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

Gu Hua's face darkened, and she waved her arm: "All soldiers of the Mu family army, escort the Duke of Yong and all the martyrs home!"

With bloodshot eyes, Deputy General Qi roared hoarsely, "Duke Yong, heroes, we're going home!"

The soldiers trudged through the snow, shouting fiercely, "Duke Yong, heroes, we're going home!"

The people welcoming the coffin cried out, "Duke Yong, heroes, we're home!"

For a time, the sound of crying was incessant.

Deputy General Qi led the elite black-armored troops to clear the way.

More than a dozen black-armored guards rushed to Yuan Zhongyong's sedan chair and shouted in unison, "Get out!"

The sedan chair was immediately overturned on the roadside, and the guards of the Tianwu Army dared not speak and quickly retreated.

Mu Junyan's coffin was placed inside the tent in the center of the official residence compound.

White banners and white palace lanterns have been hung all over the official residence.

Gu Hua, dressed in white mourning clothes, stood before the coffin, unable to calm the surging passion in her heart for a long time.

The prefect of Juzhou and his deputy general Qi stood aside.

Gu Hua forced herself to calm down and asked in a deep voice, "Deputy General Qi, should we follow military regulations and send news of the Duke of Yong's death to the capital?"

Deputy General Qi: "The news of his death has been sent by express courier, and it should take at least ten days to reach the capital. However, it hasn't been reported in the military report. Nor has the Duke of Yong's residence sent any message."

She didn't understand military affairs and it wasn't appropriate for her to interfere or ask too many questions.

The Duke of Yongguo's mansion has not sent any message, meaning the old lady is still unaware.

She thought that the peace delegation's trip must be related to the ambush of Mu Junyan and his group.

We'll find out who heads the peace negotiation mission.

She turned around and bowed to the two men with tears in her eyes, startling them so much that they quickly returned the bow.

Gu Hua's voice was hoarse: "No matter what happens, we must properly send off the Duke of Yong and the fallen heroes."

Seeing her swaying and struggling to stay upright, Deputy General Qi felt a pang of pity.

He said in a low voice, "Madam, you don't need to worry. There are proper rites in the army for burying fallen soldiers. The Duke of Yong's funeral will also be a grand affair in the capital, but a simple one will be held in Juzhou. I will arrange everything properly. You just need to entertain the guests."

Gu Hua nodded: "Thank you for your trouble, General Qi."

Just as Vice General Qi was about to get busy, Gu Hua called him back.

"I would like to help the Duke change his clothes, is that alright?"

Deputy General Qi was taken aback and glanced at the coffin: "We have already changed the Duke's clothes. However, because he was burned so badly, he is unrecognizable. We were afraid that the Madam would be heartbroken if she saw him."

Gu Hua was even more heartbroken upon hearing this.

His once magnificent figure was now burned beyond recognition...

Zhou Zhilan tearfully pleaded, "Madam, why don't we change your burial clothes back in the capital? There aren't any prepared here."

Shen Li frowned: "It's better not to open the coffin, so the body doesn't decompose too quickly."

They were all worried that Gu Hua would lose control of her grief upon seeing the corpse and harm the child in her womb.

Gu Hua had no choice but to listen to the advice.

Zhou Zhilan and the others, together with Chi Yu and the others, quickly set up the mourning hall.

Gu Hua knelt on the prayer mat, crying as she burned paper money.

To prevent Gu Hua from overworking herself, all those who came to pay their respects from Juzhou City were kept outside the curtain.

Yuan Zhongyong's carriage was overturned, exacerbating his injuries. He cried out in pain, but he insisted on being carried back to his official residence.

Unexpectedly, he was stopped by the Black Armor Guards and told to rest at the government post station instead.

He refused and started shouting at the door.

"You are the imperial envoy! Obstructing the imperial envoy is tantamount to deceiving the emperor!"

None of the people present were of higher rank than him, so they remained silent but stood guard at the gate, refusing to let him in.

But they cried out that it would disturb Mu Junyan's soul.

Enraged, Gu Hua jumped up, rushed out of the curtains, and ran straight to the door.

His bloodshot eyes blazed with murderous intent: "If you don't shut up, I'll have your mouths sewn shut!"

Yuan Zhongyong was terrified by her frightening appearance and stammered, "You...you dare! I am an official of the imperial court...what...what are you going to do..."

