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

Zhou Chunyu was in charge of the Mu family's external businesses and all matters related to the Mu family's external affairs.

Zhou Zhilan was in charge of the household affairs, but she would ask Yi Niang, who was by the old lady's side, to make decisions on important matters. When the old lady was in charge of the household affairs, Yi Niang was her capable assistant.

Gu Hua followed Zhou Zhilan around and was amazed by how well-managed the Mu family was, with strict rules that were comparable to military discipline.

She used to be by Gu Wanru's side, but Gu Wanru never got to take charge of the household until she was murdered.

Mu An acted recklessly and lived a life of extravagance, but he never touched the foundation of the Mu family.

Gu Hua naturally had no chance to delve into the Duke's mansion to understand the real situation. She still thought that the Duke's mansion was as decadent and hopeless as Mu An's.

At that moment, it was as if a whole new world had opened up before her eyes.

But why is Mu An left to his own devices?

It's very puzzling.

Zhou Zhilan is usually cheerful and always smiling, but she is also organized, efficient and capable when it comes to managing affairs.

She not only took Gu Hua to meet the various stewards and maids in the mansion, but also formally announced the master's order in front of everyone, and everyone looked at Gu Hua differently.

The people from Wenhanxuan and Xiangruitang didn't react much; they were all confidants of the Mu family and were all aware of Gu Hua's true identity.

Moreover, they keep their mouths shut, and so far no unpleasant words have been uttered in the mansion.

The stewards of the other courtyards and outer courtyards, unaware of the inside story, were extremely surprised.

In no time, everyone in the mansion knew that the young mistress's younger sister had become the second-in-command of the housekeeping.

The news reached Jinxiu Pavilion at noon.

When Gu Wanru woke up from her nap and heard Jin Kui's report, she was so angry that she smashed a set of expensive official kiln ceramic teaware.

"Why! I've worked so hard for the Duke's mansion, only to be used as a stepping stone for that wretched woman?" Gu Wanru gritted her teeth in hatred.

Jin Kui lowered her head and remained silent.

"Go and fetch Granny Chen."

Gu Wanru felt like she was punching cotton when facing Jin Kui; she was so angry she could hardly breathe.

Granny Chen was a member of the Pei family who came with Aunt Pei. Aunt Pei sent her to be her head nanny, in charge of Gu Wanru's external affairs and the business of Gu Wanru's dowry shops.

Gu Wanru usually disliked the merchant-like manner of the Pei family and never allowed any direct relatives of the Pei family to get close to her. She just waited for the money to be handed over every month.

A little while later, Granny Chen arrived.

"Young lady, are you feeling any better?"

Granny Chen was overjoyed to be received by the eldest daughter. Seeing that the eldest daughter looked unwell, she greeted her with concern.

Rarely hearing people care about her, and unable to see her own mother, Gu Wanru suddenly felt as if she had found her pillar of support, and she hugged Granny Chen's waist and burst into tears.

"Good girl, your crying breaks my heart."

"Granny Chen, what should I do? Am I going to be divorced?!" Gu Wanru was utterly devastated.

Granny Chen hugged her, gently stroking her and whispering comforting words: "Don't worry, Granny has good news for you. Once this matter is settled, the Duke's Mansion will definitely not divorce you, and will treat you like royalty."

Upon hearing this, Gu Wanru immediately stopped crying: "Tell me quickly, what is it?"

Granny Chen glanced at Jin Kui and said, "Go out and guard the door."

Jin Kui nodded and went out.

Granny Chen poured Gu Wanru a glass of warm water, watched her drink it, and carefully wiped the corners of her mouth.

"Aunt Pei asked me to take good care of you. I will definitely protect you."

"Tell me quickly, what good news is it?" Gu Wanru asked anxiously.

"What does your son-in-law value most about you?" Granny Chen asked with a mysterious smile.

Gu Wanru frowned.

What could he possibly see in her?

In terms of appearance, Gu Hua is the most beautiful.

As for managing the household, she still hasn't gained her father's approval, so naturally she can't obtain the right to manage the household.

"silver."

Seeing that she remained silent for a long time with a sullen face, Granny Chen reminded her.

Gu Wanru suddenly realized: "You mean, my husband is after the money I give him every month?"

"That's right. Did you know that the young master only receives fifty taels of silver per month? Every penny he spends is controlled by Steward Zhou. Especially when it comes to keeping those vixens in the backyard, Steward Zhou always pays the money according to the rules. Even if the young master sometimes wants to buy something more expensive to appease those vixens, he has to watch out for Steward Zhou's attitude."

Gu Wanru was surprised; she hadn't known that.

Mu An always acted like the only noble young master of the Duke's mansion in front of her, asking her for money, saying it was for official banquets.

Because Granny Chen was in charge of the dowry business, she had contact with the various managers in the outer courtyard, so she naturally knew some things.

