Chapter 22: Talented Material...

Leaving the study, a servant led Gu Yunfeng to find Ziling.

Inside the room, Ziling had changed into a new outfit—a delicate golden embroidered dress that accentuated her natural beauty.

Qianqian praised, "Madam has made such a beautiful dress for the young lady."

Tang Shi also wore a satisfied expression and said, "Now that you're married, I won't know who to make clothes for to pass the time."

Ziling smiled and replied, "Mother can make clothes for Father and Elder Brother."

Tang Shi sneered, "I don't feel like making clothes for them. They all look the same no matter what they wear."

Tang Shi asked Ziling to turn around so she could see if any modifications were needed. Ziling turned halfway and saw Gu Yunfeng entering. She smiled and asked, "Father, did you pass the literary test? Can you answer all the questions?"

Gu Yunfeng didn't feel like talking.

He had never seen a father-in-law like this before, someone who wasn't afraid of embarrassing himself in front of his son-in-law and even asked him to reflect, though nobody would believe it if he told anyone.

Furthermore, Duke Dongling had explicitly forbidden Ziling from knowing about this matter, indicating that he didn't want her to find out.

Seeing that he remained silent, Ziling didn't ask any further. She simply assumed that Duke Dongling had presented him with a difficult question and stumped him. It was highly possible.

As Ziling touched the embroidered pattern on her sleeve, she smiled and asked, "So, how is it? Isn't it beautiful?"

Gu Yunfeng raised an eyebrow. Surprisingly, the wife of a bandit possessed embroidery skills comparable to those of palace embroiderers.

He didn't say anything, but Duke Dongling, who had walked in behind him, smiled and said, "Of course, whatever clothes my daughter wears look good."

Had anyone ever praised their daughter this much?

"Daddy, I was asking about the clothes," Ziling blushed and said.

Duke Dongling carefully examined her and replied, "Your mother's skills are lacking. Only you look good in her clothes. Both your brother and I don't like wearing them."

One doesn't like making clothes, and the other doesn't like wearing them. They truly make a perfect match.

Tang Shi glared fiercely at Duke Dongling and said, "You've passed the literary test, but are you satisfied now?"

Taking the opportunity, Duke Dongling showed off his literary talent and said, "A raw jade needs polishing and grinding; he is a talented material."

Talented material...

Gu Yunfeng prayed that he wasn't referring to the bandit in his statement.

Tang Shi appeared slightly surprised and said, "Rarely have I heard you give such a high evaluation. I haven't heard you praise anyone before."

"I have always been good at judging people, and besides, would our daughter choose an ordinary person?" Duke Dongling proudly replied.

"That's true."

"..."

If Gu Yunfeng hadn't heard Duke Dongling's comments, he would have been happy with all the praise. But now, he was only frustrated, feeling a lump in his chest and unable to release the built-up tension.

Gu Yunfeng stood there without saying a word.

Ziling pushed him and whispered, "You're being praised like this, and you're not even blushing or being modest?"

Don't forget, you promised me to behave well and not let my parents think you're arrogant.

Gu Yunfeng almost spurted out a mouthful of blood.

He glanced at Ziling sideways.

"Do you know what your father is praising me for?"

"Your father praises me for being suitable to be a bandit!"

"It would be good enough if my face didn't turn red and my neck didn't thicken from anger, let alone actually blushing."

Does he expect him to thank his father-in-law for his keen eye in recognizing the potential bandit inside the distinguished young master of the Zhen Guogong Mansion?

Unable to say it, Gu Yunfeng ignored Ziling.

Ziling poked him with her eyes.

The Duke of Dongling over there looked Ziling up and down, furrowing his brows slightly and said, "Why do I feel like my daughter has become thinner?"

Thinner?

Ziling raised her hand and touched her own face.

Tang Shi took a look and also felt that she had become thinner. She asked, "Could it be that the food at the Zhen Guogong Mansion doesn't suit your taste?"

Ziling shook her head.

Tang Shi looked at Qianqian, and Qianqian said, "The food at the Zhen Guogong Mansion is delicious. It's even better than the Marquis Mansion's. Miss eats a lot at every meal. It's impossible for her to lose weight."

Ziling "..."

Did she eat a lot?

She only ate a few more bites than she did at the Marquis Mansion. She was tired these past few days and had high energy consumption, so it was normal to eat a bit more.

She thought to herself, but Ziling didn't refute. Eating well and sleeping well would put her parents at ease.

Gu Yunfeng was somewhat surprised by the interaction at the Duke of Dongling's mansion. In the Zhen Guogong Mansion, maidservants would never say that the food at the master's house is not as good as others, especially in front of the master. They would be punished for that.

But it was different at the Duke of Dongling's mansion.

The Duke of Dongling wasn't angry at all. He was happy that his daughter could eat even better food, and then...

He took the chef away.

