FBC – Chapter 110 True Heart

Gu Wanru couldn’t help blurting out, “They wouldn’t kill you, how could they dare hurt you?”

Besides, that little wretch might’ve been using her identity as the young madam all along—just thinking about it was infuriating.

“You guessed right, Sister.”

Gu Hua smiled faintly.

“After you pushed me out to take your place, I was stuffed into a box and nearly suffocated, thrown into a tile shed where I could’ve lost my chastity, nearly drowned in a pond while escaping, almost fell off a cliff while fleeing for my life, and when caught by bandits and fought back desperately—I could’ve died. The injuries on my body are not just on my leg and hand. Would you like to take a look, Sister?”

Gu Hua spoke slowly, every word the truth.

Her voice was extremely calm.

But Gu Wanru was scared out of her wits hearing it.

Those bandits were originally after her!

She could also hear the resentment in Gu Hua’s tone. Her grip on the handkerchief tightened.

The moment that little wretch and her father-in-law entered, she had sensed that girl’s malice.

Her father-in-law had already been displeased with her—and had even mentioned taking a concubine.

That little wretch had used all sorts of seduction to throw him into a daze, yet he couldn’t see through her intention to climb high through manipulation.

She awkwardly tugged at the corners of her lips and forced a smile. “Those damned bandits… how could they hurt you like that…”

“Sister, Jin Kui died so terribly. Why did you kill her?”

Gu Hua abruptly changed the subject, and the words made Gu Wanru nearly collapse.

“She followed me for so many years. How could I kill her? It was the bandits who accidentally killed her while fighting over people.”

Gu Hua watched her try to explain with great effort. Her face could no longer maintain the usual gentle, virtuous look. Cold sneers filled her heart.

“An accident? Oh, I wonder how Biyu is doing?”

Every sentence pierced Gu Wanru’s heart like a knife, sending her into a panic.

Mu Junyan acted as though he hadn’t heard the verbal confrontation between the sisters. Calmly sitting down, he took Gu Hua’s injured hand into his palm and gently spread her fingers open so as not to press on the wound.

Was he openly telling her that her father-in-law wanted to take this girl in?

Gu Wanru was both shocked and aggrieved. Her tears fell in a rush, and she simply knelt down and began crying.

“Father, she’s my younger sister. Please leave a shred of dignity for the Wenchang Marquis Manor.”

“What do you mean by that, Sister?”

Gu Hua feigned surprise.

Gu Wanru was so angry at her shameless act that she couldn’t even cry anymore.

She could only wipe her tears with her handkerchief, choking out, “Father, if my concubine-born younger sister becomes your woman—my concubine-born stepmother—how would the Wenchang Marquis Manor or I have any face left?”

Mu Junyan spoke slowly, “The Wenchang Marquis Manor has already accepted my betrothal gifts. Your father is quite willing to call me son-in-law. Are you going to defy your father’s and your father-in-law’s wishes?”

Gu Hua’s eyes widened sharply.

Betrothal gifts?

Her father called him son-in-law?

He was actually formally… taking a concubine?

Gu Wanru could no longer maintain her sorrowful expression. Her face completely fell apart.

No! She couldn’t let that little wretch succeed!

She slammed her forehead to the ground with a loud bang—Gu Hua even felt pain watching it.

She really didn’t hold back.

“Father…”

“Today, I came with Hua’er because she is your sister, and we’re giving you the respect you deserve.”

Gu Wanru’s plan to threaten with her life got stuck in her throat.

Hua’er. What a close and affectionate way to address her.

Mu Junyan looked at Gu Hua and spoke softly, “You’re still injured. Go back and rest.”

Gu Hua obediently nodded and allowed him to help her up. He practically held her in his arms as they slowly walked away.

Leaving Gu Wanru kneeling alone on the floor, her forehead swelling red and puffy.

Gu Hua had originally come just to see how Gu Wanru would face her, but she hadn’t expected Mu Junyan to lift her up like this.

The two walked silently. Dong Hua and Dong Qing followed far behind.

When they reached a quiet spot in the rear garden—

“Lord…”

Gu Hua finally couldn’t stand the silence. But once she opened her mouth, she didn’t know what to say.

Thank him?

