FBC – Chapter 193 The Dead Came Back to Life

Gu Hua’s face sank. With a sweep of her arm, she commanded: “Soldiers of the Mu family army, escort Duke Yong of the Nation and all our fallen heroes home!”

Deputy General Qi’s eyes were bloodshot, his roar hoarse and torn: “Duke Yong, fallen heroes, we’re going home!”

The soldiers stomped through the snow, voices thundering: “Duke Yong, fallen heroes, we’re going home!”

The commoners who had come to receive the coffins also wept and cried aloud: “Duke Yong, fallen heroes, we’re going home!”

For a time, the cries of grief filled the heavens and would not fade.

Deputy General Qi led the black-armored elites at the front to clear the way.

Over a dozen black-armored guards rushed to Yuan Zhongyong’s sedan chair and shouted in unison: “Out of the way!”

The sedan was instantly overturned onto the roadside. The Tianwu Army guards dared not speak, hurriedly retreating.

Mu Junyan’s coffin was placed within the central courtyard of the governor’s residence, inside a tent. The residence was already draped in white mourning banners and lit with white lanterns.

Dressed in plain mourning clothes, Gu Hua stood before the coffin, her heart boiling with blood and grief that refused to settle.

The Prefect of Ju Prefecture and Deputy General Qi stood nearby.

Forcing herself to calm down, she asked in a low voice: “Deputy General Qi, according to military regulations, has the news of Duke Yong’s death been reported to the capital?”

Deputy General Qi replied: “The death notice has already been sent by express relay, eight hundred li a day. It will take at least ten days to reach the capital. But no official military report has been filed, and the Duke Yong residence has not sent word.”

Military affairs were not her strength, nor was it her place to ask too much.

If the Duke Yong residence had not sent word, that meant the old madam still did not know.

She thought to herself—this peace delegation must be connected to the ambush against Mu Junyan and his men.

They would see who was leading the delegation, and then all would be clear.

Turning, Gu Hua gave a tearful bow to the two officials, frightening them into hurriedly returning the salute.

Her voice was hoarse: “No matter what has happened, we must give Duke Yong and the fallen heroes a proper farewell.”

Deputy General Qi, seeing her swaying yet stubbornly holding herself together, felt his heart ache.

He lowered his voice: “Madam, you need not trouble yourself. The army has rites for burying fallen soldiers. Duke Yong’s true funeral must be held in the capital, grand and proper. Here in Ju Prefecture, we will only make a simple arrangement. I will see to all of it—madam need only receive the guests.”

Gu Hua nodded. “Thank you, General Qi.”

He was just about to leave when she called him back.

“I want to change His Grace’s clothes. May I?”

Deputy General Qi froze, glancing at the coffin. “We already changed him into new clothes. But… he was burned too badly, beyond recognition. I fear it would sadden you to see.”

Hearing this, Gu Hua’s sorrow deepened.

That majestic figure of his—reduced to ashes and ruin…

Zhou Zhilan wept as she tried to persuade her: “Madam, wait until we return to the capital to change him into his burial clothes. Nothing is prepared here anyway.”

Shen Li frowned: “It’s best not to open the coffin. The body will decay faster.”

They all worried that if Gu Hua saw the corpse, she would be unable to control her grief and harm the child in her womb.

Gu Hua had no choice but to listen.

Soon, Zhou Zhilan and Chiyu helped set up the mourning hall.

Gu Hua knelt on the prayer mat, weeping as she burned paper offerings.

To spare her from exhaustion, all the people of Ju Prefecture who came to pay respects were kept outside the tent.

Yuan Zhongyong, thrown from his overturned sedan and further injured, wailed in pain, but still insisted on being carried to the residence.

Unexpectedly, the black-armored guards barred his entry, directing him to rest at the official post station instead.

He refused, shouting at the gates: “I am the imperial envoy! To obstruct me is to defy the emperor!”

Though no one present outranked him in official status, the guards stood firm at the gates, refusing him entry— crying out that his shouting would disturb Duke Yong’s spirit.

Furious, Gu Hua strode from the tent straight to the gates.

Her eyes, bloodshot and filled with killing intent, glared as she snapped: “If you don’t shut your mouth, I’ll have your lips sewn shut—every last one of you!”

