FBC – Chapter 22 Bullying with Power, So Satisfying

Hah, trying to close the door and bully her lady again?

Dong Hua stepped forward and stood tall with a straight back. “Second Miss Gu is still ill and has lost her voice. If Auntie Gu has anything to say, just say it in front of us maids. I can speak on her behalf.”

A concubine being talked back to by a servant—Concubine Pei exploded with anger.

She slammed the table and shouted sharply, “Are all the maids in the Duke’s Estate this insolent?”

Dong Hua sneered. “Ha! Of course people in the Duke’s Estate can be insolent. The rules in your Marquis Estate are the real mess. Aren’t you a concubine? What are you doing putting on a show like a crab on stage? The goods are ordinary, but the posture is sure dramatic.”

Dong Hua fully embodied the phrase “bullying with power.”

Gu Hua felt great.

Suppressing her laughter, she quickly lowered her head.

Concubine Pei was furious to the point of nearly bursting and was about to lash back when Gu Wanru pulled her and gave her a scornful glare.

Shameful!

Gu Wanru assumed the posture of the Duke’s daughter-in-law and, with a hoarse voice, rebuked her: “Auntie, you’re being improper. This is the Duke’s Estate, not the Marquis’s. You may be arrogant back in the Marquis Estate, but here you need to follow our rules.”

Concubine Pei’s bluster deflated like a punctured balloon.

“What you say is true, Eldest Miss. You are educated and reasonable, not like that little wretch Gu Hua.”

Yikes!

Dong Hua was infuriated. Her lady hadn’t even spoken a word and was already being dragged into the mud.

Just as she was about to argue, Gu Hua tugged her back.

Gu Hua stepped forward, bent at the waist, and spoke in a hoarse, frail voice: “Daughter greets Auntie and Eldest Sister.”

Her voice was so faint it was nearly inaudible.

Seeing her still so obedient, Concubine Pei’s sense of control returned.

“You, have the people who came with you step out. I have something to speak to you about alone.”

Just as Concubine Pei was about to adopt a motherly demeanor and sit down, Dong Hua moved swiftly—tilted her hip and bumped Concubine Pei just as she tried to sit, pressing Gu Hua into the seat instead.

“Miss, you’re not well. Please sit.”

Concubine Pei stumbled from the bump and, enraged, raised her hand to slap Dong Hua.

Suddenly, a shadow flashed before her eyes, and before she could react, her raised arm locked up in searing pain. She opened her mouth and shrieked.

“Ow! Ow! What did you stab me with?!”

Gu Wanru turned pale, supporting her belly in shock.

Shen Li retracted his hand, twirling a thin, two-inch silver needle in his fingers, and said coldly, “If your mouth keeps spewing filth, I’ll make you mute.”

Concubine Pei turned ashen, terrified, and looked toward Gu Hua, who sat silently and calmly.

The once meek Gu Hua seemed like a completely different person.

Dong Hua smirked coldly. “In our Duke’s Estate, when the masters are present, neither concubines nor maids have the right to sit.”

Concubine Pei fumed. “I’m the mother-in-law of the Duke’s son!”

Dong Hua raised an exaggerated eyebrow and declared loudly, “Our young master’s mother-in-law is Madam Gu, the Marquess’s wife. What kind of mother-in-law are you, a Concubine? You dare say it? We maids don’t even dare to hear it—might damage the order of status.”

Concubine Pei flushed red from the scolding.

Gu Hua cleared her throat and spoke in a soft rasp, “Auntie, please remember your status. Don’t disgrace the Gu family and incur Father’s displeasure.”

Oh? That little wench dares to use Lord Gu to suppress me?

Concubine Pei ground her teeth in anger. She didn’t dare touch the Duke’s people, but she could still deal with Gu Hua!

Seeing that Gu Wanru didn’t look well, she decided to cut to the chase.

“Gu Hua, your fiancé has arrived in the capital. I came to take you home to meet him, catch up, and discuss the wedding date.”

Gu Hua, who had maintained a calm expression, suddenly changed slightly and looked up at her.

She really found her a fiancé?

Gu Wanru leaned weakly against Jin Kui and spoke gently: “Sister, Auntie is thinking about your future. You’re getting married—you can’t just stay in the Duke’s Estate forever. People will say the Gu family lacks discipline.”

Discipline in the Gu family? Really?

Gu Hua was puzzled. Why had Gu Wanru suddenly changed her mind?

She didn’t want her to climb higher by associating with the Duke?

Right now, it was absolutely unsafe to leave the estate. She wouldn’t even know how she died.

Gu Hua glanced at Dong Hua.

