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

Zhou Zhilan glared at her: "You big fool, does the Empress Dowager need you to save people?"

Gu Hua whispered, "I want to jump again."

Zhou Zhilan was furious at her lack of self-control and slapped her on the forehead: "Alright, the manor will be swamped these next few days, so you should rest and recuperate, get your body in top shape, and have plenty of energy, and wait for the good days to come."

Gu Hua didn't understand what good days she could expect. If she couldn't stop Jiang Ruoxi, how could she have any good days?

He stared blankly as Zhou Zhilan strode away.

Although she was not Aunt Pei's biological daughter, she grew up by her side since childhood.

Aunt Pei is a calculating person who believes in bartering and exchanging everything.

She hadn't spent much time with Mu Junyan, but she knew she hadn't won him over at all; she was at best just a plaything in a man's bed.

She knew very well that pleasing men in bed was not a long-term solution.

Today, she jumped into the lake to save him, helping him escape the Empress Dowager's plot to force a daughter of the Jiang family into his life. This also made him feel more guilty and gave him an extra advantage.

People, if they want something, they must pay an equal price.

However, she couldn't understand why Mu Junyan would scold her after she risked her life to save Jiang Ruoxi.

I sensed that he seemed very angry.

A slight stirring ran through her heart.

Could it be that he cares about her?

So she's angry because she doesn't take care of herself?

Unfortunately, she almost lost her life but ultimately failed.

If someone with Jiang Ruoxi's personality married into the family, she would definitely be even more domineering than Gu Wanru.

Once Mu Junyan goes to war, Jiang Ruoxi, as the proper mistress of the Duke's mansion, will certainly not tolerate her.

Gu Hua was extremely annoyed. The sharp pain in her abdomen returned, and she curled up, clutching her stomach.

When Donghua came in and saw her like this, she was startled. "My goodness, girl, are you in pain again?"

Gu Hua raised her head and gave a strained smile: "It doesn't hurt that much."

It's much better than yesterday; yesterday she felt like she was going to die.

"Your face is so pale, yet Mu Liulang still insists on seeing you. I'll go tell him now and urge him to give Miss Shen her medicine."

Donghua rattled off a string of words, and Gu Hua grabbed her, asking, "Why does Mu Liulang want to see me?"

"I don't know. It seems like someone is bullying him. He's been standing at the courtyard gate for over an hour, and he won't listen to anyone's advice. The lord isn't here, and no one can easily send him away."

Gu Hua paused for a moment, then said, "Go check if the medicine is ready."

Because of Mu Feng, Mu Junyan misunderstood her and was angry, so she'd better not provoke her.

"Hey, okay."

Donghua carefully tucked the blanket around her and quickly ran off.

A moment later, Shen Li came in carrying a small medicine bag, while Dong Hua carried a bowl of medicine.

After drinking Shen Li's medicine, Gu Hua felt much better. After Shen Li finished giving her acupuncture, more than half an hour had passed.

Shen Li frowned and stared at her, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.

"Am I going to die?" Gu Hua looked at her nervously.

Shen Li glared at her: "Pah, what do you mean 'die'? With me here, you're not going to die!"

Gu Hua patted her chest: "That's good, I'm most afraid of dying."

Shen Li frowned: "A woman who cannot have children is worse off than dead."

"Infertility?"

Gu Hua opened her mouth in surprise, then smiled knowingly: "I already knew."

It's easy to guess.

Shen Li glared at her fiercely: "No, I will definitely make you pregnant."

Gu Hua: "..."

Whether she has kids or not is really not important.

Shen Li stormed off, and only after regaining some composure did Gu Hua remember Mu Feng: "Mu Liulang is gone, isn't he?"

Donghua shook her head: "The gatekeeper just sent someone to ask if the young lady could see me."

"Has the Duke not returned yet?"

Winterflower shook her head.

"Then... let's go see him."

Standing at the gate like this isn't a good thing; if Mu Junyan finds out, who knows how angry he'll get.

She's terrified that Mu Junyan will get angry.

Gu Hua sat in a chair covered with a thick blanket, and Mu Feng was startled when he saw her.

He asked anxiously, "What's wrong with you? Are you sick?"

"It's alright. I wonder what brings you here, Mu Liulang?" Gu Hua asked weakly.

Mu Feng glared at her with his red eyes.

It seems like she's a heartless woman.

Gu Hua felt a chill run down her spine from his glare, but she forced herself to speak: "Sixth Brother, it's inconvenient for us to meet, but you're so insistent on seeing me, you must have something important to say, right?"

Seeing her distant attitude and her eyes full of grievance and sadness, Mu Feng took a step forward and stared intently at her.

