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

Gu Hua returned to the room after preparing the ingredients in the kitchen and saw that the desk was empty. She waved to Dong Qing and pointed to the desk.

Dongqing asked, puzzled, "Is Miss looking for something? But when I came in to tidy up, there was nothing on the table."

Gu Hua understood.

A triumphant smile flashed in his eyes, but he nodded calmly to indicate that he understood.

She knew someone was following her, or rather, monitoring her.

A person like Mu Junyan wouldn't easily believe she was innocent.

She wanted to make him feel guilty so that he would willingly accept her.

Excited and happy, she led Dongqing and Donghua back to the kitchen.

Gu Hua had inquired and found out that Mu Junyan usually didn't eat after noon, but he would have some not-too-sweet snacks at the end of the day.

Then, based on what Zhou Zhilan had found out about the old lady's tastes, three kinds of soft, sweet, and fragrant pastries were made and asked Zhou Zhilan to deliver them. That was just right.

……

At the end of the day, Gu Hua personally carried the food box to Guanshan Tower.

Dongmo saw her through the window and whispered to Mu Junyan, who was writing something, "My lord, Miss Gu has brought you some food."

Mu Junyan looked up and saw a girl wearing a high-necked light green dress with a pale yellow belt tied in a bow at the waist, the long belts fluttering in the wind.

She stood gracefully in the courtyard, her small face unadorned, bathed in the bright sunlight, which added to her charm.

However, the food box was too big.

The little girl struggled to lift it with both hands, her slender waist bending under the weight.

"Bring it in."

Dongmo quickly ran out to take the food box, exclaimed "Oh dear!" and whispered, "So heavy? My lord won't eat much right now."

Gu Hua smiled, pursed her lips, clasped her hands together, and gave him a pleading and thankful look.

Dongmo sighed, "You go back, I'll take it inside."

Gu Hua waved her hand, stubbornly standing still.

Dongmo sighed and pointed to the stone bench under the shade of the tree: "Don't stand in the sun, go sit down."

Gu Hua nodded, obediently walked over, and sat properly facing the window, her hands folded on her knees.

That little face was so adorable, its expression like that of a kitten begging to be petted.

Mu Junyan lowered his head and continued writing, but for some reason, he couldn't help but look up and saw the kitten staring at him with eyes that looked like it wanted to be petted.

"..."

Raising a well-behaved daughter like her seems like a good idea.

Unfortunately, he could never have any biological children in his life.

Mu Junyan withdrew his gaze, turned his head to see Dong Mo take out a bunch of things from the food box, frowned and stood up.

"What are they?"

Dongmo inwardly cried out in alarm; his lord's expression seemed to displease him.

"Miss Gu didn't know the master's taste, so she made a little extra. The master can try whichever one he likes."

Even if the master only eats one thing, Gu Hua will be happy.

A bowl of yellow rice with translucent grains, a plate of stir-fried pork kidneys, two refreshing side dishes, a bowl of porridge, and a plate of two kinds of desserts.

Judging from the appearance of the food, the chef was very clever.

It was done with care.

Mu Junyan glanced out the window.

The little girl stretched her swan-like neck to look inside, but because of the distance, the paper window, and the darkness inside, she couldn't see anything at all.

"Tell her to come in."

Dong Mo was overjoyed and ran to the door, waving to Gu Hua: "My lord wants you to come in."

Gu Hua walked in, awkwardly bowing her head slightly and giving a curtsy.

Mu Junyan pointed to the table full of food: "What are all these?"

Gu Hua smiled shyly and pointed to the desk.

Mu Junyan nodded.

She walked gracefully to the desk, carrying a fragrant scent, and picked up her brush to write.

Mu Junyan followed and stood beside her.

Gu Hua was surrounded by a powerful pressure, and her hand holding the pen became somewhat stiff.

I smelled the faint scent of soap on him, took a deep breath, calmed myself, and began to write steadily.

"Stir-fried lamb kidneys with eucommia, golden fried rice with caviar, stir-fried crisp lotus root and lily bulbs, yam, barley and gorgon fruit porridge, black sesame pumpkin rolls, and open-faced chestnut pastries."

