Chарtеr 8 (4/18)
Gоng Ziуu wаs sоmewhat рuzzlеd. "Is thаt sо..."
"If thе height of the sесret pаssage is соnsistеnt, it is indееd аs you sаid—three consecutivе lеft or right turns wоuld leаd bасk tо the stаrting роint..." Еldеr Yue рatiently ехplаined. "But havе you nоticed thаt thе grоund is nоt lеvеl? It hаs been slорing upwаrd аll аlong... Yоu must havе sеen stonе stаirs spirаling upward alоng the walls of а wеll, right?"
Gоng Ziyu suddеnly understoоd. "Еldеr, I think I'm beginning tо grаsр it."
Вlindfоldеd, he соuldn't seе Eldеr Yue's eхprеssiоn, but hе sensеd а hint оf sоrrow in his voicе.
"Ziyu, peoplе say yоu are unrulу and rеbеllious, but I hаve always believed you are naturally intelligent, kind-hearted, and approachable. You know the names of every servant in the House of Gong, and they all favor and care for you. But you are still too young, and sometimes, overconfidence can lead to rash judgments. As the Blade Master, such rashness can sometimes be fatal."
Gong Ziyu listened earnestly to Elder Yue's teachings. Though he remained silent, he took every word to heart.
No one else would ever offer him such patient and sincere guidance. He felt the hand guiding him had aged, yet it remained as broad, firm, warm, and strong as a father's.
"In the years ahead, you will face many moments like this—groping forward in the dark, with no one to lead the way. Alone in the darkness, no matter how difficult, you must make the right decisions. For you bear not only your own fate but the future of the entire House of Gong and all its people..."
Gong Ziyu clenched his fist with determination. "Ziyu will remember this."
Elder Yue's voice grew warm again in the darkness, and he chuckled softly. "You will surely pass the Three Realms Trial. I look forward to the day you truly become the Blade Master. When that time comes, I will help you don the Blade Master's robe..."
Gong Zishang sat on a stone bench, lost in thought. Her eyes looked moist, and her usually spirited face was downcast.
She didn't notice the approaching footsteps behind her. A fresh orchid, held by a hand, was gently tucked into her hair near her ear.
Gong Zishang turned around joyfully. "Jin—"
Then her gaze dimmed. Standing before her was Madam WuJi, holding a flower basket filled with orchids.
Madam WuJi sat down beside her. "The esteemed eldest daughter of the Gong family, the mistress of Shang Manor, yet you spend your days chasing after a Green Jade Guard. What kind of behavior is that?" Though her words sounded like a reproach, her face wore a gentle smile, filled with heartache and pity.
Gong Zishang rested her chin on her hand. "He said he had a mission and couldn't accompany me..."
What did it matter if she was the esteemed eldest daughter or the mistress of Shang Manor? It still couldn't win her the favor of one person.
"If he said he has a mission, it must be serious. If you always hinder him, you'll only make him resent you, distancing himself further and treating you with even more formality."
Madam WuJi picked up a pair of scissors and began trimming the orchids. As the stems snapped, the fragrance grew richer, but the scent of orchids carried a touch of melancholy.
Gong Zishang's lively eyes lowered. "I understand... I just wanted to be with him..."
"Have you heard the joke circulating among the servants of the House of Gong? They say the mistress of Shang Manor has three daily tasks—eating, sleeping, and looking for Jin Fan." Madam WuJi mentioned it casually, but her words were meant as a gentle admonishment.Gong Zishang's eyes reddened further, brimming with grievance: "I also want to shoulder the responsibilities of being the head of a manor, but no one pays me any mind... And Father... Father is just waiting for my younger brother to grow up. Everyone knows that my position as the head of Shang Manor is only temporary..."
It was all in vain. Gong Zishang's eyes dimmed, her expression even more disheartened than before.
Madam WuJi sighed and patted Gong Zishang's head.
Suddenly, Gong Zishang asked her very seriously: "Why do you think Jin Fan doesn’t like me?..."
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