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

"Where has Zhou Lang gone off to?"

As soon as Zhou Feng returned to the residence he had arranged for Zhao Pan'er and the other two women, Zhao Pan'er and Sun San Niang came to greet him.

Although they didn't know the identity of the person who took Zhou Feng away, Sun San Niang mentioned that the man had a sharp voice and a fair complexion without a beard, so he was definitely a eunuch!

Throughout the entire Song Dynasty, there were only a handful of high-ranking officials who could command eunuchs. Even if they were not from the inner palace, they were at least relatives of the emperor.

How could she not worry about Zhou Feng?

"Don't worry, someone did invite me, but it's not a big problem."

Zhou Feng didn't tell Zhao Pan'er about his power struggle with the Zhao family. If she knew, she wouldn't be able to help much except worry, and it would only add to her troubles.

Zhao Pan'er lowered her head and remained silent for a few seconds. She didn't ask any further questions, but instead put her hand on Zhou Feng's collar and smoothed out the wrinkles.

She knew that with her status and abilities, there was almost nothing she could do to help Zhou Feng, so this was the only way she could let him know that she cared.

"When you go out in the future, Zhou Lang, please take more people with you. I heard from the tea drinkers at the teahouse today that there's been a lot of trouble in the city lately, with people being called 'hat demons'."

Hearing Zhao Pan'er's words, Sun San Niang hurriedly nodded vigorously, a hint of fear on her face: "Pan'er is right! I heard about it when I went to the market to buy vegetables today. The old night watchman had a big hole in his chest, and blood was flowing all over the ground! That hat demon just flew around in the sky without making a sound!"

Zhou Feng listened, his brows furrowing slightly.

There was indeed such a case of the hat demon in the original work, which caused a great uproar throughout the entire city of Tokyo.

In reality, it was just some people with ulterior motives playing tricks. They killed a few people to cause panic among the people, but the rumors just kept growing until they even alarmed the government.

According to the original timeline, Zhao Pan'er and the other two were involved for a while, but it shouldn't have happened so soon.

but…

The appearance of the Hat Demon may not necessarily be a bad thing for Zhou Feng!

Zhou Feng glanced at Chen Xiao, who was standing behind him. Their eyes met, and for a fleeting moment, the corners of their mouths turned up at the same time.

It's obvious that Chen Xiao and he were thinking the same thing!

The reputation of Zhou Feng has reached its current level thanks to salt, sugar, and grains alone, which is now the limit.

Providing more supplies would only be icing on the cake; it wouldn't lead to any significant increase.

After all, smuggling salt, sugar, and grain is a serious crime punishable by confiscation of property and extermination of the entire family. It was only because Zhou Feng had the title of Celestial Master and the imperial favor he had gained by offering magical artifacts to the government that he dared to do this.

Therefore, no matter how smoothly he progresses on this path, he cannot openly promote the name of the Celestial Master's Mansion. At most, he can only spread some techniques that ordinary people have never seen before, such as the ability to subdue thunder and fire.

But most people have only heard about it; no one has actually seen him perform magic.

Now that the cat demon case has escalated to such an absurd degree, if Zhou Feng could just publicly and in front of the entire city, directly eliminate that hat demon who has terrified everyone…

Its effect on boosting his reputation was even greater than that of a storyteller compiling 100 stories.

"Pan'er, are you worried about me?"

Zhou Feng snapped out of his thoughts, looked at Zhao Pan'er who had a slightly worried expression, and took her hand, then gently squeezed it.

In front of so many people in the courtyard, Zhao Pan'er's hand was grasped by Zhou Feng, and her face immediately flushed red. However, she didn't pull away, but instead looked up at Zhou Feng, her eyes full of genuine concern: "Of course I'm worried! That cat demon can fly and escape through the air; even the walls of Tokyo City can't stop it. Although you have many subordinates, but..."

"There are no buts."

Zhou Feng calmly interrupted Zhao Pan'er, saying, "Pan'er, have you forgotten who I am? I am the Heavenly Master Protector of the Nation, appointed by the Emperor himself, and the Immortal Envoy of Penglai. Even if that demon is an evil creature, it is no different from paper in front of me. If it dares to show itself in front of me, it will save me trouble; I can just take care of it easily."

Sun Sanniang, standing nearby, immediately showed a look of surprise, as if she had just realized something: "That's right! We all overlooked it if Master Zhou hadn't mentioned it! How could a dignified Celestial Master like you be afraid of that little hat demon!"

The three chatted and laughed for a while before entering the main hall from the courtyard. Zhao Pan'er served Zhou Feng tea, and Sun San Niang brought out the fruit she had prepared earlier.

After exchanging a few casual words, Sun San Niang suddenly sighed.

"What's wrong?" Zhao Pan'er and Zhou Feng both turned to look at her at the same time.

Sun San Niang frowned, her face showing annoyance, and lowered her voice: "What else can it be? It's all because of that girl Yin Zhang. She hasn't come back yet today. She's gone to find that Shen Ruzhuo again."

Zhao Pan'er's smile faded for a moment, but quickly returned to normal: "Third Sister, let's not interfere too much in Yin Zhang's matter. She's grown up now and has her own ideas."

"It's not that I want to interfere..." Sun Sanniang sighed, "If I don't take care of her, what if she gets scammed again? She was like this when she met Zhou She, and now she's doing the same thing with this Shen guy! I asked around before, and Shen Ruzhuo isn't a decent person. He's a notorious slut in the brothels, yet Yin Zhang thinks he's her soulmate. What do you think she'll do..."

"Third Sister!"

Zhao Pan'er raised her voice slightly, and Sun San Niang immediately shut her mouth. She then looked at Zhou Feng and said, "Zhou Lang, you flatter me. San Niang is just impatient and worried about Yin Zhang."

Hearing Zhao Pan'er's words, Zhou Feng nodded but did not reply.

Sun San Niang wanted to ask Zhou Feng for help, but since Zhao Pan'er, as her fiancée, hadn't asked, what right did she have to ask?

In a sense, Zhou Feng should actually thank Shen Ruzhuo!

When reading the original novel, Song Yinzhang was a character that Zhou Feng disliked very much.

First, she was completely deceived by Zhou She, losing both her body and her money.

Later, Shen Ruzhuo easily coaxed her with a few sweet words, and she had a big argument with Zhao Pan'er.

Although she saw through Shen Ruzhuo's true colors and cried as she replied with half-covered face, why should others forgive her?

Zhao Pan'er had a past relationship with Song Yinzhang's sister, and she was able to wait for Song Yinzhang to come to his senses and turn over a new leaf.

But what makes Zhou Feng think he can wait?

Once betrayed, never to be trusted again, let alone twice.

After a while, Zhao Pan'er's status will rise with his ascension to the throne. At that time, why should Song Yinzhang's sister also rise to prominence?

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Zhou Feng had already made up his mind.

If Song Yinzhang could have seen through Shen Ruzhuo's true colors before she had a falling out with Zhao Pan'er, Zhou Feng would have let her off the hook.

Although he couldn't take too much advantage of Zhao Pan'er, he also wouldn't let her suffer for the rest of her life; it was all for Zhao Pan'er's own good.

But if she does something that causes conflict with Zhao Pan'er, then don't blame Zhou Feng for being ruthless and just letting her elope with Shen Ruzhuo.

It just so happens that the place they are eloping to has someone she knows very well there.

Zhou She and Shen Ruzhuo, brothers-in-law, paired with Song Yinzhang, were a match made in heaven.

Perhaps when the three of them provide emotional value, they can even achieve a synergistic effect greater than the sum of their parts (1+1+1>3)!