FBC – Chapter 216 I Miss You

Gu Yuan was furious. “You two crazy women barged into the Marquis of Wenchang’s residence and carried out private torture! Do you still have any respect for the law?”

Gu Hua ignored him. “If you know something, confess early. Otherwise, when the board strikes, it will only hurt more.”

The Gu family’s servants were all terrified. The once-invisible girl now carried herself like a true mistress of the house, harsher even than the two managing concubines of the estate.

Several were interrogated one after another. Some rambled nonsense, but their words didn’t match what Wang Linyi had seen. Others simply couldn’t say anything useful.

Chi Yu, who had extensive interrogation experience, sensed something was wrong and whispered, “Madam, something feels off.”

Gu Hua also had doubts.

The Gu household was notoriously stingy and petty, every master selfish and scheming—such a family could never raise loyal servants.

Wang Linyi, eyes red, said firmly, “I can’t have seen wrong. It was definitely the livery of the Marquis of Wenchang’s servants!”

Gu Yuan looked at the bloodied servants, realizing these two women wouldn’t let him go easily. But he couldn’t endure any more. Panicked, he jumped up angrily.

“You saw someone? Just because you said you saw it, it must be true? My residence has been turned upside down by you already—how would I have the time to bother with your abandoned woman’s useless parents?”

Wang Linyi shot to her feet, pointing at him furiously. “Watch your mouth!”

Gu Hua said coldly, “You two are already divorced.”

Gu Yuan choked with rage. “You—you two…”

Right now, he wished he could hide himself away, lest someone seize this as evidence and bring it before the Emperor, stripping him of his title. How could he possibly dare to kill anyone?

He thought of it, but he didn’t dare act.

Suddenly, something struck him. “I know! It was Wang Heng! It must be him!”

Gu Hua raised an eyebrow. “Reason?”

“Yesterday, after you all left, one of his attendants suddenly tripped, tearing his robe. He then asked the steward for a set of my household’s servant clothes to change into.”

Wang Linyi’s face was full of disbelief.

Gu Yuan anxiously looked around. “It’s true! Steward—steward, where the hell is he?”

“Lord Marquis, the steward… fainted.”

A servant kneeling nearby pointed to a line of groaning men lying on the ground. One of them, unconscious, was indeed the steward.

Gu Yuan: “…”

He quickly asked, “Who gave a set of clothes to the steward yesterday?”

“It was me. I took Lord Wang’s attendant to change.” A pageboy hurriedly replied.

Gu Hua fixed a cold stare on Gu Yuan, making sweat bead on his forehead.

“It’s true! I—I’m already in hot water. Why would I invite more trouble by committing murder?”

Gu Hua felt he was telling the truth this time.

Her scumbag father was vain, greedy, and parasitic—he dared do anything but outright murder. Otherwise, Wang Linyi would have been long dead.

“Fine.” Gu Hua nodded. “Write down your statement, press your handprint. Once we verify this has nothing to do with you, we won’t pursue it further.”

Write it down? Press a handprint?

Gu Yuan’s eyes widened.

This was basically demanding he publicly turn against the Wang family!

Gu Hua sneered. “Why, don’t dare? The Wang clan of Langya only has Wang Heng left now. And you, a marquis, are afraid of him? He killed and framed you, and you still want to protect him?”

Gu Yuan was furious to the point of steaming.

Wang Linyi jabbed her finger at him. “It’s him! He hates me to the bone!”

“I’ll write! But once I do, you must leave immediately and never bother me again!”

Gu Hua said flatly, “That depends on whether you continue doing evil. Do you still think you have a choice now?”

Gu Yuan felt utterly humiliated.

That he could be suppressed like this—by his despised ex-wife and a once-insignificant illegitimate daughter!

Gu Hua took his written testimony. “Mother, let’s go.”

Though Wang Linyi didn’t trust Gu Yuan, she trusted Gu Hua.

After they left the Gu residence, Gu Hua immediately instructed Chi Yu: “Go to the Kaifeng Prefecture and ask the magistrate if they’ve found anything else. I also believe Wang Heng is involved.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Not long after Gu Hua and Wang Linyi returned to the Duke Yong’s residence, Chi Yu came back holding a robe.

