I now belong to you, my lady.

For a long stretch of time in Yizhou, everyone knew that Linlang Pavilion had welcomed a new steward. No one could fathom the intentions of the Pavilion Master, the Nine-tailed Fox King. Yet, in every Linlang Pavilion across the various prefectures, the stewards were always young, beautiful maidens. Their beauty was unrivaled, and they were all unmarried.

But the new steward in Yizhou had never shown her face in public since her arrival in the city, stirring much curiosity, yet no one had managed to catch a glimpse of her.

Gu Fei surveyed the flower hall calmly; she was no stranger to this place. When the eccentric physician Mr. Jiu was present, she had visited before. Back then, white gauze draped everywhere, and apart from a couch for reclining, there wasn’t even a single chair.

Now, the flower hall was furnished with tables and brocade stools. In each corner stood half-height bronze vessels, each holding a shallow basin planted with lush green trailing vines, cascading from high to low, adding a gentle softness to the room.

“I have long heard of Miss Fei’s astonishing talent. Though we’ve only known each other in spirit, meeting in person today is truly a blessing for me,” came the crisp, melodious voice, accompanied by the tinkling of bracelets and a waft of fragrant air.

Gu Fei turned to see a tall, elegant woman standing at the doorway. She had a lovely widow’s peak, a face like peach blossoms, charming almond eyes, a delicate nose and red lips, her whole demeanor imbued with lazy springtime allure. Her gaze flowed with beauty, and instantly, her presence radiated captivating charm—she was indeed a woman of infinite allure.

Gu Fei unconsciously frowned, her fingertips sliding along the edge of the armrest, a subtle gleam flickering in her eyes. “Steward Ziyuan, greetings.”

Her tone was neither warm nor cold, polite yet distant, her expression serene.

This woman, the mysterious new steward of Linlang Pavilion, was someone Gu Fei had intended to meet when the opportunity arose. Unexpectedly, before she could seek her out, she received an invitation from the Pavilion, requesting her presence to appraise several ink pellets.

Ziyuan covered her eyes with slender, spring-like fingers, her almond eyes shimmering, “Miss Fei, you’re so aloof. It makes me nervous—could it be that I’m not pretty enough to please you?”

Gu Fei’s brow twitched, an uneasy feeling creeping in. “Steward Ziyuan, you jest. You are very beautiful; any man who saw you would surely be captivated.”

Her words carried a subtle implication: any man would be enamored, but she herself did not say she felt the same.

Ziyuan’s eyes flickered. She swayed gracefully into the room, poured a cup of tea for Gu Fei, and offered it to her. “I’ve heard you’ve been troubled lately, Miss Fei. Perhaps I may be fortunate enough to help you out?”

Ziyuan’s manner lacked the usual restraint of a merchant. It was their first meeting, and she forewent any probing, directly offering assistance.

Gu Fei held the tea, just raising it to her lips without drinking, pausing before setting the cup down. Her gaze was intrigued as she replied, “I don’t know where you heard that, but as far as I’m concerned, nine out of ten matters in this world are unsatisfactory.”

With this light remark, she declined Ziyuan’s offer. Ever since she obtained the red jade fox pendant, there were times when she might use Linlang Pavilion’s influence, but that didn’t mean she trusted its stewards. She had never given Light Cloud even a shred of trust before, let alone this new Ziyuan.

Moreover, this was their first meeting.

Ziyuan’s eyes crinkled in a friendly smile. A warm, familiar aura radiated from her lips. “Ah Fei, no need to stand on ceremony with me. Take a look at this before deciding whether to refuse my help.”

She produced a merchant contract from her sleeve and handed it to Gu Fei.

Gu Fei opened it with curiosity, and after a glance, surprise flickered in her eyes. “Why is my name listed as the owner?”

Indeed, the contract clearly bore Gu Fei’s name as proprietor, and the employee was Ziyuan herself.

Ziyuan poured herself a cup of tea and sipped, her lips glistening enticingly. “It’s just as you see—Linlang Pavilion in Yizhou now belongs to you. When I took office, the Nine-tailed Fox King had me sign this contract, so now I am yours, and you can’t get rid of me.”

Gu Fei was silent. She examined the contract several times, finding not the slightest flaw or hidden trap. Even the authority over the entire Pavilion was allocated to her; in effect, Yizhou’s Linlang Pavilion was now her private property, no longer belonging to the Nine-tailed Fox King.

She spun the contract between her fingers, casting a sidelong glance at Ziyuan, a half-smile on her lips. “Let’s be frank—what does the Nine-tailed Fox King want? I hardly possess anything worth such extravagant investment.”

Ziyuan’s smile remained unchanged. She lifted her skirt, leaned forward to bring herself level with Gu Fei, “This is such an enormous benefit that most would laugh themselves awake from the dream. Why are you so wary, as if someone intends to sell you off?”

“Isn’t it so?” Gu Fei retorted, handing the contract back. “Everyone knows the Pavilion Master is the Nine-tailed Fox King, and you are still the steward here. As for me? I’m merely a passerby borrowing the Pavilion’s influence. When a time comes that I must reciprocate, I won’t refuse, but this contract means nothing.”

Seeing Gu Fei’s resolve, Ziyuan didn’t press further. She put away the contract and adjusted her sleeves, then asked, “In that case, let me handle your current predicament. Those who disrespect you must pay the price.”

With her words, Ziyuan’s seductive brows revealed a fierce and ruthless glint, even a hint of murderous intent flashing in her eyes.

