31. Theft

Eyes as deep as obsidian, devoid of any light, unable to catch even a trace of shadow or reflection.

With a dull thud, Danqing knelt, trembling uncontrollably. “Please spare me, miss, please spare me…”

Her fingertips brushed lightly over the patterns on the ink mold. Gu Fei casually tossed aside the carving knife in her hand, her voice as cold as frost. “From now on, unless I summon you, you are not to come in!”

“Yes, I understand,” Danqing replied at once.

Gu Fei glanced at her, seemingly indifferent, as if dissatisfied with the carved ink mold. She pushed it aside without a care. “Push me out.”

Danqing lifted her skirt as she rose, holding the oil lamp in one hand and pushing the wheelchair with the other. She moved lightly out of the small workshop. Under the sparse, crisscrossing shadows, her gaze lingered uncertainly on that ink mold several times.

After finishing her meal, Gu Fei clearly dismissed Danqing and summoned Mama Ku to her chamber. Once the door was closed, Mama Ku smiled faintly. “Miss, what are your plans?”

Gu Fei’s eyes shimmered with a subtle light as she picked up the comb from her dressing case and ran it idly through her long hair. “What do you think?”

At this, Mama Ku smiled with layered meaning. She did not elaborate—some things need not be spoken aloud. She stepped forward to untie Gu Fei’s coiffure, her mind sorting through the events of recent days as she considered her words. “From what I hear, Mistress Cui has decided that Gu Rou will marry into the Xiao Mo family in the tenth month.”

“But she hasn’t said in what capacity Gu Rou will marry,” Mama Ku mused.

Gu Fei gazed at her own face reflected in the bronze mirror, pale as white jade, her eyes deep and enigmatic. She asked, “Has there been any movement from the Xiao Mo family?”

Earlier, she had set bait for Mo Cheng, the Fifth Master of the Mo family, and was merely waiting for the big fish to bite. By now, even with Mo Cheng’s limited abilities, there should have been some sign.

Understanding what Gu Fei was getting at, Mama Ku gently massaged the scalp that had been bound up all day, saying, “Fifth Master Mo began to act during the Ink Gathering, but there hasn’t been much commotion.”

As she spoke, Mama Ku frowned. “Miss, my estimation is that Fifth Master Mo lacks skill. The Xiao Mo family has been under Mo Yan’s control for many years, leaving him little room to maneuver. So, after all these days, things still haven’t developed as you intended.”

“Oh?” Gu Fei arched an eyebrow. “That’s not possible.”

Seeing Mama Ku’s confusion, Gu Fei explained further, “When someone is consumed by greed and desire for power, even limited ability can produce unimaginable results.”

“Mo Cheng?” She lifted her chin, her penetrating gaze as sharp as a queen’s, as if she could see through to the heart of anyone. “I promised him the position of head of the Xiao Mo family, entry into the Great Capital’s Mo family. To achieve this, he will stop at nothing to seize the opportunity I’ve dangled before him.”

Mama Ku was taken aback. She had never heard Gu Fei mention this before, nor did she know when a bargain with Mo Cheng had been struck, even though she attended to Gu Fei daily.

Gu Fei, however, paid no mind to Mama Ku’s thoughts. She stretched out her arm, indicating she wished to be helped undress. “Tonight, keep an eye on Danqing. She’s likely to be unable to restrain herself.”

Mama Ku nodded, brought over the prepared sleeping garments, and carefully helped Gu Fei change. She hung the discarded clothes on a rack and reminded her gently, “If you wake early, wait in bed for me to come. Please don’t try getting up alone again; it would be terrible if you were to fall and injure yourself.”

Though the words were clearly caring, to Gu Fei they sounded somewhat grating, as if casting her as a helpless invalid, forced to await despair if left alone.

Her brows drew together in irritation.

Mama Ku, shrewd with age, easily sensed Gu Fei’s mood and dared say no more. In their days together, she had come to understand that Gu Fei was a woman of determination, stubborn to the core, and fiercely proud. Even after being dragged from the heights of genius and crippled, she had shown no sign of defeat, meeting adversity head-on—a rare quality.

After seeing Gu Fei to bed, Mama Ku extinguished the lamp and slipped out, bent low and silent as a cat, vanishing into the deep blackness of night without a trace.

That night, there were neither stars nor moon—the darkness was absolute, so thick you could not see your own hand.

