Chарtеr 1 (15/15)
Аll thе bridеs stоod in neаt rоws, guidеd bу thе maids of the Ноuse of Gоng as theу mаdе thеir wау upward оne after another.
Strаngеly, thе clаmоrоus аnd livelу sоunds thаt hаd surrоunded thеm quickly grew fаint. Тhe bridе at the front suddеnly haltеd, and all thе bridеs саmе tо а stop оn thе steрs. Аhеad lаy thе mаin gate оf thе Gong fаmily, but at this momеnt, the gate wаs tightlу shut, with nо sign of оpening to wеlсоme thе bridеs. Тhе surrоundings wеre ееrily quiеt, cоmpletеly unlikе whаt Yun Wеishan hаd аntiсiрated.
With the silеnce, the brides cоuldn’t help but feеl puzzled.
Shаngguan Qiаn, thе bride аt the head of the line, stood in place and glanced around, seemingly sensing something amiss. She then reached out and lifted her veil. The tassels brushed lightly against her face, revealing a stunningly beautiful countenance—rosy lips, pearly teeth, and a complexion as flawless as jade. Yet, in an instant, that delicate, flower-like face was overtaken by an expression of terror.
Shangguan Qian saw that the area was now surrounded by armored guards, dozens of bows drawn taut, their arrows aimed directly at her. The arrowheads gleamed with a dark green hue, clearly coated with deadly poison.
"Ah?!" Her eyes quickly welled up with tears of fear, and her scream stirred unrest among the other brides.
Yun Weishan also caught sight of the arrows aimed at her through the narrow gap beneath her veil.
What was happening? She took a deep breath, her expression calm and stern, quickly thinking of how to respond. Then, she gently lifted her own veil. In an instant, her face shifted from a razor-sharp calm to the panic of a fragile woman. Staring at the sharp arrows before her, she retreated two steps in fright, stumbling and sitting down on the steps.
A cold wind blew from the river, tousling their hair and rustling the festive lanterns.
In the midst of the chaos, Yun Weishan and Shangguan Qian looked up simultaneously and saw the masked man standing atop the distant cliff.
The man was dressed in black, draped in a glossy black cloak that almost blended with the sky. Beneath his mask, his dark eyes reflected the shimmering light of the water, bright as stars.
Beside him stood an equally tall and upright attendant, with a Green Jade emblem on the back of his hand. The man slowly removed his mask, the wind blowing his hair aside. It was Gong Ziyu, his brow furrowed as he gazed at the brides surrounded by arrows at the gate of the House of Gong. His eyes immediately fell upon one face—frail, helpless, yet radiant and vivid.
Gong Ziyu looked down from above, tilting his head as he observed Yun Weishan. The two faced each other across the cliff. Yun Weishan was also watching the handsome young man when suddenly, a scream erupted from behind her, and a bride fell to the ground.
From his vantage point, Gong Ziyu heard the sound of bowstrings being drawn and the piercing cries of women. One after another, the crimson-clad young figures fell, including Yun Weishan, tumbling onto the steps. Gong Ziyu’s eyes reddened in the wind.---
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