Chapter 62

Gu Feiyin extended his hand, lifting Ning Shiting's chin gently with the cold jade pendant. "Punishment, of course, must be given.”

The main courtyard was the same place where Ning Shiting had previously received Baili Hongzhou. It wasn’t an area often visited by the people of the estate, and Gu Tingshuang himself rarely came here. Following the little wolf’s keen sense of smell, he took several shortcuts and eventually found the place.

He first wandered around the base of the walls, considering entering boldly through the front gate. However, he was swiftly chased away by the guard stationed there. The guard, recognizing the little wolf as the one frequently kept by the Shizi, was startled and hurriedly exclaimed, “Go away, go away! Wangye is inside! You little thing, if you’re discovered, it’ll be your death!”

Gu Tingshuang replied, “We will see who is the one to die.”

The guard didn't understand the response he'd grumbled out. Emboldened, he grabbed the scruff of the wolf’s neck and hoisted him into the air.

Gu Tingshuang: “…”

He was unceremoniously flung outside the courtyard and warned, “Don’t come back! If you do, you’ll just be thrown out again!”

Gu Tingshuang silently committed the guard’s face to memory, mentally granting the little wolf permission to bite him the next chance it got.

The little wolf was somewhat reluctant. Normally, it was a well-behaved and obedient creature. But every time it lent its body to the head wolf, incidents like this seemed to tarnish its reputation.

The blame, of course, lay with the head wolf. There were rooftops to walk on and trees to climb, yet he insisted on swaggering in through the front gate, which was clearly the most troublesome path.

Sensing the little wolf’s discontent, Gu Tingshuang sent it a warning. Then, with a leap, he landed on the eaves of the roof. He moved across the glazed tiles, scanning his surroundings, until he finally heard voices coming from the central room deep inside the courtyard.

It was Ning Shiting’s voice—faint and subdued, tinged with the frailty of illness. He seemed to be speaking softly about something.

Though Gu Tingshuang couldn’t yet make out the exact words, he was suddenly overcome with an inexplicable irritation.

The tone was meek and deferential, carrying a hint of submission. Gu Tingshuang had never imagined Ning Shiting speaking in such a low, placating voice, as though he were trying to appease or reassure someone.

When Ning Shiting coaxed him as though he were a child, the tone was lighthearted, playful, and warm. But this was different—so different that Gu Tingshuang couldn’t bear to listen. This tone reeked of reverence, even admiration, as though Ning Shiting truly believed in and worshiped the person he was speaking to.

He moved closer and looked down.

However, even as the little wolf strained its neck to peer downward, it still couldn’t see what was happening in the room. Gu Tingshuang simply leapt to the ground, climbed up the wall again, and peeked in through the window behind Gu Feiyin.

Gu Feiyin sat back in his chair, a teacup at his side. With an air of authority tinged with impatience, he interrupted Ning Shiting, saying, “So, you still haven’t resolved the issue with the Snow Yao?”

Ning Shiting replied with a faint smile, “Dianxia, as you can see, this is my current state. I do not fear dying in service to you. What I fear is failing to complete Wangye’s tasks even in death, thereby tarnishing Wangye’s reputation instead.”

At this, Gu Tingshuang finally saw clearly. Ning Shiting was half-kneeling before Gu Feiyin, his head slightly raised to look at him.

Ning Shiting was indeed convincing when he feigned illness. Already pale and slender, he appeared even more fragile with his eyes half-closed and his breathing deliberately subdued. The sickly aura was impossible to hide.

He seemed as delicate as a sheet of paper, trembling in the wind, ready to crumble with the slightest touch. Anyone who glanced at him would assume he didn’t have much time left to live.

It was clear that he had forced himself to come and report in this condition.

Gu Feiyin’s tone grew heavier. “You’re putting me in a difficult position, A’Ning.”

Ning Shiting lowered his gaze slightly, his tone remaining calm as he said, “I understand. Your honourable self needs to give an account to Bixia. As for Su Yue’s death, to be honest, I still don’t know the exact reason. It’s said that the wolves of Spirit Mountian attacked that day, targeting only the Immortal Cheif’s Residence. After my investigation, I believe it was because the Su family had gathered hunters from Spirit Mountian over the past two years, angering the White Wolf God clan. Everyone has turned their attention to the Qing Wang’s household, but such rumours are biased. Dianxia need not heed such slander.”

As he spoke, he shifted from a half-kneeling position to fully kneeling. Gu Tingshuang noticed that he wavered slightly as he adjusted, as though he had been holding that posture for too long.

“This is my failure. I’ve let Wangye down and am at Wangye’s mercy for punishment.”

As his words fell, Gu Feiyin rose from his chair and began walking toward him.

Gu Tingshuang’s heart tensed. He scrambled with his paws to hook onto the windowsill, dangling outside as he strained to get a better look inside.

What sort of punishment was this?

Gu Feiyin held a string of prayer beads in his hand, a finely crafted jade pendant dangling from it. He approached slowly, and Ning Shiting instinctively tensed his body.

The scene was eerily reminiscent of the final moments from his previous life.

Kneeling before him, Ning Shiting lowered his head humbly, his expression docile and compliant.

Gu Feiyin extended his hand, lifting Ning Shiting's chin gently with the cold jade pendant. "Punishment, of course, must be given. Failing in your duties and daring to fall ill—these are first-grade offenses indeed."

Ning Shiting opened his eyes, catching the faint trace of a smile in Gu Feiyin’s gaze.

The man’s sharp, distinguished features drew close, his deep eyes reflecting Ning Shiting’s silhouette.

