Chapter 22: The Princess Consort Is Too Kind

Gu Cheng knit his brows; Xiao Yin is the illustrious ninth Imperial Uncle, and although in these seven years he has been despised and discarded, becoming a waste, his royal lineage still remains.

He, as the eldest son of a prime minister's manor, how could he teach Xiao Yin how to act? Isn't this courting death?

The women just now kept saying harsher words; he felt it was improper, but Princess Changping took the lead, so he couldn't say anything.

After all, the princess's face must be saved; he thought that in front of so many people, Gu Jiu Ling would have some sense of dignity and wouldn't dare to clash with them publicly.

This has happened before; whenever those aristocratic ladies banded together to besiege Gu Jiu Ling, at most he would lose his temper, run off crying, and do nothing else.

But they, accustomed to bullying Gu Jiu Ling, forgot that his status had changed now.

He thought to himself that this was not good, and before he could even explain, Gu Jiu Ling walked over to Xiao Yin with a bright smile.

"Prince, don't be so violent, I'm so scared!" Gu Jiu Ling gently grasped Xiao Yin's arm, lifted her head and cooed at him; that little expression made Xiao Yin shiver repeatedly.

A hint of amusement flashed in his eyes as he patted the back of Gu Jiu Ling's hand: "You, you're just too kind."

"These low‑to‑high, wind‑following, filthy‑tongued beasts, whose words are like farts—stink unbearable—only my beloved Princess Consort, so kind, can tolerate them."

The onlookers around burst into laughter; the noble ladies who had just belittled Gu Jiu Ling flushed bright red, yet dared not retort a single word.

Princess Changping's face turned even greener with anger, her lips pressed tightly together.

"Prince, I am also very sad; Mother left so much dowry, all spent on the younger siblings and elder brother in the manor, and in the end it's my fault, Wuwuwu… my heart aches!"

Gu Jiu Ling lowered her head and wiped her tears; the people around glanced at Gu Nanxiang and Gu Cheng with altered looks.

Some uninformed onlookers began to ask in low voices.

Xiao Yin said slowly: "Beloved Princess Consort, you are frail and cannot fend for yourself, always the one being bullied; it's because your heart is too good. From now on, you must not be like this."

"Prince! Wuwuwu…" Gu Jiu Ling gently shook Xiao Yin's arm, "Let's not kill anyone today, okay?"

"A lowly maid, I don't want her to soil the Prince's hands! How about this: that maid constantly stirs trouble and sows discord; shall we cut off her tongue?"

Xiao Yin's face instantly blossomed with a smile, and he ruffled Gu Jiu Ling's hair.

"Enough, you are still too kind."

"Ling Feng! Use the punishment!"

Xiang Xue's face turned deathly pale, hurriedly knelt: "Miss, I beg you, Prince! I beg you, the maid erred, I will never dare again! Never again!"

"Second Miss! Second Miss! Save me! Save me!!"

Gu Nanxiang knit her brows fiercely; she wouldn't dare compete with Xiao Yin for him, turned her body slightly aside, and Gu Cheng also let out a sigh of relief.

Cutting off the tongue is still better than killing her; the Gu's prime ministerial manor's reputation wouldn't suffer that badly.

The onlookers saw the Gu siblings not even utter a word in their defense, furrowed their brows, and for the first time thought the brother and sister truly heartless.

Before long a mournful wail rang out, and everyone shivered slightly.

"Prince!!" Ling Feng, bearing a blood‑soaked tongue, walked up to Xiao Yin.

Xiao Yin nodded at the pastries placed among the noble ladies, chuckled lightly: "Throw it over, to add some fun to your picnic."

Ling Feng tossed the tongue over.

A startled scream rang out; the noble ladies were instantly pale with terror.

Xiao Yin slowly scanned the onlookers, his expression growing stern, and shouted: "Gu Jiu Ling is my wife, the Princess Consort of Rui Wangfu, and a member of the royal clan."

"Everyone, hear me clearly?"

"Food can be eaten recklessly, but words must not be spoken recklessly; I, Xiao Yin, am not of a good temper, also a narrow‑minded, grudging scoundrel. We gentlemen are all in Shang Jing, seen whether we look up or down; don't make it look bad later!"

The surrounding crowd fell silent; the ninth Imperial Uncle plainly told them, "From now on watch your words. If my Princess Consort is displeased, you will all be displeased!"

Xiao Yin turned, took Gu Jiu Ling's hand, and walked toward the shade of another tree.

Gu Jiu Ling lifted her gaze at the tall, steady man beside her, and a warm feeling rose in her heart, thinking that she had indeed chosen the right thigh.

"Thank you, Prince!" Gu Jiu Ling whispered with a smile.

Xiao Yin halted his steps, said nothing, and ordered the servants to tidy the ground beneath the tree, lay a piece of Shu‑embroidered satin, and ushered her to sit.

The servants of Rui Wangfu hurriedly brought the fruits and pastries from the carriage, placing them one by one on the cloth, yet no one was willing to sit with them and share; it felt rather aloof and desolate.

Xiao Yin took a mandarin orange, peeled it in his hand, and slipped it into Gu Jiu Ling's hand, staring at her steadily.

In his gaze the previous arrogance was gone, replaced by a few touches of calm.

He looked at Gu Jiu Ling and smiled: "No need to thank me; you are useful to me, I will certainly protect you."

Gu Jiu Ling quickly nodded.

Xiao Yin added: "When they strike your face, they strike mine, Xiao Yin's face; I naturally cannot tolerate that."

"Remember, now you are Xiao Yin's woman, you must show some authority; in this world only I may bully you, no one else! Understand?"

Gu Jiu Ling inhaled, smiled and replied: "Understood, I am the Prince's face!"

Xiao Yin slowly leaned against the tree trunk, his gaze passing over the towering mountains toward the north.

Gu Jiu Ling asked: "Prince, what are you looking at?"

A hint of desolation flashed in Xiao Yin's eyes; he was looking north.

Seven years have passed, cooped up in this flamboyant Shang Jing of Southern Qi; it's been ages since I rode a horse, faced the biting wind of Mo Bei, ate meat heartily, drank wine by the bowlful, wielded a sword across the world, or lay drunk on the battlefield with my brothers—do not laugh at me.

His brothers remain forever in Qi Sha Gu, never to drink, sing, or roam the battlefield with him.

He, however, stays in this cold mortal world, his pain driven mad.

Thousands upon thousands of wronged souls press upon him, suffocating; each blood debt piles like a mountain, and he bears it with great difficulty.

He must avenge them!

Xiao Yin turned his face, met Gu Jiu Ling's clear eyes, smiled, and ruffled her hair.

"Never mind, I'm just watching the clouds in the sky; I fear it's about to rain."

Gu Jiu Ling, however, did not believe him; just now, in that instant, she clearly saw the usually demonic, blood‑thirsty ninth Imperial Uncle, his eyes hiding deep sorrow and despair.

That hint of despair, Gu Jiu Ling couldn't put into words; perhaps it was a heartbreaking sense of brokenness.

The two fell silent, the atmosphere grew heavy, when suddenly a lively figure walked toward them—it was Princess Fuqing.

She held a food box of pastries, without a maid, bowed to Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling, gave a respectful salute and smiled, saying, "Fu Qing pays respects to Imperial Uncle and Imperial Aunt!"

"Can Fu Qing sit with you?"