23. Linlang, the Nine-tailed Fox King

Mo Yuhua—the eldest legitimate son of Mo Yan, head of the Lesser Mo Family in Yizhou, and the future heir to the household. He was, of course, also Mo Fei’s... paternal cousin.

Gu Fei had left home at the age of five; at that time, Mo Yuhua was already thirteen. Though not yet of age, he was still a graceful youth. In the Lesser Mo Family, if Fifth Master Mo Cheng was the one to always include her in his amusements, then Mo Yuhua was the kind who kept her in his thoughts in all matters. For a time, Gu Fei believed his care for her was merely out of regard for her brother, Mo Xuan, and that she was but an afterthought.

It was not until the day she was taken away from Yizhou, when Mo Yuhua chased her carriage for a long stretch, calling her name, that she realized he truly saw her as a sister.

Later, they lost contact, and by the time they met again, ten years had passed and everything had changed.

With Mo Yuhua’s arrival, Gu Wanting no longer lingered at the Verdant Ink Courtyard. After only a few words, she called for Mo Yuhua, taking Gu Wanxiu with her as she left. Seeing them go, Gu Rou hesitated, wanting to speak, but Gu Fei pretended not to notice, and Gu Rou could only find an excuse to take her leave.

The courtyard was finally peaceful, but Gu Fei, for once, did not retreat to rest. Her mind wandered to many memories—of Mo Yuhua, of the Lesser Mo Family, and of the Greater Mo Family in the capital.

She pondered: setting aside all questions of interest, if Mo Yuhua truly wished to marry Gu Wanting, should she simply step aside? If her brother Mo Xuan were still alive, he would likely not agree to her disrupting Mo Yuhua’s marriage prospects; after all, the two had once been as close as real brothers.

A few days passed in the blink of an eye, colored by her restless mood. As the Hidden Ink Gathering approached, Gu Fei found herself idle, while Danqing grew busy—hurrying to prepare scented garments for her, fussing over jewelry and hair ornaments, even going so far as to inquire about the latest hairstyles from Gu Rou’s maids.

In truth, Gu Fei was not difficult to serve, so long as her taboos were respected; she could be easily content with whatever was at hand. Curiously, Nanny Ku was nowhere to be seen, and when the day of the Hidden Ink Gathering arrived, Danqing was left to prepare Gu Fei herself, dressing her with utmost formality from head to toe. When Gu Rou saw her on the way out, she was genuinely taken aback by her elegance.

Feng Lizhi arrived early. As her companion, Gu Fei was meant to accompany him to the Hall of Splendors. However, at the gate to the Gu residence, they unexpectedly crossed paths with Mo Yuhua, who had come to fetch Gu Wanting with his carriage.

Whatever discord lay between the two men, Mo Yuhua greeted them with a smile, while Feng Lizhi remained coldly aloof.

Gu Fei had no curiosity about their conflict. She politely declined Gu Wanting’s invitation to ride together, instead taking Gu Rou with her onto Feng Lizhi’s carriage, wishing only to keep her distance from Mo Yuhua, lest she inadvertently betray herself and arouse suspicion.

She suspected that, had it not been for her crippled legs rendering her little more than an invalid, Mo Yuhua would have had her investigated after their first meeting.

The Hall of Splendors was not far; in less than half an hour, they arrived.

It was Gu Fei’s first visit. Fearing she might be daunted by such an occasion, Feng Lizhi began to introduce her to the Hall of Splendors.

The Hall of Splendors thrived on trading rare and precious objects. Everything on display was unique, with no second of its kind in the world—even exotic treasures from overseas could be found here. As for its master—the Nine-Tailed Fox King—few outsiders knew anything, not even whether the owner was man or woman; rumor shrouded them in mystery.

No sooner had they entered than Gu Fei realized that, though the Hall of Splendors appeared to be a place of business, it was anything but ordinary. Upon entering, they were greeted by a towering shadow screen, and beyond it a quiet corridor, where graceful maidens stood on either side, clad in lake-blue skirts with pink sashes at their chests, positioned every ten paces; each bowed in greeting as guests passed.

