FBC – Chapter 13 Silver Tongue and Glib Talk

Gu Wanru smiled gently and patted her hand. “Rest early. Tomorrow, help father copy the official documents properly. Who knows, maybe you’re a person with good fortune.”

Yinzhi grew anxious. “Young Madam, that little wretch was just using sweet words to deceive you!”

Gu Wanru’s expression darkened. “You’re not listening to me now? Go to your room and sleep.”

Yinzhi was unwilling but had no choice and followed her back, sulking.

“Young Madam, that little wretch is full of lies. If she really gains the lord’s favor, do you think she’ll help you?”

While helping her comb her hair, Yinzhi muttered angrily.

Gu Wanru looked at her face in the bronze mirror, feeling unsettled.

Concubine Pei came from a merchant background but was stunningly beautiful and brought a massive dowry when she married into the marquis household.

After marrying in, she earned her father’s deep favor and gave birth to her—yet Gu Wanru only had regular, decent features.

Her mother, from a noble and rigid family, had a biological daughter, Gu Hua, who looked like a seductive fox spirit.

She even suspected Concubine Pei had deceived her—perhaps she was the real legitimate daughter, and Gu Hua was the concubine-born one.

Concubine Pei had always instilled in her that Gu Hua was a stepping stone, a toy to help her maintain her father’s favor.

But today, Gu Hua’s words awakened her.

A stepping stone doesn’t necessarily need to be for the husband. It might serve a greater purpose.

She had been married for over half a year and hadn’t even touched the key to managing the household affairs.

Mu An spent his days indulging in pleasure, bringing in one woman after another. He had no other ability—even when he wanted to buy something expensive, he had to ask Housekeeper Zhou for money. When refused, he didn’t even dare utter a word.

Hoping he’d seize control of the household? Pure fantasy.

“Young Madam, she dared bite the young master today, dared defy you. Tomorrow, she might turn the house upside down. How can we let her off without teaching her a lesson?”

Yinzhi kept ranting. Seeing Gu Wanru unresponsive, just staring blankly at the mirror, she couldn’t help but tap her shoulder lightly.

Gu Wanru suddenly laughed.

“She bit well. She should’ve bitten him.”

Her tone was full of gritted teeth.

Mu An had utterly broken her heart. To win his favor, she had humbled herself time and again—even showing courtesy to the concubines he favored, doing her best not to provoke them.

But had he ever given her the dignity of the main wife?

Yinzhi froze. “Young Madam…”

Gu Wanru returned to her senses and stood up, walking toward the bed.

Her tone turned serious. “Yinzhi, Gu Hua is still my younger half-sister. Don’t keep calling her a wretch. What if someone from the Duke’s household hears? They’d think our marquis household doesn’t discipline our servants properly, that we disregard hierarchy.”

It was the first time Gu Wanru scolded her over Gu Hua, and Yinzhi felt so wronged she almost cried.

It was because Young Madam always called her a little wretch that she followed suit!

Gu Wanru got into bed, pulled the quilt over her legs, and looked at Yinzhi, who seemed about to cry.

She was pretty, spirited, and fiercely loyal. Before Gu Hua came to the residence, Mu An had intended to take Yinzhi in.

But Yinzhi was already engaged to her cousin, and Gu Wanru didn’t want to ruin her. That’s why she had listened to Concubine Pei’s advice and brought Gu Hua into the household.

Gu Wanru’s tone softened. “You’ll have to delay your marriage with your cousin for a while. I thought once my husband took in Gu Hua and his heart settled, I could let you go. But now, the situation has changed. I’ll have to ask you to stay longer and help me.”

Yinzhi wiped her tears and smiled. “Mm, mm! This servant can go unmarried her whole life.”

Gu Wanru grasped her hand. “Don’t say such foolish things. We grew up together. I treat you like a sister. I’ll never mistreat you. I’ve spoken to my mother—she will adopt you as her goddaughter so you can marry from the marquis household properly.”

Yinzhi was so moved she couldn’t help but throw her arms around Gu Wanru and cried out loud, “Young Madam, you’re too good to this servant!”

