Chapter 17: Picturesque Scenery

In the study, Ziling finished drawing on the paper and gently dried the ink. A satisfied smile appeared on her face.

Qianqian stood at the doorway, gazing up at the sky.

After spending a considerable amount of time, she had already explored the study thoroughly, and two words described it perfectly: uninteresting.

Books, books, and more books were all that filled the room.

The only interesting thing was the chessboard near the window, but unfortunately, it was missing a slingshot.

She missed the days on Qingyun Mountain when the lady of the house had taught her to play chess. She had even used the chess pieces from two sets as stones, scattering them all over the mountain.

There was also the gentleman sent by the Marquis to the mountain, teaching her music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. He almost suffered a stroke from her infuriating behavior.

The young lady had said that she wanted to become the greatest bandit in the Kingdom of Daqi. Learning to read and write would be enough to live up to the title of a bandit, but learning music, chess, calligraphy, and painting would make her stand out from the other bandits.

If she were to recite poetry under the moon on Qingyun Mountain one day, people would think she had lost her mind.

After a month of lessons, the gentleman only managed to teach her how to draw a turtle. The gentleman, who never uttered a single curse, said the young lady had a wooden head. He would rather bash his head against a wall than continue teaching her.

The Marquis believed it wasn't the young lady's fault but rather the gentleman's inability to teach. So he sent for another one, and after a month of learning, the young lady couldn't even draw a turtle anymore...

The Marquis was so angry that he beat up the gentleman.

The young lady didn't excel in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting but enjoyed handling blades and staffs, yet she was mediocre in all eighteen forms of martial arts.

When it came to wielding a whip, she ended up hitting herself more than others.

But now, as she held the brush and painted, her skill was remarkably proficient. It made her feel a bit bewildered. It was as if she was someone else's young lady, a refined young lady from a prominent family.

But she was clearly her family's young lady. Did she lose all her bandit-like qualities just because she fell down?

The lady of the house said that the young lady was naturally destined to be a refined young lady. She could easily learn music, chess, calligraphy, and painting but chose not to. Although she had no talent for wielding blades and staffs, she insisted on learning. Could it be that the young lady's fall had miraculously opened her mind?

But the young lady had fallen numerous times throughout her life. The lady of the house even suspected that she had hit her head on the ground too many times, causing her wits to diminish...

Qianqian sighed, leaning against the door, feeling bored and listless, like a wilting flower.

Ziling stretched and yawned, immediately rejuvenated, as if she had been injected with chicken blood, full of curiosity as she asked, "Miss, what do you think lies beyond here?"

A side door opened in the study, extending as far as the eye could see.

Ziling stood up and smiled, "Didn't you go to see it?"

"I was afraid you would call for me, so I didn't dare to go far," Qianqian replied.

Coincidentally, she also wanted to explore the area and familiarize herself with the newly occupied Chenxiang Pavilion.

Ziling walked ahead, with Qianqian following closely behind, saying, "Miss, after becoming the young mistress of the Zhenguogong Mansion, Lady requested you to buy a few reliable maidservants. When do you plan to do that? In case I want to leave the mansion someday, there won't be anyone to attend to you."

Upon hearing this, Ziling felt helpless and powerless, laughing and crying at the same time.

It had been some time since the Dongling Marquis Mansion moved to the capital. Before moving into the marquis mansion, Tang Shi had wanted to add a few maidservants. However, the notorious reputation of the Qingyun Mountain Feihu Village spread far and wide, and those maidservant brokers were afraid that the Dongling Marquis Mansion would not pay, so they simply refused to take the job. In the past, they managed to make do, after all, it was not a prestigious household, and they didn't pay much attention to having a large number of servants.

But now that Ziling was married, she couldn't just bring along one maidservant as a dowry. The Dongling Marquis grew angry and threatened to stop doing business with the Dongling Marquis Mansion, which would lead to a beating of the maidservant brokers.

The maidservant brokers were frightened and trembling as they brought the maidservants, but when they arrived at the marquis mansion's entrance, those maidservants cried loudly as if they were being taken to an execution ground. They couldn't be stopped at all. If one didn't know, they would have thought that the Dongling Marquis Mansion was holding a funeral.

