Chapter 102

Ruoxi bowed to Gu Jiu Ling and returned the salute, then invited her to sit at the small table by the couch. Soon two clever maids laid out seasonal fruits, freshly made pastries, and the aged beautiful wine from the Hongyi Pavilion, filling the table.

Ruoxi picked up the white jade wine pot to pour wine for Gu Jiu Ling, but Gu Jiu Ling, pregnant, could not drink.

She smiled, lifted the cup, took a sip but did not swallow, just for show.

Ruoxi's eyes flickered slightly, she set down her cup, exchanged a few words with Gu Jiu Ling, then lightly smiled: "Miss, why bother cross‑dressing to amuse me?"

Gu Jiu Ling's hand gripping the cup paused; she realized she had been seen through. This woman was clearly ice‑snow clever, and having met more men than she had eaten grains of rice, she spotted the clue at a glance.

Gu Jiu Ling simply laid her cards down, spat out the voice‑changing pill from her throat, rubbed her throat, and felt a bit better.

She smiled with curved brows and eyes, looking at Miss Ruoxi: "Miss Ruoxi, you are truly clever and quick‑witted; I saw it at a glance."

Ruoxi was not annoyed, slowly raised her cup to her lips and lightly laughed: "Princess Consort of Rui, you didn't come to me just to seek my amusement, did you?"

Good fellow, her identity had been recognized; Gu Jiu Ling felt she had found the right person this time.

She smiled at Ruoxi: "Miss Ruoxi, you are too wise; I truly admire you. This time I really have a matter I need your help with."

Ruoxi's eyes flickered, she gave a cold smile: "Princess Consort of Rui, you are too polite; you are supremely noble, where would you need to beg? Moreover, I am just a woman making a living in the flower‑brothel district—what ability do I have to aid you, Princess Consort?"

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Gu Jiu Ling lowered her head and smiled, taking out a pouch of gold leaves from her sleeve, more than she had just given to Mama Mei.

"These few coins, I give to you as pocket money."

Gu Jiu Ling was generous; this pouch of gold leaves was merely pocket money for Ruoxi, and she did not know how rich the reward would be if the matter succeeded—ordinary people could hardly contain themselves.

Unexpectedly, Miss Ruoxi merely lifted her eyes and glanced, her expression unchanged.

Gu Jiu Ling whispered with a smile: "Miss Ruoxi, your original name was Zhou Ruolan. Seven years ago, when Prince Rui was defeated at Qi Sha Gu, your father, Zhou the Official, happened to be a minor officer in charge of transporting grain."

"It just so happened that his batch of grain went wrong, poisoning many; afterwards the men were executed and the women were confiscated as government slaves…"

With a splash! Miss Ruoxi sprang to her feet, staring fixedly at Gu Jiu Ling.

Gu Jiu Ling paid no heed to Miss Ruoxi's lapse, lowered her gaze to the mutton‑fat jade wine cup she gripped, and slowly turned it.

"I don't know through whom you returned from exile to Shang Jing and became a courtesan, but I imagine you still harbor resentment over that past event."

"I am now Princess Consort of Rui, and I know a bit of the secret: the defeat of Prince Rui at Qi Sha Gu seven years ago was suspicious throughout, and your father was merely a small figure, cannon fodder!"

Ruoxi's face turned ashen, both hands clenched tightly into fists.

Gu Jiu Ling lifted her eyes to her and said: "I promise to help you clear your father's name; Prince Rui is investigating this, and I will remind him from the sidelines, whispering in his ear."

"When your father's case is cleared, I will spend heavily to redeem you from the Hongyi Pavilion; whatever life you wish for, I will fulfill it, and after success the reward will be two hundred thousand taels."

A flash of surprise crossed Ruoxi's eyes as she looked incredulously at Gu Jiu Ling.

Such money meant little to her; she had already amassed a treasure chest, the jewelry gifted by patrons far exceeding one million taels, yet the condition of clearing her father's name was irresistibly tempting.

She had also heard that Prince Rui doted on this woman.

"What does the Princess Consort need me to do?"

A smile flickered across Gu Jiu Ling's face as she rose slowly and looked at her: "I will have you seduce the Gu family's second young master, Gu Kang, drain his silver, and make him sever ties with the Gu family because of you!"

"What?" Miss Ruoxi was truly bewildered; she had never heard such a request before.

