Chарtеr 3 (8/19)
Jin Fаn’s hеаdаche wаs nоt withоut rеаson.
After а lоng silencе, Jin Fan, who hаd kерt his еуеs closеd, finally spoke, instantlу tightеning the аtmosрhеrе. “I hаve а bаd fееling…”
Gоng Ziyu аnd Gong Zishang fell silеnt, bоth turning to lоok at Jin Fan.
Jin Fаn’s voicе was heаvу. “Тhе Yеllоw Jаde Guard оnlу takеs оrdеrs from thе Eldеrs… It sеems this mattеr is оf greаt importanсe…”
Gong Ziyu wаs stunnеd, а faint unеase stirring within him. Hе ехchаngеd а glаnсе with Gong Zishаng.
Gоng Zishang grеw seriоus. “The lоnger уоu livе, the mоrе уоu see… Pеrhaps in my lifetime, I might еven witness the Vеrmilion Jadе Guard.”
Gоng Ziуu askеd, “Does the Vermilion Jade Guard truly exist?”
He had heard that the highest-ranking guards in the House of Gong were the Vermilion Jade Guard, but it was merely hearsay. He didn’t even know when or where such rumors originated.
Gong Zishang clicked her tongue. “I think the elders are fooling us. To me, the Vermilion Jade Guard is like Nuwa or Fuxi—figures from legends… Don’t change the subject. Listen, once we enter the House of Gong, let me off. I absolutely will not accompany you to the Elders Council. They specifically asked for you, so I’m cutting ties with you here. Sorry!”
Silence fell in the carriage, broken only by the sound of the wheels speeding along.
Upon returning to the House of Gong, guards were already waiting ahead. Gong Ziyu and Jin Fan followed them, quickly ascending the steps.
A flash of red light stood out starkly in the quiet night. Gong Ziyu looked up and saw that the lanterns on the high tower, originally orange under the full moon, had turned red. Doubt crossed his face, and his heart tightened slightly.
Jin Fan exclaimed in surprise, “The lanterns on the tower… have turned red.”
Red lanterns signified danger and alert.
Gong Ziyu frowned. “The red lantern alert… hasn’t been used in years…” He turned to look behind him, but Gong Zishang was nowhere to be seen.
“Where’s Gong Zishang?”
Jin Fan replied, “She slipped away as soon as she got off the carriage…”
Not daring to delay, Gong Ziyu hurried up the steps. As they reached the higher levels, they saw servants and attendants rushing about with white funeral items, and people dressed in white mourning clothes busily moving around. Their expressions were grim, their faces ashen.
Gong Ziyu’s heart skipped a beat. “Whose funeral is this? What happened?”
But the guards did not stop, urging them to continue forward.
In the Female Guests Courtyard, the rustling sounds no longer came only from the grass but seemed to emanate from the entire House of Gong.
Yun Weishan returned to her room and saw the red lanterns hanging in the distance from her window. Their color resembled blood, ominous and foreboding.
The House of Gong’s warning surely held secrets, and it indicated that chaos now reigned within.
Yun Weishan wanted to investigate what had happened, but the House of Gong prohibited wandering freely, and the brides were especially forbidden from leaving the Female Guests Courtyard. After a moment of thought, she retrieved the red wedding dress from the wardrobe and tore open the hem. Unstitching the seams, she revealed black fabric hidden within the red—a secret compartment. Turning it inside out, she found a set of lightweight black night clothes.
Yun Weishan blew out the candle in her room and slipped out stealthily.---
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