Let her suffer a crushing defeat.

The group returned to the Gu residence at the beginning of the hour of You. Mo Yuhua had already sent his groom ahead to notify the Gu family, so Madam Cui had been pacing anxiously outside the gates, her face marked with worry.

Gu Fei did not join the excitement at the main house; all matters, large and small, were handled by Mo Yuhua, leaving no room for her concern. As for Gu Rou, after Gu Fei had laid bare her intentions with a single remark, she had not uttered another word, nor even met Gu Fei’s gaze.

Once back at Qingmo Court, Gu Fei wore a cold expression and, using Danqing’s unauthorized departure from her side as a pretext, chastised her severely. She then ordered Old Ma to lock Danqing in the woodshed, forbidding her exit for three days.

Her actions were swift and decisive, leaving Danqing no chance to recover or defend herself.

Without delay, Gu Fei changed her attire, signaling Old Ma to inspect them carefully and recounting Qingyun’s warnings from Linlang Pavilion.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing the word “restful incense,” Old Ma’s face changed. She moved closer to the oil lamp and sniffed carefully, saying, “It is indeed restful incense.”

Gu Fei cradled a warm cup of tea. “I recall Danqing previously telling me she used tranquil incense. What is the difference between restful incense and tranquil incense?”

A fierce look crossed Old Ma’s face. She fetched scissors and cut into the collar of the garment, explaining, “Restful incense and tranquil incense differ by just one character, but the distinction is vast.”

“Tranquil incense is simply a scent for calming the mind, but restful incense, though similar in aroma, becomes a dangerous poison when combined with plum blossom or musk, inducing hallucinations and breathlessness. Malicious people often swap the two to confuse others.”

Old Ma’s expression wavered, and in the flickering light, a faint trace of murderous intent flashed in her eyes.

Gu Fei put down her tea, tapping her fingers lightly. “That makes sense. Ten out of ten ink pills are blended with a touch of musk to enhance their fragrance. The ink pills displayed today at the Ink Gathering contained musk, and Mo Yuhua’s clothes were scented with plum blossom. That’s why, when he approached me, my vision blurred and I fainted for a few moments.”

She thought for a moment, then picked up the rouge-colored robe embroidered with crabapple blossoms, her fingers tracing its fabric. “Whoever is behind this has certainly gone to great lengths.”

Old Ma scrunched up the ruined robe, preparing to dispose of it. “Miss, you should rest. I’ll search Danqing’s room for any traces of incense.”

Gu Fei nodded, knowing her swift punishment of Danqing gave her no time to tidy her own quarters.

After Old Ma left, Gu Fei wheeled herself to the bedside, laboriously shifting her body onto the couch. Unbidden, a light “pop” sounded as something slipped from her sleeve.

Looking down, she saw it was the red jade fox pendant. She bent to pick it up, turning it in her hand, and found herself thinking of the mysterious Doctor Nine.

She carefully recalled all the day’s events, especially those since Doctor Nine appeared. Every gesture, every word, even his silver mask, she scrutinized, yet still could not unravel his intentions.

She could not fathom what Doctor Nine sought, nor what the Fox King of Linlang Pavilion desired. Everything seemed to benefit her, but such gifts never fall from the sky; she would rather believe bait is always laid for dead fish.

She refused to be the dead fish, but she could not entirely reject the bait either, and the taste of it left her uneasy.

In less than a quarter hour, Old Ma returned. Upon entering, she saw the fox pendant in Gu Fei’s hand and gasped, rushing forward. “Miss, where did you get this pendant?”

Gu Fei paused, not intending to hide it, and raised it. “A maid from Linlang Pavilion said the Fox King instructed her to give it to me.”

Old Ma was shocked, her tired eyelids suddenly sharp. She hurried to shut the door, then whispered urgently to Gu Fei, “Miss, you must keep it safe. In crucial moments, this is your talisman.”

“The people from Linlang Pavilion said so, but what I am curious about,” Gu Fei tossed the pendant in her hand, smoothing the red silk cord, and regarded Old Ma with deep eyes, “is how you know so much. You understand the ways of the underworld, the intrigues of the court, even poisons and incense. What is there that you do not know?”

Old Ma paused, realizing Gu Fei still did not fully trust her. She did not argue, only sighed, and reached out to fix Gu Fei’s hair. “It’s not that I mean to hide things from you, Miss. Sometimes, knowing too much is no benefit. You must know, I’d rather lose my life than ever harm you.”

Gu Fei closed her eyes for a moment, her mood subdued. “Did you find anything in Danqing’s room?”

She changed the subject, for now, Old Ma was someone she had to rely on and could not afford to offend.

Old Ma finished arranging the hairpin and answered steadily, “It was very clean. Not a single clue. It seems Danqing did burn the incense herself, but as for who directed her, I have ways to make her talk tonight.”

Gu Fei waved her hand. “No, it’s not the time to move against her. Whoever can command Danqing must be from the main house. Gu Rou is the least likely suspect; she’s not foolish enough to be so obvious.”

She paused, suddenly recalling Qingyun’s mention of Gu Wanting plotting against Mo Yuhua as well. Her heart instantly cleared, and she found Gu Wanting’s ruthlessness boundless. “If this was Gu Wanting’s doing, using me as a scapegoat and making use of Mo Yuhua, she must think everyone else is a fool.”

Old Ma frowned, hesitating, “Should we inform Mo Yuhua? That would put the Gu family’s alliance with the Mo family in jeopardy.”

Gu Fei shook her head, tucking the fox pendant beneath her pillow. “Someone like Gu Wanting must be struck so hard she never recovers. Otherwise, she’ll cling on. Keep this in mind—one day, I’ll make her fall utterly.”

Having said this, Gu Fei climbed onto the bed, pulling the quilt over herself as if to rest.

Old Ma quietly covered the oil lamp with a dim shade and set it far away, then lowered the silver hook of the mosquito net.

Gu Fei slept soundly that night, dreaming no more. She woke early, and when Old Ma did not come as usual, she reached for her clothes herself. But as she leaned out, her body lost balance—

With a dull thud, she and her quilt rolled off the bed.

The commotion continued as the clothes rack collapsed.

She propped herself up, brows furrowed, and looked back at her unresponsive legs, her face dark with barely restrained violence.

If she were truly alone, she would be left to die. But she was not one to sit and wait for fate. No matter if the task was within her ability or not, if it needed doing, she would try with all her strength.

Some said she was a prodigy at ink-making, but who knew how much she had sacrificed in the past ten years?

Gu Fei sat up, her long hair spilling like water grass, her pale face tinged with habitual sarcasm. If pressed hard enough, she would do whatever it took, even marry Doctor Nine if it meant standing again.

Old Ma entered upon hearing the noise and saw Gu Fei wrapped in the quilt, silently sitting in the uneven shadows like a delicate porcelain doll, evoking pity.

“Miss, let me help you.” Old Ma rushed over and lifted Gu Fei back onto the bed, then set the clothes rack upright. “I heard early this morning that Mo Yuhua brought another doctor to the house, so I went to the main hall to inquire.”

Gu Fei watched Old Ma’s movements and asked calmly, “Oh? What did the doctor say?”

Old Ma smiled and pushed over the wheelchair, helping Gu Fei into it. “I really can’t see through Young Master Mo now. The doctor he brought checked the eldest daughter’s pulse and declared, just as before, that she suffers from coldness of the body and is unlikely to bear children.”