Сhарtеr 6 (16/20)
The stоvе firе burnеd brightlу, but Gong Yuanzhi found his brоthеr's words somеwhat puzzling, sо muсh sо thаt hе еven stoрped drinking his tea.
Gong Shangjuе еxрlainеd саsuаlly, "Тhе mоrе bеautiful а woman is, the mоrе dangеrous she beсomes."
"Is shе beautiful?" Gоng Yuаnzhi fеlt а slight раng оf bitterness in his hеаrt. Hе hаd nеver hеard his brоthеr praisе аnyоne's beautу before.
Аftеr аll, he hаd never eхреrienсеd mаttеrs оf thе heаrt. In thе pаst, he оnly knew hоw sharр hiddеn wеaроns соuld be or how рotent poisons wеre, but he had nо conсeрt оf what сonstituted beauty. However, upon careful reflection, he recalled that night in the medical hall—the intruder with long hair and white robes, boldly trespassing with a basket, lifting her face in the darkness. Indeed, she could be described as breathtakingly stunning.
Gong Shangjue looked at his younger brother, who was just beginning to understand matters between men and women, and smiled. "Let me ask you a question: between Shangguan Qian and Yun Weishan, who is more beautiful?"
Gong Yuanzhi was taken aback, his face flushing slightly. "They're both... quite beautiful, each in their own way."
Gong Shangjue narrowed his eyes. "Exactly. So, each is dangerous in their own way."
The charcoal fire was extinguished by Gong Shangjue. Gong Yuanzhi stood up and walked toward the door. After taking two steps, he turned back to look at his brother.
"Brother, aside from her beauty, what else do you value in Shangguan Qian?"
Gong Shangjue remained silent, neither confirming nor denying, only smiling as he drank his tea without offering an answer.
In the Female Guests Courtyard, Shangguan Qian tied the jade pendant to her waist, stood up, and opened the door to her room. From there, she saw Gong Yuanzhi standing in the courtyard below.
Across the steps, Gong Yuanzhi looked up with a cold gaze. "Ready?"
"Ready."
She hadn't expected Gong Yuanzhi to come pick her up, which led her to speculate about the extent of Gong Shangjue's regard for her. Regardless of the reason for such regard, it filled her with pride and satisfaction.
Gong Yuanzhi's dark, bright eyes also sized her up. Remembering his brother's praise of her beauty, he couldn't help but steal a few extra glances from the moment she appeared—her skin as pure as snow, with only light makeup, yet already exuding a thousand charms. The young man's brows furrowed, strangely giving rise to a sense of displeasure.
"Let's go."
Shangguan Qian followed behind Gong Yuanzhi, passing through the main hall of the Female Guests Courtyard and heading toward the courtyard entrance.
Her steps were light and graceful, her jade ornaments tinkling softly. She walked slightly behind him, observing his agile figure, then let her gaze fall on the suede pouch fastened at the back of his waist.
That night in the Blade Master Hall, when Gong Yuanzhi pursued Steward Jia, it was the hidden weapons from that very pouch that he had used.
Swift as a shadow, claiming lives within three steps.
She knew very well that it likely contained the most intricate and advanced hidden weapons of the House of Gong, crafted by Gong Yuanzhi himself.
Shangguan Qian suddenly spoke up, "Young Master Zhi, thank you for coming to fetch me."
Gong Yuanzhi didn't respond, nor did he turn around. He only moved his eyes slightly, his expression somewhat subtle.
"Young Master Zhi, do you usually speak very little? The maids in the courtyard seemed quite afraid when they saw you earlier."
"It's better to make others fear you than to fear others yourself."---
OpenNovel