At your mercy.

The hour neared dawn.

As usual, Old Mother Ku roused Gu Fei on time. Her expression was grave; under the shifting light of the oil lamp, the deep lines etched across her face appeared even more pronounced.

Gu Fei was not fully awake at first, but seeing Mother Ku’s demeanor, her heart eased. She rubbed her brow and smiled, saying, “You don’t need to worry, Mother Ku. When the cart reaches the mountain, a road will appear.”

The words did little to comfort Mother Ku. She tended to Gu Fei, dressing her in a dark blue, white-trimmed brocade gown. Her hands moved deftly through the girl’s hair, weaving and pinning as she spoke. “How can I not worry, miss? We’ve prepared nothing to cope with what’s ahead. This blood-recognition ceremony will surely bring its own troubles. Once we leave the Gu family, I won’t be able to find another place so suitable for us.”

Gu Fei gazed at her reflection in the bronze mirror. She picked up a white porcelain rouge box, painted with the figure of a court lady, gently opened it, and brought it to her nose, inhaling its soft fragrance. Her question seemed casual: “Mother Ku, why did you choose to bring me back to Yizhou, to the Gu family?”

Mother Ku’s hands stilled as she twisted Gu Fei’s hair into a chignon. She avoided the girl’s gaze in the mirror, found a pale green hairpin carved with butterflies and blossoms, and fixed it in place. After a moment’s thought, she replied, “I don’t understand intrigue, nor do I think as much as you, miss. Yizhou is your birthplace—apart from the capital, it’s known as the Second Ink City. That’s why I brought you here. The Gu family’s position in Yizhou is neither high nor low. It’s best for you to settle here quietly, unnoticed, until your wings are strong.”

On the surface, every word was reasonable and true—no one would question it further. Yet Gu Fei was not one to take things at face value; sharp-witted, accustomed to spinning every conversation a few turns before settling on meaning.

So she did, and in Mother Ku’s words, she found something different.

First, about Mother Ku herself—a woman of advanced years, yet strong, skilled in martial arts, and versed in the ways of the underworld. Who could believe she had no story? And from Second Master Gu Jiang’s reaction last night, it was clear bringing her back to the family was something he deeply resisted, though he had no choice but to comply.

When people do things against their will, the reasons are few—coercion, or the pressure of power.

As Gu Fei considered and dismissed each possibility, she became certain Mother Ku harbored secrets. Yet, however curious, she killed the thought. She had barely set foot in the Gu family, with no wealth, power, or influence—just a few ink-making skills. If Mother Ku didn’t wish to speak, there was no point asking.

Trust was out of the question.

Once she was dressed, Danqing had already prepared breakfast. The rules of the household were set aside for today; the meal was brought directly to her room, so she would not suffer from weakness when the ancestral ceremony began.

It was still early. Gu Fei’s brow throbbed from lack of sleep. She had little appetite but forced herself to eat a few bites. Afterward, Mother Ku wrapped a few of her favorite pastries in a handkerchief and tucked them into her sleeve—something to quiet her hunger later, unnoticed.

At the third quarter of the morning watch, First Master Gu Zhong came to check on her. The opening of the ancestral shrine was a major affair; he was dressed in sober, dignified robes. Seeing Gu Fei ready, he left, reassured.

Guests had already begun arriving, and Gu Zhong went to the ancestral house to greet them. Even Madam Cui was all smiles, welcoming everyone graciously.

The male and female guests were naturally separated. The ladies and young women entered through a side gate, guided straight to the rear courtyard by maids. Such an occasion was rare—Madam Cui brought her two daughters, Gu Wanting and Gu Wanxiu, to help her receive the female guests.

The young women wandered the gardens, chatting amongst themselves; the married ladies traded family gossip.

Of course, some were curious about Gu Fei. When asked, Madam Cui merely smiled, neither praising nor criticizing, skillfully deflecting questions and revealing nothing.

As Gu Fei made her way from the Ink Green Courtyard to the ancestral house, many eyes watched her pass by in her wheelchair. She caught faint, mocking glances. When she finally entered the main hall and paid respects to Madam Cui from afar, the room fell silent. The ladies’ gazes were a mix of pity, indifference, and ridicule.

Madam Cui, perhaps deliberately, held her teacup and called out loudly to the servants, “What are you standing there for? Don’t you see Fifth Miss is hindered by the threshold? Lift her inside, quickly!”

Then, turning to Gu Fei, she smiled with false warmth. “Fei’er, there are many rituals today. Is your health up to it?”

Gu Fei pretended not to notice the implication. Madam Cui was clearly highlighting her as a cripple with poor health. How could she not respond in kind? “Thank you for your concern, Aunt. I’m much better now. Just yesterday, the physician said I need no further medicine. However…”

She paused, turning her gaze on Gu Wanting, her slender fingers tracing the embroidery on her robe. “It’s my elder sister I worry about. I heard from the servants that she refused the doctor’s remedies for her ‘cold constitution.’ Today is a taxing day for her, with my recognition ceremony and all. How can I feel at ease?”

The mention of a “cold constitution” was as sharp as a shard of ice, piercing Madam Cui and Gu Wanting to the heart, their faces changing instantly.

Among the assembled ladies, all shrewd and observant, eyes immediately turned to Madam Cui and Gu Wanting.

Especially Lady Duanmu, the matron of the Xiao Mo family and mother to Mo Yuhua, who could not resist asking, “A cold constitution? What did the doctor say? Cui, you should have mentioned it. With Wanting set to marry Yuhua in October, her health should be tended to.”

The implication was clear—Madam Cui was being accused of hiding a matter of great importance. Everyone knew a woman with such an ailment would have difficulty bearing children; no family would willingly accept such a daughter-in-law.

With a single sentence, Gu Fei had poured a bucket of black water over Gu Wanting’s head—one that would not be easily washed away.

She knew well that such matters, even if Mo Yuhua was aware, would have been kept from the rest of the Xiao Mo family. On the day of Gu Wanting’s marriage, the Gu family would have found another excuse to send a second daughter as well.

Madam Cui shot a sharp glare at Gu Fei before turning with a smile to Lady Duanmu. “Sister Duanmu, it’s nothing serious. Wanting caught a chill at the Ink Gathering in Linlang Pavilion. The girl is spoiled, and refuses bitter medicine. By the time the servants heard, the story had grown quite out of proportion.”

Then she looked coldly at Gu Fei. “Fei’er, you are a daughter of the Gu family now. This is not like your days outside—there are rules here. You can’t believe everything the servants say!”

Her quick thinking allowed her to deflect the issue and cast blame on Gu Fei instead. Even if Gu Fei’s name was entered into the family register today, she would forever bear the mark of an uncouth, ill-bred child.

But Gu Fei showed not the slightest fear. Her chin lifted slightly, dark eyes calm and profound. “Aunt is right. I was too hasty.”

Madam Cui’s expression softened, but before she could relax, Gu Fei’s face turned cold as she called out, “Danqing, kneel!”

Danqing, who had been standing quietly in the corner behind Gu Fei, trembled and dropped to her knees without thinking, a sense of impending doom washing over her.

Before anyone could react, Gu Fei, like a judge pronouncing sentence, opened her lips and pronounced every word with deadly precision, “Aunt, this wretched maid who spread such rumors is already kneeling. No one ever taught me how to discipline servants, so today, I leave this gossiping wretch for you to deal with as you see fit!”