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

Gu Hua returned to Ya Yun Pavilion, found the chess manual given to her by Brother Ji, and wanted to put it into the white chess piece box.

After thinking for a while, she opened the chess manual and looked at the annotations that her brother Ji had written for her. Suddenly, she could understand the parts that she couldn't understand before.

Having just been dazed by Mu Junyan's attack, his previously extinguished interest was suddenly rekindled.

As he flipped through the chess scores, he recalled the moves Mu Junyan had just made, and they quickly flashed through his mind.

The more I look at it, the more interesting it becomes, and I even feel a strong urge to challenge Mu Junyan again.

"What are you looking at so intently, young lady?" Dongqing came in carrying a steaming bowl.

"Chess Record".

Gu Hua looked up, closed the chess manual, put it into the chess box, and then put it into the lacquered red cabinet.

"What are you carrying?"

"This is the tonic that Miss Shen Li brewed for you." Dong Qing put down the wooden tray, which also contained a small dish with two or three kinds of candied fruit.

Gu Hua didn't ask any more questions, picked up the glass and drank.

Shen Li would stew tonics for her every morning and evening, especially during the days she spent with Mu Junyan, she would bring her a bowl as soon as she returned.

She understood that the taste was from a contraceptive soup.

The others are indeed tonics.

Her relationship with Mu Junyan is currently very delicate.

The entire capital knows that Mu Junyan is not married, not to mention his relationship with Gu Wanru. If she were pregnant, it would not only disgrace the Duke's mansion, but also Mu Junyan himself.

Anyway, she's suffered too much injustice.

She doesn't feel wronged at all now, especially since she has monthly allowances, ancient books, and valuable clothes, jewelry, and chess pieces.

As Gu Hua ate the sweet and sour candied fruit, a question suddenly occurred to her.

Mu Junyan has been back for almost ten days. It seems he returned to the battlefield on the 25th.

I counted on my fingers, and there are still six days left!

Gu Hua was startled.

There isn't much time left for her.

"Dongqing, go and tell Sister Zhou that I'm going home tomorrow."

After all, given his status, it would be proper for him to inform the authorities before entering or leaving the residence.

"Hey, okay."

Holly returned in less than fifteen minutes.

"Sister Zhou said you should go ahead and just let her know if you need anything."

Gu Hua hummed in agreement, then washed up and went to bed.

They were just being polite, how dare she ask for anything?

Even if it's just about transportation, it would be best if Sister Zhou could arrange it; if not, she can walk back.

The next day, Gu Hua got up very early.

She dressed up deliberately, put on exquisite makeup, and wore the jade hairpin given to her by Pei Yi. She was about to go out with Donghua and Dongqing.

"Oh dear, I almost missed it."

Zhou Zhilan came in with a smile, and her eyes widened in amazement the moment she saw her.

"Wow, you look so beautiful today."

Gu Hua blushed and said coquettishly, "I can't embarrass the Duke's mansion when I get home."

"That is."

Zhou Zhilan took her hand and led her outside, whispering in her ear, "The Duke's Mansion is your husband's family home, so we should make sure you return home in style."

Gu Hua was so startled that she almost tripped over the threshold.

He frantically scanned the room, making sure no one else could hear him, and then pulled Zhou Zhilan tightly into his arms.

"Sister Zhou, you can't say things like that."

Zhou Zhilan knew that Hua was shy, after all, the master had not yet given her a formal title. If too many people found out, there would inevitably be gossip, needlessly ruining Hua's reputation.

Last night, she reported to the master that Gu Hua was going home today, and the master instructed her to prepare gifts and personally selected attendants to accompany her.

This setup looks just like a bride returning to her parents' home.

After she told her brother about arranging attendants, he couldn't help but click his tongue and repeatedly said that Miss Hua was destined for good fortune.

Gu Hua followed Zhou Zhilan out of the mansion through the side gate and saw another carriage parked at the entrance.

Dongmo and two other servants stood beside the carriage.

Dongmo stepped forward with a smile: "My lord instructed me to take the two of us back to the manor with you, Miss."

Gu Hua was surprised.

Dong Mo is Mu Junyan's close attendant, how can I let him come and serve me?

“That’s not appropriate. You must serve the Duke.” Gu Hua immediately objected.

"Who would dare disobey the lord's orders? If you don't let them follow, what will happen if the lord punishes them later?"

Zhou Zhilan pushed her into the carriage and turned to instruct Dongqing and Donghua.

"The gifts for the masters of the Gu family are on the carriage. The boxes are labeled with their identities, so don't make a mistake."

Holly and winterflower responded busily.

Gu Hua didn't hear them talking, and was stunned when she got into the carriage and saw the large and small bags.

Donghua and Dongqing then came up and quickly explained when they saw her expression.

"These are gifts that Sister Zhou arranged for you to give to the masters of the Gu family. There are gifts for all the young ladies and gentlemen in the family. We will check them first."

