FBC – Chapter 350 Natural Disaster – Done

Father and daughter talked through the entire night—speaking of the mother who had died so tragically, of all the suffering they had endured. They cried, they laughed, and neither could bear to part.

Just as dawn broke, a maid entered.

Yiyun quickly wiped her tears. “Sister, you’re here so early—has Her Ladyship already risen? I’d like to go pay my respects.”

The maid curtsied. “The Princess Consort said that Miss may go after you and Lord Du have eaten breakfast. I came only to ask when you would like it served.”

Yiyun hurriedly said, “We can have it now. Thank you, Sister.”

“Please wait just a moment, Miss.”

Two young maids came in carrying a copper basin and tooth-washing tools to help them wash up.

A quarter hour later, two more maids brought in food boxes and filled the small table.

One look, and Yiyun saw breakfast was far more abundant than usual—there was even bird’s nest milk custard, something ordinary people never tasted.

“The Princess Consort said that my lord’s digestion still needs nourishing, so he should have something restorative first. When the two of you go to the Lotus Hall later, Physician Shen will take Lord Du’s pulse.”

Tears welled in Yiyun’s eyes. “Thank you, Sister. We’ll head over with Father shortly.”

Old Lord Du’s tears fell uncontrollably. After choking for some time, he finally managed to say, “The Princess Consort’s grace and kindness… we will never forget this in our lifetime!”

They hurried to finish their meal and went to the Lotus Hall. Princess Consort Gu Hua wasn’t there yet, so they waited.

Soon, Gu Hua appeared, surrounded by maids. Father and daughter immediately dropped to their knees.

Startling her so much she cried out, “No, no—please, don’t! You’ll scare me to death.”

Sui’er also quickly said, “Miss, please help Lord Du up.”

But Lord Du obstinately bowed his head to the floor. “I am a disgraced official. You are the Princess Consort—this courtesy is only proper.”

Yiyun also knelt and kowtowed before hurrying to help her father up.

“Sit and speak.”

Gu Hua let her maids help her into her seat—her body had grown heavier recently, and she moved more carefully.

“I knew that if I didn’t meet you two, your hearts would be full of worries.”

Yiyun, eyes brimming with tears, murmured, “Your Ladyship is too thoughtful.”

Gu Hua smiled faintly. “When one has suffered before, one understands.”

Lord Du stood and tried to speak, but she gestured gently for him to sit.

“Lord Du, you were wronged. You are no criminal. It’s still uncertain who the real sinners are.”

Lord Du froze, then slowly came back to himself. “Princess Consort, the guard who escorted me said His Highness intends to clear my name and obtain justice for me. To be honest… I only feel ashamed before my late wife and Yiyun. Justice doesn’t matter anymore.”

Gu Hua smiled. “As for your future, His Highness will discuss it with you. I am merely in charge of your well-being here.”

Mu Junyan hadn’t told her how he planned to settle Du’s position—but since he rescued him, he must have already moved against Yongzhou.

If the army was involved, the action must have been significant.

Gu Hua asked about the exiles in Yongzhou, and was shocked to learn that many wronged officials were imprisoned there—and all their cases had been judged during the Jiang clan’s dominance.

She immediately understood why Mu Junyan would act so decisively.

As the three were speaking, Mu Junyan returned.

Father and daughter immediately stood to salute.

“At ease.”

Mu Junyan waved a hand and strode to Gu Hua’s side to sit.

Sui’er served tea; he took a sip.

“Lord Du, how is your health?”

Lord Du hurriedly tried to rise and reply, but Mu Junyan frowned. “Sit. No need for such formality with me. Same goes for the Yong Prince’s Manor—we don’t care for all this bowing.”

Yiyun nodded. “Yes, Father. Their Highnesses are very easygoing.”

Lord Du’s eyes grew red again. “I only met Your Highness twice before—both hurried encounters. I never imagined Your Highness would save my life. From today onward, I—”

Mu Junyan interrupted, “Spare me the gratitude. I saved you because I have a use for you.”

Lord Du blinked—yet he suddenly felt steadier. He wiped his face and nodded. “I understand.”

Mu Junyan spoke openly. “What are your plans?”

Lord Du bowed. “I will go wherever Your Highness commands.”

“I want you to resume your post as Prefect of Gongzhou.”

