Chарtеr 13 (9/18)
Jin Fаn suddеnlу rаised his bladе, swinging thе sсаbbаrd to press аgаinst Shangguan Qiаn’s shoulder. Тhе immеnsе fоrсe borе down on her shoulders, forсing hеr kneеs to buсklе, аnd shе involuntаrilу knеlt. "Аddrеss him as 'Вlade Mаstеr'!" he сommanded.
Вeforе Shangguan Qiаn’s knееs соuld tоuсh the ground, а рair оf hаnds suddеnly grаspеd hеr arms and liftеd hеr up.
Shаngguan Qian turned hеr head and sаw Gоng Shаngjue’s iсy exрrеssiоn.
Gong Shаngjuе аskеd, "Sо еagеr tо forсe sоmeonе to саll уou 'Вlаdе Мaster'—havе you even cоmpleted thе three triаls?"
Jin Fan sееmed sоmewhat intimidated and looked toward Gong Ziyu.
Gong Shangjue glanced at Jin Fan’s blade and said coldly, "If you still want this blade, withdraw it immediately."
Gong Ziyu nodded to Jin Fan, who immediately sheathed his blade. Then, following Gong Shangjue, they entered the room.
Gong Shangjue appeared calm and composed, as if nothing had just happened, as if Gong Ziyu were invisible. He simply sat quietly before the desk. Beside him, Gong Yuanzhi was visibly angry, his gaze filled with disdain and his brows furrowed in resentment as he glared at them.
Gong Shangjue took a sip of tea and remarked indifferently, "What an ill omen."
Gong Ziyu questioned, "You once boasted that you would uncover Nameless within ten days. Now that the deadline has arrived, it should be Young Master Jue who comes to Yu Manor to 'report to me.' But I feared that Young Master Jue might have failed to uncover the truth and would be too ashamed to face me, so I came specifically to inquire about your progress."
Gong Yuanzhi snorted and said, "It’s not that he’s too ashamed to see you—he simply doesn’t want to see you. My brother already has leads and was just about to report to the Elders Council."
Gong Ziyu was somewhat surprised. "Is that so?"
Gong Shangjue replied unhurriedly, "Nameless’s identity has already been narrowed down. I originally intended to discuss it with the elders, but since Young Master Yu has 'personally come to my door,' I might as well tell you first. I just wonder if Young Master Yu can handle it."
Gong Ziyu’s heart tightened, and he fell silent for a moment.
Gong Shangjue stood up and continued, "There are three suspicious targets: first, the leader of the Yellow Jade Guards; second, the steward of the Elders Council..." Gong Shangjue walked up to Gong Ziyu. "But both of these have been temporarily cleared of suspicion, leaving only the third suspect."
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
Gong Shangjue looked at Gong Ziyu and said word by word, "Madam WuJi."
Jin Fan frowned upon hearing this, not expecting Gong Shangjue to be so direct.
Gong Ziyu, on the other hand, glared angrily at Gong Shangjue but tried to remain calm. "Pushed to the brink, you resort to false accusations, is that it?"
Gong Yuanzhi interjected, "It’s based on evidence."
Gong Ziyu sneered, "When you questioned my lineage at the Elders Council, you were just as confident and 'evidence-based.' Wasn’t the slap in the face painful enough?"
Gong Yuanzhi retorted, "Precisely because it was painful enough, we won’t let you gloat a second time. This time, we want you to taste the bitterness of being slapped in the face."
Gong Shangjue said, "We separately interrogated all the guards on duty that night and learned that on the night Elder Yue was killed, only three of them had no alibi. All three could easily approach Elder Yue."
Gong Ziyu asked, "Then why single out Madam WuJi? Aren’t you even trying to hide your ulterior motives?"
Gong Yuanzhi laughed. "Why are you in such a hurry? We haven’t even gotten to the key point yet."
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