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

Gu Wanru smiled gently and patted her hand: "Get some rest early, and do your best to copy the documents for your father tomorrow. Perhaps you are a blessed person."

Yinzhi panicked: "Madam, that little slut is just using her clever words to deceive you."

Gu Wanru's face darkened: "You're not going to listen to me anymore? Go back to your room and go to sleep."

Yinzhi was unwilling, but she could only reluctantly follow her back to the house.

"Madam, that little hussy is full of lies. If she were favored by the master, would you believe she would help you?"

Yinzhi said angrily as she combed her hair.

Looking at her face in the bronze mirror, Gu Wanru felt very resentful.

Consort Pei came from a merchant family, but she was stunningly beautiful. She brought a huge dowry with her when she married into the Marquis's mansion.

After entering the household, she was deeply favored by her father, but she was born with only regular features.

The mother, who came from a prestigious family but was rigid, had a daughter, Gu Hua, who had a foxy and seductive face.

She even suspected that Aunt Pei was lying to her, that she might be the legitimate daughter of the first wife, while Gu Hua was a true illegitimate child.

Aunt Pei had been instilling in her that Gu Hua was her stepping stone, a tool to secure her favor.

But Gu Hua's words today awakened her.

The stepping stone may not necessarily be given to the husband; it may serve a greater purpose.

She's been married into the family for over half a year, and she hasn't even been able to touch a single key to the mansion.

Mu An spent his days indulging in pleasure, bringing in one woman after another. He had no other skills whatsoever. Even if he wanted to buy something expensive, he had to ask Steward Zhou for money. When he couldn't get what he wanted, he didn't dare utter a word.

Expecting him to seize control of the family is simply wishful thinking.

“Madam. She dared to bite her son-in-law today and defy you; tomorrow she'll be climbing on the roof and tearing off the tiles. How can we not teach her a lesson?”

Yinzhi talked for a long time, but seeing that she didn't react and was staring blankly at the bronze mirror without saying a word, she couldn't help but gently pat her shoulder.

Gu Wanru suddenly smiled.

"Good bite, you deserved it."

She said it through gritted teeth.

Mu An broke her heart. In order to please him, she had already humbled herself and tried to please him. Even those lowly women in the backyard, she gave some face to those he favored and tried her best not to provoke them.

But did he give her the dignity of a legal wife?

Yinzhi was stunned: "Madam..."

Gu Wanru snapped out of her daze, stood up, and walked towards the bed.

With a serious tone, she said, "Yinzhi, Gu Hua is, after all, my half-sister. Don't keep calling her a 'bitch.' What will the people in the Duke's mansion think of us? They'll think we, the Marquis's mansion, are lax in disciplining our servants and have no respect for hierarchy."

Yinzhi was scolded by the eldest mistress for the first time because of Gu Hua, and she was so aggrieved that she almost cried.

It was because the eldest mistress kept calling her "little slut," and she only started calling her that to cheer her on.

Gu Wanru got into bed, pulled the blanket over her thighs, and looked at Yinzhi, who looked aggrieved and wanted to cry.

She was pretty and had a fiery personality. She was extremely loyal to him. Before Gu Hua entered the manor, Mu An originally wanted to accept silver branches.

However, Yinzhi and her cousin were in love and had already become engaged. Gu Wanru did not want to ruin Yinzhi's life, so she listened to Jin Yinniang's advice and brought Gu Hua into the mansion.

Gu Wanru's tone softened: "Your marriage to your cousin will have to be postponed. I originally thought that after the young master accepted Gu Hua, I could appease him and then let you go. But now, things have changed, and I'll have to keep you here a little longer. Please help me."

Yinzhi wiped away her tears and smiled: "Yes, yes, this servant can remain unmarried for the rest of my life."

Gu Wanru grabbed her hand: "Don't talk nonsense. I grew up with you and I treat you like my own sister. I will never mistreat you. I have already spoken with my mother and she will take you as her goddaughter and let you marry out of the Marquis's mansion."

Yinzhi was so excited that she couldn't help but hug Gu Wanru and burst into tears: "Madam, you are too good to me."

Gu Wanru smiled and gently patted her back: "Silly girl, your mother will recognize you as her goddaughter and restore your status as a free person. You will no longer be a slave."

