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

Aunt Pei's eyes were filled with tears, and she had a self-reproachful expression: "It was clearly Gu Hua who was kidnapped yesterday, but the outside world said that she was our eldest daughter. Our eldest daughter's reputation has been tarnished, and our Marquis's mansion will also be pointed at and talked about."

Gu Yuan's eyes widened: "Was it Ru'er who was kidnapped?"

Wang also let out a sound of surprise.

Wang thought that her Ru'er was already miserable enough after losing her child, and now that she had been kidnapped, how was she supposed to live?

But if it were Gu Hua who was kidnapped, the situation would be different.

Gu Hua was being stared at by four pairs of eyes, all of whom wished she would admit that she had been kidnapped.

Even her own mother's eyes sent chills down her spine.

This is her nominally closest blood relative, yet also the one who, when faced with trouble, would unhesitatingly push her into the fire, regardless of her life or death.

Gu Hua was heartbroken beyond measure, yet she became even calmer.

Since you can all speak so carelessly, why should she adhere to any moral principles?

Mu Junyan was badmouthing Gu Wanru on her behalf, so she could only follow along.

Gu Hua looked astonished: "What use is a worthless concubine's daughter like me to you? Besides, last night, it was the Duke himself who led the Black Armor Guards to rescue her. Everyone in the Duke's mansion knows that the one who was kidnapped is Gu Wanru. The kidnappers want to kidnap Gu Wanru as well. If the kidnappers want to kidnap me, then I can only be pushed out to be the scapegoat."

Gu Hua tilted her head and looked at Gu Wanru, whose eyes were filled with panic: "Jin Kui was stabbed to death by bandits while trying to save her elder sister. Elder sister, didn't you see it with your own eyes? I was too timid and clung to Bi Yu without daring to make a sound, which is why I survived."

As she spoke, she choked up, "Biyu has always been at odds with her sister and wished her sister would be kidnapped. She held on to her younger sister with all her might, but the younger sister was outnumbered and powerless and could not save you."

Gu Wanru was so shocked by Gu Hua's shamelessness that she forgot to cry. She rushed up and raised her hand to hit her, but Gu Hua raised her arm to block and casually tossed her aside.

"Elder sister, don't hit me while you're talking. You've hurt my face. Tomorrow the Emperor bestows the marriage upon us, and the Duke's mansion will welcome us with the proper rites for a principal wife. If the guests notice anything, how will you explain it to your father-in-law?"

Zhou Zhilan, who was standing outside the window, wanted to rush in, but stopped when she saw that Gu Hua hadn't suffered any harm.

Aunt Pei helped Gu Wanru up, held her protectively in her arms, and pointed at Gu Hua angrily, saying, "Gu Hua, do you dare swear to heaven that it wasn't you who was kidnapped!"

It is often said that there are gods watching from above.

But there was never a god above her head.

Gu Hua slowly raised her finger to the sky and said, word by word, "I swear, the one who was kidnapped is Gu Wanru."

Gu Wanru and Aunt Pei were dumbfounded.

When did that little bitch learn to lie?

Gu Hua lowered her hand and laughed self-deprecatingly: "Aunt Pei, you always push your own daughter into the fire pit, but you protect your stepsister like the apple of your eye. Those who know you say you respect the mistress and protect the legitimate bloodline of the Marquis's mansion, but those who don't know you would think that Gu Wanru is your own daughter."

Gu Hua's words were like pouring a bowl of ice water into a hot oil pan, causing an instant explosion and muddying up the entire pool of water.

Wang frowned slightly as she looked at Aunt Pei, who was even more anxious than she was about her daughter, then looked at her daughter nestled in Pei's arms...

Aunt Pei has never respected her, so why is she so close to her daughter, even more so than her own mother?

Gu Yuan also looked over in surprise.

Gu Wanru looked panicked and pushed Aunt Pei away forcefully. She turned around and threw herself into Madam Wang's arms: "Mother... Mother, don't listen to her nonsense. She just hates that her daughter is doing better than her and wants her to die."

Caught off guard, Aunt Pei was pushed and staggered, landing heavily on her bottom on the bluestone ground with a thud.

The pain was so intense it felt like my buttocks were about to shatter.

Wang looked thoughtfully at her daughter in her arms.

Did she just blurt out "mother"?

Gu Hua looked at Gu Wanru, who had snuggled into her mother's arms, and smiled without reaching her eyes, adding fuel to the fire.

“When my elder sister got married, Aunt Pei gave her a lot of her private savings, as well as four of her most profitable shops. Oh, right, most of the money the Pei family gives to the Marquis’s mansion every month goes to my elder sister. This month alone, they gave her a full thousand taels. And I, her own daughter, haven’t bought a single new piece of clothing in two years.”

