Chapter 117: Very Soon We'll Flaunt Our Wealth

"Prince?" Gu Jiu Ling looked at Xiao Yin, sensing something off; this person was intriguing, occasionally absent‑minded, as if one's soul were forcibly split into two parts.

Will the spirit, at some critical moment, suddenly fly off to who knows where?

Xiao Yin, hearing Gu Jiu Ling call her, turned her face away, smiled at Gu Jiu Ling and said, "It's nothing, just recalling some old matters."

"Tomorrow I will go with you to An Guo Duke's Residence; fear not, everything is under my protection."

Gu Jiu Ling felt a warm surge; setting aside everything else, Xiao Yin was truly a fine person, and she wondered why the women of Shang Jing had harbored such deep misunderstandings about Xiao Yin.

They said he was the bane of Shang Jing's noble ladies, yet now she lives just fine—how could Xiao Yin be a wife‑killer?

The next day, Gu Jiu Ling escorted Xiao Yin onto the carriage of Rui Wangfu.

Rui Wangfu and An Guo Duke's Residence were still relatively close, and before long the carriage stopped at the gate of An Guo Duke's Residence.

Lin Jingyuan went out to greet them personally; now that Xiao Yin had regained Rui Wang's fief, the momentum was naturally unlike before, and the dignitaries of Shang Jing had already sensed a strong, unusual political atmosphere.

Xiao Yin seemed poised to rise.

Xiao Yin supported Gu Jiu Ling's hand and almost lifted her out of the carriage; the Lin family members watching were secretly astonished—Rui Wang was truly doting on his wife, weren't they?

It felt as if Rui Wang were caring for a child; Gu family's legitimate eldest daughter never expected such fate.

Lin Jingyuan hurried forward a step, bowed with Xiao Yin, and said, "Prince, Princess Consort, blessings and safety!"

Xiao Yin waved her hand and laughed, "Lord Lin, Heir Apparent, you are too courteous."

"The Prince and Princess Consort's arrival truly brings glory to our Lin family!" Lin Jingyuan's face bore a smile; even toward Gu Jiu Ling he showed extra respect, for at the last poetry gathering Gu Jiu Ling's verses were now being recited by these aristocratic youths.

He glanced cautiously at Gu Jiu Ling and said, "Princess Consort's poetic talent is outstanding; a few of us, together with the Hanlin Academy, have formed a poetry society—might the Princess Consort be willing to attend?"

Gu Jiu Ling's steps faltered slightly, and an inexplicable panic rose in her heart.

"Forget it," she thought, "how could I write poetry? The last time was only to fetch my maternal grandfather's landscape album; I still have pride and wouldn't shamelessly join a poetry society."

The poetry society in Shang Jing was no trivial group; it was filled with talent, and Gu Jiu Ling felt it best to keep her true identity concealed.

Gu Jiu Ling smiled, "Thank you, Heir Apparent Lin, for your kindness, but my health is currently poor; the child in my womb is already well advanced, and I am fatigued, so I truly cannot attend your events. Let us discuss it another day."

A hint of disappointment flashed in Lin Jingyuan's eyes, understandable, for indeed Gu Jiu Ling's body should no longer be active.

Lin Jingyuan led the Rui Wang couple toward the Chrysanthemum Garden behind them; this flower‑appreciation gathering would be held within the garden.

Outside the garden a row of ornate pavilions and towers had been built for visitors to rest; seated on the second‑story balcony, one could look over the entire garden, a scenery all its own.

Whether strolling among the blossoms or leaning on the rail to gaze, every inch offered beautiful scenery.

Indeed, An Guo Duke's Residence was an old‑established noble house; its governance and military might be lacking, but in food, drink, and entertainment it had reached the pinnacle.

Gu Jiu Ling was drawn toward the beautiful scenery, when a low laugh from Xiao Yin reached her ears: "Do you like a garden like this?"

"Hmm," Gu Jiu Ling immediately thought of something, shook her head, "It's just so‑so!"

