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

Gu Hua bowed slightly: "Mother."

Aunt Pei frowned.

She always required Gu Hua to bow to her as a daughter would to her mistress, but now she only bowed as a junior would to her aunt.

Just as she was about to lash out, Gu Hua instructed Dong Qing to present the gift.

Granny Lu took it and opened it; it was just an old ginseng root. Although it was valuable, it was not enough for the eldest daughter of the Pei family, the richest family in the region.

Despite her displeasure, Aunt Pei asked, "How is your elder sister? Is the baby alright?"

Normally, Gu Hua would definitely feel uncomfortable, as her biological mother only cares about her non-biological daughter.

But now, Gu Hua was just waiting for her to ask.

Gu Hua feigned surprise: "Didn't Granny Chen tell Mother? Something terrible has happened."

Aunt Pei was startled. Forgetting all pretense, she leaned forward and grabbed Gu Hua's hand: "What's wrong? Tell me quickly."

Gu Hua's eyes reddened with grievance: "Mother, you hurt your daughter."

Aunt Pei snapped out of her daze, let go of her hand, and glared at her: "Pretentious, hurry up and tell me."

Gu Hua sighed: "My elder sister miscarried, and the baby is gone."

"what!"

Aunt Pei jumped up and opened her arms to grab Gu Hua's neck.

Donghua flashed forward and shoved him hard with her palm: "How dare you! What are you trying to do!"

Aunt Pei was pushed and stumbled, but fortunately, Granny Lu caught her.

"you……"

Aunt Pei was so angry that her face turned ashen, but seeing the fierce-looking girl, she dared not make a move.

Gu Hua poked her head out from behind Dong Hua and said aggrievedly, "Auntie, are you going to strangle me? If you don't want to listen to what my sister asked me to tell you, then I'll just leave."

As he spoke, he pulled Donghua along and called Dongqing to leave.

Aunt Pei shouted urgently, "Stop! Stop right there! Ru'er brought me a message!"

Gu Hua turned her head: "Would you like to talk to me properly, Aunt?"

She was filled with anxiety; the little bitch seemed to be deliberately trying to provoke her, making her so angry that her liver ached.

"Alright, alright, I won't lay a hand on you. Sit down and we'll talk."

Donghua pulled the chair away from Aunt Pei, saying, "Please sit down, Miss. I'll keep her away. If she dares to move again, I won't be polite."

As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves, put his hands on his hips, and glared fiercely at her.

Aunt Pei was so angry she almost fainted.

Seeing this, Granny Lu quickly smiled apologetically, "Second Miss, you've misunderstood your aunt. Your aunt has been worried about you. She couldn't protect you when the eldest young lady was in trouble, could she?"

Gu Hua said resentfully, "Anyone who didn't know better would think that my elder sister is my aunt's biological daughter."

Aunt Pei and Granny Lu both changed their expressions.

This matter must absolutely not be made public.

"Second Miss, you can't just tell jokes like that."

Granny Lu quickly said, "This old servant will go and make tea for the Second Miss."

Dongqing reached out to stop them: "Our girls are particular about tea. We brought the tribute tea, Snow Top Jade."

Granny Lu's face stiffened as she watched Dongqing walk out and then bring in a basket from a servant, setting out tea utensils on the tea table.

A set of exquisite white porcelain teaware from the official kiln, with Dongqing skillfully using a teapot to brew tea.

As she brewed the tea, she explained, "This water was collected from the peach orchard in our Duke's mansion this year."

Aunt Pei stared wide-eyed, her eyes lifeless.

That little slut is living a more comfortable life than she is, while her poor Ru'er has miscarried.

Gu Hua hadn't expected Dong Qing and the others to come up with these things.

They were stunned for a moment, then came to their senses and guessed that it was Sister Zhou who taught them.

He then adopted a similar air, accepting the teacup from Dongqing, taking an elegant sip, and slowly setting it down.

"My elder sister drugged me and the Duke. After the incident, my husband and elder sister had a big fight. Yinzhi was beaten bloody on the spot and her life was unknown when she was dragged out of the mansion. My elder sister was so anxious and angry that she miscarried. The mansion doctor said that my elder sister had been worrying too much during this period, and the fetus was not developing well, so it could not be saved."

Gu Hua looked regretful: "That was a fully formed male fetus."

Aunt Pei let out a wail, pressing her hand to her aching chest, her heart aching terribly.

The eldest grandson of the Duke's mansion, with this child, her Ru'er will surely become the most esteemed Duchess in the future.

Gu Hua looked at her coldly.

Feeling sorry for them?

That's not enough.

Gu Hua continued to add insult to injury: "My elder sister has committed a grave mistake. The Duke is furious and has placed her under house arrest. The son-in-law has even threatened to divorce her."