Gu Hua watched as the two women carefully examined each box, whispering amongst themselves about arranging them according to the order of their masters' status.

She didn't know what to say.

It's definitely impossible to go back.

She felt an indescribable sense of gratitude, but also a pang of guilt.

"Whose carriage is this?"

Gu Hua smelled a familiar scent belonging to Mu Junyan, and felt a little nervous.

Donghua didn't even look up: "My lord."

Gu Hua's face inexplicably flushed.

Is the dignified Duke doing this to make her look good?

Do you have feelings for her?

Naturally impossible.

Gu Hua thought about it all the way but couldn't figure it out. The carriage had already arrived at the gate of the Marquis of Wenchang's residence.

When the gatekeeper saw that Miss Gu had returned in a grand procession, he dared not be negligent this time. He invited the young lady into the mansion while instructing a servant to rush into the inner courtyard to announce her arrival.

When a concubine's daughter returns to the mansion, she must first pay her respects to the mistress.

Wang was in much better spirits today than last time. Seeing Gu Hua's radiant appearance, she smiled kindly.

Gu Hua instructed Dong Qing to present the gift.

Dongqing and Donghua each carried a large box. Granny Zhou and her maid took them and opened them on the spot. Even Granny Zhou, who was used to seeing good things, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Gu Hua curiously peeked out.

The box has three compartments, each containing a precious medicinal herb.

Ginseng, Ganoderma lucidum, deer antler, cordyceps, snow lotus, and bird's nest.

She has a deep knowledge of medicinal herbs and can tell at a glance that they are all top-quality.

Gu Hua was both surprised and delighted; this was exactly the tonic that Wang Shi needed.

Sister Zhou was so kind to her. Knowing that Wang was her biggest worry, she specially arranged the most suitable and valuable gift for her.

Wang was deeply moved. This illegitimate daughter was even more considerate than her own daughter, and she felt guilty for not paying attention to her and not caring for her in the past.

With slightly red eyes, he took her hand and looked her over: "Not bad, your complexion is much better, and your face has gained some weight."

Gu Hua felt a warmth in her heart. Although she was no longer as excited and nervous as when she first met her biological mother, the complex emotions she felt about to reveal the truth still brought tears to her eyes.

Is Mother feeling better?

"Yes, thanks to you, I'm getting better now." Madam Wang patted her hand kindly.

The two exchanged knowing smiles.

Gu Hua imagined the moment the truth was revealed, she could snuggle in her biological mother's arms and act spoiled without restraint—a scene she had longed for in both her lives.

Granny Zhou treated Gu Hua even better, whispering, "Our courtyard has been thoroughly cleaned inside and out. I personally prepared all the prescriptions left by Doctor Shen Li last time, and Madam's health is improving day by day."

Gu Hua nodded with tears in her eyes and said in a hoarse voice, "That's good."

"Did you return home for something? Or did you encounter some difficulties? Why didn't your sister come back with you?"

Wang was somewhat worried.

Knowing that she was anxious about her daughter who hadn't heard from her, Granny Zhou quickly smiled and said, "The eldest young lady is pregnant, so it's naturally inconvenient for her to move around."

It turns out that the household was unaware of Gu Wanru's miscarriage.

Gu Hua found it strange that Chen Mama, who was in charge of external affairs, hadn't passed the message in.

Or perhaps she didn't want her mother to know?

She didn't want the Marquis's mansion to think she was useless.

Not wanting her mother to worry, Gu Hua wiped away her tears and said, "My sister drinks her tonics on time every day. She asked me to pass on her regards to you."

In fact, Gu Wanru didn't even say a word of greeting to Wang Shi.

My mother raised a man-eating ingrate.

She was a little worried. Her mother had been secretly poisoned and was in poor physical and mental condition. What if she couldn't accept it?

Looking at Madam Wang's gentle face, Gu Hua thought that the matter of the arranged marriage should be put on hold until her mother recovered.

"Mother, I would like to visit Aunt Pei."

For some reason, Madam Wang felt a strange sense of affection for this concubine's daughter whom she had previously disliked.

On both occasions when she returned, the little girl's eyes were filled with longing and affection, which deeply moved her.

Somewhat reluctant, I still let go of her hand: "Go quickly."

Gu Hua didn't want to see her father or her sisters in the mansion. Her two younger brothers hadn't returned from the clan school, so she gave the gifts to Granny Zhou and asked her to distribute them.

The father's gift was given to Wang to pass on.

Gu Hua had no idea what Zhou Zhilan had prepared for them.

Anyway, she doesn't care.

It just shouldn't be too expensive.

Gu Hua entered Aunt Pei's Xianglan Garden.

Aunt Pei had already received word of the situation, so she dressed neatly and sat upright in the main seat, adopting the demeanor of a mistress of the house.