FBC – Chapter 128 Tearing Off the Mask

Gu Hua, following clan rules, performed the grand ritual with Gu Jinwen and knelt before the ancestors.

Watching the clan elder write both her and Gu Jinwen’s names into the family genealogy, she finally felt a wave of relief.

Then, the clan elder erased Gu Wanru’s name and added a note recording her actions in the clan’s annals.

A concubine-born daughter was not qualified to be entered into the genealogy.

At this point, whether Gu Hua was entered or not no longer mattered to her.

After all, she no longer wished to have any connection with the Gu family.

But she still wanted to pave a path for Gu Jinwen—at the very least, he deserved a fair chance at a bright future.

“Mother.”

Gu Hua gave a formal bow of respect to Madam Wang, her expression calm.

“My child, don’t be so formal,” Madam Wang hurriedly reached out to support her, but Gu Hua sidestepped her hand and took a step back.

Her expression was distant, and her tone was indifferent. “Mother, Jinwen is a pitiful child, but he’s intelligent, eager to learn, and has decent potential. If you give him equal opportunities, in the future, you’ll gain an extra pillar of support.”

Seeing Gu Hua keep her distance, Madam Wang knew she had hurt her daughter’s heart.

But she had no right to say anything anymore.

She could only nod. “Don’t worry. Since you’ve entrusted him to me, I will treat him as my own. Whatever Ruiwen has, he will have as well.”

Gu Hua believed her.

Madam Wang wasn’t malicious by nature. Her faults lay in her humble origins, lack of education, lack of cleverness, and lack of courage.

Having done all this, Gu Hua no longer wished to remain in the Gu household. She immediately prepared to leave with her people.

Suddenly, Chiyan approached and said, “Granny Lu isn’t dead. She’s being held in Xianglan Court.”

That was the place where Concubine Pei and the siblings had once lived.

Gu Hua’s expression darkened, and she turned around and headed back.

The clan elders had already left.

Gu Yuan and Madam Wang sat motionless, each lost in thought.

Gu Hua entered the room. Since they had already torn the facade apart, there was no reason for her to hold back anymore.

Her face darkened. “If you don’t plan to beat Granny Lu to death, then I’ll take her away.”

Gu Yuan was startled and jumped to his feet. “No!”

“She’s a grievous accomplice! She was involved in everything Concubine Pei did. Concubine Pei herself can’t escape a death sentence—what use is keeping a servant like her?”

Gu Hua raised her brows. “Let me guess—Father, why are you reluctant to kill her?”

Gu Yuan’s expression stiffened.

“I’m not reluctant! It’s just…”

Gu Hua sneered. “Concubine Pei managed the household for many years. Granny Lu must know all about her dowry, right? Especially the shops she left behind and those stewards. You’re afraid they won’t obey your orders or hand over the profits, aren’t you?”

Gu Yuan’s inner thoughts were exposed. His old face couldn’t hold itself anymore, and in his anger, he nearly wanted to slap his unfilial daughter.

But then he saw the tall, imposing guards standing behind her.

He… didn’t dare.

Originally, Gu Hua had wanted to show some consideration for her mother’s sake and give the Marquis of Wenchang’s household some buffer time.

She had planned to deal with Concubine Pei and her daughter first, then return to clean out the Gu family and sever all ties.

But now, it seemed that was entirely unnecessary.

She knew exactly what Gu Yuan was thinking.

He didn’t want to keep Concubine Pei out of lingering affection or sympathy, but because he wanted to seize her entire dowry.

He didn’t want to formally divorce her, but intended to let her quietly die in the Gu residence—this way, the dowry would stay.

But how could Gu Hua let him have his way?

He kept Concubine Pei but offered up Granny Lu as a scapegoat. Yet he was still so greedy, fixated only on wealth, unwilling to act.

“Marquis Gu, there’s one thing I forgot to mention. I am a legitimate daughter. When I marry, I should be provided with a dowry befitting my status. Gu Wanru impersonated me and took away a legitimate daughter’s dowry—every item must now be compensated to me. Whatever Gu Wanru used, the Marquis of Wenchang’s household must replace. I advise you to spend the next few days taking proper stock.”

Being directly addressed as “Marquis Gu” by his usually timid daughter, Gu Yuan was both furious and afraid.

“What did you say?!” Gu Yuan could no longer hold back. He jumped up, pointing at Gu Hua’s nose, wanting to curse her, yet unable to find the words. In the end, he only spat out two syllables.

“Wretched girl!”

