FBC – Chapter 345 Seduction

When Mu Junyan returned, Gu Hua watched as Dong Mo helped him change, personally wringing out a hot towel and handing it to him, while recounting what had happened with Lady Li.

As she spoke, her anger grew: “I truly didn’t expect Qian Junheng to be so shameless, and Lady Li to be so utterly foolish.”

Mu Junyan tossed the hot towel to Dong Mo, placed one hand on Gu Hua’s waist, and gently stroked her back with the other.

“Getting angry over people like that isn’t worth it. Don’t ruin your own health.”

Gu Hua rested her head against his chest. “I had originally intended, out of respect for Lord Li and Consort De, to give Lady Li a helping hand. Who knew she’d be so incapable herself?”

Mu Junyan lifted her chin and pecked her rosy lips: “Who else could be as brilliant as my little princess?”

Gu Hua was sweetly overwhelmed by this unexpected flattery and pushed him playfully: “All you know is how to sweet-talk me.”

Mu Junyan laughed heartily, taking her small hand: “Come on, let’s eat.”

Gu Hua always ate with the children in the Fulutang Hall, along with the elderly matriarch, and it was the same whenever Mu Junyan returned home.

After a lively family meal, the two little ones busied themselves with their activities.

Mu Junyan held Gu Hua’s hand: “Let’s go for a walk and digest.”

“Alright.”

Smiling, Gu Hua followed him slowly toward the garden.

“Mr. Min makes time every day to come teach the two children stories and literacy. Look at how much they’ve changed.”

Gu Hua watched Tuan Tuan seriously writing at a small desk while eating the peeled grapes Yun’er handed her.

Yuan Yuan was there, happily dismantling a nine-linked puzzle by herself.

Mu Junyan nodded. “Yes, both are clever little ones.”

Suddenly, Gu Hua thought: “Xuanxuan must be close to giving birth. I haven’t heard any news from Dali recently.”

Mu Junyan said, “Alright, I’ll have Chi Yan and the others report more updates to you.”

Gu Hua set down her bowl of grapes. “Ah, I wonder how Xuanxuan is doing. I’m really worried about her.”

Mu Junyan reached out to tuck the strands of hair falling across her face behind her ear and said gently: “She’s about to become a mother. She can take care of herself. Look at you—you went from a little inexperienced girl to a capable princess.”

Gu Hua looked at him: “Life is inherently harder for women. On top of that, they must shoulder the burdens of family and state power struggles. Being a princess is truly difficult.”

Mu Junyan smiled, leaned close, and whispered in her ear: “If it were you, wouldn’t you want to become a member of the royal family? Like the Empress, perhaps?”

Gu Hua was shocked and sharply whispered: “How can you say such things casually?”

Mu Junyan smiled: “I’m asking you.”

Lowering her voice, Gu Hua asked: “Aren’t you supposed to support Zhao Yufeng? Do you mean to… yourself…”

She gestured toward the heavens.

Gu Hua knew Mu Junyan was recruiting troops to contend against Bianjing, but she never dared imagine that he might one day proclaim himself emperor.

He said the Fourth Prince Zhao Yufeng was hidden within the Mu family army. Wasn’t the goal to support him to the throne, thereby ensuring the Mu army’s long-term safety?

Mu Junyan stroked her hair and gazed at her: “No matter what I wish to do, first and foremost, your happiness and the children’s safety come first.”

Gu Hua’s eyes welled up. She held his large hand: “No matter what you wish to do, I will always follow my husband.”

“Prince, Princess Consort, I’ve made some pastries. Please try them.”

A sweet voice interrupted them.

Yin Tao appeared in a bright red dress, carrying a food box that blocked their path.

Mu Junyan’s expression darkened instantly, and he shot a cold glance at Dong Mo.

Dong Mo paled, hurriedly scolding: “How dare you! Step aside at once!”

Yin Tao was startled and turned to seek Gu Hua’s help.

