I have learned much from your instruction.

As they walked back to the peach grove, You Hu kept casting strange glances at Gu Fei. He said nothing, his lips curled into an ambiguous, mocking smile.

Just as she was about to enter her room, Gu Fei turned at the doorway and said, "If you find me to be snake-hearted and poisonous, you are free to stop following me from this day on."

No sooner had the words left her lips than Gu Fei’s delicate brows furrowed. A faint flicker of annoyance crossed her features—her intent had been too obvious, as if she actually cared about his opinion.

You Hu’s thin lips arched, the slightly upturned, teardrop-shaped corners casting an alluring shadow. Standing ten feet away, he replied, "That is not it at all. I am merely curious about one thing."

Gu Fei raised an eyebrow.

"A young lady of marriageable age, yet so well-versed in the ways of Longyang, and able to speak of men consorting with men without changing her expression—it truly has opened my eyes," You Hu said, shaking his head with a mocking, clicking sound of admiration.

A burning heat suddenly bloomed at the base of Gu Fei’s ears. Fortunately, her hair shielded her, so she needn't fear being seen. She let out a cold snort, lifting her chin with an air of haughty, indifferent insolence. "If you wish to experience such pleasures yourself, go to Mother Ku and draw some silver. I can afford that much of an expense. However..."

She paused, surveying You Hu from head to toe with a look of scrutiny and suspicion. "Do be careful that after spending the money, you don't end up being the one who gets 'eaten' by someone else."

The mockery in her words struck You Hu squarely, and the moment the image surfaced in his mind, his complexion soured instantly.

Gu Fei gave a cynical laugh. Since he had spoken to her in such a manner, she had to strike back; otherwise, who knew how else this shameless man might insult her in the future.

Feeling instantly more cheerful, Gu Fei habitually curled her fingers to tap the armrest of her wheelchair, only to find nothing there. She realized then that the chair had been broken, and she was currently seated on an ordinary wooden chair. She signaled for You Er to carry her inside along with the chair, leaving only Nightingale to attend to her.

You Hu was stunned by the rapid-fire retort. By the time he processed it, Gu Fei had long since vanished. His phoenix eyes narrowed into a dangerous arc, causing You Er, standing nearby, to tremble and sneak away along the wall.

"Where are you going?" You Hu asked lazily. His gaze remained fixed on Gu Fei’s closed door, though the question was directed at You Er.

You Er pulled a mournful face, shuffled over to You Hu, and replied honestly, "Nowhere, Young Master."

Just as You Hu was about to speak, an itch rose in his throat. He pressed a fist to his lips and coughed lightly.

You Er’s face flashed with concern. He reached out to pat You Hu’s back, helping him catch his breath. "Young Master, perhaps you should head back. As for the young lady, I’ll keep an eye on things here."

You Hu glanced at him, pulled a snow-white handkerchief from his sleeve, and wiped his hands. "There isn't much time left."

You Er’s lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he found no words.

You Hu looked at the faint bloodstains on the handkerchief. He pulled out a small blue-and-white porcelain bottle, removed the soft stopper, and swallowed a bean-sized pill. Only then did he feel a bit more spirited. "Tell me what has happened recently."

You Er hurriedly found a relatively clean spot in the courtyard, wiped it with his sleeve for You Hu to sit, and began his report from the day You Hu had left.

After Gu Fei had cleaned herself up and come out, she hadn't even managed to take a sip of water before Mother Ku returned.

Upon learning that Feng Lizhi had left home, Gu Fei had sent Mother Ku out to make inquiries. Seeing her return now with a neutral expression, Gu Fei’s heart tightened slightly. "How did it go?"

"Young Lady, there is no news," Mother Ku sighed, shaking her head. "I searched every corner of Yizhou City and even had others ask around, but no one has seen Young Master Feng."

Gu Fei had moved her chair into the courtyard, so she did not deliberately avoid Mother Ku when she reported, meaning You Hu, who was still in the courtyard, heard every word clearly.

