FBC – Chapter 2 I’ll Treat You Well

“Your eldest sister has already given you to me.”

The young lord leaned down and rubbed his face against hers. “I’ll treat you well. Don’t be afraid.”

Gu Hua couldn’t stand it anymore. She lashed out with her sharp nails and clawed his face viciously.

“Ah!” The young lord cried out in pain and instinctively flung her away.

Gu Hua slammed hard into the door. Pain shot through her legs like tearing muscles—agonizing and unbearable.

She didn’t know if it was from the pain, the humiliation, or the fury of having been cruelly murdered by this beast in her previous life—but her eyes turned bloodshot, and the tears flowed uncontrollably.

Gu Hua curled up, pretending to be terrified. “Young lord, this maid didn’t mean to… It was my fault. Please punish me.”

A tearful beauty, trembling in fear—she looked like a fragile blossom begging for pity.

In her panic and fright, her breathing quickened, and the way her chest heaved beneath her tightly wrapped robe made her even more enticing.

The young lord’s eyes were glued to her, wanting nothing more than to grope her. His anger momentarily vanished.

“You shameless little wretch! Instead of serving the eldest young lady, you’re out here seducing the young lord—have you no decency!”

Yinzhi was furious at Gu Hua’s seductive appearance. She stormed over, habitually reaching to pinch Gu Hua’s ear.

Gu Hua quickly hid behind the young lord, her fragrant shoulders trembling as she whispered pitifully, “Young lord, save me… If I’m beaten, my face won’t look pretty anymore…”

The young lord couldn’t resist such a soft plea. With nowhere else to vent his simmering desire, he turned around and yanked Yinzhi’s hair, slapping her twice and then kicking her hard in the stomach.

“Wretched servant! Gu Hua is the legitimate younger sister of the young madam—a proper lady of the Marquis household! How dare a lowly servant like you lay a hand on her!”

Yinzhi was sent flying, landing hard on the stone tiles. She clutched her stomach in pain, unable to speak for a long time. Finally, she burst into tears.

Gu Hua put on a frightened expression. “Young lord, if the eldest young lady finds out Sister Yinzhi was hurt, she’ll beat me…”

The young lord was distressed and immediately shouted at Yinzhi, “Shut up! If you disturb the young madam again, I’ll sell you off on the spot!”

Yinzhi’s sobbing stopped instantly in fear.

Inside the room, after watching the whole spectacle, the eldest young lady Gu Wanru finally couldn’t hold back. When she saw her husband about to wrap his arm around Gu Hua again, she stepped in between them.

In a gentle voice, she said, “Don’t be angry, my lord. The maid is ignorant—I’ll handle her discipline.”

The young lord took her hand affectionately. “My dear, you’re pregnant. You shouldn’t overexert yourself. Such insolent servants should just be sold off, so you don’t have to worry.”

Gu Wanru was pleased by his thoughtfulness and smiled gently.

“My lord, I appreciate your concern. But if I can’t even discipline my own maid, how could I possibly serve you well? Don’t worry—I promise you’ll be satisfied.”

The young lord laughed happily, his gaze falling back on Gu Hua.

He was very satisfied.

This little girl was even more alluring than the courtesans from Jin Feng Brothel.

She was like a budding flower, giving off a tempting fragrance that made his heart itch.

Gu Wanru gritted her teeth in hatred but still pushed him gently. “My lord, weren’t you going back to your courtyard to wash up before heading to the office? If you don’t go now, you’ll be late. If Father-in-law hears about it, he’ll blame me.”

Gu Hua quickly slipped into the inner room.

The young lord’s eyes were glued to her curvaceous figure. “Let Gu Hua wash me up here. Yinzhi, go to my room and bring my official robe.”

Yinzhi clutched her bruised stomach. She froze for a moment, her eyes red with grievance.

But she dared not disobey the young lord’s order.

Gu Wanru watched him follow Gu Hua like a dog in heat. Her eyes turned cold, and her heart burned with hatred.

Gu Hua felt a chill down her spine. She knew she couldn’t escape today, so she braced herself to serve the young lord as he washed up.

The young lord took the towel she handed over, deliberately grabbing her hand and giving it a squeeze.

Gu Hua panicked and quickly pulled away, picking up the copper basin and turning around—just in time to see Gu Wanru wringing a cloth forcefully, glaring coldly at her.

“Eldest young lady, this maid will get you fresh water,” she said.

Gu Wanru immediately forced a smile. “Be careful—don’t slip.”

“Yes.” Gu Hua fled out of the room as if escaping.

The young master smiled as he wrapped his arm around Gu Wanru’s rather thick waist, gently brushing his cheek against hers for a while.

Gu Wanru pushed him away coyly. “Alright, stop it. If Gu Hua comes in and sees, she’ll laugh.”

“She should learn how to serve her husband properly, shouldn’t she?”

The young master didn’t let go of Gu Wanru and instead turned his gaze to Gu Hua, who had just entered carrying a brass basin.

