FBC – Chapter 65 Gaining Loyalty

The two of them were chatting while turning to head elsewhere when suddenly they heard someone crying behind them.

They turned around.

“Jinkui?”

Jinkui halted her steps. Seeing it was Gu Hua and Zhou Zhilian, she hurriedly wiped her tears and curtseyed, “This maid greets Second Young Lady and Miss Zhou.”

Gu Hua stepped forward and gently held her hand with concern. “What happened to you?”

Jinkui winced in pain with a sharp gasp.

Gu Hua looked down and saw bruises on her wrist. She quickly pushed up the sleeve, revealing a forearm covered in mottled, deep bruises.

Zhou Zhilian was also shocked. “Did the Young Master do this?”

Jinkui quickly withdrew her arm and pulled down the sleeve. “No, this maid just bumped into something.”

Gu Hua knew better. Mu An wasn’t the type to hit people only in hidden spots—this was definitely Gu Wanru’s doing.

Gu Wanru always had a kind face but a venomous heart. She maintained the appearance of a dignified and virtuous lady, but in truth, was as cruel as Concubine Pei.

In the past, with Yinzhi serving in front and Gu Hua around to take the blame, even a slow-witted person like Jinkui wouldn’t be punished.

Now that both she and Yinzhi were gone, Jinkui had become the only punching bag.

Gu Hua asked, “Why were you looking for the Young Master?”

Jinkui lowered her head. “The Eldest Young Lady sent me to speak with the Young Master about something.”

Gu Hua glanced at Zuimo Pavilion. “He’s in a rage right now. He probably won’t come.”

So Jinkui had been scolded and thrown out.

But if she didn’t find the Young Master, she’d get beaten, and if she failed to bring him back, she’d still get beaten. Jinkui’s tears wouldn’t stop, her face full of helplessness.

Gu Hua deeply understood how Jinkui felt—she had been the same in her previous life.

Bullied every day, trapped inside four walls with no hope or sunlight, as if there were no way to survive.

Gu Hua patted her hand. “If you’re in trouble, come to me. We’ve both served the Eldest Sister for over a month—I care about you too.”

Jinkui’s eyes welled up as she choked out, “Second Young Lady, I… in the past…”

Gu Hua spoke softly, “Let’s not talk about the past. Everyone has their difficulties.”

Jinkui hadn’t expected Gu Hua to let go of past grievances. Thinking about her own bleak future, sorrow welled up again.

Gu Hua looked at Zhou Zhilian. The two exchanged a knowing glance.

“I have something to do. You two talk.” Zhou Zhilian found an excuse and left.

“Come, let’s go to my place and have some tea. If you’re in trouble, I’ll help you think of a way.”

Jinkui had no options left. If she couldn’t fetch the Young Master, the Eldest Young Lady definitely wouldn’t spare her.

She was not like Gu Hua.

Back when Gu Hua was around, the Eldest Young Lady had to maintain a gentle and graceful image, even when trying to win favor or punish someone. Everything had to be done in secret.

But now that the masks were off, especially after her miscarriage, Gu Wanru’s temper had turned violent. When she hit someone, she no longer held back—and Jinkui had no choice but to endure it.

Jinkui followed Gu Hua into Yayun Pavilion.

Dong Hua and Dong Qing eagerly served tea and snacks, treating Gu Hua as the rightful mistress. Jinkui watched in amazement.

Gu Hua pulled her to sit down.

Jinkui didn’t dare, but Gu Hua firmly pressed her onto the soft couch.

“You’re from the Gu household. We’re family. Treat my place like your home—no need for formalities.”

Gu Hua smiled and offered her a pastry. “This is the best pastry in the Duke’s estate—crispy and flaky. Try it.”

Dong Hua had seen Jinkui before and knew she had never helped Gu Hua when she was bullied. She wasn’t much better than the rest.

Although she didn’t scowl, she couldn’t resist adding a jab.

“This isn’t just any pastry. It’s made with rare morel mushrooms and ham from the southern regions—ingredients worth a fortune and only available during this season. Only Old Madam and Miss Hua get to eat these.”

Jinkui had just brought the pastry to her lips when she heard this. Frightened, she quickly set it down.

“Eat it, it’s fine,” Gu Hua said kindly.

Dong Hua raised a brow. “You’ve already touched it—what, are you expecting our young lady to eat it now?”

Gu Hua glared at her. “Enough. Sister Jinkui has always looked out for me in the past.”

Dong Hua instantly put on a flowery smile. “Ah, is that so? Then Sister Jinkui must eat more! I’ll go get a few more tasty snacks from the kitchen!”

She dragged Dong Qing and ran off.

