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

The Hall of Blade Masters was brightly lit, and everyone except the three elders was inside.

The three people on the back mountain were there to check on the two assassins without blades.

They were also very curious about what kind of bride Wu Feng had specially trained for the palace.

Gong Zishang sat solemnly on the throne, his eyes fixed on the bride who was about to enter the hall.

As the only bride to win a gold medal, Yun Weishan was the first to enter the palace.

As a habit formed over many years, as soon as she stepped into the palace, she would subtly survey her surroundings.

Lin Qingyue and Gong Yuanzheng were standing closest to the palace gate.

Everyone stood sideways, except for Gong Yuanzheng, who stood with his back to the door, shielding the girl in front of him from the cool night breeze.

His hand rested lightly on the girl's waist, his mind remaining fixed on her, not sparing a single thought for anyone else.

Yun Weishan's gaze lingered on Lin Qingyue for a brief moment.

Just who is this Miss Lin? She's able to get engaged to Gong Yuanzheng and subdue the arrogant Master of the Zheng Palace in such a short time. She's truly a remarkable person.

Gong Shangjiao stood in the middle, staring ahead expressionlessly and indifferently.

Gong Ziyu stood at the very back. Unlike his radiant self yesterday, he now looked dejected and even carried a hint of sorrow.

When her gaze shifted to the front, Yun Weishan paused, nearly stepping on her own skirt, and her expression changed slightly in an instant.

Why is Gong Zishang sitting in the position of wielder? Where is Gong Hongyu? And why is Gong Huanyu nowhere to be found?

Recalling Gong Ziyu's expression just now, Yun Weishan's heart skipped a beat. There was only one possibility: Gong Huanyu and Gong Hongyu had both run into trouble last night.

Gong Zishang could see Yun Weishan's every move clearly.

From the moment she entered the hall, Gong Zishang's gaze never left her.

Shangguan Qian was not worried because Gong Shangjiao was watching her. What she needed to be most wary of was this Miss Yun.

Seeing the beautiful young woman in front of him who had quickly returned to normal, Gong Zishang's vigilance reached its peak.

This unsharp assassin is not easy to deal with.

Lin Qingyue curiously looked at the brides in the hall. She had only caught a glimpse of them that night and hadn't really seen their faces clearly.

Looking at them now, they all have remarkable looks and demeanor.

But Yun Weishan and Shangguan Qian are indeed the two most special ones.

Although Yun Weishan appears gentle and graceful, she inadvertently reveals a sharp and ruthless aura.

Shangguan Qian was more gentle than Yun Weishan, but she was clearly too gentle, which made her seem fake. She didn't look like a lady from a respectable family, but rather like someone from a brothel.

Noticing Lin Qingyue's scrutinizing gaze, Shangguan Qian turned slightly to the side and smiled gently at her, her smile both soft and alluring.

Lin Qingyue was slightly taken aback, and for a moment she forgot to look away from her.

A hand covered her eyes.

Gong Yuanzheng slightly curled the corners of his mouth, his smile ambiguous, and the icy coldness in his eyes was awe-inspiring.

Shangguan Qian, however, showed no fear whatsoever; instead, the smile in her eyes deepened.

Gong Yuanzheng is really interesting; her interest in this Miss Lin is growing stronger.

Lin Qingyue, somewhat speechless, pried open Gong Yuanzheng's hand.

Gong Yuanzheng remained unmoved until Shangguan Qian withdrew her gaze, at which point he lowered his hand.

Lin Qingyue saw Shangguan Qian with her head slightly lowered. Without even guessing, she knew that Gong Yuanzheng must have done something.

Lin Qingyue wasn't as interested in the other brides. She tugged at Gong Yuanzheng's sleeve, signaling him to lower his head.

Gong Yuanzheng was puzzled, but he still obediently lowered his head.

Lin Qingyue leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Can your brother and the others hear me when I speak like this?"

