Who let you in?

Gu Wanting’s illness had been tightly concealed by the main branch of the Gu family, but with the doctor coming and going, the servants inevitably began to speculate. Gu Fei did not rush to pay a visit; lately, the small ink-making workshop next to Qingmo Courtyard was nearly finished, and she busied herself supervising it, leaving all inquiries to Granny Ku.

Danqing, having been punished, had become much more restrained, now looking at Gu Fei with a hint of fear in her eyes. However, within a few days, rumors about Gu Wanting began to circulate among the servants. It was said that in the dead of night, a maid had seen bloodstained bedding carried from Miss Gu’s room, and that the bundles of medicine she took were not for her health, but for aborting a child.

The rumors grew more and more exaggerated, and by the end, the tale was that Gu Wanting had so damaged her body she would never bear children, spoken with such vivid detail that it seemed almost true.

When Granny Ku reported this, Gu Fei was personally inspecting the newly renovated workshop. At the news, she only asked lightly, “How is the Mo family reacting?”

“They probably haven’t heard yet,” Granny Ku replied, pushing Gu Fei’s wheelchair along a shaded path. “Mo Yuhua comes every day, but never looks pleased.”

Thinking of this, Granny Ku asked, “Miss, what is it that Mo Yuhua really wants?”

A faint smile tugged at Gu Fei’s lips as her hand passed over a table still fragrant with fresh wood. “It’s the old story of the mantis stalking the cicada, while the oriole waits behind. Mo Yuhua is that oriole.”

Granny Ku started, then said in a tone of doubt and surprise, “Miss, do you mean Mo Yuhua’s feelings for Gu Wanting are all a pretense?”

Gu Fei signaled for Granny Ku to wheel her into the room where soot for ink was kept. After a satisfied inspection, she replied, “Not entirely a pretense—perhaps there was some real feeling at first. If Gu Wanting had been virtuous and content, lacking excessive ambition, after marriage Mo Yuhua would have held her in some regard. But her error is in her forceful, competitive nature. In her quest to ruin my reputation beyond redemption, she even tried to manipulate Mo Yuhua. What man would tolerate a wife who uses him in such a way?”

Hearing this, Granny Ku’s eyes lit up with understanding. “So Mo Yuhua simply turned the tables, cementing Gu Wanting’s reputation as barren. Once married, he’ll always have something over her, and no matter how ambitious she is, she’ll never realize her goals.”

Gu Fei nodded, remembering how Gu Wanting always thought she had Mo Yuhua tightly in her grasp—only relying on his fleeting interest. Since they were to be married, as long as her behavior wasn’t excessive, Mo Yuhua would pretend not to notice; in public, he could maintain the appearance of affection, preserving his reputation.

With Gu Fei’s explanation, Granny Ku saw through it all, and felt a chill at the ways of the world. “I’ve lived more than half my life and still can’t see as clearly as you, Miss. I always thought Young Master Mo was a refined and upright gentleman.”

After inspecting the workshop, Gu Fei was generally satisfied. She considered what else she might need, and when she heard Granny Ku’s sigh, she couldn’t help but laugh. “What does being a gentleman have to do with it? After all, the Mo family rose through commerce. How many true merchants are open and aboveboard?”

Granny Ku thought it over and realized the truth in her words.

Gu Fei returned to her courtyard and wrote a list for Granny Ku to take for shopping. Alone under the eaves of the flower hall, she gazed at the new koi in the water vat, absentmindedly tossing in food, not even noticing their bellies growing round.

When Danqing finished cleaning and came out, she saw Gu Fei lost in thought. Danqing snatched away the fish food and called, “Miss, if you keep feeding them, these koi will eat themselves to death.”

“Oh,” Gu Fei came to herself, only then realizing she’d tossed in a whole handful of feed. Her brows drew together in worry. “Danqing, I wonder how my eldest sister is faring now? It’s been days, and I haven’t seen her.”

As she gathered up the extra fish food, Danqing replied, “I heard from a maid close to the main house that the young lady threw quite a tantrum a few days ago. She refused to take her medicine and demanded the madam find another doctor to check her pulse.”

Gu Fei sighed, “I wanted to visit her, but…”

She left the sentence unfinished.

Danqing’s eyes flickered, and she smiled. “It’s all right, Miss. It’s enough that you have the thought.”

As if not hearing, Gu Fei reached into the cool water, the koi swirling their bright tails up before darting away. “Danqing, why don’t you go to the main house more often for me? Find out a bit about my sister’s condition, so I won’t worry.”

“Yes, Miss.” Danqing agreed, and seeing Granny Ku returning from her errands, she quietly excused herself and really did head toward the main house.

Granny Ku had the supplies Gu Fei requested brought to the workshop, and only once everything was in order did she fetch Gu Fei. “Miss, see if there’s anything missing?”

Gu Fei looked around: wood for carving ink molds, knives, all the necessary items for making ink, and several types of fine inkstones and brushes. The workmanship was exquisite—clearly, Granny Ku had taken great care with her purchases.

“Very good, Granny Ku. You’ve done even better than I imagined,” Gu Fei said sincerely.

Granny Ku smiled. “As long as you find them handy, it was worth it.”

Gu Fei did not stand on ceremony. She ran her hands over several fine pieces of nanmu wood, feeling a familiar itch in her fingers. Waving Granny Ku out, she rolled up her sleeves and took up a carving knife.

As Granny Ku watched Gu Fei’s expression turn utterly focused, it was as if a deep tranquility, honed through ages, emanated from her—like rich ink swirling into clear water, shading everything in gentle, eternal mist.

The ink mold, also called the ink stamp, is the tool that gives ink its form. Some molds make several sticks at once; others, one at a time. Several ink stamps can be assembled into six sides and fitted into the main mold cavity, allowing each surface of the ink stick to be formed and patterned simultaneously.

No true master of ink is ignorant of carving ink molds. A fine ink stick must not only excel in quality, but also achieve perfection in form. In fact, the mold’s craftsmanship determines the stick’s spirit once formed. A superior ink stick is so beautiful that one cannot bear to grind it into ink—it becomes a treasure to be collected.

It had been months since Gu Fei last made ink by hand. Though she’d attended the Ink Gathering, watching others work was never as satisfying as crafting with her own hands.

Today, with the workshop complete and all the tools in place, she could resist no longer.

She let her mind go still, her hand guiding the knife from broad shaping to delicate detail. Bit by bit, wood shavings drifted down like clouds, lively and vivid.

As dusk fell, Granny Ku saw Danqing return from the main house and told her to light the lamps for Gu Fei before heading to the kitchen.

Danqing fetched a brass oil lantern from the flower hall and carefully entered the workshop. She found Gu Fei seated at her desk, hands busy, eyes shining with focus.

Drawing closer, Danqing saw that Gu Fei was carving a design of bamboo and swallows—lush bamboo, darting swallows, and delicate fallen leaves. The scene was so familiar that, on closer inspection, Danqing realized it was just like the bamboo grove at Linlang Pavilion.

A shadow fell across the room. Startled, Gu Fei’s hand trembled. She looked up, her gaze sharp. “Who let you in?”