Gu Hua cursed him as a beast in her heart and lowered her head to place the basin properly.

Gu Wanru hated Gu Hua deeply but had no choice but to keep this little enchantress by her side.

When she had married into this household, the young master’s rear courtyard was already filled with a dozen or so mistresses. She had managed to get rid of a few, but he kept taking in more.

Just two months ago, right after Gu Wanru discovered she was pregnant, the young master spent a fortune to bring home a courtesan named Yao Yao, with whom he indulged night and day, completely ignoring Gu Wanru’s status as the official wife.

Yao Yao, emboldened by his favor, showed no respect to the mistress of the house and often didn’t even bother to pay her morning greetings.

And on the rare occasion she did come, she would put on the languid charm of someone who had just spent a night in ecstasy with the young master—clearly coming just to provoke Gu Wanru.

Gu Wanru had gone home crying, and it was then that Concubine Pei suggested sending Gu Hua to the Duke’s manor as a dowry maid.

She claimed she had already trained Gu Hua well and made her sign a slave contract. She wouldn’t dare to disobey.

Once Gu Wanru bore a child, they could either sell Gu Hua off or simply find a reason to beat her to death.

Only then did Gu Wanru agree to bring her into the manor and keep her close.

As expected, ever since Gu Hua entered the household, the young master started visiting Gu Wanru more frequently.

But each time, his eyes were practically glued to Gu Hua.

He especially liked staring at her waist and chest.

His gaze made Gu Hua tremble with fear and filled Gu Wanru with rage and jealousy.

Whenever the young master visited, Gu Wanru would treat Gu Hua like a thief and find excuses to send her away, leaving only Yinzhi to serve.

But just yesterday, Yao Yao announced she was pregnant.

That’s when Gu Wanru panicked.

To hold on to her man, she had no choice but to go with the flow and gift Gu Hua to him, so she’d have her hands free to deal with that lowly whore in the backyard.

Yinzhi had returned, and Jin Kui followed behind, carrying the young master’s official robes.

Yinzhi instructed Jin Kui to help the young master dress and put on his hat, then turned and glared viciously at Gu Hua.

After he was fully dressed, the young master tenderly held Gu Wanru’s hand.

“I’ll come back after court to see you and have dinner with you.”

Gu Wanru blushed and replied softly, “Alright. I’ll make the arrangements and make sure my lord is satisfied.”

Gu Hua shuddered.

The young master looked over at her, eyes burning with desire. “Gu Hua, serve the young mistress well. Don’t make her angry. Prepare good wine and fine food tonight, and wait for me like a good girl.”

Gu Hua stiffened and answered quietly, “Yes.”

In her past life, Duke Yong had left the manor early this morning.

Would Duke Yong come to save her this time?

Gu Wanru smiled as she saw her husband out the door, but the moment she turned around, her smile vanished. She cast a cold glance at Gu Hua.

“Yinzhi, the Duke is still in the manor, isn’t he?”

“He is, Miss,” Yinzhi answered respectfully.

Putting on the air of a dutiful daughter, Gu Wanru said, “I haven’t seen Father since I married in. It’s rare for him to be back—I should serve him tea.”

Yinzhi helped her with her makeup, full of delight. “Miss, you’re now carrying the first legitimate grandson of the Duke’s household. Once he hears, he’ll be overjoyed. When you give birth to a healthy baby boy, he’ll surely name the young master as heir. Then, you’ll be the esteemed heir’s wife, and our young master will be the little heir!”

Gu Wanru smiled and nodded. “Of course. Father has no other sons, and with the first legitimate grandson, he’ll surely bestow great honor upon my husband.”

Gu Hua stayed silent, head lowered.

Unfortunately, her elder sister was destined never to become the heir’s wife.

In her past life, even by the time Gu Hua died, the young master still hadn’t been named heir. Instead, news came from the front lines that the Duke had died in battle.

Gu Wanru glanced sideways at Gu Hua’s expressionless face and gave an order: “Yinzhi, the tribute tea from the Western Regions my husband gifted me—brew a pot with the engraved silver teapot bestowed by the Emperor. Gu Hua will carry it as we go see the Duke.”

Yinzhi understood immediately—this was Miss giving her a chance to take revenge.

Soon, Yinzhi returned with a pearwood tray, on which sat a silver teapot engraved with winding floral patterns. Steam was rising from its spout.

This hadn’t happened in the previous life.

Gu Wanru hated her for daring to resist and for not maintaining her gentle image in front of her husband.

Gu Hua’s tightly clasped hands trembled slightly.

Her legitimate sister was every bit as ruthless as her fake mother.

Truly, birds of a feather flock together.

Gu Hua reached out for the tea tray.

Yinzhi gripped it tightly and sneered.

“This is tribute tea. Do you think you can carry the tray so far without spilling it? Can you afford to pay for it if you do?”

Gu Hua bit her lip and, with no other choice, forced herself to lift the scalding silver teapot.

It was so hot her hands trembled, but she dared not let go.