Yinzhi was moved to tears and knelt down to kowtow to Gu Wanru: "This servant is willing to go through fire and water for Madam."

Gu Wanru smiled gently and kindly, "Alright, get up quickly, let's get some rest."

Yinzhi didn't see the smile on her lips gradually fade.

His gaze was meaningful...

Gu Hua's last breath finally loosened, and her body went limp, almost causing her to sit on the ground. She was caught from behind.

"Are you ok?"

It's a golden sunflower.

She has always been a person who knows how to protect herself.

In both her past and present lives, Jin Kui has watched her suffer humiliation without ever speaking up for her.

Gu Hua gently pushed her away and said calmly, "Thank you, Sister Jin, I'm fine."

Once inside the room, I realized that the back of my clothes was soaked with sweat. Thinking about it now, I felt a chill run down my spine.

She didn't want to suffer the torture she endured in her previous life again.

Gu Hua sat up abruptly on the bed, exhausted, and pulled the blanket over her chest.

After last night's ordeal and several physical altercations today, she is now completely exhausted.

She doesn't want to think about anything right now.

Any memory would bring her excruciating pain, an incurable agony she didn't want to think about anymore.

As her emotions gradually calmed down, she closed her eyes and sighed. The pain in her hands returned, churning her heart in turmoil.

We've finally taken the first step.

But what about tomorrow?

What if Mu An couldn't resist and forced himself on her? Would Mu Junyan really beat her to death for losing her virginity?

After all, she understood which was more important, her son's and the Duke's reputation, or the life of a lowly person.

Now, she has completely broken ties with Mu An and Gu Wanru.

Mu Junyan was her only way out.

Gu Hua was afraid that Mu An would barge in, so she didn't dare to sleep at all.

Hugging a thin blanket, curled up at the head of the bed, hugging her knees, she quietly looked out the window.

He was tightly clutching a small knife he had taken from the small kitchen.

Finally, as dawn broke, she quickly washed up, combed her hair, and changed into a clean, high-necked ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress).

Gu Hua arrived at the entrance of Wenhanxuan with trepidation. The gatekeeper greeted her politely and invited her in.

"Does Madam Gu know the location of the study?"

Gu Hua's face inexplicably flushed red, and she whispered in a voice barely above a whisper, "I know."

"Then please go ahead, Madam Gu. Dongmo is waiting for you in the study."

Gu Hua breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that Dong Mo was there.

"Excuse me, sir, is the master not in the manor?"

She didn't want him to be there; she always felt a sense of shame and fear in his presence.

"Yes, the lord had to attend court and left before dawn."

Gu Hua's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down. But as she walked to the door of the study, her heart began to pound violently again.

The events of that night were too intense; the embarrassing scenes kept flashing into her mind, causing her to panic uncontrollably.

"Madam Gu has arrived."

"Have you used the Snow Lotus Jade Complexion Cream? Does your hand still hurt?"

Dongmo greeted her immediately upon seeing her, and his address became much more polite.

Gu Hua snapped out of her thoughts, her face full of apology: "The Snow Lotus Jade Complexion Cream was taken by the young master."

Dongmo exclaimed in surprise, "Ah, that's something priceless! It was given to you by the Lord, how could he just take it away like that?"

"I'm sorry," Gu Hua said, looking aggrieved.

Seeing that her eyes were red, Dongmo quickly comforted her, "It's not that I'm sorry, it's that your hands need it. Snow Lotus Jade Complexion Cream can repair scars and make your hands as good as new."

Gu Hua choked up, feeling troubled. Dong Mo stamped his foot and said, "Never mind, I'll go and call the royal physician to treat your hand."

Gu Hua hurriedly said, "Dong-ge, no need. Just tell me where the late Madam's manuscript is."

"What manuscript? Your hand hasn't even healed yet, how can you transcribe it? The lord said you should focus on recovering and we'll talk about it once you're fully healed."

"But, if I don't work, I..."

Dongmo knew what she was afraid of: "Don't worry, just come every day. The lord instructed that your hand be healed first."

Gu Hua felt a warmth in her heart, and Dong Mo hurriedly went to find the family physician.