Chapter 21: You

The distance from the Imperial Hunting Lodge back to the city is still some, so they need to stop midway to rest for a while.

It is already noon, and the noble ladies of the various families, unable to endure the bumpy ride, disembarked from their carriages, took out the prepared snacks and tea, and ate to replenish their strength.

Hunting at the Imperial Lodge does not happen every year; it only comes around once every few years. Normally everyone stays within the inner residences, never enjoying such rare freedom as now.

At first each family rested separately, but after a short while the noble ladies stepped out of their carriages, chose a particularly scenic flat area, and sat together in a circle.

The attendants placed the snacks and tea from each family in one spot; the coming and going made it quite friendly and lively.

The young men sat on one side, the women on the other; Southern Qi customs are not that conservative, and familiar families' men and women also sat mixed together.

Seeing that the surrounding noble ladies were all being invited away, even those from slightly lower families had someone ask them, but Gu Jiu Ling was the only one no lady came to invite to share the food.

Earlier Emperor Longqing had left first with the Imperial Concubines, leaving the imperial princes and princesses behind to accompany the great families back to the city.

At this moment, a carriage from Rui Wangfu happened to be outside a gentle slope, and Princess Changping, surrounded by the crowd, set up an impromptu banquet there.

The so‑called banquet consisted only of some cold dishes and palace snacks, and the tea was not refined either—it was coarse tea brought out from the lodge.

The food was simple, but there were many people, after all everyone wanted to curry favor with the young mistress Princess Changping.

Gu Nanxiang even brought her elder brother Gu Cheng to pay respects to the princess; Princess Changping was naturally overjoyed, inviting the Gu family's young men to sit, as well as several daughters from the Ministerial Residence, the Chen Duke's residence, and the Qing'an Marquis's residence…

The lively crowd formed a big circle; Gu Nanxiang glanced at the Rui Wangfu carriage, a hint of smugness flashing across her face.

Even if Gu Jiu Ling has married into Rui Wangfu, so what? Look at who in the Jing Cheng noble‑lady circle is willing to befriend you.

A notoriously infamous woman wants to join the families' circle—go dream about it!

Gu Jiu Ling paid no mind; she picked up the hot soup that Jiu Yue had prepared and delivered, and poured a bowl for Xiao Yin.

Xiao Yin had not slept the whole night yesterday, keeping his eyes closed in the carriage to rest, and now the hot soup brought by Gu Jiu Ling attracted his attention.

He held it in his hand; it was mushroom soup, exuding a lingering fragrance.

"Delicious!" Xiao Yin lifted the bowl and took a big sip, a gentle smile crossing his handsome cheek.

Gu Jiu Ling was about to say something when several women's voices came from outside, their tones deliberately high, as if meant for her to hear.

"Heh heh! What is she, anyway? How could she be with us?"

Princess Changping sneered coldly: "Marrying Prince Rui and thinking you've reached the heavens—such a thing doesn't exist in this world. Who knows how many hardships await?"

"Nanxiang, you're still too kind, still thinking of inviting her to eat with us; you've been manipulated by that scoundrel!"

Another noble lady's voice was unusually sharp: "Yes, Nanxiang, she stole your dowry and bullied your mother into that state; she truly isn't human!"

"You, you mustn't be too kind; she's so vicious, how could she compare to you?"

Gu Nanxiang's soft, frail voice rose slowly, full of endless grievance and even a hint of sobbing.

"I… I'm also sad, but she is still my elder sister; I feared she left early this morning without eating, so I kept thinking of inviting her…"

"You, you mustn't be too kind; she's so vicious, how could she compare to you?"

"Yes! Yes! Our miss cried the whole night on the day the elder miss got married; she couldn't bear to part with her, never imagined the elder miss could be so vicious…"

With a swish, Xiao Yin lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out.

"Hey!" Gu Jiu Ling didn't expect Xiao Yin to flare up so suddenly; she didn't even have time to grab his sleeve.

Gu Jiu Ling thought those women outside were just being ridiculous; even if they invited her to eat, she didn't want to keep company with them, and each of them had quite a few dramas.

What she didn't expect was that Xiao Yin charged straight down; she hurriedly followed out of the carriage.

A group of people under the peach‑blossom trees on the slope watched Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling approach, and all shut their mouths in unison.

The one who had just spoken provocatively was the trusted maid beside Gu Nanxiang.

The Imperial Lodge originally prohibited bringing one's own maid, allowing only palace staff, but some noble families sent their maids ahead to wait outside the lodge for convenient service on the road.

That maid was named Xiang Xue; Gu Jiu Ling recognized her as the first‑rank maid of Gu Xiangfu, a capable aide beside Gu Nanxiang, very articulate.

Now, by echoing her own master, she was clearly putting Gu Jiu Ling in an awkward position.

Xiao Yin wore a dark‑colored brocade robe, its hem fluttering with a dangerous curve in the mountain breeze; although a few smiles lingered on his face, they sent a chill to the heart.

Xiao Yin stood before Princess Changping and the others, who naturally rose from their seats and hurried to salute him.

Princess Changping's brother, the Third Prince Xiao Wei, who had previously been confined to the Imperial Clan Office because of Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling's affair, now wore a sour expression, not even performing the basic bow, simply lifting his chin to stare coldly at Xiao Yin.

Xiao Yin let out a light laugh, his gaze landing on the maid beside Gu Nanxiang who was holding a teapot and pouring tea.

Xiang Xue's face paled under Xiao Yin's stare, and she lowered her head slightly.

Xiao Yin sneered: "Repeat what you just said."

Xiang Xue bowed even lower, stepping back repeatedly, while Gu Nanxiang smiled faintly: "Prince, my maid acted without sense, colliding with the Prince and Princess Consort; I, her lady, apologize to you."

She bowed meekly, offering a salute to Xiao Yin, and it seemed that Xiao Yin, a dignified Imperial Uncle, was bullying a few little maids.

Xiao Yin's gaze hardened a few degrees, and he slowly lifted his hand, twirling the black‑jade ring on his thumb.

"Ling Feng!"

"Prince!" Ling Feng, with two guards, hurried over.

Xiao Yin glanced at Xiang Xue hiding beside Gu Nanxiang and asked: "According to Southern Qi law, when a noble family's servant collides with a member of the imperial clan, what should be done?"

Ling Feng's mind flickered; this was about taking the Princess Consort's side.

"Report, Prince! Execution!"

When Ling Feng finished speaking, everyone was startled; it was such a trivial matter—just women gossiping, saying a few too many words, why resort to execution?

A few other aristocratic youths elsewhere also could not stay seated, and rose to walk over here.

Gu Cheng's expression was also displeased; after all he was from Gu Xiangfu, and if Xiao Yin actually slashed him here, where would Gu Xiangfu's face go?

"Prince! This scullery maid acted without sense, speaking out of line; I will return and punish her severely with a rod, please calm your anger!"

Gu Cheng respectfully clasped his fists and saluted Xiao Yin.

Xiao Yin raised an eyebrow slightly, a trace of indescribable wickedness crossing his handsome face, and sneered coldly: "Gu Cheng, are you teaching this Prince how to act?"

Gu Cheng's expression changed slightly at once.