Jinkui sat dazedly, thinking how fiercely loyal Dong Hua was to Gu Hua.

Gu Hua smiled to herself.

Dong Hua might seem brash, but she was sharp. She knew Gu Hua wouldn’t bring Jinkui in for no reason, so she helped out on purpose.

Jinkui looked awkward.

“Eat. They left so you’d feel comfortable.”

Feeling a lump in her throat, Jinkui began to nibble at the snack, quietly taking in the surroundings.

Neither Gu Wanru nor she had ever entered here.

Though not as large as Jinxiu Pavilion, every detail was exquisite, the furnishings made of high-grade materials, and everything looked new.

She clicked her tongue inwardly—clearly Gu Hua was being favored. Could she really be the Duke’s woman now?

But the Duke hadn’t married her, not even taken her as a concubine.

A woman without any official status—why did everyone in the Duke’s estate treat her so well?

Jinkui couldn’t figure it out.

“Sister Jinkui, you’ve had a hard time lately.”

Jinkui snapped out of her thoughts. Her mouth was full of pastry, so she couldn’t speak.

“I wasn’t around, so there was no one left to vent on. With Sister Yinzhi gone too, all the frustration had to fall on you. You must’ve suffered a lot.”

Gu Hua’s words hit Jinkui right in the heart.

Tears welled up again.

Gu Hua sighed and handed her a cup of tea.

“Sister Yinzhi was truly pitiful. She was so loyal to Eldest Sister, and still ended up like that—it chills the heart.”

“Yinzhi… is she really dead?” Jinkui couldn’t hold back her sobs.

“That day, the Duke’s guards carried out the punishment. They were ruthless. Though Yinzhi was a maid, she was raised delicately, never did hard labor—how could such a fragile body withstand an iron whip? I couldn’t even bear to look. She was like a person made of blood.”

Jinkui covered her face and wept.

Gu Hua continued, “I saw her still breathing when she was dragged away, her eyes full of despair as she looked at Eldest Sister. If Eldest Sister had stepped in to protect her, the Duke would have spared her for the sake of his daughter-in-law.”

“A maid’s life is cheap, yes—but still a life. The Duke’s estate has always been kind to servants. Even if punished, it never had to end in death.”

Every word pierced Jinkui’s heart.

These past few days, her grief and resentment had only grown.

Yinzhi had been more loyal than anyone to Eldest Young Lady. Even when she was forced to become a concubine to the Young Master, and even though he doted on her just to spite Eldest Young Lady, she’d still sneak off to Jinxiu Pavilion whenever she could and serve Eldest Young Lady with all her heart.

Even when constantly scolded and beaten, Yinzhi never complained. She would even tell Jinkui she owed the Eldest Young Lady and urged her to serve well.

But was her death worth it?

The more Jinkui thought, the more hatred and fear filled her heart.

Suddenly, she dropped to her knees and kowtowed to Gu Hua, crying, “Second Young Lady, please save me! If this goes on, Eldest Young Lady will beat me to death! I don’t mind dying, but my mother and younger brother won’t survive without me!”

Gu Hua quickly tried to lift her. “Get up—I’m still calling you Sister, don’t kneel to me like this.”

Jinkui refused to rise, gripping Gu Hua’s sleeve tightly like clutching onto a lifeline.

“Second Young Lady, I wronged you before. When you were suffering, I turned a blind eye. I deserve death, I…”

Gu Hua almost lost her balance from being pulled.

“What could you have done back then? Come on, get up.”

“I had no choice… My mother is seriously ill, and my brother is only five. My father died years ago, and our family is poor. My meager wages aren’t enough. Only with Concubine Pei letting us take medicine on credit from the Pei family’s pharmacy can my mother survive.”

Crying, Jinkui spilled everything.

Gu Hua was her only lifeline.

Gu Hua’s heart sank.

So this was how Concubine Pei controlled everyone—by exploiting their weaknesses.

“We’ll figure something out together.”

Jinkui stood up tearfully and looked at Gu Hua like she was a living Bodhisattva.

Gu Hua pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her tears. “You’re eighteen now, right? Time to start thinking for yourself. Tell me everything troubling you, and we’ll find a way.”

Jinkui trembled.

Eighteen.

Thank goodness she was plain-looking—or else…

With no more secrets to hide, Jinkui revealed everything she had overheard—Granny Chen and Gu Wanru’s conversation.

“I know Eldest Young Lady wants the Young Master to do something, but she won’t speak plainly. I can’t tell him directly, and he definitely won’t go see her. When I return, I’ll be beaten again.”

She broke into fresh sobs.

Gu Hua fell into thought.

As expected, the matter of the winter military supply order was about to unfold—just as she remembered.