FBC – Chapter 6 The Lord Has Finally Become a Normal Man

Zhou Chunyu quickly said, “I’ve already sent someone to Jinxiu Pavilion to investigate—it won’t be long before we hear back.”

If the one who climbed into bed last night was the Young Madam’s younger sister, he wasn’t sure if the Lord would spare her life. After all, the Young Madam had once done him a great favor when she was a child.

Before long, the person sent to secretly search Jinxiu Pavilion returned.

“My Lord, Steward Zhou, we found the sleeping robe beneath the maidservant’s bed in the Young Madam’s quarters. I left it untouched and exactly as it was.”

Zhou Chunyu glanced at his lord. His face remained calm and emotionless.

“Shall we send her a bowl of medicine?”

After all, what if she ended up pregnant?

Mu Junyan’s mind was still looping images of the little woman from last night and didn’t hear the question.

She was a damn bewitching little seductress!

Seeing no response, Zhou Chunyu was deeply alarmed. Was the Lord… planning to let her bear a child?

Another quarter of an hour passed, and a figure dressed in black entered.

“My Lord, Dong Mo picked out two bolts of fabric granted by the Emperor two years ago, a bottle of imperial snow lotus facial cream, and some burn ointment from the household physician.”

“Fabric from two years ago? Snow lotus cream? What kind of reward is this supposed to be?” Zhou Chunyu was baffled.

He’d thought the little brat was trying to curry favor with the Young Madam—but clearly, his intentions lay elsewhere.

“That girl burned her hands,” Mu Junyan said, lifting the lid of his teacup to brush away the foam. His tone was a bit cold.

That little girl was quite the charmer—even Dong Mo, his most trusted attendant, had been thoroughly taken in.

Did they all think he was dead or something?

Zhou Chunyu’s eyes widened.

“Burned her hands? Even so, snow lotus cream? That’s an imperial treasure, priceless even with silver!”

The guard, Chiyu, added, “It’s a severe burn—both palms are red, swollen, and blistered. Only the snow lotus cream can ensure her skin heals without scarring.”

Chiyu, Mu Junyan’s personal bodyguard, had overheard Gu Hua and Dong Mo’s conversation while covertly protecting them.

“What?!”

Zhou Chunyu, usually emotionally stable, was stunned.

He was known for being strict, punishing wrongdoers without mercy. But even so, the maids and older servants were rarely harmed unless they made a grave mistake.

The Young Madam appeared gentle and virtuous—but was she truly this cruel?

Chiyu continued, “Tonight, the Young Madam intends to send her to Young Master Mu An.”

The fact that the Lord hadn’t thrown the girl out immediately and had instead carried her into the study nearly made him drop his jaw.

He’d stood guard outside the study until dawn and saw the little girl sneak out.

Since the Lord hadn’t given orders, he didn’t follow.

The Lord’s dislike of women was one thing, but if a woman he had slept with ended up as his own son’s concubine, and he later found out Chiyu had known and said nothing—he’d probably have both legs broken.

This had to be said.

“Ah!” Zhou Chunyu was once again struck speechless.

Whether sold off or beaten to death, any woman the Lord had touched could not possibly be given to the young master.

The Lord had always doted on Mu An. Over the years, Mu An had done many outrageous things, and yet the Lord had hardly interfered. The servants certainly didn’t dare say a word.

But this—this was a matter of ethics! What if…

If she got pregnant… whose child would it be?

What a mess that would be!

Zhou Chunyu sneaked a glance at the Lord’s expression. Mu Junyan’s face had darkened slightly.

Watching him hold his teacup in silence for a long time, Zhou Chunyu couldn’t help asking, “My Lord… shall we handle this the usual way?”

If they didn’t deal with that girl tonight, and the young master got to her next, wouldn’t that make the Lord a cuckold?

He didn’t dare imagine it.

“What do you all think—did that girl try to escape from Mu An, or is she aiming for a higher branch?”

Zhou Chunyu hesitated. “She seems… rather innocent.”

He had never met the Gu family’s second daughter before, but upon seeing her today, he found her completely different from the Young Madam. Her eyes were as pure as spring water—she didn’t seem like someone capable of such schemes.

If he had witnessed how Gu Hua had pounced on the Lord with his own eyes, he might not have thought that way.

Chiyu, sword in arms, was lost in thought.

After bumping into the Lord, the girl had tried to get up and even scolded him to let her go.

It was the Lord who, for reasons unknown, had forcefully carried her into the study and done the deed.

And from how timid she looked earlier—she couldn’t even lift her head—it didn’t seem like she had the nerve to risk her life pouncing on the infamous Mu the Slayer.

If it had really been a deliberate seduction, why not just make it clear?

