FBC – Chapter 197 Joining Hands

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Gu Hua stubbornly looked at Zhao Luoxuan. “Your Highness, please allow me to speak. As a newly wedded woman, I know that marrying someone who truly loves you is the only path to happiness. Otherwise, not only will one’s married life be bleak and joyless, it could very well lead to a dead end. I deeply sympathize with Your Highness’s sorrow.

I truly feel heartache for you—these words come from the bottom of my heart!

For so many years, Duke Yong guarded the southern borders, and time and again he refused the ministers’ proposals to send a princess for peace. It was because he disdained the idea of trading a woman’s entire life for temporary peace between two countries. Under the current circumstances, if Your Highness marries into that alliance, it would be like a lamb entering a tiger’s den—your life would be in grave danger!”

Zhao Luoxuan’s face paled.

She truly hadn’t known that.

But regardless, she didn’t want this marriage.

Yet imperial decree could not be defied, and her mother had already wept for days.

What she could not understand was—there were still two other princesses of age. The Third Princess, born of the Noble Consort, was already sixteen, even older than her by a year. Why was it her who had to be sacrificed?

She resented that her mother was not favored, and so her father chose her for this marriage.

She had even knelt before her father, begging bitterly, but her father said that as the legitimate princess, she had enjoyed the privileges of her station, and thus must bear its responsibilities.

He said that after deliberation, the court ministers unanimously agreed: since Great Liang had lost the battle, in order to prevent further invasion, only by sending the legitimate princess in marriage could true sincerity be shown.

They also argued that peace with the southern kingdom was a matter of great importance, and only if the legitimate princess personally went to marry would it display the court’s generosity and earnestness.

Nanny Mo’s face went pale hearing this, and she hurriedly waved for Gu Hua to stop speaking.

Zhao Luoxuan’s tears fell in heavy drops, and Nanny Mo could hardly bear the sight.

She waved at the two palace maids inside. “You both leave.”

Zhou Zhilan glanced at Gu Hua. Seeing her nod, she followed the two maids out as well.

Gu Hua suspected that some of them might have been spies.

Nanny Mo came to Gu Hua’s side, crouched, and whispered so only the three of them could hear. “Do you truly have a way for the princess to avoid this marriage?”

Gu Hua nodded. “If we don’t try, there’s no chance at all. But if we do, why not?”

Mu Junyan was not dead—he surely had his own plans. There was absolutely no need for the princess to marry.

If she could only stall the peace delegation’s negotiations, she might buy Mu Junyan enough time to maneuver.

Nanny Mo looked at the young girl’s tear-filled eyes. At last, she sighed and said in a low voice,  “Walls have ears. Let’s go inside to talk.”

Zhao Luoxuan quickly leapt down from her chair, walked into the inner chamber, and beckoned Gu Hua to follow.

Gu Hua stood and went in.

The room was small, with only a bed, a dressing table, and a wooden stool.

Zhao Luoxuan sat on the bed, patting the space beside her. “Come, sit here.”

Gu Hua sat down as told.

Nanny Mo anxiously asked, “What plan do you have to spare the princess from this marriage?”

Gu Hua didn’t beat around the bush. “Allow me first to explain why the marriage cannot happen.”

She briefly explained the situation of the war. “We suspect there is a traitor within, which led to Duke Yong being ambushed. Although he died in battle, their king has also fled his capital. Your Highness, think about it—if their king is missing, who exactly would you be marrying?”

Zhao Luoxuan’s eyes widened. “Yes! If their king has run off, why must I marry? At worst, we can just fight again!”

But Nanny Mo, already in her thirties, was far less naïve. “But we cannot decide whether to fight. With Duke Yong suddenly dead and no imperial orders sent to command the Mu Army, who can order them back to war?”

Zhao Luoxuan turned to Gu Hua, anxious.

“In truth, the Mu Army has not withdrawn. They are searching for the fleeing King of Dali. Imagine—if they capture him, Your Highness would truly not need to marry at all.”

Zhao Luoxuan and Nanny Mo exchanged glances; their eyes lit up.

But then Nanny Mo frowned again. “Yet Minister Jiang has already said we must begin negotiations tomorrow.”

Gu Hua was startled. “How strange! Their troops were routed by the Mu Army, their king abandoned his capital and fled—where would Minister Jiang even find someone to negotiate with? Unless… they’ve been in contact with the enemy all along. Doesn’t it feel like they want the Mu Army to lose?”

At those words, both of their faces changed. A chilling thought struck them, and they immediately fell silent.

The princess and Nanny Mo might not be versed in politics, but they were not fools.