Gu Fei pondered for a moment. Her gaze drifted into the void, distant and unfocused. "I understand. Let it be for now. If he truly wants to hide, I doubt many people will be able to find him. Still, go to the Feng residence and let them know, and check on how Old Master Feng is doing."

"Yes, I will remember," Mother Ku replied.

The sky had not yet fully darkened, and faint rays of twilight still spilled over the ground. Though the courtyard was dilapidated, it was quiet and peaceful in the peach grove.

You Hu glanced at Gu Fei. There were some things she did not say, and he did not ask; he simply kept them in his heart.

After a long while, as if just remembering, Gu Fei turned and called out, "Nightingale, find more craftsmen. Have them repair this courtyard first, then build the ink studio on the side. We will attend to the rest later."

Nightingale, who was tidying Gu Fei’s clothes, stepped out and said, "Very well, Young Lady. I checked the calendar, and it says tomorrow is an auspicious day for breaking ground. The ink studio should be finished in less than a month."

They had sought out craftsmen the day after moving in, but so far, they had only managed to renovate the main house, the east and west wings, and the kitchen. The study and the servants' quarters at the front remained in ruins.

The orders for the Xuanzhu Workshop had already piled up. She could not wait to use the ink studio to produce ink; otherwise, once she had left the Gu family, with no income and several people to support, eating through her savings was not a sustainable path. She was taking the Xuanzhu Workshop very seriously, hoping to use it as a springboard to carve out a new foothold in Yizhou.

As she was lost in these thoughts, You Hu suddenly spoke. "Colluding with barbarians and betraying one's country—the Great Jing Mo family must have received word. Regardless of whether the rumors were true, they feared being implicated by Mo Geyi and hurriedly summoned him back. That was a truly brilliant move on your part, Young Lady."

Gu Fei returned to her senses, realizing that once again, only she and You Hu were idle in the courtyard, while the others were busy with their tasks. Only You Hu lacked any self-awareness as a servant.

You Hu continued, "You crippled one of Mo Geyi’s legs but left him his hands, then sold him to a procuress. Even if he told anyone he was the eldest son of the Great Jing Mo family, no one would believe him. And for the sake of his own reputation, Mo Geyi would surely keep such a matter tighter than anyone. To become a lowly catamite, shamed and humiliated, begging for death but unable to find it—it seems those were only the plans you put on the surface."

As he spoke, he sighed in wonder. He had witnessed Gu Fei’s growth: the wretched state she was in when she first fled Great Jing, the hardships she endured living with the Gu family, her later chess match against the minor Yizhou Mo branch, her soft-heartedness when meeting Le Qingbo, and finally, this conspiracy she had laid for Mo Geyi.

Mo Geyi likely still harbored fantasies of a comeback, unaware that the Great Jing Mo family was already a death trap for him. After all, the charge of colluding with the enemy was not something anyone could bear; even if it were mere hearsay, those in high positions preferred to believe it true rather than risk it being false.

"The Great Jing Mo family is a place where one less Mo Geyi is no loss, but one more is absolutely unacceptable now. A truly excellent scheme." With just one encounter, You Hu had seen through Gu Fei’s mind.

Gu Fei did not speak. Such matters were not meant to be brought into the light; conspiracies and schemes were inherently unglamorous. Since she had done them, she did not fear being talked about, but she did not like to have them mentioned at every turn.

"However," You Hu changed the subject, his phoenix eyes shimmering with a deep, intoxicating light, "if it were I, I would have planted something from the Southern Qi royal family on Mo Geyi. A barbarian connection is not quite heavy enough to shake the foundations of the Great Jing Mo family."

You Hu was even more ruthless. Gu Fei had only targeted Mo Geyi, but according to him, one ought to smear the entire Great Jing Mo family to sow suspicion, making it easier to deal with them in the future.

Gu Fei tilted her head and gave a cold laugh. The wind blew aside the hair falling over her chest, revealing an unsightly, bruised ring on her porcelain-white neck. "I am enlightened. If there is a next time, Ah Fei will be sure to consult with you first, Sir."

It was impossible to tell whether this was a compliment or a mockery.