54. Imprisonment (Supplement 7.7)

After Mistress Cui finished speaking, she immediately regretted her words, but she dared not look at Gu Zhong. Her hand trembled slightly within her sleeve as she forced herself to remain composed, managing a faint smile as if trying to change the subject. “Aunt misspoke. It’s just that, Fei, ever since you returned, no one here has treated you as an outsider. You are no longer a child. Your uncle was just scolding your elder sister for her careless words—how could you make a similar mistake?”

Her words were earnest, her reproach severe.

Gu Fei sneered inwardly. She had already given Mistress Cui a chance. It was Mistress Cui who harbored ill intentions and wanted to see her embarrassed. Little did she know who would end up the laughingstock.

Gu Zhong was a shrewd man and quickly sensed something was amiss, but since this concerned family matters, he was unwilling to expose anything in front of the younger generation. So he feigned ignorance and asked, “Ahem, Fei, what did you mean by what you just said?”

Gu Fei blinked, her gaze sly. She pretended not to understand his question and replied evasively, “Isn’t it obvious? The fake monk’s death was peculiar—fortunately, he was found dead in the wild, so no one is investigating. Otherwise, it might have implicated the Gu family and tarnished our reputation. And if that little lock of hair ended up in the hands of the coroner, who knows what dirty secrets might have been uncovered?”

Gu Zhong’s brows furrowed deeply. He shot Mistress Cui a sidelong glance, his dissatisfaction evident. “Opportunity—a chance for the Gu family to rise.”

Gu Fei’s brows arched in realization. Some things were better left unsaid beyond a certain point; anything more would be too much. She composed herself and continued, “Uncle must have heard about the recent Ink Competition?”

Gu Zhong nodded.

Gu Fei went on, “But you likely know only the surface, not the underlying truth.”

Seeing Gu Zhong’s attentive expression—and even Mistress Cui was momentarily taken aback—she continued, “The Ink Competition was real, and there were indeed rewards for the winner. But no one realized it was merely a grand wager orchestrated by the Pavilion of Splendors. Whether the Little Mo family or the Huang family, in the end, both gained nothing. Now, with the other families weakened, if our Gu family acts boldly and innovates, why should we not secure a place in Yizhou?”

The revelations in Gu Fei’s words were so astonishing that even Gu Zhong found them hard to believe. Mistress Cui scoffed, while Gu Wanting could not suppress her derisive laughter.

Gu Fei, speaking with conviction, looked only at Gu Zhong and ignored everyone else.

She had pondered this matter all night. What she wanted to accomplish seemed, to others, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot—the opposing forces were simply too powerful. On her own, it was impossible. Ultimately, she needed her own power base.

Though the Pavilion of Splendors had promised to support her, she knew at heart that it was never truly hers. One day, she could be betrayed without warning. Not to mention, there was the mysterious Master Nine Fox, whose motives she could not fathom.

Gu Zhong weighed her words for a long while, uncertain if he should believe her. As a cautious merchant, he asked, “Where did you get this information?”

Gu Fei shook her head, understanding what Gu Zhong was thinking. But there was no helping it. Although he had agreed to let her manage the family’s business, she had yet to actually take charge, and so had no real say in such matters. She could only seek his consent first.

She thought for a moment before replying, “When I first heard about the Ink Competition, I was still at the Pavilion of Splendors and considered having the Gu family participate. Later, Steward Qingyun told me that the master of the Pavilion, Lord Nine Fox, was intervening, and suggested we simply observe. That’s why I gave up on the idea.”

Gu Fei recounted this with perfect composure, her second lie delivered without a hint of pressure. In the face of an organization like the Pavilion of Splendors, a second-tier family such as the Gu had no right to ask questions, let alone meet with Qingyun. No one could have guessed she would dare drag Master Nine Fox into her fabrication.

Even if Gu Zhong tried to verify her story through indirect channels at the Pavilion of Splendors, Gu Fei was unconcerned. The Pavilion’s promise to support her was something she had never truly trusted. This way, she could also observe what the Pavilion’s true intentions were.

In fact, she almost hoped Gu Zhong would investigate and, through subtle hints, uncover the Pavilion’s hidden motives.

