FBC – Chapter 93 Vicious

A man behind him hurriedly grabbed his arm. “Huang Laosan, the Young Master gave strict orders to only capture Gu Wanru. We’re not to touch anyone else, so as not to blow things out of proportion.”

The leader of the group flung his hand off and snorted. “Lu Laosan, the Young Master is too soft—like a woman. Since when have we, following the Boss, ever shown mercy? Besides, the command we received was from the Heir himself. We were to capture both sisters. I’d bet the one hiding inside is the younger sister.”

He lowered his voice when he mentioned the Heir.

Lu Laosan frowned. “The Heir gave his instructions to the Young Master. When did he speak to you directly?”

Huang Laosan sneered. “The Young Master’s nothing more than the Heir’s pampered plaything now…”

“Watch your tongue!” Lu Laosan’s thick brows bristled in anger.

The fact that the Young Master was pretending to be the Heir’s lover was something no outsider could know.

The two men glanced simultaneously at the two women nearby, who were pale with fear.

Huang Laosan dragged Lu Laosan aside and whispered, “The Heir wants both women. If we don’t deliver, do you really think he’ll let the Young Master off?”

Lu Laosan insisted, “And if you lay a hand on anyone else, the Young Master will make sure you die a death worse than anything you can imagine! You know how ruthless he is. Have you forgotten how you even got your position as ‘second-in-command’? The last guy didn’t follow orders—so the Young Master personally chopped off his limbs, gouged out his eyes, then flayed him alive!”

Huang Laosan shuddered all over.

The Young Master was a madman.

They were all ruthless killers, yes—but a madman was even more terrifying.

Not only did he sever all familial ties, he seemed to enjoy torturing people—killing like a connoisseur savoring a fine dish.

Especially when he wore that gentle, elegant scholar’s face—chuckling softly as he flayed someone alive—it was horrifying.

Just remembering it felt like a cold snake slithered up Huang Laosan’s spine.

They had all looked down on him before, seeing him as some frail bookworm. After that incident, they all bowed to him without question.

And truthfully, if the Young Master hadn’t killed that disobedient second-in-command, Huang Laosan never would’ve had the chance to rise to his current position.

Lu Laosan patted him on the shoulder. “The Young Master is our true master. The Heir is his concern. Let’s not cause trouble.”

Huang Laosan frowned and glanced at the carriage.

Lu Laosan said, “Let’s go. We’re close to the Yichun Courtyard. Didn’t the Young Master say there might be an ambush there? If we’re discovered, everything’s ruined.”

Huang Laosan nodded. “Let’s go.”

In a flash, the men disappeared with Gu Hua in tow.

Inside the carriage, Gu Wanru gripped the curtain tightly, paralyzed with tension.

She could hear them arguing—loud one moment, hushed the next.

Then suddenly, silence.

She cautiously peeked out—no one was there.

They’d spared her?

But then—footsteps approached.

Startled, she shrank back and whimpered, silently begging the heavens to save her.

“There’s someone in the carriage.”

Someone shouted outside, and then the curtain was suddenly lifted.

Only then did Gu Wanru see—it was the patrol officers on night duty.

She quickly jumped down and cried, “I’m the young madam of the Duke Yongguo’s manor. We were attacked by bandits! They killed our coachman and my maid—and kidnapped my younger sister!”

The leading officer was shocked. “You’re the young madam of the Duke Yongguo’s manor? Which way did the bandits go? How long ago?”

Gu Wanru was just about to point in the direction they fled—but suddenly, she changed course and pointed down another alley.

“They went that way! It hasn’t been long—you’ll catch them for sure!”

The officers quickly dispatched a squad in the direction she pointed.

A few stayed behind to escort Gu Wanru.

“Madam Mu, shall we return your maid’s body to the Duke’s manor as well?”

Gu Wanru had no desire to see that traitor Jinkui again. She quickly shook her head. “She was a turncoat—nearly got me killed just now. Please just toss her body in a mass grave. No need for the trouble.”

