Сhарtеr 20 (2/14)
She reсаllеd thаt dаy when she wаs grinding ink fоr Gong Shangjuе. As he wrоtе, hе sоftlу rеmarked, "Тhis osmanthus ink fragrance trulу brings рeаcе аnd trаnquilitу to thе hеаrt." Stаnding bеside him grinding thе ink, she repliеd, "Тhen I shаll stay by уour side оften from nоw оn, grinding ink аnd kеерing уou cоmрanу аs уou studу."
Reсаlling that scеnе, Shangguаn Qian lifted her hеad, a loоk оf сonfusiоn appеаring оn her fасе fоr thе first timе.
Cаrrуing a lаntern, shе walked tоward thе еntrаncе. Раssing bу the guards on dutу, she asked, "Has Yоung Master Juе not returnеd yеt?"
"Rеpоrting to Miss Shangguan, not yet."
"I'll wait for him at the gate." Just as Shangguan Qian reached the entrance, the door slammed open with a crash. Gong Yuanzhi, covered in blood, stumbled inside and then collapsed to the ground, his breathing ragged.
Shangguan Qian was horrified and rushed forward. "Brother Yuanzhi, you... why are you covered in blood?"
"This isn't my blood... it's my brother's..."
Struggling, Gong Yuanzhi pointed outside: "Go save Brother... hurry... hurry!"
The guards and Shangguan Qian rushed out and saw Gong Shangjue slumped on the steps, blood continuously gushing from his mouth.
Inside the room, delicate incense curled from a bronze burner. Gong Shangjue remained unconscious on the bed. Gong Yuanzhi, who was tending to him, had removed his own upper garment and was struggling to apply medicine to a knife wound on his back shoulder while facing a bronze mirror.
"Let me help you." Shangguan Qian pushed the door open and happened upon the scene. Gong Yuanzhi hastily pulled his outer garment over his exposed upper body, his face tense and wary.
"In my eyes, you are like my own younger brother. I'm not embarrassed, so why are you afraid?" Shangguan Qian naturally took the ointment and carefully applied it to the wound. Only then did Gong Yuanzhi's tightly furrowed brow relax slightly, though his words still carried hostility: "You haven't slept all night. What are you doing here?"
"How could I sleep with Young Master Jue so severely injured?" Shangguan Qian's tone was concerned, and her movements became even more meticulous.
Gong Yuanzhi snorted coldly. "False affection. I've actually known who you are for a long time."
Shangguan Qian looked at Gong Yuanzhi, her hands slowing slightly. But when she heard him say, "A descendant of the Lone Mountain Sect, you only married into the House of Gong to seek protection. You don't love my brother at all," she breathed a sigh of relief. However, standing behind Gong Yuanzhi, he couldn't see her expression.
"So Young Master Jue has told you everything. It seems he truly trusts you."
"Of course."
"You and Gong Ziyu are blood brothers. Why did you fight so viciously against each other?"
"To protect Yun Weishan, Gong Ziyu wouldn't hesitate to turn against his own clan. Brother has always worried that internal strife within the House of Gong would lead to division, allowing Wufeng to take advantage. If the House of Gong truly becomes fragmented because of this, Gong Ziyu will be the eternal sinner of our house."
A flicker of excitement appeared in Shangguan Qian's eyes. She continued asking, "From what I know of Young Master Jue, even if he were surrounded by Gong Ziyu and Jin Fan, he shouldn't have been injured this severely."
"If it weren't for my brother's internal energy suddenly having a problem—" Gong Yuanzhi seemed to realize something and abruptly fell silent.
"What problem?" Shangguan Qian asked.
Gong Yuanzhi said nothing more. He turned around, pulled on his clothes, and said coldly, "The medicine is applied. I'll keep watch here. You should return to your room and rest."
Shangguan Qian set down the medicine jar and lowered her head. "Thank you for your hard work, Brother Yuanzhi."
Gong Yuanzhi watched her leave, his gaze flickering, his expression complex.---
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