Hearing that the news came from the Pavilion of Splendors, Gu Zhong’s expression softened, and he began to believe her, at least a little.

Gu Fei pressed her advantage, sighing, “I had originally planned to try making a fragrant ink with similar effects to medicated ink—using sandalwood from temple offerings, so that writing with it would calm the mind and, with prolonged use, relieve stagnant, turbid qi. If Uncle does not wish to seize this opportunity, then consider me meddlesome.”

“No,” Gu Zhong replied at once. He clasped his hands behind his back and paced a few steps before turning to Gu Fei. “Let me consider this for half a day. But the fragrant ink must be made regardless—whether or not there’s an opportunity, we can still sell it in our shop.”

Gu Fei snorted inwardly. Since she had mentioned the fragrant ink, she knew Gu Zhong would never let such an opportunity slip by—likely, he would want even more. Still, she had some vague suspicions that needed to be tested, so she went along with his wishes.

Seeing this entire storm about to dissipate under Gu Fei’s deft handling, Mistress Cui knew there was nothing more she could do. The matter of the fake monk’s death still weighed heavily on her, so she dared not provoke Gu Fei further—who knew what other evidence the girl might be holding? She finally understood that Gu Fei had brought up the monk’s death precisely to make her wary, diverting trouble elsewhere. Without her own agitation, with Gu Zhong’s attention now on the fragrant ink, no one would mention Gu Fei’s suspicious absence these past few days.

Her gaze grew grave as she mentally singled Gu Fei out. Time and again, whether in desperate circumstances or at the brink of disaster, Gu Fei always found a way to strike back and turn the tables.

Mistress Cui was finally forced to admit that no one in the Gu family could outmaneuver Gu Fei; her schemes and resourcefulness were simply unfathomable.

She steeled herself anew, resolving not to act rashly again, but to wait until her son returned.

Sensing Mistress Cui’s watchful eyes, Gu Fei turned her head, her almond-shaped eyes curving like a crescent moon, her rosy lips lifting in a smile as warm as spring sunlight.

But Gu Wanting was not as rational as Mistress Cui. She could not accept that things would simply end this way. Hatred welled up in her chest. She even began to suspect that Gu Fei was Gu Zhong’s real daughter—otherwise, why was she never punished, no matter how many times she erred? If she or Wanxiu had made such mistakes, they would have been locked in the ancestral hall long ago.

To be fair, Gu Wanting’s mind had long since twisted. Now, caught up in this game, she had no sense of the situation’s gravity.

She burst forward, pointing at Gu Fei and shouting at Gu Zhong, “She’s broken the rules, disappeared for days—who knows what she’s been up to? Father, why won’t you punish her? If Wanxiu and I did the same, would you not care?”

Confronted by his daughter’s challenge in front of so many servants, Gu Zhong’s anger flared. He swept his sleeve and thundered, “Insolence!”

Just as he was about to say more, Gu Fei’s gaze swept over Gu Wanting, and she interjected in a tone both subtle and pointed, “Uncle, may I remind you—Elder Sister is engaged to Young Master Mo Yuhua. With the Pavilion of Splendors’ recent moves, no one knows what will happen next. If our family wants to rise, we must act swiftly and discreetly. Naturally, this must be kept from the Little Mo family as well. So, it would be best if Elder Sister avoids meeting Young Master Mo Yuhua for now.”

The lines between Gu Zhong’s brows deepened. Gu Wanting immediately wanted to rush over and tear Gu Fei’s mouth apart. From the start, she had planned to warn Mo Yuhua after this confrontation, since in less than two months she would be married into the Little Mo family, who would be her true support. As for the Gu family? She already hated them enough.

Gu Fei understood these people all too well—Gu Wanting, Gu Zhong, Mistress Cui…

She added the final, decisive straw, “Of course, if Uncle wishes for the Little Mo family to keep pressing us down, then pretend I said nothing.”

No sooner had she finished than Gu Zhong waved his hand and ordered the servants, “Escort the eldest young lady to her rooms for an afternoon rest. Without my permission, she is not to take a single step outside. If Young Master Mo Yuhua calls, tell him she is indisposed and cannot receive guests.”

With those words, Gu Wanting was effectively placed under house arrest, stripped of all freedom.