FBC – Chapter 127 The Family Genealogy

Gu Hua no longer had any expectations of her mother.

Her worries and hesitation had indeed become reality.

Her biological mother did not want to acknowledge her.

Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that this suddenly reappearing daughter of hers had not brought her any joy or excitement. Unlike Gu Hua, who longed for a reunion based on blood ties, her mother felt no such yearning.

Gu Hua quietly gathered the shattered pieces of her heart. Her gaze was resolute as it swept around the room.

Gu Yuan’s face darkened. “Gu Hua, don’t be impudent. Matters of legitimacy and concubinage are not for a young girl like you to comment on.”

Yesterday, Gu Yuan had acted out of expedience.

After all, he couldn’t afford to openly offend someone in front of Mu Junyan.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, distinctions between the legitimate and concubine-born were strict, and the hierarchy was clearly defined.

To amend and recompile the family genealogy was no easy task.

Whether a child was legitimate or concubine-born was determined at birth by the mother’s status. For a concubine to be elevated to the position of wife—and for her children to be reclassified as legitimate—was extremely rare, unless she had made a great contribution to the family.

Such strict divisions ensured the stability of the clan.

In some cases, if a legitimate heir died, a child from the concubine line might be adopted under the name of the legitimate wife as a formal heir, but even then, the genealogy would still record the child’s birth as concubine-born.

This was why Concubine Pei had been scheming to switch babies from the very beginning.

She had especially hired a doctor to take her pulse and confirm that her first pregnancy was a boy. But when she gave birth to a girl, she was furious.

Part of her resentment toward Gu Hua and Gu Jinwen stemmed from the fact that her first child hadn’t been a son—it was one misstep in her grand scheme.

Moreover, Gu Jinwen was younger than Gu Ruiwen and failed to secure the status of eldest son, which meant Concubine Pei couldn’t completely suppress Madam Wang through her offspring.

Gu Hua gave a faint smile. “Father, are you going back on your word now?”

Having been embarrassed in public by his daughter, Gu Yuan’s face turned even darker. “There are elders here. It’s not your place, as a junior, to be pointing fingers.”

For her younger brother’s sake, Gu Hua held back her anger and spoke calmly, “Clan Leader, are you aware of what’s been going on in the Marquis of Wenchang’s household?”

The clan leader waved his hand impatiently. “Gu Jinwen absolutely cannot be recorded as a legitimate son. As for you, since you’ve already become someone’s concubine, we’re only agreeing to follow your father’s wishes and register you under the name of the legitimate wife as a concubine-born daughter. This is already giving the Duke Yong some face. Let’s just end this matter here.”

Another clan elder looked at Gu Hua with eyes full of disgust. “Now there’s gossip all over the city about you—saying that you’ve thrown away your virtue just to win favor. An unmarried girl living in her brother-in-law’s residence every day, first seducing him and then going after the father—it’s shameful! Even saying it out loud makes this old man blush!”

What Concubine Pei had done was indeed outrageous and shocking, but trying to set things right now would be tantamount to admitting that the order of legitimate and concubine-born had already been disturbed. If this scandal spread, it would damage the entire Gu clan’s reputation.

And that was exactly what Gu Yuan most wanted to avoid.

The Gu family’s only hope rested with the Marquis of Wenchang’s household. If the Marquis’s reputation was tarnished, the whole Gu clan would suffer.

Gu Hua’s expression darkened.

She had guessed they would react like this.

But she hadn’t expected them to be so shameless.

They refused to acknowledge her as a legitimate daughter, and they also refused to let Gu Jinwen be recorded under the name of the legitimate wife.

She raised an eyebrow. “Then what about Gu Wanru?”

The clan leader replied forcefully, “She’s been raised by Madam Wang for seventeen years. Emotionally and logically, her status shouldn’t be changed. You want Gu Jinwen to be recognized as legitimate, but why insist on making her a concubine-born? Such malice from a young girl—if word gets out, it won’t do your reputation any good.”

Gu Hua let out a laugh of disbelief.

So now, just because she wanted to reclaim what was rightfully hers, she was being called malicious?

She understood now. These people were dead set on not allowing Gu Wanru to be labeled a concubine-born daughter, for the same reason they refused to acknowledge her and Gu Jinwen as legitimate children.

It all boiled down to protecting the Gu family’s reputation.

Their honor was “reputation,” but her suffering didn’t count for anything!

Fine then. If that’s what they valued most, she would tear it apart for them.

Gu Hua’s voice remained calm. “Wrong is wrong, and right is right. If there’s a mistake in the Gu family genealogy, shouldn’t it be corrected? Or are you going to let the error continue? If someone commits murder, should they still be left in the genealogy just to save face? Even if this matter is brought before His Majesty, a wise ruler will see the justice in it.”

A mere young girl dared to invoke the emperor in front of all these senior clan members. The clan leader was instantly furious and slammed his palm down on the tea table.

“The family genealogy is sacred—a treasure passed down through generations. How dare you treat it so frivolously!”

