Chapter 27: Confirming and Affirming

Seeing Ziling gazing at the stone and laughing uncontrollably, Gu Yunfeng became increasingly displeased. He couldn't allow his master and servant to turn Chenxiang Pavilion into Fei Hu Zhai and subsequently seize the entire Duke's Manor.

"Replace the stone!" he decisively demanded.

Ziling restrained her smile and looked at him, saying, "Why replace it? It's perfect this way. With the two houses so far apart, when we have free time, I can invite you to visit our Fei Hu Zhai."

Qianqian touched the stone and felt it was a bit small, lacking in grandeur. Listening to Ziling's words, she raised her head and said, "Miss, outsiders are not allowed to visit Feihu Village. We only go and kick others' doors."

"Why?" Ziling asked curiously.

"Madam said that the Marquis has no friends, and it would be a laughingstock if people found out. So she directly ordered that no one is allowed to visit, making it seem like nobody knows that Feihu Village actually allows visitors. It also makes us appear unattainable."

"...," Qianqian remained silent.

It was simply a divine operation.

She resisted the urge to lose face.

Ziling shook her head and smiled.

She turned and entered the bamboo house, while Gu Yunfeng didn't pay attention to Qianqian's words and followed her inside.

After taking only two steps, Ziling turned back and looked at him, saying, "The village has its rules."

Gu Yunfeng's face turned dark.

"Am I an outsider?" he gritted his teeth and asked.

This woman truly treated Chenxiang Pavilion as her territory.

Ziling blinked and said, "Not an outsider, are you an insider then?"

Gu Yunfeng "..."

This woman!

He felt like strangling her seven or eight times a day!

With a flick of his sleeve, Gu Yunfeng turned and walked away.

After two steps, he instructed, "Send more books for her to read!"

Watching Gu Yunfeng go further away, Qianqian looked at Ziling and said, "Miss, you made Young Master angry."

"He can leave, it's not a big problem."

"...," Qianqian fell silent.

Ziling was still interested in the bamboo house, looking here and there, enjoying the subtle scent of bamboo that lingered in the air.

There was a medicine cabinet covering one wall, but it was empty.

Given the capability of the secret guards, Ziling had no doubt that the cabinet would be filled with medicinal ingredients by tomorrow.

After playing for a while, Ziling returned to her room to have dinner.

She hadn't eaten a bite during her time at Zuiyue Tower; all the food had gone into Zhou Qingyu's stomach.

When Ziling entered the room, there was only Gu Yunfeng inside, and she spent quite some time there, but he didn't even give her a glance.

Ziling deliberately circled around him.

Still, he ignored her.

Ziling felt like she deserved a beating. She smiled, reclined on the noble's couch, and started munching on fruit.

When the maidservant served the food, Ziling affectionately called out "husband." Annoyed, Gu Yunfeng not only acknowledged her but also picked up food for her.

The two of them entered a new round of displaying their affection.

"You pick out the fish bones for me."

"I'll pick out the chicken butt for you."

...

After the meal, all the essence remained while the dregs were finished.

Ziling "...".

Gu Yunfeng: "..." Both of them silently put down their chopsticks and left the table as if nothing foolish had happened, going out for a stroll.

Afterwards, they were busy with their own affairs, not disturbing each other.

By the time it was late at night, Gu Yunfeng had already returned to his room after taking a shower, while Ziling was still soaking in the bath.

When she finished washing, Gu Yunfeng was already asleep, and there was a brocade box placed on her side of the bed.

Inside the box were her eighteen weapons.

She hadn't even made a choice yet, but he had already picked them out for her, letting her sleep with the eighteen weapons.

Was he really that lacking in confidence that she wouldn't choose him?

Ziling walked to the side of the bed and asked, "Are you asleep?"

No one answered her.

She climbed onto the bed and asked again, worried, "Are you really asleep?"

Still, no one responded.

Could he really be asleep?

His sleep quality was impressive.

"I know you're not asleep," Ziling made one final attempt.

"Do you need something?" he asked, opening his eyes.

Ziling: "..."

Suddenly, the atmosphere became awkward. Ziling hesitated for a moment and then said, "I just wanted to ask if you applied medicine to your eye."

Gu Yunfeng opened his eyes and glanced at her, gritting his teeth, "It's been two and a half hours since I took a punch from your big brother."

His eye didn't hurt anymore, and she was asking if he applied medicine.

Either he was asleep, or she woke him up to ask.

Before going to sleep, he even thought about strangling her.

Ziling pretended to be clueless while holding the brocade box.

She couldn't find any other topic for the moment, but unexpectedly, she ended up hitting the bull's eye as soon as she opened her mouth. Ziling blinked and said, "After looking for a while, I realized that your injured eye also looks good."

Gu Yunfeng's injured eye trembled, and he said, "So, you'd rather sleep holding onto me?"

Ziling: "..."

How did things end up like this?!

Who would rather sleep holding onto him?!

Ziling was stunned for a moment, and then Gu Yunfeng reached out with his long arm, pulling her into his embrace, pressing down her struggling head, and said, "Let's go to sleep."

Ziling: "...!!!"

She struggled to break free and said, "I didn't intend to sleep while hugging you!"

"Are you sure?" Gu Yunfeng asked.

