FBC – Chapter 1 Reborn to Choose a Different Man

“Who are you?!”

The brawny man’s deep gaze locked onto the petite woman before him.

“P-please, my lord… please let this servant go…”

In the dim, flickering candlelight, her delicate body trembled as soft, jade-like arms pounded against his solid chest—giving the appearance of someone being violated and filled with shame.

But the force of her tiny fists was like a gentle tickle, only stoking the flames of desire in the man even further.

Gu Hua knew all too well—she was born to be a seductress.

Men always fell for this act.

“You dare seduce me, and now you want to leave?”

The man gripped the back of her head and fiercely captured her gasping lips, swallowing her seductive moans whole.

She could only curl her body tightly, trying to lessen the pain.

She had cultivated a naturally alluring charm; even if she did nothing but stand there, men would be bewitched, and women would curse her as a vixen.

Her “dear mother” had personally raised her with flawless skin and curves that made her look two or three years older than she actually was.

From the moment she could understand anything, Concubine Pei scolded her daily.

She told her she was a lowly illegitimate daughter. That her only purpose in life was to help the legitimate daughter retain favor.

She was told that if she wanted a good life, she must treat her elder sister with absolute deference—even if her sister wanted her dead, she was to die without protest!

Any slight resistance from her was met with being locked in a damp, reeking room for days without food or water, her fingers stabbed with needles—no cruelty was spared.

Just remembering it made her shudder.

But what truly made life unbearable was what she learned just before her death: her elder sister confessed that it was Concubine Pei who had secretly swapped two babies born on the same day.

Her sister had stolen her life. She, who should have lived a life of nobility, was trampled underfoot instead.

“Focus.”

A sharp pinch at her waist jolted her back to the present. The searing grip of a hand like iron yanked Gu Hua out of her memories.

She forced her eyes open.

Her enchanting reflection shimmered in those pitch-black pupils, blazing with unrestrained fire and satisfaction.

Even now, she couldn’t believe she had dared—utterly recklessly—to seduce her sister’s father-in-law. The biological father of the scumbag she was once forced to marry.

He was none other than the fearsome Duke Yong, a god of war who commanded vast armies and killed without hesitation—his name renowned far and wide.

In two lifetimes, this was the first time Gu Hua had ever come this close to him.

She didn’t dare look at his face too closely—those stern eyes were icy and profound, striking fear into the heart.

Sweat glistened over his strong muscles, radiating the thick scent of alcohol, mingled with the unique aftermath of carnal pleasure.

Every movement was like a beast asserting his dominance.

Duke Yong was far stronger than her former husband—she could barely endure it.

He had been stationed at the border for fifteen years and had returned to the capital, Bianjing, less than a month ago.

Just yesterday, he had triumphantly returned to court. The emperor held a feast to honor him and the generals. In ten days’ time, he would depart for war again.

Gu Hua knew that three months from now, he would die in battle—cut down in his prime. And all the servants around him would be granted their freedom.

She had no time. No other path.

She only prayed that the duke would crave her enough to spare her life.

That entire night, Gu Hua gave everything she had. As the chaos surged again and again, her reddened eyes welled with pitiful tears.

She had to make it look like she was forced.

Otherwise, if the Duke suspected he had been set up, he might very well kill her on the spot.

Gu Hua quietly rejoiced—she had succeeded, at least partially.

Even if, when everything was over, the Duke didn’t keep her and chose to have her beaten and sold off elsewhere, it would still give her a sliver of hope for survival.

It was still better than being handed over to her brother-in-law by her legitimate sister, just to compete with a concubine for favor.

She was defiled like an object by that perverted brother-in-law, and in the end, to prove the deep affection between husband and wife, he personally held her down in an icy pond and drowned her alive.

Her real mother—the marchioness of the marquis’s household—didn’t even know she existed…

She died with so much resentment!

With the crow of a rooster, the fifth watch of the night began.

The man beside her snored in deep sleep.

Gu Hua felt as if her entire body had fallen apart, her limbs void of all strength.

But if she didn’t leave now, dawn would break.

Gritting her teeth, she forced herself up with all her remaining strength. Not daring to look at the man still lying on the soft couch, she grabbed her torn dress from the floor—only to find it ripped to shreds. With no other option, she picked up the Duke Yong’s sleep robe and wrapped herself in it.

Taking advantage of the still-silent household, she limped her way back from the study to her legitimate sister’s residence, the Jinxiu Pavilion.

