Chapter 225: Interesting Events (Part II)

The "Water Character Building 23" at the Xianhe Study was a layout consisting of three rooms separated by two partitions.

The main hall was the largest, equipped with a soft couch, rattan chairs, a screen, and a tea table for receiving guests.

In the two side rooms, Zhen Ciyun resided in the upper one.

The lower side room was occupied by four maidservants sent by the Huayu Zhen Family, who took the surname of the main family and were named "Mei, Lan, Zhu, Ju."

After returning to her room and closing the door, Zhen Ciyun opened the lattice window to let Zhang Gui in, then went to the wardrobe to find suitable clothes for him.

The room was brightly lit by candles.

Zhang Gui could only stay by the lattice window, his face flushed with embarrassment.

Yet, Zhen Ciyun still had the leisure to ask at this moment,

"I've seen you wear black robes several times; it's clear you have a preference for 'mysterious' colors.

But I like green robes, and white is also acceptable, but as for black..."

"I wear black clothes often because they don't show dirt; I don't actually have any preference.

Green is fine, white is fine; I'm not picky at all."

"Then green it shall be." Zhen Ciyun picked out a set of deep green brocade robes.

She walked up to Zhang Gui and measured them against his stature.

"I like to wear things a bit loose; if you wear this, it won't feel restrictive."

Zhang Gui covered his modesty with his tattered clothes and said with a dry laugh:

"Is it that perfect? Thank you, thank you."

As the words fell, Zhen Ciyun suddenly used a finger to lift his chin.

"You call me a 'crazy beauty, crazy beauty.' If I were truly crazy now,

and pounced on you, what would you do?"

"I would manifest my 'Demon God True Form' and slap you to death on the ground."

Zhang Gui replied with a flushed face, yet his expression was incomparably serious.

"A mad general paired with a crazy beauty—isn't that a perfect match in the human world?"

Zhen Ciyun smiled, draped the green brocade robes over Zhang Gui's shoulders, and turned her face away.

"Hurry up and change your clothes."

"Miss Zhen, you really should see a doctor who specializes in madness.

While you're still young, there might still be a cure."

Zhang Gui said with concern while hurriedly changing his clothes.

"If you say that again, I'll turn around and stare at you while you change."

Zhen Ciyun said, feigning annoyance.

Just then, the door was gently knocked.

"Miss, the study's guard is here; he says he needs to ask some questions."

"Alright, I'll be out immediately."

Zhen Ciyun responded and turned to look at Zhang Gui.

Seeing he had already changed, she opened the door directly and said nonchalantly:

"I am playing chess with a newly met friend; send a pot of clear tea in a moment."

The maid Zhen Baimei, who had grown up with Zhen Ciyun, knew that her mistress would sometimes suddenly do things that were extremely unexpected.

But being locked in a boudoir with a grown man "playing chess" was truly beyond her imagination.

"Sm-sm-small..."

"Small what? Where is it small?" Zhen Ciyun puffed out her chest.

"Lord of the Deep Winter, come over.

Since you are also at the study, if the guard has business, you should meet him as well."

"Alright."

Zhang Gui thickened his skin and walked to the doorway.

Zhen Baimei caught a glimpse of the clothes he was wearing and found them extremely familiar; her mouth fell open.

"This, this green brocade robe isn't..."

She then seemed to realize she had spoken out of turn and covered her mouth.

Zhen Ciyun pushed her maid aside and turned to give Zhang Gui a wink.

The two walked out of the side room one after the other and arrived at the main hall of "Water Character Building 23."

At the main entrance.

Three middle-aged guards wearing Yuanshan warrior attire and carrying horsewhips looked at Zhen Ciyun and Zhang Gui.

Because they were all grassland heroes from the "Quexue Imperial Guard," although the leader was only a "Ten-Man Leader" by rank, they were experienced and had seen much.

They found nothing strange about a noble lady hiding a handsome man in her boudoir to play chess, paint, or read.

It was just that upon seeing Zhang Gui's plain appearance—which, while not ugly, was far from handsome—they couldn't help but look at Zhen Ciyun a few more times.

They felt that this young lady from a great Ming Song noble clan, who was herself an absolute beauty, had such strange taste.

Zhang Gui was no fool; seeing the expressions of the three Yuanshan guards with their curled lips, he felt a secret fire burning.

"What are those three grandsons curling their lips at? What are they pitying!

Primitive, barbarian-like aesthetics! Do they understand 'the belly holds poetry and books, the spirit blossoms naturally'?

And this sense of relaxation I possess, rare for a youth—do you even know what 'sense of relaxation' means?"

He rubbed the bone tablet gifted by Baoshan Angyue at his waist, gave a light cough, and took the initiative:

"I am an ocean-going merchant from the Western Ocean, here today specifically to sightsee at the 'Xianhe Study.'

I wonder what business the guards have?"

Only then did they notice the tablet of the Heshuo Commandery Princess; although the guards weren't exactly afraid, their gazes softened significantly.

After all, while there were many Commandery Princesses in the Yuanshan Empire, there was only one apple of the Long Princess's eye.

And this meant that there was only one direct niece of the great supreme "Eternal Heaven."

Furthermore, although Chang Sheng Tie Mu already had nine sons, both legitimate and illegitimate, he had never had a daughter.

He was quite fond of this unique Commandery Princess, and there were rumors that on her eighteenth birthday, she would be elevated to "Gulun Princess."

And according to the ancient meanings of the great grasslands, "Heshuo" refers to one side, while "Gulun" refers to the entire world!

"So it is a youth appreciated by the Heshuo Commandery Princess; he must possess astonishing inner talent.

No wonder he can be a 'friend' to the noble lady Zhen."

The lead guard revealed an expression of sudden realization, his gaze no longer drifting.

"Noble lady, today the Yuanshan military achieved a great victory, and just now, some thieves seemed to have been angered and provoked by it.

They almost broke the 'Xianhe Study's' array with a magic treasure.

The Study Head said that since they weren't caught the first time, it would be let go.

But if there is a next time, there will be a thorough investigation."

"Understood," Zhen Ciyun nodded.

Seeing this, the three guards didn't linger and turned to leave "Water Character Building 23."

Zhen Ciyun watched their backs disappear into the night, took a step to the left to get close to Zhang Gui, and whispered:

"You are lucky; you happened to run into the critical moment of Yuanshan breaking the Yanjing capital, which caused the Yuanshan people to misunderstand.

The matter of manifesting your true form is now put to rest.

However, the root cause that made you provoke disaster for no reason..."

"It must be that she has 'become a god'!" Zhang Gui lowered his voice, understanding the implication:

"I dare not mention the name of that great power now. Because she once paid very close attention to me.

And she took the initiative to form a 'bond of kindness' with me.

Of course, judging from the feedback from the mysterious domain just now, the truth remains in doubt for the time being.

In short, I respect all great powers, but I don't believe that all of them are kind."

"I understand your thoughts, but you might be wrong.

Once an 'Eternal Long-Liver' undergoes transformation, the difference between them and us mortals is as vast as heaven and earth.

The boundaries of 'good' and 'evil' represented by their hearts and actions also become less obvious.

It is just like a person who values an ant very much and gives it a spoonful of honey sauce.

The result is that the ant is drowned alive; it is the same principle."

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 226 =====