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

A maid helped a noblewoman in a gorgeous crimson dress gracefully alight from the carriage, and the two chatted and laughed as they walked.

"Tomorrow you'll enter the palace and meet the Duke of Yong. Aren't you excited?"

The noblewoman retorted coquettishly, "What nonsense are you talking about? My imperial aunt just wants to see me."

"I don't know who the young lady wants to see," the maid chuckled.

"Shut up. Have no self-respect at all."

"This servant is Huanxi, who will soon become the Duchess of the State."

"It's not even close to being done yet, so don't make a fuss."

"Empress Dowager herself said that it is a great thing for sisters to marry together."

The noblewoman said shyly, "I am willing to take care of my brother-in-law in place of my elder sister and comfort her spirit in heaven."

"The young lady is kind-hearted. I heard that the Duke of Yong is setting off again in ten days, and the Empress Dowager said we should hurry. The marriage will definitely be granted tomorrow, and it would be best if the Duke could get married before he departs."

The noblewoman said shyly, "Oh dear, they're chattering like sparrows, so noisy."

As the two chatted and laughed, people from Linlanglou came out to greet them.

"Your Highness has arrived! Please come in, the master is waiting for you."

The voices of the group gradually faded into the distance.

Gu Hua tilted her head.

Lady of the Duke of Yong?

Princess Jiang?

Brother-in-law?

In my previous life, I never heard that Mu Junyan had remarried.

If the Empress Dowager were to bestow a marriage upon him, Mu Junyan would certainly not be able to disobey the imperial decree.

Donghua overheard this too, and asked curiously, "Has the Empress Dowager bestowed another marriage upon our lord to a girl from the Jiang family?"

What will happen to the second daughter of the Gu family if a mistress suddenly appears out of nowhere?

Donghua looked at Gu Hua with concern.

Gu Hua grasped her key words and then arranged a marriage between her and the Jiang family.

"Was the late Madam from the Jiang family?"

"Hmm." Donghua lowered her voice: "Miss may not know, but the late Madam was the granddaughter of the Empress Dowager's own sister."

This concerns the future mistress of the house, and she, a woman who is neither a concubine nor a maidservant to the Duke, deserves our careful attention.

She hasn't had time to develop the power to fight against the Pei family yet, and for the time being, she still has to rely on Mu Junyan.

What if the new wife doesn't accept her?

As Gu Hua's mind raced, she and Dong Hua exchanged a glance, both understanding each other's gossipy nature.

What a huge melon! I have to eat it.

The two turned around in tacit agreement and headed towards the Linlang Tower.

The second manager warmly greeted the young lady and led her directly to a private room in the back courtyard.

The shop's maids saw Gu Hua and her companions enter by themselves.

Although the woman looked unfamiliar, he could tell at a glance that the jewelry she was wearing was made by Boss Qiu, and thus guessed that she was of high status.

Hurry up and greet them: "Distinguished guests, we are so sorry for not welcoming you sooner."

Gu Hua smiled and said, "I'd like to see what exquisite jewelry Manager Qiu has produced recently."

The maidservant dared not be negligent: "May I ask your surname?"

Gu Hua replied directly, "The Mu family of the Duke of Yong."

The maid's eyes widened. So it was the Duke of Yong's mansion! It just so happened that they were related by marriage to the newly arrived Miss Jiang.

Her tone became even more respectful and enthusiastic: "Please wait a moment. County Princess Jiang just went in. This servant will go and invite Manager Qiu out."

"Okay, thank you." Gu Hua nodded.

Gu Hua slowly looked around, admiring the dazzling array of jewelry.

Another maidservant served tea and snacks: "Miss, please have a seat and some tea and snacks."

"Thank you."

Gu Hua looked into the inner courtyard through the latticed window and saw the second manager bringing out boxes of jewelry for Miss Jiang to choose from. A little while later, she saw Manager Qiu also come out.

The maid who had just gone in to announce her arrival said something to her, and Manager Qiu immediately came out.

"Second Miss Gu".

Shopkeeper Qiu still didn't smile much, but her voice when she called out to Gu Hua revealed a hint of joy.

When she saw the jade hairpin in Gu Hua's hair, her expression changed slightly: "This jade hairpin is..."

Isn't this the one that Madam Pei took a liking to, which her husband bought as a birthday gift for her?

Why is it on Gu Hua's head?

Gu Hua touched the jade hairpin in her hair: "This is a belated coming-of-age gift from my older cousin. My cousin and I haven't seen each other for many years, and my aunt took me to see him. He was very generous. I saw your name engraved on the jade hairpin, so I knew it was made by you."

