Do you dare to tie me up?

August 23rd, clear and bright. Gu Zhong wore a sapphire-blue silk robe, a broad jade belt cinched at his waist. Standing by the wooden window on the second floor of the Gu family shop, he gazed down, watching the flow of people coming and going below. The stern lines of his square face softened slightly, the taut corners of his lips curving ever so faintly.

Downstairs in the main hall, noise and commotion filled the air. Turning away, he looked at the ink pellets and ink molds arranged in a line on the desk, a sharp glint flickering in his eyes.

Gu Fei’s proposal was indeed promising. For a moment, even he had been swayed. But after much deliberation, he dared not stake the Gu family’s modest fortunes on such a venture. One misstep, and they would find themselves at odds with all the prominent families of Yizhou. He knew he lacked the courage for such decisive, all-or-nothing gambles.

Thus, though today was supposed to be auction day for the Gu family, he felt no urgency to make preparations.

“Master, the representatives from those families have all arrived,” the plump shopkeeper entered, bowing his head in deference.

Gu Zhong snapped from his thoughts. With his hands clasped behind his back, he lingered another moment over the ink pellets. “Invite them to the rear flower hall. I’ll be along shortly.”

The shopkeeper assented, never once looking up, nor voicing any objection to Gu Zhong’s decision.

Gu Zhong fetched several ink boxes, carefully wrapping ten fragrant ink cakes in silken yellow cloth before placing them inside. As for the five sets of ink stones, he hesitated, kept the best set for himself, and placed the remaining four into another box, ready to carry them over.

Though he was not holding the auction as Gu Fei wished, he had still invited the prominent families. Once the fragrant ink was presented, he would sell it to a suitable household and be done with it. What mattered was not silver, but forging ties with these families. If he could secure such connections, and with the proposed marriage alliance with the Mo family, the Gu clan might yet ascend.

But as Gu Zhong, arms full of ink boxes, opened the door, his steps faltered—

At the threshold stood Gu Fei, her expression cold as frost. One hand rested on her knee, her gaze swept over the ink boxes in his arms, and her voice was icy as she spoke, “Uncle, where are you off to? Did you not say we would hold the auction today?”

Gu Zhong paused, but recovered quickly, forcing a smile. “Of course, the auction—I'm just about to—”

“Lies!” Gu Fei cut him off, her eyes sharp, every word deliberate and clear. “The first rule of business is integrity. Uncle, this double-dealing is no way to conduct affairs. If you break your word, who will ever trade with you again?”

Stung by her blunt rebuke, Gu Zhong’s face flushed with anger. “And if I am? Don’t think I don’t know your intentions. You’re just using the Gu family—what good does it do you?”

Gu Fei sneered, pretense abandoned. She could not be bothered to argue further, and waved to Ku Ma. “Take him.”

Ku Ma stamped her foot, hand shooting out to seize Gu Zhong by the collar and drag him easily back inside.

Gu Fei wheeled herself in after, shutting the door behind her. “Since Uncle will not heed my advice, forgive me for this offense.”

“You wretched girl, dare you bind me?” Gu Zhong, livid, glared at her, face dark, eyes blazing.

Unmoved, Gu Fei watched as Ku Ma swiftly tied Gu Zhong to a chair, gagging him with a strip of cloth. Only then did she stoop to pick up the fallen ink box.

With practiced efficiency, Ku Ma collected the rest and stood at Gu Fei’s side, ignoring Gu Zhong entirely.

Gu Zhong’s eyes bulged as he shouted muffled protests, but Gu Fei only cast him a mocking smile, drew the family seal from a drawer, tossing it in her hand. “After today’s auction, Uncle, you will thank me.”

With that, she signaled Ku Ma to push her out, locking the door behind them so no one could enter.

Her expression turned cold. She called a clerk over. “Go fetch Manager Shang.”

The clerk knew her by sight, if not well, but seeing the family seal in her hand, his eyes flickered with understanding and he hurried off.

Soon, the plump Manager Shang arrived, robes flapping as he bustled in. At the sight of Gu Fei, he looked momentarily taken aback.

Gu Fei paid him no mind, waving the seal and speaking coldly, “There is urgent business at home, Uncle has already returned to the residence. I am in charge here for now. Any objections?”

Manager Shang shook his head. “None, whatever the young mistress commands.”

Gu Fei nodded, pleased with his understanding. “Who are our guests today?”

“Han, Xu, and Ouyang—the heads of the three great families are here. The master said there was new ink to discuss with them, so they’re waiting in the flower hall.”

He suspected nothing. Gu Fei, after all, had an official position in the shop, and now held the family seal.

Gu Fei’s annoyance at Gu Zhong’s duplicity deepened. “Invite them to the upstairs private rooms. There will be other families arriving as well—tell them all that we are holding an auction for new ink today.”

The word ‘auction’ made Manager Shang start in surprise, for Gu Zhong had never mentioned it.

But Gu Fei pressed on. “Now, have the clerks push several tables together in the main hall and cover them in red silk. When the auction begins, the private rooms upstairs need only open their windows for a clear view.”

It was a simple matter and would take little time. Manager Shang nodded and rushed off to see it done.

Ku Ma wheeled Gu Fei to the top of the stairs. Glancing down, Gu Fei was unsurprised by Gu Zhong’s defiance. In recent days, she had already sent invitations from the Linlang Pavilion to every family of standing in Yizhou.

The Linlang Pavilion’s influence was no secret. Though there had been some trouble involving Mr. Jiu cheating the Huang family, that incident was known only among a select few and never publicly aired. Most people were entirely unaware.

With the invitations sent, none of those families would refuse to come—especially not when they might win valuable ink and had brought plenty of silver in anticipation.

Sure enough, within half an hour, carriages crowded outside the Gu shop and the private rooms upstairs were filled. The clerks were run off their feet.

When the appointed hour arrived, Manager Shang came to report, “Miss, most of the guests have arrived. When shall we begin?”

Gu Fei ran her fingers over the fabric on her lap, eyes fixed on the bustling main hall below. “Manager Shang, are you familiar with the duties of an auctioneer?”

He was an old hand in the Gu household. Though he could not make ink himself, he knew all there was to know. Understanding her meaning, he replied, “Rest assured, leave the auction to me.”

Gu Fei smiled. “Very well, it’s all yours.”

There was no other way. Gu Zhong had never intended to hold an auction, so nothing was prepared. Gu Fei had to improvise, but she trusted his skills—years as manager could not have been for nothing.

And indeed, her trust was not misplaced. Whether in the hall or the upstairs rooms, Manager Shang knew every guest well. Taking his place by the red-draped tables, he signaled for the maids to bring in a tray, covered in red silk, and began, “Today, we have gathered you all here to show you a new kind of ink—fragrant ink—refined from the formula for medicinal ink…”

With just a few words, he captured everyone’s attention. The fragrant ink had not yet appeared, but the crowd was already abuzz with excitement.