FBC – Chapter 56 Help Me

Gu Hua was forced to tilt her head up, her mind growing fuzzier by the second.

She was filled with frustration. Why ask her?

If he wouldn’t help, what else could she do?

Why did everyone have to push her, bully her?

She felt like she was on the verge of dying and could no longer restrain herself.

Her soft, delicate voice escaped faster than her rationality: “Want a kiss… want you… please…”

Her mind was buzzing, but she clearly heard what she had said—and remorse immediately overwhelmed her.

She was so shameless… How could she ever expect Mu Junyan to take her to heart now?

“…Alright.”

Mu Junyan’s voice carried a hint of pleasure—low, magnetic, and composed.

To Gu Hua, it felt like she had drunk a cup of sweet spring water—cool and refreshing.

Suddenly, Mu Junyan leaned in. She became so nervous that she shut her eyes tight, her cherry-pink lips parting slightly as she braced for a storm.

Suddenly, a sharp pain pricked her fingertip.

The familiar pain made her eyes snap open. Seeing her bloodied fingertip, she began trembling violently.

“No… Don’t prick under my nails… It hurts… I-I’ll behave… Please…”

Tears filled her eyes as her fragile body shook uncontrollably, trying desperately to retract her wounded hand.

In her vision, the cruel faces of Concubine Pei and Gu Wanru twisted into cruel grins. They drove needle after needle beneath her nails—leaving her fingers bloody and mangled—and still wouldn’t let her go. They tied her hands to the arms of a chair and jabbed every single fingertip.

They didn’t care what kind of needles they used—thin embroidery needles, thicker sewing ones, even thick quilting needles.

When those ran out, they used hairpins…

The mother and daughter watched her cry and scream in agony and laughed with delight.

Mu Junyan hadn’t expected her to struggle so violently. Realizing she was reliving her trauma, he understood: She thought she was being tortured again.

Until Physician Sun and Shen Li could make an antidote, this was the only way he could help her—by releasing some blood to reduce her fever.

Without hesitation, he sat on the bed, cradled her in his lap, and wrapped both arms around her from behind, holding her tightly.

He softened his voice, coaxing gently: “I’m not hurting you—I’m letting out some blood. I didn’t touch under your nails, just a pressure point at your fingertip. Once a little blood flows out, you’ll feel better.”

Surrounded by his warmth, Gu Hua finally felt safe.

As her heart calmed, she looked through teary eyes at her bleeding finger.

He really was a gentleman.

He hadn’t taken advantage of her vulnerability.

Feeling her quiet down, Mu Junyan whispered at her ear: “Can you bear it?”

Gu Hua curled up in his embrace like a startled kitten and obediently nodded, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz: “Mm… I can.”

Mu Junyan felt an almost irresistible urge to kiss her flushed cheek.

Suppressing his desire, he focused all his attention, holding her fingertip gently and pricking the skin with the needle until blood beaded out.

Gu Hua let out a soft moan and gasped from the pain.

Mu Junyan tried to be gentle, but if he was too soft, no blood would come out, and it would be pointless.

He quickly switched to another finger, hardening his heart as he pricked it. When blood started flowing, he withdrew the needle and moved to the next.

Each prick felt like it pierced Mu Junyan’s own heart. He flinched every time she did.

He had killed countless people without batting an eye—yet now, pricking this little woman’s finger had him treating her as delicately as porcelain.

He almost laughed at himself for being so sentimental.

Footsteps approached from outside, and soon he heard Zhou Zhilan’s voice.

Mu Junyan finally relaxed. Glancing at Gu Hua, whose eyes were filled with tears, he whispered: “The Physician Sun and Shen Li are here—they’ll know what to do.”

Gu Hua felt relieved. She turned her face slightly, her heart in chaos as she looked at the handsome face so close to hers.

Mu Junyan gently laid her back under the covers, walked to the window, and opened it: “Let them in.”

Zhou Zhilan turned around in surprise.

Huh?

He’s fully dressed…

Does that mean… nothing happened?

Physician Sun entered in a hurry with his medicine box, while Shen Li carried a food box. Shen Li immediately went to the bathing room to prepare a medicinal soak for Gu Hua.

Gu Hua already felt much better. After taking her pulse, Physician Sun used a few acupuncture needles on key pressure points.

Then he took a bowl of medicine from the food box. “Miss, drink this, then soak for another half hour—you’ll be fine.”

