FBC – Chapter 45 The County Princess

The maid from the Jiang family looked haughty and proud. “Our County Princess is the biological younger sister of the late wife of the Duke of Yong.”

Gu Hua nodded politely. “So she is the younger sister of my brother-in-law’s mother. What a fortunate meeting for this junior.”

The Jiang family maid felt something was off with those words. She glanced at Gu Hua, then turned to report back.

Gu Hua didn’t pay her any more attention and instead smiled at Shopkeeper Qiu. “Shopkeeper Qiu, I really would like to see the jewelry you mentioned.”

Shopkeeper Qiu gestured for the maid to bring out a wooden box lined with velvet. Inside was a set of silver jewelry inlaid with amethyst. Elegant and unique.

Gu Hua’s eyes lit up with amazement. “It’s truly beautiful.”

In both of her lifetimes, she had never seen something so lovely.

“Steward Zhou mentioned last time that he would prepare two sets of jewelry for you. This set was specially made just for you.”

Gu Hua was surprised.

But since it had been arranged by Steward Zhou, she couldn’t decline.

It was originally for the sake of maintaining the dignity of the Duke’s household, not something that belonged to her personally. If she ever left the Duke of Yong’s residence, she simply wouldn’t take it with her.

Shopkeeper Qiu instructed her maid, “Wrap it up and send it to the Duke’s residence.”

Gu Hua had already thought it through.

She accepted it calmly, without refusal.

“Wait.” A crisp female voice rang out.

The three of them turned toward the voice. Jiang Ruoxi entered arrogantly, casting a cool glance at Gu Hua.

For no particular reason, she just didn’t like her.

Though Gu Hua was technically a junior of the Duke of Yong, she looked too enchanting—completely lacking the restraint a noble lady should have.

As the future wife of the Duke and the future mistress of the household, she had to snuff out ambitious women like this before they grew bold.

Out of regard for rank, Gu Hua bowed respectfully. “Greetings to County Princess Jiang.”

Jiang Ruoxi didn’t even look at her. She bluntly pointed to the amethyst jewelry. “I want that set.”

Shopkeeper Qiu frowned. “Apologies, but that set is for Second Miss Gu.”

Jiang Ruoxi smiled lightly. “How much is it? I’ll pay double—or even triple.”

Gu Hua raised an eyebrow.

With a temper like that, could Mu Junyan really like her?

She wondered what the late wife’s personality had been like.

Shopkeeper Qiu replied blandly, “It’s not about the price. This set isn’t expensive. The style is simple, and it suits Second Miss Gu better. If County Princess likes, we can find a more suitable set for your status.”

Gu Hua looked at Shopkeeper Qiu in surprise.

Such a direct nature—not afraid at all of offending the Jiang family, which was the Empress Dowager’s maternal clan.

Jiang Ruoxi’s face darkened from being rebuffed.

The assistant shopkeeper quickly stepped in with a smile, trying to appease her. “What Shopkeeper Qiu means is that Your Highness is of noble birth and deserves more luxurious jewelry. This amethyst set, while rare in color, is only silver—not very costly.”

He signaled to a maid, who hurried off to fetch something more lavish.

Jiang Ruoxi, a regular patron of Linlang Pavilion, knew Shopkeeper Qiu had a bad temper. If she felt a piece of jewelry didn’t suit the buyer, she wouldn’t sell it no matter how much silver was offered.

Most of Shopkeeper Qiu’s clientele were aristocrats—she didn’t want to offend anyone.

She shot Gu Hua another look. The more she looked, the more displeased she became.

Tomorrow, when they entered the palace, she would definitely urge Mu Junyan to drive this concubine-born younger sister of his little wife out of the Duke’s household.

Leaving such a troublemaker in the house would only stir up gossip.

Holding herself with the bearing of a noble lady, Jiang Ruoxi lifted her chin and stared haughtily at Gu Hua. “Shopkeeper Qiu is right—status should match appropriate jewelry. If it’s not yours, don’t covet it, or you’ll only disgrace yourself.”

Gu Hua smiled. “The County Princess speaks wisely. This junior has learned a lesson.”

That “junior” made Jiang Ruoxi uncomfortable.

She was only eighteen, but being called “junior” made her feel a decade older.

Dong Hua wasn’t highly educated, but she could tell Jiang Ruoxi was targeting Second Miss Gu.

Miss Zhou had instructed her repeatedly to protect Second Miss Gu. This insult could not be endured.

She stepped forward and offered a proper curtsey. “County Princess, this servant belongs to the Duke’s household. Second Miss Gu is the personal teacher appointed by our master. All the jewelry in Linlang Pavilion was ordered under the Duke’s instructions. It’s not something just anyone can covet.”

