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

As night deepened, the Zhiren Hall was brightly lit, and Gong Zishang was still replying to letters.

The first letter was naturally sent to Miyazaki.

She told Gong Shangjiao everything about her conversation with Lin Qingyue today.

She also remarked in the letter that Qingyue had truly impressed her today. She had always thought Qingyue was a delicate and gentle girl, but she never expected her to have such a broad perspective.

She truly lives up to her reputation as a noblewoman raised in a wealthy and prestigious family.

At the same time, Gong Zishang also wrote down his decision in the letter.

Now that she has guessed what might happen in the future, she must maximize her benefits.

As a prince, Qi Yan'an couldn't possibly be without three wives and four concubines, so her goal was to become the principal wife.

Not becoming a concubine was her bottom line.

What Gong Shangjiao needs to do is help her become the principal wife.

As for her reply to Qi Yan'an, Gong Zishang thought about it for a long time, wasting many sheets of paper, and finally only drew a puzzled and frightened expression.

After finishing the letter and handling the affairs, in the dead of night, Gong Zishang felt a strange sense of panic and sadness.

Even though she had made up her mind, she was still apprehensive about what she might face in the future.

The martial arts world and the imperial court have always been clearly separated, and she was going to marry a prince, so she was naturally even more apprehensive.

It was a world she knew nothing about.

Standing up, Gong Zishang walked out without hesitation.

Jin Mao, who had just returned from delivering the letter, looked at Gong Zishang with a puzzled expression.

"Zhi Ren, it's curfew. Where are you going?"

Gong Zishang didn't even turn his head. "I'm sleeping with Qingyue tonight."

Jin Mao: "!!!"

"Zhi Ren! Have you forgotten that Young Master Zheng lives next door to Miss Lin?"

Gong Zishang disagreed, "Don't worry, Yuanzheng won't throw me out."

Jin Mao: "......."

If you can't dissuade him, then you have to stay close so that if the blade is thrown out, he can catch it immediately.

Inside a side hall of the palace, Lin Qingyue was drowsy, holding her head in her hands. Gong Yuanzheng stood behind her, carefully using his inner strength to dry her hair.

Ever since Gong Yuanzheng dried her hair once, she washes it every few days. She's practically a human hair dryer, so why not use it?

The hair in his palm was completely dry. Gong Yuanzheng sat down next to Lin Qingyue, intending to talk to her, but then saw that she had fallen asleep. He couldn't help but chuckle softly.

He bent down and gently picked her up, just as he was about to put her on the bed, when he heard a commotion outside.

"Sister Qingyue!" Gong Zishang's voice arrived before she did.

Gong Yuanzheng's face darkened. What was Gong Zishang doing here so late at night?

Lin Qingyue immediately regained her senses and jumped down from Gong Yuanzheng's arms.

Without turning his head, he hurriedly ran to the entrance of the side hall and welcomed Gong Zishang in.

"Qingyue, little sister." Gong Zishang hugged Lin Qingyue tightly, completely disregarding Gong Yuanzheng who was following closely behind her, and said in a voice filled with grievance:

"Little sister, I'm going to sleep with you tonight, and I'm a little nervous."

Lin Qingyue naturally knew why she was panicking, just like when she first married into the palace.

She had seen the video and knew the general situation of the palace. Even she couldn't help but feel panicked, let alone Gong Zishang.

The place she was going to was a world she had never been to before, a world completely different from the place where she grew up.

Gong Yuanzheng's face darkened. "No way!"

Gong Zishang ignored him, simply holding Lin Qingyue and burying his face in Lin Qingyue's neck.

"Qingyue, may I sleep with you tonight?"

Lin Qingyue also reached out and hugged her, ignoring Gong Yuanzheng's dark face, and instead pulled Gong Zishang into the house.

"Of course, I'd also like to have a good chat with Sister Zishang."

Gong Yuanzheng felt a bit stifled. If Gong Zishang slept here, he wouldn't be able to sleep at night and wouldn't be able to sneak in to see Yue'er.

But he couldn't bring himself to say it. It had taken Yue'er a long time to accept the hand-holding and hugging during the day. If she found out that he had sneaked into her room in the middle of the night, all his previous efforts would have been in vain.

Gong Yuanzheng could only turn his head and say somewhat stiffly, "Yue'er needs to rest properly and can't stay up late. Zhi Ren should go back to your Zhi Ren Palace."

Lin Qingyue immediately contradicted him, "During the day, Yuanzheng said that my body had recovered better than you expected."

Gong Yuanzheng: "..."

Seeing his aggrieved and frustrated expression, Lin Qingyue couldn't help but laugh. She gently took Gong Yuanzheng's hand, shook it a few times, and spoke in a soft, coquettish tone.

"Alright, Yuanzheng, I know you're concerned about me. Don't worry, I definitely won't talk to Sister Zishang for too long. It's only Hai Shi now, at most half an hour. I'll definitely rest immediately."

Gong Yuanzheng was even more frustrated. It was only Hai Shi (9-11 PM) now. Usually, he and Yue'er would chat for half an hour while she rested.

Today, the person chatting with her is Gong Zishang.

