Chapter 198: Compensation

"You're awake?" Gu Jiu Ling's voice trembled slightly; she wanted to say something, but the tears in her eyes could no longer be held back.

She wiped them away, but they kept flowing, impossible to wipe dry.

"You still know how to wake up! Why aren't you stubborn anymore? Go save people again! Go throw your life away again—see if I still bring people to rescue you?"

"Do you not realize you almost died this time? I dragged my big belly everywhere, kowtowing to people, begging them to save your life, yet you keep throwing me out to shield you from disaster—am I a turtle in a wishing well? Do I have to indulge you? Wah… you damned… wah…"

Xiao Yin's guilt in his eyes was thick and couldn't dissolve; he lifted his hand, gently hooked hers, and slowly pulled her into his embrace.

Although his embrace was already shattered, he still wanted to give this woman solace, even just a little.

Because he was truly too guilty.

"Jiu Ling, I'm sorry to you!"

Xiao Yin's speaking voice was extremely weak; he didn't know what poison this woman had given him, only feeling his whole body ached, unable to exert strength.

Although he was weak to the extreme, he actually felt a kind of ease he had never felt before—could it be that the pain had reached its peak, producing hallucinations?

Gu Jiu Ling also didn't dare press on his wound; she slowly sat up, looking at him and said: "Where do you feel unwell? Let me check again? Since you've woken up, I'll change your medicine—some medicines need reduced dosage..."

Gu Jiu Ling was immersed in the ecstasy of Xiao Yin's revival; her words, spoken for the first time, were endlessly chatty, while Xiao Yin looked at her with a smiling, indulgent gaze.

After a long while, Xiao Yin slowly said: "I feel uncomfortable here."

Gu Jiu Ling instantly became on high alert, hurriedly lying on Xiao Yin's body: "Where is it uncomfortable? Did the wound split open? Does it hurt?"

Xiao Yin, however, instinctively gripped her hand tightly, pressing it little by little against his chest.

Gu Jiu Ling had no choice but to accommodate him, lying beside him, not expecting him to struggle to lift his head and press a kiss on the corner of her lips.

Gu Jiu Ling hurriedly tried to pull her hand from his long, icy palm, but he gripped it tightly; she dared not use too much force to break free.

This bastard— the first thing upon opening his eyes was actually… to kiss her?

Xiao Yin indeed wanted to kiss her; in Wuzhou City, he fought without retreat, and this time, having a concern, allowed him to endure.

He knew she would come to save him, just as he had saved her before.

He tapped his own chest, hoarse voice laughing: "Jiu Ling, it hurts here."

He placed her hand on his chest: "Because missing you hurts terribly, I'm afraid… again like in Qi Sha Gu, I'll be abandoned and slaughtered; back then in Wuzhou I truly missed you, thinking if I died, you would keep your widowhood."

"Who would bully you, who could protect you, you'd lie beside someone… I feel awful, I don't want to die, I want to live."

"Idiot!" Gu Jiu Ling laughed and scolded.

The news of Xiao Yin's awakening instantly spread throughout Prince Rui's residence, even reaching Shang Jing; officials everywhere became active again.

Prince Rui actually still alive, not dead; his faction's stronghold became solid again, many wanting to come pay respects to his stronghold.

For a time, the gates of the residence were almost trampled, most using the pretext of visiting his condition to pledge loyalty to Xiao Yin.

Know that Emperor Longqing expended great effort yet failed to kill Xiao Yin; perhaps the shifting fortunes may yet turn.

Xiao Yin, however, only met with the Lin family, the Princess Consort's residence, and a few Imperial Guard subordinates who risked their lives for him; everyone else he refused to see.

However, he ordered two large gifts sent out: one to Zuo Feichen, being the case file of his father's old wrongful accusation, which he had stolen long ago.

The other gift was for Tuo Ba Yu: four stunningly beautiful women, whom Tuo Ba Yu cast out; in this matter, Xiao Yin harbored some feeling of repaying kindness with enmity.

As for the rest, Xiao Yin refused to see them.

These bastards, the trash clans that took advantage of his illness to threaten his life, Xiao Yin will slowly settle accounts with them later.

In this world, friends need not be many; just a few will do.

At this moment, in the warm pavilion of the Eastern Garden, the atmosphere was oppressive; Gu Jiu Ling looked at the large red invitation sent by Xiao Wei, the Third Prince's residence, on the table, not knowing how to comfort Xiao Yin.

Xiao Yin had poured great effort into cultivating that girl, treating her as family, yet in an instant she sold him out cleanly, even giving herself to Xiao Wei beneath him, literally slapping Xiao Yin's face, and even causing the Zhao family's face to swell.

Gu Jiu Ling glanced again at Xiao Yin's pallid face, his expression grim and cold.

Xiao Yin could now sit up, though his body still felt weak; he sat on a chair padded with cushions, tapping his fingers on the tabletop.

Before him stood Ling Feng, Jiu Yue, and the attendants who previously served in the Tan Chun Garden; each of them had ashen faces, kneeling on the ground.

Xiao Yin merely asked a few simple questions, then locked them all up, to release them after he sorted things out.

Ling Feng reminded again of Su Wanrou's assassination of Zhao Lang, luring Xiao Yin deep into the valley to his death; actually, he didn't need to say it, Xiao Yin already knew in his heart.

But now there is an even more important matter: if Su Wanrou is a fake, where is the real Su Wanrou?

On the side, Gu Jiu Ling moved her lips wanting to speak about Jinzhi's matter, but then thought better, better to gather evidence.

Facts outweigh eloquence!

"Come here!" Xiao Yin pressed his thin lips tightly; this time Su Wanrou had completely chilled his heart.

Even if he had mistaken the person, her original situation was no better; he brought her back to the residence and cared for her wholeheartedly, yet ended up like this—how could it not be chilling?

A few aides who looked like scholars entered; Xiao Yin looked at them and said: "You go immediately to Long Prefecture to find Princess Consort's attendant Yun Duo, assist Yun Duo in investigating several matters, maintain contact at all times, let no clue slip."

"Yes!" they replied hastily and left.

Gu Jiu Ling felt relieved; as long as Xiao Yin takes action, there will be no information he can't uncover—previously he was deceived by Su Wanrou, that's the case of those involved being confused while outsiders see clearly; now a thorough investigation will surely yield results.

At this moment, she also had another headache-inducing matter, and it was a particularly troublesome one.

"Your Highness, the Zhao family has returned the gift again—this is the third time they've returned gifts!"

Xiao Yin furrowed his brows; this matter is the hardest to handle—this time he had driven the Zhao family to ruin, yet their refusal of apology letters and gifts shows they are furious.

"Someday I'll personally go to the Zhao manor!"

Gu Jiu Ling nodded, then said hesitantly: "The Zhao family also brought up an unreasonable demand."

"Oh?" Xiao Yin grew a bit angry; if Zhao Lang dares again to make difficulties for his princess consort, truly provoking him, he'll simply give him embarrassment to endure.

Gu Jiu Ling's expression was complex as she whispered: "The Zhao family wants us to compensate them with a daughter-in-law, saying this is the only way to preserve both sides' face."

"Moreover, this daughter-in-law must be a woman from Prince Rui's residence, her status cannot be too low, cannot be bought to fill numbers, cannot be a randomly acknowledged relative; giving her to them, this matter is settled."

"Rebellious! Should I offer myself to him as compensation?"

Gu Jiu Ling's eye twitched; this angry remark sounded strange.