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

The carriage of the Duke of Yongguo stopped in front of the mansion of the Marquis of Wenchang.

The gatekeeper was startled to see a wooden plaque with the character "雍" carved on it hanging in front of the luxurious carriage. He quickly trotted over and bowed respectfully.

"Has the eldest young lady returned home?"

Zhou Chunyu dismounted and said, "It's the second young lady of the Gu family returning home."

The gatekeeper was taken aback: "Second Miss?"

Donghua and Shen Li got off the carriage first. Zhou Zhilan helped Gu Hua out. Donghua reached out to take Gu Hua's hand, and Zhou Zhilan protected her, carefully helping her down from the carriage.

Gu Hua looked up at the plaque above the door, where four large characters, written in a vigorous and elegant style, read: "Wenchang Marquis's Residence".

The title of Marquis of Wenchang has been passed down for five generations, and the plaque was personally bestowed by the ancestral emperor of the Great Liang Dynasty.

Lord Gu was the Grand Academician of the Hanlin Academy and had served as the late Emperor's tutor. Going further back, the Gu family had produced a Grand Tutor, a Privy Councilor, and two Grand Secretaries.

The ancestors of the Gu family were great literary figures and the leading figures among the upright civil officials.

The Gu family has always been known for its strict etiquette and rules.

But by the time it came to my father's generation, apart from my father himself who had achieved the third rank in the imperial examinations, none of the other uncles or younger members of the Gu family had become successful; they all simply enjoyed the legacy bestowed upon them by their ancestors.

Because the Gu family members squandered their wealth, the Gu family mansion, which was originally known for its elegance and nobility, had long been riddled with problems and could not make ends meet.

According to the laws of the Great Liang Dynasty, her father was the last to inherit the title of Marquis, unless her father or descendants made outstanding achievements.

Therefore, the refined and elegant style of the Gu family changed with her father's generation.

Lacking the funds to bribe officials, the father took the daughter of Pei, a wealthy merchant from Jiangling, as a concubine, allowing her to act arrogantly and domineeringly in the Marquis's mansion.

He used his daughter as leverage to marry her off to a wealthy and powerful family that could help him consolidate his position.

The more Gu Hua looked at it, the more ironic it seemed.

What would the world think if they knew about the sordid affairs within the Gu family?

Her biological mother, born into the Langya Wang clan, had to endure her father's favoritism towards his concubines and the humiliation of Pei Yiniang's ostentatious display of power in the Marquis's mansion in order to support the declining Langya Wang clan and maintain her status as the Marquis's wife.

The gatekeeper stared in disbelief; the beautiful noblewoman looked familiar.

Could it really be the least favored second daughter of the Gu family?

"The Marquis's residence has ordered Miss Gu to return to the manor. Why haven't you gone to inform them yet?" Zhou Chunyu coldly retorted.

The gatekeeper snapped out of his daze and quickly ordered someone to go in and announce the news.

A moment later, Aunt Pei rushed out. When she saw Gu Hua dressed up completely from head to toe, and then looked at the luxurious carriage and the group of people who had returned with her, her face darkened.

When her daughter, Ru'er, returned home, she rode in an ordinary carriage. How dare that little slut Gu Hua put on airs like Ru'er?

Didn't we agree to bring her back and send her to the young master at Jiaochun Garden soon?

Why didn't Ru'er come back with them?

I haven't received any messages from her. Could things have changed?

Not wanting to cause a scene in front of the Duke's family, he spoke in a harsh tone, demanding, "Where's your sister? Why did you come back alone?"

Gu Hua glanced at her, ignored her, and walked straight to the door.

When Aunt Pei saw that she dared to act disrespectfully in the Marquis's mansion, she was furious and stepped forward to grab her. Suddenly, her wrist was firmly grabbed. Turning around, she saw a maid who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old.

How dare a mere maidservant run wild in front of the Marquis's mansion!

Aunt Pei's face turned cold: "This is the Marquis's residence! Is it any of your business, a mere maid, to discipline my own daughter?"

Zhou Zhilan pushed her aside, quickly followed Gu Hua, and took her hand to lead her inside.

Madam Pei was furious. She lifted her skirt and was about to chase after them, cursing them with foul language: "The lowly maids of the Duke's mansion are so unruly, they are a disgrace to the Duke's mansion!"

Donghua shoved her shoulder with her thick arm: "How dare you! Miss Zhou is the head steward of the Duke's mansion. Who gives you, a mere concubine of a marquis's household, the right to speak like that?"

Aunt Pei stumbled as she was pushed. Upon hearing the name of the female steward of the Duke's mansion, she immediately shut up. Realizing something was amiss, she quickly followed behind.

