Forced to be a concubine? I turned around and married the scumbag's father.

The person being imprisoned was named Min Dongsheng, and he was about forty years old.

He was once the top scholar in the imperial examination of the previous dynasty, but because he was arrogant and looked down on others, he made outrageous remarks in front of the late emperor and advised the emperor to abolish the hereditary system of official positions and stipends, reward military merit, build a strong army, and unify the Central Plains.

The late emperor thought he was ambitious and eager for quick success, and that he was too radical for his own good. Therefore, he was sent to the southern border as a minor seventh-rank county magistrate.

He resigned after only six months in office and, for reasons unknown, became a staff member of the prefect of Juzhou...

After hearing everything Chi Yu knew, Gu Hua made up her mind.

However, Gu Hua was taken aback when she saw the man.

A middle-aged man dressed in coarse hemp prison clothes sat cross-legged on a stone bed covered with a thin cotton cushion, practicing breathing exercises with his eyes closed.

As Gu Hua and the others approached the prison gate, they saw his eyes twitch, indicating that he knew they were coming, but he pretended not to know and continued with his own business.

Akabane wanted to go forward and call for help, but Gu Hua stopped him.

She didn't disturb him, but instead carefully observed him.

This man didn't look like a prisoner who had been locked up for five years at all; his beard was clean-shaven and his hair was neatly combed.

This person is indeed self-righteous; even if he goes to jail, he wants to maintain his dignity.

He was kept in a solitary cell, undisturbed by other prisoners. The cell was clean and tidy, with a table, an oil lamp, and paper and pens.

Just as Chi Yu had said, Mu Junyan did not neglect him.

Gu Hua didn't disturb him and waited quietly for him to finish practicing.

Akabane moved a chair for Gu Hua to sit down, but Gu Hua shook her head.

You can't get anything out of someone who thinks too highly of themselves by putting on airs.

Fifteen minutes later, the man stopped and twisted his neck.

"Mr. Min."

Upon hearing the woman's soft voice, the middle-aged man suddenly opened his eyes, staring blankly at the two women who had suddenly appeared in the cell.

He recognized Chi Yu, and his cold gaze fell on Gu Hua, scanning her probingly before looking away.

Akabane frowned and stepped forward, saying, "Mr. Min, this is the Duchess of the State."

Upon hearing this, Min Dongsheng suddenly raised his eyes, as if he wanted to get to know Gu Hua again, and carefully examined her.

Gu Hua straightened her back and met his rude gaze.

Min Dongsheng's tone was full of disdain: "In the end, he didn't listen to my advice, he couldn't resist the charms of a beautiful woman, he's still just an ordinary mortal."

After saying that, he sighed.

Gu Hua raised an eyebrow: "Was it Mr. Min who advised the Duke of Yong not to marry?"

"He wanted to fulfill his father's and brothers' wishes, but only by remaining unmarried and childless. Otherwise, he would have died long ago. I wonder if the old lady is still insane?"

Gu Hua was somewhat shocked.

It turns out that this was all Min Dongsheng's idea for Mu Junyan. No wonder Mu Junyan treats him quite well.

But why keep him locked up and not use him?

Gu Hua stepped forward and respectfully curtsied to him: "Gu Hua greets Mr. Min."

Min Dongsheng squinted at her: "Since Madam has come to the prison, she must have something to ask. Go ahead and ask."

Does he mean that he won't answer if the question is asked incorrectly?

Gu Hua carefully considered her words before speaking: "Mr. Min is waiting for the Duke of Yong to trust you and give you an important position. Unfortunately, he is a gentleman and disdains your methods."

Min Dongsheng suddenly opened his eyes and stared at her, but didn't say anything.

Gu Hua understood.

She guessed correctly.

Mu Junyan valued talent, but disliked his scheming and cunning, so he didn't employ him.

He harbored great ambitions but felt his talents were not recognized. He believed that only Mu Junyan could fulfill his expectations, so he preferred to be imprisoned rather than leave the Southern Frontier.

These two... are so stubborn.

Gu Hua also felt that Mu Junyan was too upright, which made him an easy target for sabotage.

"You all go out first, I want to talk to Mr. Min."

Akabane disagreed: "Madam, no, it's too dangerous."

Zhou Zhilan disagreed: "Yes, we can't leave you alone."

Min Dongsheng sneered: "The cell door is locked. Do you think I can crawl out and kill your wife?"

