FBC – Chapter 107 Shy

Mu Junyan glanced at her, then placed a set of underclothes, a clean towel, and a large robe on the stone stool. He moved the charcoal brazier closer before turning his back.

Gu Hua saw that he had no intention of leaving, so she had no choice but to slowly step out of the hot spring pool.

Keeping her eyes on his back, she reached for the towel to dry herself.

But the wound on her wrapped hand stung sharply, and she couldn’t use much strength. The towel was large and heavy; she could barely manage. She gave herself a rough rub, then hurriedly put on the underclothes.

However, the moisture in the air quickly dampened the thin silk, clinging tightly to her body.

Gu Hua looked down and felt incredibly embarrassed. She quickly picked up the robe for a look.

It was men’s clothing.

It must belong to Mu Junyan.

It was large enough to wrap her whole body.

Gu Hua could only put it on. Without a belt, the robe hung on her like a child wearing an adult’s clothes.

Helplessly, she held the collar with one hand and lifted the robe with the other to avoid stepping on it.

Blushing deeply, she said in a soft voice, “My Lord, this concubine is ready.”

Mu Junyan turned around. Dressed in the long trailing robe, she appeared even more delicate and frail.

Her long, wet hair clung to her head, and droplets of water rolled down her pale cheeks.

Under his gaze, Gu Hua took a step forward, but unexpectedly stepped on the robe and with a startled cry, she tumbled straight into his broad chest.

Mu Junyan spread his arms and caught her in an embrace.

Gu Hua wished she could bury her head into her clothes.

So humiliating.

Before she could recover, she was bundled tightly in his thick cloak like a dumpling.

Gu Hua quickly looked up, only to find herself lifted off the ground, her bottom securely supported.

Mu Junyan held her in his arms like a child.

Gu Hua: “…”

She was mortified beyond belief.

Before she could finish being embarrassed, her head was gently pressed against his warm neck.

Oh no, her hair was still wet!

“There’s wind outside. You’ll catch a cold.”

Gu Hua had no choice but to stay still.

Once inside the bedroom, Mu Junyan removed the cloak and robe wrapped around her. His eyes fell upon her delicate figure before quickly averting.

“Your underclothes are wet. Take them off before sleeping.”

After saying that, he left behind the blushing young girl and turned to leave, closing the door.

There was a brazier burning inside, warm and cozy.

Gu Hua quickly removed the wet underclothes and was just about to slip under the blanket when she heard a knock.

“Are you ready?”

Gu Hua scrambled into the blankets and wrapped herself tightly. “Yes.”

Mu Junyan entered holding a box and placed it on the low table beside the bed.

“Give me your hand.”

He was going to change her dressing?

Gu Hua obediently extended her arm, keeping it as straight as she could for his convenience.

Mu Junyan looked at the little ostrich who had buried her head under the blanket, picked up her hand, and placed it on his thigh. Her arm trembled, but she stubbornly didn’t retract it.

He lowered his head, eyes fixed in concentration as he removed the soaked gauze, gently cleaned the wound, and the clumped-up medicinal powder.

The pain made Gu Hua want to curl her fingers, but knowing that would make it harder, she forced them to stay open, her small hand visibly trembling.

Mu Junyan spoke softly, “I’ve switched to a different medicine. It won’t hurt as much. If you want to cry, just cry.”

“I don’t want to cry,” Gu Hua mumbled under the covers, her voice thick with unshed tears.

Mu Junyan’s lips curled into a faint smile.

Ah, what a delicate little girl. He couldn’t even imagine how she endured being bullied by Concubine Pei and Gu Wanru, or how she survived being abducted.

After cleaning the wound and applying the new medicine, Gu Hua found that it truly didn’t hurt as much. She peeked her head out from under the blanket.

Sniffling, she said, “It doesn’t really hurt.”

Mu Junyan looked into her misty eyes. On instinct, he raised his hand to brush the tears from the corner of her red eyes, gently wiping away the droplets with his thick fingertips.

He did not despise women, but he always thought that if he couldn’t promise them a stable life and might even end up making them widows, then it was better to suppress such feelings. With the court watching the Mu army like a hawk, he had repressed his desires for decades.