A gentle breath brushed against his ear, and Gong Yuanzheng's earlobes instantly turned red. His gaze slowly moved down to the red lips so close to his own, and he was momentarily lost in thought, forgetting to answer Lin Qingyue's question.

Seeing him in a daze, Lin Qingyue turned around and glanced at the expressionless Gong Shangjiao. Not daring to raise her voice, she could only lean closer and ask, "Your brother's martial arts are so high, can he hear me talking like this?"

Her voice was so soft that it almost disappeared in the wind, yet it blew into Gong Yuanzheng's heart with exceptional clarity.

Gong Yuanzheng slowly came to his senses, glanced at his brother who was not far away, and made up his mind.

"I can't hear you, my brother's martial arts skills aren't that high."

Miyazaki Shokaku, “…”

Thank you, my dear brother.

Snow Child, "..."

I'm sorry, I don't know if Miyazaki can hear me, but I heard it.

Lin Qingyue had some doubts, but after looking at Gong Shangjiao, who remained expressionless, she believed Gong Yuanzheng's words.

"I just want to ask, what are the criteria for selecting brides in your palace?"

Gong Yuanzheng was a little confused. He didn't know either. He was still a minor and had never been exposed to such things before.

"I heard that they were chosen from aristocratic families that have good relations with the palace."

"Are all those who are on good terms with the palace family martial arts families? Then does the bride know martial arts?"

"No, there were also some merchant and gentry families."

Gong Yuanzheng asked curiously, "Why are you asking this?"

"I find the bride in this hall to be of excellent bearing and appearance, and I am quite curious."

Gong Yuanzheng's tone was rather dismissive, "If they want to form a marriage alliance with the Gong family and gain their protection, they will naturally send over their most beautiful daughter."

Upon hearing Gong Yuanzheng's words, Lin Qingyue's expression immediately softened.

His words made her feel that the girls in the palace were nothing more than commodities waiting to be sold.

Gong Yuanzheng keenly noticed the change in Lin Qingyue's emotions.

"Wu Feng acts recklessly outside; what they're doing is actually a form of protection for these girls..."

If the palace gates are safe, then that is naturally a form of protection, but are the palace gates really safe?

Thinking of Jiang Lili, who had been poisoned, Lin Qingyue felt even more displeased.

"What will you do with these brides who are not chosen?"

Gong Yuanzheng carefully observed Lin Qingyue's expression and spoke cautiously:

"We will prepare generous gifts and send them home if their family is willing to take them back."

"If some women do not wish to return home, we will arrange for them to marry into other aristocratic families that are on good terms with the palace."

Lin Qingyue's expression worsened, but she was helpless.

Such was the status of women in that era.

The moment these brides were sent out of their homes, their fate was no longer in their own hands.

Whether chosen by the palace or arranged by the palace to marry into another noble family, no one knows whether the person they marry is a wolf in sheep's clothing or a heartless beast.

Is it really better to be sent home?

If you can be sent out once, you can be sent out a second time.

Recalling his words of advice to Gong Zishang, and his current identity, a wave of sorrow suddenly washed over him.

Can she go back to the Lin family? Can she really go back to the Lin family?

Will the laws of the imperial court and feudal ethics really allow her to return to the Lin family smoothly?

Fear and panic gripped her. If the court did not allow it, regardless of whether Lin Ruhai resigned or not, she would forever remain a palace woman.

Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, Teacher.

In this era, no matter how much resentment or discontent they feel, they can only endure it in silence.

Noticing Lin Qingyue's sudden change in mood, Gong Yuanzheng immediately grabbed her waist, his face showing undisguised anxiety.

"Yue'er, what's wrong?"

Lin Qingyue felt the hand on her waist burning like a branding iron, but she couldn't break free, nor did she dare to.

She is all alone here, her parents and relatives are thousands of miles away, who can support her?

"I am fine."

He answered Gong Yuanzheng mechanically, his clear voice sounding somewhat hollow.

