FBC – Chapter 23 Step-by-Step Strategy

Concubine Pei was scolded by her daughter and immediately fell silent, teary-eyed as she tugged on her hand.

“You’re the flesh that fell from my body. I can’t bear to see you suffer even a little. Everything I’m doing is for your sake.”

Gu Wanru replied perfunctorily, “I know. Now you should go, in case someone sees you—it’ll be troublesome. I’m keeping an eye on Gu Hua. Once I can leave the residence, I’ll have Jinkui personally escort her back.”

“Alright. Just don’t get upset with the Lord. You must hold onto a man’s heart. In a great household like this, women can only rely on their husband’s favor,” Concubine Pei reminded her worriedly.

“Okay, I get it. Just go already.” Gu Wanru impatiently pulled her hand back and wiped it with a handkerchief.

Concubine Pei had no choice but to leave.

Jinkui saw her out and returned to close the door.

Gu Wanru asked, “Jinkui, the person I had you bribe last time—did it work?”

Jinkui replied, “The people in Wenhan Pavilion are too tight-lipped. They won’t take money no matter how much. It’s easier with the rough servant women outside—they’ve spread the things we had them say, but they don’t know much.”

Gu Wanru frowned. “Find a way. I must know what the situation is like for Gu Hua over there, and how Father is treating her.”

“Yes.”

Jinkui sighed inwardly.

What could she possibly do?

After the past couple of days, the people in Wenhan Pavilion had begun to shun Jinxiu Pavilion.

Rumors spread among the servants that the eldest young lady was of poor character—vicious and cruel even toward her own younger sister. How could someone so cold-hearted be worthy of becoming the future heir’s wife?

The Lord now had Concubine Yin and was ignoring the eldest young lady entirely. He even flaunted his affection for Concubine Yin daily, deliberately slapping Gu Wanru in the face with his actions.

Yet instead of trying to salvage her reputation, Gu Wanru and Concubine Pei were focused only on controlling the second young lady.

But Jinkui was just a servant. All she could do was follow orders.

She dared not tell Gu Wanru about the rumors in the estate—what if they upset her and something went wrong with the pregnancy? Her own life would be forfeit.

Seeing Jinkui standing there with her head lowered and looking dull, Gu Wanru angrily tossed her handkerchief.

Useless! What a waste of Yin Zhi!

She had thought giving Yin Zhi to Mu An would help soothe his frustration at not winning Gu Hua’s heart. Since Yin Zhi was utterly loyal, even if she became a bed servant, she wouldn’t betray her.

But now? Mu An was using Yin Zhi to provoke her. He even officially made her a concubine and gave her a separate courtyard.

Among the women in his household, this treatment was unique. Even his favorite, Yao Yao, had been making a huge fuss for days.

Yet Mu An remained indifferent, showering Yin Zhi with gifts and sending someone to inform her every time.

Wasn’t that clearly meant to spite her?

It seemed her mother was right—only by giving her husband Gu Hua could he let go of his resentment.

At worst, after giving birth to the Duke’s first grandson, she’d sell that little slut to the lowest brothel—or just beat her to death.

Once she thought it through, Gu Wanru felt more at ease.

“Jinkui, pick a few pieces of jewelry from my dowry that I don’t particularly like and send them to Yin Zhi. Let her know I still care about her so she won’t get any funny ideas.”

“Yes,” Jinkui answered and left.

Gu Hua returned to Yayun Pavilion with a mind full of thoughts, only to see Zhou Chunyu standing in her courtyard with two richly dressed women, each accompanied by a maid.

The two maids were holding large boxes in their hands.

Gu Hua stepped forward and curtsied.

Zhou Chunyu stepped aside to let her finish and smiled. “I noticed you didn’t bring many clothes or accessories, so I took the liberty of inviting the best tailoring shop in Bianjing, Embroidery Pavilion, to make you custom clothes. I also asked Linlang House to select a few pieces of suitable jewelry for you.”

Gu Hua quickly waved her hands. “There’s no need, no need.”

Since Mu Junyan wanted her to have new clothes and accessories, Zhou Chunyu naturally chose the best.

After all, she was the first woman the Lord truly cared about.

He had already anticipated her refusal and had prepared a reason she couldn’t reject.

With a steady smile, he said, “You’re going to be transcribing documents for the late madam, which means you’ll be entering and exiting Wenhan Pavilion frequently. You’re bound to encounter visiting dignitaries. It’s best to dress appropriately.”

His words made it clear.

She was dressing too shabbily and disgracing the Duke’s residence.

Gu Hua’s face flushed.

She was always quick to adapt. “Then I shall accept with gratitude. Thank you, Steward Zhou.”

The master tailor from Embroidery Pavilion was fast and efficient. After taking her measurements, she pulled out a few pieces of cool-toned silk from the maid’s box and held them up to Gu Hua’s face for comparison.

