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

"Gu Wanru had a lot of her dowry jewelry pawned."

Gu Hua didn't find it strange: "She's short of money, so naturally she would do that."

"She's used to living extravagantly. She just pawned the money and used it to buy clothes and jewelry. She said the old ones were too worn out."

Gu Hua smiled.

Gu Wanru was spoiled and raised to be both stupid and self-righteous.

They grow not in good intentions, but in greed.

"Hasn't Mu An recently reconciled with her? Of course, she should dress up nicely."

"It's strange that you two reconciled. Before, the young master and Gu Wanru were a very harmonious couple. They were very affectionate for a long time when she first married into the family. But after she became pregnant, Mu An took a liking to Yaoyao, and the two of them weren't as close anymore. But they weren't as affectionate as they have been these past few days. Do you think Gu Wanru might have used something?"

Zhou Zhilan looked like she was looking for gossip.

He leaned closer and whispered, "That musician looks refined and cultured, but he's not exactly upright, as he's juggling between the young master and Gu Wanru. He might have brought something from Yichun Courtyard to Gu Wanru."

Gu Hua thought for a moment.

That seems to be a possibility.

What good can Gu Wanru get from begging someone like Yao Yao?

Besides, Yaoyao might have other motives.

Do you know what kind of supplements she drinks every day?

"what?"

"Pregnancy medication."

Gu Hua understood.

Is Gu Wanru so desperate to get pregnant?

They used every means at their disposal.

But she was so foolish as to form an alliance with a woman like Yao Yao; wasn't that like asking a tiger for its skin?

She's only had a miscarriage for a short time, and she's already risking her life.

Gu Hua was very wary of Yao Yao and the musician Wu Yuan, but fortunately, Chi Yan sent people to keep an eye on them and there were no other movements.

Perhaps their current goal is to use Mu An to handle the Pei family's military supplies.

They could even make the Pei family believe that it was the Duke's mansion that did it.

However, this was exactly what she wanted.

According to the trajectory of the previous life, the winter clothing for the military should be delivered in half a month.

Gu Hua gently touched the sachet hanging from her waist.

Inside was Mu Junyan's token.

Gu Hua was thinking about Mu Junyan again.

I wonder if he misses me too?

Gu Hua touched her feverish face.

Why does my heart start pounding whenever I think of him?

Previously, the plan to use the Pei family to bring down Aunt Pei and the Mu An couple was solely for revenge.

But now, things are becoming increasingly complicated.

It even involved spies in the southern border region, and directly threatened Mu Junyan.

Gu Hua could not simply enjoy the kindness he and everyone in the Duke's mansion showed her. Now that he was gone, she not only had to take good care of his mother, but also do everything in her power to protect the Duke's mansion.

Gu Hua looks forward to nightfall the most.

For the past few days, letters have been arriving daily from southern Xinjiang.

The letter to the old lady was only a page or two long, but each letter to her contained a small trinket.

Sometimes it's a wolf's tooth, sometimes a tuft of bright red fur from some unknown animal, sometimes a heart-shaped stone, and sometimes a beautiful feather from a bird I've never seen before.

Is this some kind of pampering, treating her like a child?

These things look like a jumble of odds and ends, but upon closer inspection, they are all very rare.

It's clear that they put their heart into it.

Gu Hua could imagine how he would look when he saw these little trinkets and thought of using them to make her smile.

Gu Hua was both amused and exasperated, feeling a mix of emotions.

Mu Junyan's words are all pearls of wisdom.

He didn't say a word about how many things he secretly arranged for her.

Gu Hua thought back carefully and realized that it was true; he had done so much for her.

Every time she encountered a problem, someone would pop up and say that it was arranged by the lord.

I have no idea how he can think so meticulously.

Before she left, she didn't put his mind at ease.

Gu Hua stared at the letter that had just arrived today; it was blank, containing nothing at all.

She looked at it over and over, staring at Dongmo in surprise.

"Is this for me?"

"Yes, Madam's envelope is different from Old Madam's. The wax seal on your envelope is a magnolia flower, there's no mistake."

Gu Hua rested her chin on her hand and thought for a moment.

Is it that everything is understood without saying a word?

Gu Hua thought for a moment, then picked up her pen and wrote two words on Mu Junyan's letter: "Longing".

He folded the wax seal and handed it to Dongmo.

Looking at the thin letter, Dongmo felt conflicted and couldn't help but remind her, "Madam, really can't you send something?"

"what to give?"

Gu Hua was too embarrassed to let others see her thoughts, so she pretended to be indifferent.

"Look at the junk he gave me! He just picked it up off the ground and gave it to me, and I was really unhappy about it."

Dongmo took the letter and felt a pang of sympathy for his master.

Gu Hua added, "Tell the messenger to tell him that I despise these things, and that I'm not a child anymore."

……

Mu Junyan was engaged in a major battle as soon as he arrived in the Southern Frontier.

More than ten days had passed since the first battle was quelled.

Only then did Mu Junyan have time to write a letter home.

