Chapter 155: A Life for a Life

The marriage arrangement with Zhao Lang has been settled.

The next day, Gu Jiu Ling and Xiao Yin met Su Wanrou, who had been brought back from the manor, in the Zheng Ting; she wore a moon-white dress, looked noticeably thinner, and exuded a graceful charm.

Supported by the maid Hong Yu, Su Wanrou slowly entered the Zheng Ting, looked up and saw Gu Jiu Ling sitting beside Xiao Yin; her belly was already huge, likely to give birth in three or four months.

This time, Xiao Yin held Gu Jiu Ling's hand; as if after a rain in Shang Jing had turned a bit chilly, he tightly gripped her hand to warm her.

In front of outsiders, Gu Jiu Ling felt a little shy and pulled her hand away.

This gesture was just a fleeting small motion between husband and wife, but in Su Wanrou's eyes it felt as if a handful of nails had been fiercely thrown into her eyes, stinging them.

She had truly underestimated this despicable Gu Jiu Ling.

In just a few months, she won the Prince's heart, crushed the Gu family members terribly—even Gu Nanxiang was no match for her—and now it's unknown whether she is alive or dead.

Su Wanrou's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a bit more wary of Gu Jiu Ling.

Yet her expression was unusually respectful as she slowly bowed to Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling seated in the place of honor.

"Rou'er pays respects to the Prince and Princess Consort!"

"Princess Consort, Rou'er was immature before; please don't be angry with her anymore!"

As Su Wanrou spoke, her eyes turned red, feeling as if Gu Jiu Ling deliberately provoked her to make her angry.

Gu Jiu Ling secretly sneered, truly a dog cannot change its habit of eating feces.

After being locked up in the manor for so long, the tea's flavor had actually become richer with time.

She smiled lightly: "Little sister, don't overthink it; I never held a grudge against you. You're still young, sometimes clueless, but you'll gradually grow up."

"Seeing you in such good spirits now also brings me relief!"

"Heh! Sweet talk, who can't say that?"

Su Wanrou's gaze darkened: "You're the child, your whole family are children, always barking at me with the airs of an elder—what are you even?"

Xiao Yin now only wants to marry Su Wanrou off, so there will be less strife in the mansion; he also considers it repaying a debt, letting go of what he has long kept in mind.

He looked at Su Wanrou and said, "Wanrou, I have already arranged your marriage; over the years I have raised you in the Wangfu, so we share some affection."

"Let's do this: from now on we'll treat each other as siblings; you must not go anywhere these days, just stay home and embroider your wedding dress."

"I have helped you choose a husband—General Zhao Zhao Lang; he's a good man, his clan ties are simple, and once you go there you'll be the mistress of the household!"

"The date is set for two months from now, to marry before the twelfth lunar month; after Zhao Lang passes the Origin Festival he will go to guard the frontier, giving you some time together, and if you have children later, wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?"

With a word from Xiao Yin, Su Wanrou's lowered eyes grew several degrees colder.

"A wonderful thing? Hah!"

"It's just because you have Gu Jiu Ling that you now despise me as a burden."

"If it weren't for General An's immense favor to him back then, he would have long since kicked her out of the Wangfu."

"But now he does it in a more covert way!"

On her way back from the manor to the Rui Wang Fu, Hong Yu had already told her the news she had gathered; this marriage prospect being discussed was Zhao Lang, heard to be crude and uncouth, his parents merely shopkeepers, but he caught Xiao Yin's eye because he could fight.

Earlier, Xiao Yin had told her about the noble scions of prestigious clans, none of which she fancied; now that Zhao Lang, a lowly person, actually wants to marry her?

Su Wanrou would only marry a man of the highest nobility in the world; how could a commoner's son be worthy?

At this moment, Su Wanrou grew angrier the more she thought, actually developing hatred for Xiao Yin out of love—what a Xiao Yin, trampling her for Gu Jiu Ling's sake!

Her body trembled slightly; after great effort she suppressed the hatred and anger welling up inside, slowly lifted her head, and when she looked at Xiao Yin again, her expression held a hint of appeasement, though her eye sockets were slightly red.

She slowly knelt before Xiao Yin: "Prince… elder brother, Rou'er thanks you for arranging things for her."

She forced herself to endure the pain and change her address; previously she never wanted to regard Xiao Yin as an older brother, precisely because she had hoped to marry him one day.

Yet now Xiao Yin has ruthlessly cut off all her hopes.

He is truly so cruel!

"Elder brother, Rou'er simply can't bear to leave you; all these years she has accompanied you, and now—"

Su Wanrou burst into tears, and Xiao Yin felt uneasy as well.

Back then he went through great hardship to find General An's descendant; at that time she was a thin, frail little girl.

The first time he saw her was on a small path leading to the village; he had someone inquire about that village, and indeed there was a connection—before he could even enter the village, this girl came out to meet him and fainted in front of his carriage.

She wore a plum-blossom pendant left by General An around her neck, with a plum-blossom mark on the back of her neck; he did not go into the village then, but directly brought her back to Shang Jing.

Back then she was about eleven or twelve; now she has grown into a young lady, at the age to marry.

Xiao Yin sighed inwardly, looked at her, and said: "Everything I have arranged for you is the best; Zhao Lang is a person worthy of trust, and you will suffer no grievance after marrying into his family."

"Your dowry I have already prepared; take it to the Zhao family as your personal silver to spend freely, and if you encounter any difficulties, the Rui Wang Fu is your natal home—just come back and find me."

Su Wanrou realized the situation was hopeless; Xiao Yin is cold-hearted and unfeeling, and once he decides something he will never change his mind.

Su Wanrou wiped her tears and slowly rose.

"Go on ahead! Prepare these few days!"

After Su Wanrou left, the atmosphere in the Zheng Ting actually turned somewhat cold and silent.

Gu Jiu Ling wanted no involvement in Su Wanrou's affairs; she kept her eyes lowered, observing her nose and heart, idly playing with her fingers.

A helpless chuckle from Xiao Yin reached her ears; his rough palm tightly wrapped her hand.

Gu Jiu Ling looked at Xiao Yin.

Xiao Yin released her hand, then rubbed her somewhat tousled head, smiling helplessly: "I know you don't like Wanrou."

Gu Jiu Ling turned her face away to gaze at the scenery outside the window; deep autumn had arrived, and leaves were beginning to fall.

"As long as the Prince knows, that's fine."

Xiao Yin sighed: "Back when we were in Qi Sha Gu, I almost burned to death there; it was Wanrou's father, General An, who carried me out."

"At that time the flames were huge; after he bore me out, his front chest faced the fire and was already burnt to a crisp, his whole body clearly done for."

"He was only lightly injured and could have escaped alive, but he traded his life for mine."

"I owe him a life; on his deathbed he grasped my hand and said, there is a daughter he hopes I will look after for a while."

Gu Jiu Ling blinked slightly, not expecting Xiao Yin to say such things to her, feeling a bit embarrassed; she turned and held his hand, saying, "Forget it, I won't quarrel with her; being able to fulfill your heartfelt wish, repaying the kindness, this matter can be considered complete."

"Never mind, I'll take care of the marriage arrangements!"