Madam, please call me Ake.
Tang Feng felt a little guilty at first, clutching his clothes and stammering, "Zi...Zi Liang, it's not what you think, it's just..." Zhou Ziliang was standing far away, and with so many people around and so much noise, he pushed through the crowd and walked up to Tang Feng, looking somewhat flustered, his face pale. "Xiao Feng...Xiao Feng, let me explain, I...it's not what you think." Tang Feng realized he thought Tang Feng was there to catch him cheating! Well, he'd play along, to avoid giving Zhou Ziliang any leverage later. Tang Feng lowered his head, composed himself, squeezed out two tears, and looked up at Zhou Ziliang, his voice tinged with grievance and a sob, "Zi Liang..." Tang Feng knew, of course, that Zhou Ziliang wasn't cheating, but since the villain was the one who accused him first, if he didn't strike first, things would definitely get complicated.
As it turned out, it was indeed effective. Seeing Tang Feng like this, Zhou Ziliang's heart tightened, and he quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of Tang Feng's eyes. Ever since Tang Feng cried over the death of a little girl during their last trip to Daze, Zhou Ziliang had been determined never to let Tang Feng cry again. But this time, Tang Feng's crying was sudden, and he wasn't prepared at all. In his panic, he remembered he had a handkerchief with him, took it out, and handed it to Tang Feng. Tang Feng carefully took it, his voice slightly nasal from crying. "Ziliang, it's okay. If you don't like me, you don't have to force yourself... You don't have to hide here from me every day and make yourself suffer." With that, Tang Feng turned to leave. Zhou Ziliang, realizing things had gotten out of hand, quickly chased after him and hugged Tang Feng from behind. "Xiao Feng! Xiao Feng, listen to me, don't go!" Zhou Ziliang turned Tang Feng around, patting his back gently, and soothed him softly. "Xiao Feng, it's not what you think. I didn't come here... for romance, but to handle military affairs."
Tang Feng's chin rested against Zhou Ziliang's neck, so Zhou Ziliang couldn't see Tang Feng's expression. Tang Feng bit her lower lip, trying hard to suppress a laugh. Zhou Ziliang saw Tang Feng sobbing in his arms and thought she was still crying. He got up and saw that Tang Feng had tear stains at the corners of her eyes and blood on her lips. He felt a pang of heartache. Just as Zhou Ziliang was about to continue speaking, he heard Chen Ke emerge, leading the men out, "Young Marquis, the men have been captured."
Zhou Ziliang was somewhat irritated. He clenched his fist. "Take them away! Deal with them according to military law. And don't let them come back. The Dingbei Army doesn't need people like them."
The burly man at the head of the group knelt on the ground, begging for mercy from the Marquis. Seeing this, Tang Feng roughly guessed what had happened and tugged at Zhou Ziliang's sleeve, "Ziliang...isn't this a bit too much?"
Chen Ke also noticed Tang Feng standing next to Zhou Ziliang and asked, "Young Marquis, who is this...?"
"He is my betrothed wife," Zhou Ziliang said, seizing the opportunity to grab Tang Feng's hand and pat the back of his hand to comfort him. Chen Ke was also a little confused. Betrothed wife... that must be the young master of the Tang family! These two caused such a stir back then because of the arranged marriage, it was known to everyone in the city. Her own lord even went to the border in a huff because of it. Now, she didn't know what had happened, they didn't seem to have any major grudges or hatred! Chen Ke clasped his hands and said, "Madam, I am Chen Ke, the lord's deputy general. If you don't mind, please call me A Ke, just like the lord does!"
Tang Feng felt a chill run down his spine at being addressed as "Madam," but considering that Chen Ke looked a few years older than Zhou Ziliang and that the military hated procrastination, he decided not to dwell on it. Tang Feng wiped away his tears and gave a curtsy, "Brother Chen."
"I dare not accept being called 'brother,' you're making this humble general feel ashamed," Chen Ke waved his hand.
“If Xiao Feng wants to call you that, then just go along with it,” Zhou Ziliang said, knowing that Tang Feng was in a bad mood. Chen Ke, seeing Tang Feng’s aggrieved expression, said, “Madam, you… please don’t overthink it. My young lord came with me to arrest these people and take them back to the camp. I… I can testify that the young lord didn’t even enter the house. He absolutely did not do anything to betray you, Madam.”
Tang Feng chuckled. "I... I don't blame him. You don't need to be so anxious. Those guys didn't do anything too serious. Enough is enough!" Tang Feng looked at Zhou Ziliang, who seemed hesitant. "I don't know much about things in the military camp, but I think... sometimes stopping short is more effective. Forgive and forget. If these people are truly grateful and remember your kindness, they might be of great use to you in the future." Zhou Ziliang thought about it and agreed, nodding and saying to Chen Ke, "Then let's do as Xiao Feng says."
The burly man with a full beard, kneeling on the ground, kowtowed several times to Tang Feng.
Seeing Chen Ke lead the group away, Zhou Ziliang gently tugged at Tang Feng's little finger. "Are you not angry anymore?"
Tang Feng shook off Zhou Ziliang's hand and walked towards the door. The madam standing at the door was about to greet him, but Tang Feng glared at her, so she didn't dare to speak. Zhou Ziliang chased Tang Feng all the way out of Wanchun Lane, but Tang Feng didn't acknowledge him. "Xiao Feng... are you still angry?"
"No! I...why would I be angry?" Tang Feng figured he should stop while he was ahead, so this tactic would always work. "I'm just hungry. I didn't eat dinner, and I'm feeling a bit...uncomfortable." Tang Feng wasn't lying; his stomach was empty, and he was experiencing acid reflux. All he could think about was where to find food.
