FBC – Chapter 199 Caught

Gu Hua successfully brought Zhao Luoxuan to the porridge shed and then went to the orphan camp to visit the children.

Overnight, word spread among the people that the legitimate princess had arrived in Juzhou, and the whole city was instantly in an uproar.

The sorrow and depression over Mu Junyan’s supposed death in battle were swept away, as the masses poured into the streets, waiting to welcome the princess.

Wherever the princess and her entourage went, the people followed.

The Black Armored Guards and the city defense troops guarded the princess with utmost care, not allowing any stranger to get close.

Zhao Luoxuan had never experienced the feeling of being loved by the people. Seeing the crowd bowing their heads to her, and the soldiers in the city kneeling as they shouted in unison, “Long live the Princess!” she trembled with excitement, momentarily forgetting to speak.

Gu Hua supported her gently, giving her arm a light squeeze. “Princess.”

Zhao Luoxuan quickly returned to herself and raised her hand with soft grace: “Rise.”

Seeing that the crowd still refused to get up, Zhao Luoxuan’s eyes turned red with emotion. Choking up, she declared:

“My father and mother are ever mindful of the people of the southern frontier. By imperial order, I have led the peace delegation here to negotiate with the Kingdom of Dali, in the hope that from now on, the southern border will no longer suffer from war, that the nation may prosper, and the people may live in peace.”

“Your Highness, pardon my words.”

A man dressed as a military officer stepped out.

From his bearing, Zhao Luoxuan could tell he held rank, so she quickly said: “Please, speak.”

“The people of the southern frontier of Great Liang do not wish for peace talks! Nor do we need the princess to be sent away in marriage! Great Liang is a mighty nation, while Dali is but a small state that has bullied us for decades. Now, under the leadership of Duke Yong, the Mu family army has already pressed into Dali’s territory—why should we seek peace?”

Hearing this, Zhao Luoxuan immediately recalled what Gu Hua had told her the night before.

She also felt indignant.

They were clearly the victors—why should they humble themselves, sending the princess to marry and sue for peace?

Her father must have been misled.

Zhao Luoxuan nodded. “What you say is true. Therefore, I ask everyone—if we do not make peace, can we win?”

“Of course we can!”

“We must win!”

“The army and people of the southern frontier are of one heart. Our men have joined the army, and if there are not enough soldiers, we women and children will fight as well!”

Their impassioned shouts made Zhao Luoxuan’s blood boil with excitement.

She turned to Gu Hua. “Sister Hua, so everything you said was true. Why should we negotiate peace then? Why not just keep fighting?”

Gu Hua steadied her arm, speaking softly: “Although Duke Yong has fallen, the Mu family army is still under the command of other generals. They have not fully withdrawn. Therefore, the peace delegation must not bow its head first—otherwise, the blood of our soldiers and our people will have been shed in vain.”

“You are right!”

Zhao Luoxuan, thrilled, looked at the soldiers and commoners, but not knowing what to say next, she quickly turned back to Gu Hua.

In a low voice, she asked: “Sister Hua, what should I do now?”

Gu Hua smiled. “The porridge is about to be served. Why not join me in distributing it to the people, Princess?”

Zhao Luoxuan’s eyes lit up. “Yes, wonderful! I’ve never done such a thing before.”

The group returned to the porridge shed, where the porridge was already cooked and the steamed buns ready.

Zhao Luoxuan happily declared: “I shall serve the porridge for the people.”

“Princess, wait.” Gu Hua stopped her, taking out an armband to tie up her sleeves. Zhou Zhilan also tied one on her other arm.

The two stood together before the pot—one handing out steamed buns, the other ladling porridge.

The people were overjoyed, reluctant even to drink the porridge served personally by the princess.

“The princess and Lady Mu are like fairies descended from the heavens!”

“The princess’s benevolence is a blessing for the people of Great Liang.”

Such praises made Zhao Luoxuan blush, and she ladled porridge even more earnestly.

But after all, she was born of noble blood, and before long her arms ached so much she couldn’t lift them.

Gu Hua quickly handed the ladle to someone else. “Princess, let us distribute the steamed buns together.”

“Alright.” Zhao Luoxuan cheerfully followed her to hand out buns.

