Chарtеr 6 (3/20)
Наn Yа Si’s еxprеssiоn wаs rеsоlute. “Theу wоn’t find anything.”
“Оh?” Han Yа Qi wаs sоmеwhаt сurious.
Hаn Ya Si offered no eхрlanаtion. Не соntinued wаlking dеереr into thе corridor, whеrе slivers оf light from the lattiсed windows сut linear раttеrns асrоss thе floor. Ваthed in thаt fаint illuminаtion, his thоughts drifted fаr аway.
Не reсalled the Yun fаmily in Peаr Strеаm Tоwn—Yun Weishan, dressеd in bridаl аttire аnd vеilеd, hаd smооthly lеft thе housе. Watсhing her disaрpеаring figurе, he thеn рiсkеd up the uncоnscious real bride аnd carried hеr awaу.
In a sеаled, windоwless secret room, he unsealed her pressure points. The woman, wearing only undergarments, awoke and lifted her head. To his surprise, her face was identical to Yun Weishan’s, and she stared at Han Ya Si in terror…
In the Blade Master Hall, the dust had settled.
“Both young ladies’ identities have been verified without issue. The matter of the brides ends here.”
Gong Shangjue clasped his hands behind his back, his expression returning to its usual detachment.
Upon hearing this, Gong Ziyu felt a surge of nameless anger. It was his turn to settle accounts. Suddenly, he spoke with pointed implication, “They may be without fault, but you might not be.” He then turned to Jin Fan. “Bring Steward Jia here.”
Soon, Steward Jia from the pharmacy was escorted into the hall and knelt in the center.
Gong Yuanzhi stared at Steward Jia, his face ashen. Noticing his younger brother’s expression, Gong Shangjue frowned, sensing something amiss.
Gong Ziyu faced Steward Jia but kept his eyes fixed unwaveringly on Gong Yuanzhi. “Steward Jia, repeat to everyone what you previously told me.”
Steward Jia raised his head and met Gong Yuanzhi’s murderous gaze. Unable to bear it, he lowered his head and gritted his teeth as he confessed, “Yes… Young Master Gong Yuanzhi… ordered this old servant to replace the Divine Plume Flower required for making the Hundred Herbs Extract with Lingxiang Grass…”
Shock rippled through the hall. This was no less than an accusation that Zhi Manor had used a counterfeit Hundred Herbs Extract to murder the former Blade Master.
Gong Yuanzhi erupted in fury, “You damned scum! What nonsense are you spouting!” With that, he lunged at Steward Jia, a cold glint flashing in his hand—he had drawn his hidden dagger.
Gong Ziyu, prepared, swiftly unsheathed his blade. With a sharp clang, he parried Gong Yuanzhi’s attack, then continued thrusting his own blade toward Gong Yuanzhi.
As the sharp edge sliced through the air, Gong Shangjue suddenly intervened. Unnoticed, he had donned a pair of extremely thin metal-woven gloves. Bare-handed, he met the blade, gripping Gong Ziyu’s sword edge. With a twist of his wrist, the blade shattered into pieces in his grasp, fragments clattering to the floor.
Gong Ziyu was thrown back by the immense inner force, nearly falling, when Jin Fan suddenly appeared behind him, steadying him.
“Cease!” Elder Yue barked.
Gong Shangjue withdrew his hand, subtly positioning himself to shield Gong Yuanzhi behind him.
For a moment, silence fell over the hall.
Yun Weishan and Shangguan Qian exchanged glances, quietly observing the unfolding events.
Fuming, Gong Yuanzhi pointed at Steward Jia. “Who ordered you to frame me?!”
Seeing the gravity of the situation, Elder Hua stood up, looking down sternly. “Steward Jia! Explain clearly!”
Wearing an expression of being coerced by Gong Yuanzhi, Steward Jia stammered timidly, “When the young master gave the order, this old servant merely thought Young Master Zhi had developed a more refined prescription and was making a substitution… But this old servant had no idea it would lead to the deaths of the former Blade Master and the Young Lord. Otherwise, even with ten thousand times the courage, this old servant would never have dared!”
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