FBC – Chapter 89 Honored Concubine, Are You Willing?

“Though I have no choice but to wrong Gu Hua by taking her as a concubine, I will marry her with the proper rites of a main wife.”

Mu Junyan’s words made Madam Wang’s expression ease slightly.

After all, the Duke Yong’s status was far too high. A daughter born of a concubine from the Gu family truly couldn’t be his principal wife.

Gu Yuan was overjoyed. “Then our families will be even more closely bound by marriage!”

After seeing Mu Junyan off, the Gu household was in an uproar. No one had expected that the most inconspicuous Second Young Miss would suddenly rise so high—a wild chicken turning into a phoenix.

Gu Yuan was ecstatic. “Who would’ve thought both of my daughters would marry into the Duke Yong’s household? And Hua’er, she’s truly accomplished to have caught the Duke’s eye!”

Concubine Pei snorted coldly. “She’s just using her looks to serve a man. What’s there to be so happy about?”

“Concubine Pei!”

Madam Wang could no longer endure it and scolded angrily, “You’re her birth mother—how can you speak so viciously? The Duke Yong said he would marry her as an honored concubine with the rites of a main wife. She’ll have dignity!”

Concubine Pei gave a sarcastic smile. “Precisely because I’m her birth mother, I know exactly what she’s worth. It’s fine if she thinks of herself as lowly, as long as she doesn’t interfere with the Eldest Miss’s position as Young Madam.”

Whenever she mentioned her own daughter, Madam Wang always felt something was off.

Concubine Pei was usually arrogant and overbearing, never putting her, the matriarch, in her eyes. Yet strangely, she was always pushing her own daughter beneath the legitimate young miss’s feet.

But since it involved her own precious daughter, Madam Wang didn’t say anything more.

Thinking of the pitiful child Gu Hua, Madam Wang’s heart softened somewhat. She instructed, “Concubine Pei, prepare Hua’s dowry according to the standards for a legitimate young lady marrying out.”

Concubine Pei shrieked, “She’s born of a concubine! How could she deserve the same dowry as a legitimate daughter?”

Madam Wang truly couldn’t understand why Concubine Pei was so heartless toward Gu Hua.

She turned to Gu Yuan. “My lord, Gu Hua is marrying the Duke Yong. He sent betrothal gifts befitting a main wife. If we don’t provide a matching dowry, what if the Duke thinks we’re slighting him? A son’s bride shouldn’t receive more than the father’s, should she?”

Gu Yuan had initially agreed with Concubine Pei. A concubine-born daughter marrying as a concubine didn’t warrant too much expense.

But Madam Wang’s words made perfect sense. “The madam is thoughtful. Concubine Pei, prepare Hua’s dowry to match Ru’er’s—don’t leave anything out.”

Concubine Pei rolled her eyes.

Ru’er had married Mu An with a ten-mile red dowry procession—it had nearly drained her own dowry.

Now Madam Wang wanted her to provide that much for that little wretch too? Dream on.

Concubine Pei’s face fell as she raised her hands. “My lord, look at the household accounts—we don’t have the funds for such a dowry. Why not ask Madam Wang to pitch in from her own dowry? When the Eldest Miss married out, more than half of her dowry was supplemented from mine.”

She spoke smugly. Madam Wang had little of her own dowry, which was why His Lordship had married her.

No silver meant no voice.

Madam Wang’s face turned dark with anger.

But when it came to money, she could only choke with rage.

“As the official wife, it’s only right for me to contribute to the girl’s dowry.”

Gu Yuan, considering appearances, glared at Concubine Pei. “Concubine Pei, if you can’t make up the full dowry for Hua, then hand over all the shops from your dowry to her.”

Concubine Pei was so angry she nearly spat blood.

Weren’t those shops supporting the Gu household?

Otherwise, how could Madam Wang sit so comfortably as the Marquess’s wife?

Gu Hua had no idea the Gu residence had already been turned upside down, nor did she know how busy everyone in the Duke Yong’s household was.

She only noticed that the whole mansion had started hanging red silk and lanterns, bursting with festivity.

“Doesn’t this grand arrangement look just like a proper wedding for a main wife?”

Gu Hua felt a tinge of melancholy in her heart.

Late at night, when everything was still, Jin Kui quietly came.

“Second Miss, Eldest Miss and the Young Master have arranged to meet the eunuch in charge’s godson tomorrow at Yichun Courtyard.”

Gu Hua instantly perked up—this meeting was scheduled at exactly the same time as before.

“Who are they taking to serve them?”

