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

"Cough cough cough." Qi Yan'an choked on a mouthful of tea.

Gong Shangjiao could no longer maintain his calm expression, and his lips twitched as he looked at Gong Zishang, who was smiling broadly.

Gong Yuanzheng looked like he'd seen a ghost. He couldn't help but look at Gong Shangjiao, his eyes full of suspicion.

Brother, are you serious about making her the Blade Master?

Gong Shangjiao instantly understood Gong Yuanzheng's gaze. He fell silent, not responding to his younger brother for the first time.

He didn't know either. He hadn't expected Gong Zishang to have such lofty ambitions. Was it too late to take back what he said?

Lin Qingyue's inner thoughts: Sister, you're being way too blatant...

"Miss Zi Shang, you really know how to joke."

Finally, Qi Yan'an stopped coughing and looked at Gong Zishang with surprise in his eyes. He had never seen such an interesting girl in his twenty years of life.

Gong Zishang smiled without answering, his gaze sweeping over Qi Yan'an before turning to Gong Shangjiao, his eyes filled with eagerness.

Gong Yuanzheng and Gong Shangjiao were terrified.

Gong Yuanzheng immediately gripped Lin Qingyue's wrist tightly, determined to keep Yue'er away from Gong Zishang from now on! She was too dangerous!

Gong Shangjiao's temples throbbed. Based on his understanding of Gong Zishang, he was certain that what this older sister said was absolutely true.

For the first time, he broke out in a cold sweat. Since the establishment of the palace, whether in the front or back mountains, only Gong Hongyu and Gong Liushang had a concubine, and they only took concubines after their wives passed away.

There has never been a palace master who had three wives and four concubines, with women on both sides.

This Gong Zishang is really ambitious; he's already thinking about starting a harem!

Will this palace's century-old reputation really be ruined in her hands?

For the first time, Gong Shangjiao regretted his decision. Finally, he couldn't hold back any longer. He looked coldly at Lin Qingyue and said, "I asked you to persuade her, and this is how you persuade her?"

Lin Qingyue: "......"

What else can she do besides smile?

Gong Shangjiao's gaze shifted and settled on the clasped hands of Gong Yuanzheng and Lin Qingyue.

To be precise, it was Gong Yuanzheng who was holding Lin Qingyue's wrist.

Gong Shangjiao's gaze narrowed slightly, a surge of anger rising in his chest. "You're really something, don't just grab my wrist!"

Gong Yuanzheng was still in shock and did not notice his brother's gaze.

Lin Qingyue tried to quietly withdraw her hand, but failed and instead received a questioning look from Gong Yuanzheng.

Gong Shangjiao closed his eyes. One was not enlightened, and the other was enlightened too much.

Gong Zishang paid no attention to how devastated Gong Shangjiao was. She calmly straightened her slightly wrinkled clothes, and her expression turned serious in a second.

The speed at which he changed his expression left Qi Yan'an in awe.

"Come on, let's plan this out properly. How can I rightfully inherit the position of Blade Master?"

As expected of the most worldly person in the palace, Gong Shangjiao immediately regained his composure no matter how devastated he was inside.

"We already have a preliminary plan..."

Gong Shangjiao had just begun speaking when Qi Yan'an suddenly unfurled his folding fan, interrupting him.

"Shang Jiao, let me explain to Miss Zi Shang in detail."

Gong Shangjiao's expression froze, his hands itching. What should he do?

Lin Qingyue glanced at Qi Yan'an, then at Gong Zishang, and immediately lowered her head. Something was wrong. What was wrong?

Gong Yuanzheng, uh, whoever says it doesn't matter, just don't let him say it.

Gong Zishang smiled brightly, "Then I'll have to trouble Young Master Qi."

"I am about the same age as Shang Jiao, so Miss Zi Shang doesn't need to be so polite. Just call me Yan An."

Gong Zishang raised her sleeve, lightly covering her mouth, a sly glint in her eyes, "I'm three months older than Shangjiao."

Qi Yan'an was slightly taken aback, not expecting that Gong Zishang was older than him, but that didn't matter.

Qi Yan'an readily changed her address, "Sister Zi Shang".

“Brother Yan’an~” Gong Zishang smiled, her eyes crinkling. She glanced at Gong Shangjiao’s ashen face and her heart skipped a beat.

Oh no, he's gotten so used to teasing people that he's forgotten the thirteenth prince sitting across from him.

Gong Yuanzheng held back for a long time, but finally couldn't hold back any longer, "Can you guys get down to business first! Stop arguing..."

A piece of pastry shut his mouth.

All eyes turned to Gong Yuanzheng and Lin Qingyue.

