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

Inside the imperial prison in the capital, screams of agony filled the air, and the stench of blood permeated the air.

Gong Shangjiao remained oblivious to everything around him, calmly sipping his tea.

Jin Shu put away the whip and walked up to Gong Shangjiao. "Young Master Jiao, the hundred lashes have been completed."

Gong Shangjiao didn't even look up, casually pointing to the long table, "Just pick any drink for him, then you can rest for a while."

Jin Shu put down the whip, and just as Gong Shangjiao had said, casually took a cup of medicine and handed it to Wan Qi'ai's lips.

Wan Qi'ai kept his lips tightly closed, refusing to open his mouth no matter what.

His resentful eyes were fixed on Miyazaki.

Qi Yan'an frowned and looked at Gong Shangjiao, "Shangjiao, he refuses to drink."

He hadn't expected the interrogation at the palace gates to be so simple and brutal; they didn't say a word and immediately whipped him a hundred times.

Okay, Wan Qi'ai is a martial arts master, but he has lost his internal energy and martial arts skills, so his body is only slightly stronger than that of an ordinary person.

Isn't he afraid of accidentally beating someone to death?

What Qi Yan'an didn't know was that the whips at the palace gates were specially made, containing not only poison but also tonics, ensuring that prisoners would never die on the way to being whipped.

"The medicine from the palace doesn't only work if you drink it."

Miyazaki looked indifferent.

Just as Gong Shangjiao had said, Jin Shu saw that Wan Qi'ai refused to open his mouth, and without hesitation, he poured the medicine into Wan Qi'ai's clothes.

Qi Yan'an saw billowing white smoke drifting out from Wan Qi'ai's clothes, and a burning sensation instantly filled the prison cell.

A bloodcurdling scream instantly echoed throughout the cell, startling the many hardened criminals. What terrible crime had this person committed to warrant such a horrific scream? They were truly suffering terribly.

In an instant, everyone wanted to confess as soon as possible; no one wanted to suffer like this.

Gong Yuanzheng's poison was indeed as good as its reputation suggested.

Qi Yan'an was horrified; it was truly tragic, and he couldn't bear to watch any longer.

He unfolded his folding fan, blocking the view, and leaned close to Gong Shangjiao's ear, whispering, "Can that medicine also be used like this? Or does it have to be taken orally?"

Gong Shangjiao shook his head, his gaze frank. "You'll have to ask Yuanzheng, I don't know."

Qi Yan'an put away his folding fan, looking regretful. He should have discussed pharmacology with his younger brother Yuanzheng more when they were at the palace gate.

Thinking of the palace gates, he immediately thought of that quirky girl. She should have received his letter by now, right? What would her reaction be? What kind of reply would she give him? He couldn't wait!

As he thought about it, Qi Yan'an couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth into a smile, which spread across his entire face.

The torture continued, and Gong Shangjiao showed no intention of asking any questions until Jin Shu was about to force-feed the fourth dose of medicine, at which point Wan Qi'ai finally spoke up.

Don't you want to ask me anything?

Gong Shangjiao raised an eyebrow. "Can you say it?"

Wan Qi'ai choked on his words. Of course not. He was, after all, a demon from the West. He wouldn't speak so easily.

Gong Shangjiao put down his teacup and leisurely straightened his clothes: "Since you can't tell me, why should I ask? Jin Shu, continue."

It's unclear how much time passed, but Wanqi'ai showed signs of speaking, by which time the tea in Gong Shangjiao's cup had become weak.

He put down his teacup and looked at Qi Yan'an, who was sitting on the other side of the coffee table, and saw him smiling broadly.

Miyazaki: "..."

This is the Imperial Prison. You are facing a mangled, ravaged person. Is it appropriate for you to be laughing like this?

Qi Yan'an quickly noticed Gong Shangjiao's gaze and immediately stopped smiling.

He coughed lightly, his expression turning serious. "Shang Jiao, he's confessed everything?"

Gong Shangjiao turned his head away immediately, refusing to look at him again. "You've agreed. If you have any questions, ask them now."

Two hours later, Gong Shangjiao and Qi Yan'an left the prison gates with great satisfaction.

