FBC – Chapter 137 The Young Couple’s Interests

When Gu Hua returned to the residence, she immediately summoned Chiyan.

“What’s going on with Yifeng Hall? I heard their base was cleared out, but the leader got away?”

Chiyan deliberated for a moment.

“This matter was ordered by the Lord to be handled without the involvement of the Duke’s residence—left to the Inspection Bureau instead. I merely accompanied them. The place that was cleared out wasn’t their main base, just one of their strongholds. The Inspection Bureau exaggerated the situation for credit. True, they did catch over a dozen people, but every single one of them took poison and committed suicide on the spot. Now, the entire city is on the lookout for the remaining fugitives and their leader.”

Gu Hua sat up straight in shock. “Suicide? Ordinary bandits wouldn’t go that far.”

Chiyan hesitated. He wasn’t supposed to speak further, but since this involved the people who had kidnapped the Madam, he decided it was better to be upfront and keep her alert.

“They weren’t ordinary bandits—they were spies from the southern border.”

“Spies!”

Gu Hua jumped to her feet and quickly lowered her voice. “Then… were they targeting me to threaten the Lord?”

Chiyan shook his head. “No, not quite. In addition to gathering military intelligence, they also took on secret side jobs—assassinations for money, for example. This was a paid assignment.”

“Did you find out who paid them? I questioned Granny Lu—she didn’t know anything. But the ones who forcibly dragged me along were Gu Wanru and Mu An.”

Gu Hua frowned and pondered. “Could it be… Jiang Ruoxi?”

Chiyan was slightly impressed.

The Madam wasn’t foolish at all.

The captured spies had all committed suicide, leaving no living witnesses. But the Lord had long suspected Jiang Ruoxi was behind it.

Gu Hua was still lost in thought. “Then, there might be more of their strongholds hidden within Bianjing.”

In his heart, Chiyan gave her a thumbs-up.

But he couldn’t divulge more of the details, so he only nodded. “Madam, please be cautious when going out.”

“Mm, I understand.” Gu Hua felt a bit nervous.

After all, those kidnappers had looked fierce and ruthless. Whoever was able to command them must be just as vicious.

Now that they were wanted citywide, they’d likely go underground, making them even harder to find.

There was one thing Gu Hua couldn’t understand—why did she keep thinking of that strange and complex pair of eyes?

There was a feeling of déjà vu.

But in both her lifetimes, she hadn’t had many chances to meet people. How could she possibly know someone like that?

“Oh right—do you know who owns the Yichun Courtyard?”

Gu Hua suddenly changed the subject.

Chiyan’s eyebrows twitched as he cautiously asked, “Did Madam notice something unusual about Yichun Courtyard?”

On the day Gu Hua was kidnapped, they had originally planned to take the opportunity to raid Yichun Courtyard and capture a few people for interrogation—because during their investigations into the spies, they discovered much of the Mu family army’s military intel had been leaked from that place.

But when the kidnappers took Gu Hua and both Jiang Shizi and Mu An were inside the courtyard, they didn’t dare act rashly and tip off the enemy.

Furthermore, with the Lord urgently departing for the southern front due to a sudden military incident, he had ordered them to stay put and for Chiyan to monitor the place secretly.

Naturally, they had already investigated the real owner behind Yichun Courtyard and knew that Jiang Shizi was one of them.

But they hadn’t yet found any direct connection between Jiang Shizi and the spies—or was he a traitor himself?

If that were true, then Jiang family’s ambitions would be all too clear.

This was a grave matter. Without solid evidence, the Lord had instructed that no action be taken for the time being.

Chiyan hadn’t expected Gu Hua to think that far ahead.

After a pause, he answered honestly, “Jiang Shizi holds a stake in it.”

“Jiang Shizi? No wonder. Every time Mu An goes to meet him, it’s at Yichun Courtyard.”

Gu Hua’s expression darkened.

So Yichun Courtyard was Jiang Shizi’s social base.

She remembered—Yao Yao had come from there too.

Mu An?

Gu Hua felt a jolt in her heart.

Mu An was that close to Jiang Shizi, and Yao Yao had been redeemed by him from Yichun Courtyard. So then—what was Jiang Shizi’s motive for pulling in a powerless Mu An?

The more she thought about it, the more complicated it seemed. She looked sincerely at Chiyan and said, “If you find anything, could you let me know? Now that I’m part of the Lord’s family, the rise and fall of the Duke’s residence affects me too.”

Chiyan was stunned. He hadn’t expected the Madam to say that.

After thinking for a moment, he nodded solemnly. “If it’s something the Lord allows me to tell, I will.”

Gu Hua paused, understood his meaning, and didn’t press him. “Alright. Thank you.”

Just as she was about to eat lunch, Zhou Zhilan arrived with her maid, carrying a food box.

Zhou Zhilan beamed. “Today, I’ve brought you some extra dishes.”

Dong Hua and Dong Qing hurried to set the table and help serve the food.

