FBC – Chapter 108 The Wedding Is Happening

Ji Xuanyu was carried back to the Xishan military camp by Lu Laosan and the others. It was only then that Lu Laosan belatedly realized a serious problem.

Only two or three of the leaders personally appointed by Ji Xuanyu knew the inside story.

“I didn’t expect Young Master to risk his life to save that young lady. Could it be that the one we kidnapped is the second daughter of the Gu family whom Young Master has been longing for?”

Lu Laosan was beside himself with worry.

He had personally seen the Young Master disregard his own safety to save her, and in the end, he even got stabbed. The look in his eyes when he looked at her was full of lingering affection.

When they were snatching her, he had been filled with rage and hadn’t paid attention. Now that he thought about it, a chill ran down his spine.

“Should we go and snatch her back again?”

“Bullshit!”

Lu Laosan cursed angrily.

From the looks of it, even the Duke Yong was deeply concerned about that girl.

This one mission had already cost them seven or eight brothers. Each of them had been meticulously trained as spies—it was like half their forces had been wiped out in one swoop.

How could they infiltrate Bianjing again in the future?

Snatching a woman was a minor issue, but if they failed to accomplish the mission assigned by their lord, none of them would make it back alive, and they’d even implicate their families.

The few of them were completely at a loss. All they could do was wait for Ji Xuanyu to wake up before deciding what to do next.

Unaware of what was happening on their side, Gu Hua sat in the carriage, thinking deeply the entire way about how to foil Mu An and Young Lord Jiang’s schemes and how to leverage the Pei family to deal a heavy blow to Concubine Pei and Gu Wanru.

She also thought about the right timing to publicly acknowledge her mother.

The carriage rode steadily and reached its destination in a little over an hour.

It stopped at the main gates of the Duke Yong’s residence. Dong Hua helped her put on a cloak with a hood.

“My lady, it’s windy outside. Put the hood on.”

Gu Hua didn’t think much of it and obediently wore the hood. With the help of two maids, she stepped down from the carriage.

At the entrance, a dense crowd of servants stood assembled.

As soon as they saw her dismount, they bowed and respectfully greeted her with a chorus of, “Greetings, Young Madam!”

Zhou Zhilan led them, her face full of respectful composure, without even lifting her head to look at Gu Hua.

Gu Hua paused slightly and discreetly looked around.

The hood was wide, shielding her view of her surroundings, but it also concealed her face from any onlookers and prying eyes.

“So it really was the Young Madam who was kidnapped. Judging by the display, the Duke’s residence still intends to accept her.”

“Maybe. Publicly they take her back, but in secret, who knows—she might just quietly ‘die.’”

“Exactly. Remember the daughter of the Minister of Works? She was also welcomed back nicely, only to ‘suddenly die of illness’ a few days later.”

“First earn a good reputation, then deal with her in secret. That’s a common tactic among noble families—not surprising at all.”

The discussions weren’t quiet. Gu Hua heard every word, and it made her heart tremble.

Could it be that Mu Junyan really planned to use this opportunity to dispose of Gu Wanru?

She quickly quickened her pace and entered the residence.

Once the grand gates closed behind her, Zhou Zhilan’s previously stiff posture immediately relaxed. She reached out and pulled Gu Hua into her arms, quickly scanning her up and down, circling around her.

“Let me take a look—any injuries?”

Gu Hua smiled, but tears welled up in her eyes. “I’m fine. Not hurt at all.”

Zhou Zhilan gently held her hand. “But this wound looks deep, doesn’t it?”

Shen Li stepped forward, her tone flat, “With me here, even if it were deeper, she’d be fine.”

Zhou Zhilan glanced at her—true enough. She finally felt more at ease.

She linked arms with Gu Hua and whispered, “It’s been an entire night. You’ve suffered, haven’t you?”

Gu Hua shook her head hard, too choked up to speak, afraid Zhou Zhilan would hear the sob in her voice and worry.

Zhou Zhilan chattered all the way until she brought Gu Hua to Yayun Pavilion. Only then did she release her hand and hurriedly instructed Dong Hua and the others to help her into bed. Soon, a maid came with warm soup. The brazier in the room was already lit, filling it with a cozy warmth.

Gu Hua was taken care of meticulously. She was so touched that she couldn’t stop her tears from falling.

“Oh dear, why are you crying? Does the wound hurt?” Zhou Zhilan turned around and quickly walked over.

“No… I just missed you.” As soon as Gu Hua said it, she began sobbing aloud.

Zhou Zhilan was stunned for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter. She plopped down on the edge of the bed and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe Gu Hua’s tears.

“Oh, please. You missed me? The Duke kept you company all night—you had no time to think about me.”

Though her words were bold and joking, her voice was soft. Even as she teased, her own eyes turned red.

Gu Hua’s cheeks turned crimson. She was about to retort when Zhou Zhilan tilted her head and the redness in her eyes faded.

