FBC – Chapter 67 The Duke Seems Quite Pleased

“I urgently need fifty thousand taels of silver,” Gu Wanru no longer cared for appearances.

Her status in the Duke’s household was at stake. Winning back Mu An was her top priority.

Gu Hua feigned shock: “That much? How could my mother possibly have that? She already used up her dowry to support the Gu family. Maybe I should go ask her? She dotes on her own daughter—surely she’d try to help you.”

Sure she would… if she even had any of her dowry left! This Concubine Pei wouldn’t hesitate to beg her maiden family for money!

Gu Wanru’s anger twisted her insides, but she had to maintain a kind expression.

“Mother no longer manages the household finances. Only your mother has access to the silver. Besides, I don’t want to trouble Mother with my own concerns.”

Ha! You don’t want to trouble your fake mother, but you’re fine troubling your real one, huh?

Fine then. I’ll help add more fuel to the fire—let you two ‘real mother and daughter’ worry yourselves sick over it!

Gu Hua obediently nodded, “I’ll definitely pass on your words.”

Gu Wanru’s anger eased slightly.

“Then I’ll trouble you, Sister.”

Not wanting to see her any longer, Gu Wanru said directly, “It’s getting dark. You’ve worked hard all day—hurry back and get some rest.”

Gu Hua didn’t want to stay a second longer either, and she stood up to leave without resistance.

As she turned to go, the smile on Gu Hua’s face froze into a sheet of ice.

A chilly breeze brushed past her face outside.

The bitterness and resentment she’d held toward Gu Wanru—that vicious woman—seemed to scatter with the wind.

Her heart grew clearer.

In her past life, this wretched mother-daughter pair had used every despicable means to achieve their goals.

Schemes, lies, oppression, torture…

In this life, let them taste it all themselves.

After a busy day, Gu Hua felt quite cheerful. Seeing that it was still early, she asked Dong Mo about the master’s return. He said their lord had guests today and wouldn’t be back until late.

Gu Hua was secretly delighted. With him gone, she could take the chance to copy more books in the study.

There was still more than half of the late madam’s poetry collection left to copy—at least two more days of work.

Fifty taels a month—she had to earn it with real work to feel at ease.

Besides, if she wanted the freedom to come and go from the Duke’s residence, she needed to keep the master happy.

She also needed to start copying the ancient texts. Making money was just too important to her.

She took out the 1000 tael banknote Pei Yi had given her, gazed at it longingly, then folded it carefully and tucked it into her sleeve.

She planned to give it to Mu Junyan to repay him for the jade pendant.

She’d said she would—so she had to follow through.

She thought: Mu Junyan is a noble and kind man. How could he possibly accept silver from a pitiful girl like me?

Just imagining the possibility made her smile.

How narrow-minded I was.

As Gu Hua became immersed in her copying, she didn’t notice the tall shadow silently approaching from behind.

When the figure’s shadow enveloped her desk, she turned around suddenly—only to be embraced from behind.

Gu Hua stiffened.

Mu Junyan’s arms wrapped around her tightly. His cheek pressed against hers. His warm breath tickled her skin, sending shivers down her spine. Her back straightened reflexively, not daring to melt into his embrace.

It was her first time being held like this by a man—awkward, but also warm.

And surprisingly… secure.

One hand still held her brush; the other was pressed to the rice paper. She didn’t know whether to keep writing or put the pen down.

The person behind her made no further moves, said nothing, as though simply holding her to watch her write.

His body warmth gradually enveloped her, and she started to relax.

To break the awkward silence, she laughed softly, “My lord, why are you back so early? I thought you had guests and would return late?”

“Hmm? You care so much about my whereabouts?”

His voice was deep and pleasant, but the tone… carried a hint of threat?

Gu Hua was startled.

Would he suspect I used money to get information about his movements from Dong Mo?

She smiled sweetly, “Of course I care about my lord.”

“Hmm.”

He sounded quite pleased.

Gu Hua quietly let out a sigh of relief.

But his arms still didn’t loosen, and Gu Hua wasn’t sure what to do next.

