Chapter 1

Maybe it's going to rain, the weather has been particularly gloomy these past two days.

Gu Yanling was leaning absentmindedly against a pillar in the corridor, the broom in his hand swinging intermittently, barely scratching the floor. Awang, the servant working beside him, was much more serious than him. As he swept the floor, he said, "It's almost time for dinner. I heard they have twice-cooked pork today."

There was an indescribable longing for twice-cooked pork in his tone.

Gu Yanling's thoughts were wandering at the moment, and her face, which was inconspicuous in the crowd, looked thoughtful.

Seeing that he didn't respond, Awang asked, "Yuanbao?"

Not getting a response, Awang called out several more times. Gu Yanling finally came to her senses and realized that Awang was calling her. Yuanbao was the name of his current identity.

"Did you finish sweeping?"

Gu Yanling put away the broom and wondered how he could get into the inner courtyard of the big shot from the capital. He had been in the mansion for three days and could only do odd jobs in the front yard.

Awang shook his head: "We have to sweep the area in front too."

Gu Yanling sneaked into the mansion for important business, not to do odd jobs. "There's nothing to sweep, not even a fallen leaf."

There are too few people in this huge mansion. There is no one in charge of the affairs. It is enough for them to look okay on the surface. No one will really come to check how they are doing. It is obvious that the important people just use this place as a place to stay and will not stay for long.

Awang entered the mansion on the same day as Gu Yanling. He was a relatively honest person and hesitated for a moment: "Let's just sweep it."

The food and treatment at home are good, but if you don't work hard, you will feel uneasy with the money.

Gu Yanling didn't care at all: "Then you clean first, I'm a little urgent. You don't have to wait for me when you're done, just go and eat by yourself."

Before Awang could say anything else, Gu Yanling had already run away. She wandered around outside the kitchen for a long time but couldn't think of a way to get close to this important person.

As for why Gu Yanling changed her appearance and sneaked into this mansion, it was because she saw the official nodding and fawning to this person from a distance that day, and that's when she came up with the idea.

"Who?"

Before Gu Yanling could react, a man suddenly appeared out of nowhere and grabbed her. Chang Feng grabbed Gu Yanling's wrist, but when he saw that the man had no martial arts skills and was dressed like a servant, he let go. However, he didn't let him go and questioned him as usual: "What are you doing here?"

After all, it is the prince's meal, and the kitchen is a key place that cannot be sloppy. All those who handle it are brought from the East Palace, and outsiders are not allowed to get close.

Gu Yanling noticed that he was quite skilled. He was wearing a tight-sleeved martial arts uniform, resembling the attire of a martial artist. She assumed he was someone close to an important figure, so she acted frightened and stammered, "Big brother, spare me! I, after using the restroom, got lost."

Is he lost or is it intentional so he can't tell?

"Tell the truth."

Gu Yanling's arm was grabbed again. The opponent was very strong. He grimaced in pain and mentally made a note of the person. He pretended to be dumbfounded and said, "Big brother, what do you want me to tell you?"

Chang Feng was the commander of the guards of the Eastern Palace. It was his duty to protect the safety of the Crown Prince. Apart from the fear on his face, his eyes were actually darting around. "Sneaky, you're not telling me, are you?"

Gu Yanling was afraid that he would attack her, so she shouted, "It's broad daylight, and there's no law! Are you trying to force me to confess? I'm being wronged!"

Chang Feng: “…”

Seeing that he still refused to let go, Gu Yanling yelled at the top of her lungs, "Help! This is unfair! Someone is trying to lynch me!"

As he was talking, another man came over. He was older, about forty years old, with a white face and no beard. He scolded, "What are you making so much noise for? Everyone in the yard can hear it."

Gu Yanling thought his voice was a little awkward, but she didn't think much of it. Seeing that he had just come out of the courtyard of a big shot, she immediately changed her expression and said, "I just got lost after going to the toilet. This big brother is holding my arm and asking me to tell the truth. I don't even know what I have to say."

Li Youfu was the chief eunuch of the Eastern Palace, who had always served the Crown Prince. He was also very perceptive. Although this man looked unremarkable, his eyes shone with shrewdness and he had a sharp tongue. He was obviously a man with many schemes. He said to Chang Feng, "If he is unruly, just give him some money and send him away."

There is no need to report such trivial matters to the master.

Chang Feng let go of Gu Yanling upon hearing this and was about to ask someone to take him down, but Gu Yanling wouldn't let it go like that. He simply fell to the ground and started to make a noise again: "I really didn't do anything wrong! I'm innocent! I won't leave!"

"..." Both of them were from the Eastern Palace, and had never seen such a shameless attitude.

