FBC – Chapter 17 The Duke of Yong… kissed her?

Chi Yu blinked blankly twice before snapping back to his senses. He quickly waved his hand and barked in a low voice, “Turn around!”

Everyone instantly sobered up and turned their backs in unison, holding their breath, not daring to make a sound.

Mu Junyan ignored them all. His mind was clear and focused solely on holding the girl in his arms, gently and carefully passing his breath into her.

As their breaths intermingled, the girl finally let out a deep exhale, followed by desperate gasps for air.

Mu Junyan’s tightly clenched heart finally relaxed. He instinctively hugged her tightly and gently stroked her back, whispering, “It’s okay. Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Gu Hua’s head throbbed with pain, a deafening hum in her ears.

As a steady stream of air entered her throat, she felt herself come back to life.

Weak and limp, she leaned into the warmth of the embrace, gasping for breath. She slowly opened her eyes in confusion, realizing there was no water around her.

Her tear-filled eyes stared blankly at the face in front of her. The world was blurry with tears, making it impossible to see clearly—but she felt as if a deity had descended from the heavens.

…Was he a god?

Suddenly, Gu Hua’s chest collapsed in sorrow, and she buried her face in the deity’s chest, clutching his robe tightly as she burst into tears.

“I’ve never harmed anyone, not even dared to step on an ant. I went hungry for three whole days and nights and gave the half a bun I got to a beggar. I’ve never done anything cruel or unjust. I listened to Aunt and my eldest sister, let them mistreat me. So why? Why do they have to ruin me like this? Why?!”

Half a bun?

Mu Junyan’s heart clenched, his thick brows furrowing deeply.

Listening to the girl’s hoarse, heartbreaking sobs as she soaked his robe with her tears—even someone like him, who had taken countless lives and seen the horrors of war—felt a sharp, inexplicable pain deep in his chest. He couldn’t help but hold the fragile figure even tighter.

Her tears made his own heart ache.

This was all the evil wrought by Mu An!

Mu Junyan’s black eyes turned icy cold.

“Don’t be afraid.”

Zhou Chunyu and Zhou Zhilian both turned red around the eyes.

Then suddenly, the girl’s sobs stopped.

Mu Junyan looked down—she had closed her eyes and curled up into a tiny ball in his arms.

She had fainted.

Without time to think, he carried her in his arms and strode straight into his bedroom, gently laying her on the bed and pulling a quilt over her.

Everyone was stunned, eyes wide in disbelief.

No woman had ever been allowed into their lord’s bedroom.

And especially not the bed.

Mu Junyan stared at the girl on the bed for a moment. When he didn’t see the residence physician following, he turned and barked, “Physician, quickly!”

The physician snapped out of it and rushed over with his medicine box. “Ah—yes, yes, yes, I’m coming!”

Zhou Zhilian grabbed Dong Mo and ran off. “Hurry and get water boiling. Ask the physician for some herbs for a medicinal bath—Miss Gu might catch a chill, we need to make her sweat.”

“Got it.” Dong Mo hurried off.

Soon, Zhou Zhilian returned with a fresh set of her own clothes.

The physician had already finished checking Gu Hua’s pulse and inserted a few needles, but she still hadn’t regained consciousness.

Zhou Zhilian brought a matron to help change Gu Hua’s clothes, and Mu Junyan led everyone out of the room.

“Miss Gu is emotionally distressed, with liver qi stagnation. Her fainting was due to excessive agitation and tension.”

Mu Junyan’s brows knitted tightly.

Such a heavy storm, and she ran out dressed like that…

He turned to look at Chi Yu.

Chi Yu shrank back in fear, almost dropping to his knees.

But—Gu Hua’s clothes were soaked through. If he’d dared to try and help her back then…

He still valued his hands!

Must the lord look at him like that?

“My lord,” the physician hesitated.

“Saving a life takes priority. Speak without fear,” Mu Junyan said, not even sparing Chi Yu a glance.

The physician shook his head. “It’s not a matter of life and death. Yesterday, when I bandaged Miss Gu’s hand, I noticed something odd about her fingernails. After a closer examination just now, I found that under her nails are bruises caused by years of needle pricks. The old and new wounds crisscross—so cruel it rivals the palace prison matrons.”

The physician had once served as an imperial doctor. He’d seen these tortures—especially those inflicted on women.

Mu Junyan frowned deeply. Who had been so vicious to her?

Mu An clearly had improper thoughts toward Gu Hua. Gu Wanru probably didn’t like that.

But still—they were sisters by blood!

