Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 272 Reconciliation
A sliver of morning light peeked through the window screen, adding a touch of haziness to the room.

A thin layer of sweat clung to Gu Jingnian's chin, dripping down and onto Pei Nian's neck.

Amidst their panting, their eyes met. Gu Jingnian looked into Pei Nian's eyes and saw a tenderness he had never seen before.

As a result, many scenes from the past flashed through Gu Jingnian's mind.

They fought fiercely in the small house in Kaiping Division. She undressed him and examined his secrets. It was the first time he trusted a stranger. They had shared life and death in Wanchun Palace, faked things in prison, investigated cases together, and traveled to distant foreign lands together.

The fragmented memories rushed by, and Gu Jingnian had no time to recall them carefully. Looking at Pei Nian in front of him, he realized how beautiful she was.

Pei Nian's hair was disheveled, with stray strands damp with sweat and sticking to her face. Her cheeks were flushed, and she looked rather disheveled.

But this disheveled state was more moving than her usual aloof demeanor.

A look of affection appeared in Gu Jingnian's eyes.

The deeper the affection grew, the more dreamy Pei Nian's eyes became.

Suddenly, she blinked a few times, then closed her eyelids tightly.

The hands that were wrapped around Gu Jingnian's back loosened and fell down.

For a moment, Gu Jingnian thought she had fainted.

However, before the atmosphere could change, Pei Nian had already opened her eyes.

She looked deeply at Gu Jingnian, her eyes no longer gentle as before, but filled with much stronger affection.

She snorted twice, gritted her teeth, and uttered two words.

"I come……"

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The sky is bright.

Fengniang slept in late and didn't wake up until the sun was high in the sky. She leaned lazily against the headboard and tidied her hair.

A bird chirped a few times outside the window, and soon Qin'er brought in a basin of water.

"You were watching over Pei Nian last night, why didn't you go and catch up on some sleep?" Feng Niang asked.

Qin'er replied in as calm a tone as possible, "It wasn't me who was watching, it was Young Master Gu."

Feng Niang then turned her beautiful eyes to him and asked casually, "Has he eaten?"

"I don't know," Qin'er said. "I haven't seen him since this morning."

She paused, then added casually.

"This inn is old and dilapidated. The window of the room they stayed in was creaking, so they probably didn't sleep well."

"is it?"

Feng Niang was quite surprised.

She had thought Pei Nian would remain unconscious for a long time, and even if she woke up, she would continue to quarrel with Gu Jingnian, but she never expected this to happen.

She spoke so nonchalantly last night, but hearing what happened today... her jealousy finally surfaced.

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The windows and doors inside the house were tightly closed, and the creaking finally stopped.

Pei Nian lay down for a while, then suddenly hugged Gu Jingnian and bit him on the shoulder.

At first, she didn't use much force, but then, thinking that he wasn't afraid of getting hurt, she used even more force, biting deep teeth marks on his body, from which blood seeped out.

Then, she silently watched Gu Jingnian's wound heal little by little until he was fully recovered.

Pei Nian's eyes softened, and she murmured something.

"You and I are in each other's hearts, just like that thing, we can't hold onto it."

"Nothing is absolute." Gu Jingnian pulled the blanket up for Pei Nian and said, "Don't catch a cold."

This was the gentlest way he could express his care.

"Ah."

Pei Nian simply responded softly, reached under Gu Jingnian and pulled out one of her undergarments, then put it on in bed.

"Why did you come after me?" she asked.

"Just think of it as fear that you'll return to Switzerland, leak my information, and become my enemy."

Pei Nian said, "I know you came after me to protect me."

Gu Jingnian didn't know how to answer.

In fact, even if Pei Nian returned to Rui, she wouldn't pose much of a threat to him. The deeper reason he insisted on chasing after her and using any means necessary to keep her was that he didn't want her to get involved in the conflicts in Rui.

He wanted to protect her, but she was too strong-willed and didn't want his protection.

Therefore, although Gu Jingnian wanted to hug Pei Nian, he didn't dare to treat her like a little woman.

Strangely, after a while, Pei Nian sighed, turned around, and hugged Gu Jingnian.

"Can I stay here?"

"it is good."

Gu Jingnian was relieved that she finally showed some obedience, and his tone softened.

“Let’s work together to rescue my sister and your father. As for the rest… don’t let yourself be bound by those useless morals.”

“Okay,” Pei Nian replied.

Outside the window, several birds fluttered their wings, taking off and landing.

After Gu Jingnian and Pei Nian came out of the house, Feng Niang saw them but didn't ask any questions. She just smiled and said, "Isn't this good? Working together makes everyone happy."