Gu Yanling had gone through so much trouble to sneak into the mansion, and if she was thrown out like this, wouldn’t all her efforts be wasted? She threw a tantrum without caring about anything else: “I’m innocent! I won’t leave!”

The noise was so loud that it disturbed the master in the house. Chang Feng brought Gu Yanling to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince as easily as carrying a chicken. After putting her on the ground, Gu Yanling did not get up, but sat on the ground. She boldly looked up at the big man who was playing chess. The other party did not even glance at him, and did not ask any questions when he saw them come in. He sat upright, holding the black chess piece with his slender fingers. He was dressed in brocade clothes, and his demeanor was indescribably luxurious.

I've been here for three days! I finally see someone!

Gu Yanling was excited and stared at the important man with wide eyes. He was too young. He was so young, but his official position was higher than that of a dog official. Looking at his noble temperament, he was not like an ordinary person. She was more convinced that he was from the capital and his identity was definitely extraordinary.

Gu Yanling's eyes were too unscrupulous. Xiao Xinghan slowly put down the black piece in his hand, lowered his eyes and looked at Gu Yanling.

Chang Feng leaned forward and reported: "Master, I just saw this servant with shifty eyes, sneaking around the kitchen..."

When Gu Yanling heard him describe her as shifty, she mentally took a stern note of him and interrupted him, "I'm truly wronged. This mansion is so huge, and I got lost after using the toilet. I've explained this many times!"

"I didn't steal or rob, I just got lost. Now I'm being kicked out. Which wealthy family will want to marry me? My reputation will be ruined! Master, you must seek justice for me! I can't be kicked out like this even if you kill me!"

This was the first time Chang Feng had seen someone act so rudely in front of the Crown Prince. Although ignorance was not a crime, he still kindly reminded them, "Don't be so presumptuous in front of the young master."

Gu Yanling also felt that although this important figure was silent, he was very imposing. She knew the situation and kept silent. Subconsciously, she met Xiao Xinghan's deep and unreadable eyes and quickly lowered her head. She mentally judged this important figure. He didn't look like an easy person to get along with. She wondered if he was a good official. Don't let the officials protect each other. What would happen?

We still have to be cautious.

Li Youfu was not sure what his master was thinking. Such trivial matters should not be the master's business, but he did not dare to speak rashly without the prince's permission. Even though he had served the prince for many years, it was sometimes difficult for him to guess his master's thoughts.

Because Xiao Xinghan remained silent, the room was silent.

Gu Yanling was a little restless. He had been spoiled to the point of being fearless, so he boldly said, "Master, I have always been an honest person and cannot be wronged for no reason. You must stand up for me."

Chang Feng's eyelids twitched when he heard this.

Xiao Xinghan finally spoke, his voice a little low and his tone very calm: "What do you want?"

Gu Yanling's inner thoughts were of course to beat up the big guy who pulled his arm, let him starve for a few days, and then he could stay in this courtyard. He thought so in his heart, but said: "It's all up to the master to decide for me!"

After listening to this, Xiao Xinghan stood up, his ink-black robe swaying slightly, and passed by Gu Yanling.

Just left like that? ?

Gu Yanling got up from the ground and looked at Chang Feng: "Master, what do you mean by this?"

Chang Feng was speechless when he saw him being so familiar, but he couldn't figure out what his master meant, so he looked at Li Youfu.

"Okay, young master means you don't have to leave the house." Li Youfu said this and followed him out.

Gu Yanling's eyebrows lit up with joy. She turned to the big shot's back and flattered him, saying, "Young Master is truly an upright and righteous man! He knows I was wronged."

Chang Feng was speechless when he heard what he meant. However, since his master didn't say anything, he didn't bother to argue with him. "Let's go. Are you lost? I'll take you back."

Gu Yanling always climbed up the ladder by following the rules. Now that she had entered the inner courtyard, she naturally didn't want to leave. She moved closer to Chang Feng and nudged him with her elbow. "You just wrongly accused me without any reason. My arm is injured. Shouldn't you do something about it?"

Chang Feng took a step back and distanced himself from him: "I'm just doing a routine inspection."

Gu Yanling persisted: "You were just doing a routine inspection, but I was powerless. You are so skilled in martial arts, but you almost crushed my bones!"

Chang Feng was very measured in his attack and didn't break any bones. Hearing the other party's exaggeration, he didn't want to argue with him any more, so he took out a piece of silver from his purse and handed it to him.

Gu Yanling didn't hesitate to take the money, treating it as medical expenses, and touched him with her arm.

Chang Feng was completely out of temper: "...anything else?"

Gu Yanling stretched her head to look in the direction the young master had just left: "Besides the young master, who is in charge here?"

