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

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Mu Junyan carried Gu Hua and ran wildly out of the palace to his carriage.

Akabane and his companions already knew what had happened. They sent someone back to the manor to report the news, while Akabane personally drove the carriage, which sped smoothly and steadily toward the Duke's manor.

The carriage always kept one or two clean robes and blankets in case Mu Junyan needed them.

Mu Junyan peeled off the blanket and then reached out to take off her clothes.

Gu Hua was already awake. Looking at his somewhat rough movements, she sensed that he seemed to be suppressing his anger.

Although she was shy, she dared not resist, and she had no strength to do so.

She could only let him strip her naked, then put a man's robe on her, wrap her up like a rice dumpling with a belt, and finally wrap her in a blanket.

Her hands were wrapped up and she couldn't move. Finally, she was carried horizontally and placed on someone's lap, embraced in a warm hug.

Her body, which had been cold, gradually warmed up, and she cautiously looked at the angry man with timid eyes.

Mu Junyan's brows furrowed tightly, and he rebuked in a deep voice: "Do you want to live?"

Gu Hua pursed her lips, coughed softly twice, and said in a gentle voice, "I can swim. Besides, isn't Master here?"

Mu Junyan's anger flared even more: "Still being stubborn! What if I had been a step later? What if you hadn't been able to get up here?"

As the man yelled in her ear, Gu Hua felt herself becoming dizzy and feverish again.

She nestled weakly into his arms, rubbing her head against his chest, and murmured pleadingly, "Master, please don't scold me anymore. I only want to prevent you from going into the water, otherwise, you'll have no choice but to marry her."

Mu Junyan was taken aback and looked down at her.

Did she go into the water to save him so that he wouldn't fall into the Empress Dowager's trap?

How could she be so stupid!

How could he possibly fall into a trap?

The girl's cheeks were flushed, her eyelashes trembled, and her small body kept shaking.

My heart clenched.

Gu Hua's eyes were already drooping, and she mumbled groggily, "My stomach hurts so much..."

Looking at the pitiful girl, Mu Junyan's anger burned even brighter, and he really wanted to give her a good scolding.

He couldn't figure out why he was so angry with her.

He was the one who used her first and pushed her into the limelight.

She was the one who used her slender body to shield him from unwanted suitors.

The person in his arms had purple lips from the cold, and her cheeks were as red as burning iron. She was limp and lifeless.

He couldn't do anything about her.

Back at the Duke of Yongguo's mansion, Mu Junyan carried her all the way to Ya Yun Pavilion.

Someone had already informed the manor, and Donghua and Shen Li were already prepared.

Zhou Zhilan and two maids also helped.

Once the others arrived, they busied themselves with acupuncture, administering medicine, and giving baths.

Physician Sun also rushed over.

Mu Junyan sat silently under the ginkgo tree in the courtyard.

Soon, Physician Sun came out.

Mu Junyan stood up, his tone calm: "How is it?"

"Reporting to my lord, Miss Gu's life is no longer in danger. She will recover slowly once the fever subsides, but..."

"Just what?" Mu Junyan suppressed his inexplicable emotions.

The physician from the Sun family sighed: "Shen Li had previously discovered that Miss Gu's menstrual flow was abnormal. Because the recuperation period was too short, her menstrual flow suddenly started today, and her extremely cold constitution caused her unbearable abdominal pain. Before entering the palace, Shen Li gave her medicine and put a thick cloak on her, which should have been enough to keep her warm for a while."

But when I checked her pulse just now, I found there was no medication in her stomach; I guess she vomited it all up. I gave her some painkillers, but she didn't take them. Plus, falling into the water and getting chilled has damaged her health; it's probably going to make it difficult for her to conceive.”

Mu Junyan's face suddenly darkened.

Staring at the wooden lattice window, one can vaguely see a sleeping figure inside the curtains.

"Use the best medicine to restore her health."

The physician from the Sun family hesitated to speak.

"Speak your mind!" Mu Junyan's voice was urgent but icy.

"Miss Gu's health is due to medication. She was tormented by growth-inducing drugs and abortion-preventing drugs from a very young age. These two drugs are incompatible, resulting in a very poor constitution. If she drinks contraceptive soup again..."

"She doesn't need to drink that anymore. Do your best to heal her." Mu Junyan quickly interrupted him.