“Madam, the magistrate said this was found in a corner near the alley.”

It was indeed a servant’s uniform from the Gu residence.

Wang Linyi hurriedly opened it—embroidered at the hem was the servant’s name.

“It really is!”

Gu Hua glanced at it. “So it was Wang Heng.”

Wang Linyi’s eyes reddened with anger. “I endured for the Wang family all these years, and yet they want to kill my entire family!”

Gu Hua said coolly, “Because you’ve outlived your usefulness. Worse, you’re stepping on their pride. How could they not hate you?”

Wang Linyi asked anxiously, “Then should we go confront the Wangs now?”

Gu Hua looked at her simple-minded mother speechlessly. “Just one piece of clothing isn’t enough to pin him down.”

“Isn’t there still Gu Yuan’s testimony?”

“How credible is that?”

Wang Linyi’s face paled as tears fell. “Your grandfather and uncle died too unjustly.”

Gu Hua looked at her. “I almost died back then too.”

Wang Linyi froze, then grabbed her daughter in a panic. “Hua’er, I know you’ve suffered… I…”

Gu Hua cut her off. “It’s past. No need to speak of it. A murderer must pay with their life—they won’t escape. Let Kaifeng Prefecture investigate this.”

Wang Linyi was helpless. She could only rely on Gu Hua.

The heavy grief in her heart made her realize more deeply just what kind of life Gu Hua had endured these seventeen years.

That whole day back at the Duke’s estate, she followed Gu Hua closely—watching her discuss household affairs with Zhou Zhilan and Zhou Chunyu, helping her prepare pastries for the old madam, and keeping her company in conversation.

Tomorrow was New Year’s Eve.

All over Bianjing, red lanterns were hung high, families busied with festive foods and entertainments.

Because of mourning, the Duke Yong’s residence couldn’t put up lanterns, but the old madam insisted that aside from that, everything should still be lively.

She said that even in the afterlife, Mu Junyan would want his family to spend the New Year cheerfully.

Wang Linyi, after spending a whole day with them, finally felt what a harmonious and loving household was like.

Though the men of the Mu family had all died bravely in battle, the widows and children still carried on with strong, smiling faces.

The suffocating grief over her parents and brother’s deaths eased a little. For a while, she set aside her sorrow and busied herself in the household.

Then, suddenly, heavy snow began to fall.

Gu Hua was preparing to rest when she saw the snowflakes outside. An inexplicable melancholy stirred in her heart. She opened the door, stretching out her hand to catch the falling snow.

She really missed Mu Junyan.

She didn’t know where he was now, or what he was doing.

“Not afraid of catching cold?”

A warm hand slid around her waist.

Gu Hua stiffened, hastily looked around to confirm no one was there, then turned and shoved the man back into the room, closing the door and snuffing out the candle.

Caught off guard, Mu Junyan stumbled back. Watching her flustered but efficient movements, he couldn’t help a low chuckle.

With one arm, he drew her into his embrace. “Why so eager to put out the light, Madam?”

Gu Hua’s nervousness turned into anger at his teasing.

She pounded his chest twice. “Do you want to scare people to death? What if you frightened your son? You’d regret it then!”

Mu Junyan quickly lifted her gently, carrying her inside as he said softly, “My fault. I startled my precious wife and child.”

Gu Hua’s cheeks flushed, her heart sour. She looped her arms around his neck and buried her face against his broad chest.

Hearing his steady heartbeat, everything felt real again.

Mu Junyan had wanted to tease her more, but feeling her deep longing, his heart softened and he couldn’t bear to joke.

Sitting on the bed, he held her close, lifting her chin with one hand.

The room was dark, yet their eyes met as if they could see each other clearly.

Gu Hua had so much she wanted to say, but didn’t know where to begin.

After a long pause, she finally asked, “Aren’t you afraid of being seen?”

“I came through the secret passage. No one noticed.”

As she faltered, her lips were suddenly pecked.

Warm breath lingered by her ear, and a low murmur slipped into it.

“I missed you so much.”