FBC -Chapter 308 A Wedding, A Catastrophe

In the blink of an eye, the New Year passed joyfully.

During this time, Gu Hua had no time to attend to other matters. The entire Prince Yong Mansion was bustling with preparations for Zhou Zhilian and Zhou Chunyu’s wedding.

After the martial contest to choose a bride, the relationship between the two became clear. Both Zhou Chunyu and Gu Hua felt it was essential to give Zhou Zhilian the most perfect wedding. Master Min Dongsheng calculated a propitious date three months later.

However, Zhou Chunyu’s zodiac sign conflicted with that day. To protect the couple who had endured so much to be together, Gu Hua and the couple agreed it was better to wait an entire year.

The optimal date was set for the fifteenth day of the first month.

On that day, as dusk fell, the Prince Yong Mansion was decorated with lights and banners. The gates were crowded with carriages, and guests came and went in a lively stream.

Zhou Chunyu had been trained by the Old Duke into a young military general, later becoming one of Mu Junyan’s most capable deputies. His achievements in the Mu family army were second only to Mu Junyan.

After Zhou Chunyu’s parents passed away, Zhou Zhilian’s parents had adopted him as one of their own. She and Zhou Chunyu had grown up together, faced hardships side by side, and their parents arranged their marriage. They were truly a rare pair of devoted childhood lovers.

Gu Hua formally acknowledged Zhou Zhilian as her sworn sister in public. With Mu Junyan personally overseeing the arrangements, all the prominent figures of Southern Jiang came to offer congratulations.

Generals familiar with Zhou Chunyu from the Mu family army also arrived. For a time, the large Prince Yong Mansion was packed to the brim.

Gu Hua had arranged a three-section courtyard across the street for the young couple, convenient for their daily comings and goings.

As Zhou Zhilian was a Mu family lady marrying out, the banquet tables were placed on both sides, and all the gifts became her dowry.

At this moment, Zhou Chunyu, accompanied by his wedding escort, was trying hard to break through the gates.

The generals, along with the groom, skillfully overcame the girls’ challenges. They coaxed and persuaded them, but the girls were under Gu Hua’s orders and could not easily let the groom in.

As the auspicious hour approached, the usually composed Zhou Chunyu grew anxious, bowing deeply himself.

“My esteemed ladies, please let me in. Isn’t it bad luck for Zhilian if I’m late?”

Dong Hua crossed her arms, tilting her head. “That’s not how it works. The Princess has decreed that if the groom cannot answer our questions, he must return and try again another day.”

Zhou Chunyu looked forlorn and quickly gestured to his attendants. “Give each of the ladies a gift immediately.”

The attendants laughed and handed over heavy pouches.

Dong Hua weighed hers in her hand. “Oh? Chief Zhou is usually so stingy. So generous today?”

Zhou Chunyu smiled wryly. “Marrying a wife requires it. Consider it a favor, ladies.”

The young officers teased, “Dong Hua, let him in! Look how anxious the groom is. A wedding is priceless!”

“Do a good deed now, and when it’s your turn to marry, we won’t trouble your groom.”

Dong Hua blushed and was about to retort when the young officers surged forward.

The girls, unable to withstand their pressure, finally opened the gate.

The young generals pushed Zhou Chunyu through the gate, and they suddenly saw the bride standing in the center of the courtyard.

Zhou Zhilian did not hold a fan, revealing a delicate and refined face, smiling at Zhou Chunyu, who looked slightly flustered in his red robe.

This was the first time Zhou Chunyu saw Zhou Zhilian so exquisitely elegant.

Her green vest and red skirt, white butterflies fluttering among flowers—it was lifelike and enchanting.

Gu Hua smiled slightly, signaling the wedding assistants to begin the ceremony.

Zhou Chunyu stepped forward, extending both hands. Zhou Zhilian placed her hands in his.

He leaned closer, speaking so only they could hear, “I finally have you.”

Zhou Zhilian, usually cheerful and frank, blushed deeply.

