What can you possibly use to threaten me?

When Gu Fei emerged from the woodshed, Ku Ma was nowhere to be seen. She caught a glimpse of a figure slipping away at the corner of the wooden window under the eaves, her lips curving briefly in a flicker of mockery.

Mo Cheng followed closely behind her, his expression grim. The faint sense of familiarity he’d once felt when looking at Gu Fei had vanished entirely. Despite having mulled over her words time and again, unable to spot any inconsistencies, something still felt off. At the very least, he was certain he did not trust Gu Fei. Nevertheless, his desire to secure a share of Mo Yan’s spoils remained unchanged.

Gu Fei squinted up at the cerulean sky, her pale face softened for once. “It’s getting late, Uncle Five. You’d best return to the main hall.”

Mo Cheng nodded. Seizing the moment when no one was around, he swept his long sleeves and strode away.

Only then did Ku Ma reappear. She swept away any traces of visitors from the woodshed, and when finished, began to push the wheelchair leisurely through the garden.

Gu Fei tapped the armrest lightly with her finger. “Has the fish taken the bait?”

Ku Ma chuckled softly, leaning in to whisper, “All went smoothly, miss.”

Gu Fei’s lips curved in a smile. A cool breeze brushed her face—a rare, fine day.

Most of the young ladies in the garden were acquaintances of the Gu family sisters. At Gu Wanxiu’s instigation, the bolder ones ridiculed Gu Fei to her face, while the majority watched coldly from the sidelines, making no comment.

Gu Fei had no intention of currying favor. She reclined comfortably in her wheelchair, eyes closed, resting. Ku Ma, well accustomed to Gu Fei’s temperament, steered her to quieter corners to avoid disturbance.

Before long, a maid arrived, announcing that the appointed hour had come.

In the ancestral home’s main hall, Master Gu Zhong accepted incense from a servant and bowed three times, each with triple prostrations, before the ancestral portraits.

The entire Gu family was present. Even Second Master Gu Jiang, usually lost in drink, was today groomed and sober, not a hint of alcohol about him.

Gu Fei stood in line with her peers, her gaze drifting. Among the current generation, aside from the eldest son, Gu Yan, who was away on business, there were no other male heirs—a dangerous omen for any family. Privately, Gu Fei had asked Ku Ma to investigate the third branch, only to learn that they had left the family many years ago, never to return. The fourth miss, the only daughter of the third branch, had also disappeared from the family records.

“Let’s begin,” declared Master Gu Zhong, his voice resonant as a bell. He and Madame Cui sat at the head table, the rest of the clan performing simple rites before splitting into two sides, with guests observing from behind.

Gu Fei gathered her thoughts and looked toward Gu Zhong, just as he addressed her again, “Fei, are you ready?”

Ku Ma was quick to respond, pushing the wheelchair to the center. Gu Fei smiled. “I am ready.”

Gu Zhong stroked his beard, about to speak, when Madame Cui interjected sharply, “Bring in the items at once.”

At her command, a maid entered carrying a brass basin filled with clear water, along with a table and a fine needle. The basin was placed before Gu Fei, its surface reflecting her face, the needle atop a brocade cloth, gleaming and sharp.

Gu Fei’s delicate nose twitched; she could distinctly smell the sour, briny odor emanating from the basin. Light shimmered in her dark eyes as she glanced at Madame Cui, a meaningful smile playing at her lips.

Ku Ma stepped forward and picked up the needle. With all eyes on her, she pressed the needle to Gu Fei’s fingertip, pausing momentarily to glance up at the girl.

But Gu Fei gave no indication—not a look or a word—remaining serene and composed, her gaze lowered to the embroidery on her lap.

For a moment, Ku Ma hesitated. She even noticed the poorly concealed satisfaction flickering in Madame Cui’s eyes. There could be no doubt that the water in the brass basin had been tampered with.

She steeled herself for the worst-case scenario: if things went awry, she would spirit Gu Fei away—there were always other places to make a new start.