He wasn’t one to care about a woman’s chastity, but he knew how much it mattered to her.

At the time, she had tried every means to please him just for a chance at survival. He hadn’t resisted—and he had even enjoyed it.

But back then, he thought it was just a mutual agreement.

He was willing to help her, seeing how pitiful she was.

But as they spent more time together, he realized she wasn’t someone who simply wanted to depend on a man—she had her own ambitions.

He had originally considered taking her as a concubine, thinking it was what she wanted.

But if it wasn’t truly her will, he wouldn’t force her.

Mu Junyan soon finished bandaging her arm and gently tucked it back into the blanket. As he withdrew his hand, it brushed against something soft.

Both of them froze.

Mu Junyan quickly retracted his hand and tidied up the medicine and tools. “It’ll be dawn soon. Get some rest.”

“Thank you, My Lord.”

Gu Hua’s quiet murmur came from behind him. Mu Junyan didn’t turn back. He walked straight out and closed the door.

Gu Hua was exhausted. After soaking in the hot spring and fully relaxing, she quickly fell asleep.

When she opened her eyes again, two concerned faces were looking at her.

“Young miss is awake!” Dong Hua cried excitedly.

“I’ll go check if Miss Shen’s medicine is ready!” Dong Qing immediately turned and ran out.

Soon, Shen Li entered with Dong Qing, carrying a bowl of medicine.

She gave Gu Hua a sharp look. “Always worrying people.”

Gu Hua blushed and didn’t dare say a word, obediently drinking the medicine.

It was terribly bitter, but she didn’t dare complain.

Shen Li frowned. “Not bitter?”

There was one particular ingredient in it that was extremely bitter, and sugar couldn’t be added for the sake of effectiveness.

Gu Hua finished it, nearly gagged, but forced herself to swallow, her face twisted in pain.

“I finished it. Not bitter.”

But her little face had wrinkled like a dried chrysanthemum.

Shen Li rolled her eyes and popped a bayberry into her mouth.

Sweet and sour, it perfectly balanced the bitterness.

Gu Hua happily chewed it, allowing the two maids to help her wash and dress.

Mu Junyan’s men had long prepared the carriage. Mu Junyan carefully carried Gu Hua into it.

Gu Hua wanted to say that she could walk.

But she didn’t dare.

“Sit tight. We’re going home.”

Gu Hua tugged his sleeve. “Lord Duke, aren’t you getting in?”

Mu Junyan looked at her slightly trembling hand—she was probably still in pain. His heart ached, but he couldn’t ride in the carriage with her and attract unwanted attention.

He gently patted her hand. “I’ll ride beside the carriage. Don’t worry. The three of them will be with you.”

Gu Hua let out a soft “mm,” but then clutched his sleeve again and whispered, “I heard them say ‘young master,’ ‘heir apparent’… The ones who kidnapped me—could it have been Prince Jiang’s heir?”

She couldn’t explain that she had been reborn and knew it was him who met Gu Wanru that night.

She had hoped that the meeting last night, like in her previous life, would lead to a deal. She would use her knowledge to save the Pei family and cut off their support of Concubine Pei and Gu Wanru.

She hadn’t expected to still fall victim—and fail to accomplish her goal.

So she had to warn Mu Junyan to keep an eye on Prince Jiang’s heir and be alert in case the military winter supplies were tampered with.

Mu Junyan naturally understood.

“Alright. I’ll find out who’s behind all this. You don’t need to worry.”

Gu Hua didn’t want to let go, but knew she had to. She obediently sat back and wrapped herself in a blanket.

Last night, she once again brushed past death, and in the end, she realized Mu Junyan genuinely cared about her. Her heart was filled with complex emotions.

Dong Hua and the other two got into the carriage.

By the time they entered the city, the streets were already bustling.

Onlookers whispered among themselves.

The news that the young madam of Duke Yong’s estate had been kidnapped had already spread throughout the capital. Now, seeing the Duke himself riding beside a carriage as they returned, with the city patrol following and the city-wide search halted, everyone assumed she had been found.

People were all speculating how the Duke’s household would handle a young madam who had spent a night in the hands of kidnappers.

In similar past cases, the women of noble families who were abducted either shaved their heads and became nuns—or were found hanging by a rope.