FBC – Chapter 94 Punishment

Gu Wanru took Biyu into the Yichun Courtyard. After giving the madam two taels of silver, she ordered someone to redo their makeup and change them into fresh clothes.

Biyu frowned. “Young Madam, aren’t you going to send someone to rescue Second Miss?”

“Didn’t the patrol division go to rescue her already? My lord has important matters tonight. I can’t let personal business cause delays.”

Biyu watched Gu Wanru head toward the VIP room, her conscience uneasy.

As they entered, they saw Mu An, Young Lord Jiang, and a richly dressed young noble cuddling a handsome man while drinking. Their behavior was intimate and indecent—an unsightly scene.

Both Gu Wanru and Biyu froze. They had never seen Mu An socializing like this before, and they certainly hadn’t expected that he liked men.

Young Lord Jiang was slightly startled to see Gu Wanru standing there unharmed but resumed eating and drinking as if nothing had happened.

When Mu An saw them come in, he quickly let go of the handsome man and, with a playful smile, came over to pull Gu Wanru toward him.

“Why are you late?”

Gu Wanru forced a smile. “The carriage broke down on the way.”

“Brother Mu, who are these two beauties?” the nobleman teased as he walked over. He glanced at Gu Wanru with obvious disappointment, and though his gaze lingered on Biyu, it didn’t stir much interest either.

At best, she was merely pleasant-looking—far from stunning—and her figure was passable at most.

Mu An, eager to please, quickly introduced them. “Lord Guo, this is my humble wife, Gu Wanru.”

The man in Jiang Shizi’s arms—Ji Xuanyu—suddenly threw Jiang Shizi off and shot to his feet, rushing in front of Gu Wanru and staring at her intently.

Gu Wanru was startled to find such a delicate and handsome face so close to hers.

Mu An frowned at the sight. “Guichen, what are you doing?”

Ji Xuanyu, currently using the alias “Guichen,” snapped out of it and smiled. “I’ve long heard that Young Madam Jiang is a renowned talent in Bianjing. I’ve admired her and wanted to make her acquaintance.”

Being praised publicly warmed Gu Wanru’s heart, which had long suffered suppression. She couldn’t help but glance at him.

Ji Xuanyu said nothing more, turning back to Jiang Shizi. “Shizi, now that Madam Mu is here, I shall take my leave.”

“Mm.”

Since it was Mu An who had arranged this gathering to talk business with Lord Guo, it was indeed inconvenient for Guichen to stay.

Ji Xuanyu’s face darkened as he went downstairs to change, then quietly exited through a hidden passage.

At that very moment, an urgent military dispatch arrived at the palace. Allied forces from the southern border nations had launched a surprise attack on the southern frontier. Mu Junyan entered the palace urgently to discuss the matter with the Emperor.

Given the emergency, the Emperor ordered Mu Junyan to marry his noble concubine immediately and return to the front.

As soon as Mu Junyan left the palace, he saw Chiyu anxiously waiting with a pale face.

Something serious had clearly happened. “What is it?”

Chiyu spoke rapidly. “Miss Hua was kidnapped. Chiyan and the others waited at Yichun Courtyard, but overheard a favored servant ordering someone to abduct Young Madam. That’s when they realized Miss Hua had also been brought to Yichun Courtyard by Young Madam. Fearing for Miss Hua’s safety, they continued to monitor the place. But to their surprise, it was Young Madam who appeared at Yichun Courtyard—and she didn’t mention that Miss Hua had been taken. That favored servant has vanished, and no one knows where they went. They must be colluding with spies from the Western Region!”

Mu Junyan felt as if his heart had been pierced. His gaze turned cold, his entire body exuding a chilling aura. “Send men to seal off Yichun Courtyard immediately. Not a word of this must leak. Once Mu An and his wife return home, they are not to leave the premises. Place the entire residence under lockdown.”

Chiyu understood. If word got out, Miss Hua’s reputation would be utterly ruined.

