Chapter 2840: The Stand-In Was Forcibly Taken by the Mountain Bandit's Wife 46

Everyone stared in shock, seeing Gu Fanghe stride in, his dark official robe still not taken off, obviously having rushed over.

He quickly walked to Jin Chen's side, "How did you come here?"

Jin Chen glanced at him, interlocking their fingers, "Didn't I have Xu Bo tell you?"

"He said." Gu Fanghe gripped his hand, voice low, "But not seeing you leaves me uneasy, so I came to check."

Gu Fanghe said, his gaze falling on Jin Hui's face, "Just now... who wanted to harm my people?"

Officials retreated in unison, drawing a clear line with the Jin family.

A Yan immediately pointed at Hu Lu, voice loud, "It's him, and the Young Master! They still want to have the young master beaten!"

Hu Lu: "……"

Hu Lu turned pale with fear, knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly, "General, spare my life! I was only following orders!"

Gu Fanghe didn't even look at him, "Then break his hands."

Two personal guards stepped forward, dragged Hu Lu away and walked out.

Jin Hui's face turned deathly pale, he retreated two steps, nearly falling over.

The Jin parents also panicked, hurriedly knelt to plead, "General, spare his life! General, spare his life! Hui'er was just momentarily confused……"

Gu Fanghe ignored them, only lowering his head to look at Jin Chen, voice soft, "Are they treating you badly?"

Jin Chen, with his wife backing him up, made a gesture of rubbing his forehead and sighed lightly, "If they were good, why would I have ended up at Black Mountain Stronghold back then?"

Gu Fanghe understood, looked up at the Jin family, "From today on, Jin Chen and the Jin family have nothing to do with each other."

"As for Jin Hui's second-place ranking... I will reinvestigate; if it's false, I will deal with it according to law."

Jin Hui's legs gave out and he collapsed to the ground.

The Jin parents still wanted to say something, but seeing Gu Fanghe's gaze, they ultimately dared not speak, only able to watch helplessly as Gu Fanghe took Jin Chen's hand and turned to leave.

The courtyard gate closed.

"【Alas! Punishing the wicked feels so good!】 Ling Gun Gun felt satisfied."

In the carriage back to Jiangjun fu, Gu Fanghe continually held Jin Chen's hand, rubbing his fingertips, until the carriage stopped before the Jiangjun fu gate, then he said, "From now on, I am your family; whoever dares to wrong you, I will make them wish they were dead."

Jin Chen lightly laughed, hooked Gu Fanghe's chin, pulled him close, and kissed him.

After a long while, they finally parted.

Jin Chen leaned into his embrace, voice lazy, "Good."

"I have them prepare food and drink; tomorrow you needn't go to court, just have a few drinks, to celebrate your birthday."

——

June, the new emperor's enthronement ceremony.

Wu Chengjing wore the dragon robe, accepting the homage of hundreds of officials before the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

After the ceremony, the new emperor's first act was to vindicate the Gu family.

Former charges were completely overturned; the elderly Gu general was compelled to be made Duke of Loyalty and Bravery, his mother granted the title of First-rank Noblewoman, and his younger brother also received a posthumous title.

Gu Fanghe was appointed General, commanding the three armies.

Chen Xiaoshan, Shi Meng, Liu Mianfeng, and Yan Qi also each received awards. The remaining meritorious soldiers of Black Mountain Stronghold either entered military service or were granted fields, mansions, and wealth; all were delighted.

The second matter was to bestow a marriage upon Gu Fanghe and Jin Chen.

The imperial edict read: "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: First-rank General, Marquis He Feng Gu Fanghe, loyal and brave, his merit serves the state. Jin Chen of the Jin clan, of gentle and virtuous conduct, sharing hardships with the general, deep affection and steadfast intent, truly a good match. Ordered to marry the two, to be united as husband and wife, forever good; select an auspicious day for the wedding, all rites to be handled by the Ministry of Rites together with the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, striving for grandeur. Such is the command."

On the day the imperial edict was announced, the court was in an uproar, yet no one dared to speak.

Because the new emperor said, "Young Master Jin Chen has merit to the state and grace to me; his marriage with General Gu is a match made in heaven, I personally bear witness."

Thus, the wedding was set for the seventh day of the seventh month.

That day, Jiangjun fu was decked with lanterns and banners, red silk stretched from the main gate to the main hall, festive to the point of being dazzling.

Court officials, military commanders, and even the former brothers of Black Mountain Stronghold all came.

In the bridal chamber, red candles burned high, warm fragrance suffused the air.

Gu Fanghe sat beside Jin Chen, took out a small wooden box and opened it; inside were thick banknotes, land deeds, shop banknotes, a share of military stipends, and also a short blade.

The short blade was old, its hilt engraved with the character "Gu", the strokes strong and vigorous.

"This is all my wealth," Gu Fanghe placed the wooden box in Jin Chen's hand, reflecting the faint blush from wine that startled the heart, "plus the family heirloom short blade."

"Grandfather passed it to father, father to me; he once said this dagger can slay foes, also protect the heart and beloved completely, moreover it represents entrusting one's life, never failing in life or death."

"Today, I entrust it to you, together with myself and all that I possess."

"This heart, this body, this life, this world are bound to you; without a second thought, never failing you."

Jin Chen lowered his eyes, glanced at the things in the wooden box, pulled him close, voice lazy, "General, are you arranging your after affairs?"

Gu Fanghe's Adam's apple rolled, he said nothing, only looking at him.

Jin Chen, however, loosened his grip, set the wooden box aside, leaned back and lazily lay down on the couch.

The wedding robes spread out like a blooming red lotus; he lifted his eyes to Gu Fanghe, the corners of his eyes slightly raised, "I have long been the general's person; do I still need these guarantees?"

Gu Fanghe trembled all over.

The candlelight flickered, clearly reflecting the emotion in his depths, "Little lord."

He called out hoarsely, kissed Jin Chen's lips, deep and heavy.

Gu Fanghe suddenly raised his hand, undid his robe's front.

The wedding robe slipped off, revealing a honey-colored chest, there still lingered deep and shallow marks.

He pressed that chest against Jin Chen, voice low and hoarse, "Husband……"

Gu Fanghe uttered a term of endearment never spoken before, "I like…… this place, right?"

There lay his traces, also Jin Chen's exclusive, hidden control and affection.

Jin Chen laughed, lowered his head to kiss Gu Fanghe's lips, "Mm, I like you."

Red candles burned high, the curtains hung low.

Gu Fanghe considered himself vicious and cruel, his methods brutal, like a poisonous snake crawling out of a damp, dark gutter; full of hatred, rotten damp cold clung to his bones and grew, soaking his first half of life.

But unfortunately, he had the best lover in the world.

Now, it couldn't be better.

——

【Congratulations, Host, mission completed, Blackening Value cleared to zero, reward points accumulated!】

【Now transmitting to the next world……】

【Return to the Quick Transmigration Bureau.】

【……Oh, now transmitting to the Quick Transmigration Bureau……transmission successful!】

Ling Gun Gun felt guilty.