131. Seizing the Spirit Tablet

Despite the stifling heat, a cold sweat broke out along Shang Quan’s spine. He felt a chill seeping from the marrow of his bones, creeping straight toward his heart.

"Manager Shang," Gu Fei sipped her tea with measured leisure. She cast a sidelong glance at him, a half-smile playing on her lips. "Why are your hands trembling? Or do I appear to be a man-eating demon in your eyes?"

"No," Shang Quan forced out the syllable. He dared to lift his head for a brief second before dropping his gaze again, raising a hand to wipe away sweat that wasn't actually there. "Young Mistress, just tell me plainly how you intend to deal with me. I know you must have reservations regarding the old hands who served the previous master. I understand everything."

Yes, he had known such a day would come. From the moment Gu Fei stepped into the Gu shop and he first laid eyes on her, he realized this young woman possessed formidable means. It was no surprise that Master Gu Zhong no longer frequented the shop.

Gu Fei chuckled. She handed her teacup to You Hu, who stood behind her, signaling him to set it aside. She smoothed the fabric of her skirt and said, "Manager Shang, what are you saying? It is true that you are a veteran of this shop, but you also possess genuine ability. I saw that during the last auction. Therefore..."

She paused, lowering her voice to a seductive, conspiratorial tone. "Not only will I have no reservations about you, but I intend to rely on you heavily. Furthermore, I will double your monthly wages. It is never easy to support a family; I understand that."

At these words, Shang Quan looked up abruptly, his face etched with disbelief.

Gu Fei signaled to You Hu, who produced a pouch of silver from his robes and walked over to press it into Shang Quan’s hands.

"This is the back pay owed to you for this year. It is nearly September now, and every cent from the previous months is accounted for in here," Gu Fei said, her fingertips stroking the armrest of her wheelchair.

Shang Quan felt the heavy weight in his hands. He did not know whether to accept it or refuse; for a moment, the pouch felt like a hot potato, leaving him at a loss.

Gu Fei, well aware of his inner turmoil, smiled dismissively. "Manager Shang, there is no need to overthink this. I will rarely visit the shop in the future; my focus remains on ink-making. This establishment will be managed by my father, Gu Jiang. If there is anything he handles improperly, I trust you will offer him your guidance."

Hearing that the Gu family would still be in charge, the unease in Shang Quan’s heart vanished instantly. He accepted the silver with a relieved bow. "Rest assured, Young Mistress. I will work just as diligently for the Second Master."

Gu Fei nodded, satisfied with his pragmatism. "My father was a bit despondent for a time, but fortunately, he is willing to turn over a new leaf. My uncle also wishes to see what he is capable of, which is why..."

She did not finish the sentence, instead covering her mouth with a clenched fist to cough lightly, implying that family matters should not be aired in public.

Shang Quan was adept at reading the room and understood the nuances of wealthy households perfectly. He immediately declared, "You need not say more, Miss. I will certainly do my utmost to assist the Second Master."

Seeing this, Gu Fei looked genuinely reassured. She moved on to the second matter. "I have heard that many in the shop—especially those who rely on their status—have been gossiping about the family and the shop. I do not keep such people. Manager Shang, how do you suggest we deal with them?"

Shang Quan’s heart skipped a beat. The ruthlessness in Gu Fei’s words was unmistakable, and he pondered how best to respond.

You Hu spoke up then with a faint laugh. "The sages say one should not discuss others behind their backs. These people are nothing but hypocritical scoundrels. If they can scheme against their employer today, they might just as well sell off the shop’s secret ink formulas tomorrow. One can judge the whole by the part."

Hearing this, Shang Quan understood: Gu Fei intended to purge all the small supervisors with ulterior motives. He managed a bitter smile inwardly and straightened his expression. "Rest assured, Miss. I will drive them all out to avoid any future disasters."

To his surprise, Gu Fei appeared troubled. "If you remove them all, who will manage the shop? If it descends into chaos, what shall we do?"

Shang Quan patted his chest in assurance. "Do not worry, Miss. I have a plan. There are several clever assistants who have long been ready for promotion. I shall seize this opportunity to elevate them and provide guidance, and they will be more than capable."

The smile on Gu Fei’s lips deepened. She was highly satisfied with Shang Quan’s conduct; he understood exactly what needed to be done with only the slightest hint.

She found such people most agreeable. "Then I shall leave it to you, Manager Shang."

"It is only my duty, only my duty..." Shang Quan waved his hands repeatedly.

With that, having said all she needed to, Gu Fei called out toward the back, "Father, come out and meet Manager Shang."

Shang Quan was startled. He knew someone could hide behind the screen in the second-floor hall, but he had never imagined it was the Second Master of the Gu family.

