Chapter 183: She Is Fake

Evening was falling, yet inside Rui Wang Fu there was a scene of merriment.

Although the carriage carrying Su Wanrou had already left the Wangfu, the celebratory banquet inside the Wangfu had just begun.

Now everyone is riding the wind, seeing Prince Rui Xiao Yin's rising prominence, they are all scrambling to curry favor.

At this moment, whether in the Flower Hall of Rui Wang Fu or the connecting corridors outside, banquet tables were already set, and guests came and went incessantly.

Gu Jiu Ling, as the matriarch, was managing the banquet, but she was utterly exhausted, so Xiao Yin ordered her to be sent back to Peach Blossom Pavilion.

She had just sat down to catch her breath when Jiu Yue hurried in, her complexion having changed a few shades.

"Your Lordship, something's happened in Wuzhou!"

"What happened?" Gu Jiu Ling had been busy all day, nearly collapsing from fatigue, and the news of trouble in Wuzhou made her jump in alarm.

Jiu Yue hurriedly explained, "General Zhao, in order to return to Wuzhou quickly to pay respects at the Gu Zong Ci, took a shortcut, but encountered a large group of bandits in a valley. Seeing the dowry that Miss Su was carrying, they brazenly tried to rob her."

"It is heard that General Zhao sustained serious injuries; the valley entrance is now held by the bandits, likely a grim fate. Only one guard managed to return to Shang Jing to inform the Zhao family, and now members of the Zhao family have arrived at our Wangfu, pleading with the Prince to intervene!"

Gu Jiu Ling furrowed her brows sharply, feeling something was amiss; this time Su Wanrou's marriage affair felt extremely troubling to her.

Even though bandits were in Wuzhou, Zhao Lang's combat strength is almost on par with Xiao Yin at his prime, so how could a few petty thieves seriously wound Zhao Lang?

"Prince?" Gu Jiu Ling stood up and walked toward the doorway; Jiu Yue brought a large cloak for Gu Jiu Ling to don, and Jinzhi hurried a few steps, slipping a heated hand warmer into Gu Jiu Ling's hand.

A few maids lit lanterns, and Gu Jiu Ling hurried to the Flower Hall where the banquet was held; indeed, the hall was in chaos, guests set down their chopsticks—some rose to inquire, some whispered, and some were at a loss.

General Zhao, on his way back from fetching the bride, unexpectedly ran into bandits; this was a tale as rare as a fairy story—once in ten years, nine times not happening—yet they truly encountered it.

The crucial point is that the groom is gravely injured, the bride's whereabouts are unknown, the escort guards were almost entirely wiped out, and only a foot soldier ran back to deliver the news, only to die from his severe wounds after reporting.

What on earth is this commotion about?

Xiao Yin had now arrived at the Qian Ting, and looked at the middle‑aged woman crying as if torn apart before him—she was Madam Zhao, Zhao Lang's mother.

"Prince! You must find a way to save these two children!"

"They haven't even completed the wedding ceremony before this disaster struck; what can be done, what can be done?"

Madam Zhao burst into tears, and Lord Zhao, his eyes slightly reddened, rose and repeatedly bowed to Xiao Yin, pleading, "Prince! Please rescue those two!"

"Most of the Zhao family army remains on the frontier; the personal troops that returned with my son this time…"

"Moreover, dispatching troops requires an order from the Privy Council, the Ministry of War must review the order, and by the time troops arrive, Zhao Lang may…"

"Prince, please think of a solution!"

Xiao Yin furrowed his brows; he had already sent someone to report to the Capital Inspector, but the officials beside the Capital Inspector might not be…

In fact, Zhao elder was right; in a time of rescue, ad‑hoc troop dispatches are like distant water that cannot quench immediate thirst.

"Fine! You two, calm down; now that our families are united by marriage, this matter is also a concern of my Rui Wang Fu!"

"Attendants! First, escort the two elders back to the inner hall to rest."

"Ling Feng! Take my token and summon my personal troops!"

"Prince!" Gu Jiu Ling reached the doorway, glanced at the Zhao elders, and gave Xiao Yin a look.

Xiao Yin was now extremely anxious; Zhao Lang was a young commander he valued highly, and Su Wanrou was General An's daughter. With both now in a dire predicament, he could not afford any delay.

Yet Gu Jiu Ling blocked the doorway; seeing his uneasy expression, Xiao Yin still went out and led Gu Jiu Ling to a side.

"What are you doing?" Gu Jiu Ling grabbed Xiao Yin's sleeve.

Xiao Yin's face flashed with surprise; as usual, he rubbed Gu Jiu Ling's hair bun and said, "I'm going to rescue them! No time to lose!"

"Stay at home and wait obediently; I'll be back soon."

"Xiao Yin!" Gu Jiu Ling still blocked him firmly, lifted her eyes and said, "You must not go!"

Xiao Yin was slightly startled, his brows furrowing.

Gu Jiu Ling, though lively, cute, talented, and of good temperament, had never been so willful before in his presence.

"Alright, be more obedient; I will be back soon. A few petty bandits can't possibly eat me, can they?"

"But I sense something is wrong; those bandits, no matter how powerful, could never seriously wound Zhao Lang. If they caught your eye, they must be top‑tier youths! Even if surrounded, they couldn't cause such injury; this is clearly a trap!"

"Jiu Ling, stay at home and wait for me; don't go anywhere."

"Whether it's a trap or not, that's irrelevant now; rescuing them is urgent."

"Zhao Lang is a young commander I value, my brother‑in‑law; Su Wanrou is General An's sole surviving bloodline in this world. If I don't step in to save them now, heaven's justice would not tolerate it!"

"Xiao Yin!" Gu Jiu Ling blocked Xiao Yin's path, "You must not go; wait until the truth is clarified before proceeding!"

Xiao Yin's brows furrowed; he had never seen Gu Jiu Ling like this, and an inexplicable irritation rose in his heart.

He is only a few years older than her and has always treated her like a child; if it were any other matter, he would let her, but lives are at stake, and he cannot delay any longer.

"Jiu Yue! Send the madam to the back courtyard!" Xiao Yin's voice finally carried weight; Jiu Yue was startled as well.

Gu Jiu Ling might have feared this man before, but after these days together, she no longer fears him.

She stepped forward and said, "Xiao Yin, I think Su Wanrou has a problem."

Xiao Yin suddenly turned to look at Gu Jiu Ling, a hint of disbelief flashing in his eyes; after a long sigh, he said, "I know she once overstepped, I'm sorry, Jiu Ling…"

"She intends to kill Jinzhi, who is close to me; you can ask the people in my courtyard. She wants to poison Jinzhi; she's not as simple and pure as you think. This time, it's probably another trap she set!"

"Gu Jiu Ling," Xiao Yin's mind was a tangled mess, "She is General An's daughter, and Zhao Lang is also in that valley; I must go!"

"After I return, I will certainly obey you; now I must go!"

"Then what if she's not General An's daughter?" Gu Jiu Ling grabbed Xiao Yin's sleeve.

Xiao Yin was momentarily stunned; Gu Jiu Ling stared at him, making his hair stand on end: "Of course, I have no evidence, but… I think she has a problem."

"Jiu Ling, then what can I do? Sit and wait for them to die, and collect their bodies?"

"Moreover, she carries General An's token—a plum blossom hairpin—and the plum blossom birthmark on the back of her neck; this cannot be forged. Jiu Ling, don't worry, I will handle this matter."