In the past, he would send a message to his mother every ten days or so to let her know he was safe. His mother was also a military officer, so she wouldn't worry if she didn't receive his message occasionally.

But now there's Gu Hua.

That little brat is a crybaby, and she's also timid and cowardly.

If the letter gets lost or is delayed by something and doesn't arrive on time, I'm afraid she'll cry.

Mu Junyan felt a pang of tenderness when he thought of the little girl's red eyes and twitching nose, looking just like a bullied kitten.

Fortunately, as long as there was no war, I would send a letter back every day.

I always bring her something new and interesting.

The little girl has rarely been out and about and hasn't seen much of the world.

Let her see something interesting and broaden her horizons.

But what annoyed him was that the little girl rarely replied to his letters.

His reply was also very formal, describing how things were at home, that the old lady was eating and sleeping well, without uttering a single word about missing him.

I specifically asked the messenger, and he said that every letter had arrived at the manor.

This really angered him.

If I ever see her again, I'll devour her!

So, in his most recent letter, he included a blank sheet of paper.

One meaning is that the longing is endless and cannot be fully expressed.

The second meaning is, "Little brat, you should reply to my letter properly."

……

"My lord, a letter from home." The guard hurriedly handed him two letters as he walked toward the tent.

Mu Junyan stopped and saw that there were two letters in his hand. He couldn't help but smile.

He took the letter with a serious expression and gestured for the person to leave.

He quickly turned and went into the tent, eagerly opening Gu Hua's letter.

She actually used the blank letter he sent back and wrote two big words on it: "Longing".

"Longing? Just two words? How stingy!"

Mu Junyan was very dissatisfied, but secretly he was delighted.

The exceptionally clever little girl understood what he meant.

He carefully folded the letter, put it back in the envelope, and placed it under his pillow.

……

Gu Hua, unaware that she had been complained about, went to Xiangrui Hall to make pastries herself, as was her daily routine.

The old lady and she chatted happily, and as they talked, the conversation turned to Mu Junyan.

"Good boy. There's something I want to discuss with you."

Gu Hua looked up: "Yes, Mother, please speak."

"If... I mean if, if Ziyuan doesn't come back, I'll adopt you as my goddaughter, and I'll ask for you to be granted the title of County Princess. How about you spend some time with the old lady when you have time?"

Gu Hua was startled, and felt a pang of pain in her heart.

Two months later, Mu Junyan will...

She quickly took the old lady's hand and said sweetly, "What are you saying? I am your daughter-in-law. No matter what happens, I will be with you."

The old lady looked at the young girl and saw that she spoke softly and gently, with clear and bright eyes, and was exceptionally considerate and caring.

Being with her means you don't have to think too much; she's like a warm and comforting little cotton-padded jacket.

The old lady finally understood why her son, who had sworn never to marry, had made an exception for her.

She always has the ability to bring out the softest parts of people's hearts and make them forget unhappy things.

Southern Xinjiang is actually more complicated than Northern Xinjiang.

Before the collapse of the previous dynasty, various small tribes in the southern border region, led by Dali Prefecture, declared themselves kings and split into small kingdoms. In addition, the southern coast was plagued by rampant pirates, and the terrain, including the mountains, roads, and sea, was treacherous, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

The Great Zhou Dynasty had been in power for thirty years, yet it was still constantly at war.

Meanwhile, the southern border has always been guarded by the Mu family army.

The countless deaths of three generations of the Mu family's sons and soldiers in battle are the knot in Mu Junyan's heart.

When the current emperor ascended the throne, he began to emphasize civil affairs over military affairs, and the powerful clans led by the Jiang family advocated peace, which increased the pressure on Mu Junyan from the court.

Sometimes even military supplies and food were not allocated in a timely manner.

Therefore, Mu Junyan remained silent and tried to find solutions on his own.

This is also a key reason why Mu Junyan immediately requested a division of the family property after inheriting the title.

He wanted the Mu family line to continue.

The old lady was very glad that her son had met Gu Hua.

But I was also afraid of wronging her.

Her son really cared about her.

He's got all the paperwork: one for elevating his wife to the status of a legal wife, another for divorce.

The old lady wanted to reassure Gu Hua, so she patted her hand and said, "Ziyuan has arranged everything for you. No matter what you want, he will make sure your future is peaceful and secure. In short, just live out the rest of your life in peace."

Gu Hua felt a lump in her throat upon hearing this.

It gives you a warm feeling of being cherished and protected.

Gu Hua suddenly had a feeling.

If he were gone, it seemed like there was no point in her living alone.

Is it possible to save him from dying?

Afraid that the old lady would worry, Gu Hua, with red eyes, smiled and rested her head on the old lady's shoulder.

"Mother, rest assured, Hua'er is your daughter-in-law and your own daughter. Hua'er has never had a mother's love since she was little, but now that she does, Hua'er is reluctant to leave you."

The old lady's heart melted.

What a wonderful daughter-in-law!

It would be perfect if I had a grandson.