Gu Hua pressed on, “If that truly is the case, then it is terrifying indeed. Also, think about it—our army has been winning battles, yet the peace delegation arrived almost as soon as the Mu Army set out. Who waves the white flag before the fight is even lost? If Duke Yong were alive, he would have scolded them harshly and escorted Your Highness safely back to the capital.”

At that, both Zhao Luoxuan and Nanny Mo’s eyes reddened.

If Duke Yong were still alive, there would be no need for Zhao Luoxuan to marry.

Zhao Luoxuan grasped Gu Hua’s wrist tightly. “Sister Hua, I believe you. Tell me—what should I do now?”

Nanny Mo wanted to remind the princess to maintain proper decorum—she should not call Gu Hua “sister.” But seeing Zhao Luoxuan’s tear-swollen eyes, she could not bring herself to scold her.

“It’s simple.”

Gu Hua’s tone brimmed with confidence. “The southern border has just endured over two months of brutal war. Now, with Duke Yong’s death, both the soldiers and the people desperately need comfort from the court. Your Highness has arrived bearing imperial command—marriage was meant to protect the people. Why not first tour Juzhou City and the border towns of the south in the emperor’s name, to console and inspire the people and the soldiers?”

Zhao Luoxuan didn’t quite follow. “And what good would that do?”

“By acting in the emperor’s stead, it is as if His Majesty himself is present. First, it will earn you the support of both the people and the Mu Army. Second, you can hear their voices yourself—whether they want war or peace. If Your Highness can unite the soldiers and people of the south, rallying them to hold firm until the Mu Army finds the enemy king, then soon enough they will be begging us for peace. Why should we then send you in marriage?”

Nanny Mo’s eyes lit up. Following Gu Hua’s plan, Zhao Luoxuan might even earn merit.

Zhao Luoxuan felt her blood stir.

But she had never taken on royal responsibilities outside the palace before, and fear crept into her heart. “Can I really do it?”

“Rest assured, I will be by your side.”

Gu Hua smiled faintly.

“When you make great contributions, who will dare force you into marriage? When you return, His Majesty will reward you. You will be the first princess of Great Liang to earn merit for the realm.”

The young princess instantly straightened her back. The hesitation and sorrow vanished from her face, replaced by determination and fighting spirit.

“I’ll follow Sister Hua’s lead. Whatever you say, I’ll do.”

Gu Hua gave her a thumbs-up. “Your Highness is truly a heroine among women!”

Zhao Luoxuan flushed red.

Nanny Mo still held some doubts. After all, Gu Hua was only a concubine. Could she really help the princess weather this storm?

So she asked deliberately, “Concubine Gu, why did you suddenly come to the southern border?”

Gu Hua understood her distrust.

So she recounted how she had uncovered the issue with the winter supplies, how she discovered problems with the grain, how she raised supplies and personally delivered them across a thousand miles. Then how she was captured in Shicheng Commandery and fought the Yifeng Hall to the death.

Zhao Luoxuan and Nanny Mo listened in stunned silence, unable to speak for a long time.

Gu Hua rose, bowed solemnly to Zhao Luoxuan, and said gravely, “Your Highness, I dare to seek you out not only to rescue you from danger, but because Great Liang has stood for a hundred years as a mighty nation. How can we allow ourselves to be humiliated? For three generations, the Mu Army and hundreds of thousands of soldiers have defended this border with flesh and blood. The people here share the same heart.

I refuse to see Duke Yong’s death reduce Great Liang to cowardice! The princess’s marriage may seem small, but if others think we can be bullied, then the border will never know peace again.

What then? Every time an enemy attacks, must we send another princess to marry them? That would be utterly spineless!”

The more Zhao Luoxuan listened, the more her blood boiled. She clenched her fists tight.

“You’re right! As a princess of Great Liang, I cannot be weak and easily bullied. Otherwise, even if I marry for peace, I will always stand beneath them!”

Gu Hua’s heart surged with emotion. She bowed deeply once again. “Your Highness shows great righteousness!”

When Gu Hua left the guest courtyard, Min Dongsheng and Zhou Zhilan were still waiting in the study.

Gu Hua nodded excitedly. “It’s done!”

Min Dongsheng and Zhou Zhilan clenched their fists in triumph.

The three of them couldn’t sleep, and discussed in detail how to handle tomorrow.

By the time Gu Hua returned to her chamber, it was already the third watch.

She didn’t know whether Mu Junyan was still in Juzhou City.

But whether he was there or not, she would do everything she could to aid him.

“Chiyu, is there a way to contact Chiyan?”

Gu Hua knew that Chiyu was unaware of Mu Junyan’s plans, but Chiyan would know.

She had to establish contact with him.

“I should be able to try, Mistress.”