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

Gong Shangjiao and Gong Yuanzheng went directly to Jiaogong.

The two brothers sat facing each other by the ink pond. Gong Yuanzheng poured a cup of tea and pushed it in front of Gong Shangjiao.

Looking at him, a hint of excitement shone in his eyes: "Brother, tonight, Gong Huanyu should make his move!"

Gong Shangjiao picked up his teacup, his face ashen. "If Miss Lin's prediction is correct, tonight will be Gong Hongyu's death day."

"There's no mistake. What Mingwu Ji and Steward Jia did is exactly the same as what Yue'er said!"

Gong Yuanzheng curled his lips into a cruel and insane smile. "Brother, I really can't wait any longer. I really want to kill Mingwu Ji and Gong Hongyu right now."

Gong Shangjiao merely curled the corners of his lips slightly, his eyes devoid of warmth; everything would end tonight.

He took a sip of tea, his coldness intensifying. Compared to Wu Feng, the person he hated most was Gong Hongyu.

Those who shield and harbor those who lack sharpness are unworthy to wield the blade.

"Before Gong Huanyu makes his move, he will send me out of the palace gates. I will pretend to leave. You keep Gong Hongyu alive so that he doesn't die so quickly."

Gong Yuanzheng toyed with the teacup in his hand, a bright smile on his face. "Brother, don't worry, I understand."

Gong Shangjiao naturally trusted him completely. He picked up the teapot and poured tea for the two of them.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing. Lord Lin and his entire family have been poisoned..."

Gong Yuanzheng's expression changed, and the smile on his face vanished instantly. "Poisoned?"

Gong Shangjiao nodded. “Brother Yuanzheng, there’s no need to worry. I gave Miss Lin some herbal extract on the way here, and I also left a bottle for the Lin family before we left. Just in case, we still need to send a doctor to Yangzhou.”

Gong Yuanzheng's expression softened slightly, but he still stood up. "No, I have to examine Yue'er myself. Brother, I'll go back to Zheng Palace first."

The medicinal meal I prepared for Lin Qingyue was something I made simply last night after noticing her complexion.

To truly improve one's health, herbal decoctions are still necessary.

He had originally planned to take her pulse properly after breakfast, but Qi Yan'an's arrival disrupted his plans.

Now that he heard that Lin Qingyue had been poisoned, Gong Yuanzheng could no longer sit still.

Looking at his younger brother's anxious and worried face, he suddenly remembered Lin Qingyue's prophecy.

She and Gong Yuanzheng were destined to separate.

Gong Shangjiao lowered his eyes, hesitated for a moment, and then suddenly asked, "Is Miss Lin pretty?"

Gong Yuanzheng was taken aback, not understanding why his brother had changed the subject so quickly. A blush instantly spread across his cheeks. "Brother, why are you asking this?"

Meeting Gong Shangjiao's smiling eyes, Gong Yuanzheng lowered his head, his voice softening with shyness, "Beautiful, very beautiful, exceptionally beautiful. I've never seen a girl as beautiful as her."

Gong Shangjiao's heart sank slightly. He tentatively asked, "So, you like her a lot?"

Upon hearing this question, Gong Yuanzheng raised his head and met Gong Shangjiao's gaze. He smiled brightly, his eyes and brows radiating joy.

"Yes, brother, I like her."

"Brother, I've never seen a girl like this before."

"She's so beautiful, and her smile is so gentle."

“Last night, among the brides, I saw her at first glance.”

"Those brides are nothing compared to her."

"When I found out she was Lin Qingyue, I was so happy."

“Brother, I never believed in love at first sight before, but I do now. I fell in love with Yue’er at first sight.”

"Brother, I really want to stay with her inside the palace gates forever."

I only wanted to confirm the answer, but I never expected to hear my younger brother's inner thoughts.

Hearing his younger brother's most sincere words, Gong Shangjiao's heart sank to the bottom. For a moment, he didn't know whether he hoped Lin Qingyue's prophetic dream would come true or not.

If you fall in love at first sight and continue to spend time together, your feelings will only grow stronger.

When it really comes time to separate, Yuanzheng will probably go crazy.

Others might not notice Gong Shangjiao's change in mood, but how could Gong Yuanzheng, who had been raised by him since childhood, not notice it?

Brother, this means you don't approve of his relationship with Lin Qingyue.