Meanwhile, Jiang Duo and his men watched from afar, their faces growing grim.

“Lord Jiang, this isn’t good. Judging from the princess’s demeanor, she doesn’t intend to go for the marriage alliance anymore, does she?”

“Lord Jiang, if the princess delays any further, won’t we miss the appointed time?”

Some of the accompanying officials also sensed something amiss and grew anxious. “But… don’t you see that the soldiers and the people are all supporting the princess and opposing the peace talks?”

“Yes, if we insist, we may really stir up public anger. What then?”

“I too believe this is unwise. Why not send an urgent message to the capital for His Majesty to decide?”

Jiang Duo glared at them. “We are here under imperial orders. Encounter a small problem and you want to send for judgment? That round trip will take at least a month, delaying the peace talks. Who among you will bear that responsibility?”

All fell silent, not daring to speak further.

“Go. Take the princess away.”

Jiang Duo pushed forward with five or six officials and thirty or so Tianwu soldiers.

He cupped his hands in salute. “Princess, it is getting late. We must depart.”

Without waiting for Zhao Luoxuan to answer, he waved his hand. “Protect the princess onto the carriage!”

Several Tianwu soldiers rushed forward to surround Zhao Luoxuan.

Startled, she quickly hid behind Gu Hua.

“I will not go! I must follow the will of the people and resolutely refuse peace talks!”

Zhou Zhilan and Dong Hua both drew daggers, standing guard at her side.

Gu Hua held Zhao Luoxuan close and shouted loudly: “Protect the princess!”

Chi Yu and the others also rushed up, cutting the Tianwu soldiers off.

The common people, seeing this, would not stand by. Groups of them surged forward, three or five lifting a soldier at a time, forcibly carrying them off and throwing them out of the crowd.

In the press of bodies, the soldiers were passed overhead like sacks, rolled straight out of the throng.

Then someone slipped toward Jiang Duo and his group.

A chorus of screams rang out as several officials were hoisted up, flipped head over heels in midair by countless hands, and soon hurled out of the crowd as well.

Their official hats vanished who knew where, their robes were torn, and they were all thrown heavily to the ground, utterly disheveled.

And yet, no one could tell who exactly had laid hands on them. Outnumbered, they dared not strike back in earnest.

Jiang Duo’s eyes blazed with fury, but he could not force his way back into the crowd.

Zhao Luoxuan rose on tiptoe to look at their disheveled state, and burst into delighted giggles.

Just then, Gu Hua glimpsed a familiar figure slip past.

Chi Yan?

She quickly turned to Chi Yu, asking in a low voice: “I just saw Chi Yan. Is there news?”

Chi Yu craned his neck, and sure enough, at the edge of the crowd stood Chi Yan, arms folded.

The two exchanged hand signals, a secret code, then nodded. Chi Yan swiftly disappeared again.

Gu Hua, not understanding their signs, quickly asked: “Well?”

“We’ve caught him!” Chi Yu said excitedly.

Gu Hua’s eyes widened. In a hushed voice, she mouthed the word king.

Chi Yu grinned and nodded.

Relief flooded Gu Hua.

This meant Mu Junyan would be safe.

Ah, if only she knew when he would return.

“What is it?” Zhao Luoxuan, seeing their secrecy, grew anxious.

Gu Hua leaned close and whispered in her ear: “Princess, the King of Dali has been captured. You need not go through with the marriage alliance.”

“Truly? Really? Is it true?”

“It’s true.” Gu Hua’s smile bloomed, filling Zhao Luoxuan with boundless courage.

All along the journey, Zhao Luoxuan had steeled herself, striving to maintain the bearing of the emperor’s legitimate daughter, unwilling to bring shame upon her mother and her sixth brother.

Her sixth brother had promised her that if there were ever a chance, he would personally bring her back.

But she knew—in all dynasties past, no princess sent for marriage had ever returned.

She had heard that the King of Dali was over forty, nearly her father’s age.

And she was only fifteen.

She had been truly terrified of the marriage.

She had never imagined that Gu Hua would save her. When she returned to the capital, she would surely report everything to her father and see Gu Hua richly rewarded.