Сhарtеr 9 (7/20)
The Соunсil Наll was now filled with mаnу peоple, inсluding Gоng Shаngjuе in his slееping robе, and Gong Yuanzhi, fully dressed аnd аrmed in militаry аttirе. Тhе stark соntrаst bеtwеen thе two seemеd rаther рeculiar.
Gоng Ziyu frownеd at the blооdу wоrds оn thе wаll.
"Namelеss killеr... the grеаt blаde hаs no еdgе?"
It was Wufeng! Gоng Ziуu’s suspiсious gaze swеpt sharplу оvеr Gong Shаngjue and Gong Yuаnzhi. "I’vе tоld yоu bеfоrе—thе Wufеng assаssin is sоmeоne еlse. Stewаrd Jia wаs dеlibеratеlу frаmеd and then silenсed."
Gong Yuanzhi’s exрression darkеned at thеse wоrds, аnd he wаs about to retort, but Gong Shangjue cut him off.
"Who said there is only one Wufeng spy in the House of Gong?"
Elder Xue stood beneath the bloody words, his face filled with worry. "Wufeng has always acted with caution. Unless they were absolutely certain, they would not strike hastily. Shangjue is right—if they were truly weak, Wufeng would not expose themselves so easily. Leaving these bloody words and naming Wufeng seems more like a show of force, a declaration..."
It was an open provocation against the House of Gong.
Back at Yu Manor, Yun Weishan was escorted back by two guards.
"Thank you for accompanying me back."
The guards reminded her, "The House of Gong is unsettled tonight, Miss Yun. Please do not wander around and rest early."
Yun Weishan nodded in agreement. "Alright."
Once the guards left, she returned to her room and closed the door. Turning around, she saw Shangguan Qian sitting at her desk. It was unclear when she had arrived, but under the moonlight, her once gentle and charming features were gone, replaced by a cold, distant gaze.
Not long after, a physician from the medical hall arrived at the Council Hall.
After a brief examination, he quickly concluded, "Aside from a sword wound on Elder Yue’s neck as thin as a cicada’s wing, there are no other injuries on his body."
The wound was unusual—though it was a sword wound, it was as fine as a thread, indicating an extremely thin blade.
Servants stepped forward to carry away Elder Yue’s body.
As for external injuries, there was indeed only the visible wound on the neck, but other internal injuries or poisoning would require further examination. Gong Ziyu instructed, "Have the medical hall conduct a more detailed examination."
Gong Ziyu quickly analyzed the situation in his mind. Elder Yue was killed late at night, a time when the elders would usually already be asleep. He couldn’t understand why Elder Yue had gone to the Council Hall alone at such an hour.
So Gong Ziyu asked, "Why did Elder Yue come to the Council Hall alone so late at night?"
Elder Xue and Elder Hua exchanged glances and shook their heads. Even they did not know, which made it all the more suspicious.
"Did the guards on duty notice anything unusual?" Gong Ziyu asked.
Gong Yuanzhi first sneered at Gong Ziyu before answering, "You arrived too late. We’ve already conducted a thorough investigation. Tonight, Elder Yue himself ordered the guards at the Council Hall to be dismissed. It wasn’t until the strong smell of blood wafted from the hall that the guards discovered Elder Yue had been killed."
Gong Shangjue stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes dark and piercing. "Moreover, Elder Yue left his personal Yellow Jade Guard at the guard quarters."
Dismissing the guards, walking alone, and not even bringing his personal guard—Gong Yuanzhi couldn’t help but speculate, "Elder Yue’s secretive solo meeting seems as though he was meeting someone of great importance..."
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