The Cloud Feather of the Red Chamber: A Marriage Arranged with Gong Yuanzheng at the Start

Qi Yan'an looked at Gong Shangjiao, "Shangjiao, send someone to invite Miss Zishang. We need to discuss the next steps carefully."

Gong Yuanzheng scoffed, "There's no way she'd even come to Zheng Palace!"

Everyone in the palace knows that Gong Yuanzheng and Gong Ziyu have a bad relationship, and they always exchange sarcastic remarks whenever they meet.

Gong Zishang has always followed Gong Ziyu's lead and has never set foot in Zheng Palace in the past ten years.

Sending someone to invite them doesn't guarantee they'll come.

Qi Yan'an clearly knew something about things inside the palace. He thought for a moment and looked at Lin Qingyue.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, sister-in-law, to make a trip and invite Miss Zishang to Zheng Palace."

Lin Qingyue stood up. "I'll go to the Shang Palace now."

Gong Yuanzheng grabbed her hand. "I'll go with you! That way, Gong Zishang won't give you a hard time."

As he spoke, he pulled Lin Qingyue and tried to walk out, but Gong Shangjiao had to call out to stop him.

"Send off my brother! Let Lin and his wife go. Don't worry, no one will give Lin and his wife a hard time at the palace gates now."

Seeing that Gong Yuanzheng had stopped, he looked at Gong Shangjiao with a somewhat aggrieved expression.

For the first time, Gong Shangjiao felt a little tired. He looked at Lin Qingyue.

"Thank you for your trouble, sister-in-law."

No matter how unwilling Gong Yuanzheng was, he had no choice but to let go of Lin Qingyue's hand.

Lin Qingyue remained calm, bowed to everyone, and then, led by Qiulan and Jin Fu, headed towards the Shang Palace.

After Lin Qingyue walked out of the main room, Gong Yuanzheng tried to hold back, but he couldn't help himself.

"Brother, do you really want Gong Zishang to be the Blade Master? You know her relationship with Gong Ziyu. Who knows if she'll be like those old men and blindly side with Yu Gong!"

"She's the most suitable one at the palace gate right now. Are you going to favor Yu Palace?" Gong Shangjiao curled his lips, but his eyes were icy cold. "Don't worry, I'll make sure she never shows any favoritism again."

"What about the Three Realms Trial? She's never participated in it before, and those old men in the back mountain won't agree to it!"

Gong Shangjiao said calmly, "Then let's go and try."

"Then I'll go too! I refuse to believe I'm not as good as Gong Zishang, I'll definitely be faster than her!" Gong Yuanzheng said with a look of dissatisfaction.

Gong Shangjiao put down his teacup and sighed inwardly, "Do you know that those who wield blades are not allowed to leave the palace gates even a step?"

"I know."

"If you marry Miss Lin, you cannot leave the palace gates, and naturally she cannot leave either."

“It’s fine if we all stay at the palace gate,” Gong Yuanzheng said. Thinking that Lin Qingyue would always stay with her at the palace gate in the future, she felt a strange sense of joy.

“Brother Yuanzheng, Miss Lin is no ordinary girl. She is a princess bestowed by the imperial court. Her father is an important official in the court, and her mother is the legitimate daughter of the Duke’s family.”

Gong Yuanzheng looked completely bewildered. "Aren't daughters of respectable families supposed to stay at home all the time?"

“The palace is much bigger than the Lin family’s; she should be happier here.”

Hearing this, Qi Yan'an couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Although they are said to stay at home and not go out much, they still participate in the Lantern Festival, the spring outing on the third day of the third lunar month, as well as flower viewing parties and poetry gatherings quite often."

"Enjoy the flowers in spring, gaze at the moon in autumn, feel the cool breeze in summer, and watch the snow in winter."

“Every solar term, each household would hold gatherings, and the lives of the young women were not as dull and boring as described in the storybooks.”

Gong Yuanzheng was a little confused. He blinked. Was her life before really that fun? Would she be very bored at the palace gate?

Gong Shangjiao picked up the teacup and skimmed off the foam on top.

“Miss Lin has lived that kind of life since she was a child. If she is confined to the palace gates in the future, she may become the second Lady Lan.”

Gong Yuanzheng's face turned cold. He had already crushed the armrest of the chair. Thinking of the cause of Madam Lan's death, he suddenly stood up, a hint of murderous intent appearing on his face.

"Brother, are you saying that Lin Qingyue also has someone she likes? She didn't marry into this family willingly?"

"Cough cough cough." Gong Shangjiao choked on his words.