"My eldest sister has lost her child, but Aunt Yao is pregnant, so the young master isn't too grieving. Aunt, my eldest sister's position as the young mistress of the Duke's mansion is in jeopardy."

Aunt Pei's face drained of color, as if she had been stabbed several times in the heart, and she was in so much pain that she couldn't speak for a moment.

Granny Lu's face turned ashen.

Poisoning the Duke would lead to his son-in-law divorcing his wife—that's outrageous!

The young woman's life is over.

Gu Hua's gentle voice was like poison: "My elder sister is desperate and asked me to pass on a message to my aunt to save her life."

Aunt Pei raised her tearful, bloodshot eyes and gritted her teeth: "Speak quickly."

"My son-in-law is having some trouble lately. My elder sister asked my aunt to help him. He will surely remember my elder sister's kindness, and the couple will reconcile soon."

Aunt Pei immediately sat up straight: "What's the problem? Tell me quickly."

"The son-in-law is short of fifty thousand taels of silver."

"Fifty thousand?" Aunt Pei's face changed.

This is no small sum, especially since Pei Yi just gave her this month's pay; it wouldn't be appropriate to ask for more.

She gave all her surplus silver to Ru'er, and she couldn't possibly come up with 50,000 taels for herself all at once.

"I know my aunt is in a difficult situation. Why don't we tell Mother? After all, she is my elder sister and her own mother. She will definitely help her find a solution."

“No need!” Aunt Pei refused decisively.

Fearing that Gu Hua would be suspicious, Granny Lu quickly added, "Second Miss, the Eldest Miss has come to us for help. If we tell Madam, she might misunderstand and think that the Eldest Miss is disloyal."

“What you say is absolutely right, Granny,” Gu Hua readily agreed.

She didn't want to upset her mother with these unpleasant things.

Let this real mother and daughter torment each other.

Seeing Aunt Pei's grief and worry, Gu Hua kindly reminded her, "Aunt, go find Cousin Pei; he will definitely help you."

Aunt Pei glared at her fiercely.

For now, this is the only option.

Gu Hua thoughtfully suggested, "Daughter can accompany Auntie and explain the situation to Cousin Pei."

Aunt Pei glanced at her. So considerate?

Or perhaps, she has taken a liking to Pei Yi?

After arranging the meeting between the two last time, she originally planned to discuss with Pei Yi about secretly taking Gu Wan away, and then report to the Marquis once the deed was done.

Even if the Marquis is angry, he won't take a concubine's daughter seriously.

Besides, the Pei family is the Gu family's benefactor, so sending a concubine's daughter would be enough to thank the Pei family.

Unexpectedly, Pei Yi said to wait a little longer, which made her afraid to go to the Duke's mansion to explain that Gu Hua was already married.

If that wretched girl Gu Hua were to take a liking to Pei Yi herself, then things would be different.

"it is good."

The scheming Aunt Pei immediately agreed.

The two boarded the Duke's carriage together, and Aunt Pei immediately noticed the wooden inscription hanging on the side of the carriage: Yong.

He was startled. Was this the Duke of Yong's own carriage?

Looking around, Aunt Pei, who came from the richest family in Jiangling, had seen the finest things before. She could tell at a glance that although the carriage looked simple, it was made of superior materials.

The car was filled with a masculine aura.

"Whose carriage is this?"

Gu Hua said casually, "It's from the Duke."

Aunt Pei's eyes nearly popped out of her head. She was so angry she wanted to bite her teeth, but she dared not retaliate, for fear of alerting the people from the Duke's mansion who were following her in the carriage.

She lowered her voice and asked, "You little slut, you really slept with the Duke? You shameless whore, he's your sister's father-in-law!"

Gu Hua's eyes turned slightly cold as she glanced over with a half-smile: "Auntie, watch your words."

Aunt Pei was startled by her cold, piercing gaze.

It looks a bit scary.

Could it be that this brat has picked up the Duke's aura after becoming his woman?

Seeing that she had become obedient, Gu Hua said coldly, "Aunt, there are some things I need to remind you of. If you tell Father and Mother about my elder sister losing her eldest grandson and my relationship with the Duke of Yong, which daughter do you think is more useful in Father's heart?"

Aunt Pei was taken aback.

She never thought of that; she only wanted to figure out how to make her daughter, Ru'er, trample Wang's daughter underfoot and avenge her being forced into becoming a concubine.

Based on her understanding of Gu Yuan...

They will definitely take that little bitch Gu Hua seriously.

If Ru'er is divorced, Gu Yuan will also abandon her.

Aunt Pei was terrified just thinking about it.