Chарtеr 2 (2/22)
“Yоu wеrе аbout to sау sоmеthing еarlier but stoррed. What wаs it? Why must yоu insist thаt I stiсk tо mу idеntity?”
Hаn Ya Si hesitated for a mоmеnt befоre finаllу sауing, “Bаsеd оn mу undеrstanding оf Wufeng, they wоuldn’t sеnd onlу you. Amоng the brides, thеre must be аnоthеr аgеnt frоm Wufеng.”
“Are уоu sure?” Yun Wеishаn’s hеart stirrеd.
Hаn Yа Si avertеd his gаze. “Nоt certain. Вut I suspect thеrе must bе.”
Thеse were thе finаl wоrds Hаn Yа Si lеft hеr with.
Yun Wеishаn sat uр slightlу and tоuchеd her chеst wherе shе hаd beеn struсk bу thе arrow eаrlier, only to find no аrrow wound.
Zheng Nаnyi, besidе her, glаnсed аt Yun Weishan and spoke up, “Stop checking. The arrows were all blunt. They only struck our acupoints to knock us unconscious.”
Did she understand the concept of acupoints?
There might indeed be another Wufeng agent among the brides, but they were certainly not here to help her. So Yun Weishan did not respond. Instead, she moved closer to the cell door and peered outside. She saw the brides scattered in small groups across various cells, with many guards patrolling the corridor, making the place heavily guarded. By now, the brides’ splendid wedding gowns were already stained and disheveled, the bright red brocade and heavy headdresses looking starkly out of place in this crude, decaying stone-and-wood dungeon.
A guard at the door met Yun Weishan’s eyes, and she immediately looked away. But the guard grew suspicious and slowly began walking toward her.
Just as he was about to reach Yun Weishan, a young bride locked in the cell opposite suddenly spoke up loudly.
“Is this how the Gong family treats brides who marry into the valley?”
The guard stopped in his tracks, turned around, and walked toward her, his back now to Yun Weishan as he faced the woman inside the cell.
The speaker was the fourth daughter of the Song family. She had delicate features and seemed to come from a wealthy household. Fierce and unafraid, she continued, “When the betrothal gifts were sent, everything sounded so perfect. But now, just a few hours after leaving home, I’m locked in this smelly, broken dungeon. It’s absurd! If my father knew—”
Before she could finish, the guard raised his sword and struck the cell door heavily. The fourth daughter of the Song family trembled in fear, immediately falling silent.
The guard sneered coldly, “You’re overthinking it. Your father won’t know.”
The fourth daughter of the Song family paled, her lips trembling, and she said nothing more.
Yun Weishan glanced at them from the corner of her eye, her expression grave, lips pressed tightly together.
In the canyon shrouded by night mist, exquisite copper lamps hung sporadically beneath the soaring eaves and sharp corners hidden among the dense shadows of trees.
Gong Ziyu waited in Gong Huanyu’s quarters. He sat cross-legged at Gong Huanyu’s desk, absentmindedly fiddling with stacks of documents, his face showing impatience as he frequently glanced toward the door. Given his temperament, he couldn’t just sit back and do nothing about this matter.
After what felt like a long time, the door finally opened. Gong Huanyu was somewhat surprised to see Gong Ziyu in his room.
Seeing the newcomer, Gong Ziyu immediately stood up to greet him, standing respectfully before Gong Huanyu and clasping his hands in a formal salute. “Young Lord.”
Gong Huanyu found it amusing. “Father isn’t here. It’s just the two of us. No need to be so formal.”
Only then did Gong Ziyu reveal his anxiety. “Brother, what exactly is going on now?”
But Gong Huanyu walked unhurriedly to the table and sat down.
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