It's probably true that it wasn't voluntary, but whether she has someone she's interested in is unknown.

“Brother Yuanzheng, you should be careful with your words.” Qi Yan’an put away his smile and his expression became serious.

“A young woman’s reputation is of utmost importance; how can it be slandered and ruined at will?”

"The Lin family has a long history of nobility and scholarly tradition. How could their eldest daughter do something so disgraceful to the family, such as engaging in secret affairs and having intimate relations?"

"Brother Yuanzheng, never mention those words again!"

Gong Shangjiao also looked at Gong Yuanzheng with a stern gaze.

After hearing Qi Yan'an's words, Gong Yuanzheng's anger subsided, and he felt Gong Shangjiao's gaze fall upon him.

He bowed to Qi Yan'an and said, "I spoke without thinking. I won't say it a second time."

Qi Yan'an remained noncommittal, fanning himself with his fan and closing his eyes, waiting for Lin Qingyue to bring Gong Zishang to Zheng Palace.

Although he was certain that Lin Qingyue did not have a love interest, he was also certain that Lin Qingyue did not marry into the Zheng Palace willingly; the main reason was probably for the sake of the Lin family.

And what about her now? After seeing him, does she still have any complaints about the engagement?

She must be dissatisfied. Her life used to be so colorful, but now she can only stay at the palace gate. She must feel disappointed.

Thinking this, Gong Yuanzheng lowered his head in frustration.

Gong Shangjiao glanced at the two of them a few times, then remained silent. Is that so? Well, he was too lazy to say anything anyway.

When Gong Zishang was woken up by her maid, she was still a little confused. Gong Yuanzheng's fiancée had come to find her.

Are you kidding me? She and Gong Yuanzheng don't get along, so why is she suddenly coming to see her?

"Um, Miss Lin, did she say what it was about?" Gong Zishang scratched his head and asked the maid.

"Miss Lin only said she came to chat with Miss, but it was Guard Jin Fu who brought her here."

"Jin Fu?"

"Young Master Jiao returned to the palace gate early in the morning, but went directly to the Zheng Palace, saying that he was delivering the dowry to Miss Lin."

"Sending off the dowry..."

Gong Zishang muttered to herself, her face thoughtful, but her hands didn't stop moving as she quickly dressed and washed up.

The person was already at the door; she wasn't going to kick them out. She wasn't that rude little poisoner, Gong Yuanzheng.

When Lin Qingyue met Gong Zishang, a cup of tea had already passed.

Upon seeing Gong Zishang, Lin Qingyue stood up and performed a curtsy, looking at her with a beaming smile.

"Qingyue greets Sister Zishang."

Gong Zishang immediately stepped forward to support her, calling out to her repeatedly.

"Little sister, you don't need to be so polite."

Looking at Lin Qingyue up close, Gong Zishang felt a pang of regret in her heart.

Such a beautiful and lovely younger sister, it's such a waste that she married that dead fish-eyed Gong Yuanzheng.

"Little sister, is there something you need from me so early in the morning?"

"When His Highness the Crown Prince bestowed the marriage upon us, my father asked someone to inquire about some things related to the palace gates."

A hint of admiration appeared on Lin Qingyue's face at just the right moment.

"I have heard that the Palace Master of the Shang Palace is still a heroine among women, and the various weapons and mechanisms she has researched and created are exquisite."

"I admire you greatly, so I came to visit you early this morning."

Gong Zishang couldn't stop smiling after hearing these words. She moved closer to Lin Qingyue, a hint of smugness on her face.

"Is that really what's being said about me in the martial arts world?"

"I have no reason to lie to my sister." As she spoke, a hint of embarrassment appeared on Lin Qingyue's face.

"Before I entered the palace, I specifically went to buy the hidden arrows that my sister made. I was so curious that I took them apart to study them. Now I can't put them back together. Sister, can you teach me how to put them back together?"

"No problem! I'll show you!"

Lin Qingyue turned to Qiulan and said, "Quickly, bring that hidden arrow over here!"

Qiu Lan blinked, her face contorted in distress. "Miss, I was in such a rush that I forgot to bring it."

Lin Qingyue's face showed reproach, "I told you first thing this morning to make sure you brought it, how could you forget?"

Qiulan was about to cry.

Gong Zishang hurriedly stopped Lin Qingyue.

“It’s no big deal, Qingyue. I’ll go to Zheng Palace with you.”

Then she looked at Qiulan and said, "Little sister, quickly wipe your tears. You won't look pretty if you cry."