Two flowers bloom, each harboring their own thoughts.

Meanwhile, within just half a day, Madam Cui of the main household learned that Gu Rou had coaxed Gu Fei into accompanying her to the Ink Gathering. She sent for the sisters Gu Wanting and Gu Wanxiu, clearly implying that she did not wish for Gu Rou to attend.

Upon hearing this, Gu Wanting sneered, "Mother, you’re mistaken. If you ask me, Gu Fei is far more of a threat than Gu Rou."

Madam Cui was taken aback, and inexplicably recalled her last confrontation with Gu Fei. She had thought victory assured, only to lose disastrously, sacrificing not only Old Lady Duan but also falling ill from anger.

"All these years, Gu Rou has behaved herself. After all, Second Uncle is a useless man, and she lost her mother young. If you did not care for her, she would have starved. Gu Rou knows full well that only by depending on you can she survive. Now that she’s showing some ambition, it’s merely because she’s reached the age where, like Second Sister, she’s hoping for a good marriage," Gu Wanting explained gently.

Suddenly, her tone turned cold and sharp. "But Gu Fei is different. No one knows what she truly wants. She doesn't care about the Gu family’s fortunes—she’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing, raised by us only to turn around and bite us."

"Exactly. I didn’t like her from the first meeting. Look at her eyes—so dark, it’s frightening," Gu Wanxiu quickly added.

Madam Cui felt a headache coming on. She pressed her fingers to her brow, and after some time, asked, "So what do you suggest—should we let the two of them run wild at the Ink Gathering?"

Gu Wanting smiled with increasing grace. She reached for the teacup on the table, and in front of Madam Cui and Gu Wanxiu, let it slip from her hand—

With a crash, the white porcelain teacup shattered, tea spilling across the floor.

"The Ink Gathering? I intend to ruin Gu Fei’s reputation so thoroughly she’ll have no choice but to submit to your will," Gu Wanting declared, casting a glance at the scattered shards, as if illustrating Gu Fei’s fate should she dare oppose her.

Madam Cui knew her eldest daughter was shrewd. She frowned in thought, reminding, "Be careful in all things. That wretch is most peculiar."

Gu Wanxiu clapped in admiration. "With Eldest Sister on the case, success is guaranteed!"

Gu Wanting nodded, then turned to Madam Cui. "But what of Father? He’s been refurbishing the ink workshop. Last time, when the ink pills went damp and lost color, it was Gu Fei who resolved it. If Father truly favors her skills and she causes a stir, how will we handle it?"

Madam Cui scoffed, raising her little finger and turning the red-gold bracelet set with jade on her wrist. "That’s nothing. Once you’re married into the Mo family in October, with Mo Yuhua’s deep affection for you, our Gu family’s rise is only a matter of time. And even if Gu Fei is capable, she’ll be under my thumb. At that time, I’ll threaten her with her future, and she’ll have no choice but to obey."

"Indeed," Gu Wanxiu’s eyes flashed with caustic light. "A bastard who appeared out of nowhere should learn to keep her head down, like Gu Rou. Her very existence tarnishes our family’s reputation. Lately, I’ve been mocked by other young ladies whenever I leave the house. If we don’t deal with her soon, how will I find a suitable match? When Eldest Brother returns, which respectable girl would dare marry into our household?"

Madam Cui nodded. This was precisely why she targeted Gu Fei—and it served to suppress the second household as well. Gu Fei’s resolution of the ink pills’ crisis was already a threat. "Quite right."

Gu Wanting, ever confident, tapped the table and told Gu Wanxiu, "Second Sister, visit the Qingmo Courtyard these days and make sure you get along well with Gu Fei."

Gu Wanxiu knew her mind was not as sharp as her sister’s, but she had the advantage of self-awareness and obeyed without question. "All right, Eldest Sister."

While Madam Cui plotted against Gu Fei, Gu Fei herself, upon hearing from Old Nurse about Gu Wanting’s impending marriage with Mo Yuhua, said, "This marriage must not happen."

After pondering for a moment, she beckoned Old Nurse, whispered a few instructions, and sent her off. Old Nurse vanished for days.