One of Mu Junyan’s key purposes in returning to the capital this time was to investigate spies from the Western Region hidden in Bianjing.

His informants had found Yichun Courtyard highly suspicious, with its madam hailing from the Western Region and the true owner still unidentified.

He hadn’t planned to act so soon, but this unexpected incident changed everything.

Mu Junyan leaped onto his horse and galloped toward Yichun Courtyard.

Just as he arrived, Chiyu brought reinforcements and had the entire courtyard surrounded. No one was allowed to enter or leave.

Mu An and Gu Wanru were walking alongside Jiang Shizi, fawning and flattering as they headed out of the covered walkway—only to see Mu Junyan appear like a storm.

Gu Wanru, frightened at the sight of him, stumbled backward, tripped over a bench, and landed hard on her rear, crying out from the pain.

Mu An saw his father’s expression, pale with rage, and his heart pounded violently. He quickly distanced himself from Jiang Shizi.

Plastering on a smile, he stepped forward. “Father, what brings you here?”

A flash of tension crossed Jiang Shizi’s eyes, but he quickly hid it and bowed with a smile. “Greetings, Duke Yong.”

Mu Junyan cast a cold glance at them. His eyes settled on Gu Wanru as he suppressed the fury and urgency in his heart. His voice was flat. “Return to the estate immediately. Do not leave.”

As soon as Mu An and Gu Wanru stepped outside, they found themselves surrounded by rows of black-armored guards. They froze in terror.

Chiyu stepped forward with a bow. “Young Master, Young Madam, please board the carriage.”

A heavily covered black carriage rolled up. Trembling, Mu An and Gu Wanru got inside.

Mu Junyan grabbed Jiang Shizi by the collar and shoved him into a nearby room, slamming the door shut behind them.

Jiang Shizi’s calm demeanor finally cracked. He stammered, “Duke Yong, please—let’s talk! Don’t get physical!”

Mu Junyan stared at him coldly. “I won’t hold you accountable—for now—for what you conspired tonight. But if even a single word of what happened gets out… I won’t be so patient next time.”

“But it was your son who—” Jiang Shizi tried to protest, but Mu Junyan’s iron-like hand clamped down on his neck.

Terrified, Jiang Shizi turned pale. Could he know about the abduction of the Gu sisters?

No… he didn’t catch the culprits, so there’s no proof of who was behind it!

He quickly caved. “Alright, alright! I wasn’t here, I didn’t see anything, I didn’t hear anything!”

Mu Junyan leaned closer, his face expressionless. “I hear you have a stake in Yichun Courtyard. The more time you spend in these pleasure dens, the more likely you’ll ruin your future—perhaps even your bloodline…”

With that, he released him and strode deeper inside.

He pushed open a private room door. The nobleman from earlier was gagged and tied up tightly.

On the floor lay barbed whips and broken incense sticks as thick as fingers.

Biyu, her clothes in disarray, was curled up in a corner, weeping uncontrollably. Two bloody welts marked her back, and her bare arms were burned in several places.

Chiyan saluted as Mu Junyan entered. “My lord.”

Mu Junyan slowly approached and crouched beside the wretched Lord Guo. “Lord Guo,” he said coldly, “you are an inner court official, yet you colluded with nobles and violated women. The punishment is death.”

Lord Guo frantically shook his head, whimpering beneath the gag.

Mu Junyan had no interest in listening to filth speak. “Send him to the Directorate of Eunuchs. Interrogate thoroughly!”

The once-arrogant Lord Guo was dragged away like a dog.

Chiyan tossed a blanket to Biyu.

Mu Junyan cast her a cold glance. She clutched the blanket, crawled over, crying. “My lord, it was Young Madam who sent Miss Hua out as a decoy… and she even killed Jin Kui, who tried to save her! I was scared… I didn’t dare speak up…”

“So you let them defile you?”

Biyu’s sobs stopped abruptly. She stared blankly at the imposing figure before her, then broke into tears again.

“Take her back to the estate.”

Mu Junyan had no more time to waste. He turned around in fury.