FBC – Chapter 135 Subduing Biyu

“Madam, Biyu is here.”

Gu Hua set down her teacup and looked up at the haggard-faced Biyu as she entered.

Biyu had always been proud and arrogant. As the first concubine of Mu An, she was beautiful and used to wearing fine silks and satin. Wherever she went in the Duke’s manor, she was a dazzling sight.

When Gu Hua first entered the manor, Biyu had heard from Gu Wanru that she was meant to serve as the young master’s concubine. Because of this, Biyu had shown her no respect from the start.

But now, this high-ranking maid who had always looked down on others seemed like a completely different person. The radiance on her delicate face had faded entirely.

Biyu raised her eyes to look at the elegant and poised Gu Hua, who sat with a gentle smile, her clear and refined gaze fixed on her.

Lowering her head in humility, Biyu stepped forward and knelt before Gu Hua, kowtowing heavily with a loud thud.

Thump.

Everyone present felt a twinge of pain in their own foreheads just hearing it.

“Your servant greets Madam.”

Gu Hua calmly accepted her formal greeting before giving the order, “Dong Hua, help Biyu up.”

Dong Hua stepped forward to assist, but Biyu didn’t move.

With tears in her eyes, Biyu said, “Madam, this servant owes her life to you. Please allow me to offer three kowtows.”

When Chi Yan had rescued her from the demon’s grasp while she was on the verge of death, she had vaguely heard him say that it was Miss Hua who had sent him to save her.

But she couldn’t understand why Gu Hua would have arranged for someone to rescue her in advance.

Only after returning to the manor and slowly piecing everything together did she figure it out.

Originally, Gu Wanru had only planned to bring her and Jinkui to serve the young master. But at the last minute, she insisted on bringing Gu Hua as well—only for them to encounter bandits along the way.

Those bandits had intended to kidnap the young madam, and Gu Wanru pushed Gu Hua forward to be taken in her place.

This meant Gu Hua had likely anticipated that she (Biyu) and the others would face danger if taken to Yichun Courtyard, so she had arranged someone to meet them in advance.

In the end, Gu Hua was the one kidnapped. It was only because the guards stationed at Yichun Courtyard were waiting there that they happened to rescue Biyu.

In other words, Gu Hua had saved her.

Biyu had been thinking about this for days, unsure what path lay ahead for her.

Her heart was shattered.

She had served the young master wholeheartedly for so many years, yet he had handed her over to be tortured by a lowly beast with no background.

But she was a registered servant and couldn’t leave the Duke’s manor.

If she returned to serve in Zui Mo Pavilion, the young master would surely despise her. Not to mention, her back was now covered in whip scars—her once flawless skin was no more. Why would the young master want her again?

If she were to be demoted to a low-ranking maid in Zui Mo Pavilion, she’d rather die.

Dong Hua looked to Gu Hua, and upon seeing her nod, let go of Biyu.

Biyu kowtowed two more times, and only then did she allow Dong Hua to help her to her feet.

“Let’s sit and talk.”

Gu Hua smiled. “Dong Qing, serve Biyu some tea.”

As she watched Biyu lower her head to gaze at the teacup in her hands, tears streaming down her face, Gu Hua knew just how heartbroken she was.

She asked gently, “Are your injuries any better?”

“Yes. They’ve scabbed over.”

Biyu looked up, full of guilt. “This servant used to…”

Gu Hua interrupted her, “What’s past is past. Let’s look forward.”

Gu Hua understood all too well what she must be feeling right now.

She had devoted herself to Mu An, thinking she could rise in status and shed her slave background.

Yet in the end, Mu An had handed her over to be abused and tormented by a filthy nobody.

Any woman would find that unbearable.

In her past life, after enduring that night’s catastrophe, Gu Hua had grown to utterly hate Mu An—she’d even had thoughts of killing him.

Biyu was momentarily stunned, then slowly nodded. “Yes, we must look forward. But this servant… doesn’t know what lies ahead.”

Zhou Zhilian had once told her about Biyu’s background—how she was abducted by traffickers when she was just three or four years old. She’d been sold multiple times, suffering psychological torment along the way. The fear and trauma had blurred her childhood memories. She couldn’t remember where her home was or who her parents were.

The last human trafficker had intended to raise her like a “delicate flower” to be sold later, but when Zhou Chunyu was selecting a close maidservant for the eight-year-old Young Master Mu An and offered a high price with strict requirements, the trafficker brought her to be considered.

The Duke Yong manor had always chosen only orphans as servants. Though she looked frail and delicate, once her face was washed clean, she was rather pretty, so she was selected to serve in the manor.

She was six years old that year.

The eight-year-old Mu An liked her very much upon seeing her. The two of them grew up together, innocent and inseparable, forming a deep bond.

