Forced to be a concubine? I turned around and married the scumbag's father.

Gu Wanru couldn't help but blurt out, "They won't kill you, so how could they dare to hurt you?"

Besides, that little bitch might very well continue to live under the title of her young mistress; just thinking about it makes me furious.

"Sister guessed right."

Gu Hua smiled faintly.

"After my sister pushed me out to take your place, I might have suffocated in the box, been thrown into the brothel and had my innocence ruined, fallen into the pond and nearly drowned while escaping, nearly fell off a cliff while fleeing for my life, and died during the fight when the thugs caught me. My injuries aren't just on my legs and hands. Sister, do you want to take a look?"

Gu Hua spoke slowly and deliberately, and everything she said was true.

The voice is very calm.

But Gu Wanru was terrified when she heard this.

Those thugs were trying to arrest her!

She could also hear the resentment in Gu Hua's tone, and her grip on the handkerchief tightened.

The moment the little slut and her father-in-law walked in, she sensed the little slut's malice.

Her father-in-law was already dissatisfied with her and had even said he would divorce her.

That little slut used every seductive trick in the book to bewitch her father-in-law, making him completely oblivious to her scheming to climb the social ladder.

She forced a smile, embarrassed: "Those damned thugs actually dared to do this to you..."

"Sister, Jin Kui died such a tragic death, why did you kill her?"

Gu Hua turned around and said something that almost made Gu Wanru's legs go weak.

“She’s been with me for so many years, how could I possibly kill her? She was accidentally killed by the thugs when they were trying to take her away.”

Gu Hua watched as she tried to argue, her face no longer able to maintain its usual gentle and virtuous demeanor, and sneered inwardly.

"Accidental killing? Ah, I wonder if Biyu is alright?"

Every word struck Gu Wanru's heart like a dagger, sending shivers down her spine.

Mu Junyan seemed not to have heard the two sisters' confrontational words. He calmly sat down, placed Gu Hua's injured hand in his large palm, and gently pushed her hand away to prevent her from pressing on the wound.

Is this a blatant announcement that her father-in-law wants to take her in?

Gu Wanru was both shocked and aggrieved, and tears welled up in her eyes. She simply knelt down while crying.

"Father, she is my sister. Please, Father, show some respect to the Marquis of Wenchang's family."

"What do you mean by that, sister?"

Gu Hua feigned surprise.

Gu Wanru was so angry at the shameless pretense of that little bitch that she couldn't cry anymore.

She could only wipe away her tears with a handkerchief, refusing to respond, and choked out, "Father, if my half-sister becomes your woman and my stepmother, how can the Marquis of Wenchang's mansion and my daughter-in-law face anyone in public?"

Mu Junyan said slowly, "The Marquis of Wenchang's mansion has already accepted my betrothal gifts, and your father is very willing to call me son-in-law. Do you intend to go against the wishes of your father and father-in-law?"

Gu Hua's eyes widened suddenly.

bride price?

Her father called him son-in-law?

He actually took it so seriously... to take a concubine?

Gu Wanru could no longer hold back her tears, and her face was slashed open.

No, I can't let that little bitch get away with it!

She kowtowed hard on the ground with a loud thud, and even Gu Hua felt the pain just watching it.

They're really willing to spend that much!

"Father……"

"I came here with Hua'er today because Hua'er is your sister, so I'm giving you enough respect."

Gu Wanru's words, which were meant to threaten suicide, suddenly caught in her throat.

Hua'er, how affectionately you call her.

Mu Junyan looked at Gu Hua and said gently, "Your injuries haven't healed yet, go back and rest well."

Gu Hua nodded obediently and was helped to stand up by Mu Junyan. She was almost carried in his arms as they slowly walked out together.

Gu Wanru, her forehead covered in red, swollen bumps, knelt alone on the ground.

Gu Hua originally wanted to see how Gu Wanru would face her, but she didn't expect Mu Junyan to think so highly of her.

The two walked silently, with Donghua and Dongqing lagging far behind.

When we reached a secluded spot in the back garden.

"Master..."

Gu Hua couldn't stand the silence any longer, but when she tried to speak, she didn't know what to say.

Thank you?

It's too pale.

