Chapter 21: Even Harder Than the Examination's Questions

Ziling had no sympathy for these shopkeepers. After all, anyone who excelled in business was shrewd. On her first day, they came to her doorstep demanding payment, trampling both Dongling Marquis Mansion and her dignity.

To sympathize with them and stand up for them would only encourage them to come back to Zhenguogong Mansion when they encountered trouble.

Ignoring them, Ziling got on the carriage as soon as the coachman arrived, and Qianqian followed suit.

As for Gu Yunfeng, he rode his horse and led the way.

Anyone who glanced at them would know that Young Master Xie had accompanied Young Madam back home.

Only then could they effectively guard against those restless troublemakers who were ready to bombard them like a rain of rotten eggs.

The journey was uneventful.

Half an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of Dongling Marquis Mansion.

Ziling lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage, only to hear Gu Yunfeng say with a smile, "The way your Qingyunshan Feihu Village welcomes the young master is quite unique."

Ziling was a bit confused.

She tilted her head, and then her mouth twitched uncontrollably.

On both sides of the bright red gates of Dongling Marquis Mansion, there were four servants hanging like dried meat, their mouths stuffed with cloth, unable to struggle or speak.

Ziling was not really the daughter of Dongling Marquis, so she was not familiar with the customs of Qingyunshan.

She looked at Qianqian.

Qianqian shook her head. She had never heard of such a custom. She whispered, "Perhaps it's Marquis's way of showing his authority to the young master. Marquis said that when the new young master visits, he should be humbled."

Gu Yunfeng's face darkened.

Ziling covered her forehead and said, "He was already weak and fragile, and now they want to humble him again. He'll probably be carried back."

Is he really that weak?!

Gu Yunfeng didn't worry and dismounted his horse, and Ziling also got off the carriage.

As they ascended the steps, a foul smell wafted over, and Ziling quickly covered her nose, hurriedly stepping into the mansion.

A servant brought a wooden bucket and asked, "Still smelly?"

It was suffocatingly pungent. How could it not be smelly?

"This smell is a bit familiar, like the smell of rotten eggs," Qianqian said.

"Yeah, it's exactly rotten eggs," the servant grumbled.

"Who dares to throw rotten eggs at the Marquis Mansion? Aren't they afraid of death?" Qianqian's eyes widened.

The servant pointed to the entrance, saying, "They are hanging right there. Last night, these servants came and threw them in front of the mansion. Not only rotten eggs, but they also left notes, telling us to go back to Qingyunshan. Not a single one escaped. We caught them all."

After questioning persistently without any confession, Houye hung them all at the entrance of the Hou Mansion, waiting for their masters to come and claim them. But no one has come so far. Notes can be torn easily, just like rotten eggs... I've been wiping for two hours, and I can barely smell the stench."

Her father is a bit naive.

Those who dare to throw rotten eggs at the Dongling Marquis Mansion are not ordinary people. How could they tear their faces with a few servants and the Dongling Marquis Mansion? However, hanging the servants at the gate can definitely shake the mountain and intimidate the tiger.

Ziling lifted her foot and walked forward. A servant came over and said, "Young Master, you finally came. Houye has been waiting for you for a while."

Waiting for him?

Gu Yunfeng frowned slightly.

Ziling was a little worried and asked, "Do you know what Young Master wants?"

"Houye knows that Young Master cannot use force and plans to test Young Master's literary talent," the servant replied.

Ziling looked at Gu Yunfeng and said, "This shouldn't be difficult for you. Just do your best."

Ziling had no intention of accompanying Gu Yunfeng, but when she was about to leave, she was pulled by Qianqian's sleeve.

"Miss, don't you want to go to the study and take a look?" Qianqian said earnestly.

"What's there to see?"

Qianqian looked around and hesitated to speak.

Ziling said, "Just say it."

"Houye doesn't allow others to say that he lacks literary talent," Qianqian whispered.

Ziling "..."

Gu Yunfeng "..."

He lacks literary talent, yet he tests others' literary talent. Her father's thinking process shouldn't be so twisted, right?

It seems that there's a real problem.

Ziling looked at Gu Yunfeng and said, "I'll accompany you."