Lin Qingyue withdrew her hand somewhat awkwardly. "Young Master Zheng, these pastries are quite good. Please try them."

Gong Yuanzheng: "..." He swallowed the pastry with difficulty.

Gong Shangjiao closed his eyes, out of sight, out of mind.

Qi Yan'an's hand, which was waving the folding fan, froze, and the smile on his face also froze.

Gong Zishang felt a little embarrassed, but the embarrassment only lasted for a moment.

Seeing Qi Yan'an's stiff smile across from her, she cursed inwardly, "You're a prince, can't you be a little more reserved! Your smile is so alluring, no wonder I can't help but want to flirt with you!"

However, what Gong Zishang is most troubled about now is how to address Qi Yan'an.

Young Master Qi forbade her to call him that, and Yan An dared not call him that either. She swore that if she uttered those words, Gong Er would definitely throw her out of the Zheng Palace. So, she had no choice but to call him that...

"Thirteenth Master, let's get down to business first."

"Ahem." Qi Yan'an coughed lightly, continuing to fan himself with his folding fan and talking about the previous topic.

"This story begins four days ago. At that time, I was sent a message by carrier pigeon from the fashion corner, asking me to intercept a group of people."

"After they were caught and interrogated, we found out that they were relatives of Manager Jia of the Gongmen Pharmacy."

"Just now, Shangjiao, Yuanzheng, and I interrogated those people again."

"Zishang, young lady, guess what good news we've received?"

Gong Zishang's smile faded, and her eyes flickered thoughtfully. "Manager Jia of the pharmacy, was he bribed by the Yu Palace? Who bribed him? And what was their purpose?"

"Miss Zi Shang is indeed incredibly intelligent." Qi Yan'an said with admiration, raising his chin slightly and pointing to the man slumped on the ground in the corner.

Gong Zishang noticed that there was a man half-lying in the corner, trembling all over. When he saw everyone's eyes on him, he trembled even more and tried desperately to shrink himself into a ball.

"He is Steward Jia's son. He fell seriously ill some time ago, and there was no cure. In the end, Gong Huanyu saved him with the Cloud Lotus."

What?! Gong Zishang's eyes widened, she stood up abruptly, clutched her chest tightly with both hands, and looked at the man with eyes full of heartache and disbelief.

That's the Izumo Lotus, such a precious medicinal herb that it's been extinct for almost a hundred years. And it's being wasted on something like this.

Gong Zishang felt a sharp, throbbing pain in her heart.

"That was specially cultivated for my brother, but Gong Hongyu forcibly took it from him." Gong Yuanzheng looked at the man with a sinister gaze, his murderous intent undisguised.

Gong Hongyu's excuse was that Gong Huanyu had encountered a problem during his training. He was initially unwilling to give it to him, but he had to because of the pressure of wielding the blade.

Even Gong Huanyu is not worthy of using his Cloud Lotus, let alone the son of a steward.

A cruel smile appeared on Gong Yuanzheng's lips, and the viciousness and ruthlessness in his eyes were no longer concealed.

What a wonderful test subject! After consuming his Izumo Chonglian, we can't let him die so easily.

Under Gong Yuanzheng's gaze, the man trembled uncontrollably. Wet stains spread beneath him, and a strong smell of urine filled the air. The man was so frightened by Gong Yuanzheng that he lost control of his bladder.

Gong Yuanzheng curled his lip in disdain. So timid, how boring.

He withdrew his gaze and habitually looked at Lin Qingyue, only to be startled to notice that her wrist in his hand was also cold and stiff. He asked anxiously, "What's wrong? Are you cold?"

As he spoke, a surge of internal energy flowed into Lin Qingyue's body.

Lin Qingyue's face was pale. She glanced quickly at Gong Yuanzheng and immediately lowered her head.

She had clearly seen Gong Yuanzheng's expression just now—gloomy, ruthless, as if he were looking at a dead dog.

She had never met such a person in either of her lives. How could she have forgotten that Gong Yuanzheng was known as the Little Poison Child? How could such a person be a kind person?

If she accidentally offends him in the future, will he let her off the hook for the sake of the imperial court?

I couldn't help but try to pull my hand back, but the large hand on my wrist didn't budge.

Looking up, Gong Yuanzheng asked with a hint of concern, "How are you? Are you still cold?"

Lin Qingyue immediately lowered her head and tightened her wrist. "Young Master Zheng, this is unreasonable."

Gong Yuanzheng was puzzled. "We've been holding hands for so long, and now you're telling me it's illogical?"

Although puzzled, Gong Yuanzheng still let go of her hand. Seeing Lin Qingyue quickly withdraw her hand, he lowered his head with a somewhat aggrieved expression.