She hid the Duke Yong’s robe under her mattress, tiptoed to draw a basin of cold water, and swiftly cleaned herself up.

Using rouge and powder to cover the marks on her lips, face, and neck, she changed into fresh clothes. By then, dawn was already breaking.

She heard the door to the main chamber creak open.

Gu Hua opened her door to see her sister’s personal maid, Yinzhi, rushing over to call her to attend to the legitimate daughter.

Yinzhi paused in shock the moment she saw her face.

Gu Hua, who always wore a plain face and disliked makeup, had actually put on rouge and powder. Her eyes were tinted with a peach-blossom charm, and a trace of sensual allure danced in her expression.

Yinzhi’s temper flared. She pointed at Gu Hua’s nose and shouted, “You little slut, trying to seduce every man in the house first thing in the morning? Shameless wench!”

Gu Hua held back her anger. “Has the young master and eldest miss gotten up yet?”

Since the legitimate daughter, Gu Wanru, got pregnant, her husband had not stayed in her room for a long time. The back courtyard had been filled with flirtations and gossip.

Five days ago, the young master finally stayed in Gu Wanru’s room, and the two seemed to have reached some sort of agreement.

Since then, he had come every night—and every time he looked at Gu Hua, his eyes glowed like a predator eyeing prey that was already within reach.

After being reborn, Gu Hua thought for two whole days.

Among everyone in the marquis’s household, only Duke Yong—her sister’s father-in-law—had the power to protect her.

She used up all her savings to buy information on when the Duke Yong would return home, then mustered all her courage to ambush the drunken Duke Yong at night and carry out her seduction plan.

Thankfully, it succeeded in one try.

Yinzhi grew even angrier at her silence. She grabbed Gu Hua’s ear and started dragging her out.

Gu Hua’s legs hurt with the slightest movement, and the pain from her ear being yanked shot through her head. Her rage surged. She grabbed Yinzhi’s wrist, twisted it, and reversed the force.

Yinzhi hadn’t expected her to fight back. Her arm was wrenched behind her, and she screamed in pain.

Gu Hua feared being hit, so she threw all her weight onto Yinzhi’s back, pinning her down so she couldn’t move.

Yinzhi could only curse: “You little bitch! You dare fight me?! Are you looking to die? Get off me! Get off!”

Gu Hua, a concubine-born daughter of the marquis household, had been bullied by a mere maid in her past life. Yinzhi had even helped the young master kill her.

In this life, she would never allow herself to be bullied again!

She leaned close and whispered coldly in Yinzhi’s ear, “Yinzhi, I am the marquis’s daughter. I am the master, and you are the servant. If anyone’s looking to die by laying a hand on the other, it’s you. Understand?”

Yinzhi froze, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Those normally gentle eyes were now cold as ice, radiating a deadly intent.

Only half a breath later, Yinzhi snapped out of it and began struggling in fury.

“Gu Hua, who do you think you are? Your name isn’t even in the Gu family genealogy. You’re no better than a servant like me! Acting like you’re some noble lady—let me go or I’ll beat you to death!”

Gu Hua couldn’t hold her down anymore. She used all her strength to shove Yinzhi away.

Yinzhi never thought she’d actually push her. She stumbled and rolled before crashing hard into a stone bench.

Before Yinzhi could get up, Gu Hua rushed into the main hall. Just as she lifted the curtain, she nearly bumped into her brother-in-law coming out.

Suppressing her revulsion, she stepped back and bowed low.

“Greetings, young master.”

A shadow fell before her eyes, and her chin was lifted by cold fingers.

“Gu Hua, you smell really good.”

This was the special multi-flower essential oil concocted by Concubine Pei, who had spent money at Golden Phoenix House for it and used it to bathe and nourish her.

Gu Hua turned her face away and stepped outside the doorframe. “Young master, I must attend to the eldest miss.”

The man’s gaze burned hotter as he stared at the girl’s graceful figure.

That little maid’s body sure was enticing.

Unable to help himself, he grabbed her soft waist and pulled her into his arms, lifting her chin to force her to face him.

“Gu Hua, you’re playing hard to get very well. And I like that.”

Gu Hua wedged her elbows tightly between their chests. “Young master, please let go of me. If the eldest miss sees us…”

Her sister was extremely sensitive about her getting close to the young master. Even if their sleeves so much as brushed, her sister would find a way to punish her.