But when faced with Lin Qingyue's coquettish gaze, he couldn't bring himself to refuse.

He really wanted to get married right away. Once they were married, he could live with Yue'er legitimately, and no one, whether it was Gong Zishang or anyone else, could disturb him and Yue'er.

Gong Zishang looked at his younger brother and said meaningfully, "Alright, I'll just borrow Qingyue for one day. She'll be yours from now on."

Lin Qingyue blushed slightly, "What are you saying, Sister Zishang? If you can't sleep at night in the future, you can come to me anytime."

Gong Zishang remained silent, only gazing at Gong Yuanzheng with an inscrutable expression.

Little Sister Qingyue may not know, but as the Blade Master, she knows perfectly well that this brat sneaks into her room every night.

Gong Yuanzheng understood the meaning behind her words and immediately felt a little guilty, but then he shot a sharp look at Gong Zishang.

The threat in his eyes was particularly strong.

Gong Zishang raised an eyebrow, her meaning quite clear.

If you dare threaten me again, I will immediately tell Qingyue.

Gong Yuanzheng could only walk out of the side hall feeling frustrated.

Yue'er would definitely be angry if she found out. Although Gong Yuanzheng knew that he could always appease Lin Qingyue by spending more time and effort, anger was bad for his health, and he couldn't bear to see Lin Qingyue suffer any harm.

Filled with resentment, Gong Yuanzheng returned to his room, while Gong Zishang quickly finished washing up and swiftly climbed to Lin Qingyue's side.

This was also the first time she had shared a bed with someone since she became an adult.

When she was little, her mother would sleep with her, but it's been so long that she doesn't remember what that felt like anymore.

The palace has always been dominated by men and dominated by women. Since the disaster ten years ago, the only women with status in the palace are her and Princess Mingwu.

Myo-mu-hime is a concubine of the Feather Palace. No matter how much she tries to curry favor with her, it's impossible for her to confide in her.

The rest were servants. She was, after all, a mistress, and no matter how much she lowered her status, she couldn't possibly call her servants sisters.

Lin Qingyue can be said to be her first female friend in all these years.

Gong Zishang turned his head to look at Lin Qingyue. The girl had gentle features and a touch of childishness in her eyes, showing no trace of the shrewdness and wisdom she displayed during the day.

"Sister Zishang, why are you looking at me like that?" Lin Qingyue turned to look at Gong Zishang, a smile still in her eyes.

Gong Zishang shook her head and asked the question she most wanted to know.

"Qingyue, when you received the imperial decree to marry into the Gong family, were you afraid?"

Lin Qingyue was taken aback, not expecting her to ask this question right away. She thought for a moment and answered seriously.

"I'm definitely a little scared, but more than that, I'm looking forward to it."

"Looking forward to it?" Gong Zishang was now really interested. A scholarly family and a martial arts family were completely unrelated. Why would Lin Qingyue look forward to marrying into this family?

Lin Qingyue smiled faintly, "Sister, you don't know this, but after my family and I arrived in Yangzhou, we all started to fall ill one after another."

“I began to suspect a long time ago that my family had been poisoned in a subtle way.”

"My family has consulted renowned doctors in the countryside and imperial physicians in the palace, and the answer we received was always that the Lin family members are physically weak."

"After learning that the imperial court intended to form a marriage alliance with the palace, I volunteered to do so."

"I volunteer!" Gong Zishang sat up in shock.

“Yes.” Lin Qingyue also sat up, her face calm. “Speaking of which, I chose the expedition myself.”

“I have heard some things about the palace. I know that the Palace Master of Zheng Palace has superb medical skills, which is why I asked for a marriage alliance. My purpose is to hope that the palace can help my family.”

Gong Zishang stared in disbelief. She sighed deeply, looking at Lin Qingyue with a touch of heartache, and put her arm around her shoulder. "Sister, you really are..."

Lin Qingyue laughed, "I am the eldest daughter of the Lin family, and I cannot stand by and watch the Lin family perish."

"At first, I only thought that I was willing to sacrifice myself to ensure the safety of my whole family. It was a worthwhile trade."

Gong Zishang asked hesitantly, "Before that, did you know what kind of person Yuanzheng was?"

Lin Qingyue nodded, "I've heard some of his stories. I know he's a highly skilled doctor, adept at using poisons, arrogant, and haughty."

"A person with this kind of personality would definitely be very dissatisfied if a wife were forced upon him."

"But I am, after all, representing the imperial court. Even if he is dissatisfied, he won't do anything to me."

"At worst, he'll just spend the rest of his life in a remote courtyard."

Lin Qingyue paused here, a smile spreading across her face—a happy smile of being loved by her family.

"Later, my father told me that when the Crown Prince ascended the throne, he would resign from his post to exchange my marriage with the palace for the merit of supporting the prince."

At this point, Lin Qingyue's eyes welled up with tears, and she recalled the day she was separated from her father.

Father, Mother, Yu'er, Qingyu, the antidote has been sent out. You must all be cured of the poison now, right?

Gong Zishang suddenly heard a crisp sound, very, very soft. She looked toward the source of the sound but saw nothing.