Having resolved these matters, Gu Jingnian planned to return to Yongjing first. He intended to have another talk with Wei Li to integrate the power of the Yue Kingdom's remnants. Afterward, he would go to the border regions of Yong Kingdom to recruit Zi Cang's subordinates and the Undying Army. Once he had the strength, he would return to Rui Kingdom to settle all old and new scores.

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Yongjing.

Having visited the southwest, I finally understood the magnificence and prosperity of Yongjing.

As Gao Changan sat in his flying chariot, overlooking the city of Yongjing, he couldn't help but shout excitedly.

"Home is there!"

The direction he was pointing was the residence of Marquis Chengye.

Gu Jingnian may not have considered the Chengye Marquis's residence as his home, but for people like Gao Changgan and Lao Hei, it was the most peaceful place they had ever lived, and it was hard not to miss it.

What's remarkable is that, despite being away for so long, Lao Hei still kept the keys safe and sound.

He unlocked the large lock on the brass ring, pushed open the door, and dust fell from the edge of the door, causing him to cough incessantly.

Even so, he was still very happy and walked at the front carrying his luggage.

After passing the front yard, there was a person sweeping with a broom. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a tall pole.

Old Hei couldn't help but say, "Weren't you behind me?"

"You're slow getting your keys out, I'll come back first," Gao Changgan said with a smile.

"hey-hey."

Seeing this, Gu Jingnian smiled.

Fengniang muttered a curse, saying, "You good-for-nothing, you've disgraced me."

Pei Nian didn't speak, seemingly because she was tired from the long journey.

Gu Jingnian then took her hand and whispered, "Shall we go back inside?"

"it is good."

The two then returned to the main house, just as before.

Fengniang still lived in the east room, while Miao Chunniang lived in the west guest courtyard. The room where Zhang Xiaofang used to live remained empty.

Seeing this, Gao Changgan and Lao Hei couldn't help but mutter to themselves.

"The shopkeeper still hasn't become the mistress of the house."

“What do you know?” Qin’er said. “That’s because she doesn’t care.”

Meanwhile, Gu Jingnian and Pei Nian returned to their room and tidied up in a rather tacit manner.

Gu Jingnian was adjusting the hearing shield when Pei Nian suddenly wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.

This is a rare action of hers.

"So, it's finally turned from a fake relationship into a real one?" Gu Jingnian said with a smile, holding Pei Nian's hand.

Pei Nian didn't answer, but pressed her head against his back.

"Are you tired? Take a rest first."

“I want to see Yin Wanqing,” Pei Nian said. “I haven’t seen her in a long time.”

"Going right now?"

"Hmm." Pei Nian joked, "I'll be lazy for a while and let you do more tidying up."

Gu Jingnian joked, "As expected, Pei Jishi is not good at housework."

It was meant as a joke, but Pei Nian's smile faded, and she said, "Then I'll go."

She left the Marquis of Chengye's residence and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

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Yin Wanqing knew that Gu Jingnian had returned to Yongjing and planned to go and see him the next day, but she didn't expect Pei Nian to come to see her directly.

So, tea and fruit were prepared in the backyard of the princess's residence, and the two sat under the shade of a tree by the pond, drinking tea and chatting.

After a long time apart, today Yin Wanqing had taken off her usual attire, revealing her girlish appearance, which was quite beautiful and made Pei Nian's eyes light up.

Many things happened during her trip to the Southwest, and Pei Nian recounted the gist of what she knew.

She seemed much more relaxed when she said these things.

But the truly important and secret matter must be told to Yin Wanqing by Gu Jingnian.

"Something's not right with you." Yin Wanqing suddenly looked at Pei Nian and asked, "What's wrong?"

“I have something to tell you.” Pei Nian did not deny it, and said, “Actually, I am a spy sent by the Kingdom of Rui.”

Yin Wanqing was not surprised. She picked up the teapot and poured another cup for Pei Nian.

Pei Nian said, "I was ordered by the Kaiping Division to go to Yong Kingdom to gather intelligence, with the ultimate goal of escorting Gu Beiming back. However, things changed, and Gu Jingnian and I developed a real relationship... and got together."

Yin Wanqing smiled and said, "Congratulations, may you have a long and happy marriage."

She showed no anger whatsoever, nor did she mention that Pei Nian was a spy from Rui Kingdom, displaying the magnanimity necessary to win people's hearts.

Pei Nian said, "To show my sincerity, I will reveal the spy that Rui has planted in the Yong court, but you must keep him under control and not let Rui find out."

"Okay, who is that?"

"Han Youxin".

Pei Nian threw out her chips directly.

At the same time, she recalled Li Shuangyun's instructions: "Now that things have come to this, gaining Gu Jingnian's trust is more important than anything else. You must do it."

(End of this chapter)