85. Ruin

Gu Fei wore a faint smile, her pitch-black eyes swirling with mist. Her hand rested on the wheelchair’s armrest as she gazed at the middle-aged man before her—his robe of raven blue embroidered with subdued cloud patterns, a jade-green toad the size of a dragon’s eye at his waist. He was tall, with slender eyes and a slightly hooked nose, exuding the shrewdness unique to a seasoned merchant.

Gu Fei’s lips curled. “Master Mo Yan, your reputation precedes you.”

Mo Yan clasped his hands behind his back, his jaw set and eyes narrowed, his thoughts unreadable. He first cast a cold appraising glance at Gu Fei, then spoke. “Gu Fei? I too have heard much of you. You’re a woman whose talents rival any man’s, and I admire that.”

Gu Fei let out a light laugh, icy as water breaking through ice, tinged with a subtle undercurrent of defiance. “Not at all. Compared to your mastery over your household, I am lacking. I should learn more from you, Master Mo Yan.”

Mo Yan snorted, staring fixedly at her. Suddenly, he clapped his hands in delight and laughed heartily. “The Gu family has raised a fine daughter. With her, how could the Gu clan not prosper?”

Gu Fei’s eyes flickered, but before she could respond, footsteps sounded behind her, followed by a clear, resonant voice.

“Master Mo Yan, you have a keen eye,” Le Qingbo stepped out from behind the eight-panel screen painted with spring maidens. His brows were gentle as a spring breeze, every inch a gentleman. “Ah Fei’s ink-making skills are indeed exceptional.”

Seeing Le Qingbo offer such frank praise, Mo Yan set aside his hidden thoughts and cupped his hands. “Young Master Le, my respects.”

Le Qingbo returned the courtesy. Today, he wore an ivory-white robe painted with misty rain and boats in ink, making him appear all the more refined and upright, masculine yet handsome.

“Master Mo Yan, please come inside. Today I stand as guarantor. If Ah Fei has caused any offense previously, I beg your forgiveness.” Such occasions were effortless for Le Qingbo; born to a distinguished family, he was adept at navigating all manner of social intricacies.

With matters laid bare, Mo Yan could only accept the gesture. “It’s nothing. Youthful vigor is the Fifth Lady’s gift.”

Le Qingbo led them inside, Gu Fei following a step behind. She had positioned herself at the door precisely to observe Mo Yan, to see how he had changed after ten years.

“Miss,” Ku Ma whispered as she leaned close to Gu Fei’s ear, “you must hold yourself back.”

Gu Fei’s gaze was deep as she looked toward the screen. She scoffed. “You think I’ll lose control? Relax. The better the hunter, the more restraint in moments like this.”

Beyond the eight-panel screen, the table was surrounded by the Gu clan’s Gu Zhong and Gu Jiang, the Mo family’s Mo Yan and Mo Yuhua, as well as Le Qingbo and Gu Fei—no others present.

Mo Yan was speaking quietly with Gu Zhong, while Gu Jiang sat alone, his face cold, distinctly out of place.

As Gu Fei entered, Mo Yuhua and Le Qingbo both looked her way. When her gaze met Le Qingbo’s, her lips drew a faint smile; but when it shifted to Mo Yuhua, the smile faded.

Mo Yuhua’s expression tightened. His brows knotted as his eyes swept over the pair, then his gaze toward Le Qingbo changed abruptly.

Once everyone was assembled, Le Qingbo pulled out a chair and rose to push Gu Fei’s wheelchair forward. He smiled gently. “It is my good fortune that you all have come as promised. I am but a junior, so I won’t say much. We all know the score—Ah Fei’s past mistakes, I take responsibility for them. If there is anything to discuss, speak freely.”

Everyone present was no fool; they understood perfectly what Le Qingbo implied. And with his status, none dared slight him.

Mo Yan spoke at once. “Young Master Le, you needn’t say that. The Fifth Lady has her own abilities; these are just minor matters in business, not so grave.”

