Chapter 15

Gu Jiu Ling stared fixedly at Master Nian Yuan, her heart sank slightly, she unconsciously pulled her hand back. She looked guiltily at the Taoist priest before her: "Master Nian Yuan... your expression is rather frightening; could it be that my palmistry is not favorable, Princess Consort?"

Master Nian Yuan gave her a deep look, then after a long while he tapped his finger on a teacup at the side and wrote two lines of characters on the boxwood table.

Gu Jiu Ling feared such mysterious matters the most, and besides, she herself was quite mysterious.

She hurriedly focused her gaze on the tabletop.

"Heaven's decree makes a phoenix; the vermilion gate unifies all."

Gu Jiu Ling was dumbfounded at once; what does this mean?

She wanted to ask for details, but she felt this person had a close relationship with Xiao Yin; if she asked too much, it might arouse suspicion from Xiao Yin's side and cause trouble.

Xiao Yin also walked back at this moment; Gu Jiu Ling hurriedly rose to go meet him, her sleeve inadvertently wiping the water marks on the table clean.

Xiao Yin exchanged a few pleasantries with Master Nian Yuan, then took Gu Jiu Ling away; as she followed Xiao Yin out of the courtyard, she felt Master Nian Yuan's eyes still fixed on her, and a chill ran down her back.

The next morning, Gu Jiu Ling followed Xiao Yin to the hunting grounds.

The hunting grounds were larger than Gu Jiu Ling had imagined, stretching for several hundred miles as far as the eye could see, with lush forests and verdant pastures.

Bright yellow imperial banners were erected all around, fluttering in the wind.

The Imperial Forest Army, clad in soft armor, stood ready; the hunting dogs they held barked incessantly.

To the north, various tents were pitched, the largest of which was Emperor Longqing's quarters.

Young men from all families, dressed in fine clothes and riding spirited horses, came to pay their respects to Emperor Longqing, after which they could set out for the hunt.

The noble daughters of the clans sat with their elders, behaving impeccably, yet their eyes kept drifting toward the handsome youths not far away, secretly making calculations.

Gu Jiu Ling belonged to the imperial faction, attending the Empress Dowager's side, while Xiao Yin sat at Emperor Longqing's right hand.

Next came several princes to pay respects to Emperor Longqing; the Crown Prince Xiao Ting wore a light‑purple prince's coronet robe, his head adorned with a seven‑beam crown whose eastern pearls shone brightly, highlighting the heir's exalted status.

After paying his respects to Emperor Longqing and taking his seat, his gaze unconsciously drifted toward Gu Jiu Ling.

Yesterday the news that Gu Jiu Ling was carrying Xiao Yin's child had spread throughout Jing Cheng, and even the various prefectures had heard of it.

Gu Jiu Ling met Xiao Ting's gaze; the original host's body still blushed uselessly, she silently cursed, lifted her chin and gave Xiao Ting a light, challenging look.

Xiao Ting's handsome brows knit tightly, his face darkening.

He had always looked down on this woman—foolish and incompetent, yet she clung to him relentlessly; he had long grown tired of her.

He never expected her to have such fortune, and since marrying the Imperial Uncle she had become increasingly different.

Where exactly had things gone wrong? He could not figure it out for a moment.

But this woman is carrying the Ninth Imperial Uncle's child—that is a huge problem.

"Your servant pays respects to Father Emperor!" a clear, crisp voice rang out; a tall man in dark‑blue brocade, handsome and refined, walked from afar.

The Sixth Prince Xiao Zheng, born of Imperial Concubine Cao, now also participates in the Council of State's deliberations, getting along well with the scholars of the Hanlin Academy, and he carries an air of scholarly elegance.

"Your servant pays respects to Father Emperor!" another sharp sound of horse hooves came; a tall figure leapt down from his horse, clad in dark‑gold soft armor, the musk‑skin guards on the backs of his hands still on.

He strode quickly toward Emperor Longqing; the Third Prince Xiao Wei was extremely handsome, his features sharp and cold, like a flame blazing in the morning sun.

He wore a smile, glanced fixedly at Xiao Yin's side, then shifted his gaze and knelt before Emperor Longqing, knocking his head hard against the ground.

"Where have you been again, kid, and why are you only just arriving?" Emperor Longqing's face bore a thin anger, yet his eyes held no blame, only admiration.

