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

Today, unusually, there was no snow at the palace gates. The sunlight shone like scattered gold on the white snow, making it sparkle.

Young Master Xue and Young Master Hua remained silent as they escorted Young Master Yue to the ferry.

Compared to the reluctance of Young Master Hua and Young Master Xue, Young Master Yue appeared quite calm.

"You don't need to worry about me. Just as Young Master Jiao said, once I've seen more of the world, I won't get caught up in these petty romances anymore."

Young Master Hua hesitated for a moment, then handed his sword to Young Master Yue.

"This is my latest sword, take it with you for self-defense."

Young Master Xue then handed Young Master Yue a brocade box.

"This is a snow lotus from the Snow Palace; you should take it with you."

Young Master Yue gladly accepted the gifts from his two childhood friends.

"You should all go back now; it's time for me to set off with His Highness."

After a pause, Young Master Yue continued, "My father is getting old, and I hope you will take good care of him."

Young Master Hua readily agreed, "Don't worry about that, I will visit the elders often."

Only then did Young Master Yue feel relieved. He bowed to the two of them, turned around, and boarded the boat.

As the ship sailed away, the figures on the shore grew smaller and smaller, yet they remained standing there.

Qi Yan'an walked to Yue Gongzi's side, glanced at the things in his arms, waved his folding fan, and coughed lightly.

"When you're traveling, there's one most important thing you've brought with you."

Young Master Yue looked at him with a blank expression.

"Silver, did you bring any silver?"

Young Master Yue: "......"

Qi Yan'an pointed to the thing in his arms, "This thing of yours can be exchanged for a lot of silver."

Young Master Yue silently hugged the things in his arms tighter. Clearly, he didn't want to exchange these things for silver with Qi Yan'an.

Qi Yan'an's eyes darted around, just about to continue his deception.

Young Master Yue suddenly spoke up, "I know medicine, and my martial arts skills are no less than those of your guards."

"I can treat your illness and act as your bodyguard, and you can pay me back in silver."

Qi Yan'an: "..."

I thought the people in the back mountain were easy to fool, but I was careless.

The boat was no longer in sight. Young Master Hua and Young Master Xue exchanged a glance, both feeling quite melancholy.

"Xiaoxue, shall we go back now?" Young Master Hua asked.

Young Master Xue nodded, "Let's go back quickly. Zhi Ren is still waiting for us; he probably has something to tell us."

After saying that, the two quickened their pace and hurried toward the Blade Master Hall.

On the way, Young Master Hua sighed, "In just one night, it feels like the entire palace has changed."

Young Master Xue also exclaimed, "Isn't that right? I thought I would have to sneak around to come to the front mountain in my entire life, but I never thought I could come and visit the Old Dust Valley now. In the future, I can even leave the palace."

"Looking back now, I still find it a bit unbelievable."

Their thoughts simultaneously drifted back to an hour earlier.

Gong Huanyu's body was taken away, and Gong Hongyu seemed to have aged ten years, his spirit dissipating in an instant.

Elder Yue couldn't bear to disturb him any longer, so she led everyone to a side hall to discuss what to do next.

Gong Ziyu did not participate in the aftermath; Jin Fan helped him back to the Feather Palace to rest.

So much happened in one night that Gong Ziyu is still in a daze.

He didn't go into the room. He broke free from Jin Fan's hand and stumbled to sit down on the stone steps.

Looking at the empty Feather Palace, I felt somewhat lost.

In just one night, the once bustling Feather Palace became somewhat desolate.

Gong Ziyu knew that all the servants had been taken to the dungeon.

I'm afraid that in a little while, the people from the Horned Palace will come to arrest me and Jin Fan.

The aunt who always doted on her was actually a hidden assassin lurking in the palace gates.

The father I respected most was the culprit who drove my mother to her death.

The eldest brother, who cared for and loved his mother, was an indirect culprit in her mother's death.

His world seemed like a joke, and everything around him was fake.

He didn't know who to believe, or who he could trust.

"Jin Fan, can I trust you?"

Jin Fan was taken aback, then immediately knelt before Gong Ziyu, "Young Master, of course you can trust me."

Upon entering the side hall, Young Master Yue immediately knelt down on the ground.

Gong Shangjiao looked at Yue Gongzi on the ground and said, "I'm sure you all know the mistake Yue Gongzi made."

Elder Yue's face flushed, yet he still shamelessly stepped forward to beg for forgiveness, "Shang Jiao, this was Xiao Yue's fault. He shouldn't have saved a Wu Feng assassin, and he especially shouldn't have..."

Elder Yue gave Young Master Yue a disappointed look and continued, "Shang Jiao has never left the valley and is unaware of the dangers of the world, which is why he was deceived by Wu Feng."

