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

Mu Junyan frowned slightly.

She was resisting herself from the bottom of her heart.

Especially that bowl of ginseng soup made her feel that offering her body to give him pleasure was a kind of exchange.

But the girl's cheeks flushed red with nervousness and shyness.

Her lips, in particular, were as red as ripe cherries; a light kiss would break the skin.

Mu Junyan was just joking to ease her tension, but little did he know that the back and forth would only reignite his anger.

But this fire also gave off a bad feeling.

The pleasure of exchanging things with a purpose was something he didn't realize while he was indulging, but afterwards it made him extremely irritable.

Who is torturing whom?

Mu Junyan lowered his head and turned the ring on his finger, his smile fading and his eyes turning cold.

Why not try a different approach and see if it's just that I'm attracted to women, or if I'm actually interested in Gu Hua as a person?

"Can you play chess?"

Gu Hua was pondering why Mu Junyan's expression had suddenly changed when she heard the question. She subconsciously replied, "Yes."

Mu Junyan looked up in surprise: "You've studied this?"

Gu Hua had learned chess once or twice, taught by Brother Ji, who was very skilled at it.

Unfortunately, I won't have the chance to learn from Brother Ji anymore.

Later, she used the chess manual that her brother Ji had given her, wanting to study it herself, not wanting her brother Ji's hard work to be in vain.

But she was too clumsy and had no one to practice with, so she never improved.

Gu Hua's eyes welled up with tears, and she quickly lowered her head, whispering, "I only learned the simplest things at the clan school, so I don't really know them."

"I'm pretty good at chess, I can teach you."

Gu Hua was overjoyed upon hearing this and said sweetly, "Really? You're so kind, Master."

Mu Junyan couldn't suppress the smile that curled his lips.

Look, the kitten is at it again, trying to please people.

He actually liked it very much.

"Ah, right."

Gu Hua suddenly lifted her skirt and ran over, pulling out a silver note from her sleeve and handing it over with both hands.

"Sir, here's your jade pendant as compensation."

Mu Junyan raised an eyebrow. "They really did give it to me."

He accepted it without hesitation and put it away.

Gu Hua: "..."

Looking up, I saw the little girl staring wide-eyed, her little mouth pouting again.

Greedy ghost.

I knew she was actually reluctant to part with it.

Mu Junyan pretended not to notice her sullen expression, walked to the bookshelf, and took out a set of chess pieces and a chessboard from the drawer.

He sat cross-legged on the soft couch and set up the chessboard: "Come here, choose a color."

Gu Hua was sulking, inwardly complaining that the Duke was stingy.

A whole thousand taels of silver, gone just like that.

She's not narrow-minded at all!

Is it really her fault?

If she had known that she was saving the dignified heir of the Duke of Yong, she would never have dared to lose the jade pendant. She would have worn it every day, protecting it like the apple of her eye.

I couldn't help but glare at him sideways.

His handsome appearance couldn't quell the anger in her heart.

"What are you standing there for? Come here right now."

Mu Junyan ignored her anger.

Gu Hua took a deep breath and silently comforted herself.

That's good. Teaching her to play chess will make me proud of Brother Ji.

Thinking of Brother Ji, Gu Hua suppressed her temper, obediently climbed onto the soft couch, knelt down opposite him, and pointed at Bai Zi.

Mu Junyan took the black chess box in front of him: "You go first."

Gu Hua was a little flustered.

"I only know the basics. Does Your Highness have any chess manuals?"

She couldn't even understand the chess manual that her brother Ji gave her.

Mu Junyan answered decisively: "No need, you can only learn the essence of chess by playing against each other directly."

Gu Hua focused intently, trying hard to recall the first move of the chess manual that her brother Ji had given her, and carefully placed the white piece in the very center.

She felt that the dignified Duke of Yong should show mercy to a beginner like her.

She simply follows the chess manual and plays according to the rules, asking questions whenever she doesn't understand something.

To everyone's surprise, in the very first round, before half a cup of tea could be brewed, she was mercilessly and utterly defeated.

Her face turned red with anger.

She has let down Brother Ji's teachings and disgraced him.

No.

Just like Brother Ji said, you have to get up wherever you fall!

Gu Hua bit her lip, straightened her posture, took a deep breath, and put the white piece down again.

Seeing her unwilling expression, Mu Junyan thought to himself that she was an ambitious little girl.

Gu Hua never expected that Mu Junyan would not give an inch in three consecutive rounds, leaving her completely stunned.

