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

The disappointment and desolation on Gong Shangjiao's face shocked Gong Yuanzheng; it was the first time he had ever seen such an expression on his brother.

"Brother!" Gong Yuanzheng called out worriedly, his face and eyes filled with concern.

Gong Zishang's face showed no less worry than Gong Yuanzheng's, and even more guilt.

I feel guilty for being blind and foolish in the past. I went against Yu Gong in order to curry favor with them, but I forgot that the ones who suffered the most ten years ago were Gong Shangjiao and Gong Yuanzheng.

"Shangjiao, whatever decision you make, I will support you."

Gong Zishang looked at Gong Shangjiao and Gong Yuanzheng with a solemn expression.

"Over the years, the palace has wronged you. If you want to leave the palace, I will not stop you."

Gong Shangjiao remained expressionless, calmly gazing at the ink pool before him, without responding to Gong Zishang's words.

Gong Yuanzheng's eyes flickered slightly, and he asked in return, "And what about you?"

Gong Zishang's smile was bitter. "I can't leave here."

This is an indisputable fact. With Gong Shangjiao's current prestige in the martial arts world, plus Gong Yuanzheng's poison and medicine, and the manpower of the two Gongs, they might not be unable to live better if they went out and set up their own sect.

As for her, she had no outstanding martial arts skills or internal strength, only a mastery of weapon crafting. Among the palace guards, her martial arts prowess was among the lowest in the palace.

If she were to leave this place, Gong Zishang felt a little apprehensive. She had never been in contact with the outside world before. Could she get along with people from the outside world with ease?

"A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime." With low martial arts skills but superb weapon-forging techniques, she might be able to make a living through weapon forging if she's lucky, but if she's unlucky, she might become a weapon-forging tool for other sects.

Seeing the conflicted look on Gong Zishang's face, Gong Yuanzheng slowly curled the corners of his lips, his eyes unfathomable, and his voice carrying a hint of seduction, "What if you leave with me and my brother?"

Gong Zishang was taken aback, a hint of interest appearing on her face. If she went with Gong Shangjiao and Gong Yuanzheng, all her concerns would be resolved...

"Don't say things like that again."

Gong Shangjiao looked up at Gong Yuanzheng and spoke calmly, interrupting Gong Zishang's thoughts.

Gong Yuanzheng was somewhat dissatisfied, but under his brother's gaze, he dared not say anything more and obediently shut his mouth.

He really didn't want to stay in this awful place any longer. What was the point of protecting a bunch of clueless people? Let them die!

It would be much better for the three of them to leave Old Dust Valley and find another beautiful place to live in seclusion than to stay here.

At least I won't have to see these awful people!

Gong Shangjiao's gaze shifted to Gong Zishang, "If we leave the palace gates, Wufeng might not let us go. It's better to stay here. Those old men may not be of much use, but their martial arts skills are still quite impressive."

Gong Zishang's heart skipped a beat. "You mean..."

Gong Shangjiao nodded. "I just received a secret letter this morning. We have tracked down Wan Qi'ai's whereabouts, and we also have some clues about the whereabouts of the other two demons. I will set off before dinner to meet up with the Thirteenth Prince."

Gong Zishang understood the implied meaning of Xuan Ge's words and readily agreed, saying, "I will go to the Elders' Council immediately to inform them to pack their bags."

She paused for a moment, then continued, "Xue Chongzi will not let him go out. If there are any unusual movements from Ziyi at Wanhua Tower during this period, he will be needed to deal with them."

Gong Shangjiao smiled slightly. Gong Zishang's thoughts coincided with his own. He was right. Gong Zishang's abilities were indeed wasted on being just a palace master of a commercial palace.

His gaze returned to Gong Yuanzheng. Looking at his beloved younger brother, Gong Shangjiao's face softened, and he gently instructed him:

"Brother Yuanzheng, I am going on a journey this time and my return date is uncertain. I entrust the affairs of the Horn Palace to you."

"Shangguan Qian, you don't need to worry about her. Just spare her life."

Gong Yuanzheng clenched his fists, his face showing hesitation. After a moment, he raised his head, his face resolute.

"Brother, I'll go out with you. Once we're outside, I'll keep replenishing your poison."