In a low voice, she said, “The Duke personally came to fetch you. Originally, he planned to bring you back overnight to avoid too many people seeing you and raising suspicion. We waited and waited, until nearly dawn, and still didn’t see you. Finally, someone came back and said the Duke took you to the hot spring villa.”

Gu Hua was extremely embarrassed. She wanted to say something but didn’t know what would be appropriate.

And she didn’t want to lie to Zhou Zhilan.

“The Duke really cares about you,” Zhou Zhilan said with a smile, observing her expression.

“So… you agreed?”

Gu Hua blinked, confused. “Agreed to what?”

Zhou Zhilan straightened up and said to the busy maids, “You all may leave for now.”

Dong Hua and the others immediately stopped what they were doing and exited, even closing the outer door behind them.

Only then did Zhou Zhilan stop joking and looked at Gu Hua seriously.

“The Duke publicly declared he wouldn’t marry, but for you, he requested an imperial decree to grant a marriage. Although it’s a concubine title, all ceremonial rites are being conducted as if you were a primary wife. Did you agree to this?”

Gu Hua was stunned. “He didn’t ask me… He only asked if I was willing to be his concubine.”

She hadn’t refused, true. But he didn’t mention the imperial decree or that the household had started preparing the wedding.

Gu Hua had thought…

Zhou Zhilan was stunned as well.

Her brother had been busy preparing for the wedding for two days, but the Duke had strictly forbidden them from letting Gu Hua know. He said he wanted to ask her personally.

Who would have thought that even after everything that happened last night, and spending so long at the villa, the Duke hadn’t brought it up?

Gu Hua gripped her sleeve, shocked. “You said… the Emperor granted the marriage?”

An imperial decree to marry a concubine?

Was this… to raise her status?

“Yes. I didn’t see the decree myself, but my brother did. He said the Emperor granted the title of honored concubine. Don’t worry—the Duke won’t take another official wife.”

Meaning, she would be the only woman by Mu Junyan’s side.

Gu Hua was baffled. She had already agreed. Why did Mu Junyan still seem hesitant?

Seeing her remain silent, Zhou Zhilan grew anxious. “Sister Hua, be honest—do you truly want to marry the Duke?”

Gu Hua came back to her senses. “The Duke treats me extremely well. To be honest, this is the first time in my life a man has treated me with such genuine care. Why wouldn’t I be willing?”

“Phew, you scared me. As long as you’re willing. You have nothing to feel wronged about—you’re the only woman the Duke has ever truly cared for.”

“Didn’t the former Duchess… hold that place in his heart?”

Gu Hua felt uneasy and asked in a low voice.

Really, she shouldn’t be hung up on this.

What right did she have to be jealous of Mu Junyan’s feelings for Jiang Ruoyun? They were a married couple, and even their marriage had been granted by the Emperor.

“The former Duchess…”

Zhou Zhilan tilted her head, choosing her words carefully. “Even if he cared for her, it was just fulfilling the duty of giving her a wife’s title. I’ve told you—she was sick ever since she married in. She barely ever left her courtyard and hardly saw the Duke a few times before she died.”

Gu Hua took a deep breath and quickly adjusted her emotions, smiling. “I shouldn’t overthink it. No matter how sincere the Duke is, having you as a good sister is enough for me.”

Zhou Zhilan grinned and wrapped her arms around her. “That’s more like it. From now on, I’ll probably be spending more time with you than the Duke will.”

Gu Hua chuckled.

It was true.

“You get some good rest. Once you’ve had a proper sleep, go see the old madam.” Zhou Zhilan tucked her in and pulled the blanket snug.

Gu Hua poked out her little head. “The old madam? She wasn’t frightened, was she?”

Zhou Zhilan smirked mysteriously. “You’ll see when you meet her.”

Just as she was about to leave, Gu Hua grabbed her wrist. “Sister, how is Biyu? And what about Eldest Sister and her husband?”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you.” Zhou Zhilan sat back down and tucked Gu Hua’s arm under the blanket again.

“Biyu cried all night after being brought back. The young master and young madam have both been confined to their rooms, under strict watch. They can’t come out.”

Gu Hua felt relieved.

Biyu had been rescued, and hadn’t been tortured to death.

Gu Wanru and Mu An were under guard, so they likely didn’t know what had happened yet.

Zhou Zhilan patted her. “Don’t think about anything else—just rest.”

As soon as she left Yayun Pavilion, she excitedly ran to find Zhou Chunyu.

“Brother! Sister Hua said she’s willing to marry the Duke! Hurry and tell him! Isn’t tomorrow the day set by the imperial decree? I’ll go check if Xiu Bo Fang and Linlang Pavilion have delivered the wedding clothes and jewelry.”

She dashed off, muttering under her breath, “The Duke is finally getting married, and everything’s being done so hastily—it’s making me anxious. Sister Hua is only getting married once in her life, so we can’t let her feel shortchanged.”

Zhou Chunyu watched her hurried back disappear into the distance, and a mist of emotion rose in his eyes.

But he… had shortchanged Zhou Zhilan’s entire life.