After Biyu came of age, Mu An took a liking to her and naturally made her his bed companion.

Biyu had never imagined that Mu An would one day treat her like a mere object, giving her to another man to be humiliated.

“Have you thought about what you want to do in the future?”

Biyu stared blankly at Gu Hua.

What could she do?

She couldn’t survive outside the duke’s manor. If she had to leave, she’d rather die.

Gu Hua put down her teacup and said gently, “I can help you shed your slave status and become a free woman.”

“Leave the manor… where would I go? I have no father, no mother…” Biyu burst into tears.

“Is it because you can’t bear to part with him?”

Biyu’s sobbing paused. She looked at Gu Hua with tearful eyes, full of sorrow and grievance.

Gu Hua sighed inwardly.

She had actually been foolish enough to fall in love with a scoundrel of a master.

If Mu An truly cared for her, why did he keep so many women in his courtyard?

Even among his close maidservants, there were already three who served as bed companions. Despite being with him for so many years, he never considered making her a concubine.

And when he needed to send a woman to help achieve his goals, she was the first one he thought of.

Such a man, and Biyu still couldn’t let him go?

“If you wish to remain by the young master’s side, I can speak to Mother and help you become a proper concubine by shedding your slave status.”

Biyu froze. “Is that really possible?”

That was what Gu Wanru had lied about when she threatened her.

Biyu had indeed longed to shed her slave status and become an official concubine, thinking that way she would be more suited to stand by the young master.

But every time, the young master would say that she was the one he loved most, the one he trusted most—there was no need to care about status.

He even said that it was precisely because he cared for her so much that he didn’t want her to be freed, lest she be able to leave him at will.

But now, she no longer believed that Mu An truly had her in his heart.

“Of course it’s possible. Let me tell you something. Gu Wanru is of concubine birth, while I’m the legitimate daughter. The only reason Gu Wanru is still alive is because the Duke’s household is giving the Marquis of Wenchang’s household some face. Her title as Lady is in name only—she’ll never hold real power.

Mu An’s courtyard does indeed need a woman who can take charge. You’ve always been the head maid. If you’re raised to the rank of concubine, it would make managing affairs much easier.

But Biyu, you need to ask yourself: is this truly what you want?

You know better than anyone what kind of person Mu An is. You know his position in the manor. If he continues down this reckless path and brings harm to the Duke’s household, there will be no good end for him.

If you follow him in aiding his wrongdoing, your fate might not be any better.

So, if it comes to that, would you still follow him?”

Gu Hua’s words were half-truth, half-lie.

Mu An—she would never let him go.

Mu An deserved his downfall, but she didn’t want the Duke’s household to be dragged down with him.

If using Biyu would only bring her more heartbreak in the end, Gu Hua didn’t want that.

She just wanted Biyu to think clearly, so that she wouldn’t resent being used.

Biyu stood dazed, unable to return to her senses for a long time.

Gu Hua spoke gently and slowly: “A man isn’t a woman’s only support. Look at Sister Zhilan, look at Manager Qiu of Linlang Pavilion. Women can carve their own path too.”

A flicker of hope stirred in Biyu. “But I don’t know how to do anything…”

Gu Hua smiled warmly. “You do. You’re skilled in needlework—you can earn a living with your hands. You know how to manage people—you’ve run Zui Mo Pavilion perfectly. In the future, you could be a housekeeper or even run a shop.”

Biyu’s vacant eyes suddenly lit up.

“But Biyu, you must understand one thing. Some people are selfish by nature. They never think of others. As long as something benefits them, they’ll sacrifice anyone. People like that fall deeper and deeper into darkness and may never recover. So, will you follow such a person, or carve your own bright path and live a life without regrets?”

Seeing her torn, Gu Hua didn’t press further.

“Go back and think carefully, then come see me again. You and I once shared similar experiences—I truly understand how you feel. But I won’t help someone do evil. Otherwise, even if I’m alive, I’d find no peace.”

“No one should harm others, nor allow themselves to be harmed.”

Biyu walked away very slowly, Gu Hua’s final words echoing in her mind.

After she was rescued, she wasn’t sent back to Zui Mo Pavilion. Instead, she was placed in a quiet courtyard to recover.

When Zhou Zhilan came to visit, she told her it was on Gu Hua’s orders.

She was worried the young master would hurt her again, and wanted to give her a new path in life.

She cried for several days.

She knew very well what kind of person Mu An was.

She often advised him to consider his status and act properly, but every time he would brush her off.

He even scolded her, saying lowly people like her had no right to meddle.

She had never questioned whether such a man was worth her devotion, because as his servant, she believed she had no other path.

But today, she suddenly realized—she was human too. She could choose her own path.

“Biyu?”

At the sound of Mu An’s voice, Biyu froze, her body stiff. Slowly, she raised her head.