Chapter 35: Occupying the Entire Zhenguo Marquis Mansion

In front of the gates of Zhenguo Marquis Mansion...

The maidens were cleaning the stone lions.

The servants were sprinkling water on the ground, sweeping away the charcoal ashes in front of the gates.

When they saw a carriage approaching, they quickly stepped aside.

Once the carriage stopped, Ziling lifted the curtain and emerged from the carriage, while Qianqian stood behind, holding her skirt and exclaiming, "Why is there so much water?"

The servants and maidens frowned.

How dare they ask why there was so much water?

Wasn't it all because of Young Mistress's orders?

They had been cleaning for half an hour, and their waists were sore and backs ached!

Seeing Qianqian approaching with her skirt lifted, Ziling said, "No need to assist me."

The height of the carriage didn't pose a challenge for her.

Qianqian obediently stayed where she was, watching from the side.

Their young mistress could jump down from a tree without wrinkling her brow, let alone from this height.

However, it was precisely this slight height that nearly caused an accident.

Just as Ziling was about to jump down, the horse suddenly lifted its hooves, causing Ziling to lose her balance and fall directly from the carriage.

Luckily— the coachman was one of Gu Yunfeng's secret guards.

He caught her in time, preventing her from falling flat on the ground.

This unexpected scene made the servants and maidens hold their breath, and when they saw that Ziling was unharmed, they were somewhat disappointed.

How come she didn't fall flat like a clumsy bandit!

Once Ziling regained her balance, she instinctively said thanks, leaving the secret guard momentarily stunned.

Young Mistress actually said thank you— he was about to say it was his duty, but then received a cold gaze from his own Young Master.

The words died on the secret guard's lips as he swallowed them silently.

He had just helped Young Mistress and annoyed Young Master.

These days, Young Master had been under the thumb of Young Mistress. It was an opportune moment for Young Master to vent his frustrations, but why did he lack insight?

Stepping on the puddles, Ziling ascended the steps.

Gu Yunfeng alighted from the carriage.

Naturally, he took Ziling's hand and entered the mansion, with the sound of hooves behind them.

Once they crossed the threshold, a servant brought a basin of water.

As he was about to step out, he stumbled forward, spilling the water in his hands. "Ah...!"

The maidens cried out in surprise.

Ziling turned around and saw Second Young Master Xie Jingchuan with a face as black as charcoal, his chest soaked and water dripping from his face.

The maidens rushed over to help him wipe his face.

Their intentions were good, but in their haste, they forgot that they were holding a rag for cleaning the floor, not a handkerchief—

The more they wiped, the blacker it became.

Xie Jingchuan was filled with the desire to kill, and a chilling aura emanated from him.

Ziling couldn't help but laugh.

When they had walked a bit further away, with no one around, Ziling rubbed her cheek against the edge of the small couch and looked at Gu Yunfeng, saying, "I didn't realize you were so devious."

Gu Yunfeng glanced at Ziling.

He received a glance that seemed to say, "I've caught you in a compromising position."

Just now, with a slight movement of his hand, the servant had fallen.

This was definitely not a coincidence.

Gu Yunfeng raised his hand and supported his forehead, feeling utterly exhausted.

He remained silent.

Ziling blinked her eyes. "Just because I caught you with a small handle, do you need to look like this? Smile," she said.

"I was venting for you, yet you fail to distinguish between friend and foe."

As he spoke, he glanced sideways at Ziling.

How can I force a smile?

Ziling remained silent.

How did she fail to distinguish between friend and foe?

Her eyebrows furrowed.

Just as Ziling was about to make a turn, the smile on her face vanished. "Wasn't the carriage accident just a coincidence?"

"Not too dull, I suppose."

"..."

Thinking about how Ziling nearly fell but was ultimately supported by the secret guards, Gu Yunfeng felt uneasy.

The secret guards followed behind, feeling the piercing gaze cast by the Young Master as if it were a fishbone stuck in their throats.

Qianqian stood by his side, innocently asking, "Why is the master glaring at you? Did you do something wrong?"

The secret guards remained silent.

Why is this maid so sharp-eyed?

Ziling raised an eyebrow.

Gu Yunfeng glanced over.

