Chapter 185: Closed Door Soup

Xiao Ting finished speaking, stared steadily at Gu Jiu Ling, and his gaze gradually took on a hint of amusement.

Since marrying Xiao Yin, this woman had always been arrogant, but for the first time now, a deep panic flickered in her eyes.

Xiao Ting watched, feeling a sourness in his heart; she had once clung to him for life and death, yet now she was terrified and desperate for another man.

The amusement in his eyes was replaced by anger; heat surged in his mind, and he ignored that this was Southern Qi's palace city, and ignored that the woman before him was his imperial aunt, his elder.

He suddenly raised his hand and grasped Gu Jiu Ling's jaw, staring at her pale, beautiful face, and coldly sneered, "Gu Jiu Ling? Is this how you love Xiao Yin? Showing this death‑seeking, life‑hunting look, who are you showing it to?"

"That wretch is a short‑lived ghost, should have died in Qi Sha Gu long ago; Heaven let him live seven extra years for free—still not satisfied?"

"Bullshit!!" Gu Jiu Ling suddenly raised her arm, shoving away Xiao Ting's hand on her jaw; her other hand formed a fist and slammed it hard, striking Xiao Ting's eye socket.

Xiao Ting let out a muffled hum, his eyes burning from the blow, and took several steps back.

Seizing the chance, Gu Jiu Ling turned and strode out through the palace corridor; behind her, Xiao Ting clutched his eyes and hopped in anger.

"Gu Jiu Ling! This is on you!"

"I shall see what fate awaits you!"

"Don't later weep and beg me to protect you… Listen carefully, if I protect you again, I'll be no better than a pig or a dog!"

Gu Jiu Ling didn't want to rebut the fool's nonsense behind her, she simply made a greeting gesture toward him and turned away.

She stepped out of the East Sima Gate, lifted her eyes to the gray‑white winter sun on the horizon, yet her whole body felt as if soaked in frost, chilling to the bone.

"Master?" Jiu Yue rushed up, hurriedly helping Gu Jiu Ling onto the carriage.

"Master! What did the Emperor say? Is he ordering troops to rescue the Prince?"

Gu Jiu Ling, exhausted, leaned against the cold carriage wall, lifted her head and drew a harsh breath, a bitter, cold smile flashing at the corners of her eyes as she said, "It's the Emperor who wants to kill the Prince!"

Jiu Yue was instantly shocked, her mouth agape, not knowing what to say.

Gu Jiu Ling pulled up the carriage curtain and looked out at the bustling Zhu Que Jie street; it was already the third day, and if she didn't go rescue, she might truly become a widow this time.

She lowered her head, gently placed a hand on her belly, and felt the fetus stir—a first fetal movement she had ever sensed.

That maternal flutter and joy gradually calmed her heart.

She needed to devise a plan; since the Imperial Court wouldn't dispatch troops, she could only gather private soldiers.

But few families possess private troops—mainly houses of generals, or top aristocratic clans that maintain their own private forces.

These people are crucial pawns in aristocratic hands, rarely lent out, let alone sent to risk their lives against imperial authority in a meaningless pact.

Common folk might think this time the Zhao family and Rui Wang Fu are terribly unlucky, but the great clans think otherwise; with events this far advanced, if they can't find a way, those old foxes will have lived in vain.

Clearly, any clan that helps now, regardless of success, offends the royal family.

Gu Jiu Ling rode the carriage straight to Princess Linghe's residence; despite past unpleasantness, Gu Jiu Ling had once saved the life of Young Lord Cheng Ming.

As a doctor, she had saved many lives and never asked for great recompense; this was her first time seeking gratitude in return.

But as soon as Gu Jiu Ling stepped off the carriage, she found the princess's gates tightly shut; normally there would be gate guards, yet this time even the sentries were completely withdrawn.

Gu Jiu Ling stood firmly on the stone steps, lifted her gaze and stared intently at the shut doors, unable to catch her breath for a long while.

She remained unwilling, hurried forward and pounded the door hard until her palms turned red; a cautious old woman's voice came from inside.

"Princess Consort, please stop pounding the door. Her Highness the Princess and the Young Lord are staying at a countryside manor and have not yet returned. You should… go back!"

Gu Jiu Ling's hand pressed tightly against the vermilion gate; the cold of the copper nails seeped into her limbs, making her shiver uncontrollably.

Gu Jiu Ling slowly closed her eyes, determined; she refused to believe that the vast Shang Jing was filled with heartless scoundrels.

Previously, Xiao Yin fought the Bei Di countless times, repelling the Bei Di and the Western Rong wolves that coveted the Great Jin Dynasty, which granted the aristocratic families of Shang Jing lasting peace.

A conscientious society would never let those who carry firewood for others freeze to death in the snow.

Xiao Yin, a famed general of his generation, could not die meekly by such underhanded means.

She inhaled deeply, rose, and walked toward the carriage.

For an entire day, Gu Jiu Ling rode the carriage, her swollen belly in tow, petitioning the gates of various great clans for private troops; every family kept their doors tightly shut.

The attitude was obvious: Xiao Yin hadn't returned; he was likely dead, and they dared not gamble, nor could they afford to.

Gu Jiu Ling had just left the closed An Guo Gong residence in disappointment when a commotion erupted in the corridor.

Miss Lin Rujun of the Lin family, sword in hand, charged toward the front hall; several maidservants could not stop her.

Grandmother Lin, surrounded by the crowd, stepped directly before Lin Rujun and scolded, "What madness does a girl have? Go back at once!"

Lin Rujun's eyes reddened as she looked up at her grandmother and shouted, "Grandmother, I'm not mad; it's the shameless families of Shang Jing that have gone mad!"

"You…" Grandmother Lin's expression flickered.

"All of us in Shang Jing have received Prince Rui's great favor, yet now each pretends to be deaf and false; it's truly disgusting!"

"If Prince Rui had not fought fiercely in earlier years, how could Shang Jing be so prosperous now, with the clans' songs and dances flourishing?"

"Putting it mildly, our Lin family was set up by that scoundrel Gu Nanxiang; had Princess Consort of Rui not devised a plan, and Prince Rui not intervened, An Guo Gong's residence might have been disgustingly ruined."

"Now they put people forward, and when none are needed they retreat; such petty behavior!"

"You're afraid, you won't go; I, Lin Rujun, have martial skill but cannot endure this disgraceful stance. I'll go rescue alone!"

"Silence!" Grandmother Lin raised her hand and slapped Lin Rujun hard; the slap shocked everyone.

Both Grandmother Lin and Lin Rujun froze there; Lin Rujun had been raised by her grandmother since childhood, so their bond was deep, making it hard to even scold, let alone strike.

That slap even startled the grandmother herself.