FBC -Chapter 289 Call Him Brother-in-Law

When Gu Hua saw her two younger brothers, she almost didn’t recognize them at first glance.

In just a year, both had shot up in height, and their bearing had grown mature—almost like two little adults.

Following behind them was Wang Linyi.

Her eyes were filled with tears as she looked at her daughter.

Gu Hua quickly stepped forward and saluted her, “Mother.”

Wang Linyi immediately helped her up. “Hua’er, you’ve suffered.”

The two younger brothers blinked hard, trying to keep their tears from spilling out, but their eyes still turned red.

They stepped forward properly and bowed to both Mu Junyan and Gu Hua.

“Ruiwen (Jinwen) greets the Prince, greets Elder Sister.”

Gu Hua lifted each one with a hand. “Good boys. I’m just glad you’re here.”

Zhou Zhilan kept glaring at Zhou Chunyu, who didn’t dare raise his head at all.

Gu Hua glanced at them and smiled as she supported her mother’s arm. “Mother, let’s go inside. Mu Chen and Mu Xi haven’t met their maternal grandmother yet.”

Wang Linyi couldn’t help crying again. “I heard you gave birth early, and I was frantic with worry. But I didn’t dare ask to come to Juzhou rashly—afraid I might cause trouble for you. Thankfully, the Dowager Madam helped.”

Gu Hua nodded. “With Mother-in-law here, you didn’t need to worry. And there’s the Mu family army here too. See? Everything is fine. We’re reunited.”

The two younger brothers followed obediently behind them, not daring to make a sound.

Mu Junyan found them amusing and reached out to rub their heads. “How are your studies going?”

Both stiffened with nerves, nodding vigorously. In unison, they said tensely, “Please test us, Your Highness.”

Mu Junyan almost burst out laughing. He pinched their cheeks and leaned in. “Call me Brother-in-law, and I’ll go easy on you.”

The boys blushed, excitement blooming in their eyes, and immediately called sweetly, “Brother-in-law.”

Mu Junyan released them and patted their heads. “That’s better. But the literary tests go to Mister Min. I’ll pick martial arts instructors for you two—one hour of horse-stance training every morning. With such small bodies, how will you protect your sister and your niece and nephew in the future?”

Both boys turned pale. “Yes, sir.”

Gu Hua turned to glare at him. “My brothers don’t need to learn martial arts. Studying for the examinations is enough!”

Wang Linyi hurriedly said, “They must train. With such a formidable brother-in-law, they must not fall behind.”

“Yes, we will listen to Mother,” the boys said, faces pale but eyes firm.

Gu Hua was satisfied. She continued walking with her mother and lowered her voice. “Didn’t I buy another house for you? You and my brothers could’ve stayed there, and I even arranged for the two of them to study at the Imperial Academy. Why come all the way to Juzhou? There aren’t schools as good here.”

“We were worried about you. And Steward Zhou mentioned some things about you two. We thought it was better to come. First, we won’t drag you down. Second, reading books alone is pointless—following by your side while they study will help them truly amount to something.”

Truthfully, Gu Hua had considered this before: if Nanjiang ever openly clashed with the court, she could sever ties with her mother and brothers to keep them safe.

But their sincere love moved her.

A whole family staying together… that was good too.

They enjoyed a warm family reunion, with the two boys and Wang Linyi joyfully playing with the babies.

Mu Junyan slipped away quietly.

Before long, Zhou Zhilan arrived.

Gu Hua pulled her aside. Seeing her pale face and reddened eyes, she knew Zhou Chunyu had been stubborn again.

Gu Hua grew annoyed. “What are you thinking?”

Zhou Zhilan sniffed. “We’ll do as you suggested. A martial-arts marriage competition. Whoever wins, I’ll marry him.”

“Just find a few people to act as fillers.”

“No. It’ll be real. I don’t believe it—am I, Zhou Zhilan, someone no man wants?”

“Who said no one wants you? If Juzhou City finds out the Prince’s top female steward is seeking a husband, the line would stretch ten li outside the gates.”

Zhou Zhilan glared. “You’re exaggerating.”

“Exaggerating? Try it if you don’t believe me. I’ll have someone put up notices right now.”