Gu Zhong echoed, “Fei is one of our Gu clan, skilled in the art of ink-making. I’ve always admired her; the family business in her hands could not be better.”

Gu Fei lowered her head, lips pressed, saying nothing, as if the subject of their discussion was someone else entirely.

Le Qingbo laughed, reaching to grasp Gu Fei’s hand, pride evident between his brows. “Ah Fei has spoken to me. I hear our families are to become kin in October, and she feels remorse for her past behavior. She wishes to offer some formulas as compensation, a token of apology.”

Mo Yan, Gu Zhong, Gu Jiang, even Mo Yuhua—all four turned to look at Gu Fei, Mo Yan’s eyes flickering with an unreadable darkness.

For a moment, the entire private room was silent.

Gu Fei tapped the wheelchair armrest, her rounded nails making a crisp sound against the wood. Her eyes flowed as she spoke, “I wonder, will the formula for fragrant ink suffice?”

Gu Zhong’s face showed deep thought. He glanced at Mo Yan, then at Gu Fei, uncertain. “Fei, the fragrant ink is the treasure of our family shop. Are you sure you wish to reveal the formula?”

Gu Zhong’s words were carefully chosen, deliberately invoking the family shop to warn her.

Gu Fei smiled, fully aware of Gu Zhong’s motives—he simply wanted to keep the formula to himself, unwilling to share with the Mo family. Though the two families would be joined in October, when profit was involved, who would put others first?

“A formula is lifeless, but people are alive. Give me time, and I’ll create more formulas.” Gu Fei showed not a hint of modesty, her small, sharp chin lifted, her entire bearing radiating irresistible confidence.

Mo Yan smiled, folding his hands atop his knees, his black beard swaying. “As I understand it, half of the Fifth Lady’s fragrant ink formulas are already with the Mo Merchants’ Guild. Now that you wish to offer them, fragrant ink will surely flourish in Yizhou.”

At this, Le Qingbo’s smile cooled instantly. He was about to speak when Gu Fei tightened her grip on his hand, looking at Mo Yan with profound meaning. “So, Master Mo, you think Ah Fei’s formula for fragrant ink is not worth it?”

Mo Yan stroked his beard and smiled silently. “Not at all; you misunderstand, Fifth Lady.”

Gu Fei’s almond eyes narrowed, then she suddenly broke into a bright smile, ambiguous as she said, “Since Master Mo feels that way, then not even half a formula shall be given.”

The words had barely left her lips when the door to the private room banged open. A servant in a short jacket, his face smeared with grime, stumbled in. “Master, disaster has struck! Something’s happened at the manor!”

Everyone was still reeling from Gu Fei’s remark when the servant’s words startled them. Before Mo Yan could react, Mo Yuhua recognized the servant’s attire as that of their household.

He lunged forward, grabbing the servant. “What happened?”

“Sir…” The servant was shaken, terrified. “The warehouse. A few days ago the master ordered special guards for the warehouse, but today, in broad daylight, a group stormed in with hammers and smashed everything. All the ink pellets are destroyed, every last one…”

Mo Yan shot up, his face ashen, eyes blazing. “Say that again?”

The servant, weeping bitterly, recounted the whole incident once more.

Mo Yan felt dizzy, and even Le Qingbo’s brow furrowed tightly. He looked at Mo Yan and asked, “Is it the warehouse holding those items?”

Mo Yan nodded with difficulty, bracing himself against the table to keep from collapsing. “A single slip in a hundred plans, a single slip…”

Mo Yuhua was particularly composed. Supporting Mo Yan, a dark light flickered in his eyes. “Father, let’s inspect the warehouse and then decide.”

His words jolted Mo Yan, who only threw Le Qingbo a hurried, “Young Master Le, I must take my leave.”

Without waiting for Le Qingbo’s reply, the Mo family patriarch hurried out.

Gu Zhong cast a subtle glance at Gu Fei. No one understood better than he how formidable and ruthless this seemingly frail girl before him truly was.

