68. The Ailing Beauty

Gu Zhong felt a splitting headache. Three whole days had passed, and he still couldn’t even step through the door of the Ink Pavilion; Old Mother Ku guarded it day and night, leaving him no opportunity at all. Even if he wanted to punish Gu Fei, he would have to see her first.

But this wasn’t the worst of his troubles. After the auction at the Gu family shop, not only had Gu Fei swept away all the silver, but the orders for the reserved ink, for which payment had already been received, were left to him. He had neither the formula nor the silver—how could he deliver the ink on time?

So, after a night of sobering reflection, Gu Zhong began to regret his actions. Yet every time he remembered Gu Fei daring to abduct him, his anger surged anew.

However, when on the second, third, and every day thereafter, people came to inquire about the ink, Gu Zhong sensed things were amiss. He reviewed the order slips handed to him by Manager Shang several times and discovered that nearly all the customers who had paid in advance were people the Gu family could not afford to offend.

Now he was truly anxious. The formula was with Gu Fei, and only she could produce the ink. Now that she had shut herself away and refused to see anyone, if the ink wasn’t delivered on time, it would be a breach of contract, requiring double compensation. Where would he find such a sum?

The Gu family was suddenly caught between a rock and a hard place. Though Gu Zhong was deeply resentful, he had no choice but to bow to Gu Fei once again.

Gu Fei was well aware of the shop’s situation, with Old Mother Ku reporting every day, so nothing escaped her attention. She was in no hurry at all; after all, this predicament was her intention. If Gu Zhong refused to listen, she would take control of the Gu family herself—this was only the first step.

After a few days, when Gu Fei judged that Gu Zhong’s patience had worn thin, she sent a letter to Feng Li-zhi, stating her wish to use the ink formula and asking for his recommendation to join the Yizhou Ink Merchants Association.

Feng Li-zhi readily agreed. The day after receiving her letter, he brought the association’s membership documents and visited the Gu family.

No one knew what was discussed during the long conversation in the Ink Pavilion, but when Feng Li-zhi left, he carried a neatly folded square silk paper. Gu Zhong, upon hearing this, rushed to the Ink Pavilion, only to find that Gu Fei had already left for the marketplace with Old Mother Ku, right after Feng Li-zhi’s departure.

Once again, Gu Zhong was left empty-handed. With a face full of gloom, he simply had the servants bring a chair and sat boldly at the Ink Pavilion entrance, refusing to leave.

Leaving aside Gu Zhong’s shameless tactics, Old Mother Ku pushed Gu Fei’s wheelchair to visit the tooth-woman she favored, intending to hire a few new servants for the courtyard. Normally, this task would be coordinated with Madame Cui, who would send people over as needed.

But Old Mother Ku was unwilling to entrust it, and besides, Madame Cui had no authority over Gu Fei. So she decided to handle the matter herself.

“Miss, the tooth-woman I found is said to have the best reputation in Yizhou city and is quite skilled at training people,” Old Mother Ku remarked in passing.

Gu Fei responded with a soft “mm,” her spirits low. If not for purposely avoiding Gu Zhong, she wouldn’t have wanted to go out at all.

Old Mother Ku had already left the market district, heading deeper toward the east gate, where the wealthier families of Yizhou resided. Gu Fei grew curious, glanced around, and confirmed they were in the neighborhood of those with some means. She asked, “Old Mother Ku, are you sure you’re not lost?”

Old Mother Ku laughed, “How could I be lost? Miss, you may not know, but the tooth-woman lives here, keeping those she’s trained under her own eye, always watching them like a hawk. That’s why her people are the best.”

Gu Fei understood at once and felt the tooth-woman was indeed quite shrewd.

Old Mother Ku stopped before a vermilion gate. Without needing to knock, a girl of about ten promptly appeared, bowed, and welcomed them inside.

The first thing they saw was a large screen painted with mountain scenery. Beyond it lay a vast courtyard where men and women stood separately in groups of varying heights.