"Continue." Mu Junyan said without changing his expression.

Gu Hua: "...!"

She felt he was a kind and upright man.

Where is he kind?

Two cups of tea's time passed...

"Why are your eyes so red?" Mu Junyan tilted his head to look at her.

Gu Hua gave a muffled "hmm," unwilling to say anything more to him.

Who is it?

They lost seven games in a row, completely humiliating themselves.

Mu Junyan raised his hand and lifted her chin, saying, "Speak up, what's wrong?"

Gu Hua had no choice but to make an excuse, her eyes full of grievance: "I didn't get enough rest last night."

"Oh? How come you didn't get enough rest? Didn't you sleep alone last night?" Mu Junyan asked in surprise.

Gu Hua glared at her.

Don't you know why?

He was strong and healthy, yet he still had to feed her ginseng soup. It was like a vampire draining her dry and then crushing her bones. Now, she hurts every time she moves.

This morning, Sister Zhou dragged me to learn how to manage a household.

Although she was quite happy, her body couldn't take it. It was already dark, and this person was still making her play chess.

Playing chess is one thing, but I've already said she only knows the basics, yet he still insists on teaching her.

But he didn't give her any leeway and defeated her eight times in a row.

This completely extinguished any interest she had in playing chess because of her brother Ji.

Every time her brother Ji played chess with her, he would let her win and even teach her how to beat him. If she won a game or two occasionally, she would be overjoyed.

But what about him?

He lacks any of the manners a man should have; in that respect, he can't compare to Brother Ji.

Besides, does she not want to get a proper rest?

Doesn't it depend entirely on the lord's preferences?

He asked the question even though he already knew the answer.

Very bad!

Despite her resentment, she didn't dare question the Duke and could only mumble a vague "hmm" with a hint of annoyance.

Mu Junyan held the black chess piece in his hand, his gaze falling on the bite mark on his tiger's mouth, and his mood suddenly became pleasant.

The more I look at the little girl, the more she seems like a cat.

When she wanted something from him, she was like a starving cat, obediently nuzzling her head against him and trying her best to please him.

When she gets angry, she can also get a little flustered.

Yes, it can bite.

"Then you should go back and rest."

Gu Hua's mournful expression vanished instantly. She hurriedly arranged the chess pieces and put them in the chess box, climbed down from the soft couch, and curtsied to Mu Junyan.

"I shall take my leave now. I hope Your Excellency will have a good rest tonight."

"Take this set of chess pieces and study it carefully."

Gu Hua, who was about to turn around, paused, glanced at the chess pieces and the sandalwood chessboard.

Should I lend it to her or give it to her?

Mu Junyan watched as her eyes darted around, wondering what she was thinking about.

"Give it to you."

Gu Hua exclaimed in surprise, then realized she was being too unladylike, so she quickly stood up straight and cautiously looked him over.

"You gave it to me, sir? This chess set looks very expensive."

Mu Junyan gave a nonchalant "hmm".

“It was a gift from my grandfather. It was also my reward for beheading the first enemy soldier. The white pieces are all made of Hetian jade, clear and flawless. There is only one set of Hetian jade pieces in the world with such pure and clean quality. The black pieces are made of imperial jade, which is also of the highest quality.”

Gu Hua was stunned.

It's so valuable, and it was given to him by the first Duke; she dared not take it.

Akabane, who was eavesdropping from the shadows outside the door, was utterly shocked.

This chess set is something the master wouldn't even part with when playing chess with others, yet now he's giving it to Miss Hua, who knows absolutely nothing about chess.

It seems the lord truly cares about her.

"What? You're too scared to take it now?"

Mu Junyan looked at her.

Gu Hua remembered the thousand taels of silver notes.

The Duke of Yong is indeed wealthy; he is not afraid of Mu An's extravagant spending.

Rather than leaving it to Mu An, it's better to give it to her.

Gu Hua quickly hugged the chess pieces and board tightly, and put on what she thought was her sweetest smile: "This concubine thanks the Duke."

"Next time, if you lose so badly again, I'll take it back."

Gu Hua hugged her even tighter: "I will definitely study hard."

This cost a thousand taels of silver.

Gu Hua, happily clutching her precious baby, rushed back to Ya Yun Pavilion.

The Duke seems quite happy. She'll be leaving the manor tomorrow, so he probably won't be angry.

Gu Hua, preoccupied with wanting to leave the manor the next day, was completely unaware of the special relationship Mu Junyan held for her.