If the Lord didn’t want her, she would have lost her chastity for nothing—and possibly her life too.

It just didn’t make sense.

“What’s your take?” Mu Junyan asked coolly, turning to his seemingly clever and stern-faced guard.

Chiyu replied earnestly, “…Your subordinate believes Miss Gu must have her reasons.”

That little frame of hers—there was no way she could resist the Slayer once he made up his mind.

To Chiyu, the Lord’s willpower was starting to show signs of wavering.

Well then.

Was it his fault now?

That little girl had already fooled one of his most trusted men?

Mu Junyan slammed the lid of his teacup shut in irritation and left the room, expression taut.

Zhou Chunyu and Chiyu exchanged glances. Was the Lord… angry?

“Tonight, arrange for her and Mu An to dine with me,” Mu Junyan said as he stepped out.

“Yes, my Lord.”

Hearing that, Zhou Chunyu finally breathed a sigh of relief. The girl’s life was likely spared.

Chiyu’s eyes lit up.

Wow—the Lord had finally become a normal man!

The two exchanged a look of satisfaction, and Chiyu quickly followed after him.

On the way back with Gu Wanru, Gu Hua’s mind was in complete disarray. Her palms hurt, but the panic in her heart drowned it out.

Would Dong Mo reveal her injuries—or that she was to be sent to Master Mu An tonight?

If she failed last night… what would she do now?

Back at Jinxiu Pavilion, Gu Wanru glanced at her. “Hua’er, you’re good at cooking. Go to the kitchen and prepare dinner for the gentleman.”

“Yes,” Gu Hua answered distractedly.

“Hua’er, do your hands still hurt?” Gu Wanru asked with concern.

“It’s nothing,” Gu Hua replied without turning around.

“Wrap them up properly. We wouldn’t want the sight to ruin the gentleman’s appetite.”

“Yes.”

As Gu Hua stepped out, Yin Zhi happened to enter—full of rage. The moment she saw Gu Hua, she raised her hand to slap her hard.

But Gu Hua turned her head and countered with a sharp bump of her hip.

Smack!

Yin Zhi’s bandaged hands slammed hard into the doorframe. She cried out in pain, shaking her hands.

Gu Wanru rushed over. “Quick, help her up!”

Jinkui hurriedly supported her. Yin Zhi’s tears streamed down her cheeks from the pain.

“Young Madam, please stand up for me! That little slut Gu Hua burned me on purpose!”

Gu Wanru turned calmly. “Jinkui, go apply medicine to Hua’er’s hands.”

She didn’t want her husband seeing how badly Gu Hua was burned and spoiling her image as a virtuous lady.

“Yes, Madam.”

Once Jinkui and Gu Hua left, Gu Wanru selected a golden hairpin from her jewelry box and pinned it in Yin Zhi’s hair.

“You’ll have to endure this for now. What can we do? The Young Lord has taken a liking to her. Once he’s tired of her, you can do whatever you want. For now, not a single new injury is allowed on her body.”

Yin Zhi was aggrieved. “I’m only upset on your behalf!”

Gu Wanru patted her shoulder. “I know you mean well. I feel for you too. When you marry your cousin, I’ll give you a generous dowry.”

“For tonight, rest up. Hua’er and Jinkui can attend to things.”

Yin Zhi opened her mouth to speak, but just then, a servant announced:

“Young Madam, the Lord has sent a reward.”

Yin Zhi perked up. “It’s Dong Mo, from the Lord’s side.”

“Invite him in,” Gu Wanru said happily.

“Young Madam, the Lord asked me to deliver this. He said it’s a meeting gift in honor of your first official tea service after joining the household,” Dong Mo said, presenting two bolts of dull-colored brocade.

Gu Wanru’s smile stiffened. “Thank you. Please place them on the table. I’ll personally thank the Lord tomorrow.”

She glanced at Yin Zhi.

With reluctance, Yin Zhi fished out a tiny silver melon seed and handed it over. “Here, a reward from our Young Madam.”

Dong Mo didn’t accept it. “This is my duty.”

He glanced around. Not seeing Gu Hua, he simply placed the fabric down and left.

Yin Zhi scoffed, full of disdain. “What is this junk? The pattern’s from years ago, and the color is so old-fashioned—it’d suit the old madam better. How could it be good enough for the First Lady?”

In noble households, rewards were all about status. The more valuable, the more face they gave you.

Gu Wanru was inwardly furious. “You and Jinkui take one bolt each.”

Yin Zhi pouted. “Even I don’t want it. The Lord really doesn’t think highly of you.”

Gu Wanru reclined on the soft couch by the window. “There’s no rush. Once the young lord becomes heir and I’m in charge of the household, won’t everything in the Duke’s estate be mine?”