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

The rising sun broke through the clouds and shone down on the earth, gradually awakening the sleeping valley.

The streets and docks were gradually filled with people, with workers busily carrying goods and vendors selling all sorts of items.

Some people boarded boats to leave the valley, while others returned with large and small bags, chatting with their friends as they walked and occasionally bursting into hearty laughter.

Han Yaqi and Han Yasi, wearing straw hats, looked at the crowds at the dock with furrowed brows.

As usual, both leaving and entering the valley were subject to identity and cargo checks by palace guards.

Ordinary people wouldn't notice any changes, but these assassins, who had been watching the palace gates for decades, keenly sensed the difference.

The people conducting the inspections have changed.

These are not the previous Green Jade Guards; judging from their skills and spirit, they should be Yellow Jade Guards.

The patrolling guards were more numerous than before, and their martial arts skills were also higher.

In the past, we could get away with it by simply taking grain out of the valley, but today it might be harder to fool people.

Han Ya Si looked at Han Ya Qi, "Are you sure you want to leave the valley now?"

Han Yaqi's expression was not good. With so many Yellow Jade Guards, if his identity was discovered to be unusual, he would definitely be doomed.

The valley was filled with miasma, and ordinary carrier pigeons could not fly out of the valley at all. Only the specially trained carrier pigeons at the palace gate could break through the miasma.

Now that the palace gates have suddenly changed, this news must be sent back to headquarters as soon as possible. No matter what, he has to make this trip.

Another reason is that the antidote for the Half-Moon Fly is no longer available.

The half-moon fly on Shangguan Qian's body is about to flare up.

Without further hesitation, Han Yaqi started walking towards the dock.

Han Ya Si did not stop her, but simply watched Han Ya Qi's back quietly.

Handing his identification documents to the guard, Han Yaqi casually placed his right hand on the hilt of his sword, seemingly relaxed, but actually secretly gathering strength, ready to strike at any moment.

The guard glanced at his file, casually rummaged through his bag, and then returned the file to him.

"Let go!"

They waved their hands seemingly casually, but in reality, they were giving a secret signal that only they knew.

Han Yaqi felt strange, but she still picked up her bundle and quickly stepped onto the passenger ship.

Before entering the cabin, he glanced back at the valley, the strange feeling in his heart lingering.

Thinking of Shangguan Qian, who had already entered the palace, he stopped worrying. The most urgent task was to obtain the antidote for the Half-Moon Fly as soon as possible.

Only after the passenger ship had sailed far away did Han Ya Si return to Wan Hua Lou.

Inside the Wan Hua Lou, Zi Yi was doing her hair and makeup. When she saw him return, she didn't stop what she was doing.

"He went out?"

"Hmm." Han Ya Si's answer was very concise.

Zi Yi chuckled and put down the stone ink in her hand. "The defenses in the valley have changed these past few days. I was wondering how Gong Ziyu has improved. I guess I overestimated him."

"With such people as wielders, the boundless flames will eventually be ours."

The crow kept its head down the whole time, giving Ziyi no reaction, and Ziyi also found it boring.

"Alright, you can go now. Don't come to the building unless it's absolutely necessary, lest you run into the patrolling guards."

"Okay." Han Ya Si agreed immediately, went downstairs, and hurriedly left Wan Hua Lou through the back door.

What he didn't know was that there was a figure behind him, always following him like a shadow.

Having successfully left the valley, Han Yaqi went straight to a study and wrote down all the changes that had occurred within the palace gates in the past few days.

Looking at the carrier pigeons she had personally released, Han Yaqi felt a sense of relief; one of the two tasks was now complete.

He found the shopkeeper of the bookstore and asked, "When can I get the antidote for the Half-Moon Fly?"

The shopkeeper's expression was indifferent. "I've already sent a doctor to refine it. I'll give it to you in three days."

Three days.

Han Yaqi completely relaxed after mentally estimating when Shangguan Qian would have an attack.

Three days? That's not enough time.

-------

Inside the Blade Hall, Gong Zishang ate porridge while listening to Jin Mao's report, "We intercepted Han Yaqi's carrier pigeon, and the information on it was all false information that we spread."

