Gu Yunche sat on a stool nearby, waiting for Mu Guiying to wake up. His gaze rested on her face as color gradually returned to her pale complexion and the sweat faded away.
When Mu Guiying opened her eyes, a faint soap scent drifted into her nose. She turned her head slightly and saw a neatly folded man’s shirt.
She frowned and tried to recall where she was.
“Guiying, you’re awake!”
The village chief looked at her confused expression and sighed. “I’m the village chief!”
Mu Guiying paused. In the novel, the village chief had treated her very well. He was one of the few genuinely kind people in the village.
Her eyes instantly reddened. “Village Chief, you have to help me!”
Seeing that she had awakened, Gu Yunche walked over and picked up the shirt nearby, draping it over her dirty clothes.
“Since you’re awake, speak slowly.”
Mu Guiying glanced at the shirt on her body, surprised that Gu Yunche would show concern for her.
Lowering her eyes, she recalled what happened before she fainted. She had come looking for the village chief. According to the original novel, there was a persimmon tree in front of his house.
She had found the chief’s house, but she didn’t know where he was at the time. In panic, she rushed into the nearest room to the courtyard entrance, only to discover it was the room Gu Yunche was temporarily staying in.
Would he misunderstand her again and think she deliberately barged into his room?
Mu Guiying looked at him apologetically. “Commander Gu, I caused you trouble.”
As she spoke, she tried to get out of bed.
Just then, Liu E rushed forward, only to be blocked by Gu Yunche’s outstretched arm.
Liu E repeatedly winked at Mu Guiying before hurriedly speaking.
“Guiying, hurry and tell everyone who bullied you! My eldest son got hurt protecting you. I won’t blame you or make trouble for you, but as your aunt, I still have to seek justice for you!”
There was clearly another meaning hidden beneath her words.
Mu Guiying understood exactly what Liu E was implying.
She looked at the villagers gathered around to watch the excitement, then at the anxious expression on Gu Yunche’s face. She had already guessed what happened while she was unconscious.
Seeing Mu Guiying remain silent with lowered eyes, Liu E became anxious.
“Guiying, a woman’s reputation is the most important thing. If your reputation is ruined, forget the men in our family—even the whole village won’t have a man willing to marry you.”
Threatening her?
Mu Guiying rolled her eyes at Liu E.
“Auntie, what exactly are you trying to say?”
Liu E froze for a moment. She hadn’t expected the usually clever Mu Guiying to suddenly act dense at such a critical moment.
She continued winking frantically. “Guiying, just tell the truth. The village chief is here, and so are the villagers. They’ll stand up for you. No official is above the law.”
That made her intentions even more obvious.
The village chief became furious seeing Liu E trying to guide Mu Guiying into smearing Gu Yunche’s reputation.
“Liu E, don’t go too far! If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll call the township police station right now!”
Frightened by his warning, Liu E finally shut her mouth, though she continued glaring fiercely at Mu Guiying.
Mu Guiying knew that in this era, there were no surveillance cameras, recordings, or mobile phones. Framing Gu Yunche would be incredibly easy.
She looked toward him. His handsome face was cold and stern, and his tall 188-centimeter frame carried an overwhelming sense of pressure.
Mu Guiying carefully considered her words. How could she make Gu Yunche let go of his suspicion that she wanted to cling to him and convince him to take her away from Liu E’s family?
If she handled this poorly, Gu Yunche would resent her, and Liu E would seize the chance to create more trouble and demand money from him.
If that happened, Mu Guiying would walk the same path as before, ending up dead on a smuggling boat.
She brushed her hair back.
“Auntie, I may be soft-hearted and too timid to harm others, but I also don’t want to wrong a good person. It was—”
But Gu Yunche interrupted her.
“Comrade Mu, think carefully before you speak.”
Her unfinished words were cut off by him. Mu Guiying frowned at the tall and handsome man before her, feeling bitter inside.
Gu Yunche was afraid she would say something reckless, and even more afraid she would cling to him.
Most likely, in the original story, Mu Guiying’s desperate attempt to seduce him had left him with an extremely terrible impression. In his mind, she was the kind of person incapable of saying or doing anything good.
Thinking of this, Mu Guiying let out a long sigh.
She lowered her gaze to the white shirt draped over her shoulders, clutching it tightly as she calmed herself.
“It was Commander Gu who saved me. He didn’t molest or assault me. The one who tried to take advantage of me was the fool from my aunt’s family. I ran to the village chief’s house to ask him for justice, but I fainted as soon as I entered.”
She paused briefly before continuing steadily.
“Commander Gu only arrived in the village yesterday. I didn’t know he was staying in this room at the village chief’s house, which is why I barged in by mistake. So this entire matter has nothing to do with Commander Gu.”
The tension in Gu Yunche’s handsome features eased slightly, and his expression softened.
Lowering his eyes, he curled his lips faintly before turning to glance coldly at the gossiping villagers.
“Did everyone hear that clearly?”
The villagers nodded repeatedly while cursing Liu E for being shameless before gradually dispersing.
Only then did Liu E recover from her shock. She had never expected Mu Guiying to say such things. Back when they learned Gu Yunche was coming to take Mu Guiying to the capital, Liu E had even discussed a plan with her to sleep with Gu Yunche after drugging him—and Mu Guiying had agreed without hesitation.
But now, seeing Gu Yunche protecting her, Mu Guiying had suddenly changed her story.
“Mu Guiying, you heartless little ingrate! When I discussed drugging Commander Gu and getting you into his bed, you agreed immediately. But now that you see he’s protecting you, you suddenly changed your tune?”
Liu E tried to rush over and grab Mu Guiying, but the village chief stopped her.
He barked angrily, “Liu E, if you keep causing trouble, I’ll call the township police right now. If they can’t arrest your eldest son, they’ll arrest you instead!”
Only then did Liu E unwillingly shut up. She viciously spat in Mu Guiying’s direction.
“You shameless thing! Do you think going to the capital will turn you into a phoenix? What a joke! Since when can a filthy chicken coop produce a golden phoenix?”
As the village chief dragged Liu E away, she continued cursing loudly.
Mu Guiying sneered in return.
“Whether I become a phoenix or not is none of your concern. Instead of wasting time insulting me, you should think about how to cure your idiot son and where to find money for your second son’s marriage!”
Liu E was so furious she nearly jumped in rage.
But with both the village chief and his wife blocking her and forcing her out, she couldn’t get close to Mu Guiying.
In frustration, she turned toward Gu Yunche, whose expression had become dark and cold again as he stared at Mu Guiying.
“Commander Gu, Mu Guiying is no good. She’s full of evil schemes. You’d better keep your eyes open and not fall into her trap.”
Hearing those words, Mu Guiying bit her lip guiltily.
After all, when she transmigrated into this body, Gu Yunche had already drunk the drugged tiger-bone wine. And in the original novel, Mu Guiying really had participated in the planning.
Although she had only agreed after being beaten badly, the reason she initially refused was simply because she had never met Gu Yunche before and didn’t trust him. But after seeing him in person, she had been captivated by his handsome face and tall, muscular physique.
To put it simply, the original Mu Guiying had been completely lovestruck and tempted by the idea of seducing Gu Yunche, which was why she hadn’t stopped him from drinking the wine in time.
At that moment, Mu Guiying cautiously looked up at him.
His face was gloomy, and the way he looked at her had returned to the same icy impatience as before.
After hesitating for a long moment, she carefully asked,
“Commander Gu… if I said I was beaten and forced to participate in the plan to drug you, would you believe me?”