They have obtained all the evidence they wanted, and with this evidence, they can completely crush the Seventh Prince's faction and the Zhen family is doomed.

Other princes connected to Wu Feng will also find it hard to escape.

From then on, the crown prince controlled most of the court.

Gong Shangjiao did not stay in the capital for long; he had to return to the palace before the Lantern Festival.

He always spent the Lantern Festival with Yuanzheng, and this year was no exception.

He still had to go to Yangzhou to pick up the Lin siblings. If he was delayed for a few more days, he might miss the Lantern Festival.

The three elders were all left in the capital. Although they were all old and somewhat senile, they were all considered talented individuals.

All three were skilled in martial arts; one was knowledgeable in medicine, one was skilled in forging, and the other, well, was highly skilled in martial arts.

There will always be a place for them to use their talents if they stay in the capital.

Qi Yan'an escorted Gong Shangjiao to the outskirts of the city. Looking at the carriages behind Qi Yan'an, Gong Shangjiao's lips twitched.

"Shangjiao, here are some of my collections from many years, and some of the little trinkets I've collected from the capital. Could you please pass them on to Sister Zishang?"

"Of course, there are also some gifts for my younger brother and sister-in-law, so I'll have to trouble Sister Zishang to pass them on."

Gong Shangjiao tightened his grip on the reins, staring expressionlessly at Qi Yan'an.

Qi Yan'an seemed oblivious to his dark expression, smiling smugly.

"By the way, Shangjiao, please tell Sister Zishang that I will be on my way to celebrate the Lantern Festival with her."

Qi Yan'an really wanted to set off with Gong Shangjiao, but his maternal grandmother's birthday was the day after tomorrow, and he had to attend the birthday celebration before he could leave.

Miyazaki: "..."

Gong Shangjiao did not respond to Qi Yan'an's words. He spurred his horse and galloped off towards Yangzhou.

Everything that happened outside the city was naturally reported to the Crown Prince.

After reviewing the confession in his hand, the Crown Prince looked at Qi Yan'an, who had just returned from seeing Gong Shangjiao off, and asked, "Why did you do this? Gong Shangjiao clearly doesn't want to be related to you by marriage."

Qi Yan'an fiddled with the folding fan in his hand, looking at the Crown Prince with a frank gaze, "Brother, I don't want Sister Zishang to become one of my little sisters-in-law either."

“Brother, Shangjiao is especially good to Yuanzheng, he always grants his requests.” Qi Yan’an smiled. “We’re both older brothers, you can’t be worse than Shangjiao.”

The Crown Prince laughed in exasperation, pointing his finger at Qi Yan'an, "You brat, are you trying to provoke me?"

"What, have I been bad to you? Don't forget, you grew up in the Eastern Palace when you were little."

"Of course you're good to me, brother." Qi Yan'an's smile carried a hint of flattery. "Then be a little better to me and grant me one more wish."

"Brother, you wouldn't want me to be unhappy in the future, would you?"

The crown prince sighed, "You've given me a really tough problem."

Looking at the tall and upright young man in front of me, I realized that the little kid who used to play on his lap had grown up to be so tall in the blink of an eye.

This is his younger brother whom he raised himself. He taught him basic skills such as archery and horsemanship.

He's called a younger brother, but he's practically like a son.

He wanted to find him the most outstanding woman in the capital, not to arrange a marriage between Qi Yan'an and his brother, but simply because only the most outstanding woman was worthy of his younger brother.

But Qi Yan'an is right. If you marry someone you don't like, you're unlikely to have a comfortable life.

"Alright then," the Crown Prince said. "Next time you come to the capital, bring this young lady from the palace to the Eastern Palace."

Qi Yan'an immediately smiled, knowing that his brother had agreed, and immediately took the opportunity to make another request.

"Brother, after attending Grandmother's birthday banquet, I'll head to the palace gate. It's the first Lantern Festival I've ever known Sister Zishang, and I want to spend it with her."

"Brother, you know how boring the Lantern Festival in the palace is. Mother doesn't participate, and listening to those old foxes talk is exhausting..."

The crown prince interrupted him impatiently, "Go on, go on!"