Young Master Yue retorted, "Lark is not a wicked person..."

"Shut up!" Elder Yue shouted angrily at Young Master Yue.

"How many people have you met in total? How can someone without a sharp edge be a good person! Didn't you see what Nameless did to the palace gates?"

After yelling at Young Master Yue, Elder Yue calmed himself down and looked at Gong Shangjiao again, his tone earnest.

"Shangjiao, we will find a way to cure the poison. I will keep a close watch on him from now on and never let him leave the Moon Palace again."

"Could you be lenient with him?"

After listening to Elder Yue's words, Gong Shangjiao spoke calmly.

"We won't trouble the Moon Palace with that poison; Yuanzheng will cure it."

"Elder Yue also said that the reason why Young Master Yue is like this is because he is too ignorant and has been deceived by villains."

"In that case, let's go out and see more of the world."

The Old Man of the Moon's heart skipped a beat: "Shang Jiao, you mean...?"

Gong Shangjiao looked at Young Master Yue and said, "Your medical skills are superb, and your martial arts are not inferior either. This time, you should go to the capital with His Highness to treat the health of those nobles in the capital."

"Absolutely not!" Elder Yue immediately jumped out. "According to the palace rules, no one in the palace may leave the palace at will!"

Gong Shangjiao said calmly, "Then let's break this family rule!"

The sound wasn't loud, but it was deafening.

The three elders, along with several others from the back mountain, were all astonished.

"Being confined to the palace gates all day long inevitably leads to a narrow perspective. Anyone you meet can easily deceive you. It's better to go out and explore more. With a broader perspective, you'll naturally be less susceptible to being fooled."

Glancing at the white hair at Yue Gongzi's temples, Gong Shangjiao said meaningfully, "With more experience, one will naturally not be so preoccupied with petty love and romantic relationships."

Young Master Yue shuddered, raised his head, and looked directly into Gong Shangjiao's eyes.

The Moon Elder was momentarily speechless, but seeing Gong Yuanzheng standing behind Gong Shangjiao, he immediately said, "Gong Yuanzheng's medical skills are the best in the Gong family; he should be sent to the capital..."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Elder Yue realized he had misspoke. Gong Yuanzheng was Gong Shangjiao's Achilles' heel.

Does he mean to say that Young Master Yue died not quickly enough?

Didn't you see the strange looks Elder Hua and Elder Xue gave him?

Gong Shangjiao's face turned cold. "Elder Yue seems to have forgotten one thing: going to the imperial city was a punishment for Young Master Yue's mistake."

"I'm not discussing this with you!"

For a moment, Elder Yue didn't dare to meet Gong Shangjiao's gaze and could only awkwardly look away at Gong Zishang.

"Zishang, you are the new Blade Master of the Palace Gate, what do you have to say?"

“I think Shang Jiao’s words make a lot of sense.” Gong Zishang smiled. “Besides, didn’t Elder Yue promise me that she wouldn’t interfere with Young Master Yue’s punishment?”

Is there anything Elder Yue doesn't understand at this moment?

I'm afraid Gong Zishang and Gong Shangjiao had already discussed this matter long ago.

Young Master Yue, not wanting his father to clash with Gong Shangjiao and Gong Zishang again, quickly said.

"Father, I wish to accompany the Thirteenth Prince to the capital!"

Gong Shangjiao and Gong Zishang exchanged a glance and immediately understood each other's intentions.

It's strange, even though the two of them haven't had a proper conversation in ten years.

In just a few hours, they've developed such a great deal of understanding.

Gong Zishang's smile remained bright, but her words carried a sharp edge.

"The three elders are getting on in years, so let us younger generation handle the affairs of the palace from now on."

Elder Hua frowned, his eyes scrutinizing Gong Zishang. "Are you trying to seize our power?"

Gong Zishang covered her mouth and smiled, "I'm just worried that the elders are too overworked. Young Master Hua has been of age for many years and it's time for him to take on the responsibilities of this palace."

Elder Hua immediately looked at his son, but Young Master Hua hurriedly waved his hand, indicating that he knew nothing about it.

Elder Xue stopped Elder Hua, who was about to retort, and a rare look of desolation appeared on her face.

“Zishang is right. It’s time for us old folks to take a break. Let’s leave the palace affairs to these young people.”

He looked at Yukishigeko and said, "From now on, you will be in charge of handling matters related to Yukimiya."

Yukishigeko, “…..” No, I just came to observe, how did I become the master of the Snow Palace?

Young Master Xue looked at Elder Xue with a bewildered expression, then at Xue Chongzi, and asked with some confusion:

"If you have to deal with matters at the Snow Palace, how can you still come out to play?"

Xue Chongzi, "..."