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

Lin Qingyue's dress was more complicated than Gong Zishang's usual attire. With Qiulan's help, she finally managed to put it on, and Gong Zishang broke out in a light sweat.

"Are all the clothes of young ladies from official families this complicated?" Gong Zishang asked.

Qiulan carefully straightened the clothes. "This is a dress specially made by the Madam. There is only one of its kind in the entire capital. Miss Zishang, let me fix your hair too."

As he spoke, he pulled Gong Zishang in front of a round mirror.

This mirror is an imported item, and it's only thanks to Lin Ruhai's high position and wealth that he was able to purchase such a piece.

This was the first time Gong Zishang had ever seen such a clear mirror. The mirror surface was smooth and flat, reflecting a person's facial features and expression clearly.

The bronze mirror she's using now only allows her to see a blurry reflection, not even as clearly as the water's surface.

Gong Zishang was so shocked that she stammered, "The...the...the...the mirrors outside are all...so clear?!"

"Of course not." Qiulan looked at her strangely. "This mirror is priceless outside. Master spent a lot of effort to buy it."

"Miss Zi Shang, please don't move. I'll untie your hair right away."

As she spoke, she gently removed Gong Zishang's hairpin, took a sandalwood comb, and carefully combed each strand of hair.

After glancing at Gong Zishang's original hairpin, Qiulan decisively chose to use her mistress's hairpin.

Through the mirror, he carefully observed Gong Zishang's face shape.

Her fingers flew nimbly, and in no time she had put her hair up in a simple bun, and then chosen a hair accessory to match her dress.

Looking at Gong Zishang in the mirror, she felt something was missing. Oh right, it was her makeup.

She then picked up the rouge from the dressing table and gave Gong Zishang a simple touch-up. Qiulan finally nodded in satisfaction.

Gong Zishang was stunned by her series of actions. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Qiulan had actually improved her appearance by a lot.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Gong Zishang took Qiulan's hand and said with utmost sincerity and honesty:

"My dear sister, you must visit the Shang Palace more often when you have time!"

"I'll definitely go when I have time," Qiu Lan replied with a smile. "Miss Zi Shang, let's hurry and go find Miss."

Gong Zishang smiled and stood up. "I know you're worried about your young lady. We'll go find her now."

When I opened the door, I found that it was snowing heavily outside.

"Ah!" Qiu Lan exclaimed softly, immediately ran back to her room, found two cloaks, and gave one directly to Gong Zishang.

Clutching the other garment, she hurriedly ran towards the pavilion, worried that the young lady might catch a cold.

From afar, Qiu Lan saw Lin Qingyue leaning against the railing watching the snow. She quickened her pace, ran over, and immediately wrapped the cloak around Lin Qingyue's body.

"Miss, be careful not to catch a cold!"

Lin Qingyue noticed that her forehead was covered in sweat from running, so she gently wiped it away and pointed to the snow outside.

"Qiulan, look, Yangzhou has never seen such heavy snow before."

Qiulan only glanced at the snow scene casually; she was more concerned about her mistress's health than the heavy snow.

Following behind Qiu Lan, Gong Zishang, holding an umbrella, slowly walked along the path that the servants had just cleared.

The oil-paper umbrella obscured half of the beauty's face, revealing only her smooth chin and slender, white wrists.

Amidst the swirling snowflakes, a fiery red dress peeks through the white cloak.

The beautiful woman quickly arrived at the pavilion. She put away her oil-paper umbrella and smiled at Lin Qingyue, covering her mouth.

"Sister Qingyue."

Lin Qingyue was slightly taken aback, then broke into a bright smile.

"This outfit suits Sister Zishang very well."

Gong Zishang was also very pleased. No woman dislikes hearing others praise her beauty.

She asked, "Qingyue, where did you buy your mirror? I want to buy one too!"

"This mirror is an imported product, and the quantity is limited. It should be impossible to buy it outside now."

Seeing the disappointment on Gong Zishang's face, Lin Qingyue changed her tone.

"If Sister Zishang really likes it, we can make it ourselves."

"Make it ourselves? Can we make something that clear?"

“I know the raw materials it needs, but I’m not sure about the proportions. We can try a few more times and we’ll eventually be able to make it.”

Gong Zishang was initially skeptical, but upon hearing Lin Qingyue's words, he immediately gained confidence.

"Then let's try slowly. If the foreign lands can make such clear mirrors, I refuse to believe we can't!"

Lin Qingyue smiled gently. The water on the stove had already boiled, and she skillfully rinsed the cups, placed the tea leaves, and brewed the tea.

