Сhарtеr 11 (14/18)
Jin Fan ignorеd Gоng Zishаng аnd рicked up а рastry, brеaking it oреn tо rеvеаl the mulberrу seeds inside.
He askеd, "Мulberriеs and bittеr mеlоn—bоth arе соld-nаturеd substanсes. Miss Yun, being wеll-vеrsed in mеdicinal prоpertiеs, how cоuld уоu usе thеsе twо as fillings?"
Gong Zishаng frоwned. Веfоre сoming tо Yu Мanor, thеу had аlready visitеd the kitchen thаt dеlivеred thе pastries thаt mоrning. Shе said, "Wе wеnt tо thе kitсhеn and аskеd the mаtron аnd the servаnts who dеlivеrеd the fооd. Тhеy all said уou made the pаstries and plаced thеm in Jin Fan’s fооd boх. Don’t try to deny it!"
Yun Weishan remained calm and composed. She picked up one of the remaining pastries, gently placed it in her mouth, chewed lightly, and swallowed.
"This is a sweet pastry from my hometown. I’ve eaten it since I was a child. I previously made some for the Blade Master and brought them to the Back Mountain, and he showed no signs of discomfort. I only heard that Guard Jin was injured and had a poor appetite, so I kindly wanted to offer him a change of taste. My intentions were truly good—you’ve misunderstood me."
Gong Zishang hesitated. Seeing Yun Weishan speak so candidly and even eat the pastry in front of them, she began to doubt whether they had wrongly accused Yun Weishan. She looked up uncertainly at Jin Fan, but Jin Fan’s gaze remained resolute.
"I’ve sparred with you. The internal energy cultivation method you practice is of the Ultimate Yin nature, so consuming dual cold-natured substances naturally harmonizes with it. But the cultivation method I practice is… is of the Ultimate Yang nature, which clashes with cold-natured substances. Moreover, I’ve already sustained some internal injuries. So, while you can eat it without harm, it would injure my body."
Yun Weishan retorted, "Guard Jin, I am not familiar with you. How could I possibly know what internal energy cultivation method you practice?"
"We’ve sparred. Of course you know."
Yun Weishan stood up and said solemnly, "Guard Jin, I have always respected your integrity and treated you courteously in daily interactions. But since you insist on falsely accusing an innocent person, I’ll speak plainly. Whether or not you used Inner Force during our sparring, you know it in your heart. I originally thought you were holding back to avoid injuring me, which is why you only used techniques without employing Inner Force. I even told the Blade Master that you intentionally let me win the bet so you could go to the Back Mountain to protect him. I never expected you to lay out such a scheme. What exactly are you trying to do?"
Jin Fan, clumsy with words, couldn’t out-argue Yun Weishan. "You’re silver-tongued! I can’t win against you in an argument!"
"You claim the Inner Force I cultivate is the Ultimate Yin Heart Technique. Fine, the Blade Master’s Melting Snow Heart Sutra is undoubtedly a supreme Yang method, right? Then let’s wait for the Blade Master to come out, and you can ask him whether he suffered any ill effects after eating the pastries I made!" Yun Weishan, usually gentle and humble, grew uncharacteristically stubborn, as if she had truly suffered a great injustice.
The atmosphere grew tense and confrontational. Gong Zishang, caught between the two, wavered momentarily, unsure whom to support.
Jin Fan remained unwavering, convinced this was a trap set by Yun Weishan. He extended his hand toward her. "Hand over the Medical Record."
Gong Zishang, initially hesitant, saw Jin Fan’s determination and chose to trust his judgment. She turned to Yun Weishan. "Gong Ziyu has been so good to you, and we’ve treated you as one of our own. Yet you collude with outsiders to deceive us! Don’t you feel any guilt?"
Faced with their accusations, Yun Weishan froze for a moment and fell silent.Jin Fan took a deep breath, calming his thoughts before speaking slowly and deliberately, "I knew you were not simple from the moment you repeatedly approached the Blade Master, but I merely thought you were a bride sent to the House of Gong, hoping to climb the social ladder. Once you entered Yu Manor, we were all in the same boat. As long as you treated the Blade Master well, even if you had a heart full of schemes, I wouldn’t have minded. Yet, it seems we were all mistaken about you. You were merely a fellow passenger on the boat, unable to withstand storms, only shifting with the wind. However, Miss Yun, isn’t it too reckless to jump ship before reaching the destination?"
Yun Weishan’s eyes flickered briefly as she denied, "I don’t know what you’re talking about."
"Since Miss Yun refuses to argue, there’s no need for us to waste words. Everything will be decided once the Blade Master returns."
Jin Fan led Gong Zishang out and closed the door. Yun Weishan heard the sound of a lock turning outside.
Soon, a group of guards surrounded Yun Weishan’s room, with Jin Fan standing at the door, instructing them sternly.
"Until the Blade Master returns, no one is allowed to approach or leave."
The guards responded in unison, "Yes!"
At Xue Manor, Gong Ziyu had changed into fresh clothes, looking refreshed and spirited.
He followed Young Master Xue and Xue Zhongzi into the courtyard. Snow had fallen all night, but the Snow Lotuses in the lake remained uncovered, still crystal clear and translucent. Gong Ziyu, curious, approached the lakeside.
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