FBC – Chapter 258 Saving Someone

Gu Hua felt a bit troubled — it seemed she had really rescued a troublesome person.

But she couldn’t bear to see another woman, deceived and humiliated by a man, pushed to such a desperate state.

“So what are your plans?” she asked.

Yuan Jieying bit her lip and whispered, “Could I… go with you?”

Gu Hua turned to look at the Old Madam.

The Old Madam smiled. “You are the mistress of the house; it’s your decision.”

Gu Hua felt grateful, but also uneasy. After a moment’s thought, she said, “I’m heading to Ju Prefecture. Life there isn’t as luxurious or refined as in Bianjing. Will you be able to adapt? And… how long do you plan to stay with us?”

Seeing they hadn’t refused, Yuan Jieying became emotional. “I’ll stay as long as you’ll let me.”

Afraid they’d find her a burden, she quickly added, “I can earn my own living. I’ll find a way to make money and support myself. Besides… my aunt will send me some silver.”

Gu Hua was curious. “Your aunt? The Virtuous Consort?”

Yuan Jieying nodded. “The day of the incident, my aunt wanted to keep me in the palace, but my mother insisted on taking me home. My aunt told me that if my family refused to let me divorce, she would help me escape.”

Gu Hua hadn’t expected that.

That day, the son of Jinming Pool, Zhao Yuchen, had supported the Crown Prince’s faction.

Afraid they wouldn’t believe her, Yuan Jieying hurried to explain, “Old Madam, Madam Mu, my aunt is kind-hearted. She never wished to be involved in the struggle for the throne, but both families forced her into it. Back then, she didn’t want me to marry Jiang Jingchuan at all — she said he was not a good man. And also…”

She hesitated, as if afraid to continue.

Then, gritting her teeth, she said, “Also, the Jiang family is ambitious. My aunt feared they would meet a bad end and drag me down with them.”

Gu Hua raised an eyebrow slightly.

She hadn’t expected the Virtuous Consort to be so perceptive.

“All right,” Gu Hua said at last. “You can stay with us for now. If you think of another path later, just tell me.”

Yuan Jieying was so moved she nearly knelt again, but Zhou Zhilan quickly pulled her up. “We of the Mu family don’t go around kneeling.”

Yuan Jieying burst into tears. “Thank you, Old Madam, thank you, Madam Mu. Without you both, I would’ve been dragged back and tortured to death.”

Gu Hua comforted her. “You should thank yourself. If you hadn’t made the decision to escape that hell, no one could’ve saved you.”

Yuan Jieying was stunned for a moment, then slowly nodded. “You’re right. I refuse to accept such a fate.”

Because Gu Hua was pregnant, the convoy moved slowly.

After just one day, news reached Bianjing — court officials were jointly impeaching the Jiang family for arson and murder, urging the emperor to punish them severely.

The emperor flew into a rage and ordered the Three Judicial Departments to investigate together.

A day later, the results came out — the cause of the Mu family fire had been uncovered.

It was said that Jiang Jingchuan, angry over his concubine escaping to the Duke Yong’s mansion, bore a grudge and ordered the Fire Squad’s commander and a Tianwu Army officer to collude with Mu An, launching an attack from within and without to burn down the Duke’s residence and take the woman.

However, Mu An intended to use the chaos to harm Old Madam Mu and Gu Hua, intending to wipe out the entire Mu family.

The investigation also revealed that Chu Huai was not the concubine in question — Jiang Jingchuan had mistaken the person’s identity.

In the end, Jiang Jingchuan was imprisoned for arson and destruction of the Duke’s mansion, taking all responsibility and awaiting the emperor’s final judgment.

Meanwhile, Mu An — the supposed prime culprit behind the arson and murder — took his own life out of guilt.

Chu Huai was permitted to continue sitting for the imperial spring examinations.

When Gu Hua and her companions received the news, they were all too furious for words.

Yuan Jieying was the first to protest. “He thought his concubine fled to the Duke’s mansion? This is clearly a cover-up! The Jiang family must have manipulated the outcome — how else could such nonsense be accepted?”

The Old Madam, however, remained calm, as if she’d seen such injustice many times before.

Gu Hua now understood why Mu Junyan had insisted they leave the capital.

Bianjing was not safe.

The emperor was not necessarily on the Mu family’s side — he merely wanted to sit back and watch the tigers fight, hoping both would be gravely wounded.

After all, despite the fire and the many people Mu Junyan had arrested from the Jiang family — even with Chu Huai as a witness — the Jiang clan still escaped serious punishment. It only proved how powerful they were; one or two incidents could not shake their foundation.

What worried Gu Hua most now was Mu Junyan.

If the emperor ever decided Mu Junyan was no longer useful, he could easily have the Jiang family accuse him of deceiving the throne.