Gong Shangjiao smiled, a hint of relief in his eyes. "Have you forgotten that Young Master Yue is still outside? His skills may not be as good as yours, but he can still concoct some poisons to deal with Wufeng without any problem."

Seeing that he was about to speak, Gong Shangjiao raised his hand to stop him, "There is another very important reason why you stay at the palace gate."

"Assassins without blades all take a poison called the Half-Moon Fly, but it is not actually a poison, but a tonic."

At this point, a slight sarcasm appeared on Miyazaki's lips.

"This medicine is also available in the palace. It is called the Heart-Eating Moon. The second trial in the back mountain tests pharmacological knowledge, and this is the medicine that is taken."

"After taking it, there will be two hours every half month when you will have no internal energy and your body will suffer great pain. As long as you get through these two hours, your internal energy will increase."

Gong Yuanzheng's expression changed, and he immediately recalled the scene when his brother had an attack in the past.

He always thought his brother had made a mistake while practicing martial arts, so he thought of cultivating the Cloud Lotus to completely cure his brother's internal injury. He never expected that it was poison from the trial in the back mountain!

Damn it! It's that Moon Palace again! He really doesn't understand what the point of taking this medicine is. It's good to improve internal strength, but the poisoning that flares up every two weeks is just too agonizing.

Since it's a test of pharmacological knowledge, why not just take any poison? Why take this medicine?

Since their brother was away from home all year round, they never considered how dangerous it was for him to have an attack while he was away. If Wu Feng had suddenly launched a sneak attack, would their brother have been able to return to the palace gate?

These people only care about their own interests and haven't considered their brother at all!

In a fit of extreme rage, he smashed the table in front of him with a single palm strike!

"Brother! There's no need for us to stay in a palace like this!"

Gong Zishang was also completely baffled. Why give people this kind of medicine? Not only would they lose all their internal energy for two hours, but they would also suffer immense pain, all for that tiny increase in internal energy?

Isn't this just plain insane?

Upon closer reflection, it becomes clear that all participants in these three trials are blade-wielders, and once they become blade-wielders, they are forbidden from leaving the palace for life. Perhaps this is also due to the presence of the Half-Moon Fly.

But even though they knew that Gong Shangjiao had taken the medicine, they still let him go out to handle affairs outside the palace gates, truly showing no concern for his life or death.

How cold-blooded, how heartless!

Gong Zishang felt increasingly chilled as she thought about it; such an elder did not deserve any respect at all!

Such a palace gate is not worth Gong Shangjiao's painstaking efforts and life-risking for.

“Yuanzheng, my brother.” Gong Shangjiao reassured Gong Yuanzheng with his eyes, “I need you to help me develop an antidote for the Half-Moon Fly.”

Gong Yuanzheng's anger showed no signs of abating. "Brother, I will definitely help you develop an antidote, but there's really no need for us to stay in this Gongmen any longer!"

"Gongmen." Gong Shangjiao's smile deepened. "Yuanzheng, if you don't like this name, you can change it."

Gong Yuanzheng was still unaware of the deeper meaning behind Bai Shangjiao's words, but Gong Zishang immediately grasped it.

She rose gracefully, her smile dignified and confident, yet also hinting at a touch of madness.

"Don't worry, Shangjiao, I know what to do."

This world is one where the strong rule. In the past, the Jiao Palace, Zhi Palace, and Shang Palace were weak and had no choice but to submit to the elders.

It’s different in the past.

As for elders, I respect you; you are the true elder.

If I don't acknowledge you, you're nothing but a pile of filth.

In the past, you dared to suck blood with a clear conscience, but now and from now on, you will slowly pay back the blood you have sucked.

Stepping out of the gate of the Horned Palace, Gong Zishang gazed at the rising sun, her smile deepening.

If Gong Ziyu behaves himself in the future, she won't mind supporting him. But if he causes trouble again, don't blame her for being ruthless.

Out of consideration for their years of sibling bond, she wouldn't harm him, just like Shangguan Qian.

Once the big event was over, she gave him the freedom he had always wanted.

As for those few on the back mountain, Gong Zishang's eyes darkened; she would make them make the right choice.