The movements were fluid and pleasing to the eye.

Soon, Lin Qingyue presented the brewed tea with both hands and placed it in front of Gong Zishang.

Gong Zishang looked at the cup of tea in front of him. It had a fragrant aroma and a bright color. He picked it up and took a sip. It was sweet and mellow, with a long aftertaste.

Lin Qingyue, also sipping her black tea, noticed that Gong Zishang's cup was empty. As she poured tea for her, she asked, "What has Sister Zishang thought about the suggestion made by Young Master Jiao?"

Upon hearing this, Gong Zishang's face immediately fell.

"Sister, it's not that I don't want to do it, it's that I really can't."

“I think you can definitely do it,” Lin Qingyue said directly.

"You spend your days chasing after Jin Fan, your nights researching weapons, and handling the affairs of the Shang Palace. You manage the Shang Palace so well, which shows that you are capable."

"Once you become the Blade Master, you won't be responsible for the affairs of the Zheng Palace and Jiao Palace. You only need to take on the affairs of the Yu Palace."

"As long as you put in the same amount of effort and time as you did to Jin Fan, why are you afraid of not being able to do a good job of wielding the blade?"

Gong Zishang: "..."

"It's like killing someone by breaking their spirit, sister." Gong Zishang looked at her with deep resentment.

Lin Qingyue smiled faintly, "Sister Zishang, would you like another cup of hot tea?"

Gong Zishang took the hot tea and drank a sip without tasting it.

"Sister, have you seen those brides entering the palace?"

Gong Zishang shook his head, "Those are all for choosing wives for Shao Gong Huanyu. I will only be able to see them after Gong Huanyu has chosen and gotten married."

Lin Qingyue lowered her eyes in thought. After a moment, she looked at Gong Zishang and said, "Sister, I have a question that might be presumptuous."

"Go ahead and ask. I'm not afraid of being presumptuous or not."

"Sister, do you still want to marry Jin Fan?"

Gong Zishang's expression changed slightly. He put down his teacup, and his tone became somewhat cold.

“I am still the master of the Shang Palace. Even if I am willing to degrade myself, I cannot be so contemptible.”

If Lin Qingyue hadn't spoken up, she might have been able to deceive herself forever, but once she did, things changed.

She could no longer face the people of Yugong with the same attitude as before.

Whether it's the grudge from ten years ago or Lin Qingyue's words, "Things that are handed to you are worthless."

Gong Zishang also had her own pride; otherwise, she wouldn't have stayed up all night researching weapons, just to prove herself.

Lin Qingyue nodded. "Then when your younger brother grows up, will you have to give up the position of the Shang Palace?"

Gong Zishang clenched her fists. Lin Qingyue was right. Once her younger brother came of age, she would have no choice but to accept the position of Shang Gong.

"I wonder, what are your plans then, sister?"

Gong Zishang's face was very pale. She hadn't thought about this problem before, but now that she did, cold sweat instantly covered her entire body.

What were her plans? Did she even have a say in them? At that time, she was over thirty, a veritable old maid.

The best outcome would be to marry into a family that is on good terms with the palace and become a concubine, possibly with a few stepchildren.

Her fate was so similar to that of those brides.

No, they're even worse than them.

Brides who were not chosen either married into a sect that was on good terms with the palace or returned home to marry on their own.

For the sake of their reputation, the palace would not marry them off to widowers, and they would not have to worry about getting along with their stepchildren.

Seeing that the time was right, Lin Qingyue said, "Sister Zishang, don't you want to take control of your own destiny?"

Gong Zishang looked at the tea in her cup, gave a self-deprecating laugh, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Sister Qingyue, does becoming this Blade grant me control over my own destiny?"

“Why not?” Lin Qingyue smiled. “You are the Blade Master, and your status is far above that of the Shang Palace. Your father has no way to influence your marriage.”

"As for Young Master Jiao, do you think he has the time or inclination to meddle in your affairs?"

"His biggest headache right now is Wu Feng's situation. It will probably take several years to completely eliminate Wu Feng."

"At least for the time being, Young Master Jiao will not have time to interfere in palace affairs."

"What about Gong San?" Gong Zishang retorted, "Gong San has been staying at the palace gate the whole time. After he comes of age, will Gong Er not let him become a swordsman?"

Lin Qingyue's smile deepened. "Gongmen Zhiren cannot leave the palace and will be constantly monitored by Wufeng. Jiao Gongzi can't bear to see Zheng Gongzi suffer like this."

Gong Zishang: "..."

So she's just supposed to suffer like this?