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

"Oh! What's wrong? Yuanzheng, did you upset Qingyue again?"

Gong Zishang's exaggerated voice broke the silence in the room.

Seeing Lin Qingyue on the verge of tears, he immediately walked quickly to her side.

Ignoring Gong Yuanzheng's murderous glare, he sat down on the other side of Lin Qingyue, took her hand, placed it in his palm, glared at Gong Yuanzheng, and softly comforted her:

"Tell your sister, I'll have Gong Shangjiao teach Gong Yuanzheng a lesson!"

Even though Lin Qingyue was full of worries, her antics dissipated some of them, but she really wasn't in the mood to joke with her. She just forced a smile and shook her head at her.

Gong Yuanzheng stared at his empty palm, his eyes practically spitting fire.

Gong Shangjiao was too lazy to mediate the conflict between Gong Zishang and Gong Yuanzheng.

Anyway, once Gong Zishang inherits the position of Blade Master, such things will only increase, not decrease. Oh well, let's just get used to it in advance.

He also decided that as long as the two of them didn't tear down the palace gate, he wouldn't care how much they argued.

His gaze shifted downwards to Qi Yan'an, who had entered with Gong Zishang. The latter was holding a teacup, watching the show with great interest.

"Your Highness, Wu Feng should have already taken action against the important officials of the court."

"Mm." Qi Yan'an responded casually, a faint smile appearing on his lips as he looked at Gong Zishang.

He leisurely skimmed off the foam, and was about to drink his tea when he suddenly realized what Gong Shangjiao had just said, and he could no longer drink the tea in his hand.

"Shangjiao, I didn't hear you clearly just now, could you say it again?"

"Wu Feng must have already taken action against important officials of the court."

Qi Yan'an immediately put down his teacup, his face solemn. "How are you so sure?"

Gong Shangjiao glanced at Lin Qingyue and Gong Yuanzheng, "The poison that Lord Lin's family was poisoned with was developed by Yuanzheng's younger brother two years ago."

Gong Zishang immediately stopped exchanging glances with Gong Yuanzheng; she understood why Lin Qingyue was so worried.

This is Gong Yuanzheng's poison; even the doctors at the clinic need to see the prescription to find an antidote.

She squeezed Lin Qingyue's hand, "Don't worry, little sister, there is an antidote for Yuanzheng's poison. I'll have him give you the antidote formula in a little while."

These words were met with a murderous glare from Gong Yuanzheng.

That expression, that demeanor... could it be...?

She stared at Gong Yuanzheng in disbelief, then covered her mouth with her sleeve. "No way, Gong San, there's no antidote for this poison?!"

Gong Yuanzheng gritted his teeth, "I'm already developing it..."

Qi Yan'an glanced at Gong Yuanzheng, raised his eyebrows slightly, and looked more relaxed than before.

He unfolded his folding fan, fanning himself gently, and said dismissively, "Then I'll trouble you, brother Yuanzheng, to develop the antidote as soon as possible."

When he first got involved in the affairs of the martial arts world, he learned about the palace and knew that Gong Shangjiao's younger brother was a herbal genius. But how old was he two years ago? What kind of powerful antidote could he have developed?

The imperial physicians had visited the Lin family before, and one of them was the emperor's confidant. That man's medical skills were among the best in the capital, yet he couldn't diagnose anything unusual.

Could it be that Gong Yuanzheng, at such a young age, was able to develop a poison that even the imperial physicians in the palace couldn't diagnose?

Gong Zishang looked at Qi Yan'an with a strange expression. This man said he understood the palace gate, but did he really understand the palace gate?

Gong Shangjiao placed the teacup back on the table with a crisp sound.

"Your Highness may not know, but the poison from the expedition is quite unique. Those who are poisoned all appear to die from illness, but it manifests different causes of illness depending on the individual's constitution, which most doctors cannot detect."

Gong Zishang looked at Gong Yuanzheng with great admiration. She knew that her younger brother had been a prodigy since childhood, but she never expected that such a prodigy would possess such a poison. It was truly unprecedented.