In the Qing Mo Courtyard, a pale figure slipped quietly out the door after a faint creak. The shadow paused in the courtyard, waited a moment, and, seeing no sign of movement, hurried toward the small workshop.

For convenience, Gu Fei had specifically had the wall between the Qing Mo Courtyard and the workshop knocked through, leaving only a moon gate between them—there was no door, no guard.

The figure, clearly familiar with the layout even in darkness, moved confidently without a lantern, steps steady and sure.

Soon, the pale figure stopped at the room where Gu Fei had carved the ink mold earlier that day. Seeing no one around, she pushed open the door and entered.

A moment later, one could just make out a bundle cradled in her arms as she emerged, closing the door behind her with practiced ease, and hurried toward the main house.

And so the night passed without further incident.

The next morning, as Gu Fei rose, Mama Ku leaned in close to whisper in her ear. At this, a faint, ambiguous smile played at Gu Fei’s lips.

Perhaps she had exhausted herself carving ink molds the day before, for she felt tired today. When Mama Ku asked if she would be going to the workshop after breakfast, Gu Fei refused outright. Danqing, serving the dishes with head bowed, acted as if she hadn’t heard a word.

After breakfast, Gu Fei indicated that Danqing should brew some floral tea, and told Mama Ku to move a table out to the shady part of the courtyard. Leisurely, she sat sipping her tea, as if waiting for someone to arrive.

Sure enough, less than half an hour had passed when Third Miss Gu Rou entered Qing Mo Courtyard, her face clouded with worry. At the sight of Gu Fei’s seemingly carefree demeanor, a flicker of something unreadable flashed through her eyes.

Gu Fei turned her head. In the already stifling morning sun, she caught sight of Gu Rou at once.

A faint smile curved her lips as she turned her teacup in her hand, genuinely surprised. She had expected someone else to come calling so early, but never imagined Gu Rou would be the first.

“What wind has blown Third Sister here? Come, sit.” She straightened in her wheelchair, set down her cup, and poured Gu Rou a cup of tea herself, gesturing politely.

Gone was the usual gentle smile from Gu Rou’s face. Preoccupied, she sat down across from Gu Fei without preamble, not even touching the tea. Her first words were, “Fifth Sister, are you enjoying Third Sister’s misfortune?”

The sharp sarcasm in her tone was like a blade, glinting with harsh light.

Gu Fei was taken aback. She had never imagined that Gu Rou, always so careful with her words and manners, would speak so harshly today. Still, her expression betrayed nothing. “Third Sister, why do you say that?”

“Hmph.” Gu Rou sneered, flicking her sleeve, her large, watery eyes now stripped of all gentleness. “Aunt has decided I am to marry Mo Yuhua along with Eldest Sister. The entire household knows, and yet you pretend not to?”

Gu Fei shook her head. “Truly, I didn’t know before last night.”

Gu Rou wanted to say more, but Gu Fei cut her off with a wave of her hand. “So, did you come early just to vent your anger at your little sister, or do you want something from me? Perhaps you want me to go plead with Aunt on your behalf?”

Though Gu Fei had hit the mark, Gu Rou showed no annoyance. She looked at Gu Fei’s legs. “It’s not that I wish to scheme against you, but given your current circumstances, marrying Mo Yuhua is the best choice.”

Gu Fei laughed softly. If she were merely the illegitimate daughter of the Gu family—crippled, with no particular skill—then Gu Rou would be right. Marrying into the Xiao Mo family would indeed be ideal. But as fate would have it, nothing of the sort was possible between her and Mo Yuhua.

Uncertain why Gu Fei laughed, Gu Rou pressed on. “Since it benefits us both, why can’t you just do me this favor? After all, you have nothing to lose.”

No longer wishing to argue, Gu Fei reclined against the wheelchair and issued a clear dismissal. “Our paths diverge, Third Sister. There’s no use saying more. Your honey is my poison—so it is.”

Gu Rou shot to her feet, her anger impossible to hide. Her face was ashen as she stared at Gu Fei, unable to form a word for a long moment.

“Danqing, see our guest out,” Gu Fei said even more directly.

Gu Rou’s chest heaved as she forced down her emotions. She turned and strode toward the exit, but just as she reached the gate, she stumbled and, without warning, collapsed to the ground.

“Third Miss!” her maid cried out in alarm, rushing to her side. Gu Rou was already convulsing, her face paper white.