Was my service last night not to your satisfaction?

Upon hearing such chilling words, Gu Fei showed not the slightest trace of fear. She narrowed her apricot eyes, the dark pupils glinting with hidden light, and asked calmly, “My courtyard has always been secluded. Even many of the servants in the household avoid coming here. I wonder how you came to know about it.”

Duogula had returned to stand in front of You Hu, circling him with unmistakable satisfaction, as if marking her possession. She replied to Gu Fei’s question without much concern, “Min told me.”

As expected, Gu Fei’s lips curled into a subtle smile, shadows falling from her lashes. “I see. Are you my elder brother Gu Min’s wife?”

Her tone was innocent, her face as pale as jade, tilting slightly. The black-and-white clarity of her gaze was pure and guileless, giving her an utterly artless appearance.

Duogula glanced back at her, sparing a thread of attention from You Hu for Gu Fei. “You’re Min’s sister? In your language, I am your elder brother’s wife, so shouldn’t you call me sister-in-law?”

Gu Fei smiled, bright as spring, “Yes, sister-in-law.”

Her smile lingered at her lips as she continued, “Sister-in-law is my brother’s principal wife. Since my brother manages all affairs of the household now, I imagine sister-in-law has also inherited the matron’s authority over the domestic staff? In the future, I hope you’ll look after your little sister.”

“Domestic authority?” Duogula was puzzled. She didn’t quite understand the term, but her beast-like intuition warned her it was something important—and, crucially, something Gu Min had never mentioned to her.

Gu Fei nodded, with a hint of surprise on her face. “Is it possible you didn’t know, sister-in-law? The principal wife is like the chief mate of your tribe, and domestic authority means you control everyone in the household. You can freely purchase as many servants as you wish, with absolute power over life and death. Kill one or two, and no one will say anything. Moreover…”

She glanced at You Hu, with an implied meaning. “Someone like You Hu could be bought as a servant too.”

Duogula’s eyes shone, dark gold as lustrous as the precious metal itself. Her gaze blazed, and even her breath stalled for a moment. “The principal wife is born to command the domestic staff?”

“Exactly,” Gu Fei replied, watching as wild ambition surged in Duogula’s eyes. Unafraid, she stoked the fire further. “Though, some elders covet the authority and deliberately refuse to hand it over to the younger generation. Luckily, our matron has always been kind. She surely wouldn’t treat you that way.”

Duogula was already restless, seduced by Gu Fei’s words. She recalled Gu Min’s behavior over the past days, realizing he’d never mentioned the domestic authority to her, and that the matron’s disdain for her was barely concealed. Hearing Gu Fei’s explanation, she concluded the matron and Gu Min intended to withhold that power from her.

To her, this was a grave deception. Among the tribes, strength was supreme. She was far more formidable than the matron in every respect, and most importantly, with this authority she could freely buy, sell, or kill servants—an irresistible allure.

Previously, she’d worried that in this country, people did not eat human flesh and killing was forbidden. If she lost control and killed someone, how would she deal with the aftermath? But now, with this opportunity, she would not let it slip by.

With that thought, she couldn’t wait to demand the domestic authority from Gu Min. Yet before leaving, she reluctantly glanced at You Hu and, after considering, said to Gu Fei, “I want him.”

Gu Fei’s gaze shifted to You Hu, her pink-white lips pressed into a straight line, her dark pupils betraying no emotion.

You Hu shook the scroll in his hand. He’d been engrossed in his reading, ignoring both Duogula and Gu Fei. Now he looked up, his gaze lingering on Gu Fei’s face with amusement, his lips curved in a droplet shape, his phoenix eyes brimming with seductive spring light. “Miss, did I not serve you well last night?”

At those words, even though Duogula wasn’t fluent in the language, she caught the provocative undertone. Her gaze toward Gu Fei grew cold, and a cruel, beastly ruthlessness appeared in her dark-gold, slit-pupiled eyes. “You still claim she isn’t from your courtyard!”

Gu Fei withdrew her gaze calmly, her expression blank. “Sister-in-law, I already said—should you manage to seize him, I won’t object. He’s never signed a contract of servitude with me, so how could he belong to Qingmo Courtyard?”

Duogula was half-convinced, but she knew You Hu wouldn’t go with her. Otherwise, he’d already been taken to her bed days ago, not left until today.

Her mind was wholly occupied by the matter of domestic authority; compared to You Hu, it was a far bigger prize, so she didn’t dwell further. Before departing, she told You Hu, “The moment I gain the authority, my first order will be to make you my manservant!”

At that declaration, Gu Fei distinctly sensed You Hu’s aura tense, an intense murderous intent flashing through his narrow, phoenix eyes. Yet he masked it well, smiling lightly. “Miss, if you acquire the authority, I dare not disobey.”

Satisfied with his promise, Duogula lifted her chin, casting a proud glance at Gu Fei before leaving.