Now Rui Wangfu was perched on the crest of a storm, and every action required caution; suddenly constructing such a lavish garden would inevitably draw criticism.

After all, Xiao Yin's current persona was that of a distinguished national meritorious official, yet a poor soul who couldn't even afford a meal; she couldn't go from pleading poverty before Emperor Longqing to suddenly indulging in extravagance—such a shift would be improper.

Xiao Yin seemed to guess what Gu Jiu Ling was considering, a pang of guilt flashing through her, and whispered by Gu Jiu Ling's ear, laughing, "Give me some more time, and soon we'll be flaunting our wealth."

Gu Jiu Ling pursed her lips and smiled, about to speak, when a clatter of footsteps came from behind, and a group of flamboyantly dressed aristocratic youths entered.

At the front were Princess Changping, surrounded at the center, and Princess Yuan Qing of Bei Di; beside Princess Changping unexpectedly were Gu Cheng and Gu Nanxiang.

Gu Cheng wore an indigo brocade embroidered with plum motifs, his features cold yet handsome, looking like a graceful young gentleman.

After a serious illness, Gu Nanxiang donned a lotus‑colored dress, exuding a faintly sickly, delicate beauty, like a wilting willow in the breeze.

Princess Changping wore a pink robe, while Princess Yuan Qing remained in a scarlet dress, dazzlingly garish.

With several people standing there, Lin Jingyuan was momentarily stunned.

He hadn't presented any formal notices to these palace dignitaries, after all they were a nation's princesses; this was merely a private flower‑viewing gathering, not an official affair.

Unexpectedly, both princesses arrived together, each with many attendants, making the garden entrance rather crowded.

What astonished Lin Jingyuan even more was that Gu Cheng and Gu Nanxiang had actually come.

It should be noted that after Lin Qingxue eloped secretly with Gu Shijie, the Lin family had announced her expulsion from the household, even striking her name from the Lin family genealogy.

In other words, the present Lin family had completely cut ties with Lin Qingxue.

Regardless of how favored Lin Qingxue was in the Gu family, even after Du Qingning's death she briefly became a true consort of the Xiang residence, yet the Lin family had no intention of associating with her.

To the Lin family, it was as if Lin Qingxue were already dead.

Because of this, Lin Qingxue's children never interacted with the Lin family; now Gu Cheng and Gu Nanxiang's sudden arrival left Lin Jingyuan at a loss—he couldn't simply drive the siblings away, especially since they were clearly brought in by Princess Changping.

He was always smooth and tactful, but even so, facing the Gu siblings caused his own expression to twitch uncomfortably.

Lin Jingyuan hurried to the front of Princess Changping and Princess Yuan Qing, bowed, yet ignored the Gu siblings as if they were absent, fearing that acknowledging them would anger his own grandmother.

At first, his aunt had nearly been driven to death by that scoundrel Lin Qingxue; his grandmother despised that woman to the core, and even loathed her children.

Gu Nanxiang hadn't expected Lin Jingyuan to outright ignore the siblings; his expression darkened as he moved forward, but Gu Cheng seized him.

For today's flower‑viewing event, Gu Cheng needed a pretext to come to the Lin household.

He couldn't directly approach Princess Changping, so he had the princess bring him; instead, his sister claimed she was accompanying the princess to view flowers, and he happened to meet them halfway, thus arriving together.

It fit the logic perfectly!

Lately his standing with the Crown Prince had become shaky; at a recent palace banquet, that fool Gu Kang had inadvertently reminded him with a single remark.

His maternal grandfather's family, the Lin clan, was a genuine aristocratic lineage in Shang Jing; why had he, all these years, been as short‑sighted as a housewife?

After all, he carried Lin blood; his mother erred, but the children bore no fault—if they could secure Lin family's support, why worry about lacking a bright future?

"Nanxiang!" Gu Cheng lowered his voice, "Stay calm!"