Chi Yu and Shen Li stepped forward at the same time. Chi Yu grabbed his chin and forced him to open his mouth. Shen Li quickly threw something into his mouth.

Yuan Zhongyong felt a surge of anger rising in his throat. He wanted to curse, but found that he had already made a sound.

Gu Hua swept her gaze around coldly: "This is Juzhou City. If any of you dare to disturb the spirit of the Duke again, I guarantee you'll never be able to return!"

The Tianwu Army dared not utter a sound.

They only had about ten men, and they certainly wouldn't dare to go against the Mu family army.

Gu Hua didn't want to see this bastard anymore, and waved her hand: "Send him to the government post station."

Several Tianwu soldiers quickly lifted the person up and ran away.

Just as Gu Hua was about to turn around, she suddenly saw a familiar figure flash by.

"Crimson Flame?"

Akabane hurriedly followed the gaze and saw a dark figure disappear into the night.

He whispered, "It really is him."

"When did he arrive in Juzhou?" Gu Hua asked, somewhat puzzled.

"I don't know. I haven't received any information."

Since you've come all this way, why aren't you showing up?

Gu Hua had no mind to care about anything else; her heart was filled with suffocation and discomfort.

"Sister Zhilan, please keep watch for me. I don't want to be disturbed."

After saying this, she turned around and knelt on the prayer mat in front of the coffin, burning paper money and crying as she spoke.

"Mu Junyan, I can't believe you're dead. I tried everything to change this outcome. I studied martial arts, business, and politics, but why did it still turn out this way? I didn't even get to stand shoulder to shoulder with you before you left!"

Gu Hua was crying so hard that she didn't notice a man standing behind the curtain behind the coffin.

His severed hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles white.

"No matter how much paper money I give you, can you be reborn? I am just a weak woman. I have tried my best to become strong, I have tried my best to stand shoulder to shoulder with you and face the demons together, but I haven't learned how, and you are gone. What will happen to our child? Those people want to cut off the Mu family line. How can I protect your only bloodline?"

Gu Hua became more and more heartbroken as she spoke, and she buried her face in the prayer mat and wept bitterly.

A pair of black boots suddenly appeared in front of her, and the person bent down, scooped her up, and carried her horizontally in their arms.

Gu Hua was so frightened that she almost screamed, but when she suddenly saw the handsome face magnified in front of her, the scream caught in her throat, and her whole body stiffened.

A fake corpse?

She stared blankly at the person who was also staring intently at her, her mind completely blank.

Mu Junyan stared at her excitedly, carefully embracing her without daring to use too much force, for fear of hurting her lower abdomen.

Seeing her terrified expression, Mu Junyan felt somewhat helpless.

Try to speak softly and gently, "You have a child?"

Gu Hua's trembling, upturned eyelashes were glistening with tears as she stammered, "You...you..."

Mu Junyan sighed and said in a low voice, "You brought me back to life by crying."

Gu Hua: "..."

It took Gu Hua a long time to come to her senses. She reached out and pinched his cheek in disbelief.

"You're not dead? You're really not dead?"

Mu Junyan made a shushing gesture, and Gu Hua suddenly understood.

He asked in a low, guttural voice, "Did you fake your death?"

Mu Junyan blinked and nodded.

Gu Hua suddenly hugged his neck and started sobbing.

Mu Junyan's heart melted completely, and he gently stroked her back to comfort her.

Gu Hua grew angrier the more she thought about it. The child had been living in fear with her for a whole day and night, and this guy had even faked his death without telling her beforehand.

The angrier and more aggrieved she felt, she stretched out her little fist and punched his back hard. After punching him a few times, she heard him groan softly.

The crying was startled and stopped. She asked nervously in a low voice, "Are you hurt?"

Mu Junyan looked aggrieved: "Burns."

Gu Hua looked at him with tears streaming down her face. As she looked at him, she felt wronged and burst into tears.

Mu Junyan: "..."

Is it really impossible to appease them?

To make it realistic and to deceive some people, he had to be extremely meticulous.

Apart from Vice General Qi and the Chiyan scout battalion, no one knew.

Chi Yu and Zhou Zhilan stood guard outside the tent, listening to Gu Hua's heart-wrenching cries, and they both felt terrible.

The lady is so pitiful.

She had just become pregnant when her husband died in battle.