Gong Yuanzheng felt a wave of panic, as if a hole had been torn in his heart, and the wind was blowing painfully through it.

Although Lin Qingyue was right beside him, he felt that she was very, very far away from him.

He couldn't reach it from so far away.

He looked at Gong Shangjiao with a blank expression.

Gong Shangjiao remained expressionless. "My martial arts skills are not high, and I can't hear you."

He has already chosen Shangguan Qian, and now he is just waiting for Gong Ziyu to choose.

Gong Ziyu stood in front of Yun Weishan, barely managing to muster some spirit.

He didn't want to come to choose a bride, but the people sent by Gong Zishang said that all the brides this time would be arranged to marry into other aristocratic families.

If he doesn't participate, then he can wait until the next time he leaves the palace to find it himself.

After thinking it over, he still came to the Blade Master's Hall.

Looking at Yun Weishan before him, and thinking of his mother, and the girl who tried to run away that night, he said:

"Are you still willing to marry into the palace? If you still want to leave, I will let you out of the palace."

Yun Weishan almost lost her composure.

However, after discovering that Gong Zishang was the new Blade Master, she made a decision in her heart: she must become Gong Ziyu's bride and stay in the palace.

What was supposed to be a simple matter turned out to be unexpected for Gong Ziyu.

She forced a smile. "Of course I'd like to stay here."

Gong Ziyu's face was filled with sorrow. "Don't force yourself. If you really want to leave, I will go and beg Zhi Ren to let you leave the palace."

Yun Weishan was really losing her composure. What was wrong with Gong Ziyu? He had stopped her from leaving that day, but now he was desperately trying to get her to go.

Gong Ziyu's face grew even more sorrowful. He wanted to continue persuading Yun Weishan, but Gong Zishang interrupted him.

"Alright, Ziyu, since Miss Yun is willing to stay at the palace gate, then let her stay."

She looked at Gong Ziyu's expression and said cryptically, "It's not like you don't have a chance to leave the palace."

Gong Ziyu also remembered the new rules of the palace, so she stopped trying to persuade Yun Weishan and silently retreated to Gong Shangjiao's side.

With the bride chosen, Granny Fu bowed to Gong Zishang and then led all the brides back to the women's quarters.

Gong Ziyu watched Yun Weishan's figure disappear outside the hall. He stepped forward and gave Gong Zishang a somewhat awkward bow.

"If there's nothing else, I'll head back to the Feather Palace."

Gong Zishang nodded. "No rush, there's one more thing I need to mention."

She clapped her hands, and three tall, stern-looking men suddenly appeared in the hall and knelt directly in front of it.

"Today, Xue Zhongzi has selected three Crimson Jade Guards for us. Now you may each lead them back to the palace."

She looked at Lin Qingyue, "Sister Qingyue, there are no female guards among the Red Jade Guards right now; they're already training. For now, let's leave them..."

"No need, I will protect Yue'er."

Gong Yuanzheng interrupted Gong Zishang directly.

Gong Zishang secretly rolled her eyes, and thinking of the bowl of dumplings she had eaten that evening, her resentment deepened.

She replied irritably, "Fine, then the two Hongyu guards from Zheng Palace can follow you, okay?"

Gong Yuanzheng ignored Gong Zishang and looked directly at Gong Shangjiao, "Brother, you choose first."

Gong Shangjiao randomly selected someone, saying, "From now on, you will come to Jiaogong."

The person immediately came up behind Miyazaki.

The remaining two followed behind Gong Yuanzheng without hesitation.

Gong Ziyu frowned slightly, while Jin Fan behind him turned pale. He looked at Gong Ziyu's back with unease in his eyes.

"Sister, Zhi Ren, doesn't our Feather Palace have any Crimson Jade Guards?"

Gong Zishang looked at Gong Ziyu with complicated emotions. "Ziyu, Jin Fan is the youngest Red Jade Guard in the back mountain."