Chang Feng looked at him warily when he heard this: "Why are you asking about this?"

Gu Yanling said confidently: "Young Master just did justice for me, so I want to repay you. I want to stay and serve you——"

Before she could finish her words, Chang Feng grabbed her by the scruff of her neck. Not wanting to be thrown out, Gu Yanling kicked her legs in the air, "Put me down! I can walk by myself!"

Chang Feng saw that he had no manners at all: "Young Master likes quietness, please don't make loud noises."

Gu Yanling could tell that the tall man had no ill intentions, so she lowered her voice, wanting to build a good relationship with him. "Hey, we're not strangers to each other, so what's your name, big brother?"

Chang Feng was the commander of the guards of the Eastern Palace after all, and he had never been on friendly terms with anyone. Seeing Gu Yanling trying to get close to him with a playful smile, without looking at his appearance, just listening to the boy's voice was particularly clear and pleasant, which was very inconsistent with his ordinary face.

His eyes are big and full of cleverness, and he chatters without being annoying.

"Chang Feng." Chang Feng said again, "Why are you talking so much?"

Gu Yanling has been talking so much: "Brother Chang Feng, now we are brothers. You must take good care of me in the future."

Chang Feng: “…”

Gu Yanling finally landed on the ground, but she hesitated and still didn't want to leave, "It's going to rain."

The weather has changed and dark clouds are gathering.

Gu Yanling was thinner, but her skin color was almost as dark as someone like him who had been exposed to the sun and practiced martial arts for many years. She was not a person with fair skin. Chang Feng did not care: "Let's go quickly, you won't get hurt by the rain."

Gu Yanling hated rainy days the most: "Where did the young master go?"

Chang Feng raised his hand and Gu Yanling quickly dodged, "Go, go, go! I'm leaving!"

Chang Feng was afraid that he would have some bad intentions again, so he personally sent him out.

Gu Yanling inquired, "From the sound of our young master's accent, he seems to be from Yangzhou?"

Chang Feng: "Don't ask around."

Gu Yanling praised calmly, "I am here to see that the young master has an extraordinary bearing and is extremely handsome. And, Brother Chang Feng, you are so skilled and brave, you don't seem like someone from our area."

Chang Feng: “…”

Gu Yanling changed the subject: "Brother Chang Feng, you are not young anymore, have you married yet?"

Chang Feng: "Why are you asking this? Are you going to tell me about coal?"

Gu Yanling: "From what Brother Chang Feng said, it means he is not married yet. I haven't married yet either. Besides, how can I meet a girl who is worthy of your status?"

Before Chang Feng could open his mouth, he heard him say, "Serving the young master, you must be making a lot of money per month, right?"

“…”

Chang Feng listened to his babble and asked questions, and finally figured it out. It turned out that he wanted to serve in the young master's courtyard to earn more money so that he could save money to get married. "You look young, why are you in such a hurry?"

Gu Yanling, who had just turned nineteen a while ago, lied with her eyes open: "I'm already twenty-three! How can I not be anxious?"

Chang Feng hadn't realized he was only a year younger than him, and said in surprise, "You look no more than sixteen or seventeen."

Gu Yanling heard that his words implied that he was short, and she felt a little dissatisfied. He was weak as a child and took a lot of medicine, so he couldn't grow into a tall and strong physique. She snorted, "What do you know? This is because my family is poor and I often didn't have enough to eat when I was growing up."

Chang Feng was already the commander of the guards at the Eastern Palace at his age, so he was definitely not from an ordinary family. He couldn't help but soften his heart when he heard this. "There will be no shortage of food for you in the mansion, but don't even think about the young master's courtyard. Just do what you should do honestly, and you will find a wife eventually."

Gu Yanling ignored him and asked again, "Has our young master married yet?"

Chang Feng: "...Don't ask around."

What Gu Yanling was actually most curious about was: "Brother Chang Feng, why doesn't our young master have a single maid in his courtyard?"

He just observed secretly and saw that all the people were men.

In the Eastern Palace, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was served closely by eunuchs, and Chang Feng was used to it. However, His Royal Highness was twenty-two years old this year, and he didn't even have a concubine around him, let alone marrying a Crown Princess. His Majesty and the Empress were not in a hurry at all and had not chosen a concubine for His Royal Highness.

Over time, rumors spread from somewhere that His Highness was not good in that aspect.

Of course, such disrespectful words should only be listened to and should not be spread outside.

Chang Feng simply ignored him.

Gu Yanling felt that Chang Feng was guilty, and his mind was wandering, and suddenly he realized -

There is not a single maid in the courtyard. It is very likely that the young master is a homosexual!