It sounded too hollow.

“I should be the one apologizing to you.”

Mu Junyan’s words stunned Gu Hua. She stopped walking and looked up at him.

The man’s eyes were deep and sincere.

“Because I mistook Gu Wanru as the one who saved me back then, you’ve had to endure so many years of hardship.”

Gu Hua shook her head, choking up, “It was I who didn’t keep the jade pendant safe. How can I blame you, my lord?”

Mu Junyan seemed to have been holding back his words for a long time. Ignoring her response, he continued, “I didn’t take responsibility for you in time, and that caused you to be trapped in a dilemma.”

Gu Hua opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say.

She had clearly seduced him intentionally. Why was he apologizing instead?

Then how was she supposed to respond?

“In order to give you closure, I want to give you a proper title. But I cannot make you my official wife. Though you are a legitimate daughter, you will have to settle as a concubine.”

Mu Junyan looked deeply at her. “Gu Hua, I will ask you one last time: Are you truly willing to marry me as a concubine? Even if I may die in battle at any time? Will you have no regrets?”

If she hesitated, he would give her the letter of release he had prepared tomorrow.

But if she truly meant it, he was willing to protect her with the entire Duke’s Manor for the rest of her life.

Gu Hua was stunned.

Held by his firm arm, she could feel his sincerity. Her eyes reddened, and tears shimmered.

If he hadn’t asked again—even if the wedding was held and she became the sole woman of the Duke’s Manor—she would’ve guarded the household in his absence, shown filial piety to the Dowager Duchess.

But her heart would have remained her own.

Wrapped in thick layers of armor, she wouldn’t let anyone break through.

Yet he—again and again—confirmed her heart.

After last night, and then today with such formality, how could she still selfishly cling to her guarded emotions?

All along the way, she hadn’t given much—but Mu Junyan had been nothing but good to her.

She had always guarded her heart, partly because she’d been hurt deeply in her previous life, fearing emotional vulnerability.

And partly because he was headed west, likely never to return. She feared gaining only to lose, and feared the sorrow that would follow.

But in her dark life, what she thought was a desperate grasp at survival—a mere stalk of straw—turned into a ray of light that gradually expanded in her heart, filling it completely.

His honest and unconditional protection became nourishment. The love that grew from it finally broke the surface.

Gu Hua knew, if she said today that she truly was willing, then it would mean full recognition from both sides—and she must give her whole heart, without retreat or reservation.

At this moment, all her former anxiety and fear disappeared.

“My lord… I am truly willing.”

She saw a flash of surprise in Mu Junyan’s eyes.

His grip on her hand tightened briefly, then gently released. “Good. Tomorrow—”

“Master, Miss Gu!” a maid rushed over anxiously.

Both turned to look.

The maid bowed. “The Marquis of Wenchang and Concubine Pei have arrived. They said they must see Miss Gu immediately.”

Gu Hua glanced nervously at Mu Junyan. He gave her a reassuring look.

The two walked together to the front hall.

Concubine Pei nearly shattered her teeth seeing the two standing side by side. Still, she forced a smiling face and curtsied.

“Greetings, Your Grace.”

The Marquis of Wenchang cupped his hands in greeting.

Mu Junyan returned the salute.

Before anyone could speak further, Concubine Pei stepped forward, grabbing Gu Hua’s arm warmly and urgently said, “I heard you’ve come back…”

Gu Hua asked in surprise, “Mother, what do you mean ‘I’ve come back’?”

“Weren’t you kidnapped?”

“Concubine Pei, who told you I was kidnapped?”

Mu Junyan had gone through great lengths to cover the truth for her—she couldn’t ruin his good intentions.

Concubine Pei’s face twitched slightly.

Rumors had spread in the streets that the young madam had been kidnapped, but her informant had told her that Mu An had returned with a young woman to the Duke’s Manor. She was sure it was her daughter.

It was Gu Hua who’d been taken.

But she had no proof. No one would believe her if she said it aloud. Her poor daughter was now bearing the shame of having been kidnapped for that little wretch.

Tomorrow, the Duke’s Manor was to hold a wedding—and that little wretch would become her precious daughter’s stepmother.

How could she tolerate that?

Today was her last chance.