129. Fall

The pitch-black room was completely empty, with a silence so profound it was unnerving.

Mo Yuhua stood frozen in his tracks. His eyes widened as he stared at the shadows of the objects scattered about the room, which loomed like restless monsters. For a long while, he could not fathom where Feng Lizhi, who had been in this very room only an hour ago, had disappeared to, especially since the door had been locked.

You Hu sensed the anomaly immediately. He strode to the doorway, took one look, and turned to Gu Fei, saying, "We need to go back!"

However, before he could finish—

"Go back? Back to where?" A forceful voice thundered from behind them, followed by the sound of rapid footsteps and the blinding glare of torches.

Gu Fei turned. The flickering torchlight made her almond-shaped eyes narrow in discomfort. The man who appeared was none other than Mo Yan, dressed in a dark blue round-collared robe. Behind him trailed a dozen or so guards, two of whom were holding Feng Lizhi, whose mouth was gagged with a cloth bundle.

Seeing Gu Fei, Feng Lizhi struggled violently, but unable to break free, he let out muffled cries toward her. No one could make out what he was saying.

Gu Fei’s second glance landed on Mo Yuhua, who stood by the door. She saw the look of utter loss on his face, followed by a flicker of anger in his eyes. In her heart, she knew that whether he had participated in tonight’s scheme or not no longer mattered.

"What a grand reception," Gu Fei sneered, raising an eyebrow with an expression of unbridled sarcasm. "Were you waiting for me to walk right into your trap?"

Mo Yan stood with his hands behind his back, his slender eyes holding shadows that were impossible to read. "Since you would not come when invited, I had no choice but to use such measures."

He then looked toward Mo Yuhua and said, "This no longer concerns you. You may leave."

Hearing this, Mo Yuhua’s face drained of color. He looked at Gu Fei and stammered, "A-Fei, I didn’t know... I wasn't plotting against you..."

"No need to explain," Gu Fei cut him off coldly. She did not even look at him, turning instead to Mo Yan. "To use your own son—what a fine father you are!"

Mo Yan remained unmoved. Gu Fei’s words were like a mere itch to him; he had heard far worse, let alone these petty grievances. "I have already prepared a courtyard for you, and all necessities have been arranged. From now on, you will live here in peace. You are not to take a single step outside the courtyard without my permission."

Gu Fei let out a soft laugh, her pale lips curling into a graceful arc. Her eyes, clear and sharp as black and white ink, shone with a light that was impossible to meet directly. "So, you intend to keep me imprisoned for the rest of my life?"

Mo Yan neither denied nor confirmed this. He pondered for a moment before continuing, "Your parents are gone. Since you have returned to Yizhou, you belong in the Xiao Mo family. Besides, your legs are crippled; the Xiao Mo family will not ask you to sacrifice anything in the future."

The words were as good as saying that Gu Fei had no value left to sacrifice.

"Ha," Gu Fei was unfazed, but You Hu, standing beside her, let out a scoff. He was a handsome man, yet even when making such an impolite expression, he remained a sight to behold. "Head of the Xiao Mo family, why are you so certain that my lady's legs will never heal? And why are you so sure no one would want her?"

Mo Yan shot a sharp, electric glare at You Hu. He did not bother addressing a mere servant, instead turning his head to order his guards, "Take the young lady to her quarters!"

"Yes." Four or five guards stepped forward, surrounding Gu Fei from left and right.

Gu Fei showed no fear. Her gaze remained fixed on Feng Lizhi. "I want to speak with Lizhi."

Mo Yan nodded and reached out to pull the cloth gag from Feng Lizhi’s mouth.

"You old bastard, Mo Yan!" The first thing Feng Lizhi did once he could speak was to curse at the top of his lungs. He breathed heavily, not looking at Gu Fei, but instead staring at Mo Yuhua with a venomous glare, clearly categorizing the father and son as partners in crime.

Mo Yuhua’s lips trembled, wanting to explain, but a sense of profound powerlessness washed over him, leaving him dejected.

"Lizhi, are you alright?" Gu Fei asked softly.

Feng Lizhi gave a bitter laugh, shaking off the guards who held him and rubbing his wrists. "I'm fine."

As he spoke, his brow furrowed, as if he felt he had dragged Gu Fei into this mess.

Gu Fei nodded. She traced the armrest of her wheelchair and said with uncompromising firmness, "He must come with me."

Mo Yan’s jaw tightened. He stared at Gu Fei without blinking, as if trying to peer into the depths of her soul to discern her true intentions. After a long silence, he finally said, "Very well."

Satisfied, Gu Fei did not hesitate. Taking Feng Lizhi with her, the group of five headed toward the courtyard Mo Yan had prepared.

But soon, her expression turned cold. The guards leading them walked further and further into the secluded parts of the estate, finally stopping at a courtyard at the southernmost end of the Xiao Mo manor, overgrown with green bamboo.

Gu Fei looked at the bamboo stalks, as thin as a thumb, and a flash of fierce light crossed her dark, ink-like eyes. Her fingers, stroking the armrest, tightened until her knuckles turned white. A breath of fury swelled in her chest, and her hatred for Mo Yan grew even deeper.

"I gave it some thought. I figured this was the only courtyard in the Xiao Mo manor you would be accustomed to. Ever since your parents passed, I have kept it exactly as it was. Nothing inside has been touched. You..."

"Take care of yourself."

Mo Yan, who had followed behind, spoke with utter indifference. He only saw the back of Gu Fei’s head and could not see the expression on her face.

You Hu’s face showed a look of sudden realization. He curled his lips and glanced down at Gu Fei, clearly seeing the turbulent emotions hidden beneath her stoic mask.

He reached out and pressed his hand firmly onto her shoulder.

Gu Fei snapped back to reality. Without even turning her head, she spoke in a flat, emotionless tone, "Then I must offer my deepest thanks to you, Uncle."

This was the first time since returning to Yizhou that she had called Mo Yan "Uncle."

The color in Mo Yan’s slender eyes darkened. Leaving four or five guards to stand watch outside, he turned and walked away.

You Hu pushed the wheelchair himself, bringing Gu Fei into the courtyard.

The courtyard was small—less spacious than the two-tiered compound Gu Fei had in the peach forest. It consisted only of a main house and east and west wings. There wasn't even a study, let alone a workshop.

In the cramped courtyard, there were two neat vegetable patches and a stone mill. It was so simple it could have belonged to any commoner, looking entirely out of place amidst the exquisitely decorated courtyards of the rest of the Xiao Mo manor.

You Hu gestured with his chin for You Er and Bailu to go rest. He did not concern himself with Feng Lizhi, leading Gu Fei directly into the main house.

Gu Fei pushed open the door with a creak. There was no expected scent of mildew, only a dry, stagnant air. Inside the main hall sat a wooden couch, with two or three small stools placed before it.

Gu Fei leaned forward, and You Hu quickly moved the wheelchair.

She touched one of the stools, her hand lingering with a sense of persistent nostalgia.

You Hu was sharp-eyed; even in the dim light of the oil lamp, he saw a few crooked characters carved into the wood. He narrowed his eyes and saw the words "Xuan Fei" carved into the surface, followed by a simple stick-figure drawing.

He guessed that this must have been a stool carved by Gu Fei and her brother during their childhood, a memento of great significance.

Just as he was thinking this, he saw Gu Fei suddenly pick up the stool and smash it against the floor with a loud *bang*, shattering it into several wooden pieces that were no longer recognizable.