Two flowers bloom, each with her own thoughts.

The next day, when Gu Rou brought a new skirt, she was surprised to find Gu Wanting and Gu Wanxiu both present at Qingmo Courtyard, chatting merrily with Gu Fei. To outsiders, it appeared the Gu sisters were unusually close.

Gu Rou had brought a rouge-colored silk robe embroidered with sleeping begonias—perfectly cool for the season. Gu Fei accepted it with a smile that gave no hint as to whether she truly liked it, immediately handing it to Danqing to put away, with strict instructions that not a single crease was allowed.

The four sisters rarely gathered together, and the atmosphere was oddly harmonious. Even at lunchtime, Gu Wanting and Gu Wanxiu did not leave, nor did Gu Rou. Gu Fei seemed to forget the time, saying nothing about food, and everyone sat, sipping tea after tea.

At last, Gu Wanxiu grew restless. Gu Fei noticed her subtly rubbing her stomach several times, clearly hungry, when a servant came to report to Gu Wanting that Young Master Mo of the Mo family had arrived.

Hearing this, Gu Wanting's eyes brightened. She cast Gu Fei a meaningful glance. Gu Fei's face was pale as jade, her long lashes casting sparse shadows, and her lips maintained a faint, upturned curve, betraying no excess emotion.

Gu Wanting said, "Fifth Sister has been back for so long, and I’ve yet to introduce you. Someone, bring Young Master Mo to Qingmo Courtyard. How fortunate—Fifth Sister can meet him today."

Gu Rou smiled demurely. "Who in Yizhou does not know the three Jade Young Masters? Fifth Sister has already met Young Master Feng, and now she’ll see our eldest sister’s future husband, Young Master Mo. That makes two of the three—Third Sister, I’m positively jealous!"

Gu Fei raised her eyes, her gaze flowing like water. "Young Master Feng, Young Master Mo—those are two. Who is the third?"

At this, Gu Wanting, Gu Wanxiu, and Gu Rou all laughed.

Gu Wanxiu lifted her chin with pride. "The third, of course, is my elder brother, Gu Lin. Unfortunately, Fifth Sister returned at the wrong time—he’s away on business."

Gu Fei feigned surprise, her lips slightly parted, blinking as though she meant to speak, when a cheerful voice, fresh as a spring breeze, sounded from afar: "Ah, four lovely ladies—my eyes can hardly take it!"

With that, a young man entered, dressed in a crow-blue robe trimmed with dark gold patterns. He appeared to be about twenty-three, his hair pinned with a jade ornament, his features refined and scholarly. He strode in boldly, wide sleeves billowing, exuding a unique humility found only in true scholars.

Indeed, the phrase "gentleman as jade" suited him perfectly.

Gu Fei’s fingertips trembled suddenly, her hand clenched tight. She lowered her head, not daring to look at him. Others assumed she was shy at seeing a stranger, but only she knew how unsettled her heart was.

Ever since she learned that the man betrothed to Gu Wanting was Mo Yuhua, she had prepared herself for their reunion—but she had not expected it to come so soon, nor so abruptly, with him crashing into her world like this.

Gu Wanting rose to greet him, her usually indifferent face tinged with maidenly blush. "Yuhua, these are all my sisters. I won’t allow you to bully them."

Mo Yuhua smiled, his gaze sweeping around the room, lingering finally on Gu Fei. "Wanting, who is this?"

Gu Wanting tucked a loose strand behind her ear and smiled. "My fifth sister, Gu Fei—the one I mentioned to you before."

Mo Yuhua tapped his folded fan, realization dawning. "Gu Fei? Ah Fei?"

The syllables of her name, as spoken by Mo Yuhua, carried a subtle, inexplicable tenderness, surprising Gu Wanting.

At last, Gu Fei lifted her head, meeting Mo Yuhua’s gaze directly. Despite the storm of emotions raging within her, her expression remained calm, neither overly warm nor deliberately distant. "Ah Fei greets Young Master Mo."

Those few words made Mo Yuhua pause mid-motion. He stared at Gu Fei for a long moment before softly remarking, "Ah Fei? How familiar you look."