FBC – Chapter 140 As Expected, Shameless!

Concubine Pei died quietly and without a sound.

Because she had once been the legitimate eldest daughter of the Pei family and the beloved treasure of the Pei Matriarch, the Pei family couldn’t bear for her soul to be left homeless. So they brought her body back to her ancestral home and buried her in the family tomb.

Pei Yi had someone inform Gu Hua of the events and added that a letter had also been sent to the Gu family. At the same time, he clearly and firmly severed all ties between the Pei and Wang families.

That last statement was obviously meant for Gu Hua, showing the Pei family’s loyalty and stance.

At the end, he added that the Pei elders were already aware of Concubine Pei’s misdeeds, and the family head had agreed to give Gu Hua the monthly silver stipend they had previously sent to the Gu family as an apology.

Gu Hua raised her eyebrows — as expected, becoming the wealthiest in Jiangling wasn’t easy.

Their vision was broad, and they thought far ahead.

The letter also came with a banknote for three hundred taels of silver.

Pei Yi was truly thoughtful. Give too much, and Gu Hua might feel uneasy and refuse to accept it. Three hundred taels — less than what had previously been given to the Gu family — was enough to tempt an average person without being excessive.

Gu Hua accepted it without burden.

He really had guessed right — Gu Hua found it all quite agreeable.

Mutual benefit was the only path to long-term cooperation.

At least for now, Gu Hua and the Pei family were allies.

In contrast, the Gu family…

Over the past half month, without receiving any silver from the Pei family — and too ashamed to ask for it — they finally couldn’t sit still and had no choice but to send someone to invite Gu Hua back to the residence.

When Gu Hua returned, Gu Yuan avoided her and didn’t show his face, leaving Madam Wang to wait for her instead.

When mother and daughter met again, both felt a complex surge of emotions.

Gu Hua believed she had already severed ties and no longer hoped for maternal love.

Yet when she saw her mother’s haggard face, an indescribable ache welled up inside her.

Life was unpredictable.

With a detached expression, Gu Hua bowed and said, “Gu Hua greets Mother.”

Madam Wang hurried forward, grabbing her arm and pulling her up.

“Good child, no need for formalities.”

Gu Hua subtly stepped back. “May I ask why I was called back?”

Madam Wang’s outstretched arms froze mid-air, her eyes immediately turning red.

Gu Hua’s heart throbbed painfully, her fingernails digging into her palms — a sharper pain than anything Madam Wang had ever caused her.

After knowing how much Gu Hua had suffered, all her mother could think about was the Wang family’s honor and disgrace.

Just that alone made Gu Hua unwilling to forgive her.

Madam Wang forced down her sorrow and choked out an invitation for her to sit.

“Your father… wants to reclaim the dowry that was given to Concubine Pei when she took Gu Wanru away.”

Gu Hua sneered.

As expected — shameless!

She looked at Madam Wang’s tearful, guilt-ridden face.

“Is it that the Gu family wants to take it back — or is it being given to me instead?”

Madam Wang’s expression grew awkward, her tears dried up immediately.

She truly felt guilty toward Gu Hua.

After arguing with Gu Yuan last time, she’d calmed down and realized that if they truly divorced, she would be left with no way to survive.

As someone from the Wang family, and a wife of the Gu family, she had no say over her own fate.

Gu Hua understood everything from her mother’s face alone.

Concubine Pei was now a criminal in the Gu family’s eyes — she had no right to reclaim a married daughter’s dowry.

Gu Wanru had become a concubine-born daughter. In the Duke’s estate, she had no power, no status, and no future. Naturally, Gu Yuan wanted to reclaim that generous dowry.

As for giving it to Gu Hua?

Gu Yuan probably never even considered it.

Calling her back — they were just using her mother to pressure her.

Ridiculous. Did they still think she was the same pushover from before?

Gu Hua smiled faintly. “I’ve already had Gu Wanru confirm the contents of her dowry list. Aside from four shops and some jewelry and accessories for daily use, there’s barely any silver left — it all went to Mu An. The decorative items from her dowry are still there. If you want to take them, feel free. I don’t care. As for the four shops, one was given away by Gu Wanru, and the remaining three…”

“I’ll accept it—as compensation for all the years of abuse from Gu Wanru and Concubine Pei.”

Gu Hua truly didn’t care for it.

But she had no intention of letting the Gu family off easy.

She wondered if Gu Yuan, who cared so much about saving face, would have the gall to make a grand scene retrieving those ornaments and household goods.

Madam Wang’s expression changed slightly.

Gu Yuan had specifically instructed them to retrieve the four shops, and to collect any remaining silver as well.

