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

Master Xue's sudden fall to the ground startled the terrified servants of the Jia family.

"Murder! Murder! My son-in-law has killed Master Xue!"

The servants scrambled back into the mansion.

Xue Pan collapsed to the ground, trembling as he embraced Master Xue's body. He opened his mouth, but could not utter a single word.

He didn't understand, he couldn't comprehend, where did the knife come from out of nowhere?

Father, Father, how could you suddenly be stabbed?

Jia She, however, remained calm, as if he couldn't see Master Xue bleeding profusely.

He turned to Jia Min and said, "Min'er, you go back first, I'll handle things here."

Jia Min nodded indifferently, reached out and put her arm around the pale-faced Daiyu, leading her towards her own carriage.

Gong Yuanzheng used his lightness skill to flash to Lin Qingyue's side.

He simply picked her up by the waist and used his lightness skill to return to the carriage.

From beginning to end, no one paid any attention to the Xue family father and son.

Once the carriages from the Lin family and the palace gate started moving, Jia She's icy gaze flashed across Xue Pan before landing on Master Xue.

The dagger almost pierced through Master Xue's entire body; even a divine being couldn't save his life.

But Jia She still ordered his servant to fetch the imperial physician, for no other reason than to avoid giving others cause for gossip.

Xue Pan was still somewhat dazed. He knelt on the ground, holding his father's body, trembling all over, but unable to utter a word. Large tears fell from his eyes.

Master Xue held Xue Pan's hand tightly, looking at his son's fearful and uneasy expression. His eyes were filled with regret, pain, and self-blame.

I can't blame anyone but myself. I've been so focused on business that I've neglected the home.

Pan'er was a sensible and filial child when he was young.

As I've grown up, my personality has become more eccentric.

It's his fault. If he had paid more attention to the inner quarters, the children wouldn't have been so spoiled.

Blood was flowing continuously from his chest, and Master Xue felt his body growing colder and colder.

"Old Xia, when you meet the Xue family later, you have to be my witness that Yuan Zheng's actions were for a reason, not a senseless killing."

"You don't need to explain this. I saw it all clearly. How could Young Master Zheng possibly tolerate such a humiliation?"

Jia She and Xia Li's words struck Master Xue like a thunderbolt.

He instantly gripped Xue Pan's hand tightly, as if experiencing a final burst of energy before death.

In Xue Pan's terrified, tearful eyes.

Master Xue strained to say, "Sister, sister, I'll listen to you, sister..."

Before he could finish speaking, he had already stopped breathing.

Xue Pan seemed to wake up at this moment, and holding Master Xue's body, he let out a heart-wrenching cry.

"Father! Father! Father!!!"

Gong Zishang let out a soft sigh.

After seeing the look in Xue Pan's eyes, she knew that this person was destined not to survive.

If she were there, she wouldn't kill him directly like Gong Yuanzheng did, but she would cripple Xue Pan.

It's a pity that Master Xue, a wise man, fell at the doorstep of the Jia family.

From now on, with Xue Pan in charge of the Xue family, I'm afraid the Xue family is doomed.

Young Master Xue had mixed feelings. He had expected that Gong Yuanzheng would kill Xue Pan.

Master Xue shielding him from the knife was something he never expected.

He was just a little sad that Master Xue had died like that.

Gong Yuanzheng frowned. What was Gong Yuanzheng doing in the painting? The culprit wasn't dead yet! Why wasn't he continuing his attack?

Upon hearing the crying, Daiyu's body stiffened slightly, but she simply hugged Jia Min tightly around the waist and nestled in her arms.

Jia Min put her arm around Daiyu's shoulder, but she was thinking about something else.

Tomorrow morning at court, there will likely be many memorials regarding the distant expedition; Lin Ruhai should prepare in advance.

The piercing cries startled Qingyu.

He felt something was off from the moment Lin Qingyue got into the carriage.

This was the first time he had ever seen his older sister and brother-in-law with such strange expressions.

My brother-in-law seems to have done something terrible, which frightened my older sister.

Qingyu couldn't contain her curiosity and poked her little head out of the carriage window.

Gong Yuanzheng grabbed him and said, "Don't look at things that aren't clean."

Qingyu obediently lowered the curtain in her hand and sat down quietly to one side.

Lin Qingyue's face was still slightly pale.

This was the first time in her two lifetimes that she had witnessed a murder.

Gong Yuanzheng held her wrist, feeling her pulse gradually stabilize, and spoke with a hint of regret.

"It was my fault. I didn't consider the occasion and just started hitting him."

Lin Qingyue shook her head and squeezed his hand in return, "I don't blame you."

After a pause, she asked hesitantly, "Yuanzheng, are those two members of the Xue family?"

Gong Yuanzheng nodded. "It should be the father and brother of Miss Xue from the Jia family."

Lin Qingyue suddenly realized that it was indeed Xue Fan.

