Chapter 41: Demolition

In front of the Tianxiang Tower,

The constables begrudgingly wiped the doors and walls,

Their eyes turned white from the stench of rotten eggs.

Ziling and Gu Yunfeng sat in the tea stall across from the Tianxiang Tower, sipping tea.

Qianqian was pouring the tea.

Don't ask where the tea stall owner is; they had already fled in fear.

When Ziling approached, the tea stall owner hurriedly ran away, scared out of their wits.

Not only did they abandon the tea stall, but they also left their spouse behind.

Ziling tossed a couple of silver coins to the spouse, and the tea stall owner's wife thanked her before grabbing a club and storming out – the tea stall owner might have already been beaten half to death by now.

So now, while Ziling and Gu Yunfeng kept an eye on the constables wiping the rotten eggs, they also helped take care of the tea stall.

Not everyone knows that Ziling is a bandit from the Qingyunshan Feihu Bandit's Lair, and ignorance brings fearlessness. Some passersby who were thirsty would sit down and call out, "A bowl of tea, please."

Qianqian would go over and pour them tea.

They would sit for nearly half an hour.

The exhausted constables finally caught their breath, having finished wiping everything.

From afar, the area looked clean and shiny.

Those who passed by couldn't help but take a few more glances, as they had never seen constables helping to wipe away the stench of rotten eggs before.

Then, Ziling, who had just established her authority at the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion, once again displayed her power in the bustling street.

Even the constables could be ordered around like servants.

The constables approached and said, "Young Master Gu, Young Mistress, the stench of rotten eggs is gone."

Ziling and Gu Yunfeng stood up.

They arrived in front of the Tianxiang Tower.

Qianqian sniffed hard and said, "There's a faint fragrance."

Ziling "..."

Gu Yunfeng "..."

The constables chuckled and said, "Your sense of smell is remarkable. We just sprinkled some perfume on the door."

"It's so extravagant. I don't even wear rouge," Qianqian exclaimed in surprise.

"...."

It wasn't really extravagant. One of the constables had accidentally dropped the rouge he had bought for his wife, and since it was broken, it would be a waste not to use it. So he applied it to the wall, covering the last trace of the rotten egg stench.

After a while, the smell would dissipate.

Now, hearing Qianqian's comment, the constables flattered her, saying, "Miss, you're naturally beautiful and don't need to wear rouge."

"You have such a sweet tongue," Qianqian said.

Ziling asked Qianqian to reward the constables.

Qianqian handed over ten taels of silver, and the delighted constables expressed their thanks.

But they rejoiced too soon – Qianqian poured cold water on their excitement.

"Your job of wiping the doors is done nicely. If anyone throws rotten eggs again, we'll come looking for you."

"..."

The silver was burning their hands.

Inside the restaurant, it didn't look much different from when they left yesterday, with even the food on the tables left untouched, causing headaches for anyone who saw it.

Qianqian turned around and saw the constables preparing to leave. She said, "Could you help us clean up the tables as well?"

The constables "...".

The Heavenly Fragrance Tower was hit by foul-smelling eggs, which could be said as their own misfortune. But it had nothing to do with them to clean up the mess, right?

They murmured in their hearts, but not a single one dared to complain out loud.

That maid had actually whipped the Crown Prince Jingguo in the street...

Even the Crown Prince Jingguo didn't hold back when he whipped her. He was ruthless. Shouldn't they be beaten to a pulp?

They trembled, and the constables helped clean up the dining table.

Ziling glanced at the dining room, then went upstairs and checked the backyard.

There were still plenty of dishes in the kitchen, all of which Ziling didn't want.

The only thing that had some use was the wine cellar.

There were at least a few hundred barrels of wine inside.

Qianqian looked at Ziling and said, "Miss, don't you want these wines either? If you don't, we can move them to the Marquis's residence. The Marquis and Young Master both enjoy drinking."

"That's fine."

"I'll call the constables to move them."

"..."

That maid was really good at giving orders to the constables.

What was even more maddening was that the constables didn't resist and followed her orders without question.

They busied themselves, working harder than the servants in the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion.

The covert guards whispered to each other.

Several hundred barrels of wine were loaded onto the carriage and sent to the Dongling Marquis's residence in a grand procession.

As the carriage approached, a strong aroma of wine filled the air.

The servants couldn't help but salivate.

These constables were truly audacious. Weren't they being tempted to rob them in broad daylight?

They suppressed their impulses.

Then... the carriage stopped.

The servants exchanged glances.

Was someone trying to please their Marquis by bribing them?

This showy display was quite to their Marquis's liking.

The servants went to report to Dongling Marquis.

Dongling Marquis came out with a smile. "I've been in the capital for so long, and it's the first time someone has tried to bribe me. Who has such discerning taste?"

The constables stood there dumbfounded.

After a moment of confusion, one of the constables said, "These wines were sent by the Young Mistress of the Zhenguo Marquis's residence. She bought them from the Heavenly Fragrance Tower but doesn't need them anymore."

Dongling Marquis laughed heartily. "She truly is my daughter, so filial."

"Our Marquis was just complaining about the empty wine cellar, and the Young Mistress sent so much wine. The wine cellar might not be able to hold it all," the steward chuckled.

"Move the wine cellar first, and tonight we'll have a good drink together."

The servants moved the wine, and the constables had a miserable time, nearly losing half their lives.

The servants, filled with joy and excitement, patted their shoulders forcefully. It was a martial blow, and the constables' shoulders almost dislocated.

Today was the hardest day they had experienced as constables.

Not only were their bodies tired, but their hearts were even more exhausted.

After delivering the wine, they had to return to the Heavenly Fragrance Tower and continue their toilsome labor.

Hopefully, it would be just for today.

However, Ziling didn't want any of the remaining dishes, meat, or even the tables and chairs in the restaurant.

The Zhenguo Marquis Mansion is even less likely to keep it.

Throwing it away, but not knowing where to throw it.

As long as the yamen officials need it, they can move it wherever they want.

The yamen officials were delighted and called other officials over.

Searching here and ransacking there, moving here and carrying there, everyone benefited and pocketed dozens of taels of silver at the very least.

Ziling walked around in the backyard, circling twice, saying, "The backyard is a bit small. If we don't buy the neighboring inn and incorporate part of its courtyard into the study's backyard, we'll have to demolish the walls here and there, and the kitchen is too big, it needs to be demolished too..."

They walked all the way here.

The most frequently heard word by Gu Yunfeng was "demolish".

Not just the backyard.

But also the upstairs.

If he remembered correctly, only two walls were left to be demolished.

If he circled around again, those two walls probably wouldn't be spared either.

Seeing Ziling still wanting to demolish.

He rubbed his forehead and said, "If it's going to be completely unrecognizable after the demolition, I think it would be better to rebuild it."

Ziling looked back at him and smiled with her eyes and eyebrows.

"Do you also think it's better to demolish and rebuild?"

"... "

"I was actually thinking of demolishing everything upstairs earlier, but I couldn't make up my mind at the time. Since you also think so, let's demolish it all."

"... "

Gu Yunfeng had a headache.

He didn't agree.

He just couldn't bear to see it and was trying to provoke her.

"Are you not going to reconsider?" Gu Yunfeng asked.

It's just selling charcoal; there's no need to go to such lengths.

Ziling thought for a moment and said, "Then let's consider it overnight."

"Oh, by the way, let's go and have a look at the courtyard behind the study."

"... "

Gu Yunfeng's head was throbbing.

Seeing Ziling so excited.

He felt that there might not be a courtyard behind the study anymore.