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

Aunt Pei sobbed, "I was only trying to do what was best for the eldest young lady, to prevent Hua'er from doing something wrong and ruining the eldest young lady's reputation. That's why I resorted to this desperate measure. I was so foolish. I will never dare to do it again."

When Wang saw that she still dared to say that she was doing it for her daughter's good, she was so angry that she trembled all over.

Ignoring her husband's displeasure, she angrily rebuked him: "Is this for Ru'er's own good? If word gets out, Ru'er will be the first one to be talked about behind her back!"

Ru'er is the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's family. She is gentle, virtuous, and kind to others. She has always been very good to her younger sister. How could she disregard her sister's life and fabricate false slave documents?

"It's because you had ulterior motives, either instigating her or deceiving her, that she did such a horrific thing, and you still dare to argue!"

Aunt Pei stammered, wiping away her tears, "This servant knows she was wrong. This servant meant well but did something foolish. Madam doesn't like this servant being close to the eldest young lady, but you are usually cold and indifferent to the eldest young lady, so the eldest young lady is afraid of you and likes to confide in this servant more. The eldest young lady's life in the Duke's mansion is not easy, and this servant feels sorry for her."

Wang was so angry that she felt a mouthful of blood stuck in her throat, and she coughed violently, unable to utter a single word.

Granny Zhou gently stroked her back, but she was also furious.

Gu Hua was burning with rage, her heart bleeding.

She and her daughter were bullied so badly by Pei Shi and Gu Wanru, yet she could do nothing about it.

She can't wait; she must set things right as soon as possible!

Frustrated, Gu Yuan snapped, "Wang, that's enough!"

Wang was coughing so badly she couldn't straighten up and could barely breathe. Granny Zhou was so anxious she was about to cry.

"My lord, the lady has been attacked..."

Wang quickly pressed her hand down, signaling her not to speak.

Struggling to stop coughing, she gasped for breath, "My lord, I am feeling unwell and must take my leave."

"Go."

Gu Yuan made no attempt to hide the disdain in his eyes, waving his hand as if shooing away flies.

Gu Hua's eyes were wide with fury.

Only by regaining her status as the legitimate daughter and having her name recorded in the family genealogy can she help her mother fight for justice.

Aunt Pei said sweetly, "My lord, please don't blame the madam. Please allow me to take Hua'er to get the silver notes given by the Pei family, and then she can come back and be punished by kneeling."

The monthly silver notes provided by the Pei family were what Aunt Pei relied on.

This is what Gu Yuan is most concerned about.

The Ministry of Personnel's year-end evaluation is coming up soon, and he has to deal with people from all walks of life. He has no time or energy to deal with the trivial matters of the inner quarters.

Gu Yuan nodded without hesitation.

"it is good."

Gu Hua knelt before Gu Yuan: "Father, please give your daughter the forged slave documents."

"We can't give it to her!" Aunt Pei cried out hurriedly.

Gu Yuan: "Burn it, and that's the end of it."

Gu Hua watched as the person turned the slave document that had cost her her life into ashes.

His thin lips trembled slightly, and a burning anger raged in his heart.

Her innocence, her life, are like this pile of light ashes, no one cares, they have no value!

……

Gu Hua followed Aunt Pei to the main gate, where Aunt Pei's personal carriage was parked.

Aunt Pei glanced at her and said, "The carriage is small and can't seat so many people. You can come with me by yourself."

Gu Hua did not refute.

"Sister Zhou, you, Miss Shen, and Steward Zhou should go back to the manor. Donghua can come with me."

"I'll go with you," Zhou Zhilan said, still worried.

Gu Hua gave her a reassuring look and whispered, "She met with her cousin from the Pei family in a restaurant in the bustling city; she wouldn't dare do anything."

Zhou Zhilan was still uneasy, so Shen Li stuffed a medicine bottle into Gu Hua's hand.

"If you throw it out, it can poison ten strong men."

She was deeply moved by this kindness.

Gu Hua wanted to laugh, but her nose tingled and her eyes welled up with tears.

"Please, Miss Shen, help me prepare the antidote."

"rest assured."

Gu Hua nodded to the two of them: "After I'm done, I'll go back immediately to copy the manuscript for the late Madam."

"If anything happens, try to make a noise. There are soldiers patrolling nearby," Zhou Zhilan reminded her worriedly.