“Just me and Biyu.”

Biyu!

They actually chose Biyu!

Biyu had served Mu An since childhood and had always been wholeheartedly loyal to him—how could they possibly send her to that pervert to be used as a plaything?

Then again, that was just like them.

Gu Hua was both excited and anxious.

Excited, because Gu Wanyu and Mu An had reconciled for the sake of the winter military supplies and were now taking action. As long as they acted, she’d have a chance to strike at the root.

Anxious, because she didn’t know whether Yinzhi would be willing to speak the truth—and whether she herself would get the chance to reunite with her mother.

Gu Hua didn’t see Mu Junyan all day. She wanted to ask someone to contact Chiyan, but she didn’t dare act rashly for fear of drawing suspicion.

He was about to take a wife—surely he wouldn’t continue helping her the same way afterward.

Late at night, Gu Hua tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Suddenly, a dark shadow blocked the moonlight filtering through the wooden window, casting shattered patterns across the room. Gu Hua was so startled she nearly screamed.

As the figure approached, she caught the familiar crisp, clean scent.

It was Mu Junyan.

He had never set foot in Yayun Pavilion before—especially not at such an hour.

Gu Hua quickly shut her eyes, pretending to be asleep.

She hadn’t seen him since returning from the palace, and her mind was uneasy—she didn’t know how much she mattered to him.

When the man stood by her bedside, Gu Hua was seized with the urge to test him.

He remained by the bed for a long while. Gu Hua could feel the strong aura pressing down on her, and her body moved slightly on its own.

Mu Junyan himself couldn’t explain it.

He had somehow acted on impulse—deciding to take her as a concubine. And to grant her more dignity, he had personally gone to the Gu residence to propose marriage and deliver betrothal gifts.

He didn’t know if he was doing the right thing.

By the time he returned to the manor, it was already deep into the night. Yet he couldn’t resist coming to check if she was feeling better.

He had given orders that she mustn’t know preparations were underway for a concubine’s wedding banquet—because he was having second thoughts.

What if all of this was one-sided?

Wouldn’t that just hurt the young girl?

Mu Junyan slowly sat down at the edge of the bed, reaching out to gently stroke her cheek.

It tickled, and Gu Hua couldn’t help shifting slightly. In a soft voice, she mumbled, “Dong Hua, I’m thirsty. Bring me a cup of water.”

Mu Junyan’s hand froze midair, eyes narrowing in surprise.

The girl still had her eyes closed, her throat moving as she swallowed, looking genuinely thirsty.

By the moonlight, Mu Junyan spotted the teapot being warmed over a small charcoal stove on the tea table. He poured a cup and brought it to her lips.

Gu Hua propped herself up a bit and took slow sips from his hand.

As he watched her loose hair fall into the cup, Mu Junyan naturally reached out to tuck it behind her ear.

The touch of his fingers broke her composure. She looked up in shock. “Your Grace, why are you here?”

“Finish drinking,” Mu Junyan said calmly.

Gu Hua reached out for the teacup, but he held it so firmly she couldn’t take it, so she had no choice but to bow her head and finish drinking from it.

“Still thirsty?”

“No.” Her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s hum.

Mu Junyan set the cup down and remained seated by her bed, his gaze fixed on her in the moonlight.

Should he ask her?

If she reclaimed her status as the legitimate daughter, she could marry into a good family as a main wife.

But if she became his concubine, few households would dare take her, even as a concubine, in the future.

He was beginning to regret his impulsive decision.

Gu Hua felt awkward—unsure whether she should just lie back down and sleep or do something else.

Should she try to please him?

She couldn’t bring herself to, not in this state of mind.

“You…”

“Your…”

They both spoke at the same time, then fell silent together.

In the dark, they quietly met each other’s gaze for a moment.

Mu Junyan was the first to speak. “Do you have something to say?”

Gu Hua swallowed hard and gathered her courage to softly ask, “Did the Empress Dowager bestow the marriage?”

Mu Junyan raised his brows. “Are you afraid?”

Afraid?

A little.

But after everything she had been through, Gu Hua felt she could handle any sudden change now.

As long as she had the courage to try, all roads would lead to Bianjing—one of them would be hers to take.

“I’m not afraid. If Your Grace takes a wife and has someone by your side to look after you… that’s a good thing.”

Mu Junyan rubbed his fingertips together, staring at how the moonlight lit up the clarity in the girl’s eyes. He hesitated, then said:

“If I were to take you as a noble concubine—would you be willing?”

Gu Hua looked completely stunned.