Chapter 140: line with translation of chapter title

The Guo State Duke's mansion finally sent people to take away the Gu family's second daughter, salvaging what little face the Gu family had left.

The banquet ended just as hastily, and though Gu Jiu Ling had seen the show she wanted to see, she had no intention of leaving.

She said she missed her natal home, and having finally come back for a visit, she would stay the night before departing.

Madam Lin snorted coldly and said nothing; the entire Gu Shangshu mansion had been built with the silver of the late Lady Du, so her approval or disapproval meant nothing.

Gu Jiu Ling returned to the courtyard she had lived in before her marriage; after bathing and changing, she was about to glance at a storybook when suddenly a commotion came from outside.

Jiu Yue hurried out, then shortly returned in a fluster, her face slightly changing.

「Master! Something happened to the Second Miss! People from the Guo State Duke's mansion have arrived! 」

Gu Jiu Ling's thoughts stirred; she put down the storybook, rose slowly, and said, "Change clothes, let's go check the front hall!"

While helping Gu Jiu Ling dress, Jiu Yue whispered, "The matchmaker sent by the Guo State Duke's mansion is covered in blood and unconscious, taken away by them for interrogation; the coachman's whereabouts are also unknown."

"The Heir Apparent Lin of the Guo State Duke's mansion waited a long time at the Lin family ancestral hall in the suburbs for the Second Miss, but when she didn't appear, he sent people to the Gu residence to look for her, even though we Gu family have already sent her away."

"Not long after, the search parties from both families met on the road an overturned carriage; the coachman had vanished, the matchmaker was drenched in blood and had been stabbed several times, and news from the Guo State Duke's mansion said that when they arrived in the suburbs it was already dark, and the road they passed was secluded, so——"

Jiu Yue lowered her voice further: "The matchmaker said she encountered several bandits, seeing they were few and weak, she stopped their carriage; the bandit leader, taken with the Second Miss's flower-like beauty, actually abducted her outright!"

"The matchmaker also invoked the status of the Gu Shangshu mansion and the Guo State Duke's mansion, but the wedding procession was indeed shabby, so the bandits naturally didn't believe her, and the coachman was likely harmed as well."

Gu Jiu Ling's eyes flickered, the corner of her mouth curling into a sneer—Old Madam Lin had made her move… truly ruthless!

"Go check the front hall!" Gu Jiu Ling took Jiu Yue to the front courtyard; before they even entered the front hall's door, Madam Lin's hoarse, exhausted wails came in waves.

Gu Jiu Ling raised her eyebrows slightly and walked in; the main hall was already in utter chaos.

Gu Shangshu sat in the seat of honor, while Madam Lin slumped in her chair, wailing loudly; Gu San Shu accompanied her on one side, his gaze sweeping over Gu Jiu Ling as she entered, then sinking.

On the other side sat the Lin family's dispatched eldest daughter, Lin Ru Jun; nowadays the Lin family has few male heirs, so daughters are sometimes used as sons, and she occasionally engages in social obligations when coming and going.

Lin Ru Jun sat there with a calm expression; Madam Lin's crying was so loud it hurt her ears, and seeing Gu Jiu Ling enter, a flash of light passed through Lin Ru Jun's eyes as she rose to greet Gu Jiu Ling with a salute.

Gu Jiu Ling nodded at her, took the seat of honor, and looked at Gu Shijie, whose face was as dark as iron.

Gu Shijie stared fixedly at Gu Jiu Ling, then suddenly slapped the table: "Is it you? Are you up to no good again? Gu Jiu Ling! You've gone too far this time!"

"Father! You must decide for Xiang'er!" Madam Lin, upon seeing Gu Jiu Ling, felt like killing her.

If it weren't for her, how could my daughter have come to this? Now both the Lin and Gu families have sent out their guards, yet they still haven't found Xiang'er's whereabouts; it's likely more misfortune than fortune.

"It must be Gu Jiu Ling who used a killing move on Xiang'er!"

"It's definitely you! Gu Jiu Ling! Return my daughter! Return my daughter!" Madam Lin lunged at Gu Jiu Ling; she wasn't stupid—today's events were strange everywhere.

In this world, the only person who wants Xiang'er dead is Gu Jiu Ling!

