FBC -Chapter 314 Persuasion

After returning to Juzhou, Gu Hua went straight to the Zhou Residence opposite the Prince’s Manor.

Before entering, she snapped at Mu Junyan behind her without even turning her head: “Don’t follow me! Go catch that group of beasts!”

Originally, she wanted to add that if they couldn’t catch them, she didn’t want to see him, but then she remembered—he was a prince, with Chiyu and a whole team of guards following him. Those words reached her lips, but Gu Hua forcibly swallowed them.

Still, until Zhao Yuchen and the others were caught, she truly didn’t want to see anyone related to this matter.

It was highly possible that Zhou Chunyu was involved as well.

If it were true… she wouldn’t be able to bear it.

Shen Li and Physician Shen were both inside; Shen Li happened to be carrying a bowl of medicine toward the room.

Gu Hua hurriedly grabbed her. “How is Sister?”

Dark circles hung under Shen Li’s eyes, her spirits low. Gu Hua’s heart tightened. “She hasn’t woken up?”

“She has. She just won’t speak. And… due to the trauma, she’s sometimes confused.”

Gu Hua’s heart twisted. “I’ll go see her.”

Shen Li knocked on the door. “The Princess Consort has returned.”

The door creaked open.

Suddenly, a tall figure rushed forward, reaching out to push the door open further.

At the same time, someone inside darted out, colliding head-on with him.

The man staggered back repeatedly, clearly afraid of something.

Gu Hua turned and saw that the one rushing toward the door was Zhou Chunyu, and she froze.

The person who dashed out was Dong Hua—the maid Gu Hua had ordered to stay behind and guard Zhou Zhilan when she left Juzhou.

Dong Hua shoved Zhou Chunyu back and scolded harshly, “Do you not know Sister Zhilan is missing? If you barge in like that and trigger her again, what if she relapses?!”

Zhou Chunyu looked like a child who had done wrong yet was desperate to explain. He sobbed uncontrollably. “Please… let me see her. Just once—just one glance. If she tells me herself she doesn’t want to see me, I… I’ll disappear forever. Please, Dong Hua, please talk to her for me.”

Dong Hua also had dark circles under her eyes. Her almond-shaped eyes were red—torn between pity and anger.

She didn’t know what to say, so she turned to Gu Hua instead, tears spilling as she stepped forward to support her.

“Princess Consort, you must be exhausted. Have you truly not slept for an entire day and night?”

“It’s fine. You’ve worked hard too.”

Gu Hua patted her and followed her inside.

Zhou Zhilan lay on the bed, eyes half-closed.

Gu Hua silently mouthed a question to Dong Hua—Is she asleep?

Dong Hua mouthed back—Awake.

Gu Hua walked to the bedside quietly and sat down gently, not daring to touch her. She could only stare at her once-healthy, rosy face, now drained of all color—ghastly pale.

Her heart ached painfully.

Added to her suspicions about Mu Junyan and the others, her emotions were a tangled, anxious mess.

Just from the small disturbance near the bed, Zhou Zhilan slowly opened her eyes.

Gu Hua leaned close and whispered in an impossibly soft, gentle voice— “Sister.”

Tears welled at the corners of Zhou Zhilan’s reddened eyes, spilling down as she looked at Gu Hua through a misty haze.

Zhou Zhilan—always bright, strong, unshakeable—now reduced to this… Gu Hua nearly burst into tears.

She held them back, forcing a smile. “Sister, it’s over now. No one will ever dare hurt you again. I’ve caught the ones who harmed you.”

The expressionless Zhou Zhilan finally reacted. She slowly turned her head and opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

Dong Hua quickly explained, “Sister Zhilan has lost her voice. She can’t speak for now.”

Gu Hua grabbed the hand Zhou Zhilan reached out, and her heart tightened—it was ice cold. She clasped both hands around it to warm her.

“Sister, you don’t have to say anything. Just listen to me.”

Gu Hua explained everything—how she went to Dali, discovered clues, then rushed to Qi Kingdom, beat the Qi King and Queen terribly, and dragged back the Qi side consort and Wang Heng.

Zhou Zhilan shook her head weakly with great effort. She mouthed—Don’t investigate.

Gu Hua was puzzled. Zhou Zhilan had always been righteous and fierce; how could she not want the villains punished?

She gently rubbed her hand and spoke warmly—but each word carried quiet, unwavering strength.

“No matter who it is, you don’t need to fear them. I am behind you. Mu Junyan is behind you. The entire Mu Army is behind you. We are not people who sit quietly while others bully us. And if the forces behind Wang Heng dared trade women’s lives and reputation for power, then they will pay the price.”

A faint spark appeared in Zhou Zhilan’s empty eyes.

Gu Hua noticed and grew excited. “Sister, I stabbed Wang Heng twice—just like you taught me. He didn’t even have time to react!”

She grinned mischievously. “Shen Li told me exactly where to strike. Two perfect hits—tons of blood, screamed like a pig, but he won’t die.”

Seeing Shen Li give her a thumbs-up, she turned back proudly.

Zhou Zhilan’s lips trembled faintly.

Gu Hua reassured her, “Sister, think of nothing else. Once the remaining culprits are caught, I’ll let you watch them be skinned alive.”

She glanced outside, hesitated, then said softly, “You don’t want to see him—because… you feel ashamed?”

Zhou Zhilan closed her eyes in grievance, tears slipping out.

Gu Hua knew she was right. She looked around and gestured for everyone to leave.

Dong Hua pulled Shen Li and all the maids out, closing the door.

Gu Hua stroked Zhou Zhilan’s cheek and spoke gently:

“Sister, you know my past best. Back then, I too would rather have died. Even though I struggled to live, even humbled myself to the dust… why should the evil ones get to hurt us and still walk free, still commit more sins?

I once thought women were born weak—that one wrong step, one false accusation, one act of violation… and we’d never lift our heads again.

We all heard the story—years ago, the prime minister’s legitimate daughter was abducted and violated. She finally escaped back home… only for her closest kin to force her to commit suicide.

All because the world sees a woman’s chastity as her entire worth.

But they are wrong.”

Zhou Zhilan stared blankly at her.

Gu Hua smiled. “Sister Zhou, you are a hero among women. You must agree—our worth is not just chastity. We are intelligent, capable, no weaker than men. Why can men have three wives and four concubines and no one questions their chastity? Why?

Look at us—we built schools and shelters; we run taverns and clothing shops with the Pei family. We live well without men. How are we inferior to them?

Why should we let narrow-minded fools laugh at us?”

Light gradually returned to Zhou Zhilan’s eyes. She squeezed Gu Hua’s hand tightly.

Gu Hua smiled back and squeezed in return.

“As for Zhou Chunyu—handle him however you want. I will fully support you. Sister, although you were harmed, Zhou Chunyu is not perfect either. Neither of you owes the other anything. Thinking this way… doesn’t it make things a little easier?”

Zhou Zhilan cried as she smiled.

Gu Hua finally relaxed. “When he learned what happened to you, he nearly wanted to die in your place. When I saw him just now, he’d lost so much weight, with dark circles and looking utterly worn.

Will you give him a chance? Let him see you once, so he can stop worrying?”

Zhou Zhilan blinked—Okay.

Gu Hua let out a slow breath of relief and patted her hand. “I’ll stay right beside you. If you don’t want to see him anymore, just blink at me.”

Zhou Zhilan blinked again.