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

The air became still in that instant.

Young Master Hua felt like his head was about to explode. He had just learned Zi Yi's true identity from Xiao Xue and had just finished exclaiming with Xiao Xue how lucky Gong Zi Yu was!

Another bombshell exploded in his ears: Wufeng? Fenggong? Fenggong? Wufeng?

Young Master Xue was also completely bewildered. What? Wu Feng is the Wind Palace? Is it the Wind Palace behind the palace gate?

Gong Zishang's eyes widened. So, after all this time? It turns out that their own palace was fighting amongst themselves?

She looked at Gong Shangjiao and asked with difficulty, "Shangjiao, where did you get this information? Is it true?"

Lin Qingyue's body stiffened slightly.

Gong Shangjiao had no intention of revealing Lin Qingyue's identity, and simply said, "Whether it's true or false, we'll know after Yuanzheng finishes his interrogation, won't we?"

Yukishigeko frowned deeply and stood up. "I'll go to the Elders' Council right now."

"No rush," Gong Shangjiao interrupted. "You have no evidence. Why should the elders tell you such secrets of the palace?"

"We've been kept in the dark for decades, what's a little longer?"

His tone was flat and even, but the dissatisfaction and sarcasm within it were impossible for anyone to ignore.

Yukishigeko silently sat back down in her seat.

Young Master Hua sighed inwardly, "Father, I want to scold you for what you've done."

Sigh, don't blame him for not sending food to the Elders' Council anymore. He'd feel aggrieved if they gave him even a single extra bite.

Gong Shangjiao ignored everyone's reactions and only looked at Gong Zishang.

"Zhi Ren, please ask Gong Ziyu to come to Zhi Ren Hall. There are some things that need to be verified with him."

Gong Zishang immediately guessed Gong Shangjiao's purpose. Her expression turned slightly cold as she looked at Jin Mao.

"You shall immediately invite Young Master Yu to the Blade-Holding Hall."

Jin Mao was very fast; in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he brought Gong Ziyu and Jin Fan to the Zhiren Hall.

Gong Ziyu's face was very ugly. He originally planned to go to the women's courtyard to pick up Yun Weishan, but as soon as he stepped out of the Feather Palace, he was stopped by Jin Mao.

Seeing that everyone except Gong Yuanzheng was in the Zhiren Hall, Gong Ziyu's heart skipped a beat. What had happened at the palace gates again?

Gong Zishang was in no mood to chat with Gong Ziyu at the moment. After he finished bowing, she immediately asked, "Ziyu, have you and Ziyi discussed the matter of a marriage alliance between the palace and the imperial court?"

Gong Ziyu's expression was rather unpleasant. "Sister, Zhi Ren, although I may be a bit muddle-headed, I still know how important the marriage alliance is. How could I possibly tell Zi Yi about this?"

Gong Zishang's tense heart relaxed a little. It's good that you didn't say anything. You, Gong Ziyu, are the biggest leak in the palace. As long as you didn't leak the secret, Wufeng is most likely still unaware.

Looking at Gong Ziyu in front of her, Gong Zishang thought to herself: I must think of a way to keep you at the palace gate.

Seeing the trio sitting not far away on the back hill, an idea came to mind.

“Ziyu, you can leave the palace now, but you also know how powerful Wufeng is outside.”

"For safety reasons, everyone leaving the palace must pass the trial in the back mountain."

Gong Ziyu's expression remained grim. He wasn't very interested in leaving the palace. He had previously boasted about leaving the palace, but those were just empty words. If he really left, he wouldn't know where to go.

Having spent so much time with Gong Ziyu, Gong Zishang immediately saw through his thoughts. Her eyes flickered, and seeing Lin Qingyue sipping her tea, she tentatively said:

"Why don't you go and attend first? After you and Yun Weishan get married, you can take her to stay at her parents' home for a few days."

Gong Ziyu's expression finally changed. "As long as we pass the trial, we can leave?"

Gong Zishang nodded, "Of course, Yuanzheng and I also need to pass the trial before we can leave."

As soon as they finished speaking, Gong Shangjiao and Lin Qingyue both looked at Gong Zishang.

Gong Ziyu's expression softened completely. The image of Yun Weishan's unwavering desire to escape the palace gates had always been deeply etched in his mind.

If we could openly and honestly take her away from the palace, Miss Yun would surely be very happy.

He looked at Gong Zishang with confidence and said, "Alright, once I bring Miss Yun back, I'll go participate in the trial right away."

Jin Fan, standing behind him, hesitated, looking conflicted.

Well, Young Master Yu is still angry and won't listen to any advice. Once we bring Miss Yun back, he'll have a good talk with her. If she wants to participate in the trial, she shouldn't rush it. At least she should improve her martial arts skills first.

After bidding farewell to Gong Zishang and preparing to leave, Gong Ziyu couldn't help but speak as he looked at Gong Shangjiao, who sat motionless to the side.

"Young Master Jiao should keep an eye on Gong Yuanzheng. He actually poisoned Miss Shangguan. His methods are really despicable."

Gong Shangjiao finally gave him a proper look. "I understand."

Gong Ziyu was angered by his attitude and wanted to argue, but when he thought that Shangguan Qian was Gong Shangjiao's bride, and he himself did not defend her, what right did he have to point fingers at Gong Yuanzheng?

It's a pity for Miss Shangguan; such a lovely young lady, married to such a cold-hearted man as Gong Shangjiao.

Oh, and there's Lin Qingyue, she's even more pitiful, marrying a ruthless man like Gong Yuanzheng.

As soon as Gong Ziyu left, Gong Zishang immediately explained to Gong Shangjiao.

"Shang Jiao, what I said to Gong Ziyu just now was true. I genuinely believe that it would be safer to go out through the trial."