Gu Jiu Ling stared at her: "I trust your methods; that boy won't escape your grasp. Whether you take this deal or not, if you refuse I will find another girl."

"Besides, my useless younger brother is quite taken with you, so you'll get results faster."

Miss Ruoxi remained speechless for a long while, then burst into laughter, barely stopping, a cold glint flickering in her eyes as she said softly: "All right! Deal!"

Gu Jiu Ling stared foolishly at Ruoxi, a wholly maddening beauty, especially alluring, and she couldn't help giving a thumbs‑up.

She was about to speak when suddenly footsteps sounded outside, followed by Mama Mei's urgent voice.

"Crown Prince! Crown Prince! Miss Ruoxi is receiving a guest—what are you doing…"

Gu Jiu Ling's face stiffened instantly; the Crown Prince had barged in—this bastard, as the Crown Prince, actually came to such a place, and so impatiently?

But if he caught her in the Hongyi Pavilion, how could she ever face people again?

"Quick, quick, quick! Find a place for me to hide first!" Gu Jiu Ling covered her face.

Miss Ruoxi also hadn't expected Crown Prince Xiao Ting to visit suddenly, seeming very hurried; she hurriedly pointed to the bed.

Gu Jiu Ling slipped and lay flat, sliding under the bed; fortunately Miss Ruoxi was the top courtesan of the Hongyi Pavilion, the bed was large, the space underneath ample, and it was kept very clean with little dust.

She pressed her hand to her chest, suppressing her pounding heart, and greeted Xiao Ting's ancestors one by one.

With a bang the door was kicked open, and Miss Ruoxi hurried to greet him.

"Crown Prince, may you have blessings and peace!"

Xiao Ting said nothing; Mama Mei, standing beside him, drew in sharp breaths repeatedly.

Gu Jiu Ling even slowed her breathing; Mama Mei had not expected Gu Jiu Ling to be absent from the room, she sighed in relief and quickly ordered someone to bring fresh fruit.

At that moment the door clicked shut, and after a while Xiao Ting's cold voice sounded.

"How long has Miss Ruoxi been at the Hongyi Pavilion?"

Shameless, asking so intrusively.

Gu Jiu Ling lay under the bed, silently cursing.

Ruoxi's voice trembled slightly, after all there was someone hidden under the bed; she spoke softly: "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness; I have been at the Hongyi Pavilion for two years."

"Where is your native place? Who originally brought you to the Hongyi Pavilion?"

Gu Jiu Ling's heart gave a slight twitch—could Xiao Ting also know Ruoxi's background? Was he trying to force her to do something?

Indeed Ruoxi's voice trembled slightly: "I am from Longzhou; as a child my family suffered a plague, my parents and grandparents all died; I was then sold to Yangzhou as a thin horse, trained by the head matron for several years, and later resold to Shang Jing."

"I have a contract, and a fellow townsman sister can testify."

Xiao Ting fell silent again; he was about to speak when suddenly footsteps sounded outside once more.

Mama Mei outside almost burst into tears.

"Your Highness! Your Highness! You cannot go in!"

"Miss Ruoxi is receiving a guest!"

"Oh, who is this so romantic, having a candlelit chat with Miss Ruo Xi? I, the Prince, also came to join the fun; I had already arranged to meet Miss Ruo Xi tonight!"

"The man's voice was warm and clear, like a mountain spring tinkling pleasantly to the ear; hearing it, Gu Jiu Ling was stunned."

"Purple eyes? Even someone with purple eyes has come to a place like the Red Fragrance Courtyard to play?"

"The door was pushed open with a creak, and suddenly Xiao Ting rushed toward the underside of the bed."

"He worried about being discovered in the Red Fragrance Courtyard, after all, he was the heir apparent, always maintaining his upright persona."

"Miss Ruo Xi let out a startled cry; before her cry even finished, Tuo Ba Yu strode in."

"At the same time, Xiao Ting hid beneath the bed, only to discover someone already hiding there; his face instantly changed, and he reached up and seized Gu Jiu Ling's throat."

"Gu Jiu Ling repeatedly groaned, slowly turning her face to look at Xiao Ting."

"Xiao Ting's eyes flashed; he hastily released his grip, then stared at Gu Jiu Ling in disbelief."

"Gu Jiu Ling gave an embarrassed smile and made a mouth shape."

"Hello! Crown Prince!"