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

When Gu Hua saw her two younger brothers, she didn't even recognize them at first glance.

In just one year, the two of them grew very tall and matured like little adults.

Following behind them was Wang Linyi.

She looked at her daughter with tears in her eyes.

Gu Hua hurriedly stepped forward and bowed to Wang Linyi: "Mother."

Wang Linyi helped her up, saying, "Hua'er, you've suffered."

The two younger brothers blinked hard, trying to control their tears, but they couldn't stop their eyes from turning red.

The two of them stepped forward respectfully and bowed to Mu Junyan and Gu Hua.

"Ruiwen (Jinwen) greets Your Highness and greets Sister."

Gu Hua lifted one child in each hand: "Good little brothers, it's good that you're here."

Zhou Zhilan stared at Zhou Chunyu, who dared not look up.

Gu Hua glanced at them, smiled, and took Wang Shi's arm, saying, "Mother, let's go inside. Mu Chen and Mu Xi haven't met their maternal grandmother yet."

Wang Linyi couldn't help but cry again: "When I heard that you had a premature birth, I was extremely anxious, but I didn't dare to bring up Juzhou rashly, for fear of delaying your affairs. I am so grateful to the old lady."

Gu Hua nodded: "With my mother-in-law here, Mother doesn't need to worry. Besides, there's the Mu family army too. Look, everything's alright. We're reunited."

The two younger brothers followed obediently behind, not daring to utter a sound.

Mu Junyan found it amusing and reached out to ruffle their hair: "How are your studies going?"

The two immediately became extremely nervous, nodded vigorously, and said in unison, somewhat nervously, "Please examine us, Your Highness."

Mu Junyan couldn't help but chuckle, pinching their cheeks and leaning down: "Call me brother-in-law, and I'll be more lenient with the test."

The two boys blushed, their eyes sparkling with excitement, and immediately called out sweetly, "Brother-in-law."

Mu Junyan released his hands and patted the two on the head: "That's right. However, the written exam will be left to Mr. Min. I will choose a martial arts instructor for you two, and you will practice horse stance for an hour every morning. How will you protect your sister and nephews and nieces with these small bodies in the future?"

The two men turned pale and said in unison, "Yes."

Gu Hua turned around and glared at him: "My two younger brothers don't need to practice martial arts. They can just study and take the imperial examinations."

Wang Linyi hurriedly said, "They must practice. They have such a powerful brother-in-law; they can't hold them back."

"Yes, I will listen to my mother."

The two boys had pale faces, but their gazes were firm.

Gu Hua was very satisfied. She took her mother's arm and walked forward, whispering, "Didn't we buy you another house and let you and your brother move there? We also arranged for them to enter the Imperial Academy. Why did you come to Juzhou? There are no such good schools here."

“We were all worried about you. Besides, Manager Zhou mentioned some things about you. We thought it would be better for you to come here. Firstly, it won't hold you back. Secondly, those two are useless for just studying by rote. It's better for them to learn from you while they learn, so they can become successful.”

In fact, Gu Hua had thought that if the Southern Frontier and the Imperial Court became irreconcilable enemies, she could sever her ties with her mother and younger brother to ensure their safety.

But their deep affection for each other also moved her.

It's good if the whole family is together.

Gu Hua and her family reunited, with her two younger brothers and Wang Linyi happily playing with the two little ones.

Mu Junyan left quietly.

A short while later, Zhou Zhilan arrived.

Gu Hua pulled her aside and saw that her complexion was not good and her eyes were a little red, knowing that Zhou Chunyu was still stubborn as ever.

Gu Hua was also a little angry: "What do you think?"

Zhou Zhilan sniffed: "Let's do it your way, a martial arts contest to choose a husband. Whoever wins, I'll marry him."

"Just find a few shills."

"No, I'm serious. I refuse to believe that no one wants me, Zhou Zhilan."

“Who said you’re unwanted? If the people of Juzhou knew that our First Lady Steward of the Prince’s Mansion was looking for a husband, the line would stretch for ten miles outside the city gates.”

Zhou Zhilan glared at her: "Aren't you exaggerating?"

"That's outrageous! Try it if you don't believe me. I'll have someone put up a notice right now."

Gu Hua was about to stand up when Zhou Zhilan grabbed her arm: "Do we still need to put up notices? That's so embarrassing."

Gu Hua smiled at her: "How will everyone know if we don't post a notice? The more people there are, the more chaotic it will be. What if some big, ugly guy wins the fight, and Zhou Chunyu is willing to let you marry him? Then this man is really not worth it."