With that resolve, she raised the needle and deftly pricked Gu Fei’s snow-white fingertip. Instantly, a bead of blood welled up, brilliant as a ruby.

“Wait!” A sudden voice burst in from outside the hall.

Ku Ma acted swiftly, pressing her fingers to Gu Fei’s wound, catching the droplet of blood before it could fall.

Madame Cui’s expression hardened as she shot Ku Ma a veiled glance.

The intruder was someone Gu Fei recognized—it was the page who always accompanied Master Gu Zhong.

Gu Zhong frowned, visibly displeased with his servant. “Jia Yi, what is the meaning of this? Do you not realize what day it is?”

Jia Yi was young, perhaps twenty at most, clean-shaven and dressed in a sapphire-blue robe. He held up the hem as he entered, his eyes lingering briefly on the brass basin before bowing respectfully to Gu Zhong. “Forgive me, Master. It was careless of me.”

“This basin is defiled. I feared it might sully Fifth Miss, so I hurried in to replace it,” Jia Yi said, meeting Gu Zhong’s gaze squarely, though his pinkie twitched ever so slightly as he bowed.

Gu Zhong’s pupils contracted, his frown deepening. Jia Yi had served at his side for over a decade; that subtle signal could not escape his notice. He barked, “If you know it’s defiled, replace it at once! If you delay the auspicious hour, you’ll answer to me.”

Jia Yi agreed and signaled for a maid to bring in another basin of fresh water, personally removing the old one.

Few paid attention to this minor disruption; with so many servants in the household, such slip-ups were hardly unusual.

Only Madame Cui’s face remained sour. She watched helplessly as the basin was carried away, not daring to protest. Instead, she stared as Gu Fei’s blood dripped into the basin, followed by Second Master Gu Jiang pricking his finger and adding his own.

Two drops of blood mingled in the clear water before everyone’s eyes, fusing seamlessly beneath the bright sky.

“Ha ha ha!” Gu Zhong laughed, stroking his beard. “Another descendant for the Gu family—our ancestors must be watching over us!”

The guests all rose, hands clasped in congratulation.

Gu Zhong appeared deeply moved, descending from his seat to grasp both Gu Jiang’s and Gu Fei’s hands, his face alight with joy. “Second Brother, we’ve treated Fei poorly in the past. From now on, you must make it up to her.”

Gu Jiang’s face was blank, his disdain for Gu Fei obvious to all. “Thank you for the reminder, Brother. I will remember.”

With this, Gu Zhong nodded, smiling, and led the guests outside. “Let us move to the ancestral shrine.”

The highlight of the day was about to begin—inscribing Gu Fei’s name in the family genealogy.

Gu Fei lagged behind with Madame Cui and the two Gu sisters.

She gazed at Madame Cui with a smile that was both mocking and proud.

Madame Cui descended in stately fashion, her magenta brocade dress embroidered with peonies and auspicious clouds trailing behind her, bangles clinking. Reaching the brass basin and seeing the mingled drops of blood, her face turned icy as she abruptly kicked the basin, sending water splashing everywhere.

Ku Ma reacted swiftly, pulling the wheelchair back so that not a drop touched Gu Fei. Instead, the hems of the two Gu sisters’ skirts caught a bit of the spray.

“Aunt, why are you so angry? If I knew who provoked you, I’d be sure to teach her a lesson,” Gu Fei said, propping her head on one hand, her eyes as clear as ice as she looked at Madame Cui.

Gu Wanxiu swept her sleeve, ready to retort, but was held back firmly by Gu Wanting.

Madame Cui’s smile faded as she looked down at Gu Fei, her words slow and deliberate. “Don’t be too pleased with yourself. So what if your name is in the family register? I can still make sure you never rise again.”

Gu Fei shook her head and laughed softly, pointing to her chin. “Even now, Aunt, you don’t understand? I, Gu Fei, have never coveted a single thing from the Gu family. So…”

“What leverage do you have over me?” That was what Gu Fei truly wished to say.