Chapter 165: Princess Consort, I Was Wrong for My Husband

Gu Jiu Ling slowly took off her splendid outer robe, and glanced lightly at Xiao Yin.

Xiao Yin lifted his eyes and met the woman's clear, icy gaze; although he felt somewhat ill at ease, he discovered that Gu Jiu Ling's gaze actually held a deadly allure for him.

He had never been someone whose feelings could be easily swayed, but after these days spent with Gu Jiu Ling, he found her influence over him growing ever greater.

He coughed unnaturally and said, "What are you doing?"

Gu Jiu Ling took off her embroidered outer robe, casually tossed it onto the back of a chair, and curled the corner of her mouth into an aloof, cold smile: "Jinzhi has not been entered into the Rui Wang Fu's servant registry; put plainly, she can come and go from the Rui Wang Fu as she pleases, and need not serve its master."

"As the saying goes, 'No oil cake, no oily hands'; she hasn't spent a single coin from the mansion, and there's no need to force her—it's moral blackmail."

Xiao Yin frowned; sometimes he could understand this fellow's words, sometimes he couldn't.

Gu Jiu Ling chuckled lightly: "As it happens, I, your concubine, was taken in by the Prince; in life I am his person, in death his ghost; if the Prince bids me go east, I dare not go west."

"Since my younger sister insists on embroidering this wedding dress, then so be it—I'll accompany her to the Seeking Spring Pavilion to attend her."

Xiao Yin's face changed slightly; he hurriedly rose and said, "You… what are you saying?"

"Enough! Enough! In the Wangfu, this great deity of yours is useless; tomorrow I, the Prince, will simply hire another embroiderer!"

Xiao Yin felt as if Gu Jiu Ling had dealt him a stinging slap; he couldn't even spare a thought for Su Wanrou, flicked his sleeve, and strode out.

The maidservants attending in the warm pavilion dared not even breathe; this was probably the first quarrel between the Princess Consort and the Prince after she married into the Rui Wang Fu.

Seeing this, one's heart leapt with alarm; upon looking at Su Wanrou again, contempt grew even stronger.

She's about to be married out of the Wangfu—can't she settle down a bit?

Su Wanrou let her hands hang at her sides, her fingers slowly clenching; the broken armor pierced her palm, causing excruciating pain.

It seemed she had won, but the Prince turned against her over this matter and fell out with the Princess Consort.

In truth, only she herself understood that in this round she had lost utterly.

After all, she could not take Jinzhi away; that latent danger could not be eradicated.

On the surface Xiao Yin appeared angry, but in fact he was still shielding Gu Jiu Ling.

Ha! She hardened her heart in secret; even if she married Zhao Lang, whose relationship with Xiao Yin was excellent, once her identity was exposed she would still surely die.

What should she do?

What on earth should she do?

This time she actually wanted to rush into Jinzhi's room, pick up a knife and stab her to death—but when she had just entered the courtyard, it was obvious that hidden guards had been posted outside the servants' quarters.

Su Wanrou slowly closed her eyes—she had lost!

She had lost completely!

If Xiao Yin had wholly stood by her side, she still might have had a chance to win, but this time even that last possibility was utterly wiped out by Xiao Yin.

Su Wanrou's heart felt desolate; she turned and headed for the door of the warm pavilion, not even wishing to exchange a hollow greeting with Gu Jiu Ling.

"Su Wanrou!" Gu Jiu Ling's clear, cold voice came from behind.

Jiu Yue took the other little maids out of the warm pavilion, leaving only Yun Duo to follow, worried that Su Wanrou might harm the master.

The master's forthcoming words probably shouldn't be heard by too many people.

Su Wanrou's steps halted; Gu Jiu Ling gave a cold smile and asked, "Do you harbor guilt in your heart?"

Su Wanrou's heart fluttered; she turned her face and gave a light smile, saying, "Gu Jiu Ling, fortunes shift—do you have a clear idea?"