Yuan Zhongyong was so startled by her ferocity that he stammered: “Y-you… dare? I am an imperial official… what are you trying to—”

At that moment, Chiyu and Shen Li stepped forward together. Chiyu clamped Yuan Zhongyong’s jaw open, and Shen Li swiftly tossed something into his mouth.

Yuan Zhongyong’s throat instantly burned like fire. He tried to curse, but discovered he could make no sound.

Gu Hua swept the crowd with an icy gaze: “This is Ju Prefecture. If anyone dares disturb Duke Yong’s spirit again, I swear you’ll never leave here alive.”

The Tianwu Army didn’t dare utter a word.

There were only about a dozen of them—no way they would fight the Mu army.

Gu Hua, unwilling to see Yuan Zhongyong again, flicked her hand. “Take him to the post station.”

Several Tianwu soldiers quickly carried him away.

Just as Gu Hua turned back, a flicker of a familiar figure caught her eye.

“Chiyan?”

Chiyu followed her gaze and saw a black shadow vanish into the night.

He whispered: “It really was him.”

“When did he come to Ju Prefecture?” Gu Hua asked, puzzled.

“I don’t know. I never received word.”

If he was here, why not show himself?

But Gu Hua had no mind to dwell on it. Her heart was clogged with sorrow.

“Sister Zhilan, please guard here. I don’t want anyone disturbing me.”

She returned to the coffin, knelt again, burning offerings as she cried out:

“Mu Junyan, I still can’t believe you’re gone. I tried everything to change this ending. I trained in martial arts, studied commerce, learned governance—but why did it still end this way? I never even had the chance to stand by your side before you left!”

Weeping bitterly, she didn’t notice the curtain behind the coffin.

A man stood there, fists clenched tight, knuckles white.

“No matter how much paper money I burn, will you really be reborn? I’m just a weak woman, but I’ve tried to be strong. I wanted to stand beside you, to face demons and monsters together. But I haven’t learned enough yet—and now you’re gone. What about our child? They want nothing more than to destroy the Mu family’s bloodline. How can I protect your only heir?”

The more she spoke, the more her heart broke. She collapsed onto the mat, sobbing.

Suddenly, a pair of black boots appeared before her. A man bent down, lifting her into his arms.

Startled, she almost screamed, but when she saw the familiar face so close, the cry stuck in her throat, her body freezing stiff.

The dead… had risen?

She stared, dumbfounded, into Mu Junyan’s unwavering gaze. Her mind went blank.

He looked at her, heart trembling, holding her carefully, afraid to press too hard against her belly.

Seeing her terror, Mu Junyan felt helpless.

Softening his voice, he asked gently: “You’re with child?”

Gu Hua’s tear-wet lashes trembled. Stammering, she said: “Y-you…”

Mu Junyan sighed, whispering: “Your crying brought me back to life.”

Gu Hua: “…”

Only after a long while did she regain her senses. Tentatively, she reached out, pinching his cheek.

“You’re not dead? You’re really not dead?”

Mu Junyan made a hush gesture. Gu Hua instantly understood.

In a tiny whisper, she asked: “You faked your death?”

Mu Junyan blinked and nodded.

Gu Hua threw her arms around his neck, wailing as she cried into him.

Mu Junyan’s heart melted completely. He stroked her back softly, comforting her.

But the more Gu Hua thought about it, the angrier she became. He had frightened both her and their child half to death for an entire day and night. And he hadn’t even warned her beforehand!

Her anger and grievance grew. She raised her small fists and pounded his back. After a few blows, she heard his muffled grunt.

Her crying stopped instantly. Anxiously, in a whisper, she asked: “You’re injured?”

Mu Junyan looked aggrieved. “Burn wounds.”

Tears streamed down Gu Hua’s face as she gazed at him. The more she looked, the more her sorrow overflowed. Suddenly, she burst into loud sobs.

Mu Junyan: “…”

How was he supposed to comfort her now?

To make the act convincing, to deceive certain people, he had been forced to stage his death with extreme secrecy.

Apart from Deputy General Qi and Chiyan’s scouts, no one knew.

Outside the tent, Chiyu and Zhou Zhilan listened to Gu Hua’s heart-rending cries, their own hearts heavy with sorrow.

The madam was too pitiful.

Barely pregnant—and already told her husband had died in battle.