FBC – Chapter 194 Reluctant to Part

Mu Junyan felt both helpless and thrilled—he hadn’t expected that they would actually have a child.

He cupped Gu Hua’s face and whispered softly by her ear: “Don’t cry so hard. Be careful of our son.”

Gu Hua’s sobbing stopped abruptly. She pushed him away and glared at him angrily: “What, a daughter won’t do?”

“Yes, yes, yes—sons or daughters, I’ll love them all.” Mu Junyan chuckled sheepishly.

Gu Hua shot him a sidelong glance. “And you used to swear you’d never marry or have children. Who knows if you even like kids for real?”

Mu Junyan quickly pulled her into his arms. “That was only because I hadn’t met the one I loved yet.”

Her cheeks flushed red. She glanced outside, then let out two fake sobs for cover.

In a soft, cautious voice, she asked: “What do you plan to do? And what do I need to do?”

Looking into her apricot eyes darting around like a startled kitten, Mu Junyan couldn’t help but peck her lips.

“I hadn’t planned on letting you know. I meant to wait until we returned to the capital to tell you. But seeing you cry so miserably… my heart was in chaos, and I couldn’t help but show myself.”

Caught off guard by his kiss, Gu Hua blushed, then quickly faked a couple more sobs, worried someone outside might hear.

Mu Junyan sighed. “This isn’t a good place to talk. Once you’re tired of crying, go back to your room.”

Gu Hua understood.

Watching him disappear again, her heart thumped wildly, nerves mixing with relief.

At last, fate had changed. Their child was alive, her husband too had survived.

When night finally fell, Gu Hua returned to her room. After bathing and changing, she asked Dong Hua and the others to light two braziers, then ordered the kitchen to prepare a nourishing medicinal meal along with three or four of Mu Junyan’s favorite dishes. She set out two sets of bowls and chopsticks, then dismissed everyone to guard the door, not letting anyone else in.

Zhou Zhilan had offered to stay with her, but Gu Hua refused.

They thought she was preparing these dishes to offer sacrifice to her lord. Though they pitied her, no one dared disturb her grief.

After a long wait, Mu Junyan emerged quietly from some hidden corner.

Seeing him in a close-fitted dark robe, with a padded vest over it and a wide belt cinched tight, Gu Hua panicked.

She rushed over and began untying his belt, scolding softly: “You’re still wearing such tight clothes when you’re injured? If the wounds fester and stick to the fabric, what will you do then?”

Mu Junyan chuckled but didn’t stop her, letting her undo his clothing.

But when she removed his inner robe and saw his back covered with crisscrossing wounds, she froze.

Realization struck—he had tricked her again.

She hurriedly helped him put the robe back on, glaring fiercely: “You lied to me again!”

Mu Junyan looked innocent. “I thought my wife wanted to see my abs.”

Gu Hua’s face turned scarlet. She pounded his chest with her little fist. “You only know how to bully me! You lied, you faked your death, you let me grieve until my heart broke. Weren’t you afraid you’d harm your child?”

Tears welled up again as she spoke.

Distressed, Mu Junyan pulled her into his embrace, gently stroking her back in comfort. “If I hadn’t seen you crying so hard, worrying you’d hurt yourself, I wouldn’t have shown myself.”

“But… you’ve still got new wounds. Why haven’t you bandaged them properly?”

“They’re just surface injuries. Medicine is enough.”

“But the whip marks still haven’t healed!”

“Truly, it’s fine. I’ve still got plenty of strength. Want me to prove it?” he teased.

Gu Hua glared through teary eyes. “You—!”

Mu Junyan lifted her chin, teasing again: “Alright, alright, I’m just cheering you up. Smile for me. I don’t want our child born a little crybaby.”

Gu Hua was speechless.

She knew he was deliberately trying to lighten her mood, but the sight of his body covered in old and new scars made her heart ache terribly.

“Really, it’s nothing. I’m a man of the battlefield—my wounds heal quickly.”

Seeing her tears threaten to fall again, he quickly brushed them away.

Gu Hua took a deep breath and said seriously: “Do you know what kind of delegation has come from the court for peace talks?”