Gu Fei’s gaze swept over the maids. At the end of the corridor, after passing twelve painted screens of mountains and rivers, the space opened to reveal a lake filled with blooming pink lotuses. Scattered upon the water stood several pavilions—some four-sided, some eight—each intricately carved in red lacquer with auspicious beasts, exquisite in every detail.

As they walked, Feng Lizhi explained the purpose of each pavilion: some for tea, some for composing poetry, others for enjoying the music of strings and bamboo, a testament to the Hall’s owner’s unconventional tastes.

Gu Fei assumed the Hidden Ink Gathering would be held in one of these pavilions, but Feng Lizhi led her onward, past the lake and its pavilions, straight into a vast bamboo grove.

The bamboo leaves whispered in the wind; stone tables and stools were arranged informally among the stalks, each attended by maidservants. Atop each table, covered in red silk, rested the ink pellets to be appraised that day.

Gu Fei raised her brows, surprised by the choice of venue. This only deepened her curiosity and anticipation.

Guests had already arrived. As soon as Feng Lizhi appeared, many came forward to greet him, their gazes inevitably falling on Gu Fei in her wheelchair, and even Gu Rou—ever unwilling to be outdone—pushed forward to stand at Feng Lizhi’s side.

Mo Yuhua arrived shortly after, leading Gu Wanting and Gu Wanxiu, and took in the scene.

Feng Lizhi proved attentive; even while chatting with others, he included Gu Fei, never letting her feel neglected. Gu Rou tried several times to draw Feng Lizhi’s notice, but each attempt was deftly intercepted by others.

After a quarter of an hour, two lines of maidservants entered. At their head was a tall woman with a smoky-pink complexion, who stepped forward, clapped softly, and announced in a voice as clear as jade beads striking a tray, “We are honored by your presence at today’s Hidden Ink Gathering. By the order of our master, the Nine-Tailed Fox King, any guest who makes a purchase at the Hall of Splendors after the event will receive a twenty-percent discount.”

Most of those present were people of standing, more concerned with reputation than with gain. Such a generous offer instantly won the Hall of Splendors universal goodwill.

Gu Fei, however, was unmoved. From the moment she approached the tables of ink pellets, she had eyes for nothing else, paying no heed to the maid’s words.

Soon, the gathering began. Maidservants came to lead the handful of female guests to a neighboring area, where a living screen of bamboo separated them from the men, sparing both sides any awkwardness.

Gu Wanting and Gu Wanxiu, like fish returned to water, immediately joined the other ladies, and soon laughter and whispered conversation filled the air. Even Gu Rou abandoned Gu Fei to seek out more congenial company.

In truth, such gatherings were largely for show; few women cared about the ink pellets on display, much less about their appraisal.

Gu Fei paid no mind to the others. She signaled to Danqing to find a spot with a broad view, so she could survey all the ink pellets without missing a single one.

The Hidden Ink Gathering proved spectacular. Each ink pellet was a masterpiece, and Gu Fei watched with delight, listening closely to the men’s appraisals from beyond the screen. It was clear that only Mo Yuhua and Feng Lizhi were evenly matched in their knowledge of ink.

As she listened, wholly absorbed, Danqing bent close and whispered in her ear, “Miss, it seems the eldest young ladies are talking about you.”

Gu Fei’s brows knitted. She glanced lightly in Gu Wanting’s direction, seeing a group of five or six girls gathered, casting peculiar looks her way from time to time.

She scoffed inwardly and said to Danqing, “Mind your own business.”

No sooner had she spoken than a burst of applause rose from the men’s side—a highlight she had missed. Before she could focus again, a maid came to announce, “The first session of the Hidden Ink Gathering is concluded. Ladies, please follow me to the bamboo garden for luncheon. The second session will begin at the Hour of the Goat.”

The ladies, most already bored, eagerly followed the maid away. Gu Fei, still pondering the previous ink pellet, saw Gu Wanting approach, waving Danqing aside and pushing her wheelchair herself. “Fifth Sister, you’re unfamiliar with the Hall of Splendors. Since you still call me Eldest Sister, it’s only right that I look after you outside the home.”

A cold gleam flashed in Gu Fei’s eyes. She gripped the armrest and replied, “Thank you for your trouble, Eldest Sister.”