Both father and daughter froze.

“But… how can that be possible?”

“Once the old case is investigated, you will naturally be reinstated.”

“But that requires a decree from the capital.”

“People only need a good magistrate. The capital is far, and some matters are beyond their reach. To tell the truth—Bianjing has been in chaos for nearly a year. His Majesty has taken ill and yet issued a decree restoring all taxes that had been halved—ordering every prefecture to repay the past ten years of exempted half-tax. The people everywhere are full of resentment.”

Lord Du’s eyes widened. “What? That… that will kill people! His Majesty has always been benevolent—how could such an order be issued?”

“And this year, rainfall has been excessive. Floods in the south, and in the north the wheat harvest is threatened by continuous rain.”

Lord Du frowned sharply. “Then the people’s anger must be addressed immediately. Otherwise, pushing them too far will cause disaster. Especially in Gongzhou—we have floods every year. With this year’s heavy rains, something is bound to happen. I wonder if the current prefect is prepared.”

Mu Junyan nodded. “Your sense of duty is precisely why I want you back. You are gifted at flood control—under your governance, even if there was flooding every year, the people suffered little.”

Lord Du exclaimed anxiously, “Only because each year before the rainy season, I relocated families living in low areas into the higher government compound for a month or two. And we reinforced the river embankments a month early.

Even if a major flood came, only some fields would be lost—no lives. But now the prefect is Jiang Qifu. He is greedy and cruel. How could he care for the people?”

Gu Hua grew worried and looked at Mu Junyan.

Mu Junyan said, “You must first regain your health. Only then is anything possible.”

Father and daughter stood and bowed.

“You may return.”

Mu Junyan stood and took Gu Hua’s hand. Father and daughter withdrew.

“Yun’er, ask Physician Shen to examine Lord Du.”

“Yes.”

“Come, let’s go back to your quarters.”

Supporting her waist, he led her slowly back toward the main courtyard.

“Your birthday is in two days. Given the current situation, we shouldn’t hold a grand celebration. How about something lively within the manor?”

Mu Junyan smiled faintly. “We likely won’t celebrate at all.”

“Huh? Why?”

“In two days, we must go to Gongzhou. There’s disaster there. We’ve gathered enough evidence regarding Lord Du’s case—we’ll take back the prefect’s seat and return it to him.”

Gu Hua stared. “Without going through the imperial court? How can you reappoint a disgraced official?”

Mu Junyan laughed. “As a prince, eliminating corruption and restoring order gives me the right to act first and report later. Bianjing is far. By the time they issue titles—”

Gu Hua’s heart skipped.

It was indeed a chance to win the hearts of the people—Gongzhou would surely support the Mu army.

But doing so also meant openly opposing the capital.

She grasped his calloused hand. “The peace in the southern border and its surrounding prefectures was all bought with the Mu army’s blood. Can we resolve the problems in Bianjing without making our soldiers bleed again?”

Her eyes reddened. “What the nobility call peace is not the same peace the common people live.”

Mu Junyan nodded. “Very well. I’ll follow the Princess Consort’s will.”

But that night, Chiyan came urgently to summon him.

He left after telling her to rest early.

The moment he left, Zhou Zhilan arrived.

“Sister, what brings you here so late?”

Zhou Zhilan touched her belly. “His Highness said you may give birth soon. He told me to stay close to you.”

Gu Hua laughed. “There are two midwives, many maids, and the Old Madam is here. Why do you need to come running? Doesn’t your husband need you at home?”

“He’s in the barracks all day—I hardly see him. The female guards are doing well now; they can train themselves. I tossed them into the men’s new recruit camp—there are instructors, so it’s fine. I have nothing better to do, so I’ll guard my godchildren.”

She happily stroked Gu Hua’s belly. “Little one, are you a boy or a girl? No matter which, your godmother will spoil you.”

Gu Hua grew nervous. “Female guards in the men’s camp? Aren’t you afraid something might happen?”

Zhou Zhilan shot her a look. “That’s exactly how I was trained. If a woman can’t protect herself, how can she protect anyone else? Don’t worry—those ten girls are no weaker than the men.”

Gu Hua looked at the light in her eyes—not as clear and carefree as before, but at least bright again.

Her heart ached, but she was relieved.

As long as her sister could walk out of the darkness, that was enough.