She frowned. Could she have misheard? Impossible. Although her martial arts skills were poor and her internal strength was not high, she shouldn't have misheard at such close range.

Gong Zishang was an extremely intelligent person; he guessed the source of the sound in an instant.

He secretly despised Gong Yuanzheng, thinking, "I never thought you would do something like eavesdropping."

"Of course, this is rather despicable for you. The expedition helped our Lin family get rid of the poison, and we are still thinking about breaking off the engagement."

Gong Zishang shook his head, "From Lord Lin's perspective, this is a sign of his love for his daughter."

She said with a hint of envy, "Your father truly loves you."

If it were her father, he probably wouldn't have been able to wait to send her out the door.

Break off the engagement? Maybe in the next life.

Lin Qingyue grasped her hand, "With your brother here, he'll support you."

Gong Zishang understood Lin Qingyue's meaning; Gong Shangjiao valued the bloodline of the Gong family most.

Now that she has allied with the Horn Palace and the Seal Palace, she has been placed under the protection of the Palace's Horn Palace.

Gong Shangjiao will find a way to help her no matter what, and if she insists on not marrying, Gong Shangjiao will never force her.

But after Lin Qingyue's analysis, Gong Zishang also knew that marrying Qi Yan'an was her best choice. Shang Jiao was protecting her, and she couldn't push Shang Jiao into the most dangerous place.

Lin Qingyue continued to recount her personal journey.

"I just didn't expect that things would turn out completely differently from what I imagined once I got to the palace gates."

“Little sister, I think you’re underestimating yourself.” Gong Zishang said earnestly, “You don’t know how good you are. It’s perfectly understandable that that brat Gong Yuanzheng fell in love with you at first sight.”

"Besides, someone as outstanding as you would definitely fall for him during your daily interactions, even if it wasn't love at first sight."

Lin Qingyue smiled and said, "As you know, there are many rules in official families. After I turned seven, I basically never saw any men outside the family."

“At my age, I should be looking for a partner, but my younger brother has been sick and my mother has never had time to take me out.”

"Most of the elders I met were scholars like my father. I originally thought that the person I would marry in the future would also be a scholar like him."

"My relationship with him is like that of my father and mother, living a life of mutual respect and courtesy."

"He shares the emperor's burdens in the court, and I will stabilize the household and bear children for him."

"However, I never expected that my husband would be on a distant expedition."

At this point, Lin Qingyue wrinkled her nose, "Sister, do you know, Yuan Zheng is really rude."

“He would hold my hand all the time, and he even came into my room while I was taking a nap.”

"I've never met anyone like this before, and they want me to get dressed the day after we meet."

"If this were the Lin family, they would have been beaten out with sticks long ago!"

"Even the most dissolute characters in storybooks aren't as rude as him!"

Although it was a complaint, there wasn't much blame in the tone.

Gong Zishang thought to herself, "Don't even mention taking a nap, he'll still come into your room even when you're asleep at night!"

Looking at Lin Qingyue's expression, Gong Zishang guessed that Qingyue had probably gotten used to Gong Yuanzheng's actions.

She seemed to have guessed Gong Yuanzheng's plan. He was slowly boiling the frog, subtly "forcing" Qingyue to get used to his every move!

Good idea, she should learn from it! Wait, no! What a despicable man! How could he treat Qingyue like that!

“At first, I told myself to just bear with it and that my father would take me back in the future.”

"But later, I discovered that my engagement with Gongmen could not be easily dissolved."

"The expedition would not agree, nor would the court. At that time, I felt like I was about to despair."

"Sister Zishang, do you know what that feeling is like?" Lin Qingyue looked at Gong Zishang.

She had given up hope, but Lin Ruhai gave her hope again.

After waiting anxiously, it turned out to be nothing but wishful thinking.

Gong Zishang sighed, her face full of melancholy, "Of course I know. At first, I thought I could have three palaces and six courtyards, but I found out that my husband has three wives and four concubines. I'm almost in despair."

Lin Qingyue couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Sister, your example is so vivid."

Gong Zishang suddenly had a whimsical idea. She glanced at the back window without making a sound and said, "Sister, if I marry into the imperial court in the future, can your engagement with Yuanzheng be dissolved naturally?"

Sure enough, another "click" sound reached my ears.

Lin Qingyue was a little stunned, and after a while she murmured, "Actually, now, I don't really want to annul the engagement anymore."

Gong Zishang asked, somewhat puzzled, "Aren't you afraid of your brother on the expedition anymore?"

"I'm not afraid anymore." Lin Qingyue smiled, without the slightest hint of reluctance.

“Yuan Zheng was really good to me. I think I will never find another person who is so good to me in my life.”

“He cooked medicinal porridge and medicinal meals for me, and even transplanted all the herbs from the Zheng Palace to the Jiao Palace for my sake.”

"Sister Zishang, do you know? In order to detoxify me as quickly as possible, he took the poison directly."

Gong Zishang thought to herself, of course she knew, and she was shocked when she first heard the news.

"He's so good to me, I'm willing to give it a try." Lin Qingyue's face became serious as she finished speaking.

"I've never liked anyone before, and I don't know what it feels like to like someone, but I will try to like him."