Now that Mu Junyan had gone into hiding, whether that would be a blessing or a curse was uncertain.

The emperor dared not mobilize the Mu family army without the tiger tally in hand, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t wary of Mu Junyan.

Perhaps the emperor even resented holding a tiger tally he could not wield.

Seeing Gu Hua’s uneasy expression, Chi Yu hurried to reassure her. “My lord must have made a trade with His Majesty. That’s why both sides stepped back.”

Gu Hua thought for a moment and nodded. “No wonder we were allowed to leave the city so easily.”

Five days later, more news arrived — Jiang Jingchuan was stripped of all his posts and banned from ever holding office again.

The Imperial Consort Jiang was demoted to a mere consort.

Prince Ping’an was dismissed from his position as chief minister, though he retained his other titles.

It was a slap on the wrist.

The Jiang family hadn’t truly been hurt at all.

As for the position of chief minister — it finally went to the Duke of Jing.

With that, the Second Prince’s ascension as Crown Prince was all but sealed.

Whether it was due to the Mu army’s reputation or something else, the convoy faced no trouble along the way. When they reached the main road near Jiangling Prefecture, several carriages stopped beside a roadside pavilion.

Leading the group was none other than Pei Jinglei.

Pei Jinglei bowed to the Old Madam. “Old Madam, Madam Mu — you’ve had a hard journey. I’ve prepared some light wine and local Jiangling delicacies for you both.”

His men quickly set up several tables in the pavilion, everything well-arranged.

Gu Hua was surprised and delighted. “Second Uncle Pei! What brings you here?”

“My parents heard you were returning to Ju Prefecture,” he explained. “So they sent word through our Pei family’s businesses along the route. Knowing you’d pass here today, I came to welcome you. You’ve all worked hard.”

Gu Hua helped the Old Madam down from the carriage, smiling brightly. “Second Uncle Pei, what are you saying? We haven’t had a proper meal this whole way — only dry rations. You’re right on time, like a lifesaving rain. We couldn’t be more grateful.”

Pei Jinglei cupped his hands. “Please, eat — everything’s been kept warm.”

Gu Hua looked at the spread. “So much food! Yi Niang, Zhilan, come join us.”

Then she noticed Yuan Jieying standing awkwardly by the carriage. “Sister Yuan, come eat with us.”

Yuan Jieying didn’t react at first until Zhou Zhilan ran over and tugged her along. “Come on, Miss Yuan.”

Pei Jinglei had done things properly — four large tables were also set for the Mu family’s attendants. Though simpler than the main table, they had plenty of fish and meat, and everyone ate happily.

After the meal, Pei Jinglei presented a small chest. “Old Madam, Madam Mu, this is a token of appreciation from the Pei family. Other gifts would be inconvenient for travel, so forgive this vulgar gesture.”

Inside the box was a thick stack of banknotes — at least tens of thousands of taels by the look of it.

The Old Madam smiled. “There’s no need.”

Pei Jinglei was about to insist, but Gu Hua closed the lid with a laugh.

“Second Uncle Pei, we really don’t need the silver. But Ju Prefecture is near the southern border — there are plenty of fine goods there. Our region has rare woods, spices, and various tribute items and delicacies. Don’t you want to open trade there?”

Pei Jinglei blinked, then lit up with excitement. “Truly? You mean the Pei family can do business with the southern lands through Ju Prefecture?”

Gu Hua smiled. “Of course. I wouldn’t trust anyone but the Pei family. We’ll work together — and won’t that earn you far more than a few stacks of silver notes?”

Pei Jinglei stood and clasped his hands deeply. “Then it’s settled! Madam shall take fifty percent of the profit.”

Gu Hua laughed. “No need — I’ll take only what’s fair.”

She helped the Old Madam up. “Second Uncle Pei, we’ll take our leave. We must hurry to Ju Prefecture — and wait for you to come join us in business soon.”

Pei Jinglei bowed deeply. “Safe travels.”

Ever since the emperor’s “punishment” of the Jiang family, Gu Hua had been thinking constantly.

She and the Old Madam couldn’t merely hide away in Ju Prefecture — they had to build the strongest rear base possible.

When Mu Junyan returned, the southern lands had to be strong enough to advance or retreat with power.

She suddenly understood what Mu Junyan had meant before — when he said he wanted to “return peace to the world,” he didn’t necessarily mean all of Great Liang.

If Great Liang couldn’t be ruled by a wise emperor, then they could make the southern frontier a sanctuary of their own.

But she didn’t dare say such things aloud.

All she needed to do was make the south prosper — make its people live well and securely.

So when she saw Pei Jinglei, she immediately thought of forming an alliance with the Pei family to make it happen.