"Mm." Gu Hua nodded.

"Hurry up, lest you miss the appointed time. Not only will it delay your cousin's business, but it will also delay your return to the manor with the silver notes. Your father will definitely not forgive you."

Aunt Pei called out impatiently from inside the carriage.

Gu Hua got into the carriage, and Dong Hua wanted to follow, but was pulled back by Granny Lu.

“How dare this servant get on the master’s carriage? What manners!”

Donghua wanted to retort, but seeing Gu Hua secretly shaking her head at her, she suppressed her anger and walked with Granny Lu.

The carriage moved quickly, soon leaving Donghua and Granny Lu behind. Donghua panicked and took off after it, not wanting the carriage to leave her sight.

Granny Lu was no match for her nimble legs; she chased after her, panting and cursing, "You brat, you run faster than a rabbit!"

On the carriage.

Concubine Pei, abandoning her usual stern tone, put on a kind mother's smile: "Hua'er, you have misunderstood your mother too much."

Gu Hua's expression remained indifferent.

Seeing that she didn't react, Aunt Pei smiled and said, "I told you before that I had found you a good marriage. It's true, I didn't lie to you."

Gu Hua looked at her calmly, waiting for her to continue.

"Your mother loves you and wants to help you find a good future, so she begged the eldest daughter to bring you into the mansion. If the eldest son-in-law takes a liking to you, won't you rise to great heights in the future? That slave certificate is fake. It's just to deceive the eldest daughter and make her feel at ease to treat you well."

Gu Hua looked out the window to avoid slapping her.

Seeing that she was still in the same deadpan state, Aunt Pei was about to lose her temper.

“Since you don’t want to stay in the Duke’s mansion, your mother will naturally not force you. As you know, your eldest cousin from the Pei family has always liked you, and your aunt has also mentioned it. Your mother thinks that if you marry into the Pei family, it will be a double blessing, and the Pei family will certainly treat you well.”

So that's what was waiting for her.

Gu Hua turned around: "Before, my aunt didn't like me getting close to my cousin from the Pei family."

Aunt Pei rolled her eyes without any attempt to hide it.

In the past, she naturally did not want Gu Hua to marry back into her family.

How could she allow the Wang family's daughter, who was riding high on her head, to become the legitimate wife of the future head of the Pei family?

"I'm just worried about you. Since you don't want to marry your eldest son-in-law, the best match is your older cousin. He likes you too, so he'll naturally treat you well."

Gu Hua sneered inwardly and asked in surprise, "Didn't my eldest cousin just get married? I heard that his wife comes from a prominent official family in Bianjing, and he vowed not to take a concubine when he married her. Back then, there was a lot of fanfare, with eighteen loads of betrothal gifts sent over, making it known throughout Bianjing."

She had never met that cousin-in-law, only heard Gu Wanru gossip about her.

"So, you should become a mistress first, and once you're pregnant and the deed is done, your cousin-in-law will have no choice but to accept you. I've already planned everything for you, so don't worry."

what.

Is this all you've decided?

Gu Hua couldn't help but laugh.

If you can't force her into slavery, then you have to coax her into becoming an even more lowly mistress, right?

The Pei family racked their brains to establish connections with officials and noble families, hoping to gradually elevate their bloodline to that of officials. The eldest daughter of the Pei family married the Marquis of Wenchang in Bianjing as a concubine, while the eldest cousin married the daughter of an official in Bianjing as his principal wife.

The Pei family racked their brains, single-mindedly trying to elevate their family's status and establish a blood relationship with officials, hoping to preserve the glory of the Pei family in Jiangling forever.

Aunt Pei knew very well that her eldest cousin's wife was very shrewd, and if she discovered that she was an outsider, she would definitely torment her severely.

The principal wife cannot tolerate mistresses; even if one is beaten to death, the government will not pursue the matter.

Gu Hua suddenly became serious: "Auntie, I have a question for you. If you answer truthfully, I will follow your arrangements from now on."

That shameless hussy, she even dares to negotiate with her.

"You ask."

Anyway, she can't escape her grasp.

"Brother Ji...where did you take him?"

Gu Hua's heart still aches whenever she mentions that name.

Three years have passed without a trace, and she has never seen that boy who was the only one in her past life who showed her kindness again.