FBC -Chapter 316 Unworthy of Being a Man

“It was the Third Prince… It was the Third Prince who did it. Spare us, Princess Consort, please spare us!”

One of them was so frightened he wet his pants, hurriedly pointing at Zhao Yuchen while shouting.

With one person rebelling, naturally a second followed.

Soon after, someone else wailed, “Y-yes, it was the Third Prince. We never touched Miss Zhou. Please spare us!”

Zhao Yuchen flew into a rage. “You dogs! How dare you betray this prince! I’ll kill you!”

Gu Hua’s blood-red eyes slowly shifted toward Zhao Yuchen, who had drawn his sword in a panic.

Unfortunately for him, before he could pull it free, Chiyu struck with a hand-blade, knocking the sword flying.

Zhao Yuchen panicked, his shifty eyes darting everywhere. Seeing everyone glaring at him with fury, he knew things were bad.

He tried to relax, forcing a laugh—but the more he laughed, the stiffer and more unnatural it became.

Clinging to his act, he said dryly, “Such a fuss… You’re overthinking it. This prince was doing a good deed.”

Gu Hua walked toward him step by step, frightening him into retreating over and over.

“Princess Consort Mu, don’t be stupid! I’m a prince! If you dare touch me, my imperial father won’t spare you!”

Gu Hua said coldly, “A prince who breaks the law is punished the same as a commoner. Besides, you intended to use the assault on Sister Zhilan to provoke a war between the Mu Army and the southern nations. That is treason! A capital crime—anyone may execute you on the spot!”

Zhao Yuchen broke into cold sweat.

He forced himself to stay calm. “Princess Consort Yong, you misunderstand. I heard her husband was… incapable. I was doing them a favor. If she became pregnant, my royal bloodline would be given to Zhou Chunyu to raise as his son. This was a great kindness—how could you possibly blame—”

“Zhao Yuchen!”

Gu Hua roared in fury.

How could someone so vile exist?

The Mu soldiers could no longer hold back—they cursed him loudly, calling him a beast.

Overwhelmed by the deafening shouts, Zhao Yuchen turned pale. “I am a prince! I am a prince! Touch me if you dare!”

Gu Hua raised her dagger. “Since you refuse to be a man, then you can be a eunuch!”

Mu Junyan suddenly drew his sword, rushing forward before she could strike.

Chiyu, quick-eyed and swift, grabbed Zhao Yuchen’s arm, locking him in place. Zhao Yuchen helplessly watched Mu Junyan’s cold blade thrust like wind toward his crotch.

Mu Junyan’s tall figure blocked Gu Hua’s view, but she heard Zhao Yuchen’s scream.

Just as she moved to look, Mu Junyan turned and pulled her into his arms.

In a low voice, he said, “A beast like that isn’t worthy of dirtying your hands. He doesn’t deserve to be a man.”

Grief surged in Gu Hua’s chest, and she broke down crying in his embrace.

Wang Heng and the Third Prince’s men were stunned, their mouths open, speechless.

Chiyu and the others felt finally relieved—the fact that he was a prince did nothing to earn their mercy.

Some even thought: if the lord didn’t punish him openly, they would kill this beast in secret.

After crying her fill, Gu Hua felt some of her suffocating anger dissipate. She wiped her tears.

“I’m going to see Sister Zhilan.”

Mu Junyan supported her. “I’ll go with you.”

Gu Hua shook her head. “I’ll go alone.”

She still had unresolved knots in her heart.

Glancing at the terrified men who had wet themselves, she said coldly, “They are not worthy of being men either.”

Mu Junyan agreed without hesitation. “Yes.”

He waved to Chiyu. “Carry out the sentence.”

Chiyu and the others brightened instantly.

Wang Heng’s face went pale. “You can’t do this to me! The Wang clan of Langya won’t let you go!”

As Gu Hua walked past him, she kicked him hard. “If the Wang clan of Langya knew you committed such beastly acts, they’d want to skin you alive. You’re the one who disgraced them! Don’t worry—I’ll ensure they hear the full tale when you’re sent back.”