"Gong Hongyu and Gong Huanyu died suddenly, and Gong Ziyu inherited the position of wielder. In order to investigate the cause of his father and brother's death, he increased the patrols in the valley."

"The Feather Palace and the Merchant Palace have formed an alliance, while their relationship with the Horn Palace and the Sign Palace is strained."

Gong Zishang nodded. "Immediately pass this on to Shang Jiao and issue the order that from today onwards, Old Dust Valley is off-limits to all but those who enter."

"Yes, wielding the blade."

"Have you figured out Wu Feng's stronghold in the valley?"

"We've figured it out. Besides the Wan Hua Lou, there are four other places."

Jin Mao immediately took out a map, and circled the location of the stronghold with red cinnabar.

Gong Zishang looked at the map and clicked his tongue in amazement. Two of the strongholds were right at the palace gate, and the other two were near the secret passage where they often sneaked out.

"Good heavens, it turns out that as soon as we left the palace gates, Wu Feng's people all knew about us."

Jin Mao continued talking about Wu Feng.

“Apart from Zi Yi’s special status, the people in the other strongholds are all ordinary people from the valley.”

"The only thing they have in common is that their wives and daughters-in-law are not from the valley."

“Every time Wu Feng comes to the valley, he stays in these people’s homes, always citing the reason of visiting relatives.”

Jin Mao glanced at Gong Zishang's expression and continued, "After these few days of investigation, these families should have already been turned."

Gong Zishang was not surprised by this. Just look at the father and son in the Yu Palace, and you'll know that turning them to defect was only a matter of time.

What puzzled her was, "Wu Feng's method is to marry off trained assassins to us?"

She either marries into the palace or into the old, dusty valley.

Moreover, the results are obvious: marrying a Wufeng assassin means that even if they are not turned against their own side, they will still be protected.

Gong Zishang astutely summarized, "I understand now. Of all the Thirty-Six Stratagems, only the Beauty Trap is the easiest and most effective!"

Jin Mao remained silent, realizing that what Zhi Ren said made a lot of sense.

A guard rushed in, shouting, "Zhi Ren! Gong Hongyu is dead!"

Gong Zishang looked somewhat dazed. She had been so busy these past few days that she had forgotten that there was such a person as Gong Hongyu in the Yu Palace.

Jin Mao, observing her expression, gently reminded her, "Zhi Ren, should white banners be hung at the palace gates?"

Gong Zishang snapped out of her daze, her expression somewhat cold. "No need, Yu Gong is enough."

"When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out"—these are just easy words from outsiders.

The blood shed at the palace gate ten years ago will not be diluted by Gong Hongyu's death.

Not executing him outright was already the last act of mercy.

The palace gates will never mourn for a traitor who sheltered Wu Feng.

When he heard the news, Gong Yuanzheng was having breakfast with Lin Qingyue. He nodded casually to indicate that he understood.

Seeing a strand of hair drooping down Lin Qingyue's head, he reached out and gently tucked it behind her ear.

"Yue'er, let's go to the pharmacy together today."

Lin Qingyue looked up at him, her eyes crinkling, her smile gentle, "Okay."

The entire Yu Palace was adorned with white banners. Gong Ziyu, dressed in white, knelt before the mourning hall with lifeless eyes.

Yun Weishan carried a bowl of porridge and slowly came to his side. "Young master, you haven't eaten all day. Have some porridge."

Gong Ziyu simply looked silently out of the palace. A day had passed, and not a single person had come to the Yu Palace to offer their condolences.

He knew in his heart that this was his father's own fault, but he still felt waves of sorrow.

What would it do to come and take a look at someone who's already dead?

He understood why Gong Yuanzheng wasn't coming, but why wasn't Gong Zishang coming either?

Didn't you used to love coming to the Feather Palace? Now that you've become a Blade Master, you don't even have time to come and see your father off anymore?

"Ayun, my father is gone, my last remaining family member is gone."

Yun Weishan was silent for a moment, then put down the tray in her hand and held Gong Ziyu's hand tightly. "Young Master, you still have me. I will always be by your side."

Joy shone in Gong Ziyu's eyes, and he couldn't help but pull Yun Weishan into his arms, "A-Yun..."