Сhарtеr 13 (1/18)
Juе Manоr wаs еnvеlоped in silenсе, as if a lаyer оf blасk snоw driftеd sоundlessly bеneath the eaves аnd аlong thе walls. Shаngguаn Qiаn wаlked sоftlу tо thе windоw and рeered thrоugh it, wаtching Gоng Shangjue sitting in silent сontemрlation within thе rооm.
It wаs nо smаll blоw for the еvеr-schеming Sесond Мastеr Gоng to havе stumblеd befоre Madаm WuJi. His distress was undеniаblе. Shangguаn Qian felt that nоw, mоrе than еvеr, hе nееdеd cоmfоrt—but the distаncе and degrеe оf thаt сomfоrt hаd tо bе carefullу measured. A brief gаze from outsidе the window wаs most арprоpriate.
Inside the room, Gong Shangjue’s usually stern eyes held a rare trace of tenderness. Seated calmly in his chair, he gazed at a handkerchief embroidered with a tiger in his hand, lost in memories.
That year, Madam Ling was eight months pregnant, sewing baby clothes in her room, while seven-year-old he kept his mother company. Madam Ling picked up two embroidery patterns—one of a little tiger and one of a little rabbit—and asked him to choose.
Madam Ling asked softly, “Which one do you like?”
He looked up at his mother and said, “The little tiger.”
Madam Ling stroked her belly and smiled happily, and he smiled along with her.
Madam Ling patted his head. “As the older brother, you must take good care of your younger sibling.”
He nodded and raised his voice. “Of course!”
Later, when he was fourteen and practicing martial arts in the courtyard, his seven-year-old brother, Gong Shanglang, ran over to him. He quickly stopped his movements.
His younger brother pointed at the short knife at his waist and said, “Brother, I want to practice with a knife too.”
He shook his head, imitating the manner of an elder as he objected. “You’re still too young. You might hurt yourself.”
“Brother, brother… this short knife looks so nice…”
Reluctantly, he handed only the sheath of the short knife to his brother to play with. He smiled, his eyes filled with affection and tenderness as he watched his younger brother.
Shangguan Qian, who had been observing Gong Shangjue, suddenly felt as if she too was being watched. She turned and descended the stairs, spotting Gong Yuanzhi lingering in the courtyard.
Shangguan Qian, with a half-smile, asked, “Why haven’t you left yet?”
“This is my home. Why should I leave?” For some reason, Gong Yuanzhi, who usually spoke with confidence, now seemed somewhat unsure of himself, his tone inexplicably tinged with a childlike grievance.
“Then—why has Young Master Jue been staring so intently at that tiger embroidery in his hand?” Shangguan Qian posed the question directly, her intuition telling her that embroidered handkerchief was connected to Gong Yuanzhi’s vulnerability.
“That was his brother’s…”
“The ‘Younger Brother Lang’ you mentioned earlier?”
Gong Yuanzhi frowned and shot a glance at Shangguan Qian. “How do you always manage to overhear our conversations? Do you spend your time eavesdropping by the walls?”
Faced with the accusation, Shangguan Qian showed no remorse. Instead, she nodded exaggeratedly. “Then perhaps you should ask yourself why you visit Jue Manor so frequently. Isn’t your own Zhi Manor comfortable enough? It’s only natural for me to seek out my future husband, but you—you cling to your brother every day. You’re almost an adult now. Hurry up and find yourself a wife.”
Gong Yuanzhi was momentarily speechless. “Mind your own business!”
“It’s fine. If you won’t tell me, I’ll ask him myself later.”
“Don’t ask him! Asking will only bring up painful memories for my brother…” Gong Yuanzhi, uncharacteristically, softened his tone, hesitation creeping into his voice.
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