Gu Wanru smiled and gently patted her back. “Silly girl. Once my mother recognizes you and restores your good status, you’ll no longer be a servant.”

Tears of gratitude welled up in Yinzhi’s eyes. She knelt and kowtowed to Gu Wanru. “This servant is willing to go through fire and water for Young Madam!”

Gu Wanru smiled kindly and said, “Alright now, get up. Let’s rest early.”

Yinzhi didn’t notice the slight curl of Gu Wanru’s lips.

Her gaze was meaningful…

Gu Hua let out a breath she had been holding. Her body weakened and almost collapsed to the ground but was caught from behind.

“Are you alright?”

It was Jin Kui.

She had always been the type to stay out of trouble.

In both her past and present lives, Jin Kui had watched her suffer injustices without ever speaking up.

Gu Hua gently pushed her away and said calmly, “Thank you, Sister Jin. I’m fine.”

Once inside her room, she realized her back was soaked with sweat. Thinking back on everything, fear rose in her heart, leaving her cold all over.

She didn’t want to go through the torture of her past life ever again.

Gu Hua slumped onto the bed, pulled the quilt into her arms, and hugged it tightly.

After last night’s turmoil and today’s struggle, she was completely exhausted.

She didn’t want to think about anything.

Every memory brought excruciating pain—pain that was incurable. She didn’t want to remember anymore.

Her emotions gradually calmed. She closed her eyes and sighed. But the pain in her hands surged again, twisting her heart into knots.

At least she had taken the first step.

But what about tomorrow?

What if Mu An couldn’t restrain himself and forced himself on her? Would Mu Junyan really kill her for losing her chastity?

After all, compared to the reputation of the Duke’s household and his son, her worthless life clearly weighed less. Even she understood that.

Now, she had completely fallen out with Mu An and Gu Wanru.

Mu Junyan was her only way out.

Gu Hua was so afraid that Mu An would storm in that she didn’t dare sleep.

Clutching a thin blanket, curled up at the head of the bed, she hugged her knees and stared silently out the window.

In her hand, she gripped a small knife she’d snuck from the kitchen.

Finally, the sky began to lighten.

She quickly washed up, combed her hair, and changed into a clean, high-collared robe that wrapped her tightly.

Gu Hua nervously approached the door of Wenhan Pavilion. The guard saw her and politely invited her in.

“Does Lady Gu know where the study is?”

Gu Hua’s face inexplicably flushed. She answered in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s hum, “Yes, I do.”

“Then please go on in. Dong Mo is waiting for you in the study.”

Hearing that Dong Mo was present, Gu Hua let out a sigh of relief.

“May I ask, young sir, is the master not at home?”

In her heart, she hoped he wasn’t. Facing him made her feel embarrassed and ashamed.

“Mm. The master went to court. He left before dawn.”

Her tense heart finally relaxed. But when she reached the study, her heart began pounding again.

That night’s events were too intense. The shameful memories kept flashing through her mind, making her unable to calm herself.

“Lady Gu, you’re here.”

“Did you use the Snow Lotus Beauty Balm? Are your hands still hurting?”

Dong Mo greeted her immediately, much more respectful now.

Gu Hua snapped out of her daze and apologized, her face full of guilt. “The balm was taken by the young master.”

Dong Mo was shocked. “What? That balm is priceless! The master ordered it for you—how could he just take it?”

“I’m sorry,” Gu Hua said, on the verge of tears.

Seeing her red-rimmed eyes, Dong Mo hurriedly comforted her. “Don’t apologize to me. Your hands need healing. The balm helps repair scars so your hands can recover fully.”

Gu Hua choked up, feeling both moved and troubled. Dong Mo stomped his foot. “Never mind. I’ll call the house physician to treat your hands.”

Gu Hua quickly said, “Brother Dong, it’s okay. Just tell me where the late madam’s manuscripts are.”

“Manuscripts? Your hands aren’t healed—how can you copy anything? The master said to let you rest and recover first.”

“But… if I don’t work…”

Dong Mo understood what she feared. “Don’t worry. Just come here every day. The master said to focus on healing your hands first.”

Warmth spread in Gu Hua’s heart as Dong Mo rushed off to fetch the physician.