Gu Fei stroked the armrest. Though she raised a brow at Ziyuan’s enthusiastic defense, she felt no immediate warmth toward her. She replied indifferently, “Do as you wish.”

Receiving Gu Fei’s consent, Ziyuan seemed delighted. She spun in place, her watery blue skirt drawing a graceful arc, her long hair swirling, her eyes shimmering with charm that rippled across her face.

“Rest assured, I will help you,” she promised solemnly.

This reminded Gu Fei of You Hu. At first, he had aided her greatly, yet with a single turn, he calculated against her. What she hated most was that after plotting, You Hu still feigned concern for her.

Gu Fei had always resisted being controlled, skilled at reading hearts. When encountering someone like You Hu—similar to herself in some ways—things were fine as long as there was no conflict of interest. But once disagreement arose, neither would yield, and the result was mutual destruction.

It was only after that incident that she truly understood: it was better to act decisively before things ended in greater disaster, so she sent him away.

Afterward, Ziyuan did not forget the purpose of inviting Gu Fei. She promptly had several ink pellets brought in.

These ink pellets were recent acquisitions at Linlang Pavilion, said to have drifted from the Three Thousand Buddhist Kingdom in the far west to Dayin. Their colors were vivid—vermilion, graphite blue, and even a rare deep purple.

There were six in all, carefully wrapped in pale yellow silk inscribed with scripture, each uniquely shaped and exquisitely elegant. At first sight, they evoked a sense of time’s quiet passage.

Gu Fei fell in love with them almost instantly.

Without waiting for Ziyuan’s invitation, she eagerly washed her hands, delicately picked up a pellet, examined it closely, and finally inhaled its fragrance.

She closed her eyes, immersed in the ink’s unique aroma, lingering in reverie. Meanwhile, her mind swiftly analyzed the scent, identifying each familiar ink ingredient.

“Ink pellets from the Three Thousand Buddhist Kingdom—truly extraordinary,” she praised. Among the fragrances, there were still one or two she couldn’t discern. In Dayin, most ink pellets she could identify with a single sniff, then replicate with near-perfect accuracy.

Ziyuan laughed joyfully, pushing the remaining ink pellets toward Gu Fei as if presenting treasures. “Do you like them, Miss? It’s a pity—they belong to Linlang Pavilion. But if you accept the contract, they’ll be yours, and you may take them as you wish.”

In just a few words, Ziyuan returned to her earlier subject, not forgetting to entice Gu Fei—she truly spared no effort.

Gu Fei’s expression instantly cooled. She placed the ink pellet back, not so much as casting another glance at it, her earlier delight vanished. “Gold and silk tempt the heart; who does not love them? But if I were to yield for a few ink pellets, you would be underestimating me, Steward Ziyuan.”

With that, she signaled Nightingale, her attendant, to wheel her away, showing not the slightest intention of lingering at Linlang Pavilion.

Ziyuan was taken aback, her almond eyes blinking. Only then did she realize she had touched Gu Fei’s bottom line, and she made a mental note of it. She hurriedly stepped forward to block the way, her smile playful. “Miss, there’s nothing special for you to see. If you’re unwilling, that’s fine. The Nine-tailed Fox King told me, my name is on the contract, and I am to obey your commands—nothing more.”

Ziyuan had mentioned the Nine-tailed Fox King several times now. Gu Fei frowned, feeling a growing dislike. “The Nine-tailed Fox King? What sort of person is he? When will he come to Yizhou? I’d like to thank him in person.”

Seeing that Gu Fei had stopped, Ziyuan cocked her head in amusement, her gaze sharp with understanding. “You wish to meet him? That’s impossible. He never meets outsiders. In fact, I’ve never seen him myself.”

Her brows also showed a hint of irritation.

Gu Fei dropped the matter, not wanting to know more. “Do you have any news of the Gu family—Gu Min?”

Ziyuan thought for a moment, shooed Nightingale aside, pushed Gu Fei’s wheelchair back into the hall, and replied, “I do, actually. You’ve asked the right person.”

“Oh?” Gu Fei raised a brow, glancing at Ziyuan.

“He’ll be back soon,” Ziyuan said, sitting opposite Gu Fei, her eyes smiling. “In less than two days.”

Gu Fei stiffened, her lips issuing a cold command. “Explain.”

Ziyuan gathered her slender fingers, and when it came to business, she was clear-headed. She knew that Gu Min’s return would surely mean conflict with Gu Fei, so she explained in detail: “Gu Min left Yizhou this March, traversed mountains and rivers to go to the Southern Qi Kingdom, reportedly in search of a century-old pine in the northern region of Southern Qi.”

She paused, “He found the pine, and this time, he’s bringing it back. He’s already in An Town, not far from Yizhou. At most, one or two days before he enters the city.”

Gu Fei pondered, her eyes suddenly sharp as blades. After a long moment, she spoke, her words clear and cold, “The journey from Dayin to Southern Qi is long. Even if he brought back century-old pines, they won’t be many—no cause for concern. What I want to know is whether he met anyone special in Southern Qi. Dayin and Southern Qi have been at war for years, their people hostile. The northern region of Southern Qi is said to be wild mountains and uninhabited lands, rumored to be home to uncivilized, cannibalistic tribes—no one enters and returns alive. So—”

“He must have had help!” Gu Fei concluded, her expression icy.

ps:
Tears of relief—I finally managed to update.
Sitting in the front row at meetings, with the boss right under my nose, is the worst; I don’t even dare open a document to write!