The news reached the Marquis's residence, and the Marquis's wife, Madam Wang, was somewhat surprised upon hearing it.

"The Marquis's residence summoned her back? How come I didn't know?"

Granny Zhou: "It must have been Concubine Pei who called him in the name of the Marquis."

Wang was feeling a bit lazy and didn't want to get involved in the matter between the mother and daughter. She said indifferently, "Let her go back. Just let her go back to Pei's room."

"Yes."

Granny Zhou turned and went out, but when she reached the courtyard gate, she saw a beautiful woman being surrounded by a group of people as she walked gracefully towards her.

He was taken aback and wondered to himself, "Wasn't it said that the second young lady was coming back?"

Why is it the eldest daughter who's back?

Suddenly, she thought that perhaps the eldest daughter had returned with her, and immediately said to the maid beside her with great joy, "Quickly go and tell the madam that the eldest daughter has returned."

She went to greet her personally, and when she got closer, she was stunned when she saw that bright and beautiful face.

This... is the Second Young Lady?

When Gu Hua saw her mother's dowry maid, she bowed respectfully and said, "Granny Zhou."

When Granny Zhou came to her senses, she, who often served in the household of nobles, immediately realized that what she was seeing seemed unusual.

Putting aside Gu Hua's attire, the two people accompanying her, a man and a woman, were dressed no less than the master of the Marquis's mansion, exuding an air of superiority, making it clear at a glance that their status was extraordinary.

A servant boy and two maids followed behind.

This is even more extravagant than when a young woman returns to her parents' home.

She quickly put on a smiling face: "So it's the Second Miss who's back. Madam isn't feeling well right now, so she specifically instructed me to tell the Second Miss that she doesn't need to pay her respects and that you can go directly back to Anxiang Courtyard to talk to your aunt."

Her biological mother didn't want to see her.

Gu Hua felt a slight pang in her heart.

You can't blame her; her mother doesn't even know that she's her biological daughter.

But she longed to see her biological mother, even if they couldn't acknowledge each other.

Gu Hua feigned surprise: "My elder sister said that the Gu family sent me a letter asking me to come home. Doesn't Mother know about this?"

Granny Zhou hurriedly glanced at the two behind her. If the mistress didn't even know to call her young lady back, then this mistress probably doesn't have much status anymore.

She quickly changed her tune: "No, it's not that. I called you back with Madam's permission. Madam is considerate of you and your concubine. I suppose you have something to say, so she asked you to go to Anxiang Courtyard first."

Gu Hua: "There's no reason for a daughter to visit her aunt first when she returns home. Of course, she should come to pay her respects to her mother. Besides, I'm not a married woman. When I return home normally, I should greet my mother first."

Helpless, Granny Zhou said, "Please wait a moment, young lady, while I go and inform her."

"Thank you for your trouble, Granny," Gu Hua said politely.

Zhou Chunyu said to Gu Hua, "Second Miss Gu, I will now pay my respects to the Marquis."

"Okay." Gu Hua nodded.

"See me?" Wang rubbed her temples. "I'm really exhausted. Send me away."

There were several illegitimate daughters in the mansion, but this second daughter was timid and weak. Apart from her pretty face and figure, she always had a servile demeanor, was obsequious, and could not be presented in public.

She has never left a good impression on me, and I usually don't bother with her.

Granny Zhou said with a troubled expression, "Madam, five people from the Duke's mansion have come with us, two of whom seem to be of high status. The Second Miss is still unmarried and has been living in the Duke's mansion for more than a month. Her sudden return like this may have an ulterior motive. Concubine Pei has always been cunning, so you must be careful."

Madam Wang was startled, and keenly picked up on Zhou Mama's hint: "You mean, Madam Pei wants Gu Hua to take Ru'er's place?"

Granny Zhou nodded: "That's my guess."

She moved closer and lowered her voice: "I heard that when Consort Pei sent the Second Miss to the Duke's mansion, she had no good intentions. It seems she wanted her to be the eldest son-in-law's concubine. Look at how Consort Pei has raised the Second Miss to be so alluring; she has a lot of ambition."

Aunt Pei constantly professes her loyalty to the eldest daughter, but what are her true intentions? And the eldest daughter always listens to her, believing she's genuinely acting in her best interest. What if Aunt Pei falls for her schemes and harms the eldest daughter?

Concerning the future of her daughter, the only legitimate daughter of the Marquis's family, Madam Wang dared not take it lightly.

Forcing himself to stay alert, he ordered, "Help me change my clothes."