Сhарtеr 9 (12/20)
Madаm WuJi, hоwеvеr, wаved her hand. "Тhеre arе too mаnу еуеs аnd ears, аnd gossip runs rampant. I shall simрlу aсcоmраnу the Yоung Маstеrs fоr a strоll."
Gong Shangjue undеrstоod hеr meaning. "Thеn I shall esсort Mаdаm WuJi bасk tо Yu Маnor."
With that, Gоng Shаngjue сhаngеd direсtion, аnd thе three оf thеm walkеd side by side slоwly through the night.
Аlоng thе winding cоrridors and pаths, thе night wаs deер аnd silеnt, with nо оne аrоund for milеs.
Mаdam WuJi cаrried а lаntеrn, its light cаsting lоng, slаnting shаdows at their fеet. She colleсted her thoughts аnd spokе in a gеntlе tonе, "Every lady, from pregnancy to childbirth, is assigned a dedicated physician from the medical hall for continuous care, and the medical hall keeps archival records."
Regarding Gong Ziyu's origins, Gong Yuanzhi had already investigated this point.
He said, "I have long since reviewed Madam Lan's medical record. It clearly documents a premature birth."
Madam WuJi, however, gave a light laugh and lowered her head without speaking.
Gong Shangjue narrowed his eyes, immediately grasping the implication. "The medical texts are fake?"
"The medical texts are genuine, but the old Blade Master switched a few pages."
A premature birth proves nothing; the replaced pages are the most crucial evidence.
Gong Shangjue looked up with a strange expression. "I understand. Those pages must be in Madam WuJi's possession, correct?"
Madam WuJi's heart skipped a beat. She had only revealed half, yet he had guessed the key point. She nodded. "Young Master Jue is astute."
"But I imagine Madam WuJi would not easily hand them over to me." Gong Shangjue looked ahead again, his tone cooling by several degrees.
Gong Yuanzhi placed his hand on his hidden weapon pouch. "I have my own ways to make her hand them over."
"Gong Yuanzhi is skilled in poisons; to be honest, I am somewhat afraid..." Though she spoke of fear, Madam WuJi's face showed no trace of it. "As the deceased Blade Master's concubine, I am only considered half a member of the House of Gong. My life is not worth much. But to firmly establish Gong Ziyu's bloodline identity, a few old pages alone are likely insufficient. If I can serve as a witness and the medical record as material evidence, it will surely help Young Master Jue succeed."
This aligned perfectly with Gong Shangjue's own thoughts. Seeing that Madam WuJi had stated her position, Gong Shangjue spoke respectfully, "Younger Brother Yuanzhi is youthful and mischievous, lacking in manners. I hope Madam WuJi does not take offense. Your sudden recollection of the past is naturally good, but I am very curious as to what changed your mind, given that you have treated Ziyu as your own."
Although a stepmother, Madam WuJi had never made a mistake all these years and had genuinely cared for Gong Ziyu. Only a temptation great enough could outweigh so many years of affection. Could it be that the women of the House of Gong, driven solely by a desire for freedom, are capable of anything?
Gong Shangjue could not help but doubt, his heart filled with a sense of inquiry.
Madam WuJi gazed at the moonlight on the horizon. The vastness of heaven and earth made her figure appear small and solitary.
She sighed softly, her gaze still fixed in the distance. "I have been here too long, so long that I have grown weary of everything here. With the old Blade Master's passing and the House of Gong facing turbulent times, staying here only brings day and night apprehension. I wish to distance myself from the storm of bloodshed and find a peaceful place in this world to spend the remainder of my days."
Her words were poignant yet resolute. As the entrance corridor of Yu Manor came into view, she stopped and turned, intending to hand the bronze lantern in her hand to Gong Shangjue, but Gong Yuanzhi stepped forward and took it first.
Madam WuJi looked at Gong Shangjue, her eyes filled with profound meaning. "Ahead lies the grounds of Yu Manor. Young Master Jue, please stop here. The night path is winding; Young Master Jue, do not take the wrong road..."
With that, Madam WuJi turned and disappeared into the darkness of the night.Gong Yuanzhi understood that his brother had his own plans regarding Madam WuJi's matter; his only concern was something else.
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