The secret guards had a strong desire to survive and promptly said, "I accidentally seized the opportunity to assist Young Master in supporting Young Mistress."

"But at that time, the master was inside the carriage. If he had come to the rescue, wouldn't my mistress have fallen in a tangled mess?" Qianqian interjected.

Ziling...

Does this maid have to use such harsh words?

She looked at Gu Yunfeng, a small flame flickering in her eyes.

"You wouldn't happen to want me to fall down and then help me up, would you?" she gritted her teeth and asked.

"..."

Gu Yunfeng, who didn't feel like talking, lifted his foot and continued walking forward.

After passing through the second gate, they saw Madam Zhao walking towards them, wearing a serious expression and devoid of any smile.

Ziling didn't have a good impression of Madam Zhao.

As they met face to face, Ziling ignored her.

But Madam Zhao stopped her.

"The Princess asked me to pass on the message. The Lady of the House has punished Young Master and Young Mistress to kneel in the ancestral hall until tomorrow morning."

Ziling's eyebrows furrowed deeply.

"Weren't we exempt from punishment?" she said displeasedly.

"You were exempt from yesterday and this morning's punishments. Today's punishment is for the offense committed after leaving the estate!" Madam Zhao coldly stated.

"..."

Ziling looked at Gu Yunfeng.

"What did we do wrong this time?" she said speechlessly.

"Young Mistress, carrying out a robbery in broad daylight with Young Master, even just kneeling for a few hours is considered lenient," Madam Zhao said coldly.

"We were just joking!" Ziling argued.

"It's useless to argue with me."

Madam Zhao's tone was icy.

Of course, arguing with Princess Nan Ting was also futile.

Ziling and Gu Yunfeng went to Qihu Tang to explain, but unfortunately, Princess Nan Ting was there too.

As a result, their explanation was not only ineffective but also resulted in increased punishment.

Princess Nan Ting was extremely angry.

That female bandit's words.

The Zhenguo Marquis's residence had been collecting charcoal all day long!

She went crazy and had the servants in the mansion beaten, which finally calmed her down.

It was already infuriating enough to spare her punishment earlier, but now they dared to challenge her authority as the mistress of the household.

This time, if she let them off easily again, where would her dignity as the head of the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion be?!

"I don't care if you're joking or not. Everyone on the streets knows that the Young Master of the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion has married a female bandit from Qingyun Mountain's Feihu Stronghold and been led astray!"

"For tarnishing the reputation of the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion, I will make you kneel for a few hours. If you don't reflect on your actions and dare to argue, kneel until the sun sets tomorrow!"

Ziling: "...!!!"

She couldn't even endure for fifteen minutes, and now they expected her to kneel until tomorrow evening?!

Ziling wanted to resist, but Gu Yunfeng stopped her.

As they left the room, Ziling exclaimed in annoyance, "Why didn't you let me speak? Don't the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion know that people's nature is hard to change even if the world changes? When you married me, a female bandit, did you not anticipate that I would rob others and damage the reputation of the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion?!"

"The more you say that, the more they will punish you. They will make you kneel until you change your words," Gu Yunfeng said.

"Forcing me to submit is equivalent to forcing me to take over the entire Zhenguo Marquis Mansion."

"..."

Qianqian followed behind them, her eyes shining, and she excitedly said, "Miss, have you finally made up your mind to take over the entire Zhenguo Marquis Mansion?"

Ziling: "..."

Gu Yunfeng: "..."

Did this maid really need to be so thrilled?

When they reached the entrance of the ancestral hall, Ziling stopped walking.

Her knees were already aching before she even knelt.

Gu Yunfeng said, "Believe me, you won't have to kneel for long."

"Are you not deceiving me?" Ziling had some doubts.

"How could I dare to deceive you?"

"..."

Seeing his confidence, Ziling decided to trust him this time.

Inside the Qihu Hall.

Mrs. Three said, "It seems the maid in the ancestral hall has sprained her waist."

Princess Nan Ting sneered, "Send two maids to keep an eye on her. This time, I want to see if anyone will come to their rescue!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a maid rushed in and said, "Madam, the Emperor has sent a eunuch to deliver a message, asking the Young Master to enter the palace."

Mrs. Three: "...!!!"

Princess Nan Ting: "...!!!"