Being rebuked publicly by a servant, Jiang Ruoxi’s expression turned thunderous.

“What’s your name?”

Dong Hua lifted her chin. “This servant is Dong Hua.”

“Dong Hua, is it? I’ll remember that.”

Jiang Ruoxi sneered, then turned and left.

Once she married into the Duke’s household, the first person she’d punish would be this insolent servant—beat her to death!

Gu Hua watched Jiang Ruoxi’s retreating figure in silence.

Then she turned to Dong Hua and whispered, “Aren’t you afraid she really becomes the mistress?”

“With her? Not likely.” Dong Hua’s eyes widened.

Gu Hua wanted to laugh. “Why not? Didn’t you hear the Empress Dowager granted the marriage?”

“Our master doesn’t marry women he doesn’t like. No one can force him.”

“You’re so sure he doesn’t like her? Wasn’t his late wife also a marriage granted by the Empress Dowager? They’re sisters—maybe he’ll grow fond of her out of nostalgia.”

“The late wife was different. She loved our master for many years. She was gentle, quiet, educated, and kind to the servants after marrying in. But this one? Forget the master—none of us servants even like her.”

As they chatted in hushed tones, the two exited Linlang Pavilion.

Gu Hua now had a clearer idea of things.

Dong Hua followed her into a narrow alleyway. Up ahead was a small bookstore.

A wooden sign hung at the door: Guqing Bookstore.

“Wait for me outside a moment. I’m picking up some calligraphy practice books.”

“Alright.” Dong Hua stood watch at the door.

Gu Hua stepped over the threshold. The shopkeeper, who was organizing books, turned at the sound.

“Oh my, Miss Gu! You haven’t been here in over a month. I was just thinking of sending someone to quietly check in on you at the Gu residence.”

The shopkeeper ordered a servant to bring tea.

Gu Hua bowed slightly. “Thank you for your concern. I’ve been staying at the Duke of Yong’s residence with my elder sister recently, so I haven’t had time to come out.”

“I see. Your copied manuscripts are our most popular items. The students say your handwriting is elegant and neat—so easy to read, and without a single error. Everyone wants to buy your copies.”

Gu Hua blushed. “If I’m going to copy, I should do it properly.”

“You’re here for blank books again?”

“Yes.”

“How many this time?”

“Ten. And two brushes, please.”

Gu Hua curled her fingers slightly.

She used to earn ten copper coins per copied book. Three books could get her a dou of polished rice.

She’d been doing it for a year and a half—barely scraping together five taels of silver, most of which she’d spent tracking Mu Junyan’s whereabouts.

She was well aware that relying on Mu Junyan was only temporary.

Someday, she would leave and live the life she wanted.

As the saying goes: without money, you can’t take a single step; with money, you can even make ghosts do your bidding.

Silver—she had to earn it.

The servant brought tea, and the shopkeeper told him to fetch ten blank books.

These books looked like ordinary blue-covered ledgers on the outside. Inside, she could copy whatever she wanted—the book title would be written on the inner pages.

The servant wrapped the ten books in a fabric with orchid patterns. The two brushes were rolled in oiled paper and handed over to Gu Hua.

“Shopkeeper, may I ask—if it’s a rare classic or a lost text that’s hard to find on the market, how much would that fetch?”

The shopkeeper’s eyes lit up. “It depends on the book. If it’s one the scholars have been desperately searching for, it could sell for ten times what your usual copies do.”

Gu Hua’s heart pounded.

The Duke’s study had many rare classics—even priceless, irreplaceable ones.

She’d been considering this for a while. Luckily, today was her chance to ask.

She quickly calculated in her head—if one copy earned her 100 coins, ten copies would be a tael of silver.

If she could sneak in a few copies of rare books while working on the late wife’s manuscripts, and kept at it for three months, she’d have enough saved to escape once Mu Junyan died in battle—and finally break free from Pei’s grasp.

“Please write down the titles of the rare texts you’re looking for. If I can find them, I’ll copy one or two to try. How about that?”

“Wonderful, wonderful!”

The shopkeeper quickly wrote down several titles and handed the list to Gu Hua.

She carefully folded the note and stored it away. “I’ll take my leave then.”

Seeing her carrying such a heavy bundle, Dong Hua rushed to help. “It’s so heavy—are these all practice books?”

Gu Hua gave a vague nod.

The copying work… was not something she wanted the Duke’s household to know about.

_{FL is wayyy over in her head. She thinks she can outsmart Duke and other people who has seen more world than her without rebirth. She’s kind of annoying.}