Chapter 173: Maternal Mercy, Filial Piety

Xiao Yin entered the main hall of the meditation courtyard with his hands clasped behind his back, glanced at the maids sent by Empress Dowager Ning An, a smile on his brows, but the smile never reached his eyes.

"What does this mean? The Princess Consort just got off the carriage and hasn't rested, and you're already sending her a task from my family?"

The person was a trusted palace attendant of Empress Dowager Ning An, quickly bowed and smiled while greeting, "Prince! This old servant is also acting on orders!"

"It was the Empress Dowager who invited the Princess Consort to go! As for what to do there, the old servant does not know."

"I'll go after you then!" Xiao Yin lifted his foot and kicked the person, but he didn't aim for the chest; otherwise that kick could have taken half a life.

The palace attendant fell to the ground, his complexion changing dramatically; the previously arrogant expression vanished, replaced by terror.

She hurriedly got up from the ground, hadn't spoken yet, when Xiao Yin launched a barrage of curses at her.

"What kind of thing are they?"

"The Princess Consort is pregnant! Are you not born of parents? Did you spring out of a stone crevice?"

"So many people still aren't enough, yet you keep using a heavily pregnant woman, really thinking it's easy to bully me, Xiao Yin? Get lost, you damn mother! Get lost!"

Seeing Xiao Yin truly angry, the palace attendant dared not say another word, and fled, crawling out of the meditation courtyard to report to Empress Dowager Ning An.

Gu Jiu Ling stared in disbelief at the tall, upright man standing before her, who even blocked the cold wind at the main entrance; in that instant Gu Jiu Ling felt a surge of emotion.

She suddenly recalled that when she first married Xiao Yin, they were merely partners, merely using each other.

Empress Dowager Ning An, in front of so many people, verified the bloodline of the child in her womb; Xiao Yin sat aside, tacitly acknowledging, without stepping forward.

Now he directly kicked away Empress Dowager Ning An's people.

Gu Jiu Ling tugged at Xiao Yin's sleeve: "Isn't this a bit improper? What if you're accused of being unfilial…"

"Ha!" Xiao Yin turned, took Gu Jiu Ling's hand, helped her sit on a clean bed that had been swept, then knelt before a small silver lantern and personally brewed tea for Gu Jiu Ling.

The warming tea boiled gently, Xiao Yin added some brown sugar and ginger slices, and soon it would be hotter.

After all, winter at Panlong Temple during worship is still very cold.

He sneered coldly: "Mother's kindness, child's filial piety, mother's kindness, child's filial piety— a mother who doesn't pity her pregnant daughter‑in‑law, forcing her to travel so far to worship, that's one thing."

"Now the person just got off the carriage, and you still trouble them; it's as if you won't stop until you kill my child!"

"Hmph! People can't be spoiled! The more you spoil them, the more problems they develop! What nonsense!"

Gu Jiu Ling let out a snort of laughter, whispered, "The child in my womb has a father like you; they are three lifetimes lucky, eight reincarnations of blessed fate."

Xiao Yin's handsome eyebrows twitched slightly, gave Gu Jiu Ling a cold stare: "The child's biological father must die!"

Gu Jiu Ling's expression turned a little awkward; she had also considered her relationship with Xiao Yin, previously feeling no entanglement, after all it was just cooperation.

Now a layer of affection had been added, making things complicated.

She married him while pregnant, also occupying the position of his principal consort; that was one thing, but the child in her womb wasn't his.

No matter how she thought of it, she felt somewhat guilty toward him.

Xiao Yin poured the tea into a cup and placed it before Gu Jiu Ling; she took a few sips, instantly feeling much more relaxed.

She still worried, "Prince, really won't anything happen if we don't go to the Empress Dowager's side?"

Xiao Yin also lifted his own cup, took a few sips and said, "It's not that we won't go; we'll just be a little later."

"She is scheming to trouble you; thinks I can't see it. If I give her face, I respect her as an elder; if I don't, she'll have the nerve to try to kill me, Xiao Yin!"

"If I don't protect my woman, who will?"

"No problem, eat first; later I'll accompany you. Whether you beat me or scold me, I'll take it for you."

Gu Jiu Ling laughed, looking at the handsome, slightly wild man beside her, finding him increasingly endearing.

Su Wanrou, however, showed a hint of cold desolation.

She is Xiao Yin's younger sister, the fiancée of the Zhao family's young general; even though she cannot live in the inner courtyard and must stay at the mountain‑side meditation hall, she still lives far better than the women of other great families.

The women of other great families live together in a single courtyard, whereas Su Wanrou lives alone in her own courtyard.

Yet her courtyard, though large, lacks a bit of lively atmosphere.

It's not lively at all; Xiao Yin has never even visited her, only sending a few guards to watch the courtyard's outside.

All the other people have been dispatched to serve Gu Jiu Ling, even the secret guards have been transferred to her side, as if someone intends to eat his precious little dumpling.

Hong Yu lowered her head, carrying a food box inside, placed the banquet prepared by the rear kitchen on the table, arranging each dish before Su Wanrou.

After all, this is a royal worship, prepared by imperial chefs; although the vegetarian meal looks decent, Su Wanrou has no appetite whatsoever.

Her marriage arrangement with that Zhao family brute has already been set; after this worship, it will be finalized early next month.

The Zhao family is also in a hurry; after the Origin Festival, Zhao Lang is to be posted to the border, and recent battles between the Western Rong and Southern Qi have been frequent; the Zhao family wants to secure a consort for Zhao Lang.

Hmph! He deserves it!

Su Wanrou pinched her chopsticks, picked a few pieces of vegetables, ate, then pushed the plate away, lifted her gaze toward Hong Yu.

Hong Yu has been losing weight dramatically these days and has become even more silent; she stands there with downcast eyes, essentially a mute, like a soulless human tool.

Su Wanrou found it boring; lately Gu Jiu Ling hasn't made any move, could it be that Jinzhi's amnesia hasn't improved yet?

Of course she can't tell Gu Jiu Ling the truth; now in Gu Jiu Ling's eyes, that one time she poisoned Jinzhi, she probably thinks it was aimed at her.

Even so, Su Wanrou still feels a bit uneasy.

How can she dissolve the marriage with Zhao Lang? She thought it over, it's ultimately hard to do, unless…

Su Wanrou's eyes flashed, she leaned back in her chair, looked at the moonlight through the carved window, her gaze darkening slightly.

Zhao Lang is her husband; on the wedding day only she and Zhao Lang were in the bridal hall, ha!

She has many ways to slip out of the Zhao family, just a few more hurdles.

"Clean up! The remaining dishes are yours!" Su Wanrou didn't want to eat, slowly stood up.

Hong Yu silently went to the table, just as she was about to clear the dishes, a palace attendant arrived outside, bearing a palace waist badge, stood at the doorway and calmly said to Su Wanrou, "Prince Rui requests Miss Wan to go to Qingyin Courtyard for worship and evening rites."

Su Wanrou was initially slightly stunned, then a hint of joy flashed in her eyes; Xiao Yin finally remembered he had a sister.

A small hope rose in her heart; could it be that Xiao Yin still has feelings for her?

"Quick! Help me change clothes!"