FBC -Chapter 319 Untying the Knot 

After settling the matters at Fulutang, Yuan Jieying arrived.

Gu Hua had actually been planning to look for her. Hearing the news, she paused in thought and said, “Let’s go see her.”

Yuan Jieying was pacing anxiously in the side hall. When she saw Gu Hua being supported in, she hurried forward to greet her with a respectful bow.

“Miss Yuan, sit. Dong Qing, serve tea.”

Gu Hua no longer carried her usual warmth. Yuan Jieying’s face was filled with guilt.

“Your Ladyship, Princess Consort… I have come to resign.”

“Oh? You’re leaving?”

“Y–yes… Imperial Consort Xian has ordered me to return to the capital.”

Gu Hua fell silent.

Consort Xian’s son had just been castrated by Mu Junyan. Together with Wang Heng and the others, they were to be escorted back to the capital once their injuries stabilized.

For Yuan Jieying, staying in Juzhou now would be extremely awkward.

After all, the Third Prince’s downfall had intensified the enmity between Consort Xian and the Prince of Yong’s household; she naturally shouldn’t remain here.

Gu Hua still held lingering doubts toward her and had intended to ask if she had taken part in the incident.

But now, seeing her with both eyes swollen from crying, looking as if she hadn’t slept for days, Gu Hua couldn’t bear to interrogate her.

“Since you wish to return, then go. The Jiang family has fallen—your safety shouldn’t be an issue anymore.”

Suddenly, Yuan Jieying stood up and knelt before Gu Hua, kowtowing solemnly.

“Your Ladyship… in the time of my greatest despair, when I saw no path left to live, it was you who gave me warmth and reached out to pull me up. My life now was given by you.”

Gu Hua quickly held her hands. “Get up. We are both women—there’s no need for such formalities. Women helping women is only right.”

Yuan Jieying rose, eyes red.

Gu Hua hesitated, then added:

“People having motives or thoughts isn’t a crime. But if you walk the right path, many will extend a helping hand to you, and your road will be long. If you walk the wrong path… righteousness will crush you sooner or later. Where you go from here—think clearly for yourself.”

Tears filled Yuan Jieying’s eyes. “Your Ladyship, don’t worry. I, Yuan Jieying, will treat you as my own sister for the rest of my life—I will never betray you.”

Gu Hua smiled lightly. “You’re overthinking it. I’ll arrange escorts to send you back to the capital.”

“Thank you, Princess Consort… but Consort Xian has already sent people.”

Gu Hua suddenly thought of something and asked tentatively, “Did they arrive together with the ones reading the imperial decree?”

Yuan Jieying nodded.

Gu Hua quickly asked, “Do you know the contents of the decree?”

Yuan Jieying shook her head. “They arrived in Juzhou last night and said they delivered the decree to the Prince overnight. But the ones sent to fetch me also don’t know what it says.”

Gu Hua thought it over. If she needed to know, someone would have told her.

Previously, Wang Heng and Duan Yu mentioned the decree—saying that because Mu Junyan left Juzhou for Dali without orders, he could be charged with treason.

But now that the decree had arrived while Mu Junyan remained in Juzhou, the accusation wouldn’t stick. There was no real danger.

Mu Junyan had said before that he and the Emperor had come to an agreement—he didn’t need to return to the capital to receive imperial commands anymore.

Gu Hua instructed Dong Qing to prepare supplies and food for Yuan Jieying’s journey.

Snow fell heavily for two straight days.

Yet Gu Hua hadn’t seen Mu Junyan once.

Though she was still annoyed, the anger caused by Zhou Zhilan’s situation had gradually cooled.

Under Zhou Chunyu’s careful care and Shen Li’s attentive treatment, Zhou Zhilan had improved these past two days, and her spirits had also brightened.

After visiting Zhou Zhilan, Gu Hua headed back to Fulutang with Dong Qing.

Walking along the path, Gu Hua was full of thoughts.

Dong Qing, walking beside her, looked like she wanted to speak but hesitated.

Gu Hua sensed it immediately and turned to her. “Was he chilled that day?”

