The allure of a woman in her prime, seasoned yet graceful

Lady Cui, the matriarch of the Gu family, hailed from a scholarly lineage, her ancestors once adorned with the honors of officialdom. Married to Gu Zhong, she harbored a deep-seated disdain for merchant families such as his, though Gu Zhong had always treated her with tenderness, preserving her dignity in the household by never raising a concubine. This was her greatest source of pride in managing the family, and she herself had proven worthy, giving Gu Zhong a son and two daughters.

She believed that the phrase “harmony in the household” described her situation precisely; if only the second branch of the Gu family didn’t stir up trouble from time to time, life would be even more peaceful.

Lately, her greatest vexation was the so-called “illegitimate daughter” brought home by Second Master Gu Jiang. At the same time, the family’s ink workshop had suffered an incident with moldy ink pellets, and Master Gu Zhong had fallen ill, leaving all matters to her. At times like these, her frustration with her brother-in-law’s idleness grew sharper.

More than ten years had passed—no matter how deep one’s affection for a departed wife, the dead could never compare to the living. Yet her uncle persisted, a man of little merit with the heart of a romantic, addicted to drink for decades, neglecting his duties and even his own flesh and blood. If that were all, the Gu family could afford a few idle souls. But what was truly unforgivable was bringing an illegitimate daughter into the family.

Fifteen years of neglect, only to play the role of a loving father at the end—bringing the girl home, and leaving the aftermath for her to handle.

She could deal with the aftermath; it wasn’t the first time. Yet this October marked the marriage of her eldest daughter, Gu Wanting, and her second daughter, Gu Wanxiu, was at the age for choosing a husband. With the stain of an illegitimate child, what family in Yizhou would dare approach with a proposal?

She would not allow the family’s reputation to be sullied, no matter what.

Head throbbing, Lady Cui ordered her maid to prepare a food box with fine dishes and wine, intending to deliver it to the Daoist priest she had invited days earlier.

After pondering for a while, she remained uneasy. Though Old Madam Duan was leading people to the Qingmo Courtyard, she thought it prudent to offer more silver to the Daoist. She decided to go herself, taking her maid along.

The Daoist resided in a courtyard near the north, situated between the outer and inner compounds. Lady Cui, calm and composed, signaled to her maid, who switched the food box to her other hand and knocked gently on the door, calling, “Master, your meal is here. Shall I bring it in?”

No answer came from within. The maid knocked again and repeated her call.

Lady Cui’s fine eyebrows knitted; she stepped forward and knocked firmly. “Master, Master, I have something to ask you.”

At that moment, a dull thump sounded from inside, but still no voice responded.

Lady Cui pushed at the door, but it was barred from within, unmoving. She stepped back and gestured for the maid to force it.

The maid placed the food box on the ground, lifted her skirts, and stepped back a few paces before rushing forward. Unexpectedly, the door creaked open just as she reached it, and she stumbled straight into the Daoist’s arms.

The Daoist held her tightly, refusing to let go, chuckling lewdly as he pressed his flushed face to the maid’s pale neck, biting at it and running his hands up and down in a most indecent manner.

Lady Cui was stunned, the maid too shocked to react.

“Today, even the iron tree blooms for me,” the Daoist said, squinting at Lady Cui standing outside the door, grinning lasciviously as he reached out toward her. “A mature beauty has her own allure…”

“How dare you!” Lady Cui instinctively retreated, her face pale, voice harsh but weak.

The maid finally came to her senses and screamed, “Ah… let me go… let me go…” She bit the Daoist’s shoulder, and he, in pain, slapped her to the floor and kicked her several times. Once the maid was too weak to resist, he lunged and began tearing at her clothes.

The maid cried and reached out to Lady Cui for help. Lady Cui turned and ran outside, shouting, “Help! Someone, quickly! Beat that Daoist to death for me!”

Guards arrived at the commotion, dragging the crazed Daoist away. The maid’s clothes were torn, and she was left sobbing in disgrace.

Lady Cui trembled with fury, thinking how close she had come to being the victim herself, her fear giving way to even greater anger. “Beat him! Beat him hard! When he’s dead, throw him to the dogs in the paupers’ graveyard!”

The Daoist was beaten mercilessly by the guards until he lost consciousness, then revived with cold water. Only then, frightened and clear-headed, did he beg Lady Cui for mercy. “Madam, spare me, spare me! I was out of my mind…”

Lady Cui ignored his pleas, insisting the guards teach the Daoist a harsh lesson.

Old Madam Duan hurried in, shocked by the scene, and tried to calm Lady Cui. “Madam, discipline him as you wish, but be careful not to cause a death—it’s not worth a lawsuit.”

Lady Cui, in the heat of anger, grew even more furious at the reminder that the Daoist had been introduced by Old Madam Duan. “What kind of people are you bringing here? If word gets out, how will the Gu family keep its dignity?”

Old Madam Duan dared not retort, but Gu Fei, who had followed behind, spoke up loudly. “Isn’t this the expert brought in to exorcise evil spirits for the household? Who would dare punish such a person?”

Her words were biting. Lady Cui turned and saw a girl whose face was as fair as jade, seated in a wooden wheelchair, her small pointed chin raised. Though she sat lower than others, the sharp arch of her almond eyes and brows, and her aura, made her seem to look down upon all.

It was the first time Gu Fei had met Lady Cui, and in such circumstances.

The entire scene fell silent. The servants glanced between Lady Cui and Gu Fei, feeling as if they’d been drawn into a silent, unseen battle.

Just then, the Daoist’s whimpering was especially grating. Gu Fei signaled for Danqing to push her before him, looking down from her wheelchair. “Master, could it be you’ve caught the ill fortune from this unlucky person—me—that has brought about such calamity?”

The Daoist dared not speak, sneaking a glance at Old Madam Duan and lowering his head submissively.

Gu Fei understood somewhat. Her gaze swept over the disheveled maid, then lightly took a club from a guard’s hand—a three-foot-long, wrist-thick stick that seemed weightless to her.

No one knew what she intended as she raised the club and brought it crashing down on the Daoist’s back, knocking him to the ground. Then followed a second blow, then a third…

Only when the Daoist coughed blood and could no longer beg for mercy did Gu Fei, breathing heavily, toss aside the club.

Leaning against the cold wheelchair, her eyes dark as black gems, she demanded fiercely, “Who gave you such audacity? Not only did you sully the Gu family’s name, you even dared attempt to violate my aunt. Death is too light a punishment for you!”