Chapter 195

"Subordinate pays respects to the Princess Consort!" a weak and hoarse voice suddenly came from the doorway.

Everyone looked toward the doorway, and it was Ling Feng himself who had rushed over.

Jiu Yue hurriedly turned and quickly walked to Ling Feng's side, supporting him, then she helped him walk to Gu Jiu Ling's presence.

Ling Feng was about to bow and pay respects to Gu Jiu Ling, but Gu Jiu Ling quickly stood up and personally helped him up.

"You don't need to stand on ceremony; if there's anything, just have Jiu Yue come find you. Why come yourself? If something happens to your health, what will Jiu Yue do?"

Jiu Yue's cheeks flushed slightly, and Ling Feng's expression also grew a bit embarrassed; after this incident, it's likely they can't keep their affair hidden.

He hurriedly said, "Princess Consort, although the Prince is still unconscious, there are many matters in Wuzhou that I must report to you, lest further trouble arise."

"Someone, bring a chair; Ling Feng, sit down and speak."

Ling Feng's body truly couldn't withstand standing there to speak; after paying respects to Gu Jiu Ling, with Jiu Yue's support he slowly sat down, and even this simple act made him break out in a sweat from pain all over.

He looked at Gu Jiu Ling, chose his words, and said, "I accompanied the Prince to Wuzhou to rescue people, but as soon as we reached that canyon, I saw General Zhao and those masked fighters locked in fierce battle."

"General Zhao suffered severe injuries and was unconscious; only thanks to the extraordinary bravery of his personal guards did they manage to hold out until the Prince arrived."

"Fortunately the Prince arrived in time; if it had been any later, General Zhao would likely have died under a barrage of blades."

Gu Jiu Ling's expression stiffened slightly; initially she had strongly opposed the Prince's rash decision to go to Wuzhou for rescue, and if Xiao Yin had heeded her advice then, Zhao Lang would probably already be dead in that canyon.

"What happened next?" Gu Jiu Ling asked hurriedly.

Ling Feng said, "Afterwards the Prince led a charge, rescued General Zhao; at that moment the Prince had just joined the fight, displaying great valor, and the enemy was dazed by his attacks."

"The Prince took the opportunity to order personnel to escort General Zhao away first!"

Gu Jiu Ling breathed a sigh of relief; this marriage of Zhao Lang to the Rui Wangfu benefits Xiao Yin with nothing but advantages—it helps Su Wanrou find a good match, strengthens his influence in the army, and moreover Zhao Lang and Xiao Yin get along well, their relationship is good.

If Zhao Lang died, the Zhao family army would surely resent Xiao Yin, after all they lost their lives because of this marriage; the hidden instigator could then seize the chance to weaken Xiao Yin's military power and eliminate dissenters within the army.

"It was Xiao Wei who did it!" Gu Jiu Ling's eyes turned slightly cold, "Although Xiao Wei is merely an opera performer, perhaps someone finds it pleasing; losing just a commander is no great loss, and it could topple Xiao Yin—why not?"

Ling Feng froze for a moment, suddenly thinking of Emperor Longqing, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He took a breath and said, "Princess Consort, there is still one matter..."

"Speak!" Gu Jiu Ling nodded at him.

Now the entire manor holds Gu Jiu Ling in high esteem; in Ling Feng and the others' eyes her status is second only to Xiao Yin, and some things can only be said to her.

Ling Feng had to deliberately lower his voice; even if he were to tell Gu Jiu Ling this news now, he would still find it unbelievable.

"It... concerns Miss Wan, and I don't even know whether I should speak of it or not!"

"We've come to this point, you might as well speak; after all even the Prince has been implicated and nearly lost his life!" Jiu Yue beside them could not help but feel anxious.

Ling Feng also felt a bit uneasy; Miss Wan has always been a rather unique presence in the Rui Wangfu, someone the Prince values, she had lived in the manor for many years, and everyone regarded her as half a mistress.

