FBC – Chapter 24 Boldly Seducing

Gu Hua hadn’t even finished speaking before her face flushed red.

She braced herself and asked, “You and Steward Zhou treat me so well—is it because of what happened between me and the Lord that night?”

Zhou Zhilan smiled slyly. “Yes… and no.”

“What do you mean?” Gu Hua asked, curious.

Zhou Zhilan leaned in mysteriously and said, “To us—my brother, me, and the people of Wenhan Pavilion—you are a precious treasure.”

Gu Hua blinked in confusion.

Zhou Zhilan lowered her voice. “Because you helped the Lord become a normal man again.”

Gu Hua’s face turned beet red all the way to the base of her neck.

She still felt embarrassed discussing that matter face-to-face.

But if she wanted to understand Mu Junyan’s thoughts, she could only probe through Zhou Zhilan.

Gu Hua lowered her voice, guilty as a thief. “So… so that night, the people in Wenhan Pavilion… they all know?”

She suddenly felt like digging a hole to bury herself.

“No, no, no! Only my brother, me, and Chi Yu know.”

Gu Hua breathed a sigh of relief but then asked in confusion, “Who’s Chi Yu?”

She couldn’t recall meeting this person.

“He’s…”

Zhou Zhilan nearly slipped but stopped herself in time.

Chi Yu was the Lord’s most trusted shadow guard, always moving in secret and rarely seen in public—she couldn’t reveal this casually.

“In short, rest assured. The three of us are tight-lipped—we won’t tell a soul. Unless…”

Zhou Zhilan chuckled. “Unless the Lord or you want others to know.”

Gu Hua quickly shook her head. “I wouldn’t dare say anything.”

Seeing Gu Hua’s anxious and shy expression, Zhou Zhilan stopped smiling, took her hand, and said seriously:

“You don’t know. Among the legitimate line of the Old Duke’s family, only the Lord remains. The rest have all died on the battlefield. The Lord carries the weight of the nation and its people, constantly at war, living each day with his head hanging by a thread.

He spends his days either strategizing with generals or leading troops into battle. We rarely see him smile. We’ve all hoped he would marry and start a family, have a warm home, and lead a normal life. But the Lord just won’t agree.

When my brother and I found out what happened that night, we hoped he’d keep you—regardless of whether you approached him on purpose. After all, you’re the only one who could make him a real man again.”

Usually cheerful, Zhou Zhilan now had red-rimmed eyes and spoke more earnestly:

“If someone as gentle and considerate as you could stay by the Lord’s side, then after long days of battle, he’d come home to hot soup, someone to wash his clothes and fold his blankets—he wouldn’t be alone anymore.

That’s why my brother and I want you to feel the warmth and care of the Duke’s estate. We want you to know the Lord is a good man—cold on the outside, warm on the inside. We hope you’ll genuinely choose to stay with him.”

Gu Hua was stunned.

She had never expected this.

She’d thought they were treating her well on Mu Junyan’s orders—but it turned out they were doing it of their own will, out of care for him.

But all she’d wanted was to grab a lifeline. Once she escaped danger, she longed for freedom…

Gu Hua murmured, “But… he doesn’t even want to marry.”

She couldn’t stay at his side just because she wanted to.

“What man doesn’t want to marry? The Lord just doesn’t want to burden others,” Zhou Zhilan sighed.

Gu Hua was even more surprised.

She had thought he still loved his late wife. But now it seemed he was just someone who didn’t want others to suffer for him.

Zhou Zhilan whispered, “None of the people in Wenhan Pavilion are slaves. My brother was once the Lord’s deputy general. After being badly injured, he stayed at the estate. Others here were wounded soldiers or descendants of fallen warriors who chose to keep following the Lord—including me.

The Lord is prepared to die for the country at any time. He’s already arranged everything—if he dies in battle, each of us will receive a large settlement and be free to leave. Tell me—isn’t he the most responsible, kind-hearted man in the world?”

Zhou Zhilan’s voice choked up.

Gu Hua was shaken.

A man like this… she suddenly felt guilty for trying to deceive him.

If she stayed with him, how could she ever fly free?

Seeing Gu Hua’s shocked expression, Zhou Zhilan felt a jolt of panic.

Crap. What kind of beautiful young woman would want to follow a man who might die at any moment?

Zhou Zhilan scratched her head in frustration.

