Chapter 32: This Woman is Unbelievably Casual

Yesterday, I had planned to show some affection while also shopping for a store, but it got delayed due to dealing with her elder brother.

This time, while strolling around, Ziling decided to buy the store first.

Of course, before buying the store, she had to make sure Gu Yunfeng had a full meal.

He had rescued her father in the palace, worked hard, and even got her a meal at the imperial dining hall. It wouldn't be fair to let him go hungry.

"What kind of food do you like?" she asked.

"Anything," Gu Yunfeng replied.

Ziling took his answer literally and casually pointed, "Let's go to that one in front."

Gu Yunfeng glanced at it.

Li's Tavern.

He had eaten there once before among the various restaurants in the capital, but it was just passable.

Ziling pulled him past Li's Tavern and stopped in front of a small noodle stall. "Boss, one bowl of noodles, please."

"Alright! It'll be ready soon."

Gu Yunfeng sighed inwardly.

Once they sat down, Ziling looked at him.

"One bowl of noodles, is that enough for you?"

He had only eaten a steamed bun in the morning, so he must be hungry by now.

Gu Yunfeng didn't feel like talking.

This woman could be so casual—it was unbelievable that he remained silent.

Ziling blinked and said, "Could it be your first time trying street food, and you're feeling a bit shy?"

Gu Yunfeng almost choked on his own blood.

Ziling patted his shoulder and chuckled, "I'll take you to eat like this often. You'll get used to it."

If it weren't for their constant public display of affection and the fact that he had no money, Gu Yunfeng would have left long ago.

From behind, faint voices could be heard:

"Don't eat, let's go."

"Why the rush? I haven't finished yet!"

"Can't you see? That woman there is the Qingyunshan female bandit who beat up her own elder brother fiercely yesterday. Didn't you notice how even the young master of the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion was too scared to speak up loudly?"

"Is it true?"

"I saw it with my own eyes!"

As soon as they put down their chopsticks, the two of them quickly got up and left.

Ziling: "..."

Gu Yunfeng: "..."

As they walked away, a vendor shouted loudly, "You haven't paid yet!"

The two turned back and gave the money to the vendor. Perhaps they were acquaintances, as they quietly informed the vendor of Ziling's identity.

The vendor had good business despite having only four tables, all of which were occupied. Whether the customers had finished eating or were waiting for their orders, they all left in a hurry.

The vendor glanced back and saw Ziling's intimidating appearance, causing his hands to tremble. He even spilled the broth he was holding.

The vendor quickly turned around and replaced it with another bowl of noodles.

It was a bowl of beef noodles that overturned Ziling's worldview—the noodles were placed on top, and the rest was all beef.

This was the most authentic beef noodle soup.

Ziling was moved by this honest bowl of noodles.

If she could eat more, she would definitely have another bowl.

"Boss, this bowl of noodles must cost a couple of silver, right?" she asked.

The vendor quickly replied, "Twenty coins. Both of you are welcome to taste my craft, even if you don't pay."

"Boss, you're truly kind-hearted," exclaimed Ziling happily.

The vendor: "..."

Could it really be possible?

He relied on this small stall to support his family. If he destroyed the stall, they would all go hungry.

He decided to bear the loss and sacrifice some beef.

Ziling picked up her chopsticks and handed them to Gu Yunfeng, saying, "Eat up quickly."

Gu Yunfeng facepalmed.

Seeing that he didn't take the chopsticks, Ziling smiled and said, "Do you want me to feed you?"

Gu Yunfeng: "..."

This woman!

Did she not know the meaning of shame?!

Seeing Ziling was serious, Gu Yunfeng quickly took the chopsticks.

After finishing a bowl of beef noodles, Ziling wasn't worried about Gu Yunfeng being full, but the pained expression on the vendor's face couldn't be ignored.

For just one bowl of noodles, charging twenty coins was almost like eating a free meal.

Ziling took out two silver taels to give to the vendor—but the vendor mistook it for her throwing a hidden weapon and begged for mercy on his knees.

Ziling: "..."

Did she look fierce and menacing?!

She rolled her eyes at the sky in exasperation.

Throwing the silver to the vendor, Ziling turned and walked away.

An old man selling charcoal approached and said, "Charcoal for sale, top-grade bamboo charcoal. Would you like to buy some?"

Fangfang shook her head. "We don't need charcoal at our residence."

The charcoal vendor smiled and said, "Won't you buy some as a gift for the young lady of Zhenguo Marquis's mansion?"

Ziling: "..."

Gu Yunfeng: "..."

"If you don't buy now, the price of charcoal will increase in a day or two. Thanks to the blessings of the young lady of Zhenguo Marquis's mansion, the price of firewood has already surpassed that of previous winters." The old man shouldered his burden with a smile.

Ziling: "..."

Gu Yunfeng: "..."

Laughter erupted from a group of people.

Xiao Che and a few others were laughing heartily while leaning on their horses.

Gu Yunfeng's face turned dark.

Xiao Che dismounted and walked to Gu Yunfeng's side, patting his shoulder. "Do you know what people are saying on the streets these days?"

"They say that after Sister-in-law's guidance, Brother, you'll become an exceptional man who's hard to find even with a lantern. You're the only man in the capital that nobody dares to call shallow."

"..."

"We're proud to have a great brother like you."

"..."

"So, each of us brought several cartloads of charcoal for you. If it's not enough, just let us know."

"..."

Xiao Che couldn't continue laughing.

The corners of his eyes hurt from the beating.

Yuan Qin, the young master of the Dingguo Duke's residence, chimed in, "Chu Xiong suggests that while you're still fair-skinned, we should have a portrait of you painted to cherish in the future. We've been waiting for you at the Duke's residence for over an hour, getting bored, so we took the opportunity to paint two portraits. We'd like our sister-in-law to appreciate them."

As he spoke, the Crown Prince of Nan'an County and the Crown Prince of Beiji Marquis each presented a painting.

The first one to be opened depicted Gu Yunfeng riding a horse, exuding an elegant and godlike aura.

But the second one nearly made Ziling burst into laughter.

It portrayed Gu Yunfeng transformed into a lump of charcoal, as everyone had speculated.

Except for the white eyeballs, everything else was black.

To distinguish the facial features, they even painted a black halo effect.

"The likeness is uncanny. This is how I imagine my brother-in-law," Qianqian commented.

Ziling "..."

Gu Yunfeng "..."

"Young lady, can you bear to see your brother-in-law like this?" Qianqian said, unable to contain her sympathy.

Ziling "..."

Gu Yunfeng "..."

"Looking at it this way, it's not bad at all," Ziling commented impartially.

Indeed, he looked handsome, no matter how he was teased. Those eyes were truly mesmerizing.

Gu Yunfeng's face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.

He turned around and walked away.

Just one more glance at that painting, and he felt the urge to gouge out his own eyes.

Ziling chuckled and followed him.

After a few steps, she turned back and said, "Frame that painting and give it to me. I want to hang it on the wall."

Gu Yunfeng's heart ached with frustration.

He glared at Ziling.

"You want to drive me crazy, don't you?" he gritted his teeth.

Ziling blinked.

"How did I drive you crazy? That painting of you riding a horse is indeed good. My bamboo hut needs some decoration," Ziling replied.

He had misunderstood her intentions.

Gu Yunfeng's anger dissipated.

"Let's go pick a frame shop," he said.

Behind them, Xiao Che and the others watched as they walked away.

"Which painting does she want to frame?" asked the Crown Prince of Beiji Marquis.

"Do we even need to ask? It's definitely the black one."