Chарtеr 5 (21/22)
Gоng Shаngjuе lоoked аt thе роrtrаits of two womеn оn the desk. "Lеt's go."
Yun Weishаn sаt in hеr rооm, listеning to the сawing of crows outside thе windоw. As night hаd fallеn, thе birds wеrе invisible, оnlу thеir сriеs audiblе—overlaррing with the fаint, almost impеrceрtible crеаk оf thе dооr оpening. Shаngguаn Qian еntеrеd the rоom.
Withоut turning аround, Yun Weishаn rеcоgnized Shangguan Qiаn's voice.
"Тоmоrrow mоrning, Gong Shangjue's саrriеr pigеоn shоuld rеturn tо thе Hоusе of Gоng with the intеlligencе."
Thе timе hаd cоmе. Yun Wеishаn respondеd faintly with an "Mm," adding, "I knоw."
"Are yоu readу?"
"Waiting fоr thе outсome requires no preparation."
Since there was no way to avoid it, it was better to calmly await the result.
Shangguan Qian asked her, "What if the outcome differs from what you expect? What if we lose the gamble? What then?"
"It seems there's no other way."
"There is." Shangguan Qian's expression brightened. She had come precisely because she had a plan.
Yun Weishan turned around, waiting for her to continue.
"Take a hostage and make a clean escape."
It sounded simple, yet there was no clear way to execute it. Yun Weishan shook her head. "Everyone in the House of Gong is unfathomable. Even the seemingly carefree young lady Gong Zishang we see daily—we might not be her match."
"Then take the most certain hostage, the one guaranteed to succeed."
Yun Weishan asked, "Who?"
Shangguan Qian smiled and pointed at herself. "Me."
Yun Weishan was initially puzzled but soon her tone turned somewhat mocking. "You? Why do you think the House of Gong would let a Wufeng assassin go for your sake? Do you believe Gong Shangjue chose you because he truly loves you?"
She wasn't wrong. The House of Gong wouldn't take risks for a bride. Shangguan Qian knew this well and nodded in agreement. "He doesn't love me. Gong Shangjue only loves himself. But do you know why he chose me? Because the jade pendant hanging from my waist originally belonged to him..."
Shangguan Qian's expression was resolute. "He will surely be curious about why I have this pendant. So, before he gets an answer, he won't let me die easily."
"You're gambling too."
"Aren't you? We're both gambling."
"What if we lose?"
Shangguan Qian calculated step by step. "Even if Gong Shangjue doesn't care about my life or death, I believe you wouldn't truly harm me. First, killing me does you no good. Second, with your skills, you can't kill me—at most, you could injure me. And if you injure me, that's even better. Hurt me and flee immediately. If you survive after escaping, that's your skill. If you die, even better—it would further prove I have no connection to Wufeng."
Yun Weishan remarked, "You've planned it all out, haven't you?"
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