FBC – Chapter 188 Colluding with the Enemy

Gu Hua flipped through the account books inside, and the contents were utterly shocking.

Not only were there records of the Jiang family, but also the Yuan family and other powerful clans—all proof of their dealings with the Yifeng Hall.

“Sister Zhilan, look at this.”

Gu Hua didn’t understand much about court politics. At first glance, the ledgers seemed like ordinary trade records.

If she didn’t know Yifeng Hall’s true identity, she would never have connected these entries to anything suspicious.

As Zhou Zhilan skimmed through them, her brows furrowed tightly. “The Four Great Families actually dared to secretly trade weapons and raw materials used for minting coins—this is sheer audacity!”

Gu Hua gasped. “Ah? How can you tell?”

Even though she wasn’t well-versed, she had read in miscellaneous books that copper, tin, and lead—used for weapons and coinage—were resources strictly controlled by the court.

Smuggling these minerals was a capital offense.

Zhou Zhilan pointed to one entry: “Here, the Jiang family supposedly sold Yifeng Hall a batch of wooden crates from Censhui in Shaozhou. But Censhui is known for producing copper—what wooden crates? And look, the recorded weight for each crate during transport is far too heavy for wood. That can only be copper! They used ‘wooden crates’ as a cover for trading copper ore!”

The more she explained, the more furious she became. “How dare they!”

Gu Hua felt a chill in her heart.

But with just these ledgers, it wasn’t enough to bring down the Jiang clan.

More witnesses and evidence would be needed.

“There’s also a letter.” Zhou Zhilan pulled a letter from beneath the ledgers and handed it to Gu Hua.

The envelope had once been sealed with wax, now already broken open.

She drew out the letter and, upon reading its contents, her face drained of color. “Sister Zhilan, look—this letter mentions Mu Juncheng and Mu Junfeng!”

Mu Juncheng was Mu Junyan’s eldest brother, the former heir of Duke Yong.

Mu Junfeng was his second brother.

Five years ago, during a battle, the two of them were trapped in a valley and died in combat.

Zhou Zhilan leaned closer. When she saw the contents clearly, her expression changed drastically.

“Heavens! That battle five years ago—they were betrayed!”

A cold shiver ran down Gu Hua’s spine.

“Betrayed?”

Zhou Zhilan quickly took the letter back, folded it neatly, and slipped it into the envelope. She cast cautious glances around, making sure no one was near.

In a whisper at Gu Hua’s ear: “This matter must not be spread. We’ll figure out how to act once we return to the capital.”

Gu Hua nodded and hurriedly put the ledgers and the letter back into the wooden box.

Still, a doubt nagged her. “But… would the Jiang clan know about the existence of these?”

That was exactly Zhou Zhilan’s worry. She nodded gravely. “Quite possibly. Who told you about these?”

Gu Hua’s voice grew hoarse. “Brother Ji told me before he died. He only told me. I haven’t even had time to tell Ziyuan.”

“That’s good.”

Zhou Zhilan hugged the box to her chest, glanced around for a hiding place but found none. “I’d better keep this. If it stays by your side, it could bring you great trouble.”

Gu Hua gripped her anxiously. “I don’t know when Ziyuan will return victorious… If I tell him about this, surely he’ll want to avenge his two brothers?”

Zhou Zhilan comforted her: “You’re with child—don’t worry. The Old Madam was so concerned that after you’d been gone just five days, she secretly sent me, Dong Hua, and Dong Qing to you. Luckily, we came. Otherwise, who would take care of you and the baby? Remember, nothing is more important than you and the child.”

Gu Hua stroked her belly, forcing down her anxiety. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. How’s Dong Hua?”

“She’s out of danger.”

Gu Hua finally breathed easier.

In this life, she was determined to protect her child and to protect the child’s father as well.

But she was uneasy.

She had never expected that what Brother Ji entrusted to her would be something so critical.

“Sister Zhilan, please call Chi Yu in.”

