FBC – Chapter 330 Embarrassing Moments

Gu Hua didn’t beat around the bush. “I brought you here to write some short stories. Also, scripts for plays, children’s rhymes, and so on.”

Qin Huai stared at her in surprise. “Ah? What should I write about?”

“I want everyone in Da Liang to know what’s happened in the Southern Frontier—how brave the men who died in battle were, how Wang Heng and his faction harmed us, and the crimes of the Jiang family. In short, I want everyone in Da Liang to sing praises of the Mu family army.”

Qin Huai’s eyes lit up. “I’ve been wanting to write such stories for a while. I’ve even written a few. I originally wanted to discreetly have familiar singers or storytellers spread them, and even wrote some folk songs for the common people, hoping the street urchins would carry them to every corner. But I worried that these lowly people would embarrass the Mu family army.”

Gu Hua said seriously, “Nonsense. There’s no such thing as high or low among people—only whether they do good or evil.”

Qin Huai stood up in excitement. “Very well! I’ll go back and carefully plan, then present it for Your Highness to review.”

Gu Hua smiled. “Good. We’ll first distribute them around the surrounding prefectures of the Southern Frontier. You’ll need to tailor them to each prefecture’s circumstances.”

Qin Huai nodded vigorously. “I deliberately stopped at several prefectures on my way from Bianjing to investigate their situation.”

Gu Hua gave him a thumbs-up. “Good. Thanks for your effort.”

Receiving Gu Hua’s praise, Qin Huai was so excited he almost jumped in place, but he forced himself to maintain composure and respectfully saluted before leaving.

After a few steps, he suddenly stopped, hesitated, then turned back and whispered, “Your Highness, may I ask… does the Prince intend to move east?”

Gu Hua thought for a moment. “We go with the times. Who sits on the throne is not important; what matters is that we live safely and happily. And since we detest war and do not want to resolve matters by force, I plan to pave the way through public opinion first.”

Qin Huai’s eyes immediately shone. “Leave it to me!”

Watching him rush off with excitement, Gu Hua felt a fire ignite in her own heart.

She had never dared to imagine it before—turns out, the world could be changed by her hand.

Midnight.

Yin Tao had just thrown the wooden hairpin over the western wall. Terrified, her limbs felt weak, and she wrapped herself in her cloak and hurried back to the residence as if being chased. But in the nearby darkness, she saw a tall figure and froze for a moment. After confirming who it was, she panicked even more.

Afraid of being seen, she kept running. Only after entering the residence courtyard did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Pushing open the gate, she saw that Yi Yun’s room had already been darkened. After all her hard work, that wretched girl could sleep soundly!

Her fear instantly turned into a surge of anger.

Yin Tao stormed into the room and yanked back Yi Yun’s quilt.

Yi Yun jolted upright in fright, but seeing it was Yin Tao, she too became angry.

“Are you crazy?”

Yin Tao grabbed the quilt and slammed it over her. “You’re a young lady, I’m your maid or servant, right? I risked my neck in the dark to deliver the message, and you just sleep soundly. You’re nothing but a noble body with a servant’s life!”

Yi Yun glared at her.

She had never argued like Yin Tao, especially never with harsh words. For a moment, her lips trembled, and she could not speak.

After venting, Yin Tao felt better.

Seeing Yi Yun staring blankly, she spat in disdain. “What use are you? The Empress still values you, even entrusted you with the token!”

Yi Yun shivered with anger. “Get out!”

Yin Tao sneered. “I already threw the token out. From now on, I’ll be the one liaising with the Empress’s people. Don’t steal my credit!”

Angrily, she turned and walked to the door, then paused. “The Prince has returned—and quietly.”

Yi Yun froze.

They hadn’t seen the Prince for several days while wandering the residence. They had spent some coins to inquire and learned that the Prince and Princess were still in a cold war.

So they still felt there was hope.

Concerned for their future and fate, Yi Yun quickly climbed up and grabbed Yin Tao at the door.

“Did you see clearly?”

“Of course. Who in the residence is as tall and heroic as the Prince?”

Yin Tao said, a little intoxicated with admiration.

Yet she regretted not being able to get close to him.

