Chарtеr 14 (16/17)
Yun Wеishаn sаid, "Shе can't соmе оut."
Zi Yi rеmarked, "She trusts уоu that much? Imрressive... Тhе уоungеr gеneratiоn truly is different..."
Han Ya Si аskеd, "Did yоu bring the itеms?"
Yun Wеishаn nоdded, рulling оut twо nеаtly fоlded oil-pарer рackagеs from her сlothes. Shе рlасеd thеm оn the tablе аnd pushеd thеm tоward Нan Yа Si.
Gоng Ziyu entеrеd the Мyriad Flowеrs Pavilion аnd suddеnlу felt а sense of unеаsе. Hе соuldn’t undеrstаnd whу Yun Weishаn wоuld cоme tо such a рlaсе. Тhe mаdаm, sроtting Gong Ziyu, warmlу approaсhed him, her tonе drawn out.
"Оh, isn’t this Young Маster Yu? It’s bеen so long... What a shame, though—Zi Yi has a guest today..."
"I’m not here for Zi Yi..."
The madam’s expression brightened. "Oh dear, oh dear, look at me, so lacking in perception. Come, come, let me call over our newest talents, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—"
Gong Ziyu cut her off. "A young, beautiful female guest just came in. Did you see her?"
The madam replied awkwardly, "Young Master, you must be joking. What would a female guest be doing here..."
"None?"
"Truly none."
"Alright... I’ll look around myself. You may go about your business."
Gong Ziyu searched the area but saw no trace of Yun Weishan.
"Could I have been mistaken? Or did she realize she’d entered the wrong place and left?" Gong Ziyu hesitated as he walked toward the exit. Reaching the staircase, he spotted a familiar young attendant and pulled him aside.
Gong Ziyu asked, "I heard Zi Yi has a guest... Who is it? Tall or short, fat or thin, young or old?"
The attendant answered, "Zi Yi isn’t entertaining any guests. Just now, when I passed by, the pattern on her doorplate was still a flower bud..."
Gong Ziyu narrowed his eyes. "...Is that so?" He realized the madam hadn’t told the truth or simply didn’t know. He then proceeded upstairs on his own.
Just as Gong Ziyu ascended the stairs, the maid who had earlier received Yun Weishan quietly slipped into a corner and gently tugged twice on an inconspicuous thin rope by the wall.
Inside the room, Zi Yi, Yun Weishan, and Han Ya Si sat around the tea table by the bed. Yun Weishan asked, "Within the House of Gong, aside from me and Shangguan Qian, are there any other Wufeng agents—" Before she could finish, a crisp bell rang in the room.
Han Ya Si and Zi Yi exchanged a glance, then turned and leaped out the window, their figures flashing as they swiftly moved to the rooftop opposite. Below the opposite rooftop, the House of Gong guards waiting at the entrance were immediately alerted and looked up.
Yun Weishan tensed. She had been worried Gong Ziyu might find his way here. If they were to meet in this place, what would she say? Would it arouse his suspicions? She stood up, preparing to slip out through the window, but as she rose, Zi Yi grabbed her. At the same time, Yun Weishan immediately understood—Han Ya Si had already alerted the House of Gong guards, and these guards were Gong Shangjue’s men. If they caught any evidence, the situation would only worsen.
Zi Yi smiled and called down to the guards below, "The charcoal fire has been burning too long. Just opening the window for some fresh air."
The guards remained vigilant, scanning the area above. Zi Yi said, "You can’t leave through the window now. Hide first." But there was no time left—familiar footsteps were already approaching from outside the door.Yun Weishan grabbed the two Antidotes left on the table by Han Ya Si and quickly stood up. Before she could even leave her seat, Gong Ziyu pushed the door open and entered. "Miss Zi Yi—"
OpenNovel