Gu Hua's face darkened: "If you still consider me your wife, then listen to me and get out right now!"

Seeing that she was angry, Chi Yu and Zhou Zhilan had no choice but to retreat and stand guard at a distance, on high alert.

Gu Hua approached the cell and whispered, "Mr. Min, I hope you can lend me a hand."

Min Dongsheng: "Tell me your reason."

"I have died once, and Mu Junyan is my savior. I don't have any grand dreams, I only wish to protect those who love and respect me."

Gu Hua said sincerely, "Mu Junyan may not know that what you are planning is right, but he is loyal to the emperor and loves the people, and he disdains to use petty means to achieve his goals. However, I cannot stand by and watch the old Duke of Yong, the former heir, and the Mu family's second son who died in battle become sacrifices for power, and then Mu Junyan will follow in their footsteps."

She placed her hands on her lower abdomen and softened her voice: "Because I am carrying his child, and I hope to leave a bloodline for the Mu family."

Min Dongsheng looked at her lower abdomen, his eyes changed, and his expression lost some of its mockery and disdain.

"you are pregnant?"

"Yes." Gu Hua nodded.

She made no secret of how she discovered that the winter clothes had been switched, how she used her scheme to thwart the Jiang family's plot, and how she uncovered the schemes of the Yifeng Hall.

She persuaded the Pei family to willingly contribute their grain, and personally brought the grain to the southern border.

Then he went to Shicheng County with Mu Junyan.

Gu Hua knew that if she wanted to win over this kind of person, she couldn't be weak.

Min Dongsheng sat up straighter and his eyes gleamed.

As expected, the woman that Mu Junyan had taken a liking to was no ordinary woman.

"I've discovered something from five years ago. Mr. Min must know best what happened back then?"

Min Dongsheng suddenly jumped off the bed and rushed to the cage door.

Gu Hua was startled, but she forced herself to remain calm.

What did you know five years ago?

"The prefect colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country, passing intelligence to the enemy, which caused Mu Junyan's raid to fail and he almost did not return. His two older brothers were ambushed and killed in battle."

"However, I received a letter, a letter from Prince Ping'an to the prefect."

Min Dongsheng's eyes widened: "You got that letter?"

It turned out that he knew about the existence of this letter.

Gu Hua didn't answer him, but asked, "Mr. Min, what do you want?"

Min Dongsheng countered, "What do you want?"

Gu Hua's eyes were deep: "I want to use my meager strength to protect everyone as much as possible. However, I know that it's not about individual lives, but about the treacherous intrigues in the imperial court. On this point, I need your help, sir."

Min Dongsheng became somewhat agitated: "The problem is, Mu Junyan has no interest in the court's infighting. He only wants to consolidate his control over the Mu family army and unify the southern border. That coward has no ambition! He doesn't understand that it's not that he's backing down or not fighting for anything, but those people in the court—the Jiang family, the Yuan family, and the imperial power surrounding that old hag—will never tolerate the Mu family, who holds such a large army!"

Gu Hua secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

If he gets excited, things will be easier.

Gu Hua suddenly changed the subject: "You hate the Empress Dowager? Is it because of your wife?"

Min Dongsheng's face stiffened: "How did you know?"

Gu Hua was guessing.

The Min family was once a prominent family in the capital.

When he passed the imperial examination with top honors, his family held a grand banquet. That night, his wife was assaulted in her room and committed suicide.

And it was Yuan Zhongyong who insulted his wife.

Gu Hua moved closer, a faint smile playing on her lips: "Do you know that the culprit who killed your wife is in Juzhou?"

Min Dongsheng's eyes instantly turned red, and he suddenly reached out and grabbed Gu Hua's sleeve: "What did you say!"

Chi Yu and Zhou Zhilan rushed over instantly, and Chi Yu drew his sword and slashed at his hand.

Gu Hua quickly raised her hand to stop him: "Chi Yu, stop."

Zhou Zhilan stood protectively beside Gu Hua and grabbed Min Dongsheng's arm, saying, "Let go of my hand!"

Gu Hua looked directly into Min Dongsheng's eyes and slowly said, word by word, "Do you want to avenge your wife? Killing Yuan Zhongyong alone is not enough. The Jiang family is also my enemy."

Min Dongsheng abruptly released his grip, took a step back, and bowed deeply to Gu Hua, saying, "I am Min Dongsheng, and I am willing to follow you, Madam!"

Gu Hua was overjoyed.