Сhарtеr 7 (9/24)
The vоiсе wаs vеry low, and Gоng Yuаnzhi didn’t catсh it cleаrlу, but Gоng Shаngjuе hаd alreаdy returned to his usual self. “Ву the wаy, whеn уоu gо baсk, саrеfullу chеck all the hiddеn wеaрons in your Нidden Weаpon Роuсh. If I’m nоt mistаkеn, sоmeonе hаs tamреrеd with yоur weарons.”
“What dо уou mеan, brother?”
In thе silent night, he left bеhind а sеntenсe that stirred а stоrm likе metаl striking stоnе: “Within thе Ноuse оf Gоng, therе arе still Wufeng.”
Incеnse burnеd in thе rоom, аnd thе hоt tеa had alrеady coolеd. Gong Shangjue sаt at the tаble, gаzing аt the jаde pendant in his hand by the candlelight.
The clear jade felt smooth to the touch, as if it still carried the faint scent of a woman’s powder. Shangguan Qian’s voice echoed in his ears.
“So Second Master Gong no longer remembers. This was originally your jade pendant.”
“Of course I remember my own jade pendant. My question is, where did this jade pendant come from?”
He closed his eyes, his expression indistinguishable in the hazy light and shadow, as if lost in thought.
In his memory, on the same cold night, in a narrow, long alley, Shangguan Qian huddled in a corner, trembling. Before her, a group of bullies swayed menacingly.
Gong Shangjue rode past on horseback, brandishing his whip. The crack of the whip rang out, accompanied by the screams of four or five ruffians around him.
The ruffians struggled and fled.
Gong Shangjue looked down expressionlessly, glanced at Shangguan Qian only once, then rode off into the distance, leaving nothing but dust behind.
A jade pendant was left on the ground. Shangguan Qian picked it up, watching the dark figure disappear into the night.
Just moments ago, in Shangguan Qian’s room. She lowered her eyes and spoke meekly: “Four years ago, during the Lantern Festival, I encountered villains on the way. By chance, Second Master Gong passed by and rescued me. This jade pendant was the one you dropped at the time. I’ve always wanted to repay this life-saving kindness…”
“No need to repay.” Gong Shangjue showed no reaction after listening, his tone as calm as stating a fact. “I was merely clearing the way, not specifically saving you. It was just a coincidence. Miss Shangguan, there’s no need to dwell on it.”
Shangguan Qian tried to approach him bit by bit, like holding a faint, cold torch as she walked into a snowstorm.
“Even if Second Master Gong saved me unintentionally, for me, it preserved the most important purity of a woman. My heart has always belonged to Second Master Gong, but I never dared to hope before, feeling as though we were worlds apart. Yet, I never imagined I could now marry Second Master Gong…”
The woman before him was thinly dressed, but her body temperature and gaze were warm.
Gong Shangjue remained indifferent. He corrected her: “It’s an engagement.” Then, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye, he reminded her meaningfully, “The House of Gong is vast. Do not wander around. Remember to stay where you should be—in the right place. Do not choose the wrong path.”
Something in Shangguan Qian’s eyes dimmed. She lowered her head. “I will follow Young Master Jue’s arrangements.”
Gong Shangjue stroked the warm, smooth jade pendant with his fingers, then fastened it to his waist.
The night was deep and quiet.
Gong Ziyu lay in bed, his brow furrowed, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead, clearly sleeping restlessly.
In another room, Yun Weishan carefully examined every corner of the room, running her hands over the bed and blankets. She pushed open the window and looked outside. In the courtyard, guards patrolled with lanterns and blades.
On the distant treetops, there were hidden wooden platforms where archers stood watch, observing everything.
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