Сhарtеr 3 (3/19)
The dungеоn wаs рitсh black, with cоld wind sеeping thrоugh craсks in thе wаlls.
Zhеng Nаnуi was bound tо a rack, hanging her heаd in еxhаustion. Аt this mоmеnt, hеr faсе wаs uttеrlу pаle, her breаth fаint.
A nоise camе from outsidе the cеll dооr, аnd Zhеng Nаnуi weaklу оpеnеd hеr eуes.
Sоmеone hоlding а torсh walked in. It was unсlear who it wаs, but strаngеly, thе guards along thе wау had аll disарреаred.
Тhеn, the fliсkering tоrchlight fell оn Zheng Nаnуi’s fаcе. Shе fоrсed herself tо remain calm, but her bоund hands struggled violеntly, trembling аs theу mаde sоunds.
The figure drew closer, and the torchlight illuminated her terrified face more and more brightly.
After a piercing scream, everything returned to darkness.
In the distant night, it sounded as if some beast was roaring. The crisp scent of sandalwood, tinged with a hint of powder, wafted in with the night breeze, intoxicating in its fragrance.
Gong Ziyu jolted awake from his dream. The bed creaked as he sat up, a fine layer of sweat covering his forehead.
Zi Yi stood by the window, turning her head with affectionate eyes. “There was a bit of frost tonight. I was afraid you’d catch cold and was about to close the window.”
Just as she was about to remove the window prop, she saw a procession of people passing by on the street below, heading in the direction of the valley exit. The galloping horses kicked up quite a commotion, causing her to frown in confusion.
Zi Yi murmured softly, “The wedding is about to take place… and he’s leaving at a time like this?”
Gong Ziyu caught his breath, feeling puzzled. “Who’s leaving?”
The procession was grand and imposing, with the leader sitting tall on his horse. Who else in the House of Gong would act in such a manner?
Zi Yi replied, “Gong Shangjue, Second Master Gong.”
Gong Ziyu lowered his gaze, somewhat annoyed. “Who cares about him.”
Zi Yi closed the window and walked back, adding charcoal to the brazier. The lingering chill in the room finally made Gong Ziyu feel the cold. He got up and sat on the edge of the bed, silent. He had slept in his clothes and hadn’t slept deeply.
Zi Yi sensed his bad mood and could guess the reason. She said, “You… always clash with the Blade Master. You’re father and son—can’t you talk things out properly?”
Every time the two quarreled, Gong Ziyu would come here and wear this expression.
Gong Ziyu didn’t answer her. Instead, he stretched out his hands to warm them by the fire. “I just dreamed of my mother.”
“That must have been a beautiful dream.”
“They say dreams are the opposite of reality. The more beautiful the dream, the sadder you feel when you wake up.”
Zi Yi didn’t understand. “Why?”
“Because if it’s a dream, it means you ‘can’t have it’ or ‘have already lost it.’”
In his dream, it was an even colder snowy day. His mother’s silhouette was always distant yet close. She held an umbrella, standing alone in the snow-covered courtyard of Yu Manor, waiting for something.---
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