My Journey to Me

Chapter VIII: Unexpected Adventures

The morning was as bright and loud as Gong Zishang's personality, which, of course, suited her just fine. She had already been through enough of the royal estate to know exactly where she wanted to go today. Her first target? Her youngest brother, Gong Yuanzhi.

Gong Yuanzhi,  was blissfully unaware that his sister was already planning to stir up some trouble. He was tucked away in his favorite spot in the family garden, nose buried in a book as he tried to ignore the noise of the rest of the household. Zishang, with her typical enthusiasm, was practically bouncing with energy as she silently approached from behind.

She tiptoed like an exaggerated version of a thief, hands held up in mock suspense. "The prey is in position," she whispered to herself dramatically, eyes gleaming. "Now, for the attack!"

With a sudden, completely unnecessary yell of, "BOO!" Zishang pounced, grabbing her brother's shoulders and shaking him so hard the book nearly flew out of his hands.

"Ahhh! What the—Zishang!" Yuanzhi yelped, completely startled. He spun around, clutching his book to his chest as though it was his last lifeline in a world filled with monsters.

Zishang grinned widely, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, come on, you should know better than to read in my territory. I can't let you get away with that!"

"You're impossible," Yuanzhi grumbled, though his lips couldn't suppress the hint of a smile. He tried to swat her away but, being much younger and significantly less tall than his older sister, the effort was futile.

"You love me, admit it!" Zishang teased, giving him another shake for good measure. "You can't live without your awesome, funny, and totally incredible sister."

Yuanzhi narrowed his eyes at her, but Zishang only grinned even wider, as if knowing exactly how to get under his skin. She leaned in and lowered her voice to a stage whisper. "But hey, if you want, I can teach you the most excellent trick: how to escape her grasp."

Yuanzhi blinked, confused. "Who?"

"Mom!" Zishang shouted overdramatically, laughing at the way her little brother recoiled as if she had uttered some kind of forbidden word.

"Don't talk about her like that!" Yuanzhi snapped back, horrified by the mere suggestion. He wasn't as brave as he liked to think when it came to their mother's stern eyes.

"You should've seen your face!" Zishang laughed until her stomach hurt, clapping her hands together. "Classic! You're so easy to tease."

Yuanzhi rolled his eyes but chuckled despite himself. "You're lucky you're my sister," he muttered under his breath.

"I know, I'm a precious gem, aren't I?" Zishang said, giving him a wink. She pulled him into a half-hug, ruffling his hair until it stuck out like a messy ball of fluff. "I'm totally your favorite sibling."

Yuanzhi sighed, resigning himself to the fact that his sister was both impossible and, well, irreplaceable. "Whatever. Just don't make any more noise, or else I'll never get through this book."

Zishang gave him a mock salute before jumping to her feet with a sudden burst of energy. "Alright, time for my next grand adventure! I'll see you later, studious brother!"

With that, Zishang spun around, her feet kicking up a cloud of dust as she practically skipped off toward her next destination: the Jue household.

When Zishang arrived at the Jue household, she was greeted by the usual quiet and calm. But as her eyes scanned the estate, she realized something—there was no sign of her second-eldest brother, Gong Shangjue. The house was eerily still, a little too still for her liking.

"Where's the chaos when you need it?" Zishang muttered, shaking her head with mock disappointment. Her brother, Shangjue, was known for his high-strung, serious demeanor, and it was always a joy to her to see him flustered by her interruptions.

Just as she was about to turn around and leave, a familiar voice called out from behind her.

"Lady Zishang, I see you've come to visit." It was Shangguang Qian, Jue's wife, who was always gentle and composed—too composed for Zishang's taste, but someone she had always admired for her strength.

Zishang lit up, always happy to see someone who wasn't directly involved in her family's business and duties. "Qian! How lovely to see you!" She practically bounced up to her, taking both of Shangguang Qian's hands in her own and shaking them dramatically. "Where's that husband of yours? I've come here for the fun!"

Shangguang Qian smiled warmly, though her eyes held a hint of amusement. "He's out dealing with some matters of the estate, as usual. But I'm happy to keep you company, Lady Zishang."

Zishang's face lit up with excitement. "Yes! That's what I like to hear. You and me—let's make our own fun! And where are we going next? The Yu household! I'm in the mood to make some noise!"

Without giving Qian a chance to respond, Zishang grabbed her hand and practically dragged her across the estate. The Jue household was quickly left behind, and as they approached the Yu household, Zishang's excitement grew.

It wasn't long before they were at Gong Ziyu's doorstep. The house was serene, just as usual, and Zishang could see that the quiet atmosphere was exactly the opposite of the energy she brought.

"Ziyu! Ziyu!" she called loudly, causing the servants to stir as she burst through the doors without ceremony.

Ziyu appeared from behind a screen, looking both surprised and a little apprehensive. "Zishang, must you always make such an entrance?"

"Oh, you know I can't resist," she said, winking. "I've come for some real fun today!"

Qian, following behind Zishang with a knowing smile, stood back as Zishang's infectious energy filled the room. And then, Zishang turned to the lady of the house—Yun Weishan, who had been sitting quietly with a book in her lap.

"Weishan!" Zishang greeted her with the usual exuberance. "I hope you're ready for a fun day with your favorite sister-in-law!"

Yun Weishan raised an eyebrow but couldn't suppress a small smile at Zishang's antics. "And what, exactly, do you have in mind?"

Zishang grinned widely. "Let's just say, I'm about to liven up this place. Adventure calls, and I'll be its loudest cheerleader."

As the laughter and chatter began to fill the room, Zishang's heart swelled with excitement. She might not have been on the wild adventure she'd always dreamed of, but today, her journey had led her to exactly where she needed to be—creating chaos, joy, and memories with the people she loved.

And as for the quiet lives of her brothers and their wives? Well, Zishang had a knack for shaking things up. There was no way they were going to sit idly by while she was around.

After all, what were siblings for if not to be mildly tortured with the unpredictable whirlwind that was Gong Zishang?