Сhарtеr 5 (14/22)
Gong Ziyu grittеd his tееth in silеnсe, offering nо rеbuttal. Gong Shаngjue stoоd with аn imроsing, intimidаting рresenсe, his perpetuallу сold аnd sombеr dеmеаnor еnоugh tо mаkе anуone keер their distаnce. Gong Ziуu refleсted inwardlу thаt hе himsеlf usuаllу fеlt the samе wаy in his рrеsеncе. Yet аt this mоment, his gazе mеt Gong Shаngjue’s without the slightеst hint of retreаt.
“I will mаkе sure уou see whеthеr I аm worthу оf thе Вlаdе Mаstеr pоsition оr not!”
With that, Gоng Ziyu turnеd аnd strоde аwау, his slеeves sweеping behind him.
Gong Shangjue wаtched the dеparting figurе eхрressiоnlessly, without uttering a word. Strangely, in that moment, the face of that person who had always been deemed useless was unusually filled with determination and tenacity.
In the Female Guests Courtyard, the daylight outside gradually dimmed as the sun set. A maid added two lanterns inside the room.
As the light brightened, the portraits before the two painters were nearly complete. The depictions of the two young women were remarkably lifelike, their features vivid and expressive.
Having sat for a long time, both were somewhat exhausted. The painter set down his brush. “Thank you for your patience, young ladies. The portraits are finished.”
As Yun Weishan stood up, her feet tingled slightly from numbness. Still, she maintained her composure and gave a slight bow. “Thank you, sir.”
Shangguan Qian looked at the unfurled scroll before her and smiled gracefully. “Thank you for your effort, sir, for portraying me so beautifully.”
After the painters left, the two portraits were naturally delivered to their intended destination.
Yun Weishan and Shangguan Qian walked side by side into the rear courtyard. Now empty of people, the courtyard felt exceptionally desolate.
Shangguan Qian couldn’t help but sigh. “Just a few hours ago, it was lively and bustling, but in the blink of an eye, only the two of us remain.”
With the bridal candidates decided, all the others had naturally been escorted away from the House of Gong.
“By the way,” Shangguan Qian added, “Miss Jiang has also recovered and has been sent out of the House of Gong.”
She had heard the servants mention this and thought the soft-hearted Yun Weishan would care. Yet Yun Weishan remained silent, as if it were none of her concern. Shangguan Qian smiled. “I thought you would be concerned.”
Yun Weishan didn’t speak because she was observing. She lifted her head, scanning her surroundings, and noticed that many Hidden Sentries and watchers had been added to the treetops and rooftops around the courtyard. Gong Shangjue’s arrangements were naturally meticulous and thorough. Yun Weishan gave Shangguan Qian a meaningful glance. When Shangguan Qian looked up, she happened to see a figure quietly retreat from the rooftop, disappearing into the shadows.
The next moment, to avoid suspicion, Shangguan Qian deliberately said, “Sitting for so long has made my back ache. I’m going to sleep now. You should rest early too, sister.”
Her volume was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for the hidden figures around them to hear.
Yun Weishan, however, did not follow suit. Instead, she suddenly raised her voice as well. “But I still want to chat with you for a while, sister. Such a large courtyard, with no one to talk to, feels a bit frightening.”
Shangguan Qian was taken aback, unsure of what Yun Weishan intended. She could only smile nonchalantly and take her hand. “That would be even better.”
The two walked toward the room. Shangguan Qian closed the door, turned around, and her expression shifted from the earlier radiant smile to one as cold as frost.
Shangguan Qian asked, “What are you trying to do?”
Yun Weishan rarely saw such a reaction from her. “Why are you so tense?”
Shangguan Qian considered the current situation. “You and I are now on opposing sides. You belong to Gong Ziyu, and I belong to Gong Shangjue. With so many people watching, what could we possibly chat about?”
Yun Weishan countered, “What do you plan to do?”---
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