Which Is Tougher, the Bones or the Tongue?

Gu Fei’s ruthless severity shocked everyone present.

Who could have imagined that such a slender, frail woman—confined to a wheelchair and the very picture of helplessness—could act with such ferocity?

Madam Cui felt a chill run down her spine; her gaze toward Gu Fei changed in an instant.

Gu Fei seemed oblivious to all this. She bent forward and looked at the still-breathing Taoist on the ground, threatening, “It’s fine if you won’t speak. Once you’re in the magistrate’s office, there’ll be plenty of ways to make you confess.”

She spoke neither too loudly nor too softly, just enough for all present to hear. As she straightened up, she cast a meaningful glance at Old Madam Duan.

Those eyes, stark in their contrast of black and white, made Old Madam Duan shudder involuntarily.

Cui steadied herself, coughed softly to draw everyone’s attention, and said, “My dear, there’s no need for violence. Your health is delicate—should anything happen to you, your aunt would be heartbroken.”

As she spoke, Cui stepped forward, feigning intimacy as she adjusted the cloak that had slipped from Gu Fei’s knees—a gesture entirely at odds with the unfamiliarity of their first meeting.

Gu Fei only smiled, the smile never reaching her eyes, cold as ice. “This villain is truly despicable. He must have thought my aunt softhearted and kind, daring to come here to our Gu family with his swindling tricks. Who knows which jealous house, envious of my uncle’s mercantile success and our rising fortunes, sent him to slander us with such lowly means.”

With every word, Gu Fei emphasized “our Gu family,” making Cui feel a deep discomfort, yet unable to object—the words themselves had already offered her a way out, and she could only go along.

“How could I have been so blind? Alas, it’s all my fault…” Cui picked up the thread, her well-maintained, fair, delicate features clouded with remorse. “With your uncle so gravely ill, I’ve been quite at a loss…”

Gu Fei sneered inwardly. Meeting Cui today confirmed her reputation for putting on a show. Not to be outdone, Gu Fei matched her act for act, putting on airs as she spat viciously at the unconscious Taoist on the ground. “Then today, we must not let this wicked priest go. Even if it takes torture, we’ll get the truth out of him.”

At these words, Cui’s heart skipped a beat. Old Madam Duan, standing beside her, subtly tugged at her sleeve.

Cui forced a stiff smile. “You are, after all, a sheltered young lady. Such brutality is beneath you, lest it tarnish your reputation.”

With that, she turned to the guards and ordered, “Take him away and keep him under strict watch. We’ll deal with him in a few days!”

Gu Fei curled her lips in a faint smile, a hidden mockery glimmering on her fair, translucent face. She wheeled herself forward, blocking the guards. “Shouldn’t my aunt at least check if the man is still alive? If you take him away now and he happens to die, no amount of explanation will clear us.”

This made Cui’s face turn cold in an instant. She stared at Gu Fei, lips pressed in silence.

Gu Fei laughed lightly, her smile deepening. Without hesitation, she barked, “Kuma, rouse him!”

“Yes, miss!” Kuma emerged from nowhere, seemingly prepared all along, carrying a bucket of icy well water, which she dumped over the Taoist’s head.

Danqing was startled, staring at Kuma, unable to fathom where she had gone or what she’d been doing just moments ago—now she appeared, ready with water as if she’d planned it all. No one would believe it was unplanned.

Instinctively, Danqing glanced at Cui, who happened to look back. Their eyes met, and Danqing subtly shook her head.

“Ugh…” The Taoist groaned and came around, opening his eyes to see Gu Fei smiling down at him. With a start, he tried to rise, but Kuma was quicker, swinging the wooden bucket and maliciously smashing it against his legs.

“Ah!” the Taoist screamed in agony, wishing for death.

Gu Fei gave him no respite, her tone harsh and unyielding. “You came here to swindle the Gu family. Speak—who is behind you?”

The Taoist gritted his teeth in silence. Gu Fei tapped the armrest of her wheelchair and continued, “If you talk, you might keep your life. If not, do you see these guards? I’ll have each give you a beating—hard enough to hurt but not to kill. Let’s see if your bones or your resolve are harder!”

The Taoist shrank back, his body caked with mud and blood oozing from wounds. Propping himself up, he gasped for breath before finally stammering, “I… I’ll talk… I’ll talk…”

No one noticed the flash in Cui’s eyes. Suddenly, she shoved Old Madam Duan forward.

Cunning as ever, Old Madam Duan let out a shriek, rushed over, and kicked the Taoist several times, aiming for spots that would knock him out. She cursed, “Wretched scoundrel, how dare you deceive me! I’ll beat you to death to keep you from causing more harm…”

Gu Fei made no move to stop her, watching with idle amusement as Old Madam Duan’s performance sent the Taoist back into unconsciousness—utterly farcical.

When the Taoist could no longer utter a word, Old Madam Duan collapsed to her knees before Cui, slapping her own cheeks and begging, “It was my blindness, my lady, that let this wretch deceive me. Please, for the sake of my years of service, spare me this once…”

Cui was visibly moved, her features clouded with sorrow and conflict. Seeing Old Madam Duan’s swollen cheeks, she reached out to help her up, but—

“I wondered who could be so brazen. Turns out it’s Nanny Duan from my aunt’s side,” Gu Fei interjected coolly, lowering her gaze to her own hands as if everyone else were beneath notice. “Nanny Duan, I hear you’ve been in the household for years. How could you betray the family? Did you think my aunt was so soft as to be easily deceived?”

Cui started, her hand pausing midair before diverting to dab her eyes with a handkerchief.

Old Madam Duan glared at Gu Fei, gritting her teeth. She knew how strange today’s events were—Gu Fei had nearly been driven from the Gu household, yet at the crucial moment, things had turned against Cui. The move was clearly aimed at her.

She sneered and straightened up. “I don’t know what you mean, Fifth Miss. The household has been plagued with misfortune, so I brought this Taoist to your aunt to dispel evil. Who could have known he was such a fiend? My only fault was misjudging him—there’s no betrayal as you suggest.”

She clung to her denial, refusing to admit to Gu Fei’s accusation.

“Whether you did it or not isn’t for you to say!” Gu Fei’s voice was like ice crackling, brooking no argument. “Aunt, this concerns the very survival of the Gu family. I believe it’s best left to Uncle to decide.”

Her final words were directed at Cui.

Cui nearly shredded her handkerchief in her grip, but she had no choice but to force a smile and agree. “Indeed, your uncle must investigate this thoroughly.”

She said nothing about the slander Gu Fei had suffered.

Gu Fei heard her and immediately beamed, her almond-shaped eyes curving sweetly, sugary as honey. “If Aunt agrees, all the better. As it happens, I have already sent someone to fetch Uncle.”