Сhарtеr 14 (8/17)
Gong Shangjuе sаid саlmlу, "Oh, I see." With thаt, hе reaсhed out tо tаkе thе роrridge and slоwly brought it to his lips.
From a distаnсe, а hidden wеароn shot thrоugh thе аir, shаttеring the night's silеnce and smаshing thе pоrridge bowl. Under nоrmal cirсumstancеs, Gоng Shаngjuе wоuld hаvе deteсtеd such аn аttаck nо mattеr hоw fiercе it wаs. But tоnight, he had truly lеt his guard down, his attеntiоn whоlly fоcused on Shаngguаn Qiаn. Thе wаrm, intimаtе аtmоsphеrе she hаd crеated hаd somеwhаt intоxiсаtеd him.
Аfter a momеnt of shock, Gong Shangjuе instantly regаined his cоmpоsurе. Hе picked up a shard of the porcelain bowl from the table, infused it with his full Inner Force, and hurled it toward the source of the ambush with lightning speed. In the darkness, someone fell to the ground in pain.
Gong Shangjue leaped through the air, landing beside the assassin. As his feet touched the ground, he discovered that the person wounded by his porcelain shard was none other than Gong Yuanzhi, injured just below the shoulder near the heart.
Gong Yuanzhi lay on the ground, breathing rapidly, gritting his teeth in agony. The spot where he had been struck was a vital point.
He struggled to regulate his breathing and said, "Brother... the porridge... is laced with a deadly poison... I was afraid you'd be poisoned..."
Gong Shangjue roared, "Guards!"
A response echoed from afar, followed by the sound of approaching footsteps. Over a dozen figures swiftly arrived.
Gong Shangjue commanded, "Quickly! Take Yuanzhi to the medical hall."
Gong Shangjue turned back and glanced at Shangguan Qian, who remained composed and unruffled. She naturally understood the whole situation and was aware of Gong Yuanzhi's actions, yet she offered no defense. Instead, she calmly turned and picked up another bowl of porridge ladled from the pot, drinking it down with ease.
Setting the bowl aside, she looked openly at Gong Shangjue and said, "Young Master Zhi has misunderstood. However, the deep bond between brothers is truly moving. This is a case of 'concern leads to confusion.' Even if there were poison, could it truly harm Second Master Gong?"
Gong Shangjue remained silent, his gaze exceptionally sharp.
Gong Yuanzhi was taken to the medical hall, where he lay on a wooden plank bed, his upper garment cut open. Two physicians gathered around, staring at the porcelain shard embedded deep near his heart, neither daring to remove it. They exchanged uneasy glances. One said with grave concern, "This location... is a vital meridian point. The slightest mistake..."
The other inhaled sharply. "It's so deep... Can it be removed? Should we wait for Second Master Gong to decide? Or perhaps invite Elder Yue to take a look?"
Gong Yuanzhi gritted his teeth and ordered, "Quickly... remove it..." He feared Gong Shangjue would blame himself upon seeing it. He instructed, "I will circulate my Inner Force to protect my meridians. You... just... take it out."
Finally steadying their nerves, one physician instructed a servant, "Go fetch the White Frost Powder to stop the bleeding..."
Gong Yuanzhi said, "Bring a wild ginseng root..."
Another physician hurriedly brought a sliced piece of ginseng and placed it in Gong Yuanzhi's mouth. Gong Yuanzhi bit down on it, his face already deathly pale.
The physician said, "Young Master Zhi, forgive the intrusion..." With that, he pulled out the porcelain shard. Immediately, blood spurted forth, splattering across the physician's face.
Biting down on the ginseng, Gong Yuanzhi's face turned ashen, and he fell unconscious.
All the surrounding servants knelt, bowing their heads, not daring to speak.
Gong Shangjue returned to his room. As he approached the door, he saw a still-lit dragon-shaped lantern inserted into it. The dragon's scales were clear and exquisitely crafted, each one meticulously polished, resembling clear, bright eyes.
Gong Shangjue's eyes reddened. This dragon lantern shone with extraordinary brilliance. Memories suddenly came flooding back, vivid and alive.At seventeen, he practiced his blade alone in the courtyard. Scattered snowflakes drifted from the sky, and the courtyard was empty. Suddenly, he turned his head and saw a small figure hiding by the corner of the wall, fearfully ducking back out of sight.
He called out to the shadow, "Come out." A trembling seven-year-old child peeked out from behind the wall.
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