FBC – Chapter 59 Indulgent Descent

Much to Gu Hua’s surprise, Mu Junyan didn’t immediately pounce with dominant passion like she had imagined.

Instead, one of his large hands slowly caressed her back, while the other grazed her lips and slid along her hair to cradle the back of her head.

Gu Hua was much younger than him and had lacked fatherly affection since childhood. She didn’t resist his touch—instead, it felt comforting. Like a well-behaved kitten curling up in its master’s arms, her heart gradually calmed.

She could sense that Mu Junyan was deeply hurt by Mu An tonight. His mood was heavy, filled with emotions she couldn’t quite understand.

But what truly troubled her was the tonic soup. She was scared of when its effects would kick in.

His hand slid from the back of her head down to her cheek. The slightly rough pad of his thumb traced her facial contours and came to rest once again on her lips.

Her quivering lips trembled beneath his warm touch, like dry twigs catching fire—a burning heat surged through her.

It was over.

The sensation was here.

Gu Hua grew nervous.

It was only early autumn, yet she felt heat flooding her body.

She raised her head slightly, eyes pleading as she looked at the man whose expression remained unreadable.

What was he trying to do?!

Mu Junyan noticed the sweat beading on the tip of her nose and chuckled lightly. “Hot?”

Gu Hua grew annoyed, lowered her head and groaned in frustration.

Even through their thin layers of clothing, she could feel their burning skin colliding like two blazing fires feeding off each other.

Her chin was lifted again, forcing her to meet his deep, unfathomable gaze.

The scorching heat coursing through her intensified, while he continued to leisurely observe her—why did this feel like he was toying with a cat?

Her beautiful eyes flared with heat and frustration. She really wanted to bite him.

But she didn’t dare. All she could do was endure it, waiting for her master’s next command.

Her arms crossed tightly over her chest, small hands clenched like a skittish beast ready to bolt at any second.

Seeing her looking so puffed-up yet cowardly stirred something inside Mu Junyan.

What he gave her was just a ginseng tonic. His teasing earlier had merely been to mess with her.

But now, things had clearly changed.

The girl’s thin clothes were damp with sweat, clinging to her graceful curves. Yet her arms, crossed firmly over her chest, pressed down just enough to reveal the most alluring contours from his angle.

He too began to feel the heat.

Her cherry lips pressed tightly together, eyelashes trembling. She seemed both afraid of him and struggling to suppress her internal fire.

Mu Junyan felt a dull ache in his jaw—he’d been clenching too hard. Unable to resist, he let out a low chuckle.

What a timid yet feisty little kitten.

Hearing him laugh, Gu Hua—already overwhelmed trying to suppress the burning heat—looked up.

Still laughing?!

She puffed out her cheeks in frustration, heart steeling with resolve. Suddenly, she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her pretty face close.

Wasn’t this what men liked?

Since she was here to serve with her beauty, what was the point in pretending to be reserved?

Just as she puckered her lips and prepared to climb onto him, she heard his hoarse voice: “Was the tonic good?”

Gu Hua froze, unable to move forward or back.

Her temper flared. Still clinging to his neck, she turned her head away with a huff, refusing to acknowledge him.

That awkward posture was something Mu Junyan had never seen before—and oddly, it made her look even more lively.

The bitterness and frustration he’d carried from Mu An’s words earlier suddenly dispersed. He gently lifted her chin, forcing her to turn her head back toward him.

His eyes locked onto her flushed, alluring lips. Mu Junyan’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

The Prince once told him that women were a kind of balm.

After decades of restraint, it was only now that he understood the sweetness of women.

Yet, no matter how seductive other women were, they never stirred him. Why was it only this little girl who completely shattered his self-control?

He couldn’t understand it.

And since there was no answer, he decided to stop caring.

Sometimes, indulging in one’s desires could be a pleasure in itself.

“Open your mouth.”

Gu Hua looked puzzled but obediently parted her lips.

Darkness fell over her vision.

Warm lips pressed gently against hers. The strong hand at her back pulled her in tighter, supporting her head with unwavering steadiness.

Gu Hua’s head was tilted back, her delicate neck unable to support itself, leaving her no choice but to passively receive the deep kiss.

But this kiss was different from the previous two.

This time, he seemed to be savoring her—exploring, discovering.

But her body was on fire, burning with urgency she could no longer hold back.

It’s over. The drug was taking full effect.

Should she attack him wildly? Or hold back and wait for him to take the lead?

Her mind was a mess. The more she thought, the worse it felt. Her arms tightened around his neck, pulling him closer until their lips and teeth tangled, her soft moans blending with his heavy breathing, entwining and lingering, inseparable.