He is the son most favored before Emperor Longqing, and the emperor also likes his temperament very much.

"Father, I went to dig wild ginseng for you! Father, please take a look!"

Xiao Wei rose carelessly, presenting a box of mud‑covered ginseng to Emperor Longqing, whose eyes softened a little as he ordered it to be accepted.

Only then did Xiao Wei turn, bow to Xiao Yin and say, "Imperial Uncle, I hope you are well."

Xiao Yin nodded, gave a slight smile, his expression neutral.

Xiao Wei turned his gaze toward Gu Jiu Ling, his eyes flickering: "I heard the Princess Consort is expecting a child; I will soon have a younger brother—how wonderful!"

Gu Jiu Ling's hand clenched slightly; among the three princes, Xiao Wei's momentum was the strongest, and she did not want him to direct his fire straight at her.

Gu Jiu Ling frowned slightly and smiled: "Third Prince, you excel in both civil and military affairs, a paragon of talent, with glorious military achievements admired by all; my admiration for you flows like an endless river."

"If my son could have even a toe's worth of your ability, that would already be considered talent on their part."

As Gu Jiu Ling finished speaking, low laughter rippled through the surroundings.

Had she remained silent it would have been better; but saying this made the other princes' faces fall, for the Third Prince Xiao Wei's limelight was now too strong, becoming unpleasant.

Xiao Wei's eyes flashed; he seldom returned from the military, and he had heard before that the Prime Minister's residence had produced a foolish legitimate daughter who followed the Crown Prince around doing all sorts of stupid things.

But looking at her now, she is neither foolish nor stupid; he merely tossed a small spark toward Xiao Yin's side, yet she has lit a great fire to burn him!

Xiao Wei gave a light smile, said nothing, and sat down.

His mention of Xiao Yin's child made the atmosphere among all the royal family grow heavy.

Fortunately, a eunuch's voice broke through that heaviness.

"The Second Prince of Bei Di, Tuo Ba Yu, has arrived!"

As Tuo Ba Yu's name was just announced, a flicker of contempt crossed everyone's faces.

Tuo Ba Yu was, after Xiao Yin's victory that year, sent by Bei Di as a hostage to Southern Qi to appease them, being the young son of the Bei Di king.

He had lived in Southern Qi for seven years, growing from a small child into a youth, yet he appeared extremely frail.

One does not know whether it is the water and soil of Southern Qi differing from Bei Di's, but it has raised the Bei Di king's son into a girl‑like appearance.

Though tall, he is terribly thin, walking with a sway; he is sick all year round, to the point that even normal walking leaves him gasping, let alone horseback riding and archery.

In the first few years, out of respect for Bei Di's strength, Southern Qi still took care of this little Bei Di prince; later Bei Di even forgot that he had a prince in Southern Qi, ignoring him and feeling no desire for the child.

Thus Southern Qi also neglected the youth; the palace's dog‑eyed lackeys treated him even more harshly, paying no heed to his food or clothing.

This youth bearing the name 'Yu' was trampled into the dust.

Today Emperor Longqing presided over the hunt, and envoys from all states had come; as a Bei Di hostage, he dared not absent himself.

Gu Jiu Ling watched the graceful, slow‑approaching youth; a sigh flickered in her heart—a child abandoned by his own homeland, truly pitiful.

He looks in poor condition, and Gu Jiu Ling knows it is due to malnutrition.

Tuo Ba Yu stood before Emperor Longqing, slowly removing the veil that covered his face; as soon as the veil came off, his breathing seemed to become more hurried.

In the original host's memories, Gu Jiu Ling had little information about this boy; at this moment she was very close to him, he had just taken off his veil, and she instantly stared dumbfounded.

Good heavens! She never imagined the Bei Di little prince could be so handsome!

Like a fairy fallen from heaven to the mortal world, so beautiful that one cannot look away, especially those purple eyes, shimmering with flowing light, dazzling beyond count.

His skin was fair and almost translucent, his lip color pale, his face holding a touch of shy timidity.

If he were a woman, he would certainly be the kind of beauty that could bring disaster to a nation.

"Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty, the Emperor!" Tuo Ba Yu slowly knelt down, his voice also pleasant, like the clear, melodious sound of a mountain spring flowing over a deep ravine.