Gong Shangjiao did not respond to her words, but inwardly he agreed with her statement.

"What Zhi Ren said is absolutely right."

Then he looked at the group of people on the back mountain, cupped his hands and said, "At that time, I hope you will be strict with my brother Yuanzheng."

The group of people on the back mountain naturally nodded in agreement.

Having convinced Gong Shangjiao, Gong Zishang then looked at Lin Qingyue.

"Qingyue, don't worry. With Yuanzheng's abilities, passing the trial shouldn't be difficult for him."

Lin Qingyue smiled slightly. Compared to Gong Yuanzheng, she was more concerned about something else. "Sister Zishang, are you also going to participate in the trial?"

"I'm not participating," Gong Zishang replied quickly.

Seeing Lin Qingyue's surprised expression, she chuckled, leaned close to Lin Qingyue's ear, and whispered, "I don't plan to leave the palace before Wufeng is wiped out!"

Once Wufeng is wiped out, won't it be like the sea is wide enough for fish to leap and the sky is high enough for birds to fly?

Lin Qingyue fell silent. As expected of you, the eldest daughter of the palace.

Hua Gongzi looked at Gong Zishang with some hesitation: "Then, Young Master Yu, should we increase the difficulty for him?"

Gong Zishang smoothed his sleeves and said decisively, "We must improve! Raise it to the highest level! Don't let Wufeng leave the palace before he's wiped out!"

------

Inside the dimly lit dungeon, a thick stench of blood filled the air, and faint groans echoed from the depths of the dungeon.

Gong Yuanzheng fiddled with the bottles and jars in his hands and quickly prepared a bowl of thick medicinal liquid.

Looking at the bowl of medicine, Gong Yuanzheng curled his lips, his gloomy and ruthless expression undisguised.

Jin Shu put away his whip and turned to Gong Yuanzheng to report, "Young Master Zheng, the hundred lashes have been completed."

"Hmm." Gong Yuanzheng responded casually, then looked up at Fu Mama, who was hanging high above him.

Noticing his gaze, Granny Fu trembled uncontrollably, a hint of fear flashing in her eyes.

Gong Yuanzheng is an absolute pervert. The first thing he did upon arriving at the dungeon was to feed her a handful of medicine, with the aim of making her sober enough to endure the hundred lashes.

The whip was coated with his newly developed poison, and where it lashed out, it felt like flames were raging across her body, burning her skin.

The immense pain made her want to bite her tongue and commit suicide, but she found that her tongue was limp and powerless.

Seeing the terrified expression on Granny Fu's face, Gong Yuanzheng's eyes showed a hint of satisfaction. It seemed that his research on the new medicine had been very successful.

He waved his hand, signaling Jin Shu to leave, and then picked up the medicine on the table and slowly approached Granny Fu.

Granny Fu trembled even more violently, and the fear in her eyes almost became tangible.

She was only touching the ground with her toes, but she still tried to back away, trying to avoid Gong Yuanzheng's approach.

Gong Yuanzheng smiled innocently, "This bowl of medicine can relieve your pain, would you like to drink it?"

Granny Fu looked at him in fear, not believing his words at all.

Gong Yuanzheng didn't care about her reaction and smiled as he brought the medicine bowl to her lips.

Granny Fu pursed her lips tightly, showing no intention of taking the medicine.

Having spent over a decade in the palace, she couldn't even imagine how potent Gong Yuanzheng's poisons were.

She believed the medicine could alleviate her current pain, but she was even more convinced that while it provided temporary relief, greater suffering awaited her afterward.

Gong Yuanzheng remained unhurried, as if he had thought of something, and said, "If you are unwilling to drink, then I can only ask Shangguan Qian to drink a bowl. However, since she hasn't been whipped, I don't know how she will react."

Granny Fu kept her lips tightly pursed.

Gong Yuanzheng's smile remained unchanged. "By the way, there's also Yun Weishan. Which one do you think I should interrogate first?"

A look of panic flashed in Granny Fu's eyes, and her tightly pursed lips finally parted with a tremor.

Gong Yuanzheng's eyes darkened. He had only used Yun Weishan to test her, but he hadn't expected that the old woman would actually drink the medicine.

Is Yun Weishan's identity in Wufeng really just that of a simple demon?

However, after only a few sips, the burning sensation in my body subsided, and my limp tongue could move again.

She looked at Gong Yuanzheng and said weakly, "I'll tell you everything I know... just don't hurt Yun Weishan..."

Gong Yuanzheng put the medicine bowl back on the table, his smile unchanged. "That depends on how important what you're talking about is."

Granny Fu chuckled. After her discomfort subsided, she actually adopted a haughty demeanor and said, "If we're really talking about it, I'm still your elder."

Gong Yuanzheng raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise, "You're not trying to say that you're a direct descendant of the Wind Palace, are you?"

Granny Fu's expression immediately froze. "You know about the Wind Palace?"

Gong Yuanzheng crossed his arms and looked at her with a mocking smile. "You can try any tricks, but if anything you say is different from what I know, I'll immediately force-feed Yun Weishan poison!"

Her feigned composure crumbled in an instant. Granny Fu's face turned deathly pale, her lips trembling. "What if... what if what you know is wrong?"

"Then let's take a gamble." Gong Yuanzheng shrugged indifferently, completely ignoring Fu Mama's increasingly pale face.

For the first time, a strong hatred flashed in Fu Mama's eyes as she looked at him, but it quickly turned into pain and helplessness.

She had no bargaining power with Gong Yuanzheng; telling the truth was her only way out.

Only in this way can Yun Weishan suffer less.

She gave a bitter smile, her head hanging low, as if she had lost all her strength.

"My real name is Zhuomei, and my maiden name is Yunweishan. She is my biological daughter..."