I should apologize to you.

Mu Junyan's words startled Gu Hua, who stopped and looked up at him.

The man's eyes were deep, yet very sincere.

"Because I mistook Gu Wanru for the person who saved me back then, you have suffered for many years."

Gu Hua shook her head, choking back tears, "It was my fault for not keeping the jade pendant safe, how can you blame me, Master?"

Mu Junyan seemed to have been holding back his words for a long time. He didn't respond to Gu Hua's words and continued to say to himself, "It's my fault for not taking responsibility for you in time, which put you in a dilemma."

Gu Hua opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.

She clearly seduced him on purpose, so why is he apologizing instead?

So what should she say?

"To give you an explanation, I want to give you a title, but I can't give you the position of the principal wife. As the legitimate daughter, you can only be a concubine."

Mu Junyan stared at her: "Gu Hua, I'll ask you one last time, are you truly willing to marry me as a concubine? Even if I could die in battle at any moment. Will you not regret it?"

If she hesitates, Mu Junyan will give her the divorce papers he has prepared tomorrow.

If she is sincere, he is willing to protect her with the Duke's mansion for the rest of his life.

Gu Hua was stunned.

Supported by his strong arm, Gu Hua felt his sincerity and couldn't help but blush, her eyes reddening and welling up with tears.

If he doesn't ask, even if the wedding is held and she officially becomes the only woman of the Duke of Yong, she will guard the Duke's mansion for him and fulfill her filial duties to the old lady on his behalf.

But her heart still belongs to herself.

She was wrapped in a thick shell, unwilling to break free.

But he kept confirming with her.

After last night, and his solemn confirmation today, how could she selfishly cling to her true feelings any longer?

She hadn't given anything along the way; it was all thanks to Mu Junyan's kindness.

She has always tried her best to stay true to herself, partly because she was deeply hurt in her past life and was afraid of letting men touch her true feelings.

Secondly, Mu Junyan's journey to the Western Regions this time would likely be his last, and she was afraid of losing what she had just gained, which would make her sad and heartbroken.

However, in the darkness of her life, what she thought was a lifeline she was desperately grasping turned into a ray of light in her life, gradually expanding in her heart and filling it to the brim.

His open and unconditional protection of her became nourishment, nurturing the love that finally sprouted.

Gu Hua knew that if she said she was really willing today, it would mean that both parties truly agreed, and then she would have no choice but to give her heart and fight to the death!

At that moment, she suddenly felt no longer anxious or worried.

"My lord... I am truly willing."

She noticed a fleeting look of surprise in Mu Junyan's eyes.

He tightened his grip on her hand a little, then released it: "Okay, tomorrow..."

"My lord, Miss Gu!" A maid rushed over.

The two of them looked over at the same time.

The maidservant bowed and said, "Lord Wenchang and Consort Pei have arrived. They say they wish to see Miss Gu immediately."

Gu Hua quickly glanced at Mu Junyan, who gave her a reassuring look.

The two went to the front hall together.

When Aunt Pei saw her standing side by side with the Duke of Yong, she almost ground her teeth to powder, but she tried her best to put on a smiling face and curtsied.

"I've met the Duke."

Marquis Wenchang bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.

Mu Junyan returned the greeting.

Before they could speak, Aunt Pei stepped forward affectionately, grabbed Gu Hua's arm, and said urgently, "I heard you're back..."

Gu Hua asked in surprise, "Mother, what do you mean I'm back?"

"Weren't you kidnapped?"

"Auntie, who told you I've been kidnapped?"

Mu Junyan went to great lengths to keep it a secret for her, and she couldn't let Mu Junyan's good intentions go to waste.

Aunt Pei's facial muscles twitched slightly.

Rumors spread that the young mistress had been kidnapped, but her informants told her that Mu An had returned to the Duke's mansion with a woman, so she was certain that it was her daughter who had returned.

Gu Hua was the one who was kidnapped.

But she had no evidence, and no one believed her. Her poor daughter bore the stigma of being kidnapped on behalf of that little bitch.

Tomorrow, the Duke's mansion will hold a wedding, and that little wretch will become the stepmother of her precious daughter.

How could she bear it?

Today is the last chance.