FBC – Chapter 3 The Eldest Sister Serves Tea to Her Father-in-Law

From Jinxiu Pavilion to Wenhan Pavilion where Duke Yong resided, the walk took a full two quarters of an hour.

Along the way, Gu Hua’s palms were scorched red from the heat, and even the edges of her fingers that touched the silver teapot were swollen and blistered. One could only imagine the state of her palms.

Gu Hua bit her lip hard, clutching the teapot tightly, wishing she could reach her destination faster.

The teapot was an imperial gift, and the tea leaves were tribute items. If anything went wrong, even her life wouldn’t be enough to pay for it.

Gu Wanru looked at Gu Hua’s pale face, her own smile growing ever more gentle, her pace even slower.

“You’ve worked hard, little sister. I’ve prepared a new dress for you—I’ll bring it to you tonight.”

Gu Hua’s voice trembled, “Thank you, Young Madam.”

Ever since she was sent into the residence, Concubine Pei had dragged her by the ear, declaring that she was now her elder sister’s maid and dowry servant, bound by strict hierarchy, and forbidding her from calling her elder sister by that title in public again.

Gu Wanru was quite pleased with how obedient Gu Hua had become.

“Gu Hua, don’t worry. You were born with such good looks—you’re surely blessed. Once we reach Wenhan Pavilion, you can head back.”

“Yes.”

Blessed?

After stealing her life, did she still want her to die with such “blessing”?

Just for the chance to show her face before Duke Yong, Gu Hua had willingly scalded her own hands. And Gu Wanru still wanted to send her away?

Sorry, dear sister.

That won’t go as you wish.

Yinzhi saw sweat beading on Gu Hua’s forehead from the pain and spat at her viciously.

“The Young Madam only asked you to carry a teapot. What are you pretending for, acting all delicate? If not for her kindness and virtue, a vixen like you should’ve been drowned in a pond long ago to spare others your trouble!”

Gu Hua said nothing, eyes locked firmly on the ground, terrified of tripping.

Either the imperial teapot or the tribute tea would be reason enough for her sister to use the cruelest methods against her.

Duke Yong’s attitude toward her wasn’t clear yet—if he didn’t want her…

She was still useful, so her sister wouldn’t ruin her face or any visible parts.

But the soft flesh that couldn’t be seen—like driving embroidery needles under her fingernails—that pain was worse than death.

Yinzhi, furious at being ignored, slapped the back of Gu Hua’s head.

“Still pretending to—ah!”

“Ah!”

With two cries of shock, Gu Hua fell forward.

At the same moment, the teapot flew from her hands, seemingly headed straight toward Gu Wanru.

Gu Hua spread her arms and wrapped them around Gu Wanru, and the two of them tumbled forward onto the ground.

Screams rang out behind them—Yinzhi’s shrill wailing filled the air.

Jinkui also shrieked.

Gu Hua helped Gu Wanru up, both of them turning back to look—and were startled by what they saw.

Steam was rising from Yinzhi’s chest, and her neck and palms were scalded red. She was hopping in pain like a frog, screaming nonstop.

Jinkui didn’t dare touch her and stood frozen, helpless.

Gu Wanru cast an unfriendly look at Gu Hua.

Gu Hua looked terrified, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Young Madam, it’s all my fault. Sister Yinzhi slapped the back of my head, and I got startled and lost my footing. When I saw the silver teapot flying forward, I was scared it might burn you, so I just focused on saving you…”

Gu Wanru believed her.

It must’ve been that Gu Hua had pushed her down to avoid the teapot, and Yinzhi, being too close, was hit instead.

Jinkui quickly glanced at Gu Hua.

She had clearly seen, in the instant Gu Hua pounced toward the Young Madam, that she had swatted the teapot mid-air toward Yinzhi.

The teapot’s course changed and struck Yinzhi squarely.

Jinkui’s gaze fell on Gu Hua’s hands, swollen and blistered. She said nothing, merely bowed her head and helped Gu Wanru clean the grass and dirt from her dress.

Gu Hua nervously looked toward Wenhan Pavilion. “Young Madam, we’re almost there. If the people inside see us in such a disheveled state and start gossiping, it wouldn’t be good.”

Gu Wanru agreed.

This mustn’t affect her husband’s matters.

She looked at the blank-faced Jinkui, then at Gu Hua, who seemed as docile as a little rabbit.