Zhou Ziliang frowned after hearing this. "Why aren't you eating? Come on, I'll take you to Xiaoyao Tower." Hearing the name Xiaoyao Tower, Tang Feng shuddered reflexively, still traumatized by the chase by the Sixteen Riders of Yanshan with Zhang Mobai at Xiaoyao Tower. "It's so late... forget it. I'm not some noble person. I can just find a street stall and eat a bowl of noodles. Besides, how far is Xiaoyao Tower? I'm really starving!"
"Well... alright!" Zhou Ziliang couldn't argue with Tang Feng, and besides being worried that Tang Feng would feel uncomfortable if he stayed hungry for too long, he said, "What do you want to eat? Let's look around along the street."
"I think the noodle stall over there looks pretty good," Tang Feng said, taking a few steps and then plopping down on a stool outside the stall. "Boss! What kind of noodles do you have?"
"Plain noodles, vegetarian noodles, egg noodles, pork rib noodles," the owner said, wiping the table for Tang Feng and Zhou Ziliang with a cloth slung over his shoulder. "What would you like to eat, sirs?"
"A bowl of plain noodles, please! Is this your shop's specialty?" Tang Feng sat down on a stool, picked up a palm-leaf fan from the table, and fanned himself a few times. It was just the beginning of the hottest period of summer, and people wore heavy ancient clothing; Tang Feng had only been sitting for a short while when his back was already soaked with sweat.
"Yes, our plain noodles are the best-selling dish. Please wait a moment, I'll make them right away."
Back in his day in the real world, Tang Feng often ate at these kinds of hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Places like braised pork knuckle, spicy pig's trotters, and hot pot skewers were his regular haunts. When he was unhappy at his factory job, he'd go to one of these restaurants for a drink after work.
Zhou Ziliang watched Tang Feng sitting cross-legged on a stool, fanning himself with a palm leaf fan, and couldn't help but laugh, "So Xiao Feng likes to eat at these kinds of street stalls!"
Tang Feng rolled his eyes at Zhou Ziliang. "There's a lot you don't know. Compared to those ridiculously expensive restaurants, these little stalls often have much better food."
"Pfft, it seems my little Feng is quite easy to take care of. When they get married, he'll probably save me a lot of money."
Just as he finished speaking, the owner brought over the plain noodles. The soul of plain noodles lies in that small spoonful of lard. No matter how vegetarian the soup is, once that lard is added, the meaty aroma comes through. Tang Feng took a bite of noodles, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and exclaimed, "Ah! These noodles are so delicious! Boss, how are these noodles made?"
"Hey! It's simple. Just melt the lard in clear broth, add a little bit of noodles, and a couple of drops of soy sauce, and you're done! If you like it, come again next time!" Tang Feng finished the noodles in just a few bites, not even leaving a drop of broth. He rubbed his bulging stomach, squinted his eyes in satisfaction, and Zhou Ziliang took out a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe Tang Feng's mouth.
"Eat slowly, I'm not going to take it from you. What if you feel unwell later?"
"How could that be? I'm not that delicate." Tang Feng then took out two coins and placed them on the table. "Boss, here's your money on the table."
Zhou Ziliang had originally intended for Tang Feng to return to the Marquis's mansion with him, as it was closer. However, now that it was dark, Zhou Ziliang was worried that Tang Feng might encounter some danger if he went back alone.
Tang Feng quickly waved his hand, "No way! Am I crazy?! Living at your house before we're even married? If my sister finds out, she'll skin me alive!" Although Tang Feng felt that two grown men could sleep anywhere, Qin Jiujiu seemed quite bothered by this. He'd finally managed to reduce Qin Jiujiu's hostility towards Zhou Ziliang, and now he was ruining his own situation.
"Alright! I'll take you back." With that, Zhou Ziliang grabbed Tang Feng's hand, preventing him from opening it. Zhou Ziliang was a head taller than Tang Feng, and Tang Feng tilted his head slightly, looking at him. "Ziliang... I want to visit your military camp." Tang Feng didn't know why he suddenly said this, but he felt that a military camp should be a place with strict management... Knowing Zhou Ziliang's personality, he would definitely agree, but would his abrupt arrival embarrass him? "If it's inconvenient... then forget it!"
Zhou Ziliang thought for a moment and readily agreed, "It's alright. I really should go to the military camp in a couple of days. My father managed the Lishan Academy for me before, and I haven't been there since I came back. If I don't go soon, those old guys in the military camp will start nagging again."
"Old man?"
"Yes, my father's old subordinates are all my elders. They fought alongside the Emperor on horseback back then, so it's inevitable that they're a bit arrogant," Tang Feng frowned. Wasn't this just taking advantage of their seniority? "Then...won't they use it against you?"
"Don't worry! This is all my business, I'll handle it. Okay, we've arrived home. I'll go to the military camp in a couple of days and then pick you up from your house." Zhou Ziliang ruffled Tang Feng's hair and said apologetically, "Xiao Feng, I'm sorry, I made you cry again today. I... I didn't expect you to follow me there, which caused a misunderstanding. Don't worry, next time I go to a place like that, I'll definitely tell you in advance."
"Well... that depends on your performance... Tomorrow, you'll have to offer two sweet buns as tribute!" Tang Feng opened the door and stepped into the mansion, turning back to say, "Actually... I know you wouldn't do such a thing. I... trust you as much as you trust me."
Zhou Ziliang was taken aback at first, then smiled and said, "Well... Xiao Feng, sweet dreams."
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