Another clan elder nodded. “Does the little girl think that by climbing onto the bed of Duke Yong and becoming a mere concubine, she can use the Duke’s household to pressure us? That’s impossible! Even if the Duke is from the Mu family, he can’t casually change the clan genealogy.”

Gu Yuan, though pleased inside, maintained a serious expression and echoed solemnly, “The clan head and elders are absolutely right. My second daughter has truly been spoiled and ill-mannered by that lowly concubine.”

So, it turned out Gu Yuan had agreed so readily yesterday because he knew the elders would be unyielding.

Gu Hua stood up with a smile.

She flicked off some nonexistent dust from her luxurious red dress.

“Very well. Since that’s the case, we have nothing more to discuss. Tomorrow, I’ll send Concubine Pei and Gu Wanru to the yamen and let the officials deal with them according to the law.”

The clan head flew into a rage and slammed his teacup to the ground, shattering it into pieces.

Whether they were sent to the authorities or not, Concubine Pei’s fate was death either way — but the implications would be vastly different.

They were furious.

But Gu Hua remained calm.

Only the incompetent would try to suppress others with outbursts of rage.

She wore a look of indifference. “I, Gu Hua, am not on the clan genealogy anyway. Perfect. I hereby sever all ties with the Gu family. From now on, the Gu clan has nothing to do with me!”

“You dare?!”

Gu Yuan and the clan head leapt to their feet at the same time, looking as if they could devour her alive.

Dong Hua stepped forward defensively, eyes alert and voice fierce. “The Duke’s guards are just outside. I dare you to lay a finger on our lady and see what happens!”

Gu Yuan and the clan head nearly fell backward in fury.

Even a lowly maid dared threaten them now.

But… they were truly intimidated.

Gu Hua couldn’t be bothered to keep up the act. She sneered coldly, “I came here today out of respect for my mother, to give your Gu clan one last chance. Since you won’t accept the grace I offer, then there’s nothing more to say.”

With that, she turned to leave.

Gu Hua was betting they wouldn’t be willing to lose their connection to the Duke Yong.

“Stop!” Gu Yuan shoved Madam Wang harshly. “Aren’t you going to persuade your daughter?”

Madam Wang bit her lip, her face full of guilt.

Her heart ached for the pitiful Gu Hua. She wished she could acknowledge her right then and there, love her dearly, and make up for everything.

But her cousin had threatened that if she made any decision on her own, both her parents and herself would be thrown into a rural manor and left to live in poverty.

She couldn’t sacrifice her entire family just for her own selfish desires.

Gu Hua turned back, staring at the mother she had dreamed of day and night since her rebirth.

A storm raged in her heart, but her face remained calm.

She smiled, masking her bitterness. “I have no parents.”

“Hua’er!”

Madam Wang was devastated by her words, her heart tightening in pain. She couldn’t hold back anymore — crying, she rushed forward and grabbed Gu Hua’s hand.

“Hua’er, Mother has wronged you. Please, for my sake, agree to this, will you? From now on, I will love you twice as much to make up for everything, alright?”

Gu Hua curved her lips, her reddened eyes shimmering with unshed tears, full of deep hatred and regret.

“Mother, take care of yourself.”

With that, she pried Madam Wang’s hands away and turned decisively.

“Fine, fine! We agree!” Gu Yuan shouted in panic.

In truth, before Gu Hua arrived, he and the elders had already discussed it — if coercion didn’t work, they would each take a step back.

After all, Duke Yong wielded immense power. The Gu family had finally managed to secure this prestigious marriage alliance — how could they let it go?

Gu Hua stopped and turned around. “All my conditions — not one less.”

Gu Yuan tried to negotiate. “Can Gu Wanru…”

“No.”

Gu Hua rejected him bluntly. “Your Wenchang Marquis Manor holds no value to me. You have no bargaining chips to negotiate terms.”

Gu Yuan was infuriated.

His usually soft second daughter, who was like a meek rabbit, had now turned into a stubborn ox.

Feeling helpless, he looked to the clan head.

“Fine, fine. Setting things right is only natural.”

The clan head had lost all the imposing aura he had earlier. He slumped in the eight-immortal chair, looking like his spirit had been drained.

Among the Gu clan, only the Marquis of Wenchang held a noble title. The entire family’s younger generation pinned their hopes on him, wishing for more to bring honor and glory to the clan.

When they first heard that Gu Hua had married Duke Yong, they were delighted.

But the conditions she proposed utterly humiliated the Gu clan.

So, they schemed with Gu Yuan to pressure the young girl into submission.

Who would’ve thought that she’d turn the tables, using the Duke’s influence to force them instead?

If she truly requested to be expelled from the Gu clan, they’d be doomed.

Gu Yuan let out a breath of relief.

As long as the clan head agreed and didn’t make things difficult, and with the Duke as his son-in-law, everything would be perfect.

“Second Sister…” Gu Jinwen called out softly, trying to hold back his tears.

Gu Hua smiled gently at him.

The child was innocent — and this younger brother had been the only bit of warmth she experienced while in the Gu residence.

If she couldn’t ensure his safety in the future, she wouldn’t be at ease.