“If my younger brothers don’t have enough money for their studies, Mother can send someone to inform me at the Duke’s Estate. Or I’ll directly send funds to the clan school. As for anything else—don’t come looking for me again.”

Gu Hua didn’t want to face her any longer. She stood up and prepared to leave.

“Hua’er!” Madam Wang rushed forward anxiously and grabbed her arm.

“Hua’er, are you alright?”

Gu Hua didn’t look at her, but she could feel the slight tremble in the hand gripping her arm.

Her heart ached, but…

She didn’t turn back. Her voice was quiet and calm: “Whether I’m alright or not, Mother doesn’t care. You don’t need to be sad—I’m not. I understand. What Mother truly cares about is the honor of the Wang family and your title as the marquis’s official wife. Now, though I have neither father nor mother, my life is a thousand times better than before. The people at the Duke’s Estate are not blood relatives, but they treat me better than family—that’s more than enough.”

Gu Hua pulled her arm free, turned, and gave Madam Wang a respectful curtsey.

“Mother, I’ll take my leave.”

Madam Wang stared dazedly at her daughter’s resolute back, as if a heavy stone was pressing on her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Granny Zhou’s face was covered in tears, but she didn’t dare cry out loud. She hurried after Gu Hua.

“Miss, let this old servant escort you.”

When they reached the main gate, Gu Hua stopped and turned around, coldly gazing at her.

“Granny Zhou, you were born into the Langya Wang family. The Wang Matron chose you to accompany Mother when she married into the Gu family, didn’t she? Your job was to watch over Mother and devote yourself to the Wang family, wasn’t it?”

Granny Zhou froze.

Facing those clear, bright eyes, she didn’t dare meet her gaze.

“Miss, you can hate this servant, but please don’t hate your mother. She truly does love you.”

Truly love her?

Before the child swap, Madam Wang had ignored her, turned a blind eye to her suffering, and treated her with the coldest indifference.

After learning the truth, she had still abandoned her—for the sake of the Wang family and to preserve her status as the legitimate wife.

Was it love… or guilt?

Gu Hua smiled faintly. “Whether there’s love or not, you don’t need to say it—I can feel it in my heart. Granny Zhou, please take good care of my mother. If she needs anything, send someone to let me know. But if it’s from my father, don’t bother. I can help my two younger brothers. I can be filial to my mother. But I won’t concern myself with anyone else.”

“Don’t worry, Miss. Even though I was appointed by the Wang Matron to serve the Madam, I’ve been with her since she gave birth to you—it’s been thirty years. When the Madam is upset, I feel worse than anyone.”

As she spoke, Granny Zhou began to cry.

Gu Hua glanced at Dong Qing.

Dong Qing took out an envelope and handed it to her.

Then, Gu Hua got into the carriage and left with her entourage.

Granny Zhou quickly opened the envelope—it was a banknote for 300 taels of silver.

For the Madam, this was truly a gift in time of desperate need.

Granny Zhou’s tears streamed down again.

When Madam Wang saw the banknote, she couldn’t help but cover her mouth and begin to sob.

In the end, the only one who helped her was the daughter she had wronged for over a decade—and continued to wrong.

Her life was extraordinarily difficult now, and the 300 taels had practically saved her. The marquis’s household could at least hold out for another month.

“Miss said the silver is only for you and the two young masters,” Granny Zhou reminded her.

Madam Wang understood and gradually stopped crying. After a long silence, she spoke quietly:

“Don’t let the Marquis know about this money. Let’s save it for just the three of us.”

“Yes,” Granny Zhou nodded.

Just as they had tucked the silver away, Gu Yuan arrived.

“Well? Did the negotiations go smoothly?”

Wiping away tears, Madam Wang replied helplessly: “Hua’er said all of Gu Wanru’s silver was spent by her husband. Only the ornaments and household goods remain. As for the four shops—Gu Wanru gave one of them away. Only three are left…”

She paused. “Shouldn’t those be left for Hua’er’s dowry? Shouldn’t Concubine Pei and Gu Wanru make it up to her for all they’ve done?”

“Nonsense! The Wenchang Marquisate is on the verge of collapse. What kind of support can a married daughter even offer? First we need to restore the marquisate’s glory—for her sake as well. Who did Gu Wanru give the shop to?”

Madam Wang shook her head. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know, you don’t know! What do you know? You’re even worse than Concubine Pei, who came from a merchant family!”

Already heartbroken, Madam Wang could no longer hold back her anger at his words.

“Then why don’t you go marry another merchant woman as your concubine!”

Gu Yuan thought about it. “Not a bad idea.”

Madam Wang was so furious she stood up and left.

Just as Gu Hua returned to the Duke’s Estate, Zhou Zhilian came looking for her, a face full of astonishment.

“Do you know what Gu Wanru did today?”