It's quite complicated.

The young girl continued writing: These are all ingredients suitable for men's nourishment, with the effects of tonifying the kidneys, strengthening the waist, replenishing blood, nourishing the lungs and spleen, and benefiting the kidneys and replenishing essence. This is just a small token of my appreciation, please accept it, my lord.

Mu Junyan: "..."

Does she know what she's talking about?

Gu Hua raised her head slightly and glanced nervously at the tall man.

"You understand pharmacology?" Mu Junyan's tone was meaningful.

Gu Hua picked up her pen: My aunt taught me some dishes that were specially made to nourish men, but I don't understand the pharmacology behind them.

In fact, she knew some things, all of which she learned in her previous life to heal herself. The abortion medicine she prepared before she died was also something she made herself.

But she had to hide her true abilities and not let Mu Junyan think she knew so much.

She must not let Mu Junyan know that she deliberately made this kind of dish with a hidden meaning.

Having read so many short stories, she understood that men didn't like overly intelligent and talented women.

In popular fiction, domineering male protagonists often prefer gentle, delicate, and helpless women.

Mu Junyan breathed a sigh of relief.

It turns out she didn't know these things were aphrodisiac ingredients, nor did she understand what "nourishing the kidneys and replenishing essence" meant.

This flattery... is actually quite pleasant.

The man said in a calm tone, "Your hand isn't healed yet, so don't do these things."

Gu Hua continued writing obediently: Dong Qing and the others helped me, so my hands didn't get wet.

Looking at her cautious demeanor, Mu Junyan would have thought she was an innocent little rabbit if he hadn't seen her alluring appearance that night and experienced her seductive charm.

"Let's go back."

Gu Hua knew when to stop, curtsied, and left.

She walked to a place where Mu Junyan couldn't see her and smiled.

Whether he eats it or not, he has already accepted her attempt to please him.

She will not appear in front of Mu Junyan for the next few days.

This is called feigning indifference to lure the prey into a trap.

Dongmo glanced at her lord, whose gaze followed Gu Hua's gradually disappearing figure, and asked softly, "My lord, would you like to eat?"

Mu Junyan sat down, and Dong Mo quickly handed him chopsticks.

I tried a bite of each one, and they tasted pretty good.

The caviar fried rice had a novel flavor, and he finished it without even realizing it.

He also ate one black sesame pumpkin roll and one open chestnut pastry. They weren't too sweet, which suited his taste.

Looking at the table full of food, imagining the little girl with her injured hand busily eating, I picked up my chopsticks and continued eating. Before I knew it, I had finished both dishes.

Dongmo's eyes widened; it was the first time he had ever seen his lord eat so much for dinner.

Mu Junyan was so full that he picked up his sword and started twirling it in the courtyard.

Whether it was the food or the fact that he hadn't ridden horses or practiced archery for several days since returning, he was full of energy.

Even... a little unsatisfied.

……

That evening, Dongmo delivered a bottle of Snow Lotus Jade Complexion Cream.

"It was specially requested by the lord when he entered the palace."

Gu Hua accepted it with a smile.

I couldn't help but feel overjoyed.

For the next three days, Gu Hua made pastries for the old lady in the kitchen and asked Zhou Zhilan to deliver them to Xiangrui Hall.

This flattery was polite yet unpretentious.

But she never made anything to eat for Mu Junyan again.

I spent the rest of the time relaxing comfortably in Ya Yun Ge for three whole days.

The Snow Lotus Jade Complexion Cream is amazing! The scabs on my palms have fallen off, and new skin is starting to grow.

"Young Master dotes on Concubine Yin. He's stayed at Furong Tower for three days straight, completely forgetting about Yao Yao. She's so angry that she's been hurling insults at him every day. The young mistress is staying indoors all the time, constantly calling the family physician to check on her pregnancy. The physician has had a terrible time these past few days."

Whenever Zhou Zhilan had free time, she would come over to chat with her, gossiping about the Jinxiu Pavilion.

Gu Hua thought to herself, "I'm furious."

The doctor has been sporting dark circles under his eyes and looking listless for the past three days.