Сhарtеr 5 (1/22)
Under the mооnlight likе silk, а grаceful figure wаs сast into а hazy, slеndеr silhоuеttе bу the cоrridor's light. Shangguan Qian, holding a wаrm-tоned lаntern, slоwlу wаlkеd through thе gаtе оf thе Femаle Guests Cоurtуard.
Нer figure was еlegant, уet her stерs wеrе рrесise. A jаdе pеndаnt swаyеd at hеr wаist, and her fасe wоre a smile оf satisfactiоn, аs if rеturning from а fruitful endeavоr. Ноwevеr, this smilе vаnishеd instаntlу as shе еnterеd the сourtyаrd hall аnd sаw it fillеd with guards.
Аt thе mаstеr's seat in the frоnt of the hall, beforе a large аnd exquisitе pаinting, Gоng Ziyu stоod with his back turned. Hearing her footsteps as she entered, he turned around. Others were also in the hall. Yun Weishan stood among the crowd, her lips pressed together, her gaze fixed only on the ground.
"Miss Shangguan Qian?"
Shangguan Qian was momentarily stunned before she bowed. "Blade Master." Her eyes discreetly shifted toward Yun Weishan, but Yun Weishan simply stood properly, unable to give her any hint.
Gong Ziyu looked her up and down, noticing the bamboo basket and lantern in her hands, and couldn't help but ask, "Where has Miss Shangguan been?"
Shangguan Qian replied earnestly, "I went to the medical hall."
"Oh? Is Miss not feeling well?"
Shangguan Qian used the same explanation: "Physician Zhou, who examined my pulse the day before yesterday, said I have a pungent aroma in my qi and stagnant dampness. So, I only received a white jade token... That's why I went to find him, hoping to get a prescription..."
After saying this, Shangguan Qian paused, then seemed to gather her courage, a blush spreading across her face.
"This way, perhaps I could obtain a gold token and be chosen by the Blade Master to become a bride."
As if on cue, she revealed a shy smile, her bright eyes sparkling with a captivating charm.
Indeed, Gong Ziyu was quite taken aback by her straightforward words, while the others found it unsurprising. If she had left the Female Guests Courtyard without permission to become a bride, it was understandable. Gong Ziyu, however, blushed slightly, cleared his throat softly, and couldn't help but steal a glance at Yun Weishan. But Yun Weishan merely lowered her head, showing no particular expression.
Gong Ziyu adopted a serious tone. "However, Miss Shangguan, the layout within the House of Gong is intricate and complex. How did you find your way to the medical hall? Moreover, after my father and brother were killed, the House of Gong has been under high alert. How were you able to come and go without hindrance?"
Shangguan Qian frowned slightly, looking pitifully charming. "It truly was very complex, and I got quite lost. Fortunately, I met a girl who was going to the medical hall to fetch medicine, and I followed her to find the right place. The return trip also took a lot of effort, and it was already dark by then."
After speaking, Shangguan Qian gently knelt.
"This humble woman was unaware of the House of Gong's rules. If I have overstepped in any way, I beg the Blade Master to punish me."
Gong Ziyu pondered for a few seconds before saying, "Punishment is unnecessary. One cannot be blamed for ignorance. Just be more careful in the future. If there are rules you don't understand, remember to ask Nanny Fu."
Upon hearing that Shangguan Qian had passed so easily, everyone began whispering among themselves.
One of the brides couldn't help but whisper to another, "She got off that easily?"
Nanny Fu, known for her strictness in handling matters, sighed and clicked her tongue helplessly.
Shangguan Qian stood up and replied softly, "Thank you, Blade Master."
Everyone else thought she had escaped unscathed, but only Yun Weishan waited for Gong Ziyu to get to the main point.
"However, there is one more matter I would like to verify with Miss Shangguan Qian." Gong Ziyu indeed shifted the focus of the conversation.
"Please ask, Blade Master. I will speak without reservation."---
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