This time...

Ling Feng steadied himself, looked at Gu Jiu Ling, and said, "After Zhao Lang was rescued, he still had some awareness and actually cursed the Prince loudly, saying the Prince had schemed against him and perhaps intended to annex his Zhao family army, which is why he took this action."

"What do you mean?" Gu Jiu Ling raised her eyebrows; she also felt Su Wanrou's disappearance was very strange.

Since Xiao Yin led people deep into the canyon to rescue, he ought to have brought Su Wanrou back; instead Xiao Yin suffered a poisonous fit of madness, and Su Wanrou is neither alive nor dead—one cannot help but think this woman is a disaster.

Upon hearing Ling Feng say this, Gu Jiu Ling could not stay seated and slowly rose to her feet.

Ling Feng also had to get up; Jiu Yue hurriedly supported him, and he looked at Gu Jiu Ling saying, "I heard from the surviving guards of the Zhao family weeping that the bride stabbed General Zhao in the chest; fortunately he dodged quickly, otherwise he would have been killed on the spot."

"Now it merely grazed his ribs, but it still seriously wounded their general; moreover they said this grudge is settled, and they will surely come to settle accounts with our Rui Wangfu in the future!"

Ling Feng paused, then said, "Actually the Prince could have withdrawn at first, but hearing Miss Wan's cries from deep in the canyon, he had no choice but to lead another charge to rescue her, and thus was completely surrounded."

Gu Jiu Ling instantly understood, tightly pressed her lips, gritted her teeth, and cursed, "Surely it's this lowly woman behind it!"

Ling Feng stared blankly at Gu Jiu Ling; he truly did not understand why Miss Wan would betray from within and seek to put the Prince to death.

He truly could not figure it out—why?

Back then the Prince took her into the manor, dressed her in gold and silver, fed her mountain delicacies and seafood, almost raising her to the level of a palace princess, indulged to excess—who would have thought she would use such means to harm the Prince?

If it weren't for General An, she being his descendant, not to mention Xiao Yin, even the guards around Xiao Yin this time would have wanted to harshly deal with that woman.

Is this still human conduct?

Gu Jiu Ling focused her thoughts; all the previous confusion seemed to instantly click into place, and she let out a cold laugh.

"Perhaps the fox's tail can't stay hidden any longer; might as well not even want to give her a place to stand or a fox den for shelter."

"Jiu Yue, first send Ling Feng back to recuperate; as for this matter, we will..."

Before Gu Jiu Ling could finish speaking, the steward hurriedly entered, bowed to her, and said, "Princess Consort! A notice has arrived from the Third Prince's mansion!"

Gu Jiu Ling's brows furrowed tightly, and she couldn't help but coldly sneer—surely it was Xiao Wei.

The hidden guard stationed at the doorway rushed in, examined the notice, then delivered it to Gu Jiu Ling; she took it, looked at it, and immediately flung it to the ground, stomping on it hard while cursing, "Beast! Bastard!!"

Everyone in the room was dumbfounded by Gu Jiu Ling's scolding.

Unexpectedly, a hurried footsteps sounded from outside, followed immediately by the Rui Wangfu guards drawing their swords, a clattering clank, and the whole courtyard filled with tension.

Xiao Wei had already broken through the second courtyard gate and entered, about to act arrogantly, when suddenly a gray figure lunged to suppress him.

Xiao Wei hastily swung his sword to strike, but the blade unexpectedly contacted a string of skull prayer beads, which forcibly knocked away the sword he had carried for years, chipping its edge.

He kept retreating, a fishy sweetness surged in his throat, he vomited a mouthful of blood, and fearfully stared at the opposing figure—a gaunt, crane‑faced old Daoist.

The old Daoist clasped his hands and apologized, "Your Highness, I offer my respects!"

"What the hell is your courtesy!" Xiao Wei suddenly wanted to curse!

"Is there a greeting that whips people upon first meeting?"