Chapter 18: Overwhelming Power

In the end, Gu Yunfeng ended up sitting across from Ziling and enjoying the delicious dishes prepared by the kitchen steward mother. As for Qianqian, she was lifted off her small stool by a loyal and devoted guard as if she were a little chicken.

At first, Qianqian resisted with all her might, refusing to go along. However, the guard easily won her over with two plates of braised pork and ten chicken legs. She happily followed behind, bouncing along.

Ziling couldn't help but suppress her laughter.

Gu Yunfeng glanced at Ziling, and though he didn't say it aloud, his eyes conveyed the message: "Your worth in the eyes of this servant is not even comparable to the weight of braised pork. What is there to be proud of?"

Ziling felt a surge of anger building up inside her.

This was too disrespectful!

She put down her chopsticks and called out to the maid, "Qianqian."

Qianqian turned back and waved her hand, saying, "Miss, this servant is going to eat the braised pork. I'll be back in a moment."

Ziling's smile froze.

Gu Yunfeng stifled a laugh.

But quickly changed it.

Qianqian took a deep breath and shouted, "Miss, if you have urgent matters, just order your husband around. I'll be back soon."

A certain husband, "..."

Well done, Qianqian!

Ziling shrugged her shoulders, picked up her chopsticks, and said, "You see, it's not you, Young Master Gu, who has the most weight, but the braised pork."

Gu Yunfeng's face darkened. He had never seen such a bold maid in all his life. She shamelessly incited Ziling to treat him like a servant. Didn't she have the least bit of awareness as a maid?

Seeing Ziling happily eating her food, oblivious to the seriousness of the situation, he said, "You should discipline your maid properly. Compared to all the maids in the Duke's residence, she has more courage than all of them combined!"

On this point, Ziling had to admit it.

Qianqian did indeed have a lot of courage. It was related to her personality. This maid had a good memory. She remembered everything the Marquis of Dongling and the Tang family had said. Not only did she believe them without a doubt, but she also drew inferences from them.

Ziling accidentally offended the Emperor, but there was no one in this world she couldn't offend.

Qianqian had spoken with the Emperor, so there was no one in this world she couldn't chat with. She wasn't even afraid to talk to the Emperor. Did she need to fear anyone else?

After all, she was a member of the Qingyun Mountain Flying Tiger Bandit Group.

She ranks third in the household, and she is the person the young miss trusts the most. As long as she doesn't offend the gods or the emperor, she can walk freely in the young miss's territory. Even if she dares to straighten the Marquis's stray hair, it doesn't necessarily mean she can't do it. After all, he ranks fourth and is beneath the young miss.

With the Marquis and the young miss protecting her, she feels confident and fearless. However, she didn't realize that the Marquis and the young miss in her household were not as powerful as she had imagined...

To put it simply, Dongling Marquis painted a beautiful picture, which is still hanging on the wall. This servant girl has already picked up some leftover crumbs from the big picture, and they taste delicious.

Gu Yunfeng's implied meaning was understood by Ziling. It was clear that Qianqian had a strong bandit-like aura. If she isn't disciplined now and causes trouble later, it will be too late for discipline.

But what she wanted to say was, if even a servant girl is so audacious, wouldn't the Dongling Marquis's residence be full of lawlessness?

Qianqian is only influenced by others; the real source lies with her parents...

Feeling Gu Yunfeng's gaze on her, as if waiting for her response, is she the kind of person who easily changes her stance?

"I will convey your praise to Qianqian," Ziling said seriously.

Gu Yunfeng almost choked on his breath.

"Playing the lute to a cow," he gritted his teeth.

Ziling blinked, "Why do you always have one thing on your mind? We haven't even finished our meal, and now you want to hear the lute again? I can't do it."

The "cow" was speechless.

Gu Yunfeng stood up with his bowl and picked up the plate of squirrel-shaped mandarin fish in front of his eyes, then went inside to have his meal.

He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he wouldn't be able to finish his meal.

Ziling bit her chopsticks, and her shoulders almost dislocated from shaking with suppressed laughter.

Outside the house, the sun was shining brightly, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and the sound of birds.

Qianqian returned with a food container and saw Ziling sitting there, thoroughly enjoying her meal. She glanced around but didn't see any trace of Gu Yunfeng.

She hurried over, followed closely by a hidden guard.

When they discovered that Gu Yunfeng was having his meal inside, both of them were shocked.

The anguish was written all over the hidden guard's face. He had even dared to take the servant girl away, making room for the young master. But in just a short while, he was sent inside to have his meal by the young mistress. She had five dishes, while the young master only had one. This was too much. Sir, if you act like this, how can you uphold the family's principles?

Qian Qian looked at Ziling and saw her using chopsticks to pick up food. She said, "Miss, you're going a bit too far. The master doesn't have any money left, and you're still not allowing him to have a proper meal."

Ziling stopped with the chopsticks in midair as the exquisite prawn dish in front of her was lifted up. Qian Qian directly carried it into the house.

Just as she approached, Gu Yunfeng's annoyed voice came from inside, "What's with that expression? Your master is not so weak. It's me who finds her annoying and wants to have a peaceful meal alone."

The secret guard also felt that the young master was not so weak, and then... Qian Qian became angry.

She had thought that the master was pitiful for being bullied by the young miss and had brought him food. But it turned out that he found the young miss annoying! She had misunderstood the young miss!

And then, the young master finished even a plate of squirrel-shaped mandarin fish.

Qian Qian brought back the plate of squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, placed it on the small table, and politely said, "Miss, please have some more."

Ziling raised her hand and lightly tapped Qian Qian's forehead, saying, "Now you know you misunderstood me. Remember it in the future. Your young miss is kind-hearted, and everything I do has a reason."

"I will remember, Miss."

The master and servant exchanged smiles and jokes, while inside the house, the secret guard stared at the half-filled bowl of rice in the young master's bowl, his mouth twitching uncontrollably. He offered a way out and let the embarrassed young master descend from his awkward position, "Sir, are you full now? Let me take the bowl back."

"I'm full of anger!"

The master and servant didn't allow him to eat the dishes. They stood united, and even the family's secret guard didn't bother to bring him any food. They didn't plan to let him eat the rice either.

Gu Yunfeng put down the bowl and said, "Go and inform them. Tomorrow, I won't accompany the young mistress back to her family's residence. Add thirty percent to the return gift."

Upon hearing this, Qian Qian looked at Ziling and asked, "Miss, will it be just the two of us going back tomorrow?"

A dangerous glint flashed in Ziling's eyes.

Even her life was in danger, yet she dared to threaten her.

But unfortunately, she had become someone else's target of threats. While he didn't have to worry about his life tomorrow, she had to return to her family's residence without Gu Yunfeng accompanying her. She didn't even know how many rotten eggs the carriage would have to endure.

That smell...

Ziling took a deep breath. A wise person knows when to yield and a small sacrifice could lead to a greater plan. She picked up the dishes, entered the house, and glanced at the secret guard, saying, "You shouldn't make your young master angry deliberately."

The secret guard remained silent.

It was impossible to reason with either of them.

Ziling placed the dishes in front of Gu Yunfeng and said, "You're full of anger, not hunger. You still need to eat more."

Gu Yunfeng glanced at the two plates of food but didn't feel any appetite.

Ziling rolled her eyes and said, "Qian Qian, bring all the dishes inside."

Once all the dishes were placed on the table, Ziling attentively served Gu Yunfeng, piling up his bowl with a small mountain of food. Only then did he pick up the bowl and take a bite, expressing his dissatisfaction, "It's cold."

"Do you want me to reheat it for you?" Ziling asked with a smiling face.

"...No need."