With Duogula gone, only Gu Fei and You Hu remained in the entire Qingmo Courtyard. For a long time, neither spoke; only the rustling of leaves broke the silence.

Gu Fei lowered her gaze, her long lashes casting intricate shadows across her eyes, transforming into the dusky color of twilight, finally merging into the depths and vanishing.

“Heh,” You Hu chuckled softly, his voice barely rising. He put aside his scroll and stood, the creases in his azure robe unfolding like ripples, casting dense shadows over his slender form. “Miss, you truly are cold and unfeeling. Despite my dedication, just one offense and I am beyond forgiveness.”

Had he not mentioned it, Gu Fei might have let it pass, but now even her heart grew frosty. She watched the scholarly youth approach, finally stopping half a meter away. “Try letting me scheme against you once!”

You Hu ignored the sarcasm in her tone and, surprisingly, considered it seriously. “Compared to being a manservant, it’s more worthwhile to let you plot against me once.”

Gu Fei hadn’t expected such an answer. She stared at him, unblinking, her mind spinning with countless calculations.

Clearly, You Hu understood her, knowing well what she intended. He couldn’t help but lower his head and laugh softly. “If it’s what you want, even truly becoming your manservant would be acceptable.”

Gu Fei bore no grudge for how he’d used her as a shield before Duogula. Some things, once one realizes they’ve been plotted against, it’s best to follow along and see how the other party proceeds.

Thus, before Duogula, she gave not opposition, but a tacit illusion of agreement.

Not only Gu Fei possessed a clever mind; You Hu did as well. He grasped her intentions in a single thought.

Neither spoke their understanding aloud, yet one exchanged glance revealed their mutual insight.

Gu Fei did not know how Duogula caused trouble before Gu Min in the main house, but three days later, she heard that the domestic authority of the Gu family had indeed fallen into Duogula’s hands. The matron could only swallow her anger, daring not to protest.

On the fourth day, Duogula arrived at Qingmo Courtyard, accompanied by Gu Min. This was Gu Fei’s first encounter with her elder brother.

Gu Fei regarded the man standing tall in the courtyard: a bronzed face, features deep and steady, exuding a sense of calm solidity.

She nodded inwardly. No wonder he was counted among the three jade gentlemen of Yizhou. Though his voice lacked the elegance of Mo Yuhua or Feng Li, the bearing he acquired was no less than theirs.

As Gu Fei sized up Gu Min, he was likewise observing her. At last, their gazes met, and an invisible clash of sharp sparks seemed to crackle between them—silent, unnoticed by all save You Hu, whose lips curled with a deep shadow.

“Bring me the contract,” Duogula demanded impatiently, searching Gu Min’s arms herself.

Gu Fei’s face was impassive. You Hu stood behind her today, his unmatched handsome features glowing gently under the sunlight, making him appear all the more extraordinary.

Duogula seized the contract and bounded over to You Hu. “Sign it! Once you do, you’ll be my manservant.”

Her face was alight with excitement, her gaze almost clinging to You Hu.

But he did not accept it. He looked down at Gu Fei, who understood. She slowly drew out a contract from her own robes and smiled gently. “Sister-in-law, forgive me, but You Hu signed a contract with me yesterday.”

Duogula was stunned. She did not understand the nature of contracts; to her, it was just a piece of paper, nothing she cared much about.

But Gu Min understood. He stepped forward with a derisive smile. “Fifth sister, though today’s our first meeting, your sister-in-law rarely takes a liking to a servant. Why not yield and let her have the contract? It’s not worth souring family relations over a lowly bondservant.”

Gu Fei’s smile faded at once, her eyes icy cold. She retorted sharply, “I’ve always heard how excellent my brother is, and today I see it’s true. Normally, I wouldn’t dampen sister-in-law’s spirits. The day you returned, I was unwell and didn’t greet you at the gate, which already troubled my conscience. But I thought, since my brother and sister-in-law are newly wed and have traveled so far these months, now that you’re finally home, you should hurry to continue our family line. If You Hu is sent to the main house, brother, you…”

As she finished, her black-and-white eyes looked at Gu Min, softly mocking him.

Her words left no ambiguity: she was implying Gu Min wore a green hat—several, in fact.

Gu Min’s face darkened instantly. Sharing a wife was his festering wound, and now, in their first meeting, Gu Fei not only showed familiarity with tribal customs but also stabbed at his injury, sprinkled salt on it, and crushed it further.

No matter how they verbally sparred, Duogula understood only one thing: You Hu had been sold to Gu Fei, and she could not have him for now.

This realization enraged her. She tore up the contract, threw her head back, and howled like a beast. Her fingers curled into claws, and her sharp blue venomous talons struck at Gu Fei with lightning speed.

At that moment, You Hu’s eyes contracted—he was too late to stop her!