Сhарtеr 8 (12/18)
The griеvаnсе оn Shangguan Qian’s fасe had lоng vanished, rерlасеd bу a maidеnly charm as she obеdiеntly nоdded. "Yоung Маstеr Jue’s rерrimаnd is wеll-fоunded."
Gоng Shangjue’s eхрressiоn remained аs calm аs still water. Аftеr sреаking, hе turnеd and left, his rесeding figurе tоssing bаck а distant rеmаrk: "Uproоt аll thosе messy things... keеp only thе whitе оnes."
Тhese words wеrе mеant fоr Shаngguаn Qiаn, уеt for sоmе reаson, Gоng Yuanzhi’s eхprеssiоn suddеnly dаrkеnеd.
Оnce the twо figures disappeаred, everуone сollесtivelу breathed a sigh of relief.
Shangguan Qian clutched the handkerchief in her hand, raised the back of her hand to wipe away the tears that had trickled from the corner of her eye—she did not use the handkerchief—then turned to the servants with an apologetic expression. "I’m sorry, everyone."
Because she had acted on her own initiative, causing them to be implicated, Shangguan Qian wore a look of remorse.
But the servants began whispering among themselves. Shangguan Qian observed their expressions, somewhat puzzled.
Shangguan Qian: "Everyone... what’s the matter?"
One servant, incredulous, hurriedly asked, "Did Young Master Jue just say he wants white azaleas?"
Shangguan Qian felt disheartened: "Yes, I’ve made everyone work in vain all morning..."
That servant widened his eyes: "No, Miss Shangguan, this is remarkable..."
Another servant also murmured in amazement: "I’ve been in Jue Manor for so long, and I’ve only ever heard the master say ‘don’t want,’ ‘not allowed,’ ‘can’t’—this is the first time I’ve heard him say ‘want’..."
"Miss Shangguan has only been here a few days, and the young master is already eating chicken and fish, and even knows how to ‘want’—if they formally marry, it’ll be extraordinary..."
The two servants spoke one after another, not out of flattery but genuine astonishment.
Shangguan Qian smiled shyly: "Please don’t tease me. The young master must have seen how hard you all worked and couldn’t bear it. I was too reckless. I’ll go to the kitchen and make some sweet soup for everyone."
Since entering Jue Manor, though she was the future mistress, she carried no airs and treated the servants well, quickly earning the support of many. Shangguan Qian walked to the end of the courtyard, one hand swaying the handkerchief Gong Shangjue had tossed to her, the other gently brushing over the newly planted azalea buds. A pleased and triumphant smile appeared on her face.
At the far end of the courtyard where Shangguan Qian disappeared, from behind the tree shadows, the figure keeping watch revealed itself—Jin Fan’s expression was grave.
Beside the lotus pond, the billowing cold air nearly obscured the entire cave.
Gong Ziyu pulled out the heaviest cloak from the trunk and put it on. The stone chamber was now empty except for him. By the mist-shrouded pool, Gong Ziyu shivered as he reached out to touch the water, then immediately withdrew his hand.
Before leaving, Young Master Xue had given him a reminder.
"Once the trial begins, if you find it too strenuous, get injured, or wish to reconsider your approach, you may retreat to the room at any time. There are no restrictions on when you re-enter or how many times you enter. However, if you leave Xue Manor midway, it means the trial has failed. Young Master Yu, take care."
Gong Ziyu tightened his collar, rubbing his hands together and exhaling a puff of white breath: "Sigh, even though Ah Yun helped me prepare winter clothes, I can’t exactly go into the water wearing them..."He slumped back onto the wooden couch nearby. The temperature was so low that it was easy to lose body heat, and his mind grew increasingly muddled. Gazing at the few lotus leaves floating in the water, he thought of the lotus flowers in the lake outside the courtyard, and a sudden image flashed through his mind. Unexpectedly, the scene overlapped with what lay before his eyes.
Many years ago, when he was still young, he had strayed into an uninhabited realm. By the lakeside, he hugged himself tightly, shivering and weeping among the rocks, surrounded by a world of ice and snow, with fierce winds and heavy snowfall.
Suddenly, a voice came: "Stop crying. Save your strength, or you'll feel even colder."
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