The Dongling Marquis was so furious that he flipped the table, and Tang Shi gave up hope. She sent the maidservant brokers away and gathered the maidservants in the Dongling Marquis Mansion, including Qianqian, barely making up six maidservants.

The Dongling Marquis and Tang Shi wanted to give the best to Ziling.

But would Ziling accept them?

Taking these six maidservants meant that there would only be three maids left in the Dongling Marquis Mansion, and one of them even had a back injury.

When guests came, Tang Shi still had to serve tea and water herself. It was embarrassing.

In any case, it was embarrassing. It was better to be thoroughly embarrassed once than to cover it up and lose one's dignity.

"I will go back tomorrow and have the maidservant brokers bring the maidservants the day after tomorrow," Ziling said.

The mistress and servant were chatting absentmindedly.

The winding path led to a secluded place with green trees providing shade. Passing through an artificial mountain, they walked another hundred steps and the view suddenly opened up before them.

There was a vast bamboo forest, with tall and straight bamboos reaching up into the sky.

The wind gently blew, causing the bamboo leaves to rustle.

Next to the bamboo forest, there was a bamboo house, tranquil and elegant. In the distance, there was a lotus pond with a pavilion in the middle, adorned with flying eaves and exquisite scenery.

"What a beautiful place!" Qianqian exclaimed.

Ziling was also amazed by this place. She didn't expect to find such a hidden gem behind the Chenxiang Pavilion.

Qianqian loved water and quickly ran towards the pavilion, while Ziling preferred the bamboo house and walked over.

When she reached the steps, Ziling noticed Gu Yunfeng inside the house. She smiled and said, "This place is nice."

"Yes," he replied.

"I'll take it."

"..."

Gu Yunfeng raised his hand to his forehead.

She really wasn't one to beat around the bush.

Beside him, a guard said, "Young Lady, this backyard was specially cleared and built by Duke Gu for Young Master's recuperation."

Sure enough, she was favored. Ziling walked over and smiled, "With me treating your Young Master's illness, he won't need to rest for long."

The guard remained silent.

He couldn't argue, nor did he dare to.

Ziling swept her gaze around the bamboo house, becoming increasingly satisfied. She handed the drawing in her arms to the guard and said, "Prepare the items on the drawing as soon as possible. I also need to detoxify your Young Master."

Outside the house, Qianqian ran over and asked, "Such a beautiful place makes one hungry. Are you hungry, Miss?"

Of course, she was hungry.

"Go and bring the food. We'll eat here," Ziling replied.

Soon, Qianqian brought the food and filled the table at the entrance. The aroma of the food overpowered the faint ink fragrance of the bamboo house.

Ziling ate a few bites.

Gu Yunfeng coughed heavily, startling Qianqian and causing the chicken leg she was about to put in her mouth to fall onto her dress.

Ziling turned around and saw Gu Yunfeng coming out. She casually asked, "Do you want to eat?"

With a stern face, Gu Yunfeng replied slowly, "Just basking in the sun is enough for me."

Ziling "..."

So what if she accidentally missed two words? Was there a need for him to snap at her like that?

"Living a simple life, truly an extraordinary person detached from the world, not indulging in earthly desires." Ziling admired, and added, "This dish tastes really good."

Qianqian nodded and innocently added, "The housekeeper said she didn't know the preferences of the young lady, so she made dishes that the young master likes."

A certain young master "..."

A flickering flame ignited in Gu Yunfeng's eyes as he stared at Ziling, as if she had done something to offend him.

Wasn't it just not inviting him to eat?

He was almost losing his appetite because of her gaze.

Ziling put down her chopsticks and said to Qianqian, "His memory is not good, so let's reenact the scene from this morning to help him remember."

Qianqian looked confused.

Ziling cleared her throat and looked at Gu Yunfeng, saying, "If you don't speak, I feel like I'm having a meal in front of a wooden block. I can't eat like this. Can we not eat at the same table every day from now on?"

Qianqian suddenly understood and said two words, "As you wish."

Gu Yunfeng "..."

This woman!

He really wanted to strangle her!