FBC – Chapter 27 The Illegitimate Sister Emerges from the Study

Gu Hua whispered, “I just want her and Concubine Pei to know, so they won’t dare harbor crooked thoughts again. But… I beg you, please don’t let too many people know, alright? After all, by your side, my identity can only ever be that of the Second Miss of the Gu family.”

Mu Junyan patted her head gently. “Alright.”

“My lord, the decoction is here,” came Zhou Zhilan’s voice from outside.

Mu Junyan looked at her. “Contraceptive decoction.”

Gu Hua nodded obediently. “Yes, I’ll drink it.”

Mu Junyan stepped aside, leaning back against the soft cushion, watching as she picked up the small garment with a broken strap, her face flushing scarlet with embarrassment.

“Put medicine at the door. You may leave,” Mu Junyan said.

“Yes, sir.”

Zhou Zhilan replied and walked away with fading footsteps.

Gu Hua breathed a sigh of relief. Wrapping herself in a cloak, she walked to the door, gently pulled it open a crack, and saw the medicine left on the ground outside. She squatted down and brought the bowl in.

Without hesitation, she drank it all in one gulp.

Then she turned around and saw Mu Junyan gazing at her. Gu Hua blushed and walked over in small, quick steps. “Aren’t you going back to your room to rest, my lord?”

Mu Junyan pulled off her cloak with one hand, scooped her into his arms with the other.

“I’ll sleep with you.”

Gu Hua’s heart pounded wildly. She nestled obediently in his broad, warm embrace, listening to the strong rhythm of his heartbeat, not daring to move.

Exhausted, she soon drifted into a deep sleep.

The Next Morning, Just Before Dawn, Gu Wanru held the invitation that the Marquis Gu’s residence had sent the night before. “Are you sure Father came home last night?”

Jinkui nodded. “Yes. But the lord entered the study and didn’t seem to come out afterward. Not sure if he’s still there now.”

Gu Wanru was overjoyed. “Since Father stayed up all night, I can go greet him and bring some nourishing soup. I’ll just casually mention that the marquis’s residence wants Gu Hua to return. He won’t bother questioning it.”

Jinkui glanced outside. “Isn’t it too early? It’s still dark.”

“Father’s most exhausted at this hour after staying up all night. If I go later, he’ll be off to court again. Didn’t the small kitchen already prepare chicken soup for me? Go ladle a bowl—quickly.”

Gu Wanru went to her wardrobe and selected a proper, elegant outfit.

Once ready, she hurried off with Jinkui toward Guanshan Tower.

Because it was so early, the front gates of Wenhan Pavilion were still closed. Gu Wanru walked around and discovered the small side door near the study was ajar. Without thinking much, she slipped inside.

The place was silent, with no servants in sight.

Gu Wanru felt delighted. No one was there to stop her from fulfilling her filial duty.

She quickened her pace and had just reached the front of Guanshan Tower when a figure suddenly stepped out and blocked her path.

“Young Madam, please return.”

The chilling voice startled Gu Wanru.

It sounded like a ghost.

But the person clearly knew her—he was one of her father’s personal guards. Gu Wanru naturally had to maintain a courteous tone.

Steadying herself, she smiled. “I’m here to bring Father some nourishing soup. He’s been up all night and has to attend court soon. A bowl of chicken soup will warm him up and help him feel better.”

Chi Yu: “…”

The lord had indeed been busy all night.

But he certainly didn’t need her soup.

Chi Yu said coldly, “Young Madam, please return.”

Gu Wanru fumed—how dare a lowly guard block her?

But she had always portrayed herself as magnanimous and good-natured, so she forced down her anger. “Why don’t you go report to Father first? If he doesn’t want to see me, I’ll leave then.”

The guard stood there like a towering statue, unmoved, unwilling even to waste words with her.

Gu Wanru barely held her temper. “The chicken soup was simmered all night just for Father. Whether he drinks it or not, that’s for him to decide. Go in and ask him.”

Chi Yu had had enough. “Does Young Madam not understand human speech?”

Gu Wanru couldn’t hold back her fury any longer. She had already had Yinzhi whisper in Mu An’s ear, arranging for him to leave the residence today with a guarantee of satisfaction.

That meant she had to get Gu Hua out of the estate today.