“I received word from the capital, but I don’t yet know who leads it.”

Gripping his arm tightly, she whispered anxiously: “And five years ago—your brothers’ deaths weren’t as simple as they seemed. It was Prince Ping’an who wrote to the local prefect, betraying your military plans. That’s why you were ambushed.”

Mu Junyan stared at her.

He hadn’t wanted her burdened with these filthy power struggles. But since she was already bound so tightly to him, she had to grow stronger—otherwise, there would come a day when he couldn’t protect her.

Sighing, he pulled her onto his lap, encircling her waist. “Hua’er, you know I’ve prepared a way out for you. You could—”

“No!” Gu Hua cut him off sharply, her face dark.

“Don’t even think of persuading me to leave you! I won’t let our child grow up without a father.”

She dreaded that he might utter words of divorce or separation. At this point, their fates were tied together.

And now there was the child.

Having grown up without her parents’ love, she refused to let her child endure the same.

Mu Junyan’s heart trembled. He couldn’t help but kiss her lips, silencing her words.

Their lips met, both trembling, the world around them falling silent until only their mingled breaths remained.

Only after a long time did Mu Junyan reluctantly release her. He gazed at her dazed, hazy eyes, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and whispered with both tenderness and conflict:  “Hua’er, if you choose to stay by my side, you must be ready for what that means.”

Still dizzy from his kiss, Gu Hua steadied herself with difficulty. “I know. I’ve thought it through.”

For the first time, Gu Hua truly feared losing him.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head against his chest. “Don’t worry. I’ll do my best.”

Mu Junyan stroked her hair tenderly. “You don’t have to try too hard. You just need to take care of your health and safely give birth to our child.”

Gu Hua nodded. “Then you must take care of yourself too. Come on, let’s eat. The child is hungry.”

Just then, her stomach growled audibly.

Mu Junyan laughed. “Hungry already?”

Gu Hua pouted and nodded honestly. “I’ve barely eaten all day.”

Without hesitation, Mu Junyan scooped her up and set her at the table, pulling a chair beside her.

He personally served her a bowl of soup. “Drink this first.”

When she finished, he filled her bowl with rice.

“No matter what happens, you mustn’t starve yourself. And especially not the child.”

As he spoke, he picked out a piece of fish, carefully removing the bones before placing it in her bowl.

Gu Hua obediently ate, glancing at him with puffed cheeks as she mumbled: “You’re only worried about starving the child, aren’t you?”

Mu Junyan gently tapped her forehead. “I’m most worried about starving you.”

Gu Hua gave a soft “oh” and happily ate more.

“You eat too. These are all the dishes you like—I had them made especially for you.”

Mu Junyan watched her with a smile, cheeks full like a hungry little rabbit, chewing non-stop. She looked so adorable.

As a soldier, he had never cared for food—on campaign he ate whatever was at hand.

But ever since Gu Hua entered his life, meals had become something to savor. Watching her eat so joyfully made even his own appetite improve.

Meanwhile, Zhou Zhilan, uneasy, approached the door.

She lifted the curtain slightly, but the carved rosewood screen inside blocked her view. All she could hear was the soft clinking of chopsticks and bowls.

Puzzled, she thought—it didn’t sound like Gu Hua was eating alone.

“You should eat this. Don’t you like it?”

Hearing Gu Hua’s voice, Zhou Zhilan froze in shock.

Was Gu Hua hallucinating from missing her lord so desperately?

But afraid of disrupting her mistress’s grief-stricken illusion, she dared not enter, worried it might harm both her and the child.

She only coughed twice. Inside, the sounds paused before she asked: “Hua’er, have you finished eating? We’ll come in to clear the dishes.”

“Not yet. Don’t bother tonight—just leave it until tomorrow.”

Gu Hua’s voice sounded flustered.

Zhou Zhilan thought nothing of it, only advised gently: “Don’t be too sad. Finish your meal and rest early. Tomorrow there will still be mourners to receive.”

Gu Hua glanced at Mu Junyan and replied: “Alright. I’ll go to bed soon.”