Chapter Seventeen: The Truth Behind the Alliance Marriage

[System: Main quest 1-5 “Encounter with Gong Cheng Ling” completed. Reward: 50 taels. Main quest 1-6 “Sabotage the Arranged Marriage” unlocked.]

Gong Cheng Zongguo tenderly touched his son’s face and said, “A Ling, my son, how are you feeling?”

“I’m fine now.” Gong Cheng Ling steadied himself and bowed to Wan Qi Yue. “Thank you, sir, for saving my life.”

She held a folding fan and gently fanned herself, unable to resist a sarcastic remark, “Don’t you think I’m in cahoots with the assassin? First, I severely wound you, then I save you—doing your Gong Cheng family a big favor?”

Gong Cheng Ling smiled faintly. “If that were true, sir, you would have waited until my last moment, when my life hung by a thread, to demand greater compensation. You wouldn’t have immediately saved me on the first day.”

At these words, the others in the room, who had just been suspicious, lowered their heads in shame.

“Since you have recovered, I shall take my leave.” Wan Qi Yue turned to leave.

“Please wait, sir!” Gong Cheng Zongguo stepped forward to block her path.

He donned a respectful and courteous expression and said slowly, “Sir, your cunning is truly remarkable. You have saved my son’s life twice. Might you show mercy and save his life a third time?”

“A third time? What do you mean?” Wan Qi Yue raised an eyebrow.

“This calamity, its origin unknown, has struck my A Ling. Though he is sometimes wild, he is a good child at heart. I wonder if he has offended someone and thus brought this fatal trouble upon himself. If we knew how to remedy it, we would be grateful for your guidance.” Gong Cheng Zongguo’s tone was earnest; he was truly a loving father.

Wan Qi Yue looked at these two, unsure what was genuine and what was feigned.

“Unfortunate fate brings disaster. The marriage you arranged for him clashes with the bride’s birth chart. Coupled with this unlucky year and conflict among brothers, it has led to this accident.”

Wan Qi Yue’s serious demeanor was somewhat intimidating, causing several to nod repeatedly.

Yet she herself doubted how much they believed this nonsense concocted to sabotage the marriage.

Still, the brothers’ conflict was not untrue—she had indeed seen Gong Cheng Ling’s elder brother order his men to assassinate him. Whether it was connected to this incident was unclear, but it served as a subtle warning.

Seeing Gong Cheng Zongguo’s pale and anxious face, Wan Qi Yue knew he must have suspected this all along but had not dared to confront it.

“Isn’t the marriage already called off?” she asked, glancing at the steward.

“The third miss refuses absolutely, and the bride price has not been returned,” came the reply.

“Go personally and handle it.” After a brief thought, he gave the order. Behind him, Gong Cheng Ling’s eyes darkened with a hint of disappointment.

Tsk tsk—why does Gong Cheng Ling look so reluctant to let go?

[System: Main quest 1-6 “Sabotage the Arranged Marriage” completed. Reward: 100 taels. Main quest 2-1 “Uphold Justice” unlocked.]

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“May I ask your name, sir?” Gong Cheng Ling inquired.

Wan Qi Yue replied, “A mere idle soul among the masses, unworthy of mention...”

“Unworthy of mention? Shall we meet again by chance?” Gong Cheng Ling looked at her with an amused expression and said, “You’ve used that phrase twice to brush me off. Do you not wish to befriend me?”

“Cloud and Mountain,” she whispered, uttering the three words softly.

“Alright, I’ve noted it,” he responded.

Gong Cheng Zongguo spoke politely, “Sir, you have saved my son’s life three times. We have no way to repay you. If there is anything you require, the Gong Cheng family will do everything in our power to assist.”

He thought for a moment. Originally, he had planned to dine at Wan Bao Tavern to enjoy their delicacies, but this incident had ruined his mood. So he said,

“Then please allow me to treat you to a meal at Wan Bao Tavern. I was just about to go there for some fresh delicacies, but before I even entered, your family’s guards pulled me off my horse.”

Father and son were stunned. A meal was all the reward for saving a life?

This gentleman was truly unfathomable.

Ji Zhanfei scratched his head awkwardly and said, “Sorry, sir, it was an emergency. I really... This meal should be on me!”

Ji Zhanfei gestured an invitation but was lightly tapped on the head by Gong Cheng Ling.

“Ouch! Master, why did you hit me?”

Gong Cheng Zongguo laughed heartily. “Our Gong Cheng household’s cuisine surpasses Wan Bao Tavern’s many times over. Sir, would you be willing to dine with us? I’ll have the servants prepare the finest banquet immediately. How about that?”

“That would be fine,” Wan Qi Yue agreed.

Gong Cheng Zongguo instructed the steward to show Wan Qi Yue to the guest room to rest. After the others left, he and his son exchanged serious looks.

“A Ling, how credible do you find this?” Gong Cheng Zongguo’s tone was grave, his eyes harboring a hint of lethal intent.

“Completely,” Gong Cheng Ling answered confidently.

“Why?” Gong Cheng Zongguo was surprised by his son’s certainty.

“I don’t know either. I felt a strange familiarity the first time I saw him. Maybe we just get along.” Gong Cheng Ling smiled.

“A Ling, you can’t always let your feelings dictate your judgment.”

Gong Cheng Zongguo shook his head, as if suddenly recalling something. He grabbed his son’s arm and asked:

---

“By the way, A Ling, A Zhan said you’ve been frequenting the pleasure quarters lately. Why do you pretend to be such a playboy?”

Gong Cheng Ling smiled. “Father, how do you know it’s a pretense? Couldn’t it be true?”

Gong Cheng Zongguo affectionately ruffled his hair. “You are my son; how could I not know your true nature? It’s just that Yue’er...”

Gong Cheng Ling interrupted, “Father, I do like Yue’er very much. It’s just that what we’re doing now is too dangerous. I never know when I might lose my life.”

“Better to live a peaceful life with someone else than to live each day in fear with me.”

“You might think that’s easy, but you don’t know how badly you’ve been scolded outside. Even the emperor knows, and I’ve said many good things about you.” Gong Cheng Zongguo teased.

“Thank you for your trouble, Father.” Gong Cheng Ling mockingly saluted him and then asked, “Any news about Yue’er?”

“No. I’ve been a few times, but they say she’s ill and cannot see anyone.”

Gong Cheng Ling sighed helplessly and asked, “What’s this about her rising from the dead? Was Yue’er really killed by Wan Qi Hui?”

“Rumors outside are detailed and vivid; doesn’t seem false.”

“But isn’t Yue’er the legitimate daughter?”

He chuckled at his own words.

He was also a legitimate son, yet his father favored his elder brother.

Yue’er lost her mother, lost her protector, and Wan Qi Hui was such a pretentious character...

Sigh, he had been too thoughtless at the time.

Yue’er must have suffered many grievances.

Suddenly canceling their engagement—he wondered how much criticism she would face.

As these thoughts overwhelmed him, Gong Cheng Ling’s eyes reddened, and two clear tears slowly fell.

“It’s my fault. All my fault,” he murmured.

“What’s your fault? A Ling, what’s wrong?” Gong Cheng Zongguo looked at his son, whose expression shifted between smiles and tears, and asked.