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

Holding Gong Zishang's hand, Lin Qingyue gently comforted him.

"Sister Zishang, don't worry. This matter is only the Thirteenth Prince's idea right now. We don't know what the palace thinks either."

"Given the current relationship between the palace and the court, the Crown Prince will not force you to marry the Thirteenth Prince."

Gong Zishang stared intently at Lin Qingyue, "And then what? After you wipe out Wufeng and stabilize the martial arts world?"

Lin Qingyue fell silent. If the imperial court were to propose a marriage alliance again on that day, would the Gong family have the right to refuse?

The first marriage alliance was initiated when the imperial court needed to leverage the power of the palace to stabilize the chaotic martial arts world; the initiative lay with the palace.

Once the martial arts world stabilizes and Wufeng is destroyed, the Gongmen sect will become the dominant force in the martial arts world.

The imperial court would not allow such a powerful force to escape its control.

Lin Qingyue's expression changed slightly.

Gong Zishang kept a close eye on Lin Qingyue's expression, and when she saw that Lin Qingyue looked serious, her heart sank to the bottom.

"Sister Qingyue..."

Lin Qingyue's expression turned serious. "Sister Zishang, it's nothing. I was just thinking about some possible scenarios."

At this moment, Gong Zishang put away all her playful antics and became unusually serious.

"Qingyue, just say what you've thought of."

"I came to you because I wanted to hear your thoughts."

"As you know, I grew up in the palace and the farthest place I've ever been is the Old Dust Valley."

She laughed to herself.

"Previously, I was on good terms with Yu Gong, but I had almost no contact with Shang Jiao and Yuan Zheng."

"My understanding of the outside world comes from the library and storybooks."

Gong Zishang looked at Lin Qingyue earnestly, his tone extremely serious.

“Sister Qingyue, I knew you were no ordinary woman from the words you said when you persuaded me to inherit the position of Blade Master.”

"You come from an official family and have your own unique insights into many things."

"I really want to hear your opinion. Can I refuse? Or do I have to...?"

Gong Zishang's face was very ugly. She said, word by word, "Or do you mean I have to marry Qi Yan'an?"

Lin Qingyue took Gong Zishang's hand. "Sister Zishang, let's go to the study. We need to start from the beginning to explain these things."

Gong Zishang obediently got up, and the two of them went to the study together.

Gong Yuanzheng was copying several recipes that Lin Qingyue had memorized a few days ago when he saw the two of them and looked surprised.

"You're done talking so quickly?"

Then, with a pleased expression, he put away his brush and said, "Yue'er, let's go to Old Dust Valley. You've been here for so long, and I haven't shown you around yet."

Gong Zishang gave a fake smile, "Brother Yuanzheng, you're overthinking it. We haven't even started talking yet."

Gong Yuanzheng's smile vanished instantly. He stood up angrily, "Fine, you can have the study, I'm going to the pharmacy!"

As he passed by Lin Qingyue, she grabbed his arm.

“Yuanzheng, you should stay too. You should hear about these things.”

Gong Yuanzheng thought to himself: I just want to be alone with you. I really have no interest in Gong Zishang's "romantic affairs".

Meeting Lin Qingyue's eyes, he resisted the urge to roll his eyes and stopped walking away.

"Okay, I'll listen then."

Listen to that aggrieved tone. Even though Gong Zishang was feeling annoyed, she couldn't help but want to tease her bratty younger brother.

"Okay, I'll tell you about the current situation right away."

Lin Qingyue decisively took one of the siblings' hands and pulled them directly to the desk, not giving them a chance to speak.

Once the three were seated, Lin Qingyue asked directly, "You all know why the imperial court and the palace are cooperating, right?"

"In order to eliminate Wufeng." Gong Yuanzheng spoke first. He glanced at Gong Zishang, then smiled again and looked at Lin Qingyue.

"Yue'er, I've heard some things from my brother. Wu Feng has committed all sorts of evil deeds outside, and the court has long abhorred him."

"It's just that the court is currently weak and powerless to suppress Wu Feng, which is why it is cooperating with the palace."

"In the current martial arts world, only the Palace Clan has the strength to rival Wu Feng."

“That’s right.” Lin Qingyue nodded. “Has your brother mentioned what happened after Wufeng was wiped out?”

“Of course.” Gong Yuanzheng’s smile faded slightly. “The cooperation between the palace and the court will not stop because of the destruction of Wufeng.”

"The annihilation of Wu Feng is merely a prelude; the imperial court's true aim is to restrain the entire martial arts world."

Gong Zishang's expression changed slightly. "Qingyue, do you mean that the imperial court is likely to form another marriage alliance with the Gong family?"

Gong Zishang had never been involved in political intrigue, yet he was able to devise a plan to capture all the Wufengs in the valley.

Based on limited clues and conditions, Yun Weishan and Shangguan Qian were defeated one by one, and the two crows were successfully brought under control.

It is clear that she is not a simple-minded person. There are some things that she cannot understand at the moment, but as long as someone points out the mystery, she can see through the essence of the matter.

Lin Qingyue sighed, "If no one had brought it up, the imperial court might not have had such thoughts."

She knew that the palace gate had won a pyrrhic victory in its duel with Wufeng, which was one of the reasons she volunteered for the marriage alliance.

It was originally thought that with this achievement, as long as there was no rebellion, the palace would be safe and sound for decades to come.

Or perhaps she was oversimplifying things.

"Ever since I learned that the poison in my house was stolen from the palace gate by Wufeng, I have suspected that Wufeng has long been in cahoots with the prince."

"Wu Feng's strength is obvious to all, and even ordinary people know what it does."

"By secretly cooperating with such an organization, that prince must rise to power."

"Otherwise, His Majesty can arrest him at any time on charges of treason."

"Without a spearhead, it is naturally doomed to destruction."

“Wu Feng and that prince are already one, and that prince will definitely do everything he can to protect Wu Feng.”

Gong Zishang's expression grew increasingly solemn.

Gong Yuanzheng was no longer as relaxed and carefree as before.

He stopped smiling and slowly sat up straight.

It's so dangerous! My brother is still trying to capture Wan Qi'ai.

Wanqi'ai is one of the Four Demons, and Wufeng would certainly be reluctant to abandon him.

What if that prince and Wu Feng attack my brother together?

Gong Yuanzheng's face instantly turned sinister. No! My brother absolutely cannot be harmed!

Lin Qingyue immediately noticed Gong Yuanzheng's change, and when she looked up, she saw his gloomy and ruthless expression.

"If anything happens to my brother, I will make all Wu Feng pay with their lives."

"A prince? Ha!"

Gong Yuanzheng sneered, "Even if he's royalty, I won't let him get away with it so easily!"

Lin Qingyue was startled; she had never seen Gong Yuanzheng like this before.

She immediately grasped Gong Yuanzheng's hand, "Yuanzheng, don't worry, Wufeng doesn't know yet that the Crown Prince has cooperated with the Gongmen, so he won't completely break ties with the Gongmen."

Gong Yuanzheng didn't respond to her words, but instead grasped her hand.

He gently stroked the back of Lin Qingyue's hand with his fingertips, his eyes filled with an unfathomable darkness.