The little girl has already suffered enough; if she can never have children again, I don't know if she can bear the blow.

Physician Sun acknowledged and turned to prepare and decoct the medicine.

Mu Junyan stood with his hands clasped behind his back, staring straight into the room, his thick eyebrows furrowed in displeasure, his eyes burning with suppressed anger.

Zhou Chunyu walked over, stared at him for a while, and then, sensing that something was wrong, dared not speak and stood quietly to the side.

After a long while, Mu Junyan asked calmly, "How is it?"

Zhou Chunyu quickly stepped forward and whispered, "The Third Master and Third Madam were overjoyed to see that it was the Third Miss of the Qu family. This morning, they arranged for a matchmaker to come and propose marriage. The Qu family has already agreed, and the six betrothal rites will be held soon."

"Yes. Prepare eight sets of betrothal gifts and send them over."

"Yes."

Seeing that he had no further instructions, Zhou Chunyu took his leave and prepared to turn around, but then he heard Mu Junyan speak again.

"Let's get ready for the wedding."

"To make it for the Third Master's family?" Zhou Chunyu's mind didn't quite process it for a moment.

Mu Junyan's eyes were cold: "I'm preparing to get married."

Zhou Chunyu: "...!"

After a long while, he finally came to his senses and nodded happily: "Ah...ah, good, good, good."

"Why are you so happy? It's not like you're getting married."

Mu Junyan's eyes were sharp, and he exuded an imposing aura without being angry.

Zhou Chunyu immediately stopped laughing, but then couldn't help grinning again. Not afraid of angering him, he said with a smile, "This humble servant is happy for my lord. My lord has finally agreed to marry..."

Mu Junyan frowned: "It's just taking a concubine."

He patiently explained, "It's not that I want to marry her, but in front of everyone, I already had physical intimacy with her after rescuing her ashore. As a man, I shouldn't let a woman tarnish my reputation. Besides, my mother likes her very much, and I feel more at ease knowing that she has someone to keep her company."

Explanation is to cover.

Zhou Chunyu really wanted to laugh it off.

Those who serve him closely know what happened in the palace today.

In the past, women would often pretend to fall into the water in order to get intimate with each other and gain a title, but this man who refused to let women enter always turned a blind eye.

Today he softened his heart, ignoring the county princess and saving Gu Hua in public, even saying he hadn't fallen for her.

Of course, Gu Hua's current status is not suitable for being the legal wife, but having gained the title, she is now legitimate.

Moreover, it can also ward off unwanted romantic advances from outside.

With the lord having a favored concubine, what respectable noblewoman would still want to marry into the family?

Not to mention the Jiang family.

Gu Hua remained unconscious for three whole days.

When I woke up, everything around me seemed to have changed.

"The girl is awake."

Donghua sat on the edge of the bed, resting her chin on her hand and staring intently at the person on the bed. When she saw her eyelashes tremble, she immediately let out a joyful cry.

A group of people came in from outside.

Gu Hua looked around in a daze at the several unfamiliar faces.

Dongqing and the new maid helped her get up, and Donghua ran out to find Shen Li.

A short while later, Zhou Zhilan and Shen Li arrived together.

After a long period of preparation involving herbal medicine and medicinal baths, Gu Hua was finally dressed properly before being tucked back into bed by the others.

Before she could speak, a delicious and easily digestible meal was served.

Zhou Zhilan simply climbed onto the bed, sat cross-legged on the inside of her, and watched Dongqing feed her.

Gu Hua felt uneasy under Zhou Zhilan's smiling gaze.

"Did something happen?"

"Yes, something big has happened." Zhou Zhilan stopped smiling and nodded seriously.

Gu Hua swallowed a spoonful of bird's nest soup that Dong Qing had brought her: "What is it?"

"The Duke of Yongguo's mansion is having a happy occasion."

Gu Hua was taken aback and grabbed her: "What? The Empress Dowager still bestowed the marriage?"

"Yes, the marriage has been arranged." Zhou Zhilan nodded solemnly.

Gu Hua's heart skipped a beat.

She risked her life to protect Mu Junyan from unwanted suitors.

Is this life truly different from the last? Is Jiang Ruoxi going to become Mu Junyan's legal wife?

So what should she do?