Yi Yun pulled her back inside and closed the door. “The situation in Juzhou is tense. We’ve already sent the token. Watch who comes to us. This information must be reported to the Empress promptly. Otherwise, if she blames us, we’re done for.”

Yin Tao raised an eyebrow. “Now you’re worried? Before, you acted indifferent.”

Yi Yun sighed. “You’re just too impatient. Here, we can only support each other. No one else can help.”

Yin Tao’s expression darkened, and she looked a bit dejected.

“Can’t do anything, makes one so anxious.”

Yi Yun thought for a moment. “Go to sleep. Tomorrow, we’ll thoroughly check the residence for anything left for us.”

Yin Tao glanced at her and turned to leave.

Yi Yun closed the door and sat alone by the bed, dazed.

Thinking, her eyes grew red. When would she be able to save her father?

Mu Junyan quietly entered the room, gently removing his outerwear and slipping under the covers, holding Gu Hua.

Gu Hua, half-awake, mumbled, “Back so late?”

“Mm, I missed you and the children too much.”

Mu Junyan pressed his forehead to hers. “Sorry to wake you. Go back to sleep.”

But Gu Hua’s sleepiness vanished as he rubbed her belly with his large hand. She turned to face him.

Only a candle flickered on the dressing table across the room, casting Mu Junyan’s face in shadow.

Gu Hua nestled in his arms and recounted everything she had done over the past few days.

Mu Junyan praised sincerely, “Impressive!”

Gu Hua smirked with a hint of pride. “Men fight on the battlefield, women fight in the inner palace. They say the ladies of the harem influence the previous dynasty; indeed, the inner palace also affects state affairs. Don’t be fooled—women’s battles may lack gunpowder, but they can bring men down in seconds.”

Soft in her arms yet untouchable, Mu Junyan struggled to restrain himself.

He could only cup her face and kiss her forcefully.

Gu Hua almost couldn’t breathe, whispering, “Be careful not to wake the children.”

Mu Junyan helplessly pulled her close, whispering, “Starting tomorrow, don’t let them sleep here.”

“But the children like to sleep with me.”

“Return to the main residence.”

“Aren’t we still in a cold war?”

“Two months of cold is enough. It can end.”

Gu Hua pursed her lips, teasing him, “What’s the difference between sleeping in the main residence and here?”

“There is.”

Hearing her playful tone, Mu Junyan bit her earlobe angrily. “I want to eat.”

Gu Hua giggled, scratching her neck. “Hungry? I’ll make noodles…ah!”

A sharp pain in her chest made her exclaim, then quickly clamp her mouth shut and glare at the culprit.

Mu Junyan ground his teeth. “Try to make me angry again? I’ll carry you to the main house right now.”

Feeling his change, Gu Hua pitied him, quickly begging, wrapping her arms around him, and planting a soft kiss on his lips.

“I’ll sleep in the main house tomorrow.”

“That’s better.”

Mu Junyan held her. “Sleep.”

Suddenly, he froze.

Two little eyes stared at him, wide and round.

Mu Junyan: “…”

Awkward.

His gentle expression vanished. He scowled. “Still not asleep?”

Gu Hua stiffened, turning her head. Beneath the quilt, two little heads were nestled together.

She quickly pushed Mu Junyan’s hand away, speaking softly to them, “Woke you up? Be good, go back to sleep.”

She reached to tap the round-headed one who had toppled onto his brother. “Sleep.”

Yuanyuan suddenly stretched out chubby little hands, covering her brother’s eyes, then squinted tightly. “We saw nothing. Mom and Dad, continue your…fun.”

Gu Hua: “…”

Mu Junyan: “…”

It had been a while since he had spanked anyone.

Mu Junyan circled Gu Hua, exasperated, and slapped Yuanyuan’s bottom. “What nonsense! Who taught you this?”

Unexpectedly, Yuanyuan burst into wailing tears, crawling over to hug Gu Hua’s arm. “Mom, save us!”

Wailing, she signaled to her twin with a glance.

Tuantuan immediately wailed, crawling over to hug Gu Hua’s other arm.

Mu Junyan looked at her with one arm full of tiny beans, utterly speechless.

Outside, the nannies and maids heard the commotion and hurried over, only to be stopped by a sudden shadow.

“The master is here.”

Everyone froze, then silently returned to their rooms to continue sleeping.