Once the bride was received at her new home, the banquet began.

To prevent Zhou Chunyu from drinking too much, Mu Junyan personally led a group of young generals to protect him and shield him from the wine.

The wedding festivities continued until the late hours.

Gu Hua ordered that no more wedding pranks should occur. Zhou Chunyu, half-drunk, nervously approached the bridal chamber.

The maids and servants were permitted to attend the banquet, but they feared disturbing the couple and had disappeared from sight.

Zhou Chunyu’s heart pounded wildly. He pressed his ear to the door, but inside there was no sound.

Had Zhilian fallen asleep from exhaustion already?

“Zhilian, I’m coming in.”

He gently pushed open the door, glancing around, but no one was there.

Yet his sharp senses detected another presence.

A man!

A bad premonition surged through him. He strode quickly past the screen to the inner room.

At the doorway, he saw Zhou Zhilian’s maid tied up, a cloth gag in her mouth, blood oozing from a head wound—barely alive.

Panicked, he lifted the bead curtain. Inside, the room was in chaos, and Zhou Zhilian was nowhere to be seen.

“Zhilian!”

Zhou Chunyu screamed, searching frantically, finding no trace.

It was clear that during a struggle to abduct her, Zhou Zhilian had resisted.

He rushed to untie the maid while shouting outside. Hearing him, others rushed in, horrified.

“Something’s happened?”

Zhou Chunyu, nearly mad, glared with bloodshot eyes. “Report to the prince and princess! Call the Sun family doctor! Bring the head of the guards!”

In an instant, chaos erupted.

Mu Junyan, Gu Hua, and the Sun family doctor arrived hurriedly.

The injured maid had regained consciousness and began crying at the sight of Zhou Chunyu. “My lady… the Dali men have taken her!”

“Dali men?”

Gu Hua exclaimed, “But why would they abduct Zhilian?”

Mu Junyan ordered, “Summon Chiyan immediately.”

Zhou Chunyu’s hands shook, gripping the table until his knuckles whitened. “Are you sure it was the Dali men?”

The Sun family doctor cleaned the maid’s wound. The maid nodded tearfully through the pain. “Yes. And the man carried a short curved sword, with patterns on the sheath typical of Southern Jiang tribes.”

Chiyan and Chiyu arrived just in time, hearing the maid’s words. Seeing Zhou Chunyu nearly collapse, their faces darkened.

Chiyan frowned. “They haven’t acted recently. Why strike suddenly?”

Gu Hua frowned. “But Duan Yu promised he would stand with us. How could he do this?”

Mu Junyan’s face was grim. “Investigate!”

Chiyan nodded. “Understood.”

He immediately left, leading his men to comb for clues and interrogate the servants in the courtyard.

Gu Hua tugged on Mu Junyan’s sleeve. They stepped outside together.

“Should we have Xuanyuan check over there too?”

“Yes. I’ll have Chiyu send a message by pigeon.”

Zhou Chunyu suddenly jumped up, running outside like a madman.

Mu Junyan grabbed him. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to find her! Zhilian doesn’t know what’s happening!” he shouted, struggling.

Gu Wa’s heart ached. She remembered her own abduction—if she hadn’t desperately pleaded for her life, and if Mu Junyan hadn’t arrived in time, she might have lost everything and wished to die.

So it was crucial to act carefully; the wrong move could endanger her.

“Calm down. Wait to see what Chiyan discovers. Searching aimlessly will only delay things.”

Zhou Chunyu looked at Gu Wa, crying. “It’s my fault. I failed Zhilian and put her in danger!”

“Not now,” Gu Hua interrupted, eyes red. She turned to the maid. “Tell us exactly what happened.”

They knew the enemy had been lying in wait. Wang Heng had been active in Southern Jiang, the capital palace was in turmoil, and the Mu family army was on high alert.

Yet no one had expected an attack during Zhou Chunyu and Zhou Zhilian’s wedding.

And what could abducting Zhou Zhilian possibly accomplish?

Gu Hua was puzzled beyond words.