FBC – Chapter 219 Pressing Step by Step

When the old madam and the others saw Gu Hua pull out a brass tiger tally from the brocade pouch, they were all stunned.

“The tiger tally! The Mu family army’s tiger tally!”

Min Dongsheng’s expression changed drastically. “Did the Duke instruct Madam to hand it over? To His Majesty? Does this mean relinquishing military power?”

Gu Hua nodded solemnly. “I don’t know if it means surrendering military power, but it was indeed Ziyuan who told me to hand it over.”

When Mu Junyan gave it to her, he said this tiger tally represented the command over the Mu family army. He told her to personally hand it to the Emperor only if she was threatened and left with no way out.

But he hadn’t said that the ones facing threats might not be her and the Mu family, but Qi Jun and the others.

She understood that the less she knew, the more genuine her nervousness and anxiety would appear to outsiders—that was Mu Junyan’s intent.

The old madam seemed to have guessed it too. Who could understand her son’s thoughts better than she?

The Mu family had paid too high a price for military authority. Now that the southern border was pacified and enemies eyed them from all sides, giving up military power was also a strategy—retreat in order to advance.

She quickly returned to her composure, patting Gu Hua’s hand. “Ziyuan has arranged everything. You need not fear. Once we’re truly cornered, then hand it over.”

Gu Hua understood.

But she didn’t want to sit and wait for death. She couldn’t just watch Qi Jun and the others rot in the Ministry of Justice’s prison while she did nothing.

At the very least, her conscience wouldn’t allow it.

“Mr. Min, do you think we could use public opinion to pressure the Ministry into releasing them? Let the people of the capital know that without the generals guarding the frontlines, they would have no peaceful days. Spread the word that these generals, who earned brilliant military merit, have been unjustly imprisoned without trial. The more people know, the better.”

Min Dongsheng nodded. “That’s exactly what I was thinking. I’ll spread the word in all the teahouses and taverns.”

Shen Li added: “I’ll hurry and prepare more poisons and sedatives.”

Gu Hua: “…”

Well, at least it meant they weren’t just sitting idle.

After the two left, Gu Hua held the old madam’s hand. “Sister Zhilan and Steward Zhou must both know that Ziyuan is still alive, right?”

“Yes. In the Duke Yong’s household, Zhilan, Chun Yu’s men, and the Black Armor Guards all know. But the Mu army itself does not—lest word leak out.”

Gu Hua felt a little relieved. “So the generals who were captured don’t know?”

“Correct. The Black Armor Guards were secretly trained by Ziyuan’s father. They were originally from the scout battalion and all recruited from the orphan camp—clean backgrounds.”

Gu Hua thought back to what she’d seen in Juzhou’s orphan camp.

Most of those parentless children were descendants of Mu army soldiers who had fallen in battle. Others were poor kids displaced by war.

Chi Yu had said the orphan camp children were all trained as scouts.

The Mu army’s scout battalion was its most core force—responsible for intelligence gathering and infiltration.

Chi Yan was the leader of the scout battalion.

Gu Hua understood now.

“I understand, Mother.” She answered with a serious face.

The old madam instructed softly: “Don’t burden yourself too much. Protecting yourself and the child comes first.”

Gu Hua nodded. “I will be careful.”

But there was still one thing weighing on her mind.

If Zhao Luoxuan learned Qi Jun had been arrested after arriving in Bianjing, she would surely panic.

Sure enough, Gu Hua had barely returned to Wenhan Pavilion when Zhao Luoxuan came rushing in.

“Sister Hua, what do we do? What do we do?”

She flung herself into Gu Hua’s arms, crying.

Dong Hua hurried to pull her back, scolding: “Princess, our Madam is with child. You must be careful.”

Zhao Luoxuan froze, quickly let go, and glanced at Gu Hua’s belly through tear-filled eyes.

“I’m sorry, I was too anxious. Wuu… what do we do?”

Gu Hua could only pull out her handkerchief to wipe her tears. “Princess, don’t cry. They were summoned back to the capital only to be questioned about military affairs.”

“No, that’s not it…”

She waved her hand at Dong Hua and the others. “All of you, leave us.”

Seeing Gu Hua nod, they and the palace maids withdrew.