Gu Hua smiled. “If I’m a wretch, then Father, you are one too.”

She no longer wanted to deal with him. “Someone, take away the criminal servant, Granny Lu.”

She gave her mother, Madam Wang, a deep look before turning to leave.

If Madam Wang still had a shred of conscience and truly treated Gu Jinwen well, after severing ties, Gu Hua would think of a way to ensure Madam Wang had some dignity — she would help her request a divorce from Gu Yuan and give her enough silver to raise the two children.

Madam Wang stood there dazed, at a loss.

Gu Yuan was so angry he nearly vomited blood. When he turned and saw Madam Wang’s bewildered expression, he raised his hand in fury and slapped her.

“Useless foolish woman!”

A crisp slap echoed through the room, shocking everyone into silence, their faces pale.

Madam Wang clutched her face in disbelief.

He hit her? In front of the servants?

She had already been shaken by her daughter’s defiant gaze just now, and now she was publicly humiliated by her husband who had always ignored her. A surge of anger rushed up within her.

She sprang up, pointed at Gu Yuan, and scolded him loudly, “The most useless one is you! You are the head of the Marquis Wenchang household, and isn’t it your incompetence that has led to its decline? It was you who favored concubines and oppressed your wife. It was you who indulged a concubine to seize power. It was you who caused our mother and daughter to be separated! What right do you have to curse me? I come from the Wang clan of Langya — how dare you insult me as you please!”

She had never been without a temper — she had only suppressed it for the sake of her family.

But the more she thought, the more aggrieved she felt. Even her daughter, once as timid as a kitten, had stood up today. As a mother, being so spineless felt unbearable.

She wanted to become her children’s pillar.

Gu Yuan was livid. “You—you—you all are rebelling!”

Madam Wang was trembling with rage.

She had been married into the marquis’ household for decades and had never even argued with anyone, let alone raised her voice. No matter how wronged she felt, she would always cry quietly in her room.

But after this outburst, she suddenly realized—it didn’t feel bad at all.

At the very least, she felt lighter in her heart.

If she continued being weak, even the Wang clan of Langya wouldn’t stand by her anymore.

Madam Wang’s expression turned cold. “Gu Yuan, ever since I married you, I’ve done my duty as a virtuous wife. I have endured your overbearing concubines time and again. It wasn’t because I was weak, nor because I had no money — but because I wanted to give you, as the head of the household, some dignity.

Yet you never valued the dignity I gave you. Since that’s the case, we may as well part ways — either we divorce cleanly, or you figure it out yourself! As for the filthy mess of this household, I won’t bother anymore. I’ll return to my room and await your punishment!”

With that, she flung her sleeves and left.

Even Granny Zhou was stunned, but she quickly recovered, feeling both sorrow and joy.

Her mistress was finally no longer afraid, but if she really were divorced, then they’d have nowhere to go.

The other servants were all frightened and scurried out of the hall to avoid becoming collateral damage and getting yelled at or beaten by their master.

Only Gu Yuan remained, so furious he grabbed a vase and a teacup and smashed them to the ground.

But soon after, he regretted it — there were already so few decent decorations left, and now he’d broken a few more.

Heartache surged.

Right now, the most pressing matter was — if Madam Wang really walked away from it all, there would be no woman in the Marquis Wenchang household capable of holding things together.

And then what about the household management and the shops from the Concubine Pei dowry? How was he supposed to get them back?

Gu Yuan was so angry he squatted on the floor, holding his head, on the verge of tears.

Gu Hua returned to the Duke’s residence and went straight to the Old Madam’s Xiangrui Hall, where she reported everything that had happened at the Marquis’ residence in detail.

After all, she didn’t want her personal affairs to implicate the Duke’s household.

After hearing everything, the Old Madam only said, “Do as you see fit.”

When Gu Hua left Xiangrui Hall, her legs felt weak.

“Madam, why don’t you rest for a while?” Dong Hua gently supported her, heart aching.

She and Dong Qing knew exactly what kind of temperament Gu Hua had before — but in the blink of an eye, she had changed completely.

Gu Hua was not a naturally aggressive person. To stand up to the heads of both powerful families, how much courage must she have mustered?

Gu Hua was physically and emotionally exhausted and didn’t try to push through it.

She obediently nodded. “I need to eat something. I feel a little dizzy. Then I’ll sleep for an hour to rest.”

“I’ll go to the kitchen right away!” Dong Qing lifted her skirt and ran off.

Gu Hua thought for a moment, then called Chiyan over and whispered a few instructions to him.