“How’s the investigation going?” Mu Junyan looked at Chi Yu.

“We’re still looking into it,” Chi Yu quickly replied.

Zhou Chunyu felt his head ache. The lord had instructed him to deliver gifts to the Gu family, and he hadn’t even started.

Now this whole mess had erupted at his future in-law’s house—if not handled properly, it could get very complicated.

Mu Junyan thought for a moment and said to the physician, “I heard you’ve taken in a female disciple. Would she be willing to serve in the residence? You may name your terms.”

The physician’s eyes lit up. “I’ll ask her as soon as I return. Her family’s quite poor, so she likely will. But… she’s a bit eccentric.”

“As long as she knows how to care for the body.”

The physician nodded. “She’s especially skilled in medicinal therapy.”

A personal physician just for Miss Gu?

Other than the Old Madam, who had such treatment?

Zhou Chunyu’s scheming little eyes sparkled.

He quickly stepped forward with a knowing smile. “My lord, how about I prepare a quiet place in Wenhan Pavilion for Miss Gu to move into? With her injuries, she’ll need a long time to recover.”

Mu Junyan gave him a sidelong glance, his voice chilly. “Wenhan Pavilion?”

Zhou Chunyu’s heart sank.

Did he guess wrong?

But you literally carried her to your bed.

Isn’t it obvious you’re smitten?

If you say women aren’t allowed in Wenhan Pavilion again, that’s just being fake.

Mu Junyan saw the complicated look on Zhou Chunyu’s face and spoke even colder: “Is the Duke’s residence so big, yet we can’t find a more suitable place to house her?”

Zhou Chunyu knew he’d messed up and quickly smiled to smooth things over. “Of course, of course. I just thought, since Miss Gu is supposed to copy Madam’s manuscripts…”

“She’s injured this badly, and you still want to put her to work?”

Zhou Chunyu: “……”

Sigh.

It’s not like I’m the one trying to make her work.

He dared not argue. Putting on a serious face, he thought for a moment.

“Then let’s place her in the Yayun Pavilion beside the Xiangrui Hall. It’s close to the Old Madam, and Zhilian lives nearby too—it’ll be convenient for both her and the physician to take care of Miss Gu. Plus, Yayun Pavilion is an independent courtyard and won’t disturb the Old Madam.”

This way, when the lord visits the Old Madam, he can also conveniently check in on the girl.

Zhou Chunyu felt he was being more and more thoughtful.

Mu Junyan was quite pleased. “Do it.”

Zhou Chunyu quickly instructed a young servant to arrange and decorate Yayun Pavilion. He even specified to bring over the magpie-carved canopy bed and the pearl-inlaid magnolia vanity.

Mu Junyan thought a moment. “Also inform Jinxiu Pavilion.”

“Yes,” Zhou Chunyu replied seriously.

Mu Junyan added, “Just say that the girl from the in-law’s family is temporarily staying at the residence. The Old Madam likes her and asked her to accompany her for a while.”

Tsk, even using the Old Madam as a shield now.

And you still claim you don’t have feelings for her?

Zhou Chunyu wore a face that said, I know everything but won’t say a word.

Since when had their lord become this fussy over a woman?

Miss Gu, the second daughter of the Gu family, was truly one of a kind.

Zhou Zhilian lifted the curtain and stepped out. She hadn’t heard her brother and the lord talking, but she gave the lord a complicated sidelong glance.

“My lord, her clothes have been changed. Your bed is all wet—it’ll need to be redone.”

If you’re keeping her for the night, at least change to red bedding or something!

Mu Junyan’s clothes were soaked too. “I’ll bathe and go to the study. Settle her in properly.”

As the man walked away without looking back, looking calm and elegant, Zhou Zhilian’s almond-shaped eyes widened in disbelief.

“Seriously… just settling her like this? Shouldn’t he give her a title or something first? Hey, brother, why are you tugging on my sleeve?”

Zhou Chunyu was afraid she’d blurt something out again and quickly waved his hand. “Take her to Yayun Pavilion.”

Zhou Zhilian was surprised. “Yayun Pavilion? You’re putting Hua’er there?”

“For now. Who knows about later.”

Zhou Chunyu didn’t want to elaborate. “Hurry. I’ve already sent people to prepare it. Check if anything’s missing and handle it.”

“Oh, okay!”

Zhou Zhilian finally brightened up. She waved her hand to summon two young servants to bring over a sedan chair.

Together with a matron, she gently helped the still-sleeping Gu Hua onto the sedan chair.

Thankfully, the rain had stopped.