Gu Hua obediently accepted the bowl. The bitter smell made her frown slightly. With red-rimmed eyes, she drank it all in small sips.

Soon, Shen Li returned with Dong Hua and Dong Qing.

“Master, the bath is ready.”

“Help Miss Gu, and keep an eye on the water temperature—it mustn’t be too cold.”

“Yes.”

Dong Hua and Dong Qing helped Gu Hua up. Her clothes were soaked through, clinging tightly to her skin.

Physician Sun quickly lowered his head and exited.

Mu Junyan also turned to leave with him, speaking in a low voice: “You’re sure it’s from Yichun Courtyard?”

“Yes.”

Physician Sun glanced at him and quietly added, “Concubine Yao admitted it. She said Concubine Yin asked her for it—but said nothing more.”

Mu Junyan’s face darkened.

How dare they use such filthy methods within the Duke’s Manor?

“Investigate thoroughly,” he ordered.

From the shadows, Chi Yu vanished silently.

“Zhilan, call your brother over too.”

“Yes, sir.” Zhou Zhilan responded and left.

After bathing, Gu Hua felt drained. Dong Hua and Dong Qing supported her out of the bathing room.

As she looked up, she saw Mu Junyan standing under the ginkgo tree in the courtyard, gazing up at its golden leaves.

He stood tall and proud, exuding a powerful presence.

He turned when he heard her—his gaze meeting the image of a girl with damp black hair cascading down her back, soaking the fresh white underclothes she had just changed into.

The thin fabric clung to her delicate figure—truly an arresting sight.

“Get inside before you catch a chill.”

Gu Hua had so much to say, yet couldn’t voice any of it.

Blushing, she bowed her head and stepped inside, crawling under the blanket—and couldn’t help glancing out the window.

There was now a tall, slender man beside Mu Junyan.

Chi Yu?

Gu Hua didn’t think she had ever seen him properly before.

Mu Junyan seemed to notice her gaze and looked toward her.

She quickly lowered her head.

She must’ve lost all composure just now—how embarrassing.

Only when she heard his steady footsteps walking away did she lift her head. Mu Junyan and Chi Yu had already left.

Gu Hua felt unsettled, as if she owed him something.

“I’m going to the kitchen.” She tossed aside the blanket and got out of bed.

Dong Hua and Dong Qing panicked and pressed her back down.

“Miss, you’ve just endured something horrible. You need to rest!”

Gu Hua blushed. Was it really that horrible?

She only fell for it because she was greedy!

“I’m fine—it’s not like I’m sick. I’m already feeling better,” she insisted.

The two maids had no choice but to help her dress.

Just then, Shen Li entered carrying another bowl of medicine and frowned: “What are you doing?”

“I’m going to make some pastries. I promised Steward Zhou I’d prepare a late-night snack for the master today.”

Gu Hua looked at Shen Li like a child who’d done something wrong, timidly.

Shen Li stared at her for a moment, then sighed and softened her tone: “This is all my fault. I didn’t detect the poison in time.”

Gu Hua quickly took the medicine from her and drank it all in one gulp.

She hurried to reassure her: “It’s okay. You’ve never seen something this disgusting before either.”

Shen Li glanced at her. “Fool.”

Gu Hua grabbed her hand, pleading: “Dear Doctor Shen, the medicine worked! I’m fine now. Please let me make the pastries?”

Shen Li snorted and pulled her hand away. “Go, go, go.”

Overjoyed, Gu Hua lifted her skirt and tried to walk quickly—only to stumble and almost fall to the floor.

Fortunately, Dong Hua reacted quickly and caught her.

Gu Hua gave Shen Li an embarrassed grin. “I’ll walk slowly.”

Shen Li scowled. “Who knows what you’re thinking… You don’t care for yourself at all.”

In the kitchen, Gu Hua busied herself when Zhou Zhilan rushed in.

She pulled Gu Hua aside and whispered in her ear.

Gu Hua looked surprised. “Yinzhi said she wanted to please the master, so she asked Yaoyao for the stuff?”

“Mm. The master wants to punish her, but the young madam is crying and begging for mercy.”

Gu Hua thought for a moment—the pastries were already shaped and just needed steaming and baking.

“You wait for me.”

She returned to the kitchen and asked the cook to help steam and bake them. The cook knew that Second Miss Gu’s standing in the manor had been rising lately, so she cheerfully agreed.

Gu Hua then grabbed Zhou Zhilan’s hand. “Let’s go see.”