Gu Hua made a move to get up, and Zhou Zhilan immediately grabbed her. “Post notices? I’d die of embarrassment!”

Gu Hua smiled. “How else will anyone know? The more people, the messier. If some huge, ugly brute wins, and Zhou Chunyu is willing to let you marry him—then that man is definitely not acceptable.”

Zhou Zhilan’s eyes lit up. “You think he won’t be able to stand it?”

“Exactly—let all the crooked melons and cracked dates come and challenge him. Infuriate him.”

Zhou Zhilan jumped up excitedly. “Good! Even if I don’t end up getting married, making him mad will make me very happy.”

Gu Hua still didn’t know what Mu Junyan was up to, though Zhou Zhilan said Zhou Chunyu brought back a lot of things and was walking slowly because of it.

Gu Hua never paid much attention to the property Mu Junyan originally had, so she didn’t think much of it.

Until dinner, when he returned.

He was full of joy as he sat at the table.

“Mother-in-law and two younger brothers traveled far today. This welcoming banquet is simple. On the tenth, when the Wang household officially moves in, the Prince’s Residence will host a grand celebration. We’ll make it lively.”

Wang Linyi quickly said, “Your Highness doesn’t need to be so polite. We’re all family. Just being together makes us happy.”

Mu Junyan lifted his cup. “Then your son-in-law will drink this first in respect.”

The two boys hurried to raise their cups. “We’ll drink with Brother-in-law!”

Gu Hua stared at them wide-eyed. They didn’t expect the wine to be so strong and choked together after one gulp.

The whole room erupted in laughter and warmth.

After dinner, Zhou Zhilan personally took Wang Linyi to the guest room, while the two boys were sent to the front courtyard by Dong Mo.

Although the Prince’s Residence had been repaired, the furnishings in each courtyard still weren’t fully arranged.

Walking hand in hand on the path, Gu Hua suddenly asked, “The tenth—besides the moving-in ceremony, is there something else?”

Mu Junyan looked at her. “Of course. Our whole family together, and the Prince’s Residence completed for the first time—how is that not a major event?”

Gu Hua stared suspiciously at him.

This man, who rarely smiled, had an unhideable grin on his face.

In the following days, the entire residence was busy—except for her, the so-called mistress of the household. She spent all her time playing with the babies alongside her mother and the Dowager Madam.

The only thing she needed to worry about was Zhou Zhilan’s martial-arts marriage contest.

Announcements had been posted across Nanjiang, and the date was set for the ninth day of the tenth month.

Mu Junyan had picked that date himself.

Juzhou City was livelier than ever.

People from all over flooded in to watch the excitement and join the contest. Even more came to send gifts to the Prince’s Residence.

Gu Hua only cared about accompanying the children. Each day, Zhou Zhilan read out the gift list to her.

Even Duan Yu of Dali and Zhao Luoxuan sent extravagant congratulatory gifts.

Gu Hua clicked her tongue. “Isn’t this a bit too much?”

Zhou Zhilan grinned. “Our storerooms can’t even hold everything.”

“Sort some out and distribute them. To the orphan barracks and a few other places. It’s wasteful to keep things we won’t use.”

“Alright.”

Gu Hua tilted her head at her. “Tomorrow’s the marriage contest. Nervous?”

Zhou Zhilan shook her head. “Not at all. Kind of excited.”

“I heard over a hundred people have signed up.”

Zhou Zhilan’s cheeks reddened proudly. “That’s because the dowry you prepared is so generous. Maybe they think marrying me means getting rich.”

Gu Hua burst into laughter. “They’re dreaming. And besides martial arts, we’ve added a literary test. With Mister Min personally judging—he’ll throw tough questions at the ugly ones and have them kicked off stage.”

Zhou Zhilan nodded. “Good.”

Gu Hua knew she was straightforward, but her heart still ached for her.

Zhou Chunyu worked day and night, acting as if he truly didn’t care about her martial-arts marriage competition.

If the two couldn’t end up together, it really would be a pity.

But perhaps a worthy young man would win her over. That wouldn’t necessarily be bad either.

Ah… let fate decide.

The ninth day of the tenth month arrived.

Perhaps because it was an auspicious day, the sky—after several days of rain—finally cleared.

It was a bright, radiant day.