The rumors that defamed Gu Hua were all spread through her.

"Do you think that if I give my husband more money, he will value me more and stop thinking about divorcing me?"

"Men, after all, need money to bribe officials and patrons. Going out, entertaining guests, and dressing up are all about appearances."

Gu Wanru frowned: "But I've given all the thousand taels of silver my aunt gives me to my husband every month. Most of the income from the dowry shop has also gone to him. Where would I get any more silver to give him?"

"This is the perfect opportunity I was talking about," said Granny Chen mysteriously.

"Say it quickly."

Gu Wanru said anxiously, as if she had grasped at a lifeline.

Granny Chen stopped keeping everyone in suspense.

"The Pei family aspires to become a first-class imperial merchant in the capital. There is an opportunity right now. If the son-in-law is willing to help by submitting samples of the Pei family's winter cotton and cotton cloth for selection, the Pei family is willing to offer 100,000 taels of silver. If the military supply order is secured, an additional 500,000 taels will be offered."

Gu Wanru's eyes widened: "That's six hundred thousand taels?"

Granny Chen smiled and said, "This is nothing to the Pei family."

"Can you do it, my lord?"

Gu Wanru knew this was a golden opportunity.

If it succeeds, not only Mu An, but even her father will think more highly of her.

By then, she will have no trouble taking over the management of the Duke's mansion.

"Of course. The person my son-in-law has recently become close to is the adopted son of the Chief Eunuch of the Inner Palace."

Gu Wanru suddenly realized: "So that's how it is. He was the first person to enter the Inner Palace Attendants Bureau."

“As long as the son-in-law gives a word to his godson, things will be easily accomplished.”

Gu Wanru's mind started working; it should be easy to do with just a word.

Besides, Mu An would be tempted by the prospect of receiving 100,000 just for submitting a sample to the palace.

Before her husband got angry with her, he had said that he wanted to spend 100,000 taels to buy a hot spring garden outside the city so that the couple could spend a few days there together in a cozy world whenever they had time.

At that time, she had no money left.

“Okay, I’ll try to talk to my husband about it.”

Granny Chen was happy.

She was out on business when Aunt Pei stopped her. She couldn't leave the manor lately, let alone come in, so she asked Aunt Pei to bring a message in.

Although Granny Chen didn't know why Aunt Pei treated the eldest young lady like her own daughter, Aunt Pei said she would give her one hundred taels of silver after the matter was settled.

She comes from the Pei family and only cares about money; she doesn't care who Aunt Pei treats well.

After Granny Chen left, Gu Wanru asked Jin Kui to help her with her hair and makeup.

Jin Kui frowned: "Young lady, you are still in your postpartum period. Doctor Sun said that you should not get out of bed and walk around."

The mention of postpartum care ignited her anger, and she immediately yelled, "Do what I tell you to do! You're as stupid as a pig, you can't do anything, all you do is annoy me!"

Jin Kui shut up and dressed her up as she was instructed.

Gu Wanru underestimated her physical condition. After dressing up, she was already exhausted, and even taking a step caused her excruciating pain in her lower body.

Helpless, she could only suppress her anger and calmly instruct, "Go and tell my husband that I have something important to discuss and ask him to come over."

Jin Kui stammered, "The son-in-law... won't come."

"Just go when I tell you to!"

Gu Wanru couldn't hold back her temper and pinched Jin Kui's arm hard a few times.

Jin Kui was in so much pain that she didn't dare to cry, so she quickly ran away.

Gu Hua and Zhou Zhilan stopped outside the entrance of Mu An's Zui Mo Xuan.

Zhou Zhilan knew that she didn't want to go in, so she stood outside and talked to her in detail.

"The young master has six personal maids in his courtyard, three of whom are his concubines, and the other three concubines live near the Brocade Pavilion in the back courtyard. There are a total of fifteen other servants. The one in charge is Biyu, the young master's first-class maid, who is also the daughter of the young master's wet nurse and has grown up with the young master since childhood."

Gu Hua nodded.

She knew this from her past life.

This Biyu was one of Mu An's concubines. Relying on her childhood friendship with the young master, she was arrogant and ambitious, and she wanted to become Mu An's principal wife. She disliked everyone in Mu An's room.

In her past life, Mu An and Gu Wanru were deeply in love, but her fate was also tragic; she died even earlier than Gu Hua.

Moreover, her death was related to Gu Wanru.

But in this life, Mu An and Gu Wanru have fallen out, and it's unknown whether her fate will change.

"If you don't want to get involved in what's happening in the young master's room, then you don't have to worry about it."

Zhou Zhilan said softly and considerately.

"Yes. Thank you, sister." Gu Hua smiled gratefully at her.

However, it wasn't that she didn't want to deal with Zui Moxuan; rather, she needed to find a way to intervene.

It concerns the Pei family's military supplies list.

Perhaps, jade is the key to breakthrough.