Gu Hua smiled gently: “Prince, Yin Tao told me today that she’s skilled at making Qinhuai pastries. I’ve never tasted them, so I asked her to make some for us to try.”

Mu Junyan glanced at Gu Hua. “Since the Princess Consort wishes to try them, then let’s taste them.”

Gu Hua pointed to a nearby pavilion: “Let’s go there. The weather is perfect—neither cold nor hot. Tea with pastries will be just right.”

Overjoyed, Yin Tao followed them to the pavilion, carrying the food box.

Sui’er and Yun’er quickly set up two small charcoal stoves to brew tea.

Since Gu Hua could not drink tea, Sui’er heated up a cup of milk jasmine drink for her.

Yin Tao carefully presented two plates of pastries.

The pastries were shaped like green chrysanthemums and pink lotuses, very beautiful.

Gu Hua could not help but exclaim: “Yin Tao, your hands are so skillful.”

Yin Tao shyly smiled: “As long as the Princess Consort likes them. I can’t do anything else—only these pastries.”

Gu Hua pointed at a lotus-shaped one. “Try this.”

Sui’er took a silver needle, inserted it into the lotus pastry, then removed it to check that it was fine, before placing the pastry on a small white porcelain plate and handing it to Gu Hua.

Yin Tao’s heart skipped a beat—fortunately, she hadn’t poisoned it, otherwise it would have been detected.

Gu Hua examined it: “It looks so lifelike, I almost don’t want to eat it.”

Yin Tao gave him a coquettish look and whispered softly: “Prince, would you like to try? I know you don’t like sweet things, so I made them not too sweet.”

Mu Junyan refused flatly and emotionlessly: “No need.”

Gu Hua smiled sweetly: “Prince, you should try it. Otherwise, all her effort would go to waste.”

Using a silver spoon, she took a piece of pastry and brought it to his lips.

Mu Junyan had no choice but to open his mouth and eat it.

Gu Hua tilted her head and smiled sweetly: “Delicious?”

Mu Junyan looked displeased: “Not as good as yours.”

Gu Hua laughed: “Prince, really—how can you say that in front of my little sister? Where does that leave her pride?”

Mu Junyan said coldly: “You don’t have a little sister.”

Gu Hua: “……”

She awkwardly looked at Yin Tao, who had turned pale: “Don’t take it personally, Little Sister. Generals are rough and don’t appreciate delicate things. Sorry for disappointing you.”

Yin Tao was inwardly furious but dared not show it. With tears in her eyes, she said softly: “As long as the Princess Consort likes them, I am satisfied. I don’t dare hope the Prince likes them.”

Yin Tao was utterly jealous.

Gu Hua, full of apology, said: “It’s getting late. You should go back and rest.”

Yin Tao stammered and left.

Once she was gone, Sui’er immediately handed Gu Hua a special medicinal pill.

It was custom-made by Shen Li, capable of neutralizing all poisons and counteracting harmful substances to the fetus.

After taking it, Gu Hua tossed the remaining pastries into the plate: “Throw them away.”

Mu Junyan said: “Do you want me to—deal with someone like that…”

Gu Hua tilted her head and looked at him: “Of course, I wouldn’t trouble the Prince. But she shouldn’t live with Du Yun anymore—Du Yun would be inconvenienced. Besides, isn’t Du Yun’s father arriving in Juzhou soon? I don’t want her to notice anything.”

“With what she just did, she could be executed on the spot.”

Mu Junyan was unwilling to stoop to such measures for someone so unworthy.

“But if we executed her and left Du Yun alive, wouldn’t people suspect Du Yun? I just want her to still be useful, to cover for Du Yun a little.”

Mu Junyan frowned in refusal.

Gu Hua leaned in sweetly: “Prince.”

Mu Junyan clasped her hand in his large palm, gently massaging it, his voice low and husky: “Does it still hurt?”

Gu Hua: “……”