That night, the Jinxui Pavilion was restless until dawn.

Gu Wanru’s child couldn’t be saved.

When she saw the fully formed male fetus, she nearly broke down.

With bloodshot eyes and a shrill, broken voice, she screamed, “Gu Hua, you wretched bitch! I want you to die without a burial!”

In the courtyard, Zhou Zhilian’s face turned dark. “Let her try and touch Sister Hua if she dares!”

Zhou Chunyu remained calm as always. “You reap what you sow. Let’s go.”

Neither spared the crazed woman another glance. They turned and left.

Apart from the Jinxiu Pavilion servants, everyone else left too.

Even Shen Li didn’t want to stay. She looked at her master. “Master, should we keep waiting?”

The Physician Sun shook his head. “No point in staying. Let’s go prepare the medicine and have the servants bring it to be decocted.”

The two left as well.

Jinkui stood beside Gu Wanru’s bed, staring blankly at her.

Gu Wanru screamed and raged for a long time, but no one responded.

That wooden-faced girl in front of her didn’t even seem to have ears. The lack of reaction made Gu Wanru dizzy with rage—she nearly passed out.

She bit her lip hard, and the pain brought her back to her senses.

The child was gone. Gone. Gone…

Her mind was in chaos. What should she do?

With the child, Mu An still gave her some respect—after all, it was the Duke’s first grandchild, and his father would value it. Mu An would have to care too, for the sake of the title.

But now, her most important bargaining chip was gone.

Could she still hold onto her position as the young madam of the Duke’s estate?

It was all that wretched Gu Hua’s fault.

She had to pull herself together!

“What are you standing there for?”

Jinkui’s eyes moved slightly. “What are your orders, Miss?”

“What Miss?! I’m the young madam!”

Gu Wanru was boiling with rage. She wanted to throw a teacup at her, crack open that stubborn skull.

But she didn’t have the strength—could barely breathe.

Jinkui’s expression didn’t change. “What does the young madam need?”

“Go get my medicine! Why are you so useless!”

Gu Wanru’s anger had nowhere to go. She couldn’t hit anyone, so she could only lash out with words.

Jinkui said nothing and turned to leave.

In the past, when the young master wasn’t around, Gu Wanru would vent her anger on the servants—especially targeting Gu Hua.

Back then, Gu Hua was the designated scapegoat for all her outbursts.

Later, Gu Hua became protected in the Duke’s estate, and Yinzhi was promoted to a concubine, so Gu Wanru turned her anger toward Yinzhi instead.

But Yinzhi was absurdly loyal. She knew full well that serving Gu Wanru meant getting abused, yet she still bore it willingly.

Yinzhi even told Jinkui, “The young madam’s temper is only bad because of Gu Hua. If we don’t let her vent it, she’ll fall ill from holding it in.”

So Yinzhi said she’d rather be beaten and scolded than let the young madam keep it bottled up.

Jinkui’s eyes filled with tears as she turned away.

This was the loyalty of a dog—devotion to someone like Gu Wanru.

She had watched Yinzhi beaten half to death. Had Gu Wanru ever spared her a single thought?

Never.

Gu Wanru only cared about whether the young master still loved her, whether he would forgive her.

Jinkui was full of sorrow.

She and Yinzhi were both born into the household. Yinzhi’s mother had been Gu Wanru’s wet nurse, and a child nursed by the same woman was usually treated like a second daughter.

When Yinzhi’s mother fell gravely ill and could no longer serve Gu Wanru, she sent her own daughter to take over.

Yinzhi and Jinkui grew up in the estate. From age seven, they had served Gu Wanru together.

Though different in temperament, they were close as sisters.

Jinkui had always lived by the principle of self-preservation.

But after watching her dear friend beaten into a bloody pulp for someone else’s misdeeds, her resolve wavered.

Was self-preservation enough to keep her life?

Jinkui returned with the medicine, preparing to feed it to Gu Wanru. Since it had just been decocted, it was scalding hot. She gently blew on the spoon.

Gu Wanru, still seething with rage, stared daggers at her emotionless face and suddenly flung the entire bowl of boiling medicine at Jinkui’s face.

Jinkui let out a low scream, covering her face for a moment before lowering her hands—her skin red and terrifying from the burn—as she stared straight at the crazed Gu Wanru.

“Young madam, Yinzhi died for you. Now I’m the only one left by your side. If you scald me, who’s left to serve you?”

Gu Wanru choked on a mouthful of blood.

Facing Jinkui’s cold, determined gaze, for the first time, she felt fear.

She tried to compose herself. “Go get another bowl.”

Jinkui said nothing and walked away.

Gu Wanru wanted to kill someone—wanted to kill that damned Gu Hua.