Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 271 The Way Seems Heartless Yet Full of Compassion

In the southwest of Yong State, there is Yuzhou.

Yuzhou is more than 500 li east of Lianzhou. When Gu Jingnian stopped here at dusk, he thought he had overtaken the others. He did not expect that Pei Nian had traveled more than 600 li a day, showing that he was determined to leave.

At dawn, Fengniang returned.

She gracefully landed on the long corridor of the inn's pavilion, and looking out, she could see silhouettes of the rooms through the paper windows.

Gu Jingnian's profile is very defined, making him easily recognizable. He bent down to tuck the blanket around Pei Nian, then paused for a moment.

He probably gave Pei Nian a deep look, then shook his head slightly, and stood up with a somewhat resolute posture.

Feng Niang watched from outside, and soon the door creaked open, and Gu Jingnian came out.

Upon seeing Feng Niang, it was obvious that Gu Jingnian's eyes softened with tenderness.

The two were just beginning to enjoy the taste of success.

"You're back?" Gu Jingnian stepped forward, took Feng Niang's hand, and asked, "Are you tired?"

Feng Niang withdrew her hand, looked at Gu Jingnian with a smile, and her eyes showed a thoughtful expression.

"how?"

"Nothing, I was just checking if you were upset."

Gu Jingnian asked, "So what did you see?"

“I used to think you were aloof, indifferent, cold and heartless,” Feng Niang said with a slight smile. “Now it seems you are clearly a sentimental person.”

Gu Jingnian glanced back into the room and asked, "Are you jealous?"

"No."

Fengniang agreed, turned around and went back to her room to rest. She walked through the corridor and pushed open the door.

Gu Jingnian followed him inside, lightly touching the candle with his finger to light it. His movements were elegant, and his profile remained handsome and striking in the candlelight.

Seeing this, Fengniang asked, "Why did you follow me?"

This morning, the two woke up together on the bed, their love intense. In contrast, her tone now sounded very distant.

Gu Jingnian then said, "Pei Nian is still lying in my room. If she doesn't come along, where am I supposed to go?"

"I don't care where you go."

"She really was jealous. I called her back, but only because..."

"Gu Jingnian, you don't think I want to marry you, do you?"

Feng Niang suddenly interrupted Gu Jingnian's explanation and asked him this question in return.

Gu Jingnian was taken aback by this question. He hadn't thought about it before, only that he had been genuinely caring for Feng Niang recently. So he asked, "Do you want to?"

He spoke seriously, but Fengniang burst out laughing, covering her mouth.

"Of course not."

She answered without hesitation, and then added, "We, the Bluebird Clan, do not have the concept of marriage. Besides, you don't even know how old I am."

Gu Jingnian said, "I..."

"Don't explain to me." Feng Niang pressed her finger to Gu Jingnian's lips and said, "You don't need to explain too much to me, it will make you seem infatuated with me, which would be boring. I'm not jealous of Pei Nian either. Before, when you two slept in the same room, I wanted to take you away, but if I really got you, I wouldn't like you as much anymore."

These words were like pouring water on dry tinder and a raging fire.

But after speaking, Fengniang smiled at Gu Jingnian, exuding charm.

Gu Jingnian couldn't help but lean forward to hug her, but she took two steps back, pushed him away, and dodged him.

"Go away."

"If you're angry, let me explain."

“I’ve already said it, so there’s no need to explain,” Fengniang said. “I really don’t want to today. I’m full, and I’ll probably need a month to digest it. My middle-aged woman’s fields can’t withstand your young and vigorous ox.”

Although her tone was teasing, her actions were resolute; without a word, she pushed Gu Jingnian out the door.

After locking the door, she went to the window and looked out through the crack. She saw Gu Jingnian standing in the starlight for a while before finally turning and leaving.

Feng Niang smiled and breathed a sigh of relief.

She was quite worried that after their intimate encounter, Gu Jingnian would become clingy, and she would have another burden.

Now it seems I wasn't wrong about him; he really wasn't a spineless coward who only thought about women... Well, I'll just have to try him out next time.

As for now, even if Gu Jingnian feels somewhat disappointed and sad, she can consider it as her helping this young man become a true man.

"A man must grow up; how can he not be hurt by a woman?"

Fengniang muttered to herself, yawned, and without changing her clothes, lay down on the couch, curled up, and fell asleep.