"I'm absolutely sure and definitely won't," she replied.

"I hope you can do as you say."

Gu Yunfeng closed his eyes.

Ziling wished she could give him another black eye, placed the brocade box next to the pillow, wrapped herself in the blanket, and fell asleep.

The next morning, when she woke up, Ziling saw Gu Yunfeng looking at her with a disgusted expression on his face.

She not only slept holding onto Gu Yunfeng, but even stretched her snow-white feet outside the bed.

Ziling silently withdrew her arms and legs.

However, Gu Yunfeng didn't give her a chance to act like nothing had happened.

"Are you sure? Absolutely sure?" he asked.

Ziling remained silent.

Seeing Gu Yunfeng staring at her, Ziling felt like she couldn't escape this situation.

She shouted outside the room, "Qianqian!"

Qianqian pushed the door open and asked, "Miss, did you call me?"

"I'm asking you, where did I put my certainty, absolute certainty?" Ziling asked seriously.

Qianqian was bewildered.

What was she talking about?

"I have never seen such a thing," Qianqian said. "Could it have been left on Qingyun Mountain?"

Gu Yunfeng remained silent.

Ziling looked at Gu Yunfeng and blinked, saying, "Left on Qingyun Mountain."

Qianqian racked her brain but couldn't figure out what it was. She asked, "Is it something important? Should I ask Lord Hou to send someone?"

Ziling looked at Gu Yunfeng.

She had a serious expression.

With a grim face, Gu Yunfeng got out of bed. Early in the morning, he didn't want to speak.

Ziling got out of bed, suppressing her laughter. Qianqian was still puzzled. "Miss, what is that thing?"

Ziling thought about how to explain it to Qianqian. She was afraid that if Qianqian really had it sent by Dongling Marquis, it would be embarrassing.

Gu Yunfeng turned around and said, "That's a load of nonsense your lady was spouting."

Ziling remained silent.

Qianqian was speechless.

Inside the room, the only sound was Gu Yunfeng getting dressed.

Outside the bead curtain, a maid approached and said, "Young Master, Young Madam, the princess asks you to come to the front gate of the Wang Mansion."

Qianqian widened her eyes. "Did someone throw rotten eggs at the Wang Mansion too?"

Ziling raised an eyebrow.

No one would dare to do that, but it must be something important to make them go to the front courtyard early in the morning.

Ziling and Gu Yunfeng hadn't eaten breakfast and went to the front courtyard.

As they walked, Gu Yunfeng asked, "What's going on?"

The steward held a stack of letters and said, "Everyone anonymously sent some things to the Young Madam."

Qianqian joyfully said, "Are there many people admiring our young lady?"

Ziling's face darkened.

Admiring her, a bandit?

Could that be possible?

Seeing the glimmer in Gu Yunfeng's eyes, it seemed like it could be true.

The steward frowned, annoyed that this maid didn't know how to address the Young Madam.

Ziling was curious about what had been sent. When she stepped out of the Duke's residence, her mouth twitched uncontrollably.

In front of the gate, there were two imposing stone lions, surrounded by many sacks and baskets filled with charcoal.

Ziling remained silent.

Gu Yunfeng "..."

He glanced at Ziling sideways.

Ziling caught his glance and after twitching her mouth a few times, she smiled and said, "You people from the capital are truly adorable and thoughtful, sending whatever is needed."

Gu Yunfeng facepalmed.

How could the grand Duke Zhenguo's mansion be without the charcoal she used?

Ziling looked at the charcoal and felt a bit regretful.

"It's a pity it's not bamboo charcoal, but since everyone is so kind, I'll accept this charcoal for now. Next time you send something, send me bamboo charcoal."

"Of course, it would be even better if you just sent money directly."

Gu Yunfeng couldn't bear it anymore and said, "What you lack is a sense of propriety."

Others send charcoal to mock her, and she not only endures it, but also complains that it's not bamboo charcoal.

If word got out, the gates of the Duke's mansion might not see anyone tomorrow morning.

Looking at Gu Yunfeng, Ziling blinked and said, "Do you think I'm forcing myself to save face?"

Isn't that the case?

Gu Yunfeng didn't say anything, but his expression revealed it all—this is the tradition of Qingyun Mountain.

Ziling grinned and said, "Losing face is not scary; what's scary is not being able to regain it."

Gu Yunfeng couldn't argue with that.

Dongling Marquis's mansion managed to save face yesterday by pretending to be rich.

But he couldn't understand how the face lost over charcoal could be regained.

He thought of one possibility.

Gu Yunfeng furrowed his brow deeply.

"You don't really plan to go out on the streets painted black, pretending to look good, do you?" he asked.

Ziling almost spurted out a mouthful of blood.

Was she that stupid?

After a moment of silence, Ziling said, "This charcoal is for you to use. I only use bamboo charcoal."

Gu Yunfeng "!!!"

His eyes shot out flames.

Ziling patted his chest and said, "Don't be angry. You're an unparalleled good husband. Your character must not crumble."

"Someone, move all the charcoal to the Sandalwood Pavilion for me."

"In a few days, this noble young lady will let you all witness an unprecedentedly handsome and suave young master!"

"A young master who shines with a black glow?" Qianqian voiced what everyone was thinking.

Ziling "..."

Gu Yunfeng "..."