Qi Yan'an's expression was unpredictable. Was there such a unique poison in this world?

The causes of poisoning vary depending on the individual's constitution.

Aside from the poisoner, who could know that this person died from poisoning?

Upon closer reflection, Qi Yan'an broke out in a fine sweat.

This poison is too powerful; it truly kills without leaving a trace.

For the first time, Qi Yan'an looked at Gong Yuanzheng with a hint of fear in his eyes. "Younger brother Yuanzheng, you are so young, yet you have managed to develop such a miraculous poison. I admire you."

As he spoke, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Gong Yuanzheng.

His reputation as a herbalist is well-deserved.

Lowering his hand, Qi Yan'an looked solemnly at Gong Yuanzheng: "Does the palace still have this poison?"

Gong Yuanzheng looked at Gong Shangjiao.

Gong Shangjiao merely glanced at Gong Yuanzheng with an indifferent expression.

Without hesitation, Gong Yuanzheng took out the poison he had brought from the pharmacy from his pocket. "This is the only dose left."

All eyes were simultaneously drawn to the tightly wrapped porcelain bottle.

"These medicinal herbs are extremely rare, so only two batches were made. One batch was stored in the Moon Palace and was taken away by the assassin Wufeng."

At this point, Gong Yuanzheng paused, glanced quickly at Lin Qingyue, and continued:

"There's another one right here."

Qi Yan'an stared intently at the porcelain vase on the table, his gaze unfathomable, and no one knew what he was thinking.

With a "whoosh," he reopened his folding fan, gently waving it. His smile was kind, yet brooked no refusal. "Brother Yuanzheng, may I have this medicine?"

Gong Yuanzheng did not answer him, but looked at Gong Shangjiao.

Gong Shangjiao smiled slightly, "If Your Highness needs it, please take it."

Upon hearing this, Gong Yuanzheng pushed the porcelain bottle towards Qi Yan'an.

"You can take it, but I haven't developed an antidote for this poison yet."

"No rush." ​​Qi Yan'an smiled brightly. "My sister-in-law was also poisoned. My brother Yuanzheng will definitely develop an antidote."

Gong Yuanzheng glanced at him but did not respond.

Qi Yan'an didn't care about his reply. He simply picked up the porcelain bottle on the table, played with it for a while, and then put it into his pocket.

Waving his folding fan, he sighed, "Your Majesty guessed correctly. Wu Feng's plans are quite grand. It seems he has already joined forces with those princes."

If it's just about matters of the martial arts world, there's no need to take action against the Salt Commissioner.

Lin Ruhai didn't care about fighting, brawling, or murder cases. On the surface, he was in charge of salt, taxes, and money, but secretly he was the emperor's eyes and ears in Jiangnan, overseeing the finances of Jiangnan.

Only a prince would want to get rid of such a person.

"Shangjiao, I'd like to borrow someone from you."

The room was silent; everyone knew who Qi Yan'an wanted to borrow from.

The smile on Gong Shangjiao's face vanished completely, and his gaze toward Qi Yan'an turned icy cold.

Gong Zishang silently lowered her hand from her mouth, her face showing worry. Although she had never left the Old Dust Valley, she knew from reading history books that the struggle for the throne was extremely dangerous.

Qi Yan'an's purpose in speaking at this moment is obvious.

He is royalty. Can Gong Shangjiao withstand this pressure?

She glanced at Gong Shangjiao, then at Gong Yuanzheng, and finally at Qi Yan'an.

Lin Qingyue's gaze shifted from Gong Yuanzheng to Gong Shangjiao, and finally returned to Gong Yuanzheng.

Her hands unconsciously clenched into fists. She didn't know whether she wanted Gong Yuanzheng to leave with Qi Yan'an.

Gong Yuanzheng was the most relaxed one. He carefully opened Lin Qingyue's palm to avoid scratching her palm with his nails.

He trusted his brother; he believed his brother wouldn't do anything bad to him.