"Madam Lin, are you crazy?" Lin Ru Jun suddenly rose, stepped in front of Gu Jiu Ling, pulled Gu Jiu Ling behind her, and Madam Lin's lunge came up empty.

She was about to throw another tantrum when Gu Shijie ordered someone to press her down into a chair.

He also felt pity for his second daughter, but the other party was the legitimate daughter of the Guo State Duke's mansion; if they clashed, the two families would become irreconcilable enemies.

He was already overwhelmed, yet the Guo State Duke's mansion's wedding proceedings today were also extraordinarily unsightly.

Lin Ru Jun didn't care how the Gu family members were going mad; she said coldly, "Given this incident, our Lin family isn't glorious either, after all we took a concubine, and the bandits' affront is to our Lin family's face, not just yours."

"My elder brother has already been anxious as fire, personally leading the Lin family's guards to search, also reported to the officials, and the Magistrate of Jingzhao led people out of the capital to search together."

"This incident is a dispute between our Lin family and your Gu family; what does it have to do with the Prince Rui's mansion?"

"Never mind, never mind," Gu Jiu Ling hastily grasped Lin Ru Jun's arm gently, whispering, "Madam Lin, as a mother, being this frantic is understandable."

Lin Ru Jun snorted coldly: "The Gu family's eldest daughter is still too kind; if such a concubine casually barged in and offended our legitimate daughter, in our Lin family she would certainly receive a family punishment."

Gu Jiu Ling hurriedly nodded in gratitude; her timid appearance made Lin Ru Jun feel somewhat displeased—how could a proper legitimate daughter be bullied like this? Pathetic!

She protected Gu Jiu Ling even more tightly.

"You're just a soft persimmon; why not invite Prince Rui to come to your mansion for a visit?"

Gu Jiu Ling quickly smiled, then cautiously said to Gu Shijie, "Father, the Prince commands the Imperial Guard; why not ask our Prince to go out himself and lead people to search the suburbs?"

"You say everything was fine, so how did she just disappear?"

"Those bandits are so rough; if something happened to the younger sister, how could she go on living?"

After saying that, Gu Jiu Ling burst into tears, but only dry heaves came out; she couldn't squeeze out any tears.

Madam Lin on one side was furious to the extreme; this lowly person was clearly pleased, spouting these cold remarks—perhaps this affair was done together with her and the Guo State Duke's mansion people.

She lunged to Gu Shangshu's side, sobbing, "Lord Shangshu! Lord Shangshu! Please, save Xiang'er!"

"It must be the eldest daughter trying to frame her; you, say something!"

Lin Ru Jun let out a cold laugh: "Madam Lin, I've said before, none of us want to see such a thing happen."

"I can understand your feelings right now, but you can't just go around making accusations."

Madam Lin also grew anxious: "Where have I made accusations? It's just that your Lin family harbors ill intentions and doesn't want to marry my daughter."

"Before, you and Gu Jiu Ling had a cold relationship, yet on the polo field you helped her win against the Bei Di; when did your relationship become so good? Perhaps you're secretly colluding, just trying to trap my daughter."

Gu Jiu Ling raised her eyebrows, "Not stupid, huh!"

Lin Ru Jun coldly laughed: "Madam Lin, you're indeed silver-tongued!"

"Even when biting someone, you need evidence!"

"Fine! Let me lay out the evidence for you!" Madam Lin, wishing she could kill the Lin family members, gritted her teeth and stood up, "Why didn't you come early to fetch my daughter, insisting on waiting until evening?"

Lin Ru Jun replied calmly: "Naturally it's to show importance to the Second Miss; I've already said that the Lin family's ancestral hall is in the suburbs, needing cleaning and preparation of sacrificial items, and my elder brother also has to lead people there first to get ready—don't these things take time?"

"Then why did you only send two people to fetch the bride?" Madam Lin's eyes turned red with anger; just thinking about it made her furious.

Back then, if she had seen only two people come to fetch the bride, she would definitely not have let her daughter go, and she wouldn't know how her eldest son managed affairs this time.

Lin Ru Jun laughed softly: "Madam Lin, you need to understand your daughter's status—she's going to our Lin family as a concubine, not as the principal wife; two people… isn't that enough?"

"You…" Madam Lin wished she could rush forward and bite Lin Ru Jun.

Just then, another group of people walked in from outside.