She refused to believe the guards would dare touch the esteemed young madam.

Lifting her skirt, Gu Wanru stormed forward. The guard turned and, with a cold face, suddenly drew his sword.

The gleaming blade halted Gu Wanru in her tracks.

Just then, strange sounds drifted from inside the room.

From the study—where women were strictly forbidden—came a delicate feminine voice.

“My lord… I can’t anymore. Please spare me… It’s almost dawn.”

A low, commanding voice cut her off: “Turn over. I’ll take over.”

Gu Wanru felt like she’d been struck by lightning. She stood frozen.

Behind her, Jinkui nearly dropped the food box in shock. She clutched the handle tightly and took two steps back.

No one should be hearing this!

Chi Yu’s face turned dark.

If the lord’s mood was ruined, he might lose his head.

He advanced menacingly with his sword, lowering his voice without the slightest politeness. “Young Madam. Please. Leave.”

Terrified, Gu Wanru stumbled back. In her panic, she forgot about the stairs behind her. One misstep, and she tumbled down.

Jinkui cried out and rushed to catch her, setting down the food box.

In the flurry, she accidentally knocked it over.

The box tipped, spilling the steaming hot chicken soup all over the ground, splashing onto Gu Wanru’s embroidered shoes, which hissed with rising steam.

One foot scalded, Gu Wanru didn’t even register the pain. Her face was stricken, like she’d seen a ghost, as she grabbed Jinkui.

“That woman’s voice just now—was it Gu Hua?!”

Only a fool would admit it.

Jinkui feigned ignorance. “I didn’t hear anything, my lady. It was completely silent in there.”

Gu Wanru shook her head. “No, I heard it clearly.”

She was certain it wasn’t her imagination.

“I swear I—”

“Young Madam, no matter what you think you heard, you must keep silent. Or else… you won’t get to open your mouth ever again.”

Gu Wanru looked up and met Chi Yu’s icy stare. His gaze was as if he were looking at a corpse.

A chill ran down her spine as she immediately understood.

Even if her father had really done something with Gu Hua, she was not allowed to speak of it. If she did, her father would not spare her.

Jinkui helped her up. Just as the two were about to leave, the door creaked open.

Gu Wanru froze.

Out stepped a white embroidered shoe. A woman in flowing white robes, wrapped in a purple cloak, walked out gracefully.

Gu Wanru was stunned.

When she saw the person’s face clearly, her eyes widened in disbelief.

It’s her!

Her illegitimate sister, whom she always trampled underfoot—Gu Hua—with her cloud-like hair slightly disheveled and seductive eyes still brimming with allure, had just stepped out from that sacred, women-forbidden study.

Her delicate figure swayed like a willow, fragile and graceful, walking toward her in slow, gentle steps.

In a soft voice, she asked, “Elder Sister, did you come to pay your respects to His Lordship?”

Gu Wanru stood frozen, stiff from head to toe. Though she had suspected Gu Hua of seducing their father, or that their father might favor her beauty, she never imagined…

They actually…!

What now?

How could she ever explain this to her husband?

Gu Hua glanced at her, then deliberately extended her hand from within her cloak to tuck away some loose strands of hair.

Gu Wanru saw she was wearing a man’s inner robe.

And on her fair, delicate hands and neck—were traces of hickeys, evidence of passion.

Gu Wanru’s mind went blank.

Gu Hua, with a serious expression, gently advised, “Elder Sister, you should go back. This place was never meant for you. Since you’ve seen what you shouldn’t, just pretend it never happened. If you wish to continue being the young madam of the Duke’s residence, remember this—I’m merely the Second Miss of the Gu family, your illegitimate sister, here copying manuscripts in the study for the late madam.

“If even a sliver of today’s events leaks from your or Jinkui’s mouth, I’m afraid you’ll no longer be welcome at the Duke’s residence—or at the Marquis’s. And as for Jinkui… she may not survive.”

Jinkui turned pale with fright.

The little ant in her palm had suddenly bared its fangs. Gu Wanru snapped back to her senses.

So, the past two days of sweet talk and fake concern were all a ruse. Behind her back, Gu Hua had seduced her father and lied to her about whispering sweet words in his ear on her behalf.

It had all been a delaying tactic from that wretched little slut.