If his brother allows it, he will go, but he may not see Yue'er for a long time.

Why don't we think of a way to let Yue'er go with him?

"You can take any of the doctors from the clinic with you."

"It's mere words," said Miyazaki coldly.

Qi Yan'an sighed, "Shang Jiao, ten doctors are not as good as one brother who went on a distant expedition."

Gong Shangjiao completely ignored him, saying, "When Your Highness returns to the capital, I will have the best doctor from the clinic accompany you."

Qi Yan'an smiled, lightly tapping his palm with his folding fan, conveying a subtle pressure. "A fledgling bird will eventually fly high. I understand Shang Jiao's desire to protect his younger brother, but Yuan Zheng will eventually leave the palace, won't he?"

Gong Yuanzheng couldn't bear to see Gong Shangjiao being humiliated, so he stood up. "Brother..."

"Shut up!" Gong Shangjiao's cold gaze swept over Gong Yuanzheng, who immediately fell silent and obediently sat up straight.

The friendliness that had been there before was completely gone from Gong Shangjiao's eyes as he looked at Qi Yan'an.

He will allow Gong Yuanzheng to leave the palace, but not now. Even if he does leave, Yuanzheng will still be under his protection.

"That's not now. My younger brother Yuanzheng is not yet an adult. Once he passes the trial in the back mountain, I will personally take him out of the palace."

"Shangjiao, I just want my younger brother Yuanzheng to meet my elder brother, the Emperor. I have no other intentions. Once he has met the Emperor, I promise I will personally escort him back to the palace gate."

"You can't guarantee that," Gong Shangjiao replied coldly, his expression resolute and leaving no room for negotiation.

Now that the Crown Prince knows of Yuanzheng's abilities, how could he possibly release him so easily?

Yuanzheng grew up in the palace and was innocent and naive. In the treacherous imperial city, he was being plotted against without even realizing it.

Moreover, since Princess Mingwu has been hiding in the palace for so long, even if Yuanzheng has never left the palace, her portrait must have already been placed on the table of the leader of Wufeng.

Once outside the palace gates, facing assassination, will Qi Yan'an's guards do everything in their power to protect Yuanzheng?

He didn't believe it. Their master was Qi Yan'an, and the only person they would risk their lives to protect was Qi Yan'an.

Deep down, Gong Shangjiao felt some regret for getting involved with the imperial court.

However, if they do not cooperate with the imperial court, given Wu Feng's current plans, the palace gates will likely be unable to withstand the attack in the future, and he will be unable to protect the expedition.

Caught in this dilemma, even Gong Shangjiao, who was usually a master strategist, felt a sense of powerlessness.

Qi Yan'an sighed inwardly, knowing that there was no room for negotiation on this matter.

This time, they really can't take Gong Yuanzheng with them.

He simply wanted Gong Yuanzheng to go to the palace to check his elder brother, the Crown Prince, to see if he had been poisoned by any hidden poison.

But Gong Shangjiao's worries were not unfounded. If the Crown Prince had other arrangements, he would indeed have no way to disobey the Crown Prince's decree.

Fortunately, not many poisons from the palace have been leaked outside; currently, only the Lin Ruhai family is known to possess them.

However, there's no guarantee that the other families under the Crown Prince's tutelage won't pass either. For now, all we can do is send the doctor from the clinic with him.

Gong Yuanzheng's mind stirred, and he instantly thought of someone: Elder Yue's adopted son, Young Master Yue.

He revealed a malicious smile, "Brother, let that man from the Moon Palace go out with His Highness."

Gong Shangjiao looked at him.

Gong Yuanzheng's smile remained malicious. "Brother, I checked the pharmacy today, and no poison was missing."

"The Moon Palace contains all the poisons from the palace gates. They've already lost one batch of poisons; who knows if they've lost any others?"

"Let Young Master Yue go; it will be a good opportunity for him to make amends."

"His medical skills are not as good as mine, but they are much better than those of the doctors in the clinic."

"Brother, let him go."