FBC – Chapter 126 Serving Tea to the Stepmother

“Madam, Madam!”

Zhou Zhilian saw Gu Hua running out frantically and quickly stopped her.

As soon as Gu Hua saw her, she burst into tears with a loud wah.

Zhou Zhilian helplessly hugged her and comforted her, “My dear little Madam, the Lord has already left the city by now—who knows how far he’s gone. You won’t catch up to him.”

Gu Hua sobbed sorrowfully, “It—it’s my fault… wuwu… I didn’t get up to see him off… wuwu… It’s all Dong Hua and the others’ fault for not waking me… wuwu…”

This was the last time she’d ever see him!

Mu Junyan was going to die!

She relied on him for everything, but she couldn’t help him at all. He was going off to die on the battlefield, and she couldn’t think of a single way to save him.

The more she thought about it, the more heartbroken she became. It was like she’d gone through countless hardships to finally find a treasure, only for it to vanish in the blink of an eye.

Her heart felt hollow, as if it had been dug out—completely empty.

Zhou Zhilian and the maids Dong Hua and Dong Qing exchanged a glance and suppressed a smile.

They were used to seeing farewells before deployments, used to witnessing life and death on the battlefield. But this poor little Madam had spent her whole life cooped up in a grand mansion. Her husband went to war on their wedding day—it was natural for her to feel devastated.

Gu Hua cried until her throat was hoarse. When she looked up, she saw Yiniang standing in front of her. Her sobbing stopped abruptly.

She quickly stood up straight, only to realize she was surrounded by servants, all watching her with kindly smiles.

Her grief instantly vanished like smoke in the wind, and her face turned crimson in an instant.

She was doomed. She had completely embarrassed herself on her very first day as the lady of the house.

Seeing her stop crying, Yiniang stepped forward and gave a polite bow. “Madam, it’s time to serve tea to the Old Madam.”

Startled, Gu Hua quickly returned the bow in a fluster. “Yes, yes, yes! I’ll go change right away. I won’t delay the auspicious time.”

Saying that, she lifted her skirt and habitually dashed off toward Yayun Pavilion.

“Madam, Madam—you’re heading the wrong way! All your clothes and jewelry are in Wenhan Pavilion!”

Dong Hua and Dong Qing called out between fits of laughter as they chased after her.

Gu Hua came to a sudden stop, let out a cry, then turned around and sprinted toward Wenhan Pavilion instead.

Zhou Zhilian couldn’t hold back her laughter and burst out, clutching her stomach.

“Heavens, I didn’t know Sister Hua was this adorable!”

The gathered servants were also filled with joy, all laughing along.

Yiniang chuckled and scolded, “You little rascal, what are you still standing around for? Go inform the young master and young madam—it’s time to serve tea to the Madam. If you delay the hour, just wait and see what happens to your hide!”

Still laughing, Zhou Zhilian replied, “Alright!”

Auspicious Hall.

Gu Hua knelt properly on a cushion, holding a teacup with both hands, and respectfully offered it to the Old Madam.

The Old Madam accepted the cup with a smile, took a sip, and placed a big red envelope in her hands.

Gu Hua accepted it with a radiant smile and thanked her politely.

The Old Madam said, “Quickly, get up—don’t ruin your knees.”

Gu Hua obediently stood up and walked closer. The Old Madam took her hand and examined her carefully.

“Mm, your complexion looks much better. But it must have been hard on you.”

“It’s not hard at all, Old Madam—with you caring for me, how could I feel wronged?”

The Old Madam gave her a mock glare. “Still calling me ‘Old Madam’? You’ve messed up the generations.”

Gu Hua blushed all the way to the tips of her ears, realizing how silly she’d been.

Shyly, she called out, “Mother.”

“Mm, that’s more like it.”

The Old Madam happily patted her hand. “Good child. From now on, just stay by my side and keep me company. Let’s wait together for that rascal’s triumphant return.”

Gu Hua felt her nose sting and nodded firmly, “Alright. Ziyuan will definitely return victorious.”

But… he’ll never come back again.

Gu Hua’s heart ached with sorrow. She wanted to cry again.

She made up her mind to honor and care for the Old Madam in Mu Junyan’s place.

“Mm-hmm.” The old madam grew more delighted the more she looked at her daughter-in-law.

Yiniang lifted the curtain and came in. “Old Madam, Madam, the young master and young madam have come to serve you tea.”

Gu Hua arched her elegant brows and straightened her posture.

Gu Wanru looked like she had aged ten years overnight, with heavy dark circles under her eyes. Listless and head bowed, she walked in slowly.

Beside her, Mu An wore a stiff expression.

As soon as the two entered, they saw Gu Hua dressed in a bright red, dignified, and luxurious robe. Both of their expressions changed instantly. Their eyes were full of hatred, as if they wanted to tear apart the woman seated above them in a position even more noble than their own.

