FBC – Chapter 324 A Different Kind of Marital Affection

Gu Hua personally went to the kitchen to make two types of pastries the children loved most. She also made a less-sweet hawthorn jelly and had Dong Qing deliver it.

“Hawthorn jelly is the old madam’s favorite.”

Looking at the jelly, Dong Qing felt a mix of emotions.

She knew that not only the old madam liked it—her lord did too.

The relationship between the lord and the princess consort was so good, yet they had to put on a show for others. This world was truly too difficult.

Mu Junyan watched the children scramble excitedly over the pastries, when Dong Qing brought over the hawthorn jelly.

“My lord, the princess consort made this especially for the old madam. You should try a piece too.”

Mu Junyan’s eyes reddened slightly. He picked up a piece and tossed it into his mouth, chewing slowly.

It was his favorite flavor.

He looked up toward Gu Hua, only to see her figure disappearing into the room.

Dong Qing said no more and carried the hawthorn jelly inside for the old madam.

The old madam came out holding the plate, watching the two children eating and playing.

Mu Junyan hurried over and lowered his voice. “Mother, please help persuade her more. She’s pregnant—I’m afraid she’ll get too upset.”

The old madam gave a knowing smile. “Hua’er isn’t some delicate greenhouse flower as you imagine. Look at this hawthorn jelly—she’s using this old lady as a raft to float it over to you.”

Mu Junyan chuckled and took the plate. “Then I’ll eat it all.”

The old madam pressed her lips into a smile. “I knew you’d be greedy for this.”

He ate another piece. The sweet-sour flavor filled his mouth, and his heart felt just like the jelly—sour yet sweet.

“She truly isn’t a greenhouse flower. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have walked this road together. She’s smart and brave. But right now, to buy ourselves time, we need Bianjing to let down its guard. Those two women have to be released to lure the snake from its hole. And here in Juzhou, eyes are everywhere—there may even be traitors.”

The old madam nodded. “This world now belongs to you young people. I trust you. As for me, I’ll just watch over the grandchildren so you can fight boldly and without worry.”

Mu Junyan bowed seriously. “Thank you, Mother.”

The old madam gave him a sideways glance. “Hua’er may be sensible, but being too sensible creates distance. Over time, that distance grows, hearts cool, and you won’t be able to fix it even if you want to. Use your head a bit—don’t truly make her cold toward you.”

Mu Junyan sighed. “This child still needs to learn more about being a husband.”

“Just ask your heart. Be sincere. That’s all. Nothing to learn.”

His eyes brightened. “Mother is wise.”

Inside the room, Gu Hua was embroidering flowers, her eyes drifting toward the courtyard where mother and son were speaking.

She had guessed Mu Junyan was acting, but her heart still felt uncomfortable.

He didn’t believe she could handle things, so he didn’t tell her beforehand—afraid she would break character.

“Hiss—”

Lost in thought, the embroidery needle pricked her finger, making her recoil.

Dong Qing hurried over. “You pricked yourself?”

Gu Hua let out a self-mocking smile. “My mind’s not focused. It’s fine.”

Dong Qing poured her a warm cup of tea. “Please rest, Princess Consort. Let the servants handle this work.”

“For the children’s underclothes, I feel better sewing them myself.”

Gu Hua continued embroidering luxurious flowers on a little red bellyband.

At night, the two children still loved squeezing into her bed to sleep.

After coaxing them to sleep, Gu Hua was just about to drift off when she felt someone crawl into the bed. A familiar scent wrapped around her, making her nose sting slightly.

A broad chest pressed against her back, and strong arms wrapped the three of them tightly.

Feeling the warm and solid chest behind her, Gu Hua’s tense body slowly relaxed.

Mu Junyan was overjoyed. She didn’t resist—meaning she wasn’t angry.

Carefully, he began gently kissing her jade-smooth neck, slowly moving upward and finally taking her earlobe into his mouth.

Gu Hua trembled, unable to stop herself from turning her head to meet his long-awaited passionate kiss.

Their breaths intertwined—familiar and fervent—expressing mutual trust.

At this moment, the melding of their hearts was even more intense than the melding of their bodies.

