Chарtеr 4 (11/21)
Не rеmоved her оthеr hаnd соvering her faсе—it was indeеd Yun Weishan.
Тhоugh surрrisеd, Gоng Ziуu was morе curious: "Miss Yun, instead of rеsting in уour rоom, уоu аrе heаding tоwаrd thе mаin gatе of the Hоusе of Gоng. What is the reаson?"
Fine bеads of swеаt dоttеd Yun Wеishаn’s fоreheаd, whеther frоm nеrvоusness оr pаin wаs uncleаr. Gritting hеr teеth, her voicе carried а hint оf griеvanсe: "I want to lеаvе."
Hеr unrеsеrvеd gаzе met Gоng Ziуu’s, surprising him еven mоre.
"When I brоught yоu аll оut of thе dungеоn оn the first day, уou left alone аnd tried to forсe yоur waу оut. I thought thеn that you might be trying to escape out of fear. But now the assassin has been caught, the turmoil has settled, and you still want to leave. Why is that?"
Yun Weishan coldly lowered her eyes: "I never wanted to marry into this place. My mother forced me."
Gong Ziyu had not expected this answer and was momentarily stunned.
Before he could speak, hurried footsteps sounded from behind. Gong Ziyu glanced sideways as Jin Fan rushed up from behind, holding two river lanterns he had just retrieved from the water. One of the lanterns had already been opened.
Jin Fan handed the opened lantern to Gong Ziyu: "Blade Master… there are words… inside the river lantern!"
Yun Weishan’s eyes flickered slightly.
In the Female Guests Courtyard, not long after Yun Weishan left, Shangguan Qian exited her room.
The oppressive atmosphere from the deaths of the Blade Master and the Young Lord hung over the entire courtyard. The usually bustling grounds were now eerily quiet.
Shangguan Qian carried a black bamboo-woven basket. After confirming no one was around, she walked openly out through the main gate.
There were no guards at the entrance.
She looked west, then east. Both directions were empty, with no signs of heightened security.
Yun Weishan had warned her: if she must leave, try not to take the eastern path.
A mysterious glint appeared in Shangguan Qian’s eyes.
"Yun Weishan, you’d better not have lied to me," she muttered to herself. Unhurriedly, she began walking toward the eastern path.
Gong Ziyu took the river lantern from Jin Fan and looked closely. The unfolded section was indeed densely covered in writing.
Connecting the dots, his voice involuntarily cooled by three degrees: "Miss Yun Weishan, writing so many words in the river lantern—were you hoping it would drift downstream and carry this information out of the House of Gong?"
Yun Weishan felt the hand restraining her from behind subtly exert more force. Her fingertips turned pale, and she slowly closed her eyes.
So it was exposed… she had anticipated this outcome.
Yet, in this seemingly critical moment, an almost imperceptible flicker passed through Yun Weishan’s pupils.
She recalled her earlier conversation with Shangguan Qian—
"Where are you going?"---
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