“Understood.”

Biyu looked at her, her expression dark.

Meanwhile, Huang Laosan and the others had already thrown Gu Hua into a waiting carriage at the street corner and climbed in with her.

Huang Laosan suddenly looked uncertain. “Did we catch the wrong person?”

Huang Laosan blinked. “Should we check?”

He quickly pulled the girl from the sack. The light was dim, her face unclear—but her figure was unmistakable.

Curvaceous. Well-developed.

“She’s definitely a married woman. A young maiden wouldn’t have such a full figure.”

The men didn’t hesitate further and hurried toward the bustling street.

In the patrol’s carriage, Gu Wanru sat nervously.

Then she caught Biyu’s gaze—watching her closely, a mix of suspicion and complexity.

Gu Wanru’s heart began to race.

This woman had always looked down on her, relying on her long history of serving her husband to act above her station. A mere servant girl who dared ignore her, the proper young madam.

It had taken no small effort to convince her husband to offer this woman to a powerful court noble—Gu Wanru had planned to get rid of her tonight.

She had seen her kill Jinkui with her own eyes. If she let Biyu return to the manor, it would be like planting a ticking bomb beside her.

Gu Wanru clenched her teeth, lifted the curtain, and said sweetly, “Sir Officer, I was actually on my way to the banquet hosted by the Heir Jiang with my husband tonight. It really can’t be delayed. Would you mind dropping us at the Yichun Courtyard?”

Everyone knew the Heir Jiang, and Da Zhou was liberal—noblewomen were allowed to visit the entertainment quarters to watch performances.

Yichun Courtyard was a private establishment—with female courtesans and male companions.

It wasn’t unusual for noblewomen to sneak off there for fun.

Since she was attending with her husband, the soldiers thought nothing of it and agreed to take her there directly.

Gu Wanru calmed herself and smiled at Biyu kindly.

“Biyu, you’ve served my husband since childhood—he and I both trust you deeply. What happened tonight was a special case. Jinkui betrayed her mistress, her death was deserved. You understand, don’t you?”

Biyu stared at her. “You did this because the Young Master likes Gu Hua, didn’t you? You want her dead.”

Gu Wanru’s smile faltered, stiffening. “Don’t tell me you don’t hate Gu Hua? That little whore flirts with every man she sees—if she gains favor, do you think she’ll spare either of us?”

Biyu’s expression was conflicted. “Jinkui was your personal maid, and you not only killed her—you dumped her corpse in a mass grave. And now Gu Hua’s been abducted. She probably won’t survive. She’s your blood sister. You’re truly vicious.”

Gu Wanru’s smile vanished. Her tone turned cool. “People die for wealth; birds die for food. Jinkui betrayed me for Gu Hua’s silver—so what’s so strange about her death? As for Gu Hua, I kindly took her into the manor. But she didn’t just seduce my husband—she tried to seduce my father-in-law too! She’s already brought shame to both the Gu and Mu families. A shameless wretch like her deserves to die out there.”

Biyu looked at her in disbelief, even fear.

They were nearly at Yichun Courtyard.

Gu Wanru steadied herself. “Tonight’s banquet is of utmost importance. My husband trusts you enough to have me bring you along. The guests include the Heir of Prince Ping’an and a powerful court noble. Biyu, I know you don’t like me, but surely you won’t ruin this event just because I made some mistakes?”

Biyu hesitated slightly.

Gu Wanru pressed her advantage. “My promise still stands. If you help me serve the noble guests well tonight, I’ll speak with Steward Zhou first thing tomorrow—to have you promoted to noble concubine and remove your slave status.”

Biyu stayed quiet for a long while, then slowly said, “You’d better keep your word. Or don’t dream of holding on to your title as Young Madam.”

“Don’t worry—I always keep my word.”

Finally, Gu Wanru could breathe easy.

You little wretch—tonight, you’re never going back to the Duke’s manor!

A noble concubine? Keep dreaming.