The ever-present Chi Yu entered, noticing Gu Hua’s pale face. Alarmed, he asked, “Madam, are you feeling unwell?”

For reasons she couldn’t explain, Gu Hua’s heart was filled with unease. She hesitated before saying, “Before he died, Ji Xuanyu told me the Jiang clan had repeatedly tried to harm the Mu family army. I’m very worried about Ziyuan. Could you find a way to send word to him, to be extremely cautious?”

Zhou Zhilan had been worried she might blurt out everything directly to Chi Yu. That would not only shake the army’s morale but might also mislead Duke Yong.

But hearing Gu Hua phrase it this way, she felt relieved.

Chi Yu exhaled softly. “Please rest assured, Madam. The Lord has fought countless battles and is always cautious.”

Gu Hua wasn’t sure if she should say more. The battle five years ago—if it truly was betrayal—then now was not the time to tell Mu Junyan.

She exchanged a look with Zhou Zhilan and held her tongue.

Instead, she asked tentatively: “Chi Yu, in Juzhou City, is there anyone knowledgeable about court affairs—a strategist?”

Chi Yu thought a moment. “There is one, very skilled. But… he’s imprisoned.”

“Who is he?”

“He was once an aide to Juzhou’s Prefect. Five years ago, he colluded with the enemy and betrayed the nation.”

Again—five years ago?

“Chi Yu, do you know the details of that battle, when Ziyuan’s two brothers died? Could you tell me?”

Chi Yu replied: “That year, the Lord split forces with the two generals. The Lord led the elites on a surprise raid of the enemy camp, while the Heir Apparent and the Second General were tasked with encircling them in the Heavenly Ridge Mountains. But the Prefect betrayed them, leaking the plan to the enemy. The Lord’s raid met an ambush—though he broke through with difficulty. Meanwhile, the Heir Apparent and Second General’s troops marched into their encirclement and were also ambushed.”

His voice grew hoarse. “The Heavenly Ridge was easy to defend, hard to attack. The narrow pass could be held by a single man against ten thousand. Blocked front and rear, the enemy dared not face the Mu army head-on, so they only trapped them. Then, with snowstorms and hunger, every attempt to break out failed. Finally, the enemy hurled down stones from above… When the Lord arrived, the twenty-thousand men were all dead.”

Gu Hua’s hands clenched tightly, her heart pounding with dread.

Zhou Zhilan’s eyes reddened. “I was in Juzhou then too. My brother was gravely injured in that very battle.”

“After returning to the city, the Lord fell ill for three whole days. Once awake, he immediately sent scouts to investigate. In the end, the Prefect was exposed, and the Lord had him torn apart by five horses in fury. The Prefect’s aides fled—except one. He stayed behind, waiting to be captured. He spoke with the Lord for an entire hour. In the end, the Lord didn’t kill him. He’s been imprisoned ever since.”

“Take me to him.”

Gu Hua stood up. “Sister Zhilan, please come with me.”

“You mustn’t.” Chi Yu and Zhou Zhilan spoke at once.

Chi Yu insisted, “That man is deeply cunning. The prison is dark and foul—it’s not suitable for you.”

But Gu Hua could not be swayed.

She needed to understand court affairs. She needed to know more.

She must become someone who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Mu Junyan—not just a fragile vine clinging to a man.

If a traitor’s aide could make Mu Junyan keep him alive all these years, then perhaps he had true ability.

But the fact that he had never yielded also spoke volumes.

“Take me there.” Gu Hua fastened her cloak, her gaze stubbornly fixed on Chi Yu.

Zhou Zhilan, knowing the gravity of the situation and sharing the Lord’s worries, put on her own cloak and supported Gu Hua. “Let Madam go. We’ll accompany her—it will be fine.”

Seated in the carriage, Gu Hua’s mind kept racing, thinking how she should speak when she saw him.

She needed someone like that at her side. Could she perhaps win him over?

“Chi Yu, do you know much about this man?”

Chi Yu nodded. “I know a little.”