111. Buried Together

Moving out of the Gu household, I will naturally find someone to settle you elsewhere, ensuring you live out the rest of your days in peace!

Thinking this so matter-of-course, Gu Fei couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at the absurdity. Her smile was radiant, her almond-shaped eyes curved like the moon, and the corners of her lips curled upward, the pale pink of her mouth carrying a naked mockery. Her delicate face gleamed like polished jade.

Mo Yan found himself at a loss. In his view, the terms he offered were already generous enough. He couldn’t understand how Gu Fei could be so ungrateful. “Don’t be greedy. Now that the Mo family’s young master knows your identity, protecting you is already a risk.”

“Hmph,” Gu Fei sneered coldly. The faint smile on her face gradually hardened into an icy glare, her eyes sharp and distinct, sending a chill through the heart. “Should I thank you for your charity? Or does the head of the Mo family not covet the formulas I’ve obtained over ten years in the capital’s Mo family?”

The hint of selfishness was exposed, and Mo Yan’s brows furrowed in anger, though his expression bore an air of self-righteousness. “If you’re willing to transcribe them, it would certainly benefit the little Mo family. If not, just promise never to share those formulas with anyone in your lifetime.”

He paused briefly, lifting his chin, his black beard fluttering like a banner. “I won’t hide it from you. Given Mo Ge Yi’s relationship with the little Mo family now, it’s possible that by next year, the little Mo family will return to the capital’s Mo family, reclaiming the status of head.”

Hearing this, Gu Fei’s heart sank as if plunging into a bottomless, dark abyss, where no sound could be heard. “Is this the Mo family’s belated compensation? Ten years ago, you wronged me when I was young, tearing our family apart, forcing my brother and me to be separated from our parents. Mo Yan, it’s been ten long years. Has your conscience not been gnawed by venomous snakes day and night?”

Her face darkened with a thick, misty rage, blood-red hues spreading in her eyes, making her appear fierce and ruthless. “I’m not afraid to tell you—I will make the little Mo family pay with my parents’ lives!”

Such wild and desperate words suddenly snapped Mo Yuhua, who had been numb until then, back to full awareness. His chest shook as a surge of bitter emotions welled in his heart and soul.

Only now did he realize why Gu Fei refused to acknowledge him before. Since confirming her identity, he had always naively believed Gu Fei was still the innocent, tender girl from ten years ago, and that their feelings remained as clear as he remembered. He never considered what Gu Fei must have endured during these ten years—why, at the prime of her youth, she was confined to a wheelchair, and why her brother Mo Xuan, who had come to the capital with her, had never appeared.

Mo Yuhua was intelligent, but no matter how perceptive a person might be, when faced with complicated emotional issues, they often subconsciously avoid delving too deeply. At least, this was true for Mo Yuhua’s dealings with Gu Fei.

Clearly, Mo Yan was a seasoned schemer, far more composed. Even though Gu Fei kept pressing his old wounds, weighing the pros and cons, he still took actions favorable to himself and the little Mo family.

When confronted with Gu Fei’s reckless accusations, his first reaction was to see her as arrogant and reckless. Yet, beneath that was a deep worry. He had been watching the various incidents unfolding in the Gu family, and even the unstable situation in Yizhou bore Gu Fei’s mark. He was wary of her capabilities.

But thinking further, he comforted himself secretly. Mo Ge Yi still lived with the little Mo family. No matter how formidable one person was, how could they rival a century-old, sprawling family? It was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

So he silently gazed at Gu Fei for a moment, then, considering himself magnanimous, said, “I have done many shameful and despicable things in my life, but I would never deliberately deceive you. The deaths of your parents, Mo Hui and Bai Zi, were not my doing. I tried to stop it but was powerless.”

Gu Fei’s hand, half-hidden in her sleeve, gripped the wheelchair’s armrest tightly. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her brows solemn and cold. Her mind churned over his words, replaying them from the moment he entered, scrutinizing every subtle change in his expression.

In the end, she could only reach two conclusions: either Mo Yan was telling the truth, or he was a great villain, lying so convincingly even he believed it.

Slowly, she closed her eyes and leaned back against the wheelchair’s cold headrest. After a long moment, she said, “Do you think I believe you?”

As she spoke, her eyes opened, their depths calm as still water, shimmering with a mesmerizing, unsettling brilliance. “Sooner or later, I will uncover the whole truth. The little Mo family, the capital’s Mo family—no one will escape.”

By this point, all pretense was cast aside; there was no room for compromise. Mo Yan’s anger flared at Gu Fei’s stubbornness. He rose abruptly, sleeves swishing loudly, and jabbed a finger into her face, cursing, “You’ll end up just like your father—destroying yourself sooner or later!”

With that, he folded his hands behind his back and turned to leave.

Mo Yuhua, hesitant to go, glanced at his father at the door, then back at Gu Fei, whose lips had long since lost their color. He stammered, “A-Fei, I…”

Gu Fei closed her eyes again, clearly not wanting to hear him.

Mo Yuhua fell silent, his face taut as if carved with a chisel. “I will find out the truth!”

Having said this, he too turned and left.

After a long while, the entire Qingmo Courtyard was empty except for Gu Fei, who sat with closed eyes. She seemed almost asleep, her pale face softened slightly, though faint exhaustion crept over her features.

A breeze stirred, sending the ends of her black hair and the sheer silk of her gown fluttering like a delicate ink wash painting—the dark tree shadows contrasting with Gu Fei’s white clothes, a scene so tranquil it seemed sacrilegious to disturb.

At the flower hall door, Nightingale peeked in. She really didn’t want to disturb Gu Fei now, but recalling You Er’s earlier report, she sighed softly and tiptoed forward. Standing by Gu Fei, she gently mimicked the way Nurse Ma used to soothe her, massaging Gu Fei’s temples with tender fingers.

“Miss, Brother You Er said the two ink pellets taken to the Grand Ink Contest for drying are kept in the Mo Merchants’ special ink chamber. It’s guarded day and night, so it’s not easy to sneak in.”

Gu Fei replied faintly, acknowledging she understood. Just as Nightingale thought she had truly fallen asleep, a faint, ethereal voice drifted out: “Go and summon Miss Zi Yuan, the steward of Linlang Pavilion, and bring You Er along as well.”

Gu Fei forced herself to rein in her wandering thoughts. She had no extra energy now to deal with the little Mo family’s affairs. The priority was to deal with Mo Ge Yi—she couldn’t allow him any opportunity to harm Feng Lizhi.

Thus, she resolved to ensure Mo Ge Yi would lose to Feng Lizhi in the ink contest. Given Feng Lizhi’s proud nature, he would never accept her help in ink-making. Therefore, the only option was to tamper with Mo Ge Yi’s ink pellet.