Chapter 147

For several consecutive days Gu Jiu Ling did not leave the manor; these days she felt a bit drowsy, and Xiao Yin also did not let her go out again, lest something happen.

She ate her fill and slept, then after sleeping she would stroll in the garden, but the case of Gu Kang's murder she kept constant attention on.

Finally, one day news came: Gu Kang confessed without reservation to having teased a Bei Di servant girl, then Ren Ao Nu Xu killed her.

Moreover, Gu Kang was completely struck from the Gu Zu Pu, and even the last layer of protection was torn to shreds.

Jiu Yue's eyes turned slightly red with anger: "Shangshu truly is heartless—yet even his own bloodline is good!"

"In Shangshu's eyes, are there only the eldest, third sons and the second daughter? Isn't the second son his child? How can he be so cruel?"

Gu Jiu Ling lifted her hand, plucked a sprig of osmanthus, played with it, yet a hint of coldness appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"Heh! He has always loved only himself; if he weren't ruthless, how could he have betrayed my mother?"

"When he first colluded with Concubine Lin, wasn't it because he valued the Lin family's status? It's a pity he only later realized Concubine Lin was merely a pawn of the Lin family, though the Lin clan does indeed have some tricks."

"My mother is the Du family's legitimate daughter; how could she have raised someone as base as the Lin family's little concubine?"

"Master!" Jiu Yue suddenly dropped to her knees before Gu Jiu Ling, tears already streaming down her face: "Master, can you think of a way to save Gu Kang?"

"Gu Kang may be a fool, but after all he is the Du family's bloodline—a child the former lady sacrificed herself to protect and bring into the world."

"Master!"

Gu Jiu Ling lowered her gaze to Jiu Yue, let out a slow sigh, bent down and helped her up.

"What are you doing?"

"I know you were sent by the Du family years ago; you must be loyal to the Du family and to my mother. I am aware of all this, and I will handle this matter myself."

Jiu Yue nodded.

But the steward hurried over from outside, finally finding Gu Jiu Ling in the rear garden, and bowed, saying, "Princess Consort, a letter has arrived from the Bei Di Yi Guan."

Gu Jiu Ling frowned slightly, about to reach for it, but Jiu Yue stepped forward, blocking Gu Jiu Ling's face, took the envelope from the steward's hand, pulled it out, checked front and back for hidden weapons or poison, then handed it to Gu Jiu Ling.

Gu Jiu Ling was extremely pleased with this maid Jiu Yue; she was meticulous in her work and utterly loyal to her.

The steward blinked, realizing that the few people beside the Princess Consort were absolutely loyal only to her—even the other members of the Wangfu could not be trusted.

He hastily withdrew.

Gu Jiu Ling opened the letter and read it; her eyes turned slightly cold.

Looking at the handwriting, it was Princess Yuan Qing's own hand; as a Bei Di person, her Southern Qi characters are a bit uglier than her usual script, but still legible.

The letter's content was also simple, its meaning clear.

"If you want to spare your brother's life, exchange it for the Landscape Painting!"

Gu Jiu Ling gave a cold snort; sure enough, this scheme was devised by the Bei Di side.

After all these twists and turns, it still came down to her Landscape Painting, further confirming what Zuo Feichen had said.

Back then, her maternal grandfather, Grandfather Du, took the whole family and their wealth to Xirong, but it wasn't really a move to Xirong; it was for the dragon vein at the junction of the three states.

She gave a cold laugh: "Jiu Yue, tell me when the Prince returns from court."

"Yes!" Jiu Yue hurriedly replied.

In the evening, without waiting for Gu Jiu Ling to send someone to the front yard to inquire about Xiao Yin's news, Xiao Yin himself came to the Peach Blossom Pavilion.

These days, although he was busy, whenever he had a bit of time he would come to keep Gu Jiu Ling company.

After all, her unborn child was far along, and she worried something might go wrong.

Xiao Yin stepped into the Peach Blossom Pavilion under nightfall; Gu Jiu Ling had attendants help him change and dine, and a hint of alcohol clung to him, as if he had already drunk elsewhere.

"Prince, this is a letter from the Bei Di Yi Guan!" Gu Jiu Ling never concealed anything concerning Bei Di from Xiao Yin, and she reported everything fully.

Xiao Yin's gaze flickered; he set down the sobering soup, took the letter Gu Jiu Ling handed him, and upon seeing it his face darkened further. He gritted his teeth and muttered, "Damn fool! Besides writing you a letter, what else did they do to you?"

All of Xiao Yin's patience had been exhausted by that woman Yuan Qing; his face now bore a hint of killing intent.

"Prince, that's all—just a letter. Obviously they want to use my own brother to set a trap for me!"

Xiao Yin's face sank; he directly tossed Yuan Qing's letter into the brazier to burn to ash, then gave it a disgusted fan.

He looked at Gu Jiu Ling: "What do you want to do?"

"If we openly investigate this case, I will tomorrow submit a memorial to the emperor."

"If we don't want the hassle, let Meng bring a few dark guards to storm the Ministry of Justice prison, snatch the person out, and send them to hide in the Eastern Island seas."

As he spoke, he even grew eager to try, looking as if he wanted to personally raid Southern Qi's great prison once.

Gu Jiu Ling looked at his expression and found it somewhat amusing; she could imagine how, in his youth, Xiao Yin had done many foolish things.

These few days she did not leave the manor, instead seeking out the elderly servants to chat, talking about Xiao Yin; everyone said that as a child he had been the king of the Shang Jing children, especially mischievous.

The mischievous Xiao Yin seemed to overlap with the present Xiao Yin, staining the corners of his eyes and brows.

Indeed, a man remains a boy until death!

"No jailbreak!" Gu Jiu Ling dispelled Xiao Yin's playful notion.

Xiao Yin indeed saw the light in his eyes faintly dim.

Gu Jiu Ling laughed, taking his hand and said, "Because a jailbreak would mean Gu Kang forever bears the crime of a murderer; I want to give that scoundrel one last chance—will you give it?"

Xiao Yin blinked slightly, then laughed: "Do whatever you want, don't worry about me. All right, tomorrow I'll submit a memorial and strive for a retrial."

"I heard your brother has been sentenced to be executed in three days; I hope there's still time!"

Gu Jiu Ling nodded: "Thank you, Prince, whether we make it in time or not, tonight you must accompany me to do something."

"Oh?" Xiao Yin's handsome brows rose as he leaned toward Gu Jiu Ling, "Does this have to be done at night?"

"Tonight the weather is clear, with flowers beneath the moon; we husband and wife haven't gone out at night for a while—I, the Prince, am quite looking forward to it!"

After the burning of a stick of incense, the suburban charity estate.

Xiao Yin, looking aggrieved, held a wooden tray, covering his mouth and nose with a cloth, his gaze lowered toward the beloved consort Gu Jiu Ling sitting on a small stool beside the female corpse.

Hah! Woman!

Is this the matter you wanted him to handle tonight?

He, the majestic Southern Qi war god, the suave and unrestrained Ninth Imperial Uncle, a hero of outstanding lightness skill, is actually being ordered around by his own woman, just to have him carry a rotting female corpse to Bei Di's territory to exchange for another female corpse.

Heh heh! Gu Jiu Ling! This king will remember you!