Gu Hua smiled as she looked at them.

Mu An couldn’t bear it anymore. “Grandmother, she’s just a concubine. Why should I, the legitimate son, serve her tea?”

The old madam’s face darkened. “Gu Hua is a proper legitimate daughter of the Wenchang Marquis Household. Her noble concubine status was granted by His Majesty himself. Gu Hua is fully deserving of being called your stepmother. In obedience to your father’s command, everyone in the Duke’s Household addresses Gu Hua as Madam.”

Gu Hua felt very grateful toward the old madam. She straightened her back and looked at the two with a gentle smile.

Her voice was calm. “Surely, Young Master wouldn’t want to deny that Duke Yong is your father?”

Mu An’s eyes widened in shock. He could see the mockery in the eyes of that little wretch.

He was furious. Why?!

He was the legitimate son of the Duke’s Household—how had this wretched girl climbed above his head?

But her words were indeed a threat.

Ever since his father had returned, his attitude toward him had completely changed. Before the old madam fell ill, she was lukewarm toward him. Now that she had recovered, she seemed to feel only disgust toward him.

And because of that wretched girl, he had almost no status left in this household.

He didn’t even have money anymore to go out and eat and drink with his friends.

Mu An suppressed his anger and glared resentfully at Gu Wanru.

It was all that wretched woman’s fault—not only useless, but also harmful!

He directed all his fury at Gu Wanru. Before she could even kneel on the prayer cushion, he suddenly kicked the back of her knees. “Wretch, kneel!”

Gu Wanru cried out in surprise, her knees slamming heavily onto the stone floor.

Thud—a deep, muffled sound that made everyone present wince.

Gu Wanru lay on the ground in pain, unable to straighten her back for a long time.

Mu An shot a glare at Gu Hua, gritted his teeth, and lifted his robe to kneel on the cushion.

Gu Wanru gritted her teeth and crawled forward, kneeling beside Mu An with tears in her eyes.

Gu Hua took the tea they offered, sipped it lightly, and smiled as she handed red envelopes to her stepson and his wife.

In a soft voice, she said, “Elder Sister, good child, this is your stepmother’s little red packet for you.”

Mu An clenched the thin red envelope tightly in his hand, stood up furiously, spat at Gu Wanru, and then bowed to the old madam. “Grandmother, your grandson will take his leave.”

Without waiting for her response, he turned and left.

Gu Wanru, humiliated to the point of rage and shame, had just started to get up when a maid entered from outside.

“Old Madam, Madam, someone from the Wenchang Marquis Household has come to request Madam’s return. They said the clan elders have all arrived.”

The old madam looked at Gu Hua. “Do you want to go back?”

“Yes, Mother. I must return and take care of a few matters.”

The main issue was resolving the matter of having Gu Jinwen registered under her mother’s name.

Today, she would settle scores with the Gu family. When she returned, it would be time to deal with this Pei clan and Gu Wanru, mother and daughter.

Gu Wanru’s eyes were filled with hatred.

Gu Hua glanced at her. “Take the young madam back to Jinxiu Pavilion.”

“Yes.” The two old servant women assigned to watch over Gu Wanru responded immediately, and each took hold of her by an arm and hauled her off.

Gu Wanru was dragged away like a dead dog, with no regard for her dignity whatsoever.

“I’ll go with you back to the marquis’ residence,” Zhou Zhilian said, holding her arm as they walked out.

Gu Hua replied, “It’s alright. I can go alone.”

Some things she had to face by herself.

Seeing her insist, Zhou Zhilian slipped something into her hand and said in a low voice, “The Lord left Chiyan for you. He has six bodyguards under his command, all highly skilled. This is their signal whistle—once blown, they’ll appear by your side instantly.”

Gu Hua paused. “He didn’t take them with him?”

“The Lord brought along Chiyu and a few others. Also, Dong Mo will now be serving you.”

Zhou Zhilian saw that her eyes were turning red and quickly said with a smile, “You’re the apple of the Lord’s eye. You’re the young madam of the Duke’s Household—you absolutely cannot let anything happen to you.”

Gu Hua knew that if she kept refusing, it would be unreasonable.

Although she needed to learn to face things independently, her current strength was too weak. If something happened, it would only cause trouble for the Duke’s Household.

When Gu Hua returned to the Wenchang Marquis Residence with her entourage, the front hall was already full of people.

The moment they saw her enter, followed by seven tall, imposing bodyguards in dark robes with grim expressions, everyone froze in fear, their expressions complicated.

Gu Hua greeted the elders and then let her gaze fall on her mother. Her mother’s eyes were filled with tears but kept dodging her gaze.

Gu Hua looked away and turned to Gu Yuan and the clan elder. “Since the clan elder and all the other elders have arrived, I presume the procedures have been finalized?”