Young Master Gao? Call me Little Grand Secretary!

Zhou Ang was different from instructors like Lin Chong who had no rank or grade; he was a proper military officer with military merits!

He was only assigned the position of deputy head instructor because of his high level of martial arts skills. As soon as he arrived, Lin Chong naturally did not dare to act presumptuously and immediately softened, cupping his hands in greeting. Fang Shi also hurriedly straightened up and bowed.

Zhou Ang glanced around and said coldly, "Have you forgotten the laws and regulations of the army?"

"We dare not!" The two looked terrified and hurriedly bowed again.

Zhou Ang then looked at everyone in the room and said in a deep voice, "This is a one-time exception. If there is a next time, you will be subject to military law!"

"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.

Zhou Ang glanced coldly at the crowd, then turned and left.

Xu Ning then walked in from outside the door, cupped his hands to the crowd, and said, "Everyone, let's talk things out and not ruin the harmony."

Lin Chong then realized that it was he who had invited Zhou Ang. His anger subsided, but he couldn't help but feel flustered. If it hadn't been for Zhou Ang's timely arrival, and if he had killed Fang Shi, the matter would have been difficult to resolve peacefully. He then cupped his hands to Xu Ning, glanced at everyone in the room, and left in a huff.

After he left, Fang Shi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Thinking about how badly he had been beaten by Lin Chong, he felt a little embarrassed and complained to Xu Ning, "Old Xu, why did you invite Instructor Zhou? I was about to turn the tide!"

Everyone fell silent. If Zhou Ang hadn't arrived in time, we would probably be preparing for a feast right now.

Xu Ning was a kind-hearted man and didn't refute this, only smiling and saying, "We're all comrades in the army; it's not good to hurt anyone! It's best to turn hostility into friendship!"

"Who would consider him a comrade-in-arms, a bastard who rose to power through his wife! Haha..."

Fang Shi laughed a few times, but seeing that no one echoed him, he felt a little embarrassed and gave another awkward laugh before stopping.

Without saying much, everyone dispersed. As they reached the door, Xu Ning turned back and said, "Xiao Fang, Instructor Lin is a good person, highly skilled, and has no grudge against you. There's no need for this!"

Fang Shi froze, his face turning a mixture of embarrassment and redness. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but Xu Ning and the others had already walked away.

……

Lin Chong returned home dejectedly. Zhang Yunniang immediately greeted him and, seeing his unhappy expression, quickly asked with concern:

"But some people are spreading rumors today, which has displeased you, sir? Don't listen to their gossip and get upset. We are upright and have nothing to fear. The innocent will clear themselves!"

Lin Chong paused, his expression complicated. He couldn't help but misinterpret what Lin Chong had said. Logically, was Lin Chong trying to explain himself because he had heard some rumors and felt guilty?

Zhang Yunniang, unaware of his thoughts, instructed her maid Jin'er to serve tea and then gently reassured him, "Our innocence has been cleared by the Kaifeng Prefecture. If anyone keeps nagging, we'll drag them to the Kaifeng Prefecture to settle things once and for all. I guarantee no one will dare to say anything more."

Lin Chong was taken aback, and then realized that his wife was talking about his own affairs!

"My lady is right!" He forced a smile, but couldn't help but recall Fang Shi's nonsensical words.

Gao Zhao gave her her innocence, but why did Gao Zhao help her?

He looked up at Zhang Yunniang, his mind filled with doubts. He did not doubt his wife's feelings for him, but it was precisely because of this that he couldn't help but wonder what price his wife had paid to save him.

I am innocent, but are you innocent too?

He had an urge to question Zhang Yunniang, but when the words came to his lips, he didn't know how to begin!

You can't just ask directly, can you? That would be too hurtful!

And will she tell me the truth?

For a moment, Lin Chong felt his mind was in turmoil and he was extremely agitated, as if he had a lump of evil energy stuck in his chest, wanting to vent it but having no way to do so, feeling very frustrated!

Jin'er served tea, and Zhang Yunniang took it and handed it to him. Lin Chong instinctively leaned back to avoid it, a flash of disgust crossing his mind. However, he quickly recovered and took it from her, saying, "I can do it myself, don't burn my wife!"

At the same time, he pulled himself out of those chaotic thoughts and cursed himself for being so suspicious, actually doubting his own wife because of other people's nonsense!

My wife would never do something so damaging to her reputation!

Zhang Yunniang vaguely sensed that something was wrong with him, but she didn't think much of it and said softly, "If you're feeling down, my lord, why not go and meet up with some friends to relieve your boredom? Just don't overindulge in alcohol!"

"Is she trying to get rid of me?" This thought suddenly flashed through Lin Chong's mind, but he immediately snapped out of it and cursed himself for being bewitched, though he felt an overwhelming bitterness in his heart!

It was indeed not a good time to stay at home any longer. Whenever he saw Zhang Yunniang, he couldn't help but become suspicious. This feeling of suspicion made him miserable, so he might as well go out for a walk!

"My wife is right! I'll be off now!" Lin Chong got up and left in a hurry.

Zhang Yunniang, who was following behind, took two steps to catch up, but she was completely confused. Why did his words make it sound like she was the one chasing him away?

Lin Chong didn't know where to go, so he wandered around and unknowingly arrived at the Great Xiangguo Temple. He decided to go and have a drink with Lu Zhishen.

Lu Zhishen was overjoyed to see him arrive and immediately ordered wine and food to be prepared. Lin Chong also had the intention of drowning his sorrows in wine, and he drank several bowls in a row, which made Lu Zhishen notice something amiss.

"Brother, what's wrong? Has someone upset you?"

"Sigh!" Lin Chong sighed, tilted his head back, and drank another bowl of wine before saying, "Today when I went to the army camp, I didn't expect to hear people talking behind my back that my escape from death was because my wife went to beg Gao Yanei..."

Lin Chong was already gritting his teeth and his eyes were bloodshot when he finished speaking!

Lu Zhishen immediately understood the meaning behind his words and slammed his fist on the table, angrily saying, "That scoundrel is making such a fuss about my sister-in-law! It's outrageous! Brother, tell me who that person is, and I'll go and beat him three hundred times with my staff."

Lin Chong waved his hand painfully and said with a wry smile, "Even if you beat him to death, what can you do? People will still have their opinions! If this gets out, they'll just say I'm acting out of anger, which will only confirm it!"

Hearing this, Lu Zhishen had no choice but to give up. After sitting down, he looked at Lu Zhishen's face and suddenly said, "Brother, this matter must be just someone talking nonsense. Don't take it to heart!"

Although that young master is no good, he's not the kind of person who would take advantage of someone in distress!

Lin Chong was quite surprised that Lu Zhishen, who always fought with Gao Zhao whenever they met, would speak up for Gao Zhao this time.

Then he recalled the rumors about Gao Zhao circulating in the city, and then thought about his recent behavior. Although he was just fooling around, he hadn't done anything out of line!

The two were quite different, and he couldn't help but recall his previous guess: could this young master Gao really have been pretending to be stupid all along?

If that's the case, then he shouldn't have any improper thoughts about his wife!

Meanwhile, Gao Zhao was calculating the days ahead. His day off was coming soon, and he could go see his sister-in-law!