Mu Junyan worried her neck would hurt in that position, so he reluctantly released her, his chin brushing her cheek as he whispered, “So you do trust me. You’re really not mad anymore?”

Gu Hua murmured softly, “What do you think?”

He kissed her earlobe.

Gu Hua shrank her neck at the ticklish touch, humming lightly. “As for Sister Zhilian… of course I was angry. And though none of you wanted such a thing to happen, it was their marital tribulation. They’ll cherish each other more because of it. If Sister Zhilian hadn’t recovered emotionally, I wouldn’t have forgiven you.”

Mu Junyan suddenly bit her earlobe lightly, making her gasp softly.

“You should’ve said that earlier. I tried to act more convincingly but was afraid of upsetting you even more, afraid I wouldn’t be able to coax you. I spent two whole months anxious, afraid for you while pregnant, worried about your health—I’ve lost a whole round of weight. Not once did you feel sorry for your husband.”

Gu Hua turned and rolled her eyes at him. “Wasn’t I just helping your performance look more convincing? You could’ve gone and favored those women—that would’ve felt even more realistic!”

Mu Junyan bit her cheek in mock anger. “I don’t want to touch them at all—the thought makes me nauseous. You’re too cruel, trying to push your husband away.”

Gu Hua laughed. “Then should those young women waste their youth like this?”

Mu Junyan grumbled, “Chiyan already checked. That Yintao woman is from a brothel, and Yiyun is an official courtesan from the Bureau of Entertainment. They came here willingly. They chose their path—they bear it.”

Gu Hua was shocked. “The Empress actually chose a brothel girl to send? That’s such an insult!”

“She didn’t dare send a noblewoman. She’s afraid I’d behead her outright. Besides, if she really sent someone from a noble house, and you—being beautiful and kind—took pity on her, what then?”

Gu Hua snorted. “If she dares steal my husband, I’ll chop her down myself, noble or not.”

Mu Junyan laughed deeply. “So how did you realize I was acting? You made me lose sleep for days, not knowing how to comfort you without exposing the plan. I’ve been through decades of war, life and death—yet I was tormented by a little woman, unable to eat or sleep.”

Gu Hua smiled proudly. “Did you think I’ve been eating and idling beside the great War God all these years? Please. I’m not stupid.”

“Mm, yes. My wife—truly remarkable.”

“Mm. By the way, I have some ideas. I want to discuss them with you when we get the chance.”

“Say them…”

The couple whispered softly to each other, talking through the whole night without realizing it.

It was the first time they had shared such a night—both feeling a new, deeper kind of intimacy.

A kind of affection beyond carnal love—a partnership of mutual support, hands joined tightly, each the other’s indispensable family.

Before dawn, Mu Junyan rose and returned to the barracks.

Gu Hua hadn’t slept a bit the whole night, yet felt refreshed.

The news of the prince and princess consort reconciling quietly spread through the entire palace. The gloom that had hung over the household for two months instantly vanished.

Everyone tacitly understood; their steps grew lighter and quicker.

Yintao and Yiyun, however, sensed nothing of the change. They were allowed to move within the manor, but according to rules, a concubine needed the main wife’s permission to leave the estate.

The two still came every day, pleading to offer morning greetings and tea, but Gu Hua continued refusing to see them. Naturally, the household servants didn’t treat them warmly either.

Still, they were fed well and treated like any concubine of noble families.

Yintao wandered about the manor daily, while Yiyun borrowed books and spent her days reading quietly.

News of the prince taking two concubines soon spread through Juzhou. Even faraway Zhao Luoxuan in Dali heard and anxiously sent a letter asking Gu Hua how she was doing.

Gu Hua replied blandly with two words—It’s fine.

Such romantic gossip spread fast—but without new developments, it faded quickly.

Besides, the prince was hardly ever home and showed no affection toward the concubines. Those who had worried about the princess consort relaxed, and those who waited to see her humiliated lost interest.

The mine-seizing operation proceeded in full swing. Within a month, something went wrong with the mine. The inexperienced Yulin Guards and officials from Bianjing were helpless.

The Mu family army immediately took over, sidelining the Yulin Guards and the capital’s officials completely.

By the time word reached Bianjing, the matter had already been over for a whole month.