Wang Heng trembled with fear and rage, trying to argue, but Chiyu grabbed him by the collar and dragged him away.

Gu Hua had no wish to see more. She strode quickly toward the inner courtyard.

After cleaning the blood from her hands and changing into fresh clothes, she entered the room. Zhou Chunyu was feeding Zhou Zhilan medicine.

Gu Hua stepped forward and calmly told them what had happened.

Zhou Zhilan’s eyes widened, and she raised three fingers.

Gu Hua nodded. “Yes. He was the first one castrated.”

Zhou Zhilan froze for a moment.

Zhou Chunyu’s eyes burned with fury. “I want to cut him into a thousand pieces!”

Gu Hua said coolly, “He is a prince. He cannot die in Juzhou. But when we escort him back to Bianjing… well, we might encounter some bandits.”

Zhou Chunyu’s eyes lit up.

But Zhou Zhilan grabbed his sleeve.

Gu Hua knew what she feared. She also knew that because it was the Third Prince who harmed her, she didn’t want others taking revenge on her behalf.

Gu Hua knelt down, holding Zhou Zhilan’s hand in both of hers. She looked at her, but her words were directed at Zhou Chunyu.

“Sister Zhilan, don’t worry. The Mu Army will not spare any of them. Wang Heng has also been castrated. None of them are worthy of being called men. As for their ultimate punishment—His Majesty will decide. But they will suffer everything they deserve. The road to Bianjing is dangerous. Losing a limb or two to bandits is normal.”

Zhou Zhilan stared at her for a long time before slowly smiling.

Gu Hua smiled too, brushing Zhilan’s hair gently.

“Elder sister, whatever they’ve done, it’s over now. From now on, let’s live happily, all right? I need you very much.”

She forced a smile, but tears streamed down her face.

Zhou Zhilan smiled as well, her eyes reddening. She squeezed Gu Hua’s hand with all her strength.

Gu Hua felt it—the old Zhilan had returned.

Shen Li had added calming herbs to Zhilan’s medicine; she soon drifted into a deep sleep.

When Gu Hua and Zhou Chunyu stepped outside, he bowed deeply, his voice hoarse. “Thank you, Princess Consort. Without you, Zhilan wouldn’t have survived.”

Gu Hua looked at him, her face turning cold.

“I have something to ask you.”

Zhou Chunyu quickly said, “Please ask.”

“Did you and Mu Junyan already know that Wang Heng and his men would try something?”

Zhou Chunyu froze, then realized what she meant and hurried to explain: “We knew Wang Heng was still active in the south. We knew he was lobbying King Duan. He has always plotted against us. But Zhilan’s incident truly was our negligence.”

As expected.

Gu Hua felt a sharp pain pierce her heart.

She stared at him. “Just negligence? Not deliberately leaving a flaw so they could act?”

Zhou Chunyu paled. “W-we anticipated that they might take action soon because the small nations were secretly gathering troops. But we didn’t expect they would target Zhilan.”

Fury flared within Gu Hua. She lowered her voice, trembling with anger. “So you deliberately relaxed security to lure them in! So Zhilan’s suffering is partly on you!”

Zhou Chunyu panicked, not knowing how to explain. When Gu Hua turned and stormed toward the main courtyard, he rushed after her.

“Princess Consort, this had nothing to do with the lord—it was my decision! I thought the wedding might be an opportunity, so I told the Yong guards to appear more relaxed. I didn’t expect them to kidnap someone from the Zhou residence. The Zhou residence didn’t have many guards… and some had been bribed. That’s how they succeeded!”

Gu Hua grew even angrier. She slapped him hard across the face.

“Zhou Chunyu, are you even human?! Sister Zhilan suffered for you for so many years, and you keep hurting her again and again! These are your excuses?! That wedding she dreamed of for years—was it just bait to you?!”

Zhou Chunyu dropped to his knees. “Princess Consort, it’s my fault, all my fault. It truly had nothing to do with the lord.”

Gu Hua said harshly, “Whether it concerns him—that’s for me to decide! From today on, if you ever make Sister Zhilan shed another tear, I will not spare you!”