FBC – Chapter 136 The One in His Heart Is Actually Gu Hua!

Mu An wore a gentle smile as he strolled over at a leisurely pace.

For the first time, Biyu felt a chill down her spine from his smile—it was like a venomous snake silently slithering up her back, coiling tightly around her neck.

Suffocating. Terrifying. Despair-inducing.

“Is your injury any better?” Mu An had already walked up to her and raised his hand to caress her face.

Biyu snapped back to her senses, abruptly taking a step back. She lowered her head slightly and bowed respectfully. “This servant greets Young Master.”

Mu An’s hand lingered in the air, a trace of displeasure flickering in his eyes.

But his face remained smiling, and his voice as tender as always. “I’ve been wanting to apologize to you. But I was grounded and couldn’t go anywhere. Now that Father is not here, I was finally allowed out. I was just thinking of asking Zhou Zhilian where you were placed.”

Biyu looked up, her eyes rimmed red. Holding back her tears, she asked, “Does Young Master truly believe this servant could return alive?”

“What do you mean by that?”

Mu An stepped forward and grabbed her wrist, wrapping her hand in his palm.

He tilted up her chin. “He was drunk. I only told you to help him lie down and rest. How was I to know that even an inner court eunuch would have such… desires? I wronged you.”

Biyu was silent for a moment. “Young Master, this servant’s body is no longer clean…”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Mu An let go of her, his tone soft. “Wasn’t Yao Yao also from a brothel? Yet don’t I treat her well? As long as you behave and serve me properly, I’ll love you just like before.”

Biyu felt a chill in her heart. She turned her face slightly and slipped from his grasp.

Suppressing her emotions, she said in a low voice, “This servant obeys.”

“That’s the good Biyu I know.” Mu An bent down to kiss her, but she avoided it.

“This servant will return to serve at Zui Mo Pavilion tomorrow.”

“Good.”

Though Mu An was displeased by her attitude, he didn’t take it to heart.

As long as she returned, that was enough.

After all, Biyu was the most competent servant he had. He’d grown quite unaccustomed to her absence these past few days.

She was just a servant. Give her a few rewards, dote on her a couple of times, and she’d obediently fall in line again.

“This servant respectfully sees Young Master off.”

Biyu no longer wanted to speak to him. She knelt and bowed.

Mu An glanced at her without a word, then turned and walked toward Jinxiu Pavilion.

Biyu stood up and watched his back coldly.

Gu Hua’s words once again echoed in her mind.

She would live for herself this time.

Biyu turned resolutely and walked toward Yayun Pavilion.

The next day.

Dong Hua brought news that Mu An had spent the night at Jinxiu Pavilion.

She also said that Yao Yao had sent her most capable maid, Ru Mo, to serve Gu Wanru.

Gu Hua smiled faintly.

Gu Wanru had made her move.

“Is Ru Mo a maid from the Duke Manor?”

“No, she was originally Yao Yao’s personal maid. She brought two of them when she entered the residence.”

“Oh. Have someone keep a close eye. Report any movement immediately.”

“Yes.”

By noon, Dong Mo arrived with news from Pei Yi, saying that the Pei family had begun heavily purchasing cotton cloth, raw cotton, and similar goods—starting with goods from Bianjing.

All of a sudden, the price of winter clothing materials in Bianjing surged sharply.

But this was merely a feint. The Pei family in Jiangling was already bulk-buying materials from cheaper locations. Once the military supply order came through, they could supply it immediately.

“Madam, Young Master has gone out.”

Dong Mo, who was keeping an eye on Mu An and external affairs, came to report again.

Soon after, Chi Yan also came to report that Prince Jiang had met Mu An at Yichun Courtyard and had already made contact with the newly appointed Director-in-Chief of the Eunuch Administration.

Gu Hua was both excited and nervous.

She hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly. Mu An and the others had reconnected with the Prince so quickly.

But she’d never done anything on this scale before, and she worried she might have made a mistake somewhere.

While she was lost in thought, Chi Yan handed her a calling card and a bronze medallion engraved with the character “Yong”.

“Madam, this was given to me by the Lord before he left. He said that if Madam wished to intervene in military affairs, these three people would be at your disposal.”

Gu Hua took them, startled.

“This is… the Lord’s command token?”

Chi Yan nodded. “Yes. Military supplies are jointly overseen by the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Works. These three individuals are the ones in charge, and they are all upright and honest officials. The Lord said that if Madam wishes to see them, she can use his command token to invite them.”

The calling cards bore the names of Zuo Fengtian, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of War; Cao Liyu, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue; and Jin Guyong, Assistant Director of the Ministry of Works’ Engineering Division.

Gu Hua gently rubbed the command token, a warm feeling blossoming in her heart.

Mu Junyan had done so much for her.

Now, she only needed to wait.

During the waiting days, Gu Hua lived quite leisurely.

Zhou Zhilian brought her a small chest filled with silver—two hundred taels in total—and a little box of gold leaves.

Gu Hua originally wanted to decline, but Zhou Zhilian explained that it had been the Lord’s instruction before his departure.

“If it’s not enough, just let me know. I’ll go to the accounts office for more. I didn’t bring too much because you wouldn’t have anywhere to keep it anyway.”

Zhou Zhilian patted the chest with a smile. “You’ve been cooped up in the residence for days. Why don’t we go out and stroll a bit?”

“Alright!” Gu Hua agreed happily.

Gu Hua and Zhou Zhilian wandered the streets casually. When they passed by Xuanhua Restaurant, Zhou Zhilian tugged her sleeve. “Let’s go.”

The shopkeeper recognized Gu Hua and promptly invited the two into a private room.

“Waiter, bring out three or four of your best dishes. And a pot of your peach blossom brew,” Zhou Zhilian ordered with practiced ease.

“Right away!”

“Sister Zhou seems quite familiar with this place?”

“This is the most popular restaurant in Bianjing nowadays,” Zhou Zhilian said with a cheerful smile.

Gu Hua nodded. Zhou Zhilian probably didn’t know this was actually part of the Pei family’s business empire.

From the room next door came the voices of several men chatting.

“Did you hear? Yesterday, the Patrol Division raided the lair of the bandits who kidnapped the young madam from the Duke Yongguo’s estate. It was right here in Bianjing.”

“Really? I hadn’t heard they committed any major crimes. Wonder why they suddenly resorted to kidnapping.”

“Apparently, they acted innocent on the surface, but in secret, they specialized in assassinations. If someone fell into their hands, they were lucky to escape with their life. A buddy of mine from the Patrol Division said they found a pit full of bones in their lair—scary stuff.”

“Ugh, that’s horrifying. Those people were hiding in the capital for so long?”

“Right? I think they were called… feng something?”

“Yifeng Hall.”

“Yes, that’s it—Yifeng Hall. Even the name sounds creepy.”

Gu Hua immediately perked up her ears.

Was this arranged by Mu Junyan?

“But I heard their leader escaped.”

Gu Hua was startled.

That silver-masked man got away?

Yifeng Hall…

That young master was indeed strange.

Why did she keep feeling that her Brother Ji was a bit like that man?

Gu Hua shook her head vigorously. Impossible.

The young master was a villain. Brother Ji was such a kind person.

But it was a pity…

That night, when Brother Ji suddenly appeared, she didn’t get a clear look at his face.

She didn’t know if his appearance had changed.

Yichun Courtyard.

In a dark chamber within the inner courtyard, only one candle burned. Its dim light cast a long shadow of the man standing there.

A woman knelt before him, tending to the wounds on his exposed leg.

“Young Master, Gu Wanru and Mu An have reconnected with Prince Jiang. Should we continue with the plan?”

“Of course. We’ve plotted this for far too long to let it fall apart now.”

Ji Xuanyu’s cold voice was like ice. His thin lips curled slightly into a chilling smile.

“But we’ll need to change tactics. Didn’t Gu Wanru ask you to find someone to teach her seductive arts? Perfect—I’ll enter the Duke’s estate as her instructor.”

The woman looked up sharply, shocked. “Young Master, you’re entering the Duke’s estate? That’s too dangerous! The Patrol Division is searching for you everywhere!”

Ji Xuanyu chuckled. “The most dangerous place is often the safest. Who would think that the man who kidnapped the young madam is hiding inside the Duke’s own residence?”

And more importantly—his Hua’er was there.

Once inside the Duke’s estate, he could directly control Mu An and Gu Wanru, grasping the lifeline of this entire affair, and use Gu Wanru to restrain the Pei family.

More than that, he could see his little Hua every day.

The mere thought filled Ji Xuanyu with joy.

The woman trembled slightly under Ji Xuanyu’s eerie grin. “Young Master, Gu Hua has seen your face before. If she recognizes you…”

“I wore a mask then. She won’t recognize me. Mu An and Gu Wanru only know me as a favored lover. I’ll enter the estate under that identity.”

The woman still wanted to object, but Ji Xuanyu’s face darkened. “Just make the arrangements. I’m entering the estate tomorrow.”

She grew anxious, her eyes reddening. “Young Master, entering the Duke’s estate like this is too degrading. Yao Yao has a question—though I don’t know if I should ask.”

“Go ahead. I’ll answer if I can.”

Ji Xuanyu looked at the woman kneeling at his feet.

She was none other than Mu An’s concubine, Yao Yao.

Yao Yao lifted her head to gaze at the man she adored. “What’s the relationship between you and Gu Hua? Why have you risked your life twice to save her?”

“You’ve become quite talkative.”

Ji Xuanyu’s tone turned icy. He pulled his leg back and rolled down his trouser leg.

Yao Yao dared not speak again. She slowly stood, gave a bow, and prepared to leave.

Ji Xuanyu suddenly called out, “Yao Yao, don’t develop any other thoughts. Just do what the Hall Master assigned. Otherwise, he won’t spare you.”

“Yao Yao doesn’t dare. But… Yao Yao cares more about you, Young Master.”

As she stepped out the door, her once submissive expression shifted to one of jealousy.

So the childhood sweetheart that old Huang mentioned… the one the Young Master cherishes… is actually Gu Hua!