Gu Jiang, dressed in an indigo robe with a cross-over collar, stepped out from behind the screen. He had not touched a drop of alcohol today; he was neatly groomed, though his face was pale and his eyes slightly puffy.

He sat down without a word, casting a cold, detached look at Shang Quan.

Shang Quan stepped forward and bowed. "I am Shang Quan, the shop manager. It is an honor to meet you, Second Master."

Gu Jiang nodded in acknowledgment. Realizing that might have been too impolite, he frowned and added dryly, "I see."

Gu Fei said no more. Many things only required an opportunity. Whether Gu Jiang was a dragon or a worm, she did not know; she had simply provided the stage for his ambitions. The rest was up to him.

If he could be supported, all the better. Gu Fei did not fear him turning on her later, for she held all the formulas and the money in her own hands. Without those, Gu Jiang could not stir up any real trouble.

And if he proved to be a hopeless case, she would simply remain behind the scenes and control him like a puppet.

She was clear-headed; she knew that as an outsider, it was best not to openly claim the Gu family’s assets, especially with the legitimate eldest son still away. If she usurped it, she would surely be criticized later. She understood well the warning against letting a hen herald the dawn.

Gu Fei boldly left the shop’s affairs to Gu Jiang and You Hu, while she focused on fulfilling the previous orders for scented ink.

It was not a small order, and the quantity of ink pellets required was substantial. Gu Fei brought You Er into the ink chamber and, after preparing the ingredients, taught him how to pound the mixture. You Er was simple-minded but possessed great strength, and he followed her instructions to the letter.

With You Er’s help, Gu Fei’s production speed increased significantly. Within five days, she finished all the scented ink and had it delivered to the shop. She then buried herself in the task of refining her formulas, working so hard she almost forgot to eat or sleep.

During this time, she had casually mentioned to You Hu that she wanted to devise a "poison ink"—an ink pellet that would emit a fragrance but would gradually poison those who inhaled it too often. She was frustrated by her lack of knowledge in pharmacology and toxicology.

To her surprise, the very next day, You Hu brought her two thick volumes: *The Hua Family Fragrance Compendium* and *The Poison Scripture*.

Gu Fei was taken aback. She had not expected that You Hu, a delicate scholar, could procure a book like *The Poison Scripture*. But she could not dwell on that; she clutched the books and studied them day and night.

Several times, You Hu came to report on the shop’s affairs, only to be harshly driven away by Gu Fei, who told him to make his own decisions.

While Gu Fei was nearly consumed by her obsession, she did not know that the Gu shop was creating a whirlwind across Yizhou.

Every piece of scented ink sold by the Gu shop was sought after by countless nobles and literati. She had previously sent a set to each of the five ink masters of the Ink Guild, and through You Hu’s careful orchestration, one could hear their praises of the scented ink wherever they went.

In no time, all other ink pellets in the shop were sold out, and since Gu Fei had no interest in making more, many people found themselves unable to buy the scented ink despite having silver in hand.

You Hu had no choice but to consult Gu Fei again. But upon hearing the news, she simply grabbed a brush, scribbled down the formula, and tossed it to him, telling him to find someone else to make it. She seemed completely unconcerned about the formula leaking.

She might have been careless, but You Hu could not afford to be.

After memorizing the formula, he burned it. He pondered for a long time, then gathered all the master ink-makers of the shop. He split the ingredients listed in the formula, having one person grind the materials, another melt the glue, and another oversee You Er’s pounding.

This way, no one knew the complete formula. After several attempts, You Hu successfully recreated the scented ink through this fragmented process.

Once the scented ink was back on the shelves, it sold out within a day. Consequently, You Hu decisively established a rule limiting the daily purchase quantity.

Once Gu Fei had thoroughly studied the two volumes, she began to modify her formulas. Using the medicinal ink as a base, she constantly added and removed ingredients, personally preparing the mixtures.

This process was much more difficult than making the scented ink. After several days, she had yet to produce even a prototype of the poison ink.

She had a habit of throwing away the failed ink pellets, but You Hu was quick to collect them. Somehow, he managed to adapt them, creating ink pellets with different scents from the failed batches. These were sold in sets to wealthy collectors.

The Gu shop’s daily income grew visibly; a single month’s earnings equaled what Gu Zhong had made in three months. As for Gu Jiang, having tasted this unique success, he underwent a total transformation. He stopped drinking and practically lived in the shop, working so diligently that he seemed intent on becoming a proper merchant.

On this day, a carriage without any insignia drove into Yizhou City. It was exceptionally large and plain in appearance, drawn by four horses. The middle-aged driver cracked his whip, his bearing that of a martial artist.

Four horses were much faster than one. Even though the driver slowed the pace, there was still chaos on the street.

Suddenly, a frail woman, unable to dodge in time, was shoved by someone and fell in the middle of the road. Staring at the galloping carriage, she froze, unable to react.