Mu Junyan had only meant to tease her. But now, with her soft body in his arms, her delicate fragrance stirred his senses.

He wanted to pull away—but couldn’t bear to.

He wanted more—but it wasn’t fully dark yet, and he still had his pride. Besides, he wasn’t a beast. Her body hadn’t recovered yet. To touch her now would be too cruel.

He glanced at her writing. His brows lifted—it was different from before.

Her strokes were freer, more spirited.

Mu Junyan’s left arm encircled her slender waist; his right hand reached for her hand holding the brush.

“You’re writing ‘ornamental script,’ but there’s a defiant edge in your strokes. Honestly, this style doesn’t suit you. Too restrained. No personality.”

Gu Hua blinked.

He could read her emotions from her calligraphy?

“Change to a larger sheet.”

Her right hand was still in his grasp, so she had to use her left to lay out a fresh sheet of paper.

Mu Junyan guided her hand in dipping ink, then wrote with her: four bold cursive characters—

“Heroic Spirit Forever.” (浩氣長存)

As the final stroke finished, they both instinctively lifted the brush together. It felt liberating.

Gu Hua turned to look at him, and they both smiled.

She blinked playfully, “I thought you liked the late madam’s ornamental script. Why do you want me to write cursive now?”

Mu Junyan turned her around to face him fully, both arms around her waist. Now, their bodies were pressed even more closely—too intimately.

Gu Hua’s face turned red, even her ears flushed. She lowered her gaze in shyness, holding the brush between them like a flimsy barrier.

A completely ineffective protest…

Mu Junyan gazed at her blushing face. His eyes fell on her earlobes—they looked so soft.

Ah, he really wanted to bite them.

He’d always been self-controlled, so it surprised him how often he lost composure with her.

Suppressing his emotions, he chuckled lightly, “When did I ever say I liked ornamental script?”

Gu Hua looked up, wide-eyed.

Then why have her copy it?

She understood in a flash.

It wasn’t that he liked the script—

He liked the person writing it.

A sudden wave of sourness welled up in Gu Hua’s chest. She lowered her head and stared at her brush tip.

Softly, she said, “My writing isn’t nearly as good as the late madam’s. I must look like a fool mimicking a beauty. I’d better stop copying it.”

She twisted away from his embrace and turned her back, focusing intently on washing her brush in the cleaning pot.

Mu Junyan stared at her sulking figure.

Oh? Throwing a tantrum now?

“You don’t need to copy Jiang Ruoyun’s writings anymore. I won’t look at them anyway.”

It had only been an excuse to help her. Now that he was protecting her, there was no need to continue.

His words stunned Gu Hua. She turned to look at him.

Was he really disgusted by her handwriting? He didn’t even want to see it anymore?

But then she saw him gently close Jiang Ruoyun’s poetry collection and place it into a rattan box meant for her manuscripts, carefully putting it back in its exact original spot.

See?

He still claimed Jiang Ruoyun meant nothing to him. Yet everything she owned had its fixed place—just like her fixed place in his heart.

And she… what was she?

Gu Hua pouted, feeling utterly wronged.

Mu Junyan shoved the box into the bottom shelf of the bookcase, then turned around to see the girl listlessly leaning on the desk, her eyes lowered, looking lifeless.

What’s this now?

“No energy? Want some ginseng soup to perk up?”

That well-meaning line was like setting off a string of firecrackers—Gu Hua jolted like a startled cat. Her big eyes widened, and her hands clasped tightly together.

Am I just a plaything to him?

But she didn’t dare question her wealthy sponsor.

In a trembling voice, she asked, “My lord… you want me to drink the same soup as last night?”

Mu Junyan saw how nervous she was and suddenly remembered what effect that soup had had on him the other night.

She was clearly traumatized by what followed. He quickly coughed awkwardly into his fist.

“I didn’t mean anything else.”

Gu Hua didn’t believe him, and stole a glance at his expression.

He didn’t seem to be… lustful.

Still expressionless, yes—but oddly gentler than usual.

Am I… safe tonight?

Gu Hua remained suspicious—and nervous.