Dong Hua lifted her chin. “His Lordship asked Miss Gu to transcribe some texts for the late madam. Miss Gu has no time to return to the Marquis Estate.”

“You think the Duke would forcibly keep his future in-law’s unmarried daughter here? If word gets out…”

Gu Hua suddenly stood, bowed, and said, “Auntie, mind your words! It was Eldest Sister who agreed for me to help His Lordship. If I must leave, I’ll need to explain.”

“You must leave with me now,” Concubine Pei demanded, falling back into her habit of ordering Gu Hua around.

This little tramp dreams of becoming the Duke’s woman? A hen flying to become a phoenix? Dream on!

She would never let this girl escape her control and overshadow her own daughter.

Gu Hua narrowed her eyes. “If His Lordship is displeased, can you bear the consequences? Are you thinking of Eldest Sister at all?”

Concubine Pei looked to Gu Wanru, who gave her a signal. She gritted her teeth and suppressed her anger.

“Then I’ll wait here. You go and come back quickly.”

She’s determined to take me away today?

Gu Hua lowered her gaze briefly, then saw through Concubine Pei’s plot.

She smiled calmly. “Auntie, did you leave the estate without permission? Did Mother approve? Did the Duke’s Estate receive a proper visit invitation?”

Three questions turned Concubine Pei’s face ugly.

She had seen the Duke’s Estate suddenly send a large gift to the Marquis Estate, claiming it was a wedding dowry for Gu Hua in thanks for her help.

Lord Gu and his wife had been confused. Concubine Pei panicked—afraid Gu Wanru had failed to seduce the Duke’s heir.

She’d gotten a letter from Gu Wanru just last night saying Gu Hua was slipping out of control and that the heir was angry he couldn’t get her. She was asked to come up with a solution.

Worried her daughter would be mistreated, she took the risk to sneak out of the Marquis Estate and was let in through a side gate by Jin Kui.

Seeing her expression, Gu Hua knew she was right.

She smiled lightly. “Auntie, better return where you came from. Don’t drag Eldest Sister down. She’s already in a bad mood after falling out with her husband. If you anger the Duke as well, have you thought about the consequences?”

After that long speech, her throat was burning, and she couldn’t help but cough.

Shen Li quickly handed her two glowing green pills.

As soon as she swallowed them, her throat felt much better.

Her inner anger also dissipated significantly.

Gu Hua didn’t want to look at them anymore and turned to leave.

Concubine Pei was speechless with rage.

“That little tramp sure grew a temper since entering the Duke’s Estate!”

Gu Wanru held her back. “Jin Kui, stand guard outside.”

Once Jin Kui left and shut the door, Gu Wanru furrowed her brow and whispered, “Auntie, keep your voice down. This is the Duke’s Estate. If people hear, I’ll be in trouble.”

Concubine Pei immediately put on a loving mother’s face. “You’re pregnant now, don’t worry about a thing. I’ll take that little tramp out of the estate and discipline her properly. She’ll come back as obedient as a lamb.”

Gu Wanru frowned. “I don’t even know if Father truly favors her. But last night, the steward himself arranged for her to live alone in Yayu Pavilion. What if it’s true? What if we act first and anger Father? What then? Mu An hasn’t even become heir yet.”

Concubine Pei shook her head. “I’ve never met the Duke, but I’ve heard enough about him. He doesn’t like any noble ladies in the capital—why would he like that tramp Gu Hua? She’s just daydreaming.

The Duke probably only likes her handwriting, using her to transcribe some texts. The private residence? Probably just for convenience.

Honestly, you’re too naive, being fooled by her. If she really won the Duke’s favor, would she still act subservient to you? Even if she becomes a concubine, her status would be above yours.

And what about your husband? If the woman he liked became his father-in-law’s concubine, wouldn’t he explode?

You’ve already lost your best aide. Don’t lose your man’s favor too!”

Gu Wanru nodded. “I really was foolish to believe her lies.”

Her eyes lit up. “How about this—you arrange a place, slip her something, and I’ll let my husband go to her. As long as he gets what he wants, he’ll know how good I am.”

“That’s the spirit.” Concubine Pei thumped her chest proudly. “Leave it to me.”

Then, she suddenly smiled smugly. “That other woman in the house won’t live long either. Once I’m promoted, you’ll officially be registered under me as a legitimate daughter.”

Gu Wanru’s face darkened. “Auntie, don’t speak nonsense.”

Even if her mother died and Concubine Pei was promoted, she would still be known as the legitimate daughter of the first wife.

That noble status was why the Duke proposed to her in the first place.

If it were known she was actually a concubine’s daughter, both mother and daughter would be ruined.

Her dignity would be utterly destroyed.