Dong Qing shook her head. “No.”

Gu Hua thought for a moment. “Tell the kitchen to cook ginger syrup. Have Dong Mo bring him a bowl every night before bed. He doesn’t like medicine—if he falls sick, what will happen to the Mu Army? Also, tell Dr. Shen to check his pulse regularly.”

“Yes.”

Dong Qing couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, “Princess Consort… are you truly not going to care about the Prince? Lately… His Highness has been busy entertaining the people from the capital.”

Gu Hua huffed. “Why should I care? Isn’t there a whole crowd caring for him already?”

When they returned to Fulutang, the Old Madam was there as well.

She spent nearly every day playing with the children in Fulutang.

“Mother.” Gu Hua greeted her, and the Old Madam beckoned her over.

Gu Hua sat beside her, and suddenly felt a pang of grievance.

The Old Madam took her hand gently. “Do you want to hear the story of your father-in-law and me?”

Gu Hua’s eyes lit up, and she nodded. “Yes!”

With a smile, the Old Madam recounted how she and the former Duke had first clashed, then grew fond of each other.

Gu Hua listened with fascination, admiration growing in her heart.

She even felt envy—when the Old Madam had been young, she was free-spirited, unlike the restricted noble ladies, and she stood shoulder to shoulder with the Duke, never inferior to him.

Suddenly, the Old Madam’s tone softened.

“On the day he was named Duke of the Nation, His Majesty bestowed two beauties to our household. One of them was even a princess. Though I came from an old scholarly family, my relatives had nearly all died in war—without my family’s support, I only had him. That day, I made a huge scene. I was terrified. But who would dare refuse an imperial reward? To defy the Emperor is to doom the whole family.”

Gu Hua was shocked. “But His Majesty knew you two were deeply in love… and Mother had earned merit as well. Why send women into your home? Didn’t he consider your feelings?”

“Silly child—this is called political balance. The Emperor needs people he trusts placed in the Duke’s household.”

Gu Hua asked curiously, “What happened afterward?”

“I argued with him for days, refused to speak to him. But he… ignoring everything… drank himself senseless with beauties in his arms every day. I was furious and decided to divorce him. Who would have thought he’d personally bring me the divorce letter?”

Gu Hua thought for a moment. “But naturally you didn’t divorce. And I never heard of Father accepting the beauties. What happened to those women? And how did you come to trust him again?”

“He came to me that day with the divorce letter—and handed me all of his assets as well. I didn’t understand. He asked me whether I trusted him. Whether he was worth believing in. If I didn’t trust him, I could take the letter and everything and leave. If I did… then stand by his side. Not long after, we returned to Juzhou. The two women were left in the capital—saying Juzhou was too dangerous. We didn’t return for five or six years. Eventually, the two of them left the household on their own.”

Gu Hua was stunned. “So nothing needed to be done—they gave up on their own.”

The Old Madam smiled. “Good child. With people, judge their character. Ask your own heart if they are worth trusting. This old woman believes in your judgment.”

Gu Hua felt a little embarrassed.

“There is a knot in my heart… Mother, why is it always women who must sacrifice?”

“Of course not. The Mu Army has lost countless sons in battle.”

Gu Hua had no reply.

The Old Madam patted her hand. “You two were doing well. But you pamper him too much—he might not understand your fears and insecurities.”

Suddenly, Gu Hua understood.

All this time, it had always been Mu Junyan protecting her. Even the Prince’s residence had nothing troublesome. Zhou Zhilan and her husband handled all internal affairs flawlessly. Matters outside the residence hardly required her worry. The few things she did—like building academies—had all proceeded smoothly with no obstacles.

She asked herself honestly.

Mu Junyan was truly a wonderful man—a good husband, a good son, and a good father.

There might not be a second man like him in the world.

“Mother… don’t worry.”

Gu Hua smiled. “I’ll personally prepare dinner and deliver it to him. I heard he’s been with the people from Bianjing these days—he must be exhausted from all the socializing.”

The Old Madam gave her a knowing smile. “Good.”