52. Division of Spoils

Draped in a pale apricot robe, carelessly belted at the waist with a dark silk sash, Mister Nine emerged step by step from the shadows, his long hair cascading to his calves. It was as if the night itself receded like a tide from his form, leaving him suffused with a gentle, jade-like glow.

He reached up to tuck a stray lock behind his ear. In his long, fox-like eyes, a fleeting glimmer danced as he spoke: “Ah Fei, to think you would judge me so—it truly wounds me.”

Yet, beneath his silver mask, there was no trace of gloom; instead, his thin lips curved upward in a playful, mocking smile.

Gu Fei regarded him coldly. “Is it not so? You knew long ago that the Huang family had their sights set on me, so you seized the opportunity and wove your schemes, drawing every wealthy family in Yizhou into your net. I suppose by now, it’s not just the Huang family who have signed contracts with Linlang Pavilion—every other house has been ensnared as well. With Linlang Pavilion’s reputation, payment always comes before goods, and no one suspects a thing. But now…”

She paused after this rush of words, her gaze sharpening to a knife’s edge upon Mister Nine. “So much silver—doesn’t Linlang Pavilion fear choking on such a feast?”

Mister Nine let out a low laugh, covering his silver mask with one hand, the upward curve of his lips and the dark malice in his eyes visible between his fingers. “Ah, plotting against the Xiao Mo family and the Huangs, manipulating the Ink Duel, and even having Linlang Pavilion corroborate your grand deception—these were all your requests, Ah Fei. From beginning to end, I never once took the initiative. So tell me, is this outburst truly justified?”

“Hmph,” Gu Fei snorted, her small, pointed chin lifting with pride. “Justified? I only ever meant to entrap the Xiao Mo family; if they had won the Ink Duel, it would be the Huangs who suffered, not them. You knew my plan, yet you let the Xiao Mo family win—how could I not wonder what your intentions truly are?”

Mister Nine stood with his hands behind his back, his loose hair dancing in the air, a faint smile on his lips. “Whether it’s the Xiao Mo family or the Huangs, as long as they’re yielding silver…”

“Sir,” Gu Fei cut him off, her jade-like face steely with resolve. “You know my surname is Mo; you must also know the blood feud between me and the Mo family. After all my plotting, I finally lured the Xiao Mo family into the trap, only for my efforts to be thwarted by your designs. If you wish to play the fisherman, I refuse to be the clam or the snipe.”

At this, Mister Nine’s expression turned solemn, his features suddenly distant, as if shrouded in an icy mist that kept all at bay. He gazed at Gu Fei, and in the uncertain darkness, the shadows writhing upon her seemed to take on the shape of wild beasts, bristling with menace.

“What do you propose?” His voice was low and calm, unperturbed by the waves beneath.

Gu Fei pressed her lips together. “Sixty-forty. Of all the silver earned by Linlang Pavilion this time, I want sixty percent.”

A flicker crossed Mister Nine’s eyes—the gleam of jet-black light sliding like water from the corners of his fox-like gaze. “Sixty percent? Ah Fei, you certainly don’t mince words. You invoke your feud with the Xiao Mo family to prick my conscience and make it easier to claim your lion’s share—every word is part of your calculation, as expected from a mind as cunning as yours.”

Even exposed, Gu Fei showed no irritation; her face remained impassive. “Sixty percent.”

Mister Nine pondered for a moment. “Fifty.”

Gu Fei said nothing, her almond-shaped eyes shining with both brilliance and darkness. After a long silence, she suddenly pulled her lips into a faint, snow-like smile. “Fifty? That’s just fine.”

This abrupt shift caught Mister Nine off guard. Then realization dawned—Gu Fei had intended from the start to settle for half, but asked for more to create the illusion of bargaining. Unwittingly, he’d fallen right into her trap.

He laughed softly to himself. His word was given, and now there was no taking it back.

Gu Fei signaled for Old Mother Ku to wheel her home. As she left, she called back to Mister Nine, “Kindly have the silver exchanged for notes and delivered to the Gu estate in the coming days. My thanks.”

Yet her tone carried not a hint of gratitude; it was the smooth courtesy of one well-versed in the ways of the world.

“Fei…” Mister Nine began, but as soon as he uttered her name, he saw she was already far away, and the words he meant to say died on his lips. The warning he had meant to give about the Gu family went unsaid.

In the heavy night, he reached up and traced the edge of his silver mask—delicate dragon patterns, layered dark clouds, cold light glinting at the corners—his expression grew more inscrutable. “Shining moon, flawless jade—if not for this rivalry, how could I ever know if there’s still a trace of feeling in your heart…”

His words drifted into the moonless night, unheard by any soul.

Gu Fei slipped quietly back to the Gu estate. Old Mother Ku bustled about, helping her wash and settle into bed. As she was tucked beneath the covers, the old woman hesitated, then said, “Miss, I have nothing to do with Mister Nine. I didn’t mean to delay so many days at the Huang family’s—truly, I was searching for you…”

Gu Fei casually pulled the brocade quilt up and raised her hand to cut her off. “I know. There’s no need to explain, Mother Ku. I only said those things for Mister Nine’s benefit.”

Hearing this, Old Mother Ku let out a great sigh of relief, then recounted how she’d concealed her movements from the Gu family all these days, lest anything be let slip by accident.

To her surprise, Gu Fei frowned as soon as she finished, declaring with certainty, “There’s no need to hide anymore. They already know.”

Old Mother Ku was startled. “That can’t be. I went to report to Master Gu Zhong and got the note before collecting the wood, then brought it into the workshop. I only left the estate half a day later, and even when I returned in recent days, nothing seemed amiss.”

Gu Fei shook her head, lowering her pillow and settling in with a sigh of relief. “We’ll see tomorrow. Someone’s bound to lose patience by then.”

Old Mother Ku wanted to say more, but seeing that Gu Fei had already closed her eyes, she simply lowered the blue gauze canopy and, still uneasy, murmured, “Miss, if blame is to be laid, let it fall on me. It was my carelessness that ruined everything.”

Gu Fei turned over, not even opening her eyes. “What’s done is done; there’s no use talking about it. If trouble comes, we’ll deal with it. As long as Gu Zhong refuses to give up on me, my footing in the Gu family is secure. Who knows whose word will be final in the end…”

She spoke no more after that, and soon, exhausted from the night’s ordeal, her breathing grew deep and even.

Only then did Old Mother Ku tiptoe quietly out of the room.

The next morning, Gu Fei slept soundly for once, not rising until well after breakfast. At dawn, Old Mother Ku had already destroyed the carved wood molds in the small workshop, leaving behind traces of a failed attempt. Only once she was sure there were no flaws did she begin tidying the courtyard.

It was then that Gu Wanting burst in, flanked by sturdy guards. Without preamble, she pointed at Old Mother Ku and commanded, “Bind this wretched servant for me!”

The two guards stepped forward with a nod, ropes as thick as a finger in hand, and moved to seize Old Mother Ku on the spot.

Old Mother Ku flexed her wrists, thinking of Gu Fei in the room and wondering about her intentions. Fearing she might make things worse by acting rashly, and curious to see what Gu Wanting had planned, she suppressed the murderous urge rising in her heart and allowed herself to be tied. After all, if she wished, no rope could truly restrain her.

With Old Mother Ku bound, Gu Wanting led her maid to kick open Gu Fei’s door, swept aside the gauze canopy, and sneered at the just-awoken Gu Fei. “Drag her out! Let everyone see the fate of a woman who breaks the rules of virtue and decency, who sneaks out for days to consort with men!”