Realizing this, Gong Yuanzheng's face grew paler and paler. He felt wronged and helpless. Why didn't his brother have faith in them?

Remembering what Gong Shangjiao had said about Lady Lan being a second, Gong Yuanzheng felt a pang of panic. Could it be that Lin Qingyue really had someone she loved?

Once you enter the Zheng Palace, you become the wife of someone else on a distant expedition. Even if she has someone else in her heart, you can simply pull her away!

A murderous glint flashed in Gong Yuanzheng's eyes, and his aura gradually turned chilling. "Brother, who is that person? I'm going to kill him!"

Gong Shangjiao was startled by the murderous intent in his voice. He immediately put down his teacup. "Who? Who do you want to kill?"

"Yue'er's..." Gong Yuanzheng gritted his teeth and uttered the last three words, "her beloved!"

Gong Shangjiao was completely shocked. When had Lin Qingyue ever had a love interest?

"I've investigated Miss Lin, and I haven't heard of her having any contact with other men. Where would she find someone she likes?"

Gong Yuanzheng was filled with grievances, "Then why didn't my brother have faith in us?"

Gong Shangjiao's mind raced. He didn't intend to tell Gong Yuanzheng the truth. He knew how crazy his younger brother was. If he told him, no one knew what Gong Yuanzheng would do when he went crazy.

“Miss Lin is from an official family, while you are a person from the martial arts world. I am just worried that you two will not get along well in the future.”

Gong Yuanzheng simply looked at him quietly without saying a word, his tightly pursed lips revealing his turbulent inner state.

Gong Shangjiao sighed inwardly, but his face remained calm and composed.

He patted Gong Yuanzheng on the shoulder and smiled with relief.

“Your marriage is not a simple alliance; it concerns the stability of the imperial court and the martial arts world. I was previously struggling with how to help you successfully dissolve the engagement, but now it seems I don’t need to rack my brains for that anymore.”

Miyazaki's smile and expression were perfect, exactly how an older brother cares for his younger brother.

But Gong Yuanzheng's intuition told him that Gong Shangjiao was not telling the truth and that he was hiding something.

Gong Yuanzheng lowered his head and looked at the teacup in front of him. The light tea soup faintly reflected his slightly manic eyes.

No rush. He will leave the palace in the future, and he can find out the truth for himself.

What the brother was hiding was completely unimportant.

It doesn't matter whether Yue'er has someone she likes or not.

She is now at the palace gate, right beside him. The imperial decree for their marriage has been issued, and she is destined to be his wife.

No one can separate them unless he agrees, including Lin Ruhai.

Thinking of Lin Ruhai, Gong Yuanzheng's gaze froze. How could he have forgotten that the Lin family could also propose to cancel the engagement?

The imperial court and the martial world are two completely different worlds. In the eyes of those officials, these martial arts practitioners are nothing more than roughnecks.

If they hadn't been driven to desperation, the Lin family would never have married their beloved daughter, whom they had raised with such care, to a martial arts figure.

He looked up at Gong Shangjiao, "Brother, after the Crown Prince ascended the throne, both the Gong family and the Lin family contributed to his success, right?"

Gong Shangjiao nodded. "That's natural."

Gong Yuanzheng pressed further, "Then, between the Gong family and the Lin family, which is more important?"

Gong Shangjiao lowered his head in thought. The Gong family was responsible for restraining Jianghu people on behalf of the imperial court. Lin Ruhai was the Salt Inspector, in charge of the salt permits and salt taxes of Lianghuai.

"Each performs their own duties, and none are superior to the other. Why do you ask?"

Gong Yuanzheng's eyes flickered slightly, but he did not answer his question directly. "Brother, from now on, I'll handle matters of the martial world with you."

Gong Shangjiao smiled and said, "The reason I didn't let you inherit the position of Blade Master is precisely this: once we've wiped out Wufeng, you can take Miss Lin out for a trip without worry."

Gong Yuanzheng only slightly curled the corners of his mouth, "Brother, I'm going back to Zheng Palace first. I'm worried about Yue'er."

"Alright, bring Miss Lin to the Corner Palace for dinner. I'll have someone invite Gong Zishang and Qi Yan'an over later."

"Okay, brother."

The moment he turned around, the smile on Gong Yuanzheng's face vanished without a trace.