“Jinkui, take Yinzhi back to apply medicine,” Gu Wanru instructed, then turned to Gu Hua.

“You’ll come with me to serve tea to Father-in-law.”

“Yes.”

Gu Wanru had heard from her husband that his father’s first wife had died early, but the two had been deeply affectionate.

Another reason the Duke never remarried was because a high monk once told him that his aura was too violent—his fate was harsh and would bring death to his wife. Combined with his years of commanding troops on the border, he’d chosen never to take a second wife.

Her husband was the son of one of the Duke’s subordinate generals. That general died saving the Duke in battle, and in return, the Duke had adopted his son as his own and named him as heir.

Her husband was certain the title of Duke would eventually pass to him. So when the Duke returned victorious, he urged her to be filial and attentive—to win the Duke’s favor so he’d request the emperor to formally name him heir.

Gu Wanru noticed that Gu Hua had tucked her burned hands into her sleeves to hide them from sight.

A sensible and obedient girl, she thought.

She asked kindly, “Does it hurt?”

“It’s nothing,” Gu Hua replied in fear.

Seeing her timid demeanor, Gu Wanru was very satisfied.

As they walked, she smiled, “You know, Yinzhi has served me since we were little, so we’re deeply bonded. But she only meant well—she was afraid something would go wrong with the tea for Father-in-law. After all, your gain is my gain, and your loss is my loss. Don’t blame her.”

Gu Hua replied softly, “If Sister Yinzhi is willing to discipline me, I couldn’t be more grateful. I must learn from her how to properly serve.”

Hearing her repeatedly call herself a maid, even more readily than usual, Gu Wanru felt something was… off.

But she couldn’t pinpoint what, and was used to Gu Hua’s self-abasement by now.

Back at the marquisate, whenever Gu Hua saw her, she would always call herself a maid in deference, her humility making the other illegitimate daughters look down on her, calling her cheap and lowly.

Even her own mother had once said that for someone born so beautiful, Gu Hua had inherited her concubine mother’s submissive air—completely unpresentable.

Gu Wanru put on a scolding face, “You are my own younger sister, the sister-in-law of the Duke’s legitimate heir. There’s no need to call yourself a maid all the time. If the people here hear you, they might think I mistreat you.”

Gu Wanru always upheld a gentle and virtuous image.

Gu Hua played along, “Elder Sister has always been kind to me, and my concubine mother only ever acted for my good. As a concubine-born daughter, being allowed into the Duke’s residence to serve my elder sister is already a blessing. Besides, I’ve signed the servant contract. I really am just a maid.”

Her chest ached as she said it.

That servant contract had been forced upon her by Concubine Pei, supposedly to ease her sister’s mind.

It was now in Gu Wanru’s hands.

In her previous life, she could never escape her doomed status.

Her birth mother never even knew she existed. Her concubine mother and this twin-born elder sister kept her trampled underfoot. Her scumbag father never spared her a glance.

She’d cried to heaven and the earth—and neither answered.

Gu Wanru smiled in satisfaction. “Truly, I feel for you. When Concubine Pei said she was sending you here, I even argued with her. I’m the legal wife. What if my husband took a liking to you and made you his concubine? You’d be stuck as a servant forever. That’d be sending you right into the fire pit!”

Gu Hua paused in her steps, flustered. “E-Elder Sister, I only wish to serve you all my life. I wouldn’t dare dream of someone as refined and handsome as my brother-in-law.”

At those words, Gu Wanru felt wholly reassured and deeply pleased.

She reached out and linked arms with her. “Silly girl, how could I ever harm you? Since Concubine Pei sent you here, of course I’ll help you find a good future.”

For the first time, the two sisters talked like family as they walked. Before long, they reached Wenhan Pavilion where Duke Yong resided.

Outside, guards bustled in and out.

As soon as the two entered, they overheard the steward, Zhou Chunyu, speaking softly to a page.

“It’s been two hours already and still no sign? It must’ve been stolen by one of the maids. Where else could it go?”

The page was sweating profusely. “Steward Zhou, I’ve already sent the matrons to search every maid thoroughly.”

Gu Hua’s heart skipped a beat.

Were they looking for the Duke’s nightgown?

Her ears flushed hot.

Unconsciously, she tugged at her collar.

Today, she wore a loose grey high-collared blouse, carefully covering the ambiguous marks on her neck. As long as no one looked too closely at her face, it wouldn’t seem suspicious.