Chapter 12: Gasping for Breath

This was the second time Ziling had praised her husband, but the feeling it evoked was completely different. The first time, it only felt cheesy and infuriating, but this time it was envy and jealousy.

Her husband was truly good!

It's not like this bandit woman with a sweet mouth who knows how to please people!

Third Madam's molars ached with jealousy. She had been married to Third Master for over a decade, and when had he ever spent money so generously on her? Not to mention thirty thousand taels, he didn't even spend three thousand taels!

The bandit woman had been married for only a day, and Gu Yunfeng had already spent more money on her than Third Master had in over a decade. How could she not be jealous?

Then Third Master received two glares in a row, feeling so frustrated that he didn't know how to react. Only Second Master, who sympathized with him, exchanged a bitter smile.

If there were any doubts about what Gu Yunfeng had said before, they were now completely convinced. Unless his brain was damaged, he wouldn't be so wholeheartedly devoted to the bandit woman if it weren't for the ancestral instructions of the Gu family to treat her well.

Ziling stood aside, knowing that Gu Yunfeng had agreed so readily only to save his own life. However, she couldn't help but admit that his words, that single "good," were like a piece of candy, melting in her heart, sweet and tender, spreading from the depths of her heart to her face.

Third Madam, displeased, challenged, "It's a good thing for Yunfeng to know how to treat his wife, but the debts belong to the East Ling Marquis's Manor. The daughter who has been married off is like water poured out. How can Yunfeng help you repay the debts of the East Ling Marquis's Manor?"

Ziling was speechless. Did these people not think before they spoke? These debts were incurred because of her marriage. If the East Ling Marquis's Manor saw her as poured out water, would they still prepare dowry debts for her and let her marry with such grandeur?

Ziling didn't refute aloud because there was simply no need. She blinked her eyes and looked at Gu Yunfeng, her voice soft and gentle, "Husband, you're willing, right?"

"Yes."

His concise and decisive response was infuriating.

Gu Yunfeng's face carried an indulgent smile, but his eyes were probing. This woman was even more intelligent than he had imagined. She could be ruthless when necessary, soft when necessary, a perfect balance of strength and gentleness. She wouldn't confront people directly, but with just a few words, she could make them feel like their seven orifices were emitting smoke. However, despite her intelligence, she had impulsively made a reckless move of snatching someone publicly, putting herself in the center of attention.

Smart people do stupid things, there must be some compelling reason behind it, rather than what she said about wanting to fulfill their own needs.

Madam San sat there, her mouth twisted with anger. She threw a punch, but didn't even touch the female bandit. Instead, she ended up injuring herself internally. Already feeling a dull pain in her chest from the anger, the female bandit had the audacity to throw a look that said, "My husband is willing to spend money on me, it's none of your business." Madam San felt a taste of blood in her throat.

Ziling and Gu Yunfeng were willing to fight and suffer. She had nowhere to vent her frustration, so she drank half a cup of tea to suppress her anger.

Seeing Madam San in such a rage, Madam Er's lips curled upward. The Princess of Nanting County had miscalculated this time. This female bandit was not as ignorant as they had thought, nor was she easy to handle. In just one day, she had tamed the young master completely. Although the young master was weak in body, he had the spirit of the old master, rebellious and untamable by ordinary people.

The situation in the Duke Zhen's mansion was stagnant and needed someone to stir things up.

Madam Er glanced at the Princess of Nanting County, and after retracting her gaze, she smiled and said, "I'm curious, how did Yunfeng, at such a young age, come into so much money?"

Where else could it come from? Apart from what the old master gave him, could his sickly body earn thirty thousand taels on its own? Madam San sneered inwardly, wearing a look of enjoying the show on her face.

The Princess of Nanting County's face turned cold. Her slender nails pinched into her flesh, but she couldn't feel any pain. She had never known that a person's heart could be so biased!

Eighteen years had passed, even if she had a heart of stone, it should have warmed up by now. What about him?!

Tears welled up in the eyes of the Princess of Nanting County. She bit her lip, forcing the tears back.

The relentless questioning made Ziling widen her eyes. She thought that Gu Yunfeng's wealth was a well-known fact in Duke Zhen's mansion, but apparently not. If he had been hiding it all along, why did he agree to her proposal so readily? Now, she had exposed herself.

Ziling cast an apologetic look at Gu Yunfeng, only to hear him say indifferently, "This money wasn't given by my father."

It wasn't?

Madam San didn't believe it and dug deeper, asking, "Then how did you get it?"

"My grandfather gave it to me."

Ziling, "..."

Silently, Ziling shifted to the side. She didn't know if it was still possible to admit that her show of affection with Gu Yunfeng was fake. Damn it, this guy had a talent for attracting trouble. And to think he just said it wasn't given by Grandfather Gu, she had thought he had a strong will to survive...

He clearly just wanted to die!

In a room, everyone resented him, and he had angered the crowd.

Ziling suddenly felt that something was wrong. If it was really given by the Duke, wouldn't he be selling his beloved grandfather? Gu Yunfeng shouldn't do something so foolish.

Ziling looked at Gu Yunfeng and saw him looking shaky. She quickly went over to support him and worriedly asked, "Husband, are you okay?"

Gu Yunfeng leaned half of his body on Ziling, and it was a struggle for her to hold him. She gave him a stern look, reminding him not to go too far.

Gu Yunfeng glanced at her. He always complied with her requests, but now this woman wanted to distance herself from him because of a single sentence. He was truly angry.

"I'm a little breathless, can't catch my breath," he said laboriously.

What could Ziling do? She could only help him catch his breath. He had always doted on her, so could she just abandon him?

Once Gu Yunfeng calmed down, others were in great pain from their anger. They didn't dare to question him. In case he got so angry that he vomited blood and fainted, when the Duke and the old master returned, no one would be able to bear the responsibility.

After Gu Yunfeng calmed down, he continued, "I didn't finish my words just now. When my grandfather gave me money, he said it was from my maternal grandfather. He kept it for me for fifteen years to prevent me from spending it recklessly. So, he only gave me ten thousand taels each year."

Ziling wouldn't be surprised if this fellow was beaten to death one day. Even the old lady was angry at his breathlessness, but in the end, he forcibly held it back.

Even if he was angry, he had to hold it in. It wasn't like he didn't make it clear. Wasn't it just because he couldn't catch his breath?

It was money given by his maternal grandfather, and he could spend it however he wanted. No one had the right to interfere.

Ziling supported Gu Yunfeng and said, "Husband, can you still hold on? If not, let me support you back."

Gu Yunfeng shook his head. "I'm fine."

The second young master from the Nanting County Princess's family, Gu, approached and greeted Ziling, addressing her as "sister-in-law."

With him taking the lead, other young masters and ladies also approached, regardless of how dissatisfied they were with Ziling as their sister-in-law. They showed respect on the surface, barely maintaining familiarity.

After the tea ceremony was done, Ziling planned to take her leave, but the Nanting County Princess waved her hand, asking Gu Yunfeng and the others to leave. The maids and servants in the room also went out.

Ziling blinked her eyes, wondering what was going on.

Gu Yunfeng shook his head. He didn't know either.

Then, an old nurse approached her, holding a tray with an exquisitely crafted tea bowl on it.

As she approached, a medicinal scent wafted in the air, followed by the stern voice of the Nanting County Princess. "Drink this bowl of medicine."