FBC – Chapter 33 Hiding One’s Talents

Criticizing them without even getting the full story?

There really wasn’t a single reasonable person in the Gu family.

Zhou Zhilian’s almond-shaped eyes widened in outrage, but just as she was about to speak, Zhou Chunyu shot her a silencing glance.

Zhou Chunyu smiled and said, “This concerns the late Lady of the Duke’s household, so our lord is particularly attentive to it. The gifts we brought today were meant as a token of thanks to Second Miss Gu.”

“Zhilian would never dare to speak out of turn in the Marquis’s residence. What she mentioned earlier was about Second Miss Gu’s registration as a slave. We came specifically to inquire about that on orders.”

Originally, Mu Junyan had said he would add to Gu Hua’s dowry. But after what happened last night, their relationship had changed, and the gift was now reframed as a token of appreciation.

Madam Wang was taken aback. “A token of thanks?”

Zhou Chunyu signaled to a servant behind him, who stepped forward carrying a wooden box.

“It’s just a humble thousand taels. We hope the Marquis and Madam will accept it with a smile.”

A thousand taels, just like that.

The State Duke was really giving them face.

Gu Yuan’s expression immediately brightened.

His tone became more cordial.

“It’s just transcribing some manuscripts. If the Duke holds her in such regard, it’s Hua’er’s good fortune. There’s no need for such a generous reward.”

Concubine Pei panicked.

“Hua’er can barely write. She only picked up a few characters while accompanying the eldest daughter during her studies. She must’ve tricked and deceived the Duke!”

Zhou Chunyu smirked. “Is this concubine questioning the Duke’s judgment? Does she think our lord is blind?”

Gu Yuan’s expression darkened. He glared at Concubine Pei. “Is it your place to speak? Shut up!”

But Concubine Pei wasn’t about to give up.

If that little wench managed to hook up with Ru’er’s father-in-law, she would become an obstacle for Ru’er.

Even if it meant throwing everything away, she absolutely couldn’t let the wench succeed!

She grabbed Gu Yuan’s sleeve, crying coquettishly, “My lord, you know exactly what Hua’er is capable of. We can’t let her tarnish the Marquis household’s name.

Didn’t you say she should return home? She’s back now, and I’ll make sure to discipline her strictly.”

Gu Yuan recalled how last night, Concubine Pei had whispered in bed that Gu Hua had acted inappropriately and damaged Gu Wanru’s reputation at the State Duke’s residence, so she must be brought back.

In his haze, Gu Yuan hadn’t even caught all the details but agreed and let her send a letter using his personal seal.

He had always opposed sending Gu Hua to the State Duke’s household—an unmarried girl might cause a scandal, and that would cost him dearly.

Now thinking it over, he grew alarmed.

He turned to Zhou Chunyu and said, cautiously, “Hua’er truly isn’t very literate. And staying long-term at the Duke’s residence isn’t appropriate. Now that she’s home, she should stay and learn proper conduct.”

Zhou Chunyu smiled, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. “Concubine Pei really does speak without thinking. Second Miss Gu’s handwriting is excellent—not only has the Duke seen it himself, we were all witnesses too.

Coincidentally, she writes in the same delicate flower brush style as the late Lady, and since our families are in-laws, she is best suited for the task.

If the Marquis insists on listening to a concubine’s baseless slander and belittling his own daughter, refusing to give the Duke this favor, then I have nothing else to say. I’ll return and report this to our lord.”

With that, he called to Zhou Zhilian, “Second Miss Gu will remain here. Let’s head back.”

Gu Hua remained calm.

She knew her father well—he was greedy for both status and substance.

Gu Yuan’s expression turned anxious.

Suddenly, Zhou Zhilian remembered what Gu Hua had told her—that she used to do all the reading and writing for Gu Wanru.

Her eyes gleamed with inspiration.

“Since Second Miss Gu writes so well, then surely the young madam writes even better. If the Gu household won’t let her help, then having the young madam transcribe the manuscript should suffice.

After all, it’s just a way for the Duke to honor his late mother, to have a keepsake.”

Concubine Pei’s expression shifted dramatically.

She knew Gu Wanru’s calligraphy—it couldn’t compare to Gu Hua’s at all.

If Gu Wanru were really made to copy the manuscripts, her reputation as a talented woman would be ruined.

Gu Yuan was secretly pleased. At least this way, they wouldn’t offend the Duke.

He nodded. “Ru’er is known for her talent. Having her transcribe the manuscripts for her mother-in-law is more appropriate than Hua’er doing it. Steward Zhou, please explain this to the Duke on our behalf.”

Concubine Pei blurted out in a panic, “Ru’er is pregnant. Her body is delicate; she can’t handle the strain.”

“She’s pregnant?”