Only then did Zhao Luoxuan whisper: “Qi Jun and the others were locked in the Ministry of Justice prison. That day, I happened to seek out Father Emperor to discuss Mother Empress’s birthday, and overheard a few Grand Councilors speaking…”

She faltered.

Gu Hua pressed: “What did they say? Was it related to Qi Jun and the others?”

Zhao Luoxuan bit her lip and lowered her voice. “They said when Jiang Duo took me to negotiate peace, he discovered Duke Yong suspected of colluding with the enemy…”

She looked nervously around, then whispered into Gu Hua’s ear.

“Jiang Duo claimed that five years ago in Juzhou, there was a governor who was executed for treason. That governor’s adviser, however, was hidden away by Duke Yong. They say the Duke used him to send messages to the enemy.”

Gu Hua was speechless.

Wasn’t that talking about Min Dongsheng?

So Jiang Duo had long known Min Dongsheng was imprisoned in Juzhou.

He was clearly afraid Min Dongsheng might expose how he had forced himself on another man’s wife and driven her to her death. That’s why he wanted to eliminate him completely!

Gu Hua was shaken.

Would anyone in the capital recognize Min Dongsheng? Would his presence in the Duke Yong’s residence be discovered?

“Sister Hua, Sister Hua!”

Zhao Luoxuan shook her arm anxiously. “I trust the Duke Yong and the Mu army. Most of the orphan camp children’s fathers were Mu soldiers. They gave their lives to protect the nation. How could they ever betray us?”

Gu Hua sneered inwardly.

Even a sheltered princess could see this clearly. Did His Majesty truly not?

The Mu family had guarded the southern border for three generations, and only now were they accused of treason?

“Of course it’s impossible.”

“But… the Ministry of Justice will torture Qi Jun and the others. I begged Mother Empress, but she said women mustn’t interfere in politics. I don’t dare ask Father Emperor. Sister Hua, what should we do?”

Zhao Luoxuan’s face was pale, her tears falling again.

“Princess, don’t worry. I’ll find a way.”

Gu Hua soothed her until she left, then immediately summoned Chi Yu.

“I want to meet Minister Zuo of the Ministry of War. Find a way to arrange it.”

While she waited anxiously for Chi Yu’s news, another person came.

“What is it?”

Seeing Gu Yuan, Gu Hua had no mood to entertain him.

He forced a smile. “Hua’er…”

Her face went cold. “Marquis, you and I have nothing to do with each other. Please address me as Madam Mu.”

Gu Yuan’s face stiffened, but he pressed on. “No matter what, you still carry your father’s blood. Tomorrow is my birthday. Bring your two brothers back home for a meal.”

Gu Hua felt disgust churn inside her. She could no longer endure him. She snatched up the teacup and smashed it hard onto the ground.

Crash! The cup shattered, boiling water splashing, steam rising.

“Get out! You are not welcome here!”

Gu Yuan jumped up, face dark as iron, pointing a trembling finger at her. “Y-you ungrateful wretch!”

Gu Hua sneered. “If you dare come again, that would be shameless! Someone—throw him out!”

Dong Hua planted her hands on her hips, face cold. “Marquis, shall I have the servants carry you out, or will you walk yourself?”

Gu Yuan trembled with rage, unable to curse, pointing with shaking hands, finally spitting out two words: “Unfilial spawn!”

Already in a foul mood, Gu Hua felt her chest tighten, her breathing labored.

Shen Li, brewing medicine in the side room, rushed over at the commotion. Seeing Gu Hua’s pallor, she grasped her wrist to take her pulse.

“You must be careful. The fetus is unstable. You’ve been too agitated lately.”

Gu Hua pressed her chest. “I can’t sleep well.”

“Fine. I’ll make sure you sleep.” Shen Li went back to prepare medicine.

When Wang Linyi heard Gu Hua had been upset, she rushed over, warming her cold hands and soothing her.

After drinking Shen Li’s strong calming decoction, Gu Hua finally fell into deep sleep.

Wang Linyi watched her, distressed by her weary, pale face.

She gritted her teeth in hatred. “Gu Yuan, you bastard!”

Meanwhile, Gu Yuan stormed down the alley outside the Duke Yong’s estate, muttering curses. Suddenly, two figures leapt from the wall, struck him unconscious with a knife-hand blow, pulled a sack over his head, and carried him off.