She frowned slightly in disgust.

In the original novel of Dream of the Red Chamber, Xue Baochai jokingly revealed that Xue Pan intended to marry Daiyu.

What the hell! How dare he even covet her sister!

Seeing that Lin Qingyue's complexion had returned to normal, Gong Yuanzheng finally felt relieved, but his lowered eyes revealed a murderous intent.

Thinking about Xue Pan's expression just now, he wished he could chop him into pieces!

He didn't regret drawing the knife at all; he only regretted not covering Yue'er's eyes before he did it.

It's just a pity that it was Master Xue who died.

If Xia Li hadn't been there today, he definitely would have struck a second time.

But no rush, he won't let any of those who deserve to die get away with it.

Let that fellow live a little longer.

Back at the villa outside the palace gates, she handed Qingyu to Young Master Xue, who was already waiting at the door.

Gong Yuanzheng took Lin Qingyue directly to find Gong Shangjiao.

It just so happens that Gong Shangjiao is in the capital these days.

This time, he was escorting several wanted criminals who had been on the run for many years to the capital for trial.

Every time Gong Zishang saw Gong Shangjiao in the painting, he could clearly feel the changes in him.

A year has passed in the painting, and Gong Shangjiao's aura is even stronger than before.

He used to give people the impression of being aloof, sharp, and unapproachable.

Now, he exudes an air of nobility, understated yet luxurious.

Every gesture he made exuded the aura of someone in a superior position, inspiring awe and fear in others.

Upon seeing Gong Yuanzheng and Lin Qingyue enter, his expression softened instantly, and the cold arrogance between his brows dissipated considerably.

But he quickly noticed the bloodstains on Gong Yuanzheng, his gaze sharpened, and the smile on his lips turned cold.

"Yuanzheng, brother and sister-in-law, what happened on the way?"

Gong Yuanzheng led Lin Qingyue to sit down at the table, poured her a cup of tea, and then answered Gong Shangjiao's question.

"Brother, nothing serious happened. I killed someone in front of the Jia family's house today."

Gong Shangjiao put down his teacup and looked calmly at Gong Yuanzheng.

He didn't believe his brother would kill someone for no reason.

It must be that person who provoked the expedition.

Gong Yuanzheng did not hide anything and told Gong Shangjiao everything that had happened at the Jia family's gate.

It was only at this moment that Lin Qingyue realized that Xue Pan had actually done such a brave thing.

She knew Xue Pan was a womanizer, but to this extent was truly an eye-opener.

With Gong Yuanzheng's current imposing aura, he dares to flirt with him; he's truly courting death.

Gong Yuanzheng did not find it difficult to talk about being teased by Xue Pan.

His thinking was very simple: if he felt wronged, he had to tell his brother, and his brother would definitely help him get revenge.

Gong Shangjiao narrowed his eyes.

A lecherous scoundrel not only coveted his sister-in-law, but also dared to covet his brother!

If the Xue family is allowed to continue to exist, it would be a sign of Gong Shangjiao's incompetence!

"Don't worry about this. It's not your fault. I will submit a memorial to His Majesty, explaining the whole story."

"Since Steward Xia is also here, he will naturally explain to His Majesty."

"As for Xue Pan, wait until things calm down before dealing with him."

Gong Yuanzheng nodded; his thoughts were exactly the same as his brother's.

However, he looked at Miyazaki with some apology.

"Brother, I'm afraid those civil officials will make things difficult for you at the morning court tomorrow."

Gong Shangjiao didn't care at all. "Don't pay attention to those people. Let them talk if they want."

The most troublesome thing about this matter is that Xue Pan didn't lift a finger from beginning to end, while Master Xue was already dead.

Gong Shangjiao is currently dealing with the issue of martial arts practitioners persecuting ordinary people.

Gong Yuanzheng is his younger brother. Given his sensitive status, there's a good chance someone will make a big deal out of this.

Lin Qingyue seemed to have thought of something. She put down her teacup and looked at Gong Yuanzheng.

"Yuanzheng, do you still remember those improved grain varieties you made half a year ago?"

Daqing has suffered from a series of natural disasters in recent years. Half a year ago, a large number of refugees poured into Yangzhou.

Knowing that Gong Yuanzheng could improve herbs and flower seeds, Lin Qingyue suggested that Gong Yuanzheng try to improve grain seeds.

With the intelligence network already established, Gong Yuanzheng, having nothing else to do, dragged Lin Qingyue to squat in the fields for a few days.

Judging by the days, these improved rice varieties should be ripe by now.

“Yesterday, the manager from Yangzhou came to the villa. Why don’t we ask about the rice seeds first?”

Gong Shangjiao smiled, "Then there's no need to ask him, just ask me."

"The manager already reported to me this morning that the improved rice varieties we sent out have doubled the yield compared to before."

"I will bring this rice to court tomorrow morning; that will be enough to shut those civil officials up."