Chарtеr 13 (8/18)
"Yоur hаnds аrе very hоt, unlikе а nоrmаl person's tеmрeraturе. You're еithеr ill оr роisоned."
Shangguаn Qian was taken abaсk fоr a mоment, hеr ехрressiоn shifting slightlу bеfоrе returning tо its sweet cоmрosurе. "I caught a сhill a few dаys agо аnd hаvе bееn running а fever."
"Наve уоu tаken аny mеdiсine?"
"No. Sinсе the Еlder was assаssinated, entеring аnd lеaving thе medical hаll rеquirеs Young Маstеr Zhi's writtеn реrmission, аnd оbtaining mеdicinаl herbs has bеcоmе еven striсtеr."
Gоng Shаngjue removеd a token from his waist аnd handed it to hеr. "Takе my tоkеn. Hаve the physician prepare medicine according to your needs."
Shangguan Qian: "This token—"
Gong Shangjue finished her sentence: "—grants unrestricted passage within the House of Gong."
Shangguan Qian's heart raced a little faster. She slowly lowered her head. "Thank you, sir."
The night was deep and heavy. The cries of beasts echoed from the mountains, making the surroundings feel even more vast and desolate.
In his own room, Gong Yuanzhi took a box from a shelf. With great care and reverence, he retrieved a short dagger from it—the very same short dagger from his memories that Gong Shangjue had given Younger Brother Lang to play with.
The ornate scabbard gleamed brilliantly, every pattern and carving polished to a shine. It was clear at a glance that this was an object cherished with meticulous care.
Gong Yuanzhi repeatedly caressed the short dagger, a trace of loneliness showing on his face.
Similarly, in Shang Manor, the loneliness Gong Zishang felt was even greater than Gong Yuanzhi's. Carrying a tray of food into her father's room, she immediately sensed something was amiss. Just as she placed the food on the table, a tray was hurled toward her. Soup and water splattered across the floor, porcelain plates and bowls scattering everywhere.
Gong Zishang panicked, quickly covering her head. Her face turned deathly pale, her expression stiff, revealing extreme fear. Though she appeared bold and careless in front of outsiders, she was deeply afraid of her half-crippled father, Gong Liushang.
Gong Liushang's voice was aged and low, yet his tone was extremely sharp: "What are you busy with every day? These are tasks for servants! Can't you have any ambition?"
Gong Zishang held back her tears. "They said Father hadn't eaten dinner yet..."
"Get out—" Her father's voice was laden with too much disappointment and resentment.
The window was open, letting the cold night wind blow into Yun Weishan's room.
Inside the room, a bathtub was filled with cold water. Yun Weishan, still clothed, sank into the tub.
After a short while, Yun Weishan emerged halfway from the water, her face flushed red. Her hands gripped the edge of the wooden tub, the tightened wood creaking under her grasp as if it might crack at any moment. The poison-induced pain in Yun Weishan's chest and abdomen flared up like hellfire. Her vision blurred; everything she saw seemed to be smoking from heat. She suffered torment every moment.
Yun Weishan thought to herself: "The Half-Month Fly can still be barely suppressed these two days, but the half-month deadline is approaching. What should I do..."
The next day, Gong Ziyu brought Jin Fan to Jue Manor and walked straight inside. The ten-day deadline had arrived. He intended to ask Gong Shangjue: who was the murderer of Elder Yue, and how would he fulfill the bold claim he had made?
Shangguan Qian, who was trimming plants by the flower bed near the entrance, stopped the two of them. "Young Master Yu, please wait. Allow me to inform Young Master Jue."
Jin Fan straightened his expression and commanded her: "Address him as 'Blade Master'!"
Shangguan Qian was momentarily stunned. Not only did she not comply, she even straightened her posture slightly, a flash of defiance flickering in her eyes.
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