“Your punishment… Gu Feiyin continued with an unhurried tone, “is to make me a box of Nine Treasures Pastry. Last night, after you’d gone to bed, I noticed you’d already started preparing it for me, hadn’t you? Thank you for the thought. Since you’re unwell, focus on recovering properly.”

From outside the window, Gu Tingshuang froze, saying nothing. His claws gripping the windowsill remained motionless as he fixed his gaze on Ning Shiting.

But Ning Shiting only responded softly, “Yes.”

Then, in a quieter voice, he asked, “Then Wangye… how many days will you be staying this time?”

“A few days, at most,” Gu Feiyin replied. “I have urgent matters in Zhongzhou, so I can’t stay with you. Once things settle down, I’ll come back and spend more time with you, good or not, A’Ning?”

Ning Shiting raised his eyes, offering a gentle smile in return. “Good.”

For some reason, though his smile wasn’t much different from usual, it struck Gu Tingshuang like a sharp thorn in his eye.

In an instant, a wave of nearly uncontrollable anger surged through him, accompanied by a sudden loss of interest.

The little wolf’s claws shifted slightly as he prepared to return the way he had come.

At this moment, Ning Shiting, sitting inside, raised his eyes and noticed the furry little wolf peeking in through the window. He was momentarily stunned.

Gu Tingshuang, however, had already controlled the wolf’s body to leap down and was slowly making his way back along the base of the wall.

Noticing Ning Shiting’s surprise, Gu Feiyin glanced back. “What’s wrong?”

“Seems like a little bird or some small animal flew by,” Ning Shiting replied, lowering his head. “Since Wangye dislikes birds and such creatures, I’ll make sure they’re driven away later.”

Gu Feiyin dismissed it with a wave of his hand and instructed him to leave.

As Ning Shiting was about to step out of the room, Gu Feiyin suddenly asked, “Have you seen my son?”

Ning Shiting paused before replying, “Yes.”

“Good. Since you’ve seen him, I won’t bother. I’ll make alternative arrangements for the snow yao matter. Just compile the reports for this period and the Chronicles of Xihou for me. For now, focus on recovering, A’Ning.”

Ning Shiting bowed. “Yes. Also please, take care of Wangye’s body and don’t work too hard.”

Gu Feiyin smiled at him. “A common matter. Despite all the people around me, in the end, it’s always my A’Ning who cares for me the most.”

Ning Shiting smiled faintly in return and finally took his leave.

Once outside the courtyard, Ning Shiting began looking around.

He went to the rear of the garden and softly called, “Little wolf?”

From atop a rock formation emerged a tuft of silver-white fur, golden eyes peering at him, their gaze both angry and aggrieved. It was almost as if the little wolf was ready to sink its teeth into someone in frustration.

Was this little one scolded by the gate guards on its way in?

Ning Shiting gently beckoned, “Little wolf, come. Come cuddle.”

The little wolf seemed to hesitate for a moment before cautiously climbing down from the rock formation. However, instead of throwing itself into his arms as it usually did, it simply circled around his feet.

Seeing the wolf’s drooping ears, Ning Shiting couldn’t help but chuckle. He bent down and scooped it into his arms, carefully stroking its fur. “What’s wrong? Who upset you? Was it Yin Bing again?”

Gu Tingshuang raised his head. “I didn’t.”

The little wolf growled softly.

Gu Tingshuang added, “Jiaoren, are you going to give my pastries to someone else?”

The wolf growled again.

Ning Shiting found its grumbles amusing and didn’t press further. He carried the little wolf as he walked back toward the Fragrant Pavilion.

But before long, the wolf kicked off with its hind legs and jumped out of his arms.

Ning Shiting watched its retreating figure with a touch of exasperation before heading back to his tasks. Passing by Gu Tingshuang’s room, he noticed the door was still shut and wondered if the youth hadn’t yet risen.

He lightly knocked but received no response, so he thought little of it and moved on.

He had always respected Gu Tingshuang’s boundaries. The boy’s erratic behaviour made excessive concern more of a burden than a comfort, and Ning Shiting had long understood the balance between them.

Returning to his own room, he continued working on the reports and the Nine Treasures Pastry.

By afternoon, noticing that Gu Tingshuang still hadn’t come out, Ning Shiting began to feel uneasy. He summoned Hulu and asked, “Where is Yin Bing today?”

Hulu’s expression was timid. “Well… Dianxia hasn’t come out. He’s been in his room the whole time and won’t let us enter.”

Ning Shiting set down his work and asked, “Oh? What’s the reason? I’ll go check on him.”

Hulu hesitated before stopping him. “That… Dianxia also said…”

Ning Shiting looked at Hulu, then at the closed door. “No matter, you can say it.”

Hulu coughed nervously. “Dianxia said he’ll only see you after you’ve finished the Nine Treasures Pastry.”

Ning Shiting was somewhat suspicious. “Is this the only matter?”

After a brief thought, he realised he’d have the pastries finish after working just half the night through, so it wasn’t too big an affair.

“Then good. Let the Shizi stay in his room undisturbed. Make sure to deliver Soul Returning Incense for his cultivation as usual, and don’t forget the routine care for the beasts in the menagerie. Keep the white wolves contained—don’t let them roam, or the Wangye might grow suspicious.”

Hulu nodded. “Yes.”

Just as Ning Shiting was about to resume his tasks, he paused, seeming to recall something. Turning back to Hulu, he said, “Send someone to buy a few boxes of Nine Treasures Pastry and bring them here. Replace them with the boxes from our household, and deliver it to the Wangye as if I made them.”

Hulu was taken aback: “?”

Ning Shiting smiled slyly and raised a finger to his lips. “The Wangye has been away so long he won’t be able to tell the difference. Just do it.”

As he spoke, he glanced toward Gu Tingshuang’s room and deliberately raised his voice a notch.