“Greetings, Miss,” came a voice as soft as water. Soon after, a woman in her thirties stepped out, clad in a deep purple skirt and with her hair in a tall bun adorned only with a plain silver hairpin. Her clean, transparent aura made one feel instantly at ease. “The people are ready, please take your time to look.”

Gu Fei said nothing. Old Mother Ku’s deeply lined face twitched slightly. “Understood. Once the selection is made, there’ll be no shortage of silver.”

The woman smiled, her eyes curved like a crescent moon, gently stepping aside.

Gu Fei surveyed the courtyard. She mainly wanted to choose a sturdy and honest hand to help with the ink beating, and two young girls to train so Old Mother Ku could eventually be relieved of chores.

“Miss, how about that one?” Old Mother Ku bent low and whispered by Gu Fei’s ear.

Following her direction, Gu Fei looked over—

A robust man stood there, built like a tower, skin dark, dressed in short sleeves that couldn’t conceal his bulging muscles. He had a solid, honest look, with clear and bright eyes—not a treacherous sort.

In a sense, Gu Fei trusted Old Mother Ku’s judgment, since the old woman knew some martial arts; for ink beating, all they needed was strength.

Gu Fei nodded, then glanced away and happened to spot two twin sisters at the front, around eleven or twelve years old, wearing indigo short shirts. One had a sharp, spirited look; the other was gentle and clever.

She liked them at once and asked, “Old Mother Ku, do you think those two girls would do?”

Old Mother Ku followed her gaze, and under her relaxed eyelids flashed a brilliance unseen by anyone. “Miss has excellent taste. The girl on the left knows a bit of martial arts, and the one on the right seems literate.”

Hearing this, the tooth-woman smiled and explained, “You truly have an eye for talent. At a glance, you’ve picked my best. Those twins were raised in the escort trade—the elder sister can write and calculate, the younger inherited her father’s skills and can wield a blade. Many have coveted them, but I’ve always been reluctant to let them go.”

She spoke of the twins but deliberately omitted mention of the tower-like man.

By now, Old Mother Ku had already made her choices, and the twins stepped forward without hesitation. When it was the man’s turn, unexpectedly, he refused and bellowed, “You want to buy me? I have an older brother. If you won’t take us both, I won’t go.”

Upon hearing this, Old Mother Ku looked at the tooth-woman.

The tooth-woman forced a smile, her lips stiffening. She explained helplessly, “No use hiding it, Miss. This man is called You Qing, or You the Second. Months ago, a flood in Quancheng forced them to come here. Miss, you should know that You the Second is a strong hand and honest, but he has a sickly scholar brother. He insists his brother will one day earn honors, and if sold, he must not be separated from him.”

At this, Old Mother Ku felt she couldn’t decide alone. She asked Gu Fei, “Perhaps we should see his brother too. If he’s also honest, another mouth in the courtyard won’t be a problem. And if he has talent, Miss could support him. What do you think?”

Gu Fei tapped the armrest of her wheelchair, casting a half-smile at Old Mother Ku. After these days together, she knew the old woman was hardly soft-hearted. Yet here she was, unexpectedly advocating for the man. Gu Fei made no comment, replying, “It seems this man suits your eye. Let’s see then.”

The tooth-woman’s face lit up. “You the Second, hurry and bring your brother out for the ladies to meet.”

You the Second was reluctant, grumbling, “My elder brother is a scholar, aiming to be top of the imperial exam, he won’t sign…”

“You the Second…”

Suddenly, a voice as clear as a spring sounded from the veranda, and a frail young man in scholar’s robes, about twenty, slowly emerged from around the corner. His head was wrapped in a square cloth, his face pale with two unnatural flushes of red. His eyes shone like waters rinsed clear; the whole person exuded a refined scholarly air.

He first bowed to Gu Fei, then turned to You Qing and said, “I often remind you to heed the sage’s words and behave respectfully. How can you…”

He broke off, seized by a violent cough. The red on his cheeks deepened, contrasting with his porcelain-like skin, making him even more striking than a woman.