Gu Jiu Ling's eyes flashed; Su Wanrou had already hurried out, her pure silhouette darting into the night like a ghost.

"Master!" Jiu Yue hurriedly looked at Gu Jiu Ling, "What if we tell the Prince about Jinzhi's poisoning? Otherwise, the Prince is so angry with you—what if…"

Jiu Yue worried that the Prince's anger toward the Master would affect their future relationship; these days everyone could see how well the Prince treated the Master, but because of Su Wanrou's great misunderstanding, things would not turn out well.

Gu Jiu Ling also felt somewhat stifled, but since she had saved Jinzhi's life, she could never possibly cast out that innocent maid—no matter the Prince's face.

Xiao Yin's dignity was important, but she felt that human life mattered more.

For the first time she felt helpless; Xiao Yin was a person of this era, while she belonged to another era.

Xiao Yin thought a mere maid was nothing—her life or death lay outside his considerations.

But in Gu Jiu Ling's eyes, human life must never be treated lightly.

She sighed and slowly sat down on the soft couch, asking, "What good would it do?"

"It was Hong Yu who brought Jinzhi back; since Su Wanrou dared to poison her, she must have a backup plan—those people are the Prince's kin, we are newcomers; how could we compare to their standing in his heart?"

"What good would saying it do? You and Yun Duo go down and investigate properly—whether human or ghost, we'll get to the bottom of it sooner or later!"

"Enough, you may withdraw—I'm exhausted!"

Gu Jiu Ling lay down to sleep; Jiu Yue dared not say another word, hurriedly helped Gu Jiu Ling pull the blanket over her, then extinguished the lamp and left with Yun Duo.

After enduring all this, Gu Jiu Ling's good mood from seeing Gu Kang study diligently during the day was completely gone.

She lay in bed, tossed and turned a few times before finally drifting into light sleep; she didn't know how long had passed, but in the hazy half‑awake state she noticed a shadow standing at the head of the bed.

Gu Jiu Ling's heart leapt in alarm; she snatched up the half‑read storybook beside her and hurled it at the shadow.

Immediately a muffled grunt sounded, followed by Xiao Yin's laughing scolding.

"You woman, how are you becoming more and more coarse and unbearable?"

"Do you want to smash me to death so you can remarry?"

Only then did Gu Jiu Ling realize it was Xiao Yin who had sneaked back, standing ghost‑like at the bedside watching her; she felt a chill, had originally intended to greet him, but then changed her mind, turned her back and lay down, unwilling to engage with him.

Who the hell does he love?

What else can the Prince do? Is the Prince being unreasonable?

Xiao Yin gave a bitter smile, sighed, and slowly lay down beside her, raising his hand to turn her shoulder, wanting to speak with her.

Who would have thought this woman was as immovable as if she'd cultivated the Diamond Drop technique, refusing to be budged.

The two struggled in the darkness; Xiao Yin yielded first, fearing that too much force might hurt her—or worse, provoke her.

He sighed again and lay flat.

Previously, waking at midnight and feeling increasingly uneasy, he had come to the Peach Blossom Pavilion to have a look.

He also forgot to put on the outer cloak; this time it was a little cold, and he carefully pulled Gu Jiu Ling's blanket over to cover half of it on himself.

Who would have thought Gu Jiu Ling would directly yank the blanket away; Xiao Yin also felt anger rise, rebellious against heaven, you little brat! This is the Prince Rui's mansion!

He grabbed and pulled the blanket over, and Gu Jiu Ling nimbly pulled it away again.

They tugged back and forth, the tension extreme; finally Gu Jiu Ling simply piled the blanket onto Xiao Yin's body, and she herself huddled, hugging her shoulders.

Xiao Yin really is……

He carefully helped her re-cover the blanket, then immediately wrapped both blanket and her into his broad embrace, holding tightly, his voice hoarse as he softly begged: "Princess Consort, I was wrong, isn't admitting my fault enough?"