It turns out that the Pei family, who have become incredibly wealthy in the capital in recent years, are cousins ​​of the second daughter of the Gu family.

Shopkeeper Qiu's eyes flashed, but she naturally didn't say it outright: "It is indeed my design, and it suits you very well. Miss, you've come at the right time. I just finished a set of jewelry that suits you. Let's go to a private room to take a look."

Gu Hua was delighted: "I'm so lucky to have such beautiful jewelry designed by Manager Qiu. I absolutely love it."

Shopkeeper Qiu smiled faintly and personally led the way.

Upon entering the private room, Jiang Ruoxi, who was looking at jewelry, looked up, her gaze lingering on Gu Hua for a moment before she casually looked away.

Her maidservant, however, was displeased: "My lady is here; how can she entertain others at the same time?"

The second manager quickly looked at Manager Qiu.

Shopkeeper Qiu ignored her and led Gu Hua through the private rooms into the East Pavilion.

Jiang Ruoxi raised an eyebrow.

The girl looked unfamiliar and was not a noblewoman from the capital, but judging from Manager Qiu's attitude, she was definitely not an ordinary person.

Her maid was angry and was about to question her when Jiang Ruoxi stopped her.

He asked in a gentle tone, "Second Manager, who was that person that Manager Qiu brought in just now? She's so beautiful, but I don't recognize her. Could she be a noble lady from a prominent family who has come to the capital from out of town?"

The maid who came in to report earlier is still here, so she naturally has to answer the county princess's questions.

"Your Highness, that lady was a member of the Mu family, the Duke of Yong."

Jiang Ruoxi was taken aback: "The female members of the Mu family of the Duke of Yongguo?"

The woman clearly wore her hair in the style of an unmarried woman...

The Duke of Yongguo has always forbidden women from getting close to him.

Her maid looked astonished: "Where did the Duke of Yong get any female relatives? My young lady is the Duke of Yong's only future female relative."

The maid who delivered the message was startled upon hearing this.

She didn't know the details either.

But the young lady directly mentioned the name of the Duke of Yongguo, and the jewelry she was wearing was from Manager Qiu. In the capital, you could count the number of women who could wear jewelry made by Manager Qiu herself on your fingers.

It's too dangerous to have such a vixen by Mu Junyan's side.

Jiang Ruoxi became alert.

She glanced at the maid beside her, who nodded and turned to walk towards the East Pavilion.

The second manager and the maid in the shop knew something was wrong. They exchanged a glance, and the maid quickly rushed into the east pavilion first.

"Master, Jiang..."

The maidservant from the Jiang family pushed her aside and walked straight up to Gu Hua, her face full of arrogance: "May I ask who this young lady is to the Duke of Yong?"

Gu Hua blinked and asked in return, "And who are you?"

Donghua was displeased: "Where did you come from? How dare you question my daughter so rudely?"

The maidservant raised her head: "I am the personal maidservant of Princess Jiang. My princess is about to marry the Duke of Yong. How dare you impersonate a member of the Duke of Yong's family? Do you think I can't question you?"

Gu Hua was speechless.

This Lady Jiang seems to be mentally unstable.

The maid also seemed a bit foolish.

If he were to marry such a noblewoman by imperial decree, wouldn't Mu Junyan be being treated too unfairly?

Donghua's eyes widened like gongs, and her tone changed: "Who are you saying wants to marry our lord?"

The maidservant from the Jiang family frowned and glared at her: "Who do you think you are to dare question me like this?"

Not all maids have the same status.

How could a maidservant from who-knows-where compare to a first-class maidservant like the one serving Princess Jiang?

Donghua was displeased: "Oh ho, aren't you a servant? You're of the same status as me, yet you think you're superior to me?"

Seeing that the two sides were about to start arguing, Manager Qiu watched coldly without saying a word.

Gu Hua didn't want to offend the Jiang family's county princess for no reason. What if things changed in this life and she really became the mistress of the Duke's mansion?

That was a huge mountain hanging over her head.

With just a flick of a finger, you could crush her to death.

She tugged at Donghua and said apologetically, "Miss, you've misunderstood. I am Gu Hua, the younger sister of the Duke's wife. I'm just staying at the Duke's mansion for the next few days."

The maid's expression softened somewhat, but her tone remained disdainful: "Oh, so you're the young mistress's sister. Then we're family."

So this is a family now?

Gu Hua almost laughed.