Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

Chapter 329: This Beating is Inevitable

This was the countless times he'd wandered before the Marquis's mansion. Standing before that familiar vermilion lacquer gate, Zhang Jingwei felt a mixture of emotions. Half a month ago, he'd left the mansion without a single word, not even a single explanation to his wife, Huangfu Ling. He knew he'd done something wrong, but the circumstances at the time had made it impossible for him to speak. Now, he'd finally returned, but his heart was filled with anxiety and guilt.

He turned to look at Wang Ergou beside him, who nodded at him with a hint of encouragement in his eyes. Zhang Jingwei took a deep breath and motioned Wang Ergou to go forward and knock on the door.

"Knock, knock, knock--" Wang Ergou raised his hand and knocked on the doorknob. The sound was particularly clear in front of the silent marquis' mansion.

After a while, a clear voice came from inside the door: "The Marquis is not here, the Marquis's Mansion will not receive guests today!"

When Wang Ergou heard it, he immediately recognized it as Douya's voice and quickly called out, "Sister Douya, it's me!"

There was silence from inside the door for a moment, and then Douya's slightly puzzled voice came: "Is that Wang Ergou? Why didn't you come in through the back door, but came knocking at the front?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the door creaked open. Douya poked her head out, about to scold Wang Ergou, but she saw Zhang Jingwei standing behind him. She was stunned, her eyes wide open, her mouth opened, but she couldn't say anything for a long time.

Zhang Jingwei coughed lightly and said calmly, "Why, you don't want to welcome your master in?"

Douya finally came to her senses and stammered, "Husband...Madam! The master is back! Madam! Madam!" There was obvious panic and surprise in her voice, and then she turned and ran into the yard.

Not long after, a burst of hurried footsteps could be heard from the courtyard. Huangfu Ling practically rushed out, her hair disheveled, her face haggard, her eyes bloodshot, her cheeks the sallow color of malnutrition.

Zhang Jingwei felt a pang of pain in his heart when he saw her appearance, and he couldn't help but ask, "Sister Ling, I haven't seen you for a few days. How did you get yourself into this state?"

Huangfu Ling's nose flushed when she heard his voice, and her eyes instantly moistened. She bit her lip, and the corners of her mouth trembled slightly, as if she was trying hard to suppress her emotions. However, the next second, she suddenly raised her arm and slapped Zhang Jingwei in the face.

"Pa!" A crisp slapping sound echoed in the air.

Zhang Jingwei was hit so hard that his head tilted to the side, his face burning with pain. He opened his mouth and was about to explain: "Lingmei... I..."

However, Huangfu Ling didn't even give him a chance to speak. Immediately, two more slaps landed on his face. The first slap only shocked him, but after the second, Zhang Jingwei felt a buzzing in his ears and a sweet, fishy taste in his mouth. He reached out and touched his mouth, and blood was seeping from the corner.

"It's... bleeding!" Zhang Jingwei said in a panic.

However, Huangfu Ling's anger had clearly not yet been vented. She threw a punch, hitting Zhang Jingwei directly on the nose. Zhang Jingwei felt his nose sore, and tears instantly welled up in his eyes. He squatted on the ground, holding his nose, gasping in pain.

Qian Ming and Wang Ergou, standing nearby, saw this and quickly stepped forward to intervene. Qian Ming protected Zhang Jingwei, while Wang Ergou tried to pull Huangfu Ling away. However, Huangfu Ling's skills were clearly too much for them to easily subdue. Using both her hands and feet, she tackled Wang Ergou to the ground in a single blow, then grabbed Qian Ming by the collar and flung him away.

Zhang Jingwei squatted on the ground, covering his nose, with a pleading tone in his voice: "Sister Ling... Madam, I know I was wrong, please stop hitting me!" As he spoke, he hurriedly took out a dagger inlaid with gems from his arms and handed it to Huangfu Ling.

Huangfu Ling took the dagger, held it tightly in his hand, and stared at Zhang Jingwei with cold eyes.

Zhang Jingwei then realized that he had made a big mistake - how could he hand over the knife at this time? What if Huangfu Ling impulsively stabbed him twice? Wouldn't that be... He was terrified, but he didn't dare to act rashly. He could only squat where he was.

The two of them remained in a stalemate for a long time, but Huangfu Ling remained motionless. Seeing this, Zhang Jingwei cautiously stood up and whispered, "Sister Ling, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left without saying a word. I swear, I'll never do this again in my life."