She wasn't lying to Gu Jingnian; she was genuinely exhausted from all the trouble.

--------

The night was chilly.

Gu Jingnian sat on the stairs, pondered for a while, and roughly understood Feng Niang's intentions. Simply put, she only wanted to play around with him.

He was indeed somewhat at a loss, but he had more important things to do and couldn't dwell on these romantic feelings forever. He figured it out and that was that.

A cold wind blew by, so Gu Jingnian stood up, preparing to go and check on Pei Nian.

Just then, Miao Chunniang returned, carrying a lantern, and pushed open the wooden fence of the guest courtyard to enter. She looked up and saw Gu Jingnian in the corridor, and opened her mouth as if to say something, but then forgot what she was going to say.

She paused for a moment.

"Sister-in-law is back," Gu Jingnian said. "Is there something you want to say?"

"I……"

Miao Chunniang shook her head and said, "No. Pei Nian has fainted, I'll take care of her."

"I'll do it," Gu Jingnian said. "Sister-in-law must be tired, you should rest early."

Miao Chunniang watched Gu Jingnian walk down the corridor, tilted her head and pondered for a while, still unable to recall what she had wanted to say.

Over there, in Pei Nian's room, Qin'er was sitting there watching her.

Hearing the door open, Qin'er turned around and saw Gu Jingnian. She tilted her head in confusion.

"Go and rest," Gu Jingnian said.

"Oh."

Qin'er wanted to ask him about his relationship with Feng Niang, but she knew how to be a good maid and held back.

Before Pei Nian woke up, Gu Jingnian took the blanket and went to lie down on the recliner.

He soon drifted off to sleep.

The candlelight in the room gradually went out, and Pei Nian's eyelashes fluttered, but she did not open her eyes.

In her mind, she saw a figure.

It felt like a dream, but clearer and more real than any dream.

As the figure drew closer, revealing a stunning face, Pei Nian asked, "Deputy Commander Li?"

Li Shuangyun smiled and asked softly, "How could you decide to return to Rui without my orders?"

Pei Nian hadn't intended to report official business in a dream. After a moment of hesitation, she said, "My identity will soon be exposed."

"It's alright," Li Shuangyun comforted her. "It's Gu Jingnian who wants to expose your identity. You just need to keep him calm."

"I can't calm him down."

"Then let me help you."

“No need.” Pei Nian finally realized something and asked, “You’re inside my body? Get out.”

“But I saved you twice.” Li Shuangyun said with a hint of grievance, “I don’t owe you anything. You and your father broke the law, and I suggested that you atone for your crimes by performing good deeds and even used magic to save your life. You don’t thank me, fine, but you yell at your superior like this?”

Are you threatening me with my father?

“It’s not me,” Li Shuangyun said. “Commander Song wants you to stay by Gu Jingnian’s side. Once you return with merit, the court will naturally reward you and Pei Wugou handsomely.”

Pei Nian said, "I don't understand. I'm just an ordinary person. You have such powerful abilities, why is there anything that you insist I do?"

"You can get Gu Jingnian to break the barrier."

"Breaking the rules?"

Pei Nian didn't understand.

Li Shuangyun didn't need her to understand; she took two steps forward and moved closer to Pei Nian.

Their eyes met, she smiled slightly, and Pei Nian, whose consciousness was already weak, fell into a deep sleep again.

Inside the inn, Pei Nian's eyelashes fluttered twice again, and she opened her eyes, waking up.

The light was dim, but her eyes were bright and had a charming smile.

Gu Jingnian was sleeping soundly.

He's been quite restless lately, and his mind is also somewhat excited.

In his dreams, he would sometimes dream of him conquering Zhuojing, killing Emperor Rui, and rescuing his elder sister, and other times he would dream of Fengniang's dreamy eyes and full lips.

Just as he was feeling excited, a warm, soft body suddenly embraced him.

He then naturally turned around and hugged her.

At first, the two didn't say anything, they just felt each other.

Her hair gently brushed against his face, stirred by his breath, and whispered sweet nothings reached his ears as they rubbed against each other through their thin spring clothes.

Gu Jingnian gradually felt a sense of familiarity. He was more familiar with her body than with Feng Niang, because he had slept in the same bed with her many more times.

He stopped what he was doing and said, "It's you?"

"Don't speak." Pei Nian's voice was gentle as she hugged Gu Jingnian tightly and silenced him with a kiss.

(End of this chapter)