"Gu Hua, I love you. If you just say the word, I will never marry Miss Qu."

Cough cough cough.

Gu Hua choked on her saliva, coughing until her face turned red.

Has this child misunderstood something?

Donghua quickly gave her a sip of tea. After calming down, Gu Hua straightened her back and looked at the boy seriously.

"Mu Liulang, we've only met once, and you're already telling me you're in love with me? Isn't that a bit too hasty?"

Mu Feng hurriedly shook his head: "Although we've only met once, my mind has been filled with thoughts of you these past few days. I've read novels and asked my married brothers, and they all say that this is Xin Yue."

Gu Hua had a headache.

She forced a smile: "You don't understand me. You only see my appearance. How do you know I'm not a woman with a black heart and a rotten liver?"

Mu Feng was extremely anxious: "How could you talk about yourself like that?"

Gu Hua interrupted him, saying bluntly, "I will never be able to get pregnant, and the Mu family will never accept a woman like me as their legal wife."

Mu Feng was stunned, his face full of disbelief.

Gu Hua suddenly laughed: "Besides, I don't like children like you."

Back at Ya Yun Pavilion, Gu Hua recalled the boy's appearance, and her heart ached.

If she were the legitimate daughter of the Gu family, wouldn't she also have the opportunity to befriend outstanding young men?

They also have the opportunity to marry openly and honorably.

But she had no "what ifs".

Donghua was combing Gu Hua's hair when she saw her looking melancholy. She couldn't help but say, "I heard that the master arranged the marriage between Miss Qu and her."

Upon hearing this, Gu Hua turned her head and asked, "You mean the Duke arranged a marriage for Mu Liulang?"

"Yes. I heard that Mu Liulang had a big fight with the Third Master and was even beaten a few times."

Gu Hua was surprised.

No wonder Mu Feng looked dejected as he left, his legs were a little unsteady, and he was limping.

Gu Hua rested her chin on her hand: "Did I ruin him?"

Donghua and Dongqing exchanged a glance.

“It’s just his wishful thinking; it has nothing to do with the girl,” Dongqing said softly.

Gu Hua quickly put Mu Feng out of her mind; she needed to hurry up and deal with Aunt Pei and Gu Wanru's affairs.

"Donghua, secretly go see Jinkui tonight..."

"it is good."

Gu Hua was unaware that at this moment, Mu Junyan had suddenly descended upon the Gu family like a god, frightening everyone in the family into unease.

Gu Yuan and Madam Wang looked at the eighteen large red wooden chests placed outside the courtyard and exchanged bewildered glances.

Zhou Chunyu smiled and said, "Lord Gu, Madam Gu, these are eighteen taels of betrothal gifts. Please take a look and see if you are satisfied?"

Gu Yuan was completely bewildered. He racked his brains but couldn't find any of his daughters who would be suitable for marriage.

"Which one is the Duke wish to hire?"

"This is the betrothal gift that our Duke is giving to the second daughter of the Gu family."

Gu Yuan and Wang Shi were both taken aback.

How... should they address Mu Junyan?

Is he the father-in-law or the son-in-law?

But the Duke of Yong is asking for her hand in marriage! Gu Yuan absolutely cannot refuse such a good offer. He was just about to speak...

"No!" Aunt Pei, who was standing to the side, screamed.

Gu Yuan glared at her with displeasure: "How dare you!"

Concubine Pei disregarded everything else and hurriedly ran to the center, kneeling down: "Your Excellency, Gu Hua is of lowly birth and unworthy of respect..."

Mu Junyan's face darkened, and he said in a sinister tone, "Is the Marquis of Wenchang's residence so lacking in manners?"

Gu Yuan shouted sternly, "Pei Shi, this is none of your business to speak. Get out of here!"

Aunt Pei was unwilling, but dared not say anything more, so she had no choice but to step aside.

Gu Yuan smiled broadly: "This humble concubine is thinking of the Duke. This humble concubine comes from a merchant family, and Hua'er is really not worthy of the Duke."

Mu Junyan said calmly, "I have a bad reputation for killing off wives, so I can only ask Gu Hua to be my concubine. As long as the two elders agree, the day after tomorrow will be an auspicious day for the wedding."

Madam Wang frowned: "So hastily? Even if she becomes a concubine, it will be Hua'er's first marriage."

"concubine?"

Aunt Pei couldn't help but speak again, but when she met Mu Junyan's sharp gaze, she was so frightened that she quickly shrank back.

So she was a concubine.

Aunt Pei's anxiety vanished instantly, and seeing Wang's somewhat displeased face, she couldn't help but secretly smile.

Even if you're the legal wife, your daughter is still a concubine.

Once her daughter takes power, she can simply sell off her concubines under some pretext.