Somehow, he felt certain—ten to one, the destruction of the Mo family’s warehouse was connected to Gu Fei.

Perhaps sensing Gu Zhong’s gaze, Gu Fei turned toward him, lips curling into a sly, enigmatic smile.

Gu Zhong straightened his back; that look sent a chill from his soles to the nape of his neck, making him avert his eyes.

With the Mo family gone, Le Qingbo became restless as well. After all, he had helped Mo Ge Yi bring that batch of ink pellets from the capital—if trouble really had occurred, he could hardly answer to Mo Ge Yi.

“If you wish to go, go ahead.” Gu Fei seemed to see through Le Qingbo’s thoughts, turning to smile at him.

Le Qingbo nodded, only squeezing Gu Fei’s hand firmly before rising and leaving.

Once the private room was left with only Gu Fei, Gu Zhong, and Gu Jiang, Gu Fei looked at the two with a peculiar expression, then suddenly turned to Gu Zhong and asked ambiguously, “I heard the eldest son, Gu Min, is returning? Do you know when?”

Gu Zhong’s expression tightened, wary as he regarded Gu Fei, unsure of her intent. “Not yet.”

Gu Fei nodded. “With big brother returning, I can safely hand over the shop’s affairs to him.”

Gu Zhong was left in a state of uncertainty and even the usually silent Gu Jiang regarded her with surprise, unable to fathom her meaning.

Gu Fei offered no explanation. She turned her wheelchair and said, “Back to the manor.”

In the Azure Ink Courtyard, beneath the lush, cool shade of the trees, a half-finished chess game lay on the table. The scholar in blue pointed at the board, his gaze fixed on the intricate patterns, hesitating to make a move.

“It’s already a position of encirclement, with only one path left uncovered. Are you not forcing your opponent into an even deeper trap?” Gu Fei’s voice, icy as sand, approached from afar.

Ku Ma pushed her back from the Dragon Phoenix Tower. Without even looking at the board, Gu Fei commented directly on You Hu’s current position.

You Hu’s brows, set at a rakish angle, arched as he placed the chess piece back in the bowl and smiled at Gu Fei. “If you don’t press, how will you know if it’s truly a dead end?”

Such words drew a cold snort from Gu Fei. She swept her sleeve across the board, completely disrupting You Hu’s game, then leaned in close and asked, “That last failure—was it deliberate or not?”

You Hu smiled gently, not caring that the game was ruined. “Miss, what makes you say that?”

“You dare ask me?” Gu Fei grabbed his collar, almost brushing his lips. “You knew perfectly well Mo Yan had laid a trap, yet you sent those dozens of fringe fighters to their deaths. The sages never condoned such disregard for life.”

All gentleness vanished from You Hu’s handsome face. Lowering his gaze, he could see every expression on Gu Fei’s pale face. She never bothered to feign before him; if angry, she’d grab his collar and scold him as now, or if uninterested, she’d merely cast him a cold glance.

He raised his hand, slender and well-proportioned, covering hers. From a distance, the two appeared close and intimate, but beneath such gestures, their words cut like ice.

“I only think as you think, desire what you desire,” he murmured, his voice low and lingering, the most tender of entanglements. “Have you not succeeded? The batch of ink pellets Mo Ge Yi sent to the Mo family is destroyed beyond recovery.”

Gu Fei’s almond eyes widened, her black pupils reflecting only You Hu. “Think as I think…”

“No, you’re not forcing others—you’re forcing me,” Gu Fei suddenly realized. “You’re forcing me to abandon, even to use Le Qingbo, so I can never return to what was before!”

ps:
Yesterday’s third update fell through. I’m so sorry, everyone! When I received the meeting schedule last night, I was completely overwhelmed—meetings from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., only half an hour for lunch. It’s just inhumane… So these days, I’ll make up the third update after I return home on the 5th. I truly want to, but just can’t manage it right now.