Zhou Zhilan's eyes lit up: "Do you think he'd be willing to part with it?"

"So he wants to try even the most ugly and deformed people, it'll drive him crazy."

Zhou Zhilan stood up excitedly: "Okay, whether I get married or not, I'll be happy just to make him angry."

Gu Hua didn't know what Mu Junyan had gone to do, but Zhou Zhilan said that Zhou Chunyu had brought back a lot of things, so they were walking very slowly.

Gu Hua had never paid much attention to Mu Junyan's original assets, so she didn't care much about them either.

Mu Junyan returned at dinner time.

He sat down at the table with a happy expression.

"Today, my mother-in-law and my two younger brothers have come from afar, so this welcoming banquet is rather simple. On the tenth day of the month, the Prince's Mansion will hold a housewarming banquet. At that time, the Prince's Mansion will host a grand banquet and make it a lively occasion."

Wang Linyi quickly replied, "Your Highness, there's no need to be so polite. We're all family, and it's a great joy to be together as a whole."

Mu Junyan raised his glass: "This cup of wine is my toast, son-in-law."

The two younger brothers quickly raised their glasses: "Brothers, let's drink to brother-in-law!"

Gu Hua stared at the two of them with wide eyes. They hadn't expected the liquor to be so strong, and both choked on their sips.

The room was filled with laughter and joy, a truly lively atmosphere.

After dinner, Zhou Zhilan personally led Wang Linyi to the guest room to rest, while Dongmo arranged for the two younger brothers to rest in the front yard first.

Although the Prince's Mansion has been renovated, the furnishings in each courtyard have not yet been arranged.

Gu Hua and Mu Junyan were strolling hand in hand along the path when Gu Hua suddenly asked, "You're moving into the house on the tenth, is there something else going on?"

Mu Junyan turned to look at her: "Of course, our whole family is together. The first completion of the Prince's Mansion is a big deal, isn't it?"

Gu Hua looked at him with suspicion.

This guy's usually serious face was now adorned with an undisguised smile.

In the days that followed, everyone in the household seemed very busy, but she, the matriarch, was not busy at all. She spent her days playing with her two children with her mother and the old lady.

The only thing to worry about is Zhou Zhilan's martial arts contest to find a husband.

The announcement of the martial arts contest to find a husband has been posted throughout the southern border regions, and the date has been set for the ninth day of the tenth month.

This date was set by Mu Junyan.

For a time, Juzhou City was bustling with unprecedented activity.

People from all walks of life flocked to watch the spectacle and participate in the martial arts contest to find a husband, while many more came to offer gifts to the Prince's mansion.

Gu Hua simply stayed with the child, and Zhou Zhilan read the gift list to her every day.

Even Duan Yu and Zhao Luoxuan from the Dali Kingdom sent expensive congratulatory gifts.

Gu Hua clicked her tongue in astonishment: "Hasn't this gone too far?"

Zhou Zhilan said with a grin, "Our warehouse is already overflowing."

“Take a count and distribute them. There are orphanages and several other places. We don’t need this many, it’s all going to be a waste.”

"Ok."

Gu Hua tilted her head to look at her: "The martial arts contest to choose a husband is tomorrow, are you nervous?"

Zhou Zhilan shook her head: "I'm not nervous. I feel quite excited."

"I heard that there are already more than a hundred people who have signed up."

Zhou Zhilan blushed, somewhat smugly: "Isn't it because your dowry is so generous? Maybe these people think they'll get rich by marrying me."

Gu Hua laughed heartily: "They shouldn't be so optimistic. Besides the martial arts competition, we also have a literary competition, right? Let Mr. Min personally take charge, and when he sees someone ugly, he'll pose a difficult question and kick them off the stage."

Zhou Zhilan nodded: "Okay."

Gu Hua knew she should be cheerful, but she still felt sad inside.

Zhou Chunyu was busy from morning till night, seemingly not caring at all about Zhou Zhilan's martial arts contest to find a husband.

Gu Hua thought to herself, it would be a real pity if the two of them couldn't be together.

But perhaps an outstanding young man will come for Sister Zhilan, and Sister Zhilan will accept him. In that case, it might not be a bad thing.

Well, let's see how fate unfolds.

The ninth day of October.

Perhaps because of a joyous occasion, the sky, which had been raining for several days, finally smiled.

It was a bright and sunny day.