gu Hua was already a little tense.

Dong Hua leaned closer, holding up a book for her to see. “This book says that those chaotic tribes and small states in Dali Prefecture are skilled at raising terrifying insects—and making poisons. It says those bugs are extremely tiny, so small that ordinary people can’t even see them. They can crawl into your ears or nose. Eek, that’s so scary.”

Gu Hua felt her scalp prickle just listening to it.

Before coming here, Shen Li had already told her that poisonous insects were common in this region, and had given her many antidotes.

Dong Hua said excitedly, “They call those bugs ‘gu.’”

“Witchcraft—gu sorcery?” Gu Hua widened her eyes.

Before the founding of Great Liang, that previous dynasty had suffered a calamity of gu sorcery. The crown prince, once hailed as Heaven’s favored son, was accused of practicing gu magic and hanged himself together with his empress mother. When the truth was later uncovered, the emperor was stricken with grief and ordered gu sorcery strictly forbidden. But the damage had already cut to the root—the state declined and could not be saved.

After that, such things gradually disappeared from the Central Plains.

“Yes, yes, gu sorcery. Their most powerful gu masters are so terrifying that even their own king fears them.”

“We just need to avoid them. Our Great Liang doesn’t have these filthy things.”

“Mm… just thinking about it is frightening.”

Dong Hua quickly closed the book and prepared to find another leisure read.

“Madam.” Chi Yu appeared silently outside the window.

There were no women in the residence—only attendants and guards. For convenience, Gu Hua wore men’s inner clothes with an outer robe over them.

Hearing the voice, she pushed the window open. “Come in and speak.”

Chi Yu hesitated.

Gu Hua lowered her voice. “Lest there be eavesdroppers over the wall—come in. It’s fine.”

In a place like this, one could not be overly fastidious. For Chi Yu to come at this hour, he must have found something.

Chi Yu entered with his head lowered, not daring to look at Gu Hua on the couch.

“This subordinate has found it. Zhuohua’s household registration records list her as a native of Juzhou. Her real name is Zhao Yanj i. She is not from the Central Plains—she is of the Lemo tribe.”

Gu Hua was startled. “You mean she’s from the opposing Dali Prefecture?”

“Yes—and no. Along the southern border of Great Liang, in small towns and villages, there are also families from Dali, the Lemo, and the Nama tribes. After intermarrying with Great Liang people, they can obtain Liang household registration. Zhao Yanji’s mother was of the Lemo tribe; her father was a Great Liang merchant. After her father died early, her mother took her into a brothel.”

“There’s more. She has a younger sister named Zhao Yunji, who disappeared many years ago. Based on what we found in Bianjing, it’s very likely that she is Yao Yao.”

Gu Hua’s face changed drastically.

Did Zhao Yanji know that Yao Yao was already dead?

Judging from her earlier words, it seemed she knew everything.

“They must be people from the Yifengtang. Perhaps the prefect’s murder is related to them! Arrest them immediately!”

“They’ve already been arrested. Their brothel has also been sealed, and everyone has been taken into custody. They’re being interrogated now.”

Only then did Gu Hua feel slightly relieved.

Chi Yu frowned. “Madam, Juzhou is unstable. Perhaps you should return to Bianjing?”

Gu Hua hesitated.

She desperately wanted to help Mu Junyan. She was terrified that he would die in battle as he had in her previous life. Even if she was powerless to change fate, being closer to him—helping him just a little more—would be enough.

But she also knew that staying here might distract him. And now, with Zhao Yanji and Yao Yao’s relationship added into the mix…

Things had become complicated.

She wondered where Ji Xuanyu was now—had he also come to Juzhou?

Her thoughts were in turmoil.

As the two fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts, a burst of noisy shouting and cursing suddenly came from outside.

They exchanged a glance.

“I’ll go take a look,” Chi Yu said.

As soon as Chi Yu stepped out, he ran into attendants from the residence rushing over, whispering urgently to Chi Yan.

Chi Yan glanced toward Gu Hua’s side, said nothing, waved the attendants away, and walked off with them.

Gu Hua frowned. Could it be that Yuan Zhongyong was making trouble again?

“Dong Hua, hurry and help me do my hair. Just put it up simply.”

Gu Hua slipped the dagger Mu Junyan had given her into her belt.

Dong Hua quickly took a wooden comb, gathered her hair into a simple bun, secured it with a wooden hairpin, and the two of them headed out.

Stepping out of the main courtyard and onto the corridor, they saw a group of people opposite them—reeking of alcohol, shouting and hurling insults.

Gu Hua and Dong Hua walked over. Chi Yu stood grim-faced with the guards, blocking Yuan Zhongyong and his group of drunken men. Both sides were on edge, but Chi Yu’s people restrained themselves—no matter how much the others shouted, they stood firm like a wall, unmoving and silent.

After all, Yuan Zhongyong was an imperial-appointed supervising officer. If something major happened, the Duke would bear responsibility.

Gu Hua asked one of the attendants standing nearby, flustered and at a loss, “What happened?”

“Reporting to Madam, Lord Yuan ordered this servant to prepare a feast at the most famous restaurant in Juzhou and deliver it here. They were eating and drinking happily at first. But then Lord Yuan asked why the singing girls hadn’t come. This servant said… Madam had dismissed them. Lord Yuan flew into a rage, smashed the feast, and wrecked everything he could in the guest courtyard.”

Gu Hua’s gaze turned cold.

So he thought a woman like her was easy to bully?

Still, she didn’t want to escalate things. Once these drunkards made enough noise, they would naturally go to sleep.

She asked, “Aren’t they supposed to go to the military camp tomorrow?”

“They originally said they’d leave at daybreak, but with how much they’ve drunk, they probably won’t be able to leave until noon.”

“Then let them be. If they want to drink, let them drink their fill—drinking themselves to death would be best.”

If this group went to the military camp, they would only cause trouble. Going later would be better.

“Oh, and prepare some sobering soup. Let them drink it when they wake up tomorrow. They can neglect their duties, but they must not cause trouble for the Duke.”

As women, Gu Hua and Dong Hua tangling with a bunch of drunkards was unwise, so she decided to ignore them.

Just as she turned to leave, both sides suddenly drew blades. Chi Yu’s people kept their swords sheathed, only blocking and defending without striking back. The other side was fierce but lacking in skill, unable to gain the upper hand.

Yuan Zhongyong shouted himself hoarse in fury.

Seeing the situation about to spiral out of control, Gu Hua sighed helplessly and hurried back over.

“Stop! Drawing weapons in the Duke of Yong’s residence—do you know you’re violating the law?!”

Yuan Zhongyong, drunk out of his mind, staggered with a sword in hand. In his hazy stupor, he suddenly saw Gu Hua running toward them under the moonlight, looking like an immortal descending from the heavens. His eyes lit up at once.

Pointing at her, he slurred, “Fine, no singing girls. Then you—you come serve me!”

“Insolence!” Chi Yu could no longer hold back.

Gu Hua didn’t bother wasting words on him. She drew the dagger from her waist and charged forward ferociously.

Chi Yu hurriedly drew his sword and moved to protect her at her side.