Chapter 31: No Pain, No Gain

No pain, no greater harm.

He, a son-in-law, was here accompanying his father-in-law in reflection—

No!

He was reflecting on behalf of his father-in-law!

The reflection was not profound or thorough enough to warrant fifty big slaps. How could she, as his biological daughter, enjoy a feast next door? How could she stomach it?

Gu Yunfeng frustratedly held the pen, struggling to find the right words. Just when he had a bit of inspiration, it vanished.

However, Dongling Marquis was pleased and said, "My daughter is so confident in you, my worthy son-in-law."

Gu Yunfeng "..."

In the side hall, Qian Qian gnawed on a chicken leg while Ziling picked vegetables into her bowl and said, "Eat more. You'll need the energy to support Master back later."

Qian Qian burped and said, "Keep eating. Miss, you'll have to help me back later."

"Then get up and walk a bit, aid digestion. They should still be a while."

"Yeah yeah! I'm hungry for a walk. I can continue eating."

"..."

The side hall was spacious and exquisitely furnished, overwhelming to the eyes.

Thinking of her cheap father who provoked the imperial censor by putting on airs, causing the Emperor to order his reflection, Gu Yunfeng unexpectedly took on the task—

Ziling "..."

The Emperor bestowed upon him the title of an exceptional son-in-law, and he lived up to the name.

After wandering around for half an hour, Ziling couldn't bear it any longer and decided to leave the side hall for a stroll.

As she took a step forward, a eunuch approached and said, "Master Xie has finished writing the memorial."

That was fast.

Ziling headed towards the study.

Inside the study.

The Emperor was reading the memorial, glancing at Gu Yunfeng from time to time, his expression growing darker.

With such literary talent, few officials in the court could match him, yet his writing was used for Dongling Marquis' reflection memorial.

The Emperor, underutilizing his talent, wanted to drag him out to help him loosen up.

He wouldn't feel the slightest bit of heartache.

Dongling Marquis spoke upon seeing this, "Is the writing not good enough?"

The Emperor tossed the memorial onto the dragon desk. "It's passable, barely meeting expectations!"

No one dared to respond.

The Emperor, in his anger, couldn't be said to be too demanding, picking bones out of an egg.

The Emperor poured tea and said, "In consideration of the recent merits of Zhenguo Marquis at the border, I will waive the fifty lashes."

Gu Yunfeng was about to breathe a sigh of relief.

Then, disaster struck from above, targeting him.

Although the Emperor spared him punishment, he had truly angered the Emperor this time. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that escaping death but not punishment was possible.

Even the memorial of reflection written by Dongling Marquis, his respected father-in-law, was helped by Gu Yunfeng.

In the future, whenever Dongling Marquis caused trouble, big or small, could this exemplary son-in-law not step in to handle the aftermath?

There was a reason why the people in charge of the stores went directly to Zhenguo Marquis's residence to find him.

And then... the Emperor uttered a sentence.

"Take care of your father-in-law. If he causes trouble again, I won't look for him; I'll look for you!"

Ziling: "...!!!"

Gu Yunfeng: "...!!!"

Dongling Marquis: "...!!!"

Dongling Marquis exploded with anger.

He glared at the Emperor and said, "Let a junior manage me? What face does this father-in-law of yours have left?!"

"You still care about face?!" the Emperor glared back.

"I don't care about face. If someone accuses me of pretending to be rich, what's the point of getting angry or showing off wealth?" Dongling Marquis argued.

The Emperor ignored him.

He looked at Gu Yunfeng and asked, "Do you want to defy my order?"

Gu Yunfeng: "..."

Perhaps because of the burden caused by Dongling Marquis.

Gu Yunfeng felt weighed down on his shoulders.

He found it hard to catch his breath.

Defying the Emperor's order was a capital offense.

Gu Yunfeng looked towards Dongling Marquis.

Dongling Marquis glanced away.

For the sake of his daughter not becoming a widow, he would endure the humiliation.

"In this world, I'm not the only one managed by a son-in-law. I'll have a chat with those national marquises of the Emperor's."

He offered himself an excuse, suppressing the urge to lose face.

Gu Yunfeng reluctantly accepted the order.

The Emperor smiled with satisfaction.

After leaving the study, Dongling Marquis looked at Ziling and said, "My daughter, make sure you manage your husband well. Work hard to gain the Emperor's recognition as your foster father. That way, I'll have a companion."

Ziling: "..."

One couldn't help but admire her father.

Soon after losing face, he quickly thought of a way to regain his dignity.

Once the Emperor recognized her as a foster daughter, making Dongling Marquis Gu Yunfeng's father-in-law, Dongling Marquis could use that to stall the Emperor's demand to manage him and undoubtedly infuriate the Emperor.

After giving his instructions, Dongling Marquis cast a displeased glance at Gu Yunfeng and walked away.

Gu Yunfeng: "..."

Seeing him rub his temples, he remained silent for a while.

Ziling asked, "Why aren't you saying anything?"

"What else can I say?" he replied.

"..."

Well, indeed, it was quite speechless.

These people had quite formidable thought processes. The Emperor had come up with such a move to deal with Dongling Marquis.

Dongling Marquis cherished his daughter.

His daughter married Gu Yunfeng.

Once Gu Yunfeng was bothered by Dongling Marquis, punished by the Emperor, he would definitely become angry.

In the heat of anger, people are prone to shifting blame, and in this case, Dongling Marquis, being the person closest to her, naturally becomes the primary target, especially regarding his daughter's actions as the source of trouble. Dongling Marquis can only restrain himself for the sake of his daughter.

However, what exactly did Dongling Marquis mean by saying the "recognized righteous daughter"?

Ziling asked Qianqian.

Qianqian replied, "After the young lady saved the emperor, he asked her what reward she desired. Marquis said that our Feihu Bandit Gang lacks nothing and can obtain whatever is lacking through robbery. If the emperor wants to reward her, he can bestow upon the young lady a princess title, be it Qingyun Princess or Feihu Princess; Marquis doesn't mind."

Ziling remained silent.

Gu Yunfeng also remained silent.

"In the beginning, the emperor hesitated, but the ministers by his side disagreed. They said Marquis was already an emperor of the land, and if he had a real princess as his daughter, he would become the emperor of Qingyun Mountain and the surrounding area within a hundred miles.

The emperor resolutely refused to grant the young lady the princess title, at most conferring upon her the title of county princess. Marquis didn't care and became angry. Coincidentally, the whip the young lady lost in the lake while saving the emperor, she complained that Marquis should buy her a new one. So Marquis had the emperor personally dive into the lake to retrieve it."

Ziling remained silent.

Gu Yunfeng also remained silent.

"Of course, the emperor couldn't possibly go and retrieve it. No one even knows where it fell. Instead, a replica of the whip was bestowed upon the young lady, and the emperor personally drew the design for it."

That's the complete origin of that whip.

Ziling remained silent.

Gu Yunfeng also remained silent.

Demanding a princess title right off the bat and making the emperor personally dive into the lake to retrieve a whip when angry, it wasn't really a big deal for the two imperial censors to faint from anger. They were mentally prepared for the day when the emperor would be infuriated.

The more one understands about Dongling Marquis, the more solemn Gu Yunfeng's expression becomes.

Seeing him feeling melancholic, Ziling patted his chest and said, "What are you worried about? My father hasn't caused any trouble yet. Even if he does, the emperor won't really beat you to death. At most, he'll beat you half to death, and then I'll help you recover. Just relax."

Gu Yunfeng remained silent.

"Let's go, let's go, let's go shopping."

"..."