Madam Wang’s eyes widened. “How come I didn’t know? And how did you find out?”

She hadn’t expected her daughter to be so close with Concubine Pei. Such a big matter, and her own mother didn’t know—yet a concubine did?

Gu Hua glanced at Concubine Pei. Her face turned pale.

Perfect. The more anxious she appeared, the more it would show she cared more for Gu Wanru than the birth mother did.

Concubine Pei stammered, “I-It was Ying Zhi who serves the young madam… she told me…”

Zhou Zhilian spoke sweetly, “No, it wasn’t. Concubine Pei went to the Duke’s residence herself late at night and found out about the pregnancy. She also insisted on taking Second Miss Gu back at the time.”

She pointed at Dong Hua. “Dong Hua accompanied Second Miss Gu when she met Concubine Pei.”

Madam Wang’s face darkened. “You dared go to the Duke’s State residence without permission?”

“M-My lady…” Concubine Pei looked pleadingly at Gu Yuan.

Gu Yuan was annoyed with her lack of discretion, but he couldn’t chastise her in front of outsiders.

He furrowed his brows. “Enough, let’s not dwell on the rest.”

He turned to Gu Hua. “Can you really transcribe the manuscripts?”

The Wenchang Marquis estate was the leading scholarly household. He couldn’t afford to be embarrassed.

Gu Hua respectfully replied, “Yes, Father. I can. I recognize just as many characters as my elder sister.”

Gu Yuan was relieved. That would be acceptable.

Seeing Gu Yuan’s face relax, Concubine Pei grew frantic. “No! Hua’er is still unmarried. Spending her days with the Duke… if word gets out, her reputation will be ruined!”

Gu Yuan recalled last night’s pillow talk again.

He nodded, thinking she had a point. “That wouldn’t be very appropriate.”

Zhou Chunyu’s voice remained calm. “Is the Marquis questioning our lord’s character? The Duke himself isn’t concerned about gossip, yet the Marquis allows a concubine to sway him. She may be ignorant—but surely the Marquis is not?”

That struck a nerve…

No one would dare openly question the Duke.

Gu Yuan’s face turned an ugly shade of green and white.

Gu Hua stifled a laugh.

As expected of the Duke’s chief steward—he could strike at the heart with just a few words.

Concubine Pei was choking with anger but didn’t dare speak further, afraid the Marquis would change his mind.

Madam Wang had noticed. The State Duke clearly wanted Gu Hua to do the transcription. Maybe her handwriting really was good?

She didn’t want her husband to lose face and quickly interjected, “Steward Zhou jests. My husband was only worried Hua’er might not write well enough and delay things for our in-law. We truly don’t know what her calligraphy is like. Why not have her write something now for her father to see?”

Exactly what Gu Hua was hoping for.

“I obey.”

Concubine Pei turned cold. “Her writing is awful…”

Madam Wang snapped, “Outrageous! What do you know? Do you even know how to write delicate flower brush script?”

Concubine Pei was literate, yes—but only noble young ladies learned the delicate flower brush script.

Gu Yuan agreed. “Go ahead and write. If it’s good, it’ll ease your elder sister’s burden and honor your mother-in-law.”

Gu Hua was delighted.

Granny Zhou quickly prepared ink and paper.

Gu Hua walked to the desk without hesitation, picked up the brush, and began writing with clean, fluid strokes.

Gu Yuan and Madam Wang couldn’t help but step forward and watch her, one on each side.

With her birth mother by her side, Gu Hua felt even more motivated.

In her past life, everything she did was to earn her parents’ approval.

She never thought she’d get a chance like this after being reborn.

To keep from showing off, she didn’t use her own poetry. Instead, she copied a passage from one of the commercial manuscripts she’d practiced regularly.

Gu Yuan’s eyes grew wider with each stroke. He never imagined that the daughter he had looked down on the most had the best handwriting of all.

No—better than even his sons.

Madam Wang was equally astonished, unable to believe the girl writing so seriously before her was the same one she’d overlooked.

Beneath her long lashes, Gu Hua’s eyes were bright with confidence. Her petite nose was straight, and her pink lips were pressed together in focus.

She had underestimated this illegitimate daughter.

Suddenly, an inexplicable sense of familiarity and guilt pricked at her heart.

She didn’t understand why she felt this way—just that she felt regret.

She had paid too little attention to this daughter.

She had thought, since her husband favored Concubine Pei and most household expenses were covered by Concubine Pei’s dowry and her family’s support, that she had no grounds to compete.

To preserve her position as the official wife and avoid tarnishing the name of the Langya Wang clan, she had turned a blind eye.

And in doing so, had neglected her own daughter.

Who would have thought that of all the young ladies in the Marquis’s household, Gu Hua was the most outstanding when it came to calligraphy?