The tailor smiled. “Miss, you have bright features but are still young. Bright colors make you look older. Cool tones better accentuate your temperament.”

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Gu Hua, as if envisioning her future masterpiece.

“Steward Zhou, it’ll take five or six days to finish the custom outfits. I’ll have someone send over a few ready-made garments that suit her in the meantime.”

“Great, thank you.”

Linlang House was the most expensive jewelry store in Bianjing.

This time, the shopkeeper personally came.

While the tailor measured her and checked colors, the shopkeeper turned to the maid’s box and began selecting accessories.

One set was inlaid with blue crystal and silver, and the other featured light green jade.

Hairpins, combs, dangling ornaments, earrings, and bracelets—each set was complete.

Though not made of rare materials, the craftsmanship was exquisite and the designs unique, far superior to ordinary jewelry of the same materials.

When they were done, Zhou Chunyu smiled and bowed slightly. “Miss, please rest well. Don’t tire yourself. The Lord has a prior engagement and likely won’t return until around 9–11 p.m. I’ll take my leave now.”

Gu Hua’s ears turned slightly red.

Was he… telling her about Mu Junyan’s schedule?

But what exactly did Mu Junyan mean by all this?

Being waited on hand and foot felt oddly unsettling.

With the predatory Mu An eyeing her from the front and the vicious Concubine Pei pressing from behind, was she going to have to take the initiative again?

As Gu Hua was lost in thought, Shen Li began fussing with her fingers. By the time she snapped out of it, all ten of her fingers were already wrapped like radishes.

Shen Li said, “I was going to pull your nails out…”

Gu Hua turned pale.

Then Shen Li added, “But I was afraid it would hurt too much. So we’ll go with a conservative treatment—promote blood flow, reduce bruising, and help the tissue under your nails recover.”

Gu Hua gave her a grateful smile.

“Any toenails?” Shen Li asked, staring at her feet.

Gu Hua instinctively shrank her feet back.

Shen Li’s brows furrowed. “You injured your feet too?”

Gu Hua shook her head. “Mostly my hands.”

If her toenails were wrapped up too, how would she walk?

Without another word, Shen Li reached out to unfasten her clothes. Gu Hua jumped and grabbed her collar, backing away in alarm.

“Y-you… what are you doing?”

“Checking for other injuries.”

“No, no! I’m fine!” Gu Hua said quickly, running off.

Shen Li gave her a sideways glance and walked away.

Gu Hua froze for a moment. “Is she mad?”

Dong Hua squinted. “Surely not?”

“Oh no! Embroidery Pavilion and Linlang House already left? I hurried over but still missed them!”

A cheerful voice rang out—it was Zhou Zhilan.

Soon, the beaded curtain jingled as the girl, dressed in a water-pink ruqun, happily walked in.

Seeing the two sets of jewelry on the dressing table, she rushed over to examine them. “Only Shopkeeper Qiu’s picks would be this exquisite. These pieces aren’t extravagant but are delicate and refined. The designs are truly one of a kind.”

She picked up a hairpin and held it next to Gu Hua’s hair bun. “Looks perfect on you.”

Gu Hua agreed.

“My brother used the Lord’s visiting card to invite Linlang House’s proprietress and shopkeeper to personally match these pieces for you.”

Gu Hua’s attention caught on the words proprietress and shopkeeper.

“A woman… can run a shop?”

“Why not? The old owner of Linlang House only had one daughter. She married a man into the family, and after the old man passed, she took over the business herself. She’s amazing—expanded Linlang House to twice the size it was under her father.”

Gu Hua’s eyes were full of admiration.

She was a woman too—why couldn’t she do business and live the life she wanted?

In her past life, she’d tried to make money to survive—copying poems, stitching embroidery—but it was all small-scale.

Zhou Zhilan grabbed her hand and asked gently, “They didn’t give you a hard time, did they?”

Gu Hua shook her head.

But the thought of Concubine Pei and her daughter made her restless again.

If Concubine Pei brought the Marquis’s household to openly retrieve her, the Duke’s estate wouldn’t have grounds to keep her.

She couldn’t hide here forever.

She was weak and had no backing. If she wanted to achieve anything, she had to rely on the power of the Duke’s family.

But Mu Junyan’s attitude toward her was still ambiguous. Even if she tried to stir a man’s basic desire, it wouldn’t be enough to make him help her.

She needed to carefully and deliberately win him over—not just his body, but enough of his heart to make him willing to act on her behalf.

And now, she didn’t have much time left.

To understand Mu Junyan’s intentions, she had to ask someone he trusted most.

Gu Hua gestured for Dong Hua to leave the room.

“I want to ask you something, Sister. Please answer me honestly.”

She hadn’t even finished her sentence, and her face was already red.

Zhou Zhilan plopped onto the bed. “Ask away. I’m best at telling the truth.”