Clearly, she wasn’t cut out to be a matchmaker.

Before Gu Hua could respond, Zhou Zhilan suddenly stood. “Honestly… after spending these days with you, I really like you. You’re a kind, good girl. We won’t force you—make your own decision.”

Before Gu Hua could say anything, Zhou Zhilan had already disappeared.

This…

Gu Hua was conflicted.

But right now, she had an urgent problem. If she didn’t act soon, she was doomed.

Gu Hua took a deep breath and steeled herself.

She opened the wardrobe and pulled out a neatly folded white cross-collared sleeping robe.

A white cloud was embroidered on the cuff.

This robe was brought to her by Dong Hua when fetching her clothes from Jinxiu Pavilion.

She had wrapped and tied it securely—Dong Hua had no idea it was the Duke’s robe inside.

For the past two nights, once everyone was asleep, she had taken it out to secretly embroider.

She had panicked too much earlier to admit she’d taken it. Now, to return it, she needed an excuse.

Gu Hua sent Dong Hua and Dong Qing to bed early. Then she sat alone in the dark room, staring blankly at the bright moon through the lattice window.

The second night watch began.

Dong, dong, dong—each drumbeat struck her heart.

Gu Hua gave herself a pep talk. Wearing only a white silk undergarment, she hugged the brocade box holding the robe, wrapped herself in a purple cloak, and tiptoed out of Yayun Pavilion toward Wenhan Pavilion.

Nervously, she looked around as she walked, thinking of what excuse to use if she got caught.

She didn’t know that someone had already cleared a path for her in secret, ensuring she could reach Guanshan Tower unhindered.

Gu Hua patted her chest in relief and had just relaxed when she saw a tall shadow reflected in the window—her breath hitched again.

She raised her hand to push the door but hesitated.

Zhou Zhilan’s words echoed in her ears.

A man as upright and noble as Mu Junyan—she shouldn’t scheme against him like this.

But behind her was an abyss.

There was no retreat.

Gu Hua stared at the door, unaware that a pair of deep, dark eyes was watching her through a crack in the window.

Chi Yan had uncovered a shocking secret about the Gu family, but he didn’t yet have enough evidence to interfere—should he tell Gu Hua or not? He hadn’t decided.

She wanted to rely on him, to break free from her bitter fate. She was timid but willing and resourceful.

Mu Junyan couldn’t say whether he wanted her to boldly push forward—or if he was just reluctant to reject her out of pity.

But what was she hesitating for now?

A sudden surge of irritation rose in him. He turned from the window, unwilling to look at her timid behavior any longer.

Gu Hua took two deep breaths and gently pushed the door open.

Once inside, she quickly shut the door behind her. Her heart pounded wildly. She didn’t dare turn around and strained to listen—but behind her was only silence.

She braced herself, turned—and suddenly saw the man.

Dressed in a dark robe, untied at the waist, Mu Junyan sat casually at the edge of the couch, one hand resting on his knee, his head slightly tilted, and those deep eyes locked onto her.

In her mind flashed three words: predator on the hunt.

Gu Hua jolted in fright and instinctively turned to run.

A cold voice barked behind her: “Stop.”

Mu Junyan glared at her in annoyance.

Why did she always act like a rabbit spotting an eagle?

He hadn’t even yelled at her.

Gu Hua froze, took small shallow breaths to calm herself, swallowed hard, and turned stiffly.

She clutched the cloak tightly, bent her knees rigidly, and stammered, “I—I—I…”

Mu Junyan half-squinted, his gaze falling on the bulge beneath her cloak. He saw a sharp corner—must be a box.

The first time was a twisted ankle. The second, some snacks. Now what—midnight snacks again?

Such a clumsy excuse to seduce someone. Hadn’t other women tried this before and failed?

How unoriginal.

Her frightened expression truly annoyed him. She looked like he’d assaulted her or something.

He asked bluntly, “What are you holding?”

Gu Hua summoned her courage and said softly, “It’s your sleeping robe, my lord.”

Mu Junyan had forgotten all about that—he raised a brow, waiting for her to continue.

Gu Hua’s mind was in chaos. The thought of how far she’d been driven made her eyes sting with tears.

Head bowed, she walked to the low table before the couch, pulled the box from her cloak, placed it on the table, and opened it.

Inside, the snowy white robe lay neatly folded. The embroidered cuff was the first thing to catch the eye.