Huangfu Ling finally couldn't hold back any longer after hearing his words and burst into tears: "Wow, wow, wow!" She cried and threw herself into Zhang Jingwei's arms. This collision was full of force, clearly a vent of anger. However, fortunately, Zhang Jingwei was no longer the frail scholar he had been before. He caught her firmly and let her cry heartbreakingly in his arms.

Zhang Jingwei gently stroked Huangfu Ling's hair, letting her tears soak his clothes. Her sobs gradually turned from heart-wrenching to soft sobs, and her shoulders shrugged, as if she wanted to vent all the grievances and worries she had accumulated over the past two weeks.

"Lingmei, I'm sorry..." Zhang Jingwei repeated in a low voice, his voice filled with deep regret and heartache. He knew how much hurt he had caused her by leaving without saying goodbye.

Huangfu Ling raised her head, looked at him with tearful eyes, and said in a hoarse voice: "Do you know... how scared I was? You left without a word, without even a message... I thought something had happened to you, or even that you... you didn't want me anymore..."

Zhang Jingwei felt a pang in his heart and quickly shook his head: "How could it be? How could I not want you? I just... I just have some things to deal with, and I'm afraid of getting you into trouble, so..."

"So you just left without saying goodbye?" Huangfu Ling interrupted him, a flash of anger in her eyes. "Zhang Jingwei, what do you take me for? I'm your wife, not a burden! Is there anything you can't discuss with me? Why do you have to handle it all by yourself?"

Zhang Jingwei was speechless after hearing what she said. He could only lower his head and said softly, "I was wrong, Lingmei. I will never do this again. I swear."

Huangfu Ling stared at him for a long time, the anger in her eyes gradually giving way to tears. She bit her lip and finally loosened her clenched fist, dropping the jeweled dagger to the ground with a clang.

Zhang Jingwei felt relieved upon seeing this. He quickly bent down to pick up the dagger and carefully put it away. He raised his head, looked at Huangfu Ling, and said softly, "Sister Ling, I asked you to return this precious sword last time. I knew you liked it, and I happened to see it again in the government office today, so I redeemed it!"

Huangfu Ling didn't say anything, but just leaned silently in his arms, listening to his strong heartbeat. After a long time, she whispered, "Don't do this again!"

"No, never again." Zhang Jingwei said firmly, "No matter what happens, I will face it with you and will never leave you alone again."

Huangfu Ling finally nodded, and her expression softened. She raised her head, looked at Zhang Jingwei's face, reached out and gently touched his swollen cheek, a trace of heartache flashed in her eyes: "Does it hurt?"

Zhang Jingwei smiled and held her hand: "It doesn't hurt. As long as you calm down, this little pain is nothing."

Huangfu Ling glared at him, with a hint of resentment in her tone: "If you dare to do this again next time, I won't just give you a few slaps."

Zhang Jingwei nodded quickly: "I won't dare to do it again. I won't dare to do it again."

The two smiled at each other, as if all the barriers between them disappeared at this moment.

At this moment, Douya, Wang Ergou, and Qian Ming quietly peeked out from the corner. Douya whispered, "Have the Madam and the Master reconciled?"

Wang Ergou chuckled: "Looks like everything is fine."

Qian Ming rubbed his arm that was hurt from the fall and said helplessly: "Young Madam's skills..."

Zhang Jingwei heard their voices, turned around and said with a smile: "You guys, don't hide there, come in."

The three of them then came out from the corner, all with somewhat awkward smiles on their faces. Douya walked over to Huangfu Ling and whispered, "Madam, are you okay?"

Huangfu Ling nodded, a trace of apology on her face: "Did I scare you just now? I couldn't control my temper for a moment..."

Wang Ergou quickly waved his hands: "It's okay, it's okay, Madam, you hit me well! The young master really deserved it this time!"

Zhang Jingwei glared at him, and Wang Ergou immediately shrank his neck and dared not speak anymore.

Qian Mingze smiled and said, "Madam, it's a good thing that the young master has received his official certificate and is returning home today. Should we celebrate?"

Huangfu Ling nodded, and a smile finally appeared on her face: "Okay, Douya, go prepare some wine and food, we will have a good meal tonight."

Douya happily responded and ran into the kitchen. Wang Ergou and Qian Ming followed and helped prepare.