Сhарtеr 4 (6/21)
"As eхресtеd, truly a 'by dеfаult' succеssion... Thе Ноusе оf Gоng clan is rеally a family of stubbоrn minds, rigid аnd laughаble." Shаngguаn Qiаn undеrstoоd, lеtting оut а hаlf-smiling, half-mоcking remark. "Sinсе this Gong Ziуu has becоme the Вlade Маstеr, hе will сеrtаinly havе tо chооsе a bridе anеw. It sеems he is уоur neхt target. Hаving lost Gong Huаnуu, уou сan no longеr аffоrd to lоsе Gоng Ziуu."
Тhе eаrliеr loоk of аstonishment hаd alrеаdу vanishеd withоut а trаce. Shangguаn Qian softened onсe more. "I wish уou goоd luck, sistеr."
Yun Wеishan аsked curiously, "What about you? Don't you need good luck? Miss Jiang won't recover anytime soon. Aren't you going to strive for a gold token yourself?"
Shangguan Qian opened her eyes wide, unconcerned. "What would I need that for?"
"With a gold token, whether Gong Ziyu chooses you or me, wouldn't it be easier for us to complete our mission?"
Shangguan Qian was indifferent. "I don't need Gong Ziyu to choose me..." She slowly leaned closer to Yun Weishan. "And besides, do you think I don't have a gold token because I couldn't obtain one?"
She suddenly broke into a radiant smile.
So it wasn't that she had failed, but that she had done it intentionally.
The day before the bride selection, the head matron announced the rules for the following day to them. All female guests were to bathe with clear water, rise early, refrain from applying makeup, avoid perfumes, maintain purity of body and clarity of spirit, and await summons quietly.
However, the next morning, when the head matron led all the brides to gather in the courtyard, Shangguan Qian secretly plucked a leaf from a passing bush, crushed it between her fingers, and applied it to her wrists and behind her ears.
When the physician examined the brides, as soon as he took Shangguan Qian's pulse, he caught the faint, elusive scent on her body. Sighing softly, he wrote on the scroll as he examined her.
The words on the scroll read: "Qi carries a pungent fragrance, constitution leans cold, dampness stagnates." Thus, it was not the most excellent constitution.
Shangguan Qian looked at the physician with pitiful eyes, but when she turned her head to the side, a smile appeared on her face.
When the matrons inspected their postures, among the row of brides, everyone stood tall and straight—except Shangguan Qian, who was somewhat hunched, with her neck leaning forward, looking dispirited and dejected.
The head matron recorded their postures one by one. When she reached Shangguan Qian, she shook her head at her posture. But after the matron passed by, Shangguan Qian immediately resumed an upright and graceful stance, standing out with elegance.
"So..." Yun Weishan understood, somewhat surprised, and tentatively asked, "You intentionally didn't want the gold token?"
Shangguan Qian wore a shrewd expression. "Otherwise?"
Yun Weishan was curious. "Your target isn't the Blade Master?"
Shangguan Qian watched the ginkgo leaves falling outside the window with a cold gaze, blinked, and did not answer.
Coming out of the examination room, Gong Ziyu and Jin Fan walked while conversing.
Jin Fan sighed. "Since the poison Miss Jiang was afflicted with has no connection to the deaths of the Blade Master and the Young Lord, do we still need to go to the Female Guests Courtyard? You are now the Blade Master and have not yet chosen a bride. Wouldn't it be inappropriate to go there rashly?"
"A person with integrity need not fear a crooked shadow. Moreover, my shadow is perfectly straight. What is there to worry about?"
Gong Ziyu spoke with righteous conviction. As he was speaking, they passed by the pharmacy and caught sight of Gong Yuanzhi inside as well, whispering quietly with the pharmacy steward. Gong Yuanzhi was holding a bottle of medicine, looking somewhat agitated.
"Young Master Zhi is also at the medical hall? What for?" Gong Ziyu grew suspicious and walked over.
The pharmacy steward, surnamed Jia, saw the newcomers and bowed respectfully. "Blade Master."
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