The messenger servant hurriedly said, "Houye only allows Young Master to go. Miss, you should accompany Madam. They will enter the inner courtyard soon."

Ziling shrugged at Gu Yunfeng, appearing helpless.

Gu Yunfeng sighed and walked away with the servant. A conversation could be heard from behind:

"Will Houye and Young Master fight?" Qianqian asked.

"They probably won't," Ziling replied.

"What if they really fight? Whom would you help, Miss?"

Gu Yunfeng perked up his ears, slowed his pace, and only heard Ziling's cheerful laughter:

"Why even ask? Of course, I'll sit on the side and enjoy the show while munching on melon seeds."

"..."

She actually didn't side with her father—Gu Yunfeng's lips curved upwards, feeling pleased, and followed the servant to the study.

As soon as they entered the study, Gu Yunfeng was nearly hit by a flying paper ball. Dongling Marquis was sitting on a chair, looking serious.

Gu Yunfeng stepped forward, bowed and paid his respects, "Greetings, Father-in-law."

The Marquis of Dongling scanned Gu Yunfeng from top to bottom several times, making Gu Yunfeng feel uncomfortable. It wasn't the first time they had met, so was there a need to scrutinize him so closely?

After a while, the Marquis of Dongling spoke, "It seems even forcibly picked fruits can be sweet."

"..."

Gu Yunfeng remembered the day he was locked in the woodshed. The Marquis of Dongling had praised Ziling as a heavenly beauty, implying that whoever married her would be fortunate for generations. Gu Yunfeng had grown impatient and coldly replied, "Forcibly picked fruits aren't sweet."

And now, accompanying Ziling back to her home, wasn't he just embarrassing himself?

Gu Yunfeng remained silent as the Marquis of Dongling glanced at the man standing nearby and said, "Tell him the questions I want to test him on. I need to go out and get some fresh air."

With a serious expression, the Marquis of Dongling left the study.

Gu Yunfeng looked at the man in confusion. The man cleared his throat and said, "The Marquis owes money to various shops, and he beat up the store managers. During the morning court session, he was accused by the Imperial Censorate. The Marquis got angry and refuted their accusations. It's unclear whether it scared him or he was overwhelmed with anger, but the Imperial Censorate official fainted. The Emperor ordered the Marquis to reflect on his actions, but the Marquis couldn't come up with anything. Young Master, you are eloquent, so the Marquis wants you to reflect on his behalf and write it down to submit to the Emperor tomorrow."

Gu Yunfeng, "...!!!"

Was this what they meant by testing his eloquence?

He wasn't a bandit!

What was he supposed to reflect on for him?!

Gu Yunfeng didn't know what to say.

This whole family was abnormal.

If it weren't for his promise to Ziling to behave well, Gu Yunfeng would have probably turned around without looking back. But now, he could only sit down and resign himself to his fate. He dipped his brush in ink and began reflecting on his father-in-law's bandit-like behavior.

However, as he held the brush, he hesitated and couldn't bring it down.

He asked the man, "How did my father-in-law make the Imperial Censorate official faint?"

The man replied, "The Imperial Censorate official said the Marquis was pretending to be rich by throwing extravagant banquets and dowries on credit. The Marquis retorted that even if he didn't pretend, he would still be fatter than the skinny official."

Gu Yunfeng, "..."

Just with that one statement, the official couldn't handle it and fainted. The man was genuinely worried that he might be driven to death by anger in the future.

"The Marquis instructed not to write the letter in an accusatory tone. It should appear as if you are reflecting but actually arguing. You must be confident and righteous. The Marquis has never done anything wrong in his life, and we can't let his reputation be tarnished."

Gu Yunfeng, "..."

This was even more challenging than answering an exam question for the top scholar!

Gu Yunfeng clenched his lips and racked his brain. He intermittently wrote for two quarters of an hour before filling a whole sheet of paper.

Then he received a comment that made him want to vomit blood.

After finishing, Gu Yunfeng handed the paper to the Marquis of Dongling and took his leave.

As soon as he turned around, he heard the Marquis of Dongling praising him, "He truly lives up to being my daughter's choice. His literary talent and charm are evident in every stroke and line of his writing, exuding the spirit of a bandit that is truly inspiring. If this lad were to become a bandit one day, he would surely surpass even me in success."