Courtyard House: A System Connecting Two Worlds, Resources for the Nation

The next morning, when the sun was already high in the sky, Zhao Pan'er was still not up.

Sun San Niang was busy in the kitchen for a long time, peeking into Zhao Pan'er's bedroom several times. Finally, she couldn't help but tug at Song Yin Zhang's sleeve: "Yin Zhang, you said that Pan'er's matter has not started yet, why don't you go and take a look?"

Neither of them were young and virgins, and they had a clear understanding of Zhao Pan'er's current state.

Song Yinzhang, holding her pipa, her ears slightly red, said, "Third Sister, how can I possibly get involved in something like this? If you ask me, you should just leave it alone!"

"I'm just worried about Pan'er."

Sun San Niang pouted, but the corners of her mouth turned up slightly: "It seems we'll have to keep an eye on the teahouse today. Let Pan'er get some rest."

The two women exchanged a glance and laughed simultaneously, just as a voice from the doorway asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Turning his head, Zhou Feng was looking at them with some curiosity.

"Eh? Mr. Zhou... Mr. Zhou, aren't you in Sister Pan'er's room?"

Song Yinzhang instinctively asked a question, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he blushed deeply with embarrassment.

How could she say such a thing?

If something had actually happened between the two of them, that would be fine, but nothing has happened yet. Isn't it disgracing Sister Pan'er's reputation by saying such things?

"What am I doing in her room? If she wants to attend our wedding, she'll have to wait a while."

Zhou Feng peeked forward with a smug look on his face: "I've come to see what delicious food Third Aunt has made!"

The two chatted privately until late last night, and everything that should and shouldn't have happened happened; they were just one step away from taking the final step.

Otherwise, given Zhao Pan'er's habits, she wouldn't have waited until so late to get up.

"I...I didn't do anything. It's just that the seasonings you sent back earlier tasted very delicious and clean, so I thought I'd make some snacks for you."

Sun San Niang didn't even dare to look Zhou Feng in the eye; she simply lowered her head and voiced her thoughts.

She didn't dare to hope for any relationship with Zhou Feng; she was already quite content to stay at the mansion and be a cook for him and Zhao Pan'er.

After all, even a third-rank official in the imperial court was subservient to Zhou Feng, so how could a cook like her dare to ask for anything?

"Alright, then Third Sister, you sit down first, I'll go wake Pan'er up."

Zhou Feng nodded and turned to walk towards Zhao Pan'er's bedroom.

Just as Song Yinzhang was about to say something, Sun Sanniang suddenly tugged at his sleeve.

"Third Sister, Sister Pan'er's boudoir..."

"What do you mean, 'boudoir'? They're already engaged. Who knows how long they chatted last night? What are you meddling in?"

Sun San Niang rolled her eyes at Song Yin Zhang with a hint of helplessness.

This girl really has no sense of propriety at all; she didn't stop him when she should have, and she had ulterior motives when she shouldn't have.

Zhou Feng arrived at Zhao Pan'er's bedroom door, pushed it open, and met Zhao Pan'er's gaze as she opened her eyes on the bed.

"Hey! You...you...how did you get in?"

Zhao Pan'er's pretty face instantly turned bright red. She pulled the blanket up with both hands and held it in front of her, as if not seeing Zhou Feng meant that nothing had happened.

Her mind was a complete mess right now, filled with shame about what had happened between them the night before, and embarrassment at being caught by Zhou Feng for sleeping in so late this morning…

However, while she covered her head, Zhou Feng tiptoed from the doorway all the way to the bedside.

Unaware of what was happening, Zhao Pan'er mumbled, "You...you go out first! I'll be right there...ah!"

Before she could finish speaking, Zhou Feng gently pulled the blanket down with one hand and lightly flicked her forehead with the other.

"Get out of here!"

Zhao Pan'er was extremely anxious, and her voice was trembling with tears.

Zhou Feng stopped teasing her and instead reached out to rub her head: "Why would I go out? Third Aunt will have dinner ready soon, so hurry up and get up, wash up, and eat. We're going out for a stroll today."

Zhao Pan'er peeked out from under the covers with one eye: "Go shopping?"

"Yeah, we've been in Tokyo for a while now, and we haven't really shown you around properly yet. Today we're not going anywhere else, I'll just spend time with you!"

Looking at Zhou Feng, who was smiling in front of her, Zhao Pan'er's shyness faded away involuntarily, and she felt a warm current slowly flowing through her heart.

She threw back the covers and sat up, her long, black hair cascading over her shoulders, her bare face still bearing a hint of languor from just waking up.

But the moment Zhou Feng opened his arms, she immediately moved forward and snuggled into his embrace.

It wasn't until Zhou Feng gently kissed her forehead a few times, stroked her back, and his hands started to wander that Zhao Pan'er finally broke free from his embrace.

"You turn around first."

Although the two were already quite close, Zhao Pan'er definitely couldn't bring herself to change clothes in front of Zhou Feng.

Zhou Feng smiled and turned around. It didn't take long for Zhao Pan'er to get ready.

She changed into a simple blue dress, her hair was simply tied up in a bun, and she wore a white jade hairpin that Zhou Feng had given her. She looked clean and refreshing.

After the meal, the two went straight out of the courtyard without taking a carriage, and walked side by side along the street.

Although the house is not large, it is located not far from the center of Tokyo.

Bai Lang and Tie Jianguo stood behind and beside them, about ten steps apart, neither too close nor too far, so they could see them but wouldn't disturb them.

The mornings in Tokyo are bustling with all sorts of vendors setting up stalls and hawking their wares.

A child chasing and playing along the street almost bumped into Zhao Pan'er's leg. She instinctively took a step back, and Zhou Feng immediately reached out and gently put his arm around her slender waist: "Are you alright?"

"It's alright."

Zhao Pan'er smiled, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.

This was an ordinary thing, but in her heart there was a sense of leisure and happiness as if the two of them had been married for a long time.

They continued walking and passed a stall selling sugar figurines. Zhou Feng stopped and bought two.

The two sugar figurines were not clearly visible, but they were obviously a couple. Zhou Feng handed them to Zhao Pan'er.

The latter took the sugar dragon, smiled, and said, "I'm not a child anymore."

"Who says adults can't eat candy?"

Zhou Feng took a bite of the sugar figurine in his hand and frowned slightly.

The sugar at this stage isn't sweet enough; it has too many impurities.

But Zhao Pan'er smiled, her eyes crinkling like crescent moons, and turned her head to gaze at the man beside her, mesmerized.

At this moment, Zhou Feng was walking along, munching on a sugar figurine. His cheeks were bulging, and there were sugar crumbs stuck to his chin. He showed no trace of the airs of the Celestial Master who protects the nation.

But it was precisely this appearance that made Zhao Pan'er feel incredibly at ease.

The two continued south along the Imperial Street. As they crossed a stone bridge, they suddenly heard the rapid sound of horses' hooves and wheels rolling over stone slabs.

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"

The coachman brandished his whip and drove a four-horse carriage out from the corner of the alley.

The carriage was fast and powerful, painted bright red, with copper bells hanging at the four corners of the carriage, making a jingling sound.

Pedestrians on the street scrambled to the sides, and several who couldn't dodge in time were nearly knocked over.