The Duke of Dongling looked at Gu Yunfeng and said, "After Ling'er gets married, her mother has lost her appetite for everything these days. I was worried about where to find a chef, but the chef at the Zhen Guogong Mansion cooks well. Remember to pick a skilled chef and send them over after you return."

Gu Yunfeng "..."

It seemed like the Duke of Dongling had more to say. Qianqian leaned in and whispered a few words.

The Duke of Dongling burst into laughter and said, "The student surpasses the master."

Ziling was completely puzzled by the laughter.

Tang Shi glanced at the Marquis of Dongling and said, "Stop praising our daughter all the time. Let's serve the tea first. If you have something to say, you can say it after we finish serving the tea."

By this time, Ziling and Gu Yunfeng finally served the tea.

After serving the tea, Ziling took the opportunity to ask Qianqian in a low voice, "What did you say that made my father so happy?"

Qianqian whispered, "I didn't say much. The servant was afraid that the Marquis would take Young Master's money, so I told him that Young Master's money has already been taken by the young lady. If he wants to take it, he'll have to wait for Young Master to save up again."

The young master, who was trying to save money, "..."

After having the celebratory meal, Gu Yunfeng helplessly watched as Ziling handed over ten thousand taels of silver tickets to Tang Shi, which he had been robbed of. "Mother, you can use this money for now. Don't let father go and rob those ministers."

Tang Shi was pleased with her daughter's filial piety but did not agree.

"Robbing is your father's hobby. If you don't let him rob, it will make him more miserable than not letting him eat," Tang Shi said.

Ziling "..."

Returning the silver tickets to Ziling, Tang Shi smiled and said, "Although your dowry was procured on credit, Qingyun Mountain is not short of money. Those few properties and shops, I'll make sure to add them to you. Your mother and father will never treat you unfairly. Last night, your father was even afraid that you would be bullied in the Marquis of Zhenguo's mansion, so he planned to move the Dongling Marquis's mansion across from the Marquis of Zhenguo's mansion. It's closer, and he can come home every day. If anyone dares to bully you, your father will rush over immediately."

Ziling "..."

Gu Yunfeng "..."

Was it necessary to dote on their daughter to the point of moving houses? This mansion was a reward from the Emperor.

Gu Yunfeng had nothing to say.

Meanwhile, Ziling felt a pang of guilt and unease.

"Daddy, mother, your daughter is not that easy to bully. Don't worry," Ziling leaned against Tang Shi and said.

Tang Shi touched her daughter's face and smiled, "Mother knows. No matter where we live, it's still a home. If we live across from the Marquis of Zhenguo's mansion, your father can sleep an extra fifteen minutes before attending the morning court. I'll also remind him, so he shouldn't be late."

Talking about the Marquis of Dongling attending the morning court made Ziling's sadness disappear.

After the Marquis of Dongling came to the capital, the Emperor rewarded him with a mansion, and he became a member of the court, attending court sessions except on rest days.

However, on his first day attending the morning court, he was late.

Late thoroughly.

When he stepped into the political hall, the eunuch announced the end of the court session...

In Qingyun Mountain, Duke Dongling was like an emperor of the land. He slept until he woke naturally every day. It was torturous for him to get up early for the morning court.

According to Qianqian, on that day when Duke Dongling returned, he sighed and said, "Being an emperor is even harder than being a bandit."

But after that day, Duke Dongling never went so late again. Occasionally, he would attend the morning court on time, and sometimes he would leave halfway through. If he really woke up late, he simply wouldn't go at all...

At first, there were ministers who accused him, but Duke Dongling remained unchanged in his ways.

After everyone's compromise, Duke Dongling now stands arrogantly at his own position while the emperor speaks, but no one pays attention to him.

In the entire court, this is unique.

Of course, in the entire Daqi Dynasty, he is the only one holding the title of Marquis without any official position.

It's not that the emperor didn't give him an official position, but Duke Dongling didn't want one. He didn't like being this official or that official, and in the end, the emperor even wanted to hit him, saying, "What exactly do you want to do?"

Duke Dongling thought for a long time but couldn't come up with an answer. He simply said, "Let me attend the morning court like this for now. When I find something interesting, even if the emperor doesn't let me do it, I will compete to do it."

The emperor just let him be.

Tang Shi and Duke Dongling saw off Ziling and Gu Yunfeng at the entrance of the mansion.

At the doorstep, they lingered for a while. Duke Dongling's gaze towards Gu Yunfeng was filled with disdain.

He had called him a good son-in-law before.

But at the doorstep, he turned into a detested son-in-law.

Under pressure, Gu Yunfeng said, "In a couple of days, I will bring my wife back to visit her parents."

Duke Dongling's gaze softened at this.

Gu Yunfeng helped Ziling onto the carriage, and Duke Dongling remembered something. He said to Ziling, "The eighteen weapons that you made a fuss about leaving on Qingyun Mountain will be sent to the capital in the next day or two. Once they arrive at the mansion, I will have someone deliver them to you."

Ziling: "..."

Gu Yunfeng: "..."