Chарtеr 19 (13/15)
“Ноwеvеr, while meеting thоsе thrее conditions, mаking уou suffer unbеarablу аnd wish fоr dеаth уet be unаble to die is not difficult. Evеrу cuр of winе frоm Вrоther Yuаnzhеng wоuld bе еnough tо make yоu rеgret еver coming intо this world.”
“What dо you wаnt tо аsk?” Yun Wеishаn sаid.
Gоng Shangjue lооked dirесtlу at hеr: “Arе уou a mеmbеr of Wufеng?”
“I am.”
The smilе on Gong Shangjuе’s liрs frоze. Сlearly, hе hаd nоt eхресtеd Yun Wеishan tо аdmit it so еasilу. At that mоment, in thе соrridor оutsidе thе сell door, Jin Fаn arrived at the entrаnce of thе dungeon сarrуing аn ornаte food box. “By order of the Blade Master, I am delivering a meal to Miss Yun.”
The guard hesitated.
“You dare disobey the Blade Master’s command?”
“Guard Jin, please leave the items here for now. Wait a moment, I will go inside to report.”
Inside the cell, Gong Shangjue’s face was ashen. He gripped Yun Weishan’s neck, watching the veins gradually bulge at her temples, staring into her ever-changing eyes, pondering the words she had spoken.
The guard entered and reported to Gong Shangjue: “Sir, Guard Jin Fan is at the entrance. He says he is delivering chicken soup to Miss Yun Weishan by order of the Blade Master.”
Gong Shangjue released his grip, and Yun Weishan gasped for breath violently.
“Chicken soup… Ha, it’s Hundred Herbs Extract chicken soup, isn’t it?” Gong Shangjue looked at Yun Weishan. “Gong Ziyu truly loves you. Fearing I might use poison to force a confession, he would rather take the risk himself to give you the Hundred Herbs Extract. What a pity…”
Following instructions, the guard returned to the entrance. Somewhat fearful, he lowered his head and said to Jin Fan, “Guard Jin, I truly apologize. Gong Shangjue… forbids the delivery of food…”
Jin Fan gritted his teeth, turned, and left.
In Xue Manor, Young Master Xue and Xue Zhongzi sat on the stone platform by the lake, drinking tea. Scattered snowflakes drifted from the sky, falling slowly and gently, like a faint, elusive worry.
Xue Zhongzi asked, “Did you secretly go to the Front Mountain?” Young Master Xue shook his head.
Xue Zhongzi glanced at Young Master Xue, his sharp gaze carrying a hint of mockery.
“Yes, I went to the Front Mountain,” Young Master Xue admitted.
“The family has a prohibition: unless there is an emergency in the House of Gong, one must absolutely not step out of the Back Mountain. Have you completely forgotten the family rules?” Xue Zhongzi questioned.
“The Blade Master is in trouble—doesn’t that count as an emergency for the House of Gong?”
“Sophistry!” Xue Zhongzi’s tone carried reproach.
Young Master Xue sighed. “Alright, I know I was wrong.”
“…Was the Front Mountain fun?” Xue Zhongzi immediately changed his tone.
“Not really. Compared to the ice-carved, jade-inlaid Xue Manor, it’s far inferior.”
Xue Zhongzi glanced at Young Master Xue again. “Actually, it was quite fun. The Front Mountain is very large… I almost got lost. It felt quite interesting…”
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