She sighed, "Father, do you know that Consort Pei said that I am a maid in the Duke's mansion, wearing maid's clothes, and do not need to buy new clothes. I do not receive a maid's monthly allowance, and the monthly allowance for the young ladies in the mansion is also taken by Consort Pei. I am practically penniless."

Gu Yuan was speechless. This was going too far!

The other illegitimate daughters of the Marquis's mansion were entitled to three sets of clothes for each of the four seasons each year, and each received a monthly allowance of five taels of silver.

Ignoring her sore bottom, Aunt Pei quickly scrambled to her feet: "You little slut..."

Gu Hua raised an eyebrow: "Mother, I am your own daughter. Isn't the one who gave birth to that little slut also a slut?"

Aunt Pei was so choked by her words that she almost vomited blood.

Gu Hua turned her head, her face full of apology to her father.

“Auntie, you’ve even insulted Father. Even a concubine’s daughter in the Marquis’s mansion is a mistress, while Auntie is a servant. If a servant insults her mistress as a lowly person, what will people outside think of our Marquis’s mansion?”

Previously, the concubine stole the mistress's seal and forced the young lady to become a maid. People said that our Wenchang Marquis's Mansion had no distinction between superiors and inferiors, the rules were chaotic, the mother was not kind, and the daughter was not filial.

Father, our Wenchang Marquis family has a long and distinguished lineage of upright officials. My grandfather was a Hanlin Academician, and you were a third-ranked scholar. I wonder if our ancestors would pound their coffin lids in despair if they knew, or if they would haunt you in your dreams with reproach?

Gu Yuan was so angry that he choked on a mouthful of phlegm and coughed violently.

Aunt Pei, supporting her aching back, pointed at Gu Hua's trembling hand and began to scold, "You little..."

He almost blurted out the word "cheap," but Gu Hua's smiling yet piercing gaze choked him back, nearly causing him to choke on his breath.

"You... you've even learned to be sharp-tongued and insult your elders!"

Gu Hua walked up to her: "In this household, only my mother and father deserve my respect. You are a concubine, a slave. Aunt, don't forget your place."

Aunt Pei wished she could tear off that smug face.

"Alright, what kind of behavior is this on such a joyous occasion?"

Wang suddenly spoke.

She looked at Gu Yuan gently: "My lord, your father-in-law will have to deal with many distinguished guests tomorrow. Why don't you rest early? How about I take care of things here?"

Gu Yuan was very pleased with what he heard.

He had no interest in dealing with these women; tomorrow's wedding was his chance to stand tall again.

"it is good."

He glanced at Gu Hua, who stood proudly before him.

I only realized today that this daughter is so beautiful and graceful. Beneath her gentle facade lies a proud spirit, and she even bears a resemblance to Wang Shi when I first met her.

Suddenly, he felt that this unremarkable illegitimate daughter had a better future than the legitimate daughter, Gu Wanru.

"Pei, have you prepared the dowry for Gu Hua as I instructed? Her dowry cannot be as good as Ru'er's, after all, she is marrying the Duke of Yong, so as not to be laughed at."

Aunt Pei was truly furious; she had no words to express her suffering.

Wang glanced at her, her mind still replaying Gu Hua's words.

If Aunt Pei was just putting on an act for Gu Yuan, then it would be normal for her to show affection for Gu Wanru on the surface.

It's highly unusual that Aunt Pei gave Ru'er her most valuable dowry shop as part of her dowry, and also gave Ru'er the Pei family's livelihood support.

Pei had always wanted to replace her as the principal wife of the Marquis's household.

What can she gain from trying so hard to please Ru'er?

Aunt Pei watched helplessly as Gu Yuan left. Without anyone to back her up, continuing to make trouble would do her no good.

Moreover, she could tell that Wang Shi and Gu Yuan also had their suspicions.

She curtsied perfunctorily to Madam Wang: "Madam, I will go and take stock of Hua'er's dowry."

Gu Hua also bowed and said, "Mother, I take my leave."

She didn't care about the amount of the dowry; all she wanted was to expose Aunt Pei and her daughter!

Gu Wanru was helped away. Seeing that Wang Shi looked exhausted, Zhou Mama helped her up with a look of heartache.

Wang returned to her courtyard, dismissed her attendants, and grabbed Zhou Mama.

"The rumors you heard from the servants in the manor last time, could they be true?"

Granny Zhou was startled by her sudden bloodshot eyes: "Madam, don't listen to those servants' gossip. They're always stirring up trouble. How could the eldest daughter possibly be Concubine Pei's daughter?"

Wang shook her head, trying hard to recall what happened during her childbirth.