“What’s the good news?”

Gu Hua lit up at the sight of her and saw the maid take out hibiscus chicken, crab-stuffed oranges, and crystal sashimi from the food box.

“Wow, this looks amazing.”

“It’s the perfect season for crab. The household just brought in a fresh batch. I was worried it might be too cold for your body, so I specially had it made with oranges. I treat you well, don’t I?”

Zhou Zhilian giggled as she pulled Gu Hua to sit with her. “Of course, I’m eating with you too. Can’t let you hog it all.”

“With you here, I’m sure I’ll end up eating an extra bowl of rice.”

Gu Hua laughed.

“Did the old madam get any?”

“She prefers it steamed. I’ve already sent six crabs to her—more than enough.”

The two sisters happily finished their meal, then Zhou Zhilian pulled her to recline against a large cushioned daybed.

A maid brought over tangerine peel, goji berry, and brown sugar ginger tea.

Zhou Zhilian accepted one cup, then handed Gu Hua a booklet. “Everything about the four shops—their businesses and profits—is in here.”

Gu Hua quickly set down her tea and flipped through the pages intently.

“The profits aren’t very high.”

Zhou Zhilian smirked. “It’s not that the profits are low—it’s that someone’s been embezzling.”

“Huh? Embezzling? You mean the shop managers are skimming off the top and reporting less silver than they earn?”

“Exactly. Back when the shops were under Concubine Pei’s control, things were still fine—she knew how to run a business. But once Gu Wanru took over, she didn’t understand anything, not even how to read an account book.”

Zhou Zhilian flipped to the back of the booklet. “This shows the revenue since Gu Wanru married into the household. The combined earnings of the four shops dropped by a full two hundred taels in just one month. It’s been over six months since she came—just do the math and see how much has been embezzled.”

“Oh my gosh, at least sixteen hundred taels! Was it Granny Chen?”

“It’s definitely not just her. The shopkeepers, clerks, and Granny Chen must all be colluding. Only then would they dare to skim off that much.”

Gu Hua couldn’t help but clap her hands. “Sister, you’re amazing—thank you so much.”

“Also, the registered owner of the ironworks shop has been changed to someone else. He’s not a native of Bianjing, and we haven’t figured out who he really is yet.”

“You mean Gu Wanru sold the shop?”

“I’ve already sent Dong Mo to the magistrate’s office to look into the paperwork. Once we know whose name is on the registry and check their household records, we’ll know everything. Then we’ll figure out a way to meet the new owner and question him directly.”

Gu Hua gave her a big thumbs-up.

“Oh, Sister Zhilian—I want to learn martial arts with you.”

“Huh? Why? Martial arts training is tough. You’re so delicate—you won’t last.”

“If you can do it, I can too. Even if I’m not as strong, I just want to be able to protect myself. I don’t want to be a burden if something happens again.”

Zhou Zhilian looked at her seriously. “You’re really serious?”

Gu Hua nodded with determination. “Absolutely.”

“Alright. From now on, I’ll come get you every day at the start of the mao hour.” (Mao hour = around 5–7 a.m.)

Gu Hua was startled. “Mao hour? That early? It’s not even light out yet!”

“What? Can’t get up?” Zhou Zhilian gave her a sideways glance.

“I can get up.” Gu Hua nodded vigorously.

She hadn’t expected to receive a dagger from Mu Junyan that very evening.

“He wants me to train in martial arts?” Gu Hua’s eyes widened.

Dong Mo nodded. “That’s what the messenger said. Maybe things have been unstable lately, and the lord is worried about you?”

Gu Hua pulled the sharp dagger from its sheath and muttered, “So he thinks I’m useless because I don’t know how to fight, huh?”

Fine. She’d train and prove him wrong!

Hmph!

“Does Madam want to send something back to the lord?” Dong Mo looked at her meaningfully.

After all, the lord had left right after the wedding night. If they exchanged gifts and messages, their feelings would deepen.

“There’s nothing to send.” Gu Hua huffed.

“Oh.” Dong Mo had no choice but to leave.

Gu Hua angrily tossed the dagger onto the table.

She had worked so hard to sew him a set of sleeping robes and even embroidered bamboo on it. Yet he hadn’t said a single word of thanks or praise.

He must be too absorbed in reading his late wife’s poetry collection to remember anything!

And she had been so considerate of him… clearly, he didn’t care at all.

“Dong Hua, I want to take a bath and go to sleep,” Gu Hua called out angrily.

Dong Hua was surprised. “So early?”

“I have to get up at the crack of dawn to train—of course I need to sleep early.”

“Oh, okay.”

Dong Hua and Dong Qing got to work, whispering to each other.

“Is Madam angry?”

“Seems like it.”

“But she just received a gift from the lord—